Hero Simulator in Type-Moon, Chapter 37

First came the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, then Xiahou Yuan, Zhang Liao, and Xu Chu—the three of them joined forces to suppress Fujimaru Kyoya. Fortunately, Kucha Zi was a divine steed, or else he would have died on the spot.

Victory.

This thought surfaced in everyone's minds at once. Once a cavalryman stopped running, he lost his mobility.

A cavalryman without mobility was as good as dead.

"Is that so?"

Fujimaru Kyoya paid no heed to his own wounds. He slowly exhaled a breath, but something astonishing happened.

Though the sun blazed high in the sky, Fujimaru Kyoya exhaled a puff of mist.

Mist? No, that was cloud.

Water and cloud were essentially the same substance. The sword flowed like water, the spear moved like drifting clouds.

The mana within Fujimaru Kyoya's body began to drain rapidly. Wisps of cloud vapor spilled from the Azure Cyan Sword, then were swept up by the long spear.

Wind follows the tiger, clouds follow the dragon.

Gentlemen, listen well to this melody—the Cloud Dragon Chant.

[Your mind echoes with the sound of sword chants, sensations awakened gradually while sparring with Consort Yu. You never deliberately memorized them, yet in this moment of life and death, you recall them nonetheless.]

[There is no reason for you to die here.]

[You refuse to accept Heaven's merciless decree. You refuse to die like this. You want to change the tragic ending you saw, and even if you ultimately fail, you will not regret anything you have done.]

[Treasure "Cloud Dragon Chant" unlocked: A secret technique requiring simultaneous use of sword and spear. The union of Flowing Water Sword and Flowing Cloud Spear, a crystallization of hardness and softness. The clouds are not merely cover to obscure vision, but also an armed mode to strengthen oneself. Of course, there is also a beam mode that compresses all the cloud vapor and releases it in one burst.]

The spreading cloud vapor immediately relieved the pressure the Eight Gates Lock Formation had placed on Fujimaru Kyoya's body. At the same time, these clouds briefly obscured the vision of those nearby.

"What's going on? This Zhao Yun guy..."

Before Xu Chu could react, he felt a tremendous threat bearing down on him. With almost no time to think, he used the armor on his arm to protect his neck.

"Thump~"

Though it was a sharp spear tip, it produced a sound as heavy as a battering ram, sending the towering Xu Chu flying directly.

"On the battlefield, I couldn't use Lime Powder, but now I've finally gotten to use it."

Fujimaru Kyoya inhaled a mouthful of cloud vapor and immediately felt much lighter under the formation's suppression. As the Lime Martial Saint, being without lime was like the 3D zone without Tifa—it instantly lost ninety-nine percent of its value.

Now that he had unlocked his treasure and could once again use the technique of blinding with clouds, everything was starting to look up.

"Let's continue."

Cloud vapor coiled around the long spear. Fujimaru Kyoya felt as if he were grasping a true dragon. With a full-powered strike, he sent Zhang Liao and his horse flying together. If Zhang Liao's mount had not also been extraordinary, he might have lost his steed right then.

Going from a cavalryman to a foot soldier without a horse.

[You hear the sound of a zither coming from within the clouds, accompanied by the roar of a flood dragon. Gradually, this cloud vapor begins to spread from you, filling the entire Changbanpo.]

"What's happening?"

Cao Cao, having barely escaped the pursuit, turned to look back. He saw the mist spreading over Changbanpo, and before long, specks of vivid red began to diffuse.

This stirred a hint of unwillingness in Cao Cao's heart.

Just then, a sudden change occurred. The originally peaceful cloud vapor abruptly grew restless. Gradually, a true dragon formed from the clouds fixed its gaze on Cao Cao.

"Roar~"

It was a deafening bellow. This true dragon seemed to have found its true target. Filled with boundless fury, it soared high into the sky, locked onto its quarry, and dove straight down.

Though it was merely cloud made of water, though it was nothing but an empty shell, Cao Cao sensed immense danger within it.

"I want to see if everything I've done has been in vain."

Fujimaru Kyoya's best option at this moment was to use the convenience of the clouds to heavily wound the five thousand Tiger and Leopard Cavalry within the Eight Gates Lock Formation. If he could kill a few generals, that would be even better.

But none of that mattered. Though they were strong, only certain individuals could influence the course of the world.

If Cao Cao could die here, what variables might arise in the future?

Fujimaru Kyoya's act of gathering the surrounding cloud vapor also made Xu Chu and the others understand his intent. Disregarding everything else, they immediately turned their spears and rushed toward Cao Cao, trying to intercept this strike midway.

Chapter 65: A Slight Change 5/28

With Fujimaru Kyoya's cover and Zhuge Liang's guidance, Liu Bei soon reunited with his two wives and child. The gravely wounded Lady Mi also received treatment, stabilizing her condition for now.

This should have been a joyful occasion, but Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang were not so happy, because Fujimaru Kyoya had not returned.

"Military advisor, Zilong he..."

"He's fallen into his old habit."

Zhuge Liang had interacted frequently with Fujimaru Kyoya over the years. He was someone who, even when faced with the Heavenly Mandate, refused to believe in it.

No, to put it in Fujimaru Kyoya's own words, he was a thoroughly double-standard person from start to finish.

If the Heavenly Mandate favored him, then he would uphold it and act in Heaven's name. If the Heavenly Mandate did not favor him, then his mind would be full of thoughts about defying fate.

For Heaven to encounter someone like him was truly its eight lifetimes of bad luck.

"Lord, I have spoken to you before about the Heavenly Mandate."

Since Zhuge Liang had genuinely decided to emerge from seclusion to aid Liu Bei, he naturally laid all his thoughts bare, even telling Liu Bei about the Heavenly Mandate he had seen.

But this only fueled Liu Bei's fighting spirit rather than discouraging him.

"Military Advisor, what do you think this 'benevolence and righteousness' of mine truly is?"

Liu Bei gazed at his own reflection in the water, looking like a stray dog. This time, leading the people across the river—how much of it was genuine benevolence? Even he wasn't sure.

Was it true kindness in his heart, or was he just a clown using this to reinforce his banner of "benevolence and righteousness"?

"When I heard that so-called 'Heavenly Mandate,' the only feeling in my heart was rage. But whether that rage stems from unwillingness at my destined failure or grief over the ruin of my state and family, I can no longer tell."

"But it doesn't matter anymore, does it?"

Zhuge Liang looked at Liu Bei. A lord who refused to give up even in the face of such an outcome was worth supporting. As for that "benevolence and righteousness"...

"A gentleman is judged by his deeds, not his heart."

The standard for evaluating a person was never what they said, but what they did. No one knew what Liu Bei truly thought, but everything he did was good.

"My lord, it's time to go retrieve Zhao Yun. Then we must head to... Jiangdong."

Fujimaru Kyoya's reckless actions had indeed given Zhuge Liang a headache, but he turned his gaze toward Jiangdong. Cao Cao's fate had now entered the Nine-Five position, taking on the aspect of Soaring Dragon in the Sky.

"The best line among the sixty-four hexagrams and three hundred eighty-four lines? Then I'll add fuel to the fire."

Zhuge Liang silently calculated Cao Cao's fate. At this moment, Cao Cao had reached his peak. If things proceeded smoothly, he might advance even further—but unfortunately, Zhuge Liang intended to provoke his fate further, shifting it from Soaring Dragon in the Sky to Arrogant Dragon Repents.

Chibi was the key.

Most people's impression of clouds was lightness—after all, how heavy could something flying in the sky be?

But they forgot that birds flew because they were light, while a Gundam flew because of GN Particles.

The impact was like Mount Tai crashing down. The Eight Gates Lock Formation held for a moment, but this was no true Reality Marble.

Faced with Fujimaru Kyoya's full-force strike that broke all rules, this small "otherworld" finally buckled under the strain and was shattered.

But it was enough—enough time had been bought to rescue Cao Cao.

At the very last moment, four figures arrived together before Cao Cao, their weapons converging. Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, and Zhang Liao came as one, while Xu Chu shielded Cao Cao with his own body.

The dragon formed from cloud energy was already formidable, but after breaking the Eight Gates Lock Formation, its momentum had weakened. Now intercepted by four fierce generals, it could still kill Cao Cao.

"My lord, retreat!"

Xu Chu took the blow with his body, knowing full well that this attack was a spent arrow and wouldn't last. But if it landed on Cao Cao, it would be an unacceptable failure on his part.

Cao Cao didn't have their powerful physique, and he suffered from chronic migraines. If anything happened to him, how could they bear it?

Just then, Sima Yi's figure appeared behind Cao Cao.

"My lord, come with me."

Sima Yi had been worried about this expedition, so he had placed a Substitute on Cao Cao. Now, by swapping the positions of his original body and the Substitute, he arrived directly here.

The moment Sima Yi touched Cao Cao, he activated his spell and teleported again, making a living man like Cao Cao vanish before everyone's eyes.

"Boom~"

A thunderous roar rang out. Fujimaru Kyoya's sure-kill strike had missed, but that didn't discourage him.

Instead, exhausted of strength, he carried himself like a victorious general.

"If things had gone according to original history, a lot more people should have died by now."

Fujimaru Kyoya let out a long breath and piloted Kucha Zi to flee the battlefield. That had been his full-power strike; if those guys caught him now, he'd really be done for.

But he was still happy.

At least the soldiers escorting the two ladies had survived. At least Lady Mi hadn't thrown herself into a well from her injuries. All of this was because he had come here.

Even if Lady Mi might still die from her wounds, even if these soldiers might fall in the next battle—in this world, living was always better than dying.

Live one more day if you can. Fight for one more second if you can.

Fujimaru Kyoya shook off the routed Tiger and Leopard Cavalry and soon spotted another army approaching. At its head was a dark-faced man with a thick beard.

"Third Master, long time no see."

Seeing Zhang Fei, Fujimaru Kyoya finally relaxed. If Zhang Fei was here, then he was safe.

"Thank you. If you hadn't arrived in time, both sisters-in-law might have been in danger."

"From what you're saying, Lady Mi survived?"

"Yes."

Zhang Fei's answer made Fujimaru Kyoya grin so wide it tugged at his wounds and hurt.

"You alright, kid? Laughing like that, aren't you afraid you'll die?"

"I'm fine. I'm not that easy to kill."

Of course Fujimaru Kyoya was happy. It was only a tiny change, but if he could alter history even a little, then he would. These were all proof that he had been here.

"Third Master, where to next?"

"Jiangdong."

Zhang Fei shot Fujimaru Kyoya a sour look. This trip to Jiangdong was bound to erupt into a full-scale war, yet they had no part in it.

After all, the protagonists of this battle were not them, but Zhou Yu.

What Fujimaru Kyoya had to do on this journey to Jiangdong was simply keep Zhuge Liang safe.

Chapter 66: The Fire of This Era

[You accompany Zhuge Liang to Jiangdong, watching him silence the scholars in debate, utterly unable to reconcile this with the socially anxious youth from Water Mirror Manor.]

[You understand this is merely Jiangdong's way of putting Zhuge Liang in his place. Though opinions within Jiangdong are divided, Zhou Yu has long since prepared to resist Cao Cao. This is nothing more than using Zhuge Liang's mouth to convince the masses of Jiangdong.]

[You watch these two sly old foxes, master and disciple. The old fossils of Jiangdong are no match for either of them.]

"Is that all it takes?"

Fujimaru Kyoya was puzzled. By all logic, Zhuge Liang should have had a much larger role in the Battle of Chibi. Yet after days of debating the scholars, he had been left with nothing to do.

What about the promised Borrowing Arrows with Straw Boats?

"What else is there? This alliance with Zhou Yu is meant to eliminate all external factors that might affect the battle. From here on, we leave it to Zhou Yu."

Zhuge Liang seemed unusually at ease, as if he had reverted to the reclusive youth he once was.

"When it comes to the interplay of water and fire, Zhou Yu is second to none in Water Mirror Manor. Even I am no match for him in that regard. Besides, I came here with two goals. The first is already accomplished, and the second is close at hand."

"The second?"

"Naturally, to recruit Pang Tong."

For years, Pang Tong had remained undecided. Now was the perfect time to bring him into Liu Bei's fold. With him, Liu Bei would gain wings like a tiger.