Chapter Summaries

Cheng Tian used The World's Data Tampering to change the Yamata no Orochi Original Gene so its bloodline slots had to be plundered from powerful enemies instead of costing him attributes upfront. After Utan examined the gene, Cheng Tian began planning how to fund its research and chose to visit the Demon World Village dungeon first.

• Cheng Tian altered the Yamata no Orochi Original Gene's rules, changing its bloodline slots from a direct gain into slots plundered from defeated enemies.
• Cheng Tian decided not to use the gene immediately and called Utan to assess whether it could be cultivated or cloned.
• Utan warned that cloning the gene and Cheng Tian's other projects would consume substantial funds.
• Cheng Tian listed several possible Interlude Dungeons and chose to visit Demon World Village first.

Cheng Tian and Eileen cleared Demon World Village’s fourth stage with ease, collecting its hidden items and loot before returning. Cheng Tian then took Bazett and the others to confront Kirei Kotomine, while Bazett resolved to face the priest who had betrayed her.

• Cheng Tian and Eileen used their strengthened abilities to defeat the fourth stage’s monsters and gatekeeper dragon, gather hidden items, and test Orochi Express.
• Cheng Tian and Eileen returned from Demon World Village in less than six hours, treating the dungeon as an easy source of loot.
• Bazett grew nervous about confronting Kirei Kotomine because he was tied to the trauma of her past betrayal and death.
• Cheng Tian reassured Bazett that they only needed to defeat Kirei, and Bazett decided to face him and end their past.
• Fina waved goodbye as Cheng Tian and his group departed through the silver teleportation pillar.

Cheng Tian, Eileen, and Bazett traveled through the Cat Spirit Kingdom and entered the Fate/hollow ataraxia dungeon, where Bazett returned to the place she had died. Their mission was to kill Kirei Kotomine, while Cheng Tian also accepted the role of Arbiter under the Planet’s watch.

• The Cat Spirits surrounded Cheng Tian, Eileen, and Bazett, then fled after smelling the scent of Nero Cat’s authority on Cheng Tian.
• Nero Cat returned Cheng Tian’s Honorary Disciple Certificate and explained that Cat Spirits could assist them for a price; he said Cat Princess had gone to play with the Holy Grail.
• The group passed through a portal from the Cat Spirit Kingdom into the Fate/hollow ataraxia dungeon, leaving the Kingdom as a transit point for the Meow Rescue function.
• Cheng Tian sensed the Planet’s scrutiny as the dungeon identified him as an Arbiter and assigned the group a B-rank difficulty.
• Bazett recognized the Church basement as the place where she had died and stood with renewed determination.

Cheng Tian and his companions entered the Church basement and encountered the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh, who challenged Cheng Tian’s claim that the Sumerian civilization was a myth. After Cheng Tian apologized, Gilgamesh attacked him.

• Cheng Tian, Eileen, and Bazett found themselves in the Church basement, where Cheng Tian sensed an unknown humanoid presence.
• Gilgamesh revealed himself and invited the group upstairs to meet him.
• Cheng Tian questioned whether Gilgamesh’s existence was possible, then cited geological evidence against the ancient Sumerian civilization.
• Gilgamesh argued that the Age of Gods made Cheng Tian’s evidence from another world irrelevant, and Cheng Tian apologized.
• Gilgamesh praised Cheng Tian for admitting his mistake, then launched a streak of light at his forehead.

Cheng Tian used the Soul of Yamata to reflect Gilgamesh’s attack and briefly threaten Gate of Babylon, while Bazett and Eileen joined the fight. Eileen’s arrow devastated Rin Tohsaka's Church in broad daylight, leaving Father Matou facing another cover-up.

• Gilgamesh fired a Noble Phantasm at Cheng Tian, but the Heart Barrier blocked it and the Soul of Yamata reflected an energy blade back at him.
• Cheng Tian’s reflected attack triggered a black particle that marked Gate of Babylon, making Gilgamesh recognize him as a dangerous opponent.
• Bazett identified Gilgamesh and attacked him, while Eileen fired an arrow into the battle.
• Father Matou sensed trouble at the church while handling damage from other Servant fights and realized he would have to conceal more destruction.
• Eileen’s arrow nearly tore off the church roof, scattering bricks and tiles as bystanders watched.

Cheng Tian confronted Golden Flash and tried to persuade him to stand aside by offering a more entertaining target than Kirei Kotomine. He loaded the Night of Walachia template and materialized a malicious information phantom of Enkidu, leaving Gilgamesh hostile.

• Golden Flash recognized Bazett as a revived Heroic Spirit and became eager to see Kirei Kotomine's reaction to her return and the destroyed church.
• Cheng Tian told Golden Flash that his group only wanted Kirei Kotomine and offered to show him something more interesting.
• Cheng Tian loaded the Night of Walachia template and used its abilities to materialize a malicious information phantom of Enkidu.
• Gilgamesh reacted angrily to the phantom, his personal reputation toward Cheng Tian fell to hostile, and he unleashed the Gate of Babylon at full power.

Kirei Kotomine and the other factions witnessed the King of Heroes unleash a full-power attack on Cheng Tian and his allies. Enkidu reappeared in a vivid, lively form and challenged Gilgamesh, revealing that he was a Shadow Heroic Spirit whose origin was Gilgamesh himself.

• Kirei Kotomine saw a vast golden rift spread across the sky above the church and realized that something had driven the King of Heroes to attack openly.
• The King of Heroes bombarded Cheng Tian, the two women, and Enkidu's phantom with Noble Phantasms from Gate of Babylon.
• Cheng Tian's group raised a holy barrier that absorbed and reflected some attacks, while black spatial fluctuations sent others through to strike the treasury's walls.
• A false full moon appeared beside the daytime sun, and a familiar voice made the King of Heroes halt his bombardment.
• Enkidu appeared in white and green, explained that he was a Shadow Heroic Spirit created from a Rumor Aggregate, and told Gilgamesh that Cheng Tian was Gaia's agent.
• Gilgamesh accepted Enkidu's challenge and prepared to fight his best friend.

Cheng Tian used Calamity of the End to create an Enkidu tailored to Gilgamesh’s perception, then had Bazett carry him and Eileen clear of the coming clash. Enkidu and Gilgamesh prepared to unleash their strongest attacks against each other.

• Cheng Tian’s Guardian Barrier absorbed Gilgamesh’s Gate of Babylon barrage while his mana rapidly recovered.
• Cheng Tian activated Calamity of the End and created a Shadow Heroic Spirit Enkidu based on Gilgamesh’s image of him.
• Bazett carried Cheng Tian and Eileen away as Enkidu confronted Gilgamesh.
• Enkidu focused on draining Gilgamesh’s mana, and the two prepared for a catastrophic exchange of attacks.

The Fifth War erupted into chaos as Gilgamesh and Enkidu unleashed their Noble Phantasms against each other. Cheng Tian used the clash to approach Gilgamesh, stop time, and transform him into a woman before biting his neck.

• Rin Tohsaka and Archer watched Gilgamesh cause destruction while Sakura Matou, Shirou Emiya, and the other fighters rushed toward the battle.
• Gilgamesh and Enkidu each unleashed Enuma Elish, creating a massive explosion that affected the surrounding area.
• Cheng Tian realized the damage to the planet was still limited, then used a Command Spell to restore all of Bazett's magical power.
• Cheng Tian teleported close to Gilgamesh and activated The World to stop time.
• Cheng Tian transformed the frozen Gilgamesh into a woman and bit his neck.

Cheng Tian tried to drink from Gilgamesh but spat out the cursed black mud, then used his vampire abilities and time-stop to batter the King of Heroes. The attacks shattered Gilgamesh’s Spirit Core, leaving the King of Heroes defeated.

• Cheng Tian spat out the black mud after trying to drink from Gilgamesh, then realized the curse had no effect on him.
• Cheng Tian used his hands to extract black mud from Gilgamesh and consumed MP-restoring items to extend his time stop.
• Cheng Tian and The World pummeled Gilgamesh during stopped time, with the Kusanagi Gauntlets adding flaming attacks.
• Cheng Tian ended the time stop, causing the accumulated blows to strike Gilgamesh at once and shatter his Spirit Core.

Cheng Tian killed Gilgamesh by shattering his Spirit Core during Time Stop, while Enkidu also began to disappear with Gilgamesh’s death. The Black Grail claimed Gilgamesh’s soul fragments despite Cheng Tian’s Ghost Gauntlet pulling against it, but Cheng Tian gained Gilgamesh’s golden treasure chest.

• Cheng Tian used Time Stop and Midnight Blessing to weaken Gilgamesh, then shattered his Spirit Core with World's sustained vibrational strikes.
• Gilgamesh realized Cheng Tian had killed him and accepted his defeat, while Enkidu began fading because Gilgamesh’s death ended the memory-based existence sustaining him.
• Gilgamesh and Enkidu exchanged a final, lighthearted farewell as Cheng Tian wondered if he had become part of their play.
• The Black Grail and Cheng Tian’s Ghost Gauntlet both pulled at Gilgamesh’s soul fragments, but the Black Grail won and claimed them.
• Cheng Tian watched Gilgamesh’s soul fragments depart, then turned his attention to the golden treasure chest Gilgamesh had dropped.

After the Age of Gods Noble Phantasm Clash exposed the Holy Grail War to all of Fuyuki, Kirei Kotomine chose to fake his death and hide while the other factions scrambled to respond. Shinji Matou was caught in a black Berserker’s attack, and a blue figure arrived near the church ruins.

• Kirei Kotomine decided to use the Meteor Crater to fake his death and go into hiding, sending the mad dog to investigate instead.
• Rin Tohsaka panicked over how to explain the destruction, while the dark-skinned, white-haired Archer rushed off to investigate.
• Rider raced Shinji Matou home on a bicycle, but they encountered a black Berserker and the overgrown loli riding him ordered an attack.
• Rider lifted Shinji out of the stone sword’s path but lowered him slightly, and its wind pressure tore away his lower body.
• Rider worried about how to explain Shinji’s injury to Sakura Matou as a blue figure landed near the church ruins.

Bazett fought Cú Chulainn after Cheng Tian revealed that she had become his Servant, then Cheng Tian identified himself as the Ruler and invited Cú Chulainn to join them against Kirei Kotomine. Cú Chulainn reacted to the news that Cheng Tian had killed Gilgamesh by challenging him to a fight.

• Cú Chulainn arrived in spirit form and was shocked to see Bazett alive and unharmed.
• Cheng Tian pointed out Cú Chulainn, and Bazett leaped at him and attacked.
• Bazett fought Cú Chulainn, whose confusion grew when he realized she had a Servant's body.
• Cheng Tian intervened, separated them, and introduced himself as Orange, the Ruler and Bazett's contracted Master.
• Cheng Tian said he had killed Gilgamesh and invited Cú Chulainn to help eliminate Kirei Kotomine.
• Cú Chulainn lowered his spear, showed his fighting spirit, and challenged Cheng Tian.

After Cheng Tian confirmed Cú Chulainn’s suggestive question, the Irish Hound challenged him to a fight, but Cheng Tian delayed it until the other Masters and Servants were gone. When the black Berserker approached, Cheng Tian and Cú Chulainn withdrew together, and Cú Chulainn decided to switch sides in exchange for a promised battle.

• Cú Chulainn challenged Cheng Tian after learning that Golden Flash had been killed, but Bazett stepped in to defend her Master.
• Cú Chulainn asked Cheng Tian whether he had slept with Bazett, and Cheng Tian’s casual confirmation embarrassed Bazett and Eileen.
• Cú Chulainn attacked Cheng Tian over his answer, then invited him to fight; Cheng Tian postponed the duel to avoid interruptions from other Servants.
• Cheng Tian sensed the approaching black Berserker and withdrew with Bazett, Eileen, and Cú Chulainn.
• Cú Chulainn decided to obtain Kirei Kotomine’s Command Spells and change Masters so Cheng Tian would fight him.
• The red Archer and black Berserker arrived at the church ruins after Cheng Tian’s group had left.

Cheng Tian showed Cú Chulainn that he had obtained a way to open Gate of Babylon after defeating Golden Gil, and revealed its powerful synergy with his vehicle storage. He left with greatly expanded inventory and firepower, while Eileen also claimed a prize from the King of Heroes’ chest.

• Cú Chulainn questioned whether Cheng Tian had really killed Golden Gil, so Cheng Tian demonstrated a golden portal and offered to explain more in exchange for both of Father Matou's arms.
• Cheng Tian revealed that he had obtained the Key to the Golden Capital, which opened an empty Gate of Babylon and provided additional storage slots.
• Cheng Tian's Key synergized with Void Garage, allowing stored vehicles to launch volleys through Gate of Babylon at the cost of ammunition and MP.
• Cheng Tian calculated that the key raised his potential dungeon haul to 33 items and eased his worries about Grid Crisis.
• Eileen opened a King of Heroes chest and obtained the One-handed Sword Spiral Sword.

Cheng Tian detected Red A watching from four kilometers away and explained the rule-breaking among the Holy Grail War participants. He delayed confronting Kirei Kotomine, intending to pursue other goals first, including meeting Saber and Touko Aozaki.

• Cheng Tian explained that Eileen’s Spiral Sword could become an arrow and warned that Bazett could use its effect against Cú Chulainn.
• Cheng Tian detected Red A within sniping range and told Cú Chulainn that the Archer was watching them from four kilometers away.
• Cheng Tian described how Kirei Kotomine, Golden Flash, and Caster had violated or disrupted the Holy Grail War’s rules.
• Cú Chulainn suggested they go after Kirei Kotomine, but Cheng Tian refused to kill him too soon.
• Cheng Tian revealed that he also wanted to meet Saber and Touko Aozaki.

Cheng Tian asked Bazett to help him find Touko Aozaki, but Bazett explained that the Clock Tower could not readily assist and that her own position was at risk. Cheng Tian instead directed her to contact the Ryougi family, hoping to reach someone who could help locate Touko.

• Lancer told Bazett he would return to smooth things over with Kirei and invited her to challenge him for the Command Spells.
• Bazett said she could use her Clock Tower identity and methods, but had only about a forty percent chance of finding Touko Aozaki.
• Bazett explained that the Bureau of Arcane Adjudication had likely sent her to the war as a sacrifice in an internal struggle and might strip her of her position if she failed.
• Cheng Tian blamed the Clock Tower's treatment of Bazett on its English mage families excluding her as an Irishwoman.
• Cheng Tian asked Bazett to use her channels to contact the Ryougi family, naming Ryougi Shiki and her husband, Kiritouya Kanzaki, as leads.

Cheng Tian contacted Shiki Ryougi’s detective agency to request help reaching Touko Aozaki for doll-related technical support. After Rin Tohsaka approached Cheng Tian’s group, Bazett identified herself and explained that Gilgamesh had been defeated, Kirei Kotomine had lost his role as overseer, and the Holy Grail was contaminated.

• Cheng Tian called Shiki Ryougi’s detective agency and asked for help contacting Touko Aozaki, offering to provide information and trade rare materials for a Blank Doll.
• Shiki Ryougi agreed to investigate Cheng Tian and relay the call to Touko, while keeping his relationship with her unconfirmed.
• Cheng Tian noticed Red Archer and Rin Tohsaka watching from across the street, and Rin overcame her hesitation to approach his group.
• Bazett introduced herself to Rin as a Clock Tower magus overseeing the Fifth War ritual.
• Bazett told Rin that her group had eliminated Gilgamesh, that Kirei Kotomine had stolen her Command Spell and Servant and was no longer a qualified overseer, and that the Holy Grail was contaminated.

After learning that the Holy Grail was contaminated and Kirei Kotomine had fled, Rin Tohsaka let Cheng Tian’s group stay at her residence. Cheng Tian and Bazett reported the danger to the Clock Tower, which ordered an investigation with an unexpected team.

• Cheng Tian explained to Rin Tohsaka that the Holy Grail had been contaminated during the Third War and that Kirei Kotomine had fled with what he was guarding.
• Red A reluctantly called Cheng Tian “Director” after Cheng Tian teased him about their respective Counter Force roles.
• Rin invited Cheng Tian, Bazett, and their companions to stay at the Tohsaka residence, and the group accepted.
• Cheng Tian and Bazett sent the Clock Tower information about the contaminated Grail while they waited for Touko Aozaki to contact them.
• The Clock Tower ordered an investigation and named Lord El-Melloi II as lead investigator, Touko Aozaki as technical support, and Ciel as Holy Church liaison.

Cheng Tian learned that Lord El-Melloi II, Touko Aozaki, and Ciel were being drawn into the investigation of the Grail contamination, triggering a Clock Tower team mission for Bazett. Ciel attacked Cheng Tian after sensing a Dead Apostle Ancestor, but he removed his template and left her confused before inviting her to eat hotpot.

• Cheng Tian received the side quest to help Bazett assist Lord El-Melloi II and the Clock Tower team in investigating the Grail contamination.
• Bazett agreed to take part in the investigation so she could help Cheng Tian and gain an ally inside the Clock Tower.
• Ciel attacked Cheng Tian at the Tohsaka residence with Black Keys and prepared to strike with the Seventh Holy Scripture.
• Ciel sensed Cheng Tian's Dead Apostle Ancestor aura and made exterminating him her priority.
• Cheng Tian uninstalled the Night of Walachia template, leaving Ciel sensing only his different vampire aura.
• Cheng Tian invited Ciel to join the hotpot, and she instinctively agreed.