Ophelia:

The sound of footsteps echoed densely in the tunnel.

Emiya was running at the back of the group.

Because they practiced magic, the Zhou Family disciples in the group could expend Mana to reinforce their leg strength, turning into speedsters and achieving a running speed far exceeding that of ordinary Hybrids.

But Jiu De Mayi and Ling didn't have this ability. They were huffing and puffing, trying hard to move their legs, but were still at the back, gradually falling behind.

Having no choice, Emiya could only grab one with each hand and drag them along, sprinting with Reinforcement Magic.

"Holy crap, my arms are about to be pulled off!" As they were about to leave the tunnel, Jiu De Mayi couldn't help but complain, "Can't you just pick me up and run?"

"Then I'd have to stop to pick you up, and the speed would drop significantly!" Emiya ran with his head down, took a breath, and added, "It should be fine if it were Ling!"

Are you complaining about my weight?! Jiu De Mayi couldn't help but mutter to herself.

Pat... pat... pat...

"Hoofbeats behind us! They're catching up!" Ling suddenly reminded him.

Emiya looked back. The figure suspected to be Odin was urging the Eight-Legged Heavenly Horse forward at a furious pace. Each time the hard hooves struck the ground, they would shake the surface and create indentations. The sight of the eight legs galloping in unison was like wind and thunder...

It had to be said, something with eight legs definitely ran faster than something with two.

At this moment, "Odin" raised his spear. The tip of the spear reflected a sharp light, flickering in the air as if trying to lock onto an enemy. Emiya finally saw clearly. This tall, strong figure was approaching aggressively, enveloped by a low pressure field. That momentum...

It was as if he was chasing down a thief who had stolen something from him.

"?"

Emiya, who had no idea what Norton had done here, naturally couldn't guess why Odin was angry. But he at least understood one thing—

He absolutely could not let Odin throw that legendary Spear of Destiny Gungnir!

This was the same principle as not giving Gilgamesh a chance to activate the EA Sword. Odin's Noble Phantasm had too resounding a reputation, so much so that Emiya couldn't give the opponent a chance to activate it!

"You two leave first!"

Circuit-board-like Magic Circuits lit up on Emiya's legs and arms, indicating that he was using Reinforcement Magic almost to its limit. He pushed off with his legs and swung his arms, forcefully throwing Jiu De Mayi and Ling, who were in his hands, forward.

Then, holding his twin swords, Seven Star Longyuan and Tai'a Sword, he turned to counterattack. Because Odin's horse was extremely fast, the blades of the two famous swords were almost instantly aimed at vital points like the chest and neck.

Odin immediately changed his stance with the spear, easily blocking the thrusting blades with two clangs. The shaft of the spear in his hand looked like a bent tree branch at first glance, but it made the sound of metal clashing when it collided with Emiya's twin swords.

Furthermore, the martial arts skill and strength Odin displayed were quite outstanding. The moment after blocking, he immediately deflected the spear shaft and, carrying the spearhead, spun it at an incredibly fast angle, stabbing directly at Emiya's face!

Whoosh! The circulating air was cut by this strike, creating a sharp explosion that vibrated the eardrums.

Emiya barely managed to dodge Odin's lightning-fast change of move by relying on Mind's Eye. At the same time, he poured the Mana used for Reinforcement Magic into his twin swords without reservation.

Buzz buzz—!

Seven Star Longyuan and Tai'a Sword let out soft hums as if in joy and excitement. The entire sword bodies instantly lit up, then rapidly deformed, revealing their true forms. Countless structures resembling sharp claws, fangs, and barbed feathers grew out from the sides, and the sword bodies expanded to two meters, three meters... four meters long!

Under Reinforcement, the legendary famous swords revealed a completely different, terrifyingly ferocious appearance. The four-meter sword bodies were almost tall enough to touch the ceiling. At the same time, the surging elemental power filling the swords made them faintly rumble with the sound of wind and thunder.

At this moment, Odin also raised his divine spear. Violent winds howled and gathered around him, converging from the entire long tunnel.

The next second, he thrust his spear forward. The wind pressure spun and wrapped around the spear shaft, making a frantic tearing sound. Emiya likewise swung his sword to cleave, the massive sword body pulling the atmosphere and emitting thunder!

Rumble—!

The light in the space dimmed for a moment. Their powerful collision stirred up a chaotic explosion of elements, transforming into a surging impact and a storm of screaming wind like howling ghosts the moment the spear and sword clashed.

The aftershock shook the metal walls of the tunnel. The walls were cut with smooth scars by the violent wind elements, and the smooth ground formed huge spiderweb-like cracks, chaotic and densely crisscrossed.

After this strike, Emiya, holding the twin swords that had returned to their original state, was almost sent flying backward by the recoil. However, his physique was relatively lighter than Odin's. After slightly adjusting his posture, he quickly reinforced his leg strength and stood firm again.

In contrast, Odin and the Eight-Legged Heavenly Horse beneath him only retreated a few steps due to the impact.

But seeing this, Emiya was filled with doubts...

Odin, is this all?

A dignified main god-level deity was actually forced to retreat by him?

After these few rounds of exchanges, this "Odin's" close-combat strength was even inferior to that of a first-class Servant.

Because Emiya knew that even with full-body Reinforcement, he still had a considerable gap from first-class martial arts skill.

Looking closer, Odin hadn't spoken the entire time, like a rigid dead person who only knew how to attack, and he wore a suspicious mask covering his face... Was this a fake Odin?

Emiya frowned and looked at the spear in Odin's hand. Putting aside whether it was fake or not, with Emiya's keen perception of weapons, that Spear of Destiny in his hand did indeed house the terrifying concept of guaranteed hit.

At least this part of Odin's power was real and not false.

In other words, this was just an empty shell that borrowed a very small part of Odin's power, without Odin's true consciousness?

So that's how it is? Emiya realized that his initial guess was off. This situation wasn't like Heroic Spirit summoning, where a complete form was summoned and descended.

Instead, it was similar to the術式 (術式 - jutsu/technique) taught by the Clock Tower's Spiritual Evocation Department—a technique that borrowed a very small portion of a deity or Heroic Spirit's power through Spiritual Evocation.

Although the Clock Tower is often criticized for being exceptionally unreliable, their teaching level is still there. If someone came from a Nordic Noble Family of mages, it wouldn't be impossible to borrow a small part of Odin's power through Spiritual Evocation with the family's foundation.

Emiya also happened to know that there was indeed someone who came from a Nordic Noble Family and was also a genius in the Spiritual Evocation Department...

Ophelia Phamrsolone!

Ophelia was known as the "Modern Valkyrie," and like Odin, she covered one eye. In the FGO storyline, she also became the Crypter responsible for the Nordic Lostbelt.

Other elements basically matched, but only the other party's personality didn't quite fit. Although Ophelia came from a traditional magic family, she was essentially a kind person and shouldn't be willing to manipulate these dark matters...

Perhaps, the scope should be broadened a bit, and he should have Wa Lord investigate all the Nordic Noble Families on the Clock Tower side using this clue...

Thanks to @浪客归心, @书友20200729081339537, and @书友20230317161008130 for the monthly votes!