Qin Shi Huang/Plot

## Past

Where It All Began • The Unification of China

## Past

### Where It All Began

Qin Shi Huang was the most cursed prince in history. In 260BC, at the Battle of Changping, the General of the Qin Army, Bai Qi, had the captured Zhao soldiers buried alive en masse. According to the Shi Ji, 450,000 men were killed. In the following year, Zichu (a member of the Qin's royal family being held captive by the Zhao) had an affair with a Zhao dancer. Born in enemy territory, their child was a boy called Ying Zheng, who would grow up to be known as Qin Shi Huang.

In 257BC, Zichu returned to Qin alone, abandoning Ying Zheng. Ying Zheng's mother also abandoned him. When King Zhaoxiang of Qin invaded the Zhao's capital, Handan, a soldier asked what he would do about Ying Zheng, since he was still in the capital. King Zhaoxiang denied ever knowing who he was.

At just two years old, Ying Zheng was abandoned by his father, his mother and even his own country. Five years later, on the outskirts of Handan, there lied a mansion that was covered in graffiti of many curse words and at the entrance, were two guards who were lazily sitting down.

A seven-year-old Ying Zheng (later known as Qin Shi Huang) arrived back home. As he went up the stairs with a bag, one guard glares at him while the other spits in his direction. The one who spat loudly complains about how he has to guard the home of the Qin's prince. The other guard agrees, saying Ying Zheng is not even worth being a hostage before glaring at Ying Zheng's eyes and threatening to bury him alive if he is ever allowed to. Closing his eyes as he feels a throbbing, Ying Zheng painfully smiles and thanks the guards for keeping his home safe. As he walks in, the guards remark about how he's always smiling like that and call him creepy. Even after Qin's siege of Handan, Zhao continued to keep Ying Zheng hostage. They placed him under harsh supervision. Keeping him alive yet never really letting him live all while he bore the scorn of the Zhao people.

As Ying Zheng entered the courtyard of his mansion, he was surprised to see a woman blowing a pinwheel. She asks if he's Ying Zheng and after the boy confirms he is, the woman admits she didn't think he would be so young. Ying Zheng asks who she is and the woman introduces herself as Chun Yan, his new live-in caretaker and bodyguard. Leering over him, Chun Yan asserts that means she can do whatever she wants to him but Ying Zheng simply smiles and bows, saying it's a pleasure to meet her.

After making a comment on how polite he is, Chun Yan asks Ying Zheng to show her around.

When they enter the mansion, Chun Yan laughs about what a sorry state it is in and guesses it suits a reject from the Qin family like Ying Zheng. Ying Zheng, while keeping his eyes closed, asks Chun Yan if she'd like some water and Chun Yan suddenly questions if Ying Zheng is really seven. Ying Zheng asks if there is anything strange about him and Chun Yan asserts she doesn't like him. She points out that a kid his age would normally be crying or throwing a fit yet all Ying Zheng has been doing is smiling, which has begun giving Chun Yan the creeps. Ying Zheng apologises before doing a pose and asking if this is better.

Chun Yan questions if he's mocking her and after he nervously says no, Chun Yan disregards it and opens a window, telling Ying Zheng that they're going to be cleaning this mansion. And so, their unusual familial life began. Later that day, Chun Yan and Ying Zheng go to a market and after Chun Yan buys something, she notices how Ying Zheng is looking at the mantou stall.

She encourages him to tell her when he wants something before going to the stall and requesting two mantou as well as some grilled meat. The owner picks up a mantou with chopsticks and compliments Chun Yan's beauty before noticing Ying Zheng behind her.

With a scowl, the owner drops the mantou on the floor and tells Ying Zheng to take it. Grabbing the owner by his collar, Chun Yan questions what he's doing, only to witness Ying Zheng thank the owner, pick the mantou off of the ground, dust the dirt off and eat it. The people around realise who he is and talk about how they lost their loved ones at the Battle of Changping, blaming it all on Ying Zheng and wishing they could kill him. Ying Zheng opens his eyes and feels pain from their glares. That night, after Ying Zheng finishes eating, he prepares to go lie down and bows, causing Chun Yan to briefly see a small mark on Ying Zheng's chest.

Chun Yan orders him to wait and pulls Ying Zheng's shirt off, revealing multiple scars around his body. Chun Yan questions if the people did this but Ying Zheng reveals to her that scars appear on his body whenever he sees someone get injured or if they feel hatred towards him. This is what is known as Mirror Touch Synesthesia. For example, if a person with this condition saw someone touch their cheek, they would feel the exact same sensation on their own cheek. In Ying Zheng's case, every time he saw someone else get injured, that injury would appear on his body. Furthermore, as a result of him being exposed to the Zhao people's hatred for his entire life, Ying Zheng surpassed human limits and developed a horrible condition in which the hatred towards him also became pain.

Putting his shirt back on, Ying Zheng assures Chun Yan it'll be alright as the pain is little and his wounds will heal with time, only to sway forward. Chun Yan catches him and points out how it's not just "a little pain" as Ying Zheng can barely stand up. When she questions why he is hiding this, Ying Zheng asserts that the pain he feels from the Zhao people's hatred is his punishment. Ying Zheng had instinctively learned how to smile at the age of seven as a way to slightly allay the hatred towards him. It was a pitiful armor that Ying Zheng wore in the hopes that the people would one day forgive him.

Mocking his hope that they'll forgive him, Chun Yan questions how he can keep smiling like that, why he doesn't get angry and why he doesn't hate them.

Falling to her knees, Chun Yan assures Ying Zheng that the Battle of Changping is absolutely not his fault. She says it isn't right for Ying Zheng to get hurt like this and she yells at him to stop holding himself back. If he wants to cry, he should cry. If he feels mad, he should let it all out. Chun Yan instructs him to stop killing himself inside and to stop lying about how he feels. Still painfully smiling, Ying Zheng says he cannot get angry as he is a cursed child. Hugging him, Chun Yan assures Ying Zheng that he hasn’t done anything wrong at all and he doesn’t deserve to be punished for what his parents did.

Crying, Chun Yan calls Ying Zheng a kind person who can understand the pain of others and his wounds are proof of that: they are not a curse. As the boy begins tearing up, Chun Yan tells him that he can live life however he wants. Ying Zheng begins bawling and as Chun Yan encourages him to let it all out, Ying Zheng reveals how he really hates everyone as they all blame him for something he had no part in. That day, for the first time in his life, Ying Zheng let his true feelings show. The next day, Ying Zheng wakes up in bed and after getting up, he walks to the kitchen where Chun Yan is making breakfast.

After noting he must’ve slept like a baby, Chun Yan decides to give Ying Zheng a blindfold. Blowing her pinwheel, Chun Yan notes that she thought that if he covered his eyes, it’d help with the pain a little.

After hearing Chun Yan made it herself, Ying Zheng puts the blindfold on and exclaims “Hăo!”, promising to take care of it. Smiling, Chun Yan admits she likes the word, “Hăo”. From then on, Chun Yan became the only person Ying Zheng could be around and not feel any pain. Every day he spent with Chun Yan, Ying Zheng was able to smile, have fun from the bottom of his heart and became more and more cheerful. It was the first time in Ying Zheng’s life where he was truly happy.

However, 2 years later, King Zhaoxiang and his son, Xiaowen, passed away. And so, in 250BC, the man who had abandoned Ying Zheng, Zichu, ascended to the throne. Thus, Ying Zheng unexpectedly became the crown prince, the first in line to the throne, and was permitted to return to Qin. Outside the mansion, Chun Yan and Ying Zheng were picked up by soldiers from Qin. On the way, a soldier driving the carriage points out to Ying Zheng that once they’re past the cliff, they’ll be at the borders of Qin.

As Chun Yan blows her pinwheel, Ying Zheng sadly guesses this is where they’ll say goodbye. Chun Yan says her job will only last until the border before admitting to Ying Zheng that the 2 years she spent with him were really fun. Ying Zheng asks Chun Yan to come with him into Qin but Chun Yan points out to Ying Zheng that she’s a citizen of Zhao and pats his back, telling him to lose the gloomy face as he’s now the Prince of Qin. Suddenly, Chun Yan notices an arrow flying at them and covers Ying Zheng and ducking, causing the arrow to pierce the back of the driver. This ends up leading to the carriage falling over. Four armored men arrive on horses and as the soldiers point out to them that this is the carriage of the Prince of Qin, one of the armored men shoots all the soldiers down.

As they all surround it, Chun Yan and Ying Zheng crawl out of the fallen carriage. Looking at them, Chun Yan recalls how Ying Zheng was a guest of the King of Zhao since he was a hostage. But now that he isn’t, it seems these men from Zhao have come to take out their anger at him.

Realising this is his fault, looking at the dead soldiers, Ying Zheng takes off his blindfold. Picking up a sword, he stands in front of Chun Yan and promises to fight. Chun Yan commends him before kneeing his stomach. As Ying Zheng lies on the ground, Chun Yan stands to defend him, claiming this is her job. One Zhao soldier decides to kill Chun Yan first and swings his sword. Chun Yan leans down to dodge before kicking his face. A second Zhao soldier grazes a part of Chun Yan’s back and attempts to stab her, only for Chun Yan to duck and kick at the soldier’s legs. As he loses balance, Chun Yan elbows the man’s face. As Ying Zheng worries for Chun Yan, a third Zhao soldier stabs her back, calling her “Qin scum”.

Asserting she is a Zhao, Chun Yan turns around with the sword still in her back and palm strikes the man’s face as he falls down, the final Zhao soldier appears behind his falling body and slashes Chun Yan across the chest, causing her to fall down. The soldier then approaches Ying Zheng and lifts his sword up to kill him, only for Chun Yan to grab his head from behind. Telling him to stay away from her child, Chun Yan proceeds to break the soldier’s neck. Afterwards, Chun Yan falls down again and Ying Zheng cradles her, begging her to stay with him. Chun Yan apologises and Ying Zheng questions why she did this for him. Chun Yan confesses she’s been hiding something and reveals to Ying Zheng that she had a son that would’ve been his age. He was named Chun Ou and he was buried alongside the Zhao soldiers at the Battle of Changping.

Chun Yan started to hate living and cursed Qin. When she heard there was an opening to be Ying Zheng’s nanny, Chun Yan really wanted to see what kind of expression Ying Zheng would have on his face. If she didn’t like it, she would’ve given him a piece of her mind. Just like the rest of Zhao, she tried finding a way to vent her anger but after meeting Ying Zheng, Chun Yan stopped caring about that. She guesses that if a kid like Ying Zheng, who understands the pain of others, became king, then maybe he could change the world like he changed her.

She encourages Ying Zheng to walk the path he believes in and become the greatest king of all. Crying, Ying Zheng promises to become the greatest king so in exchange, Chun Yan shouldn’t die. After telling him to bawl his eyes out if he is sad, Chun Yan begins imagining Ying Zheng as Chun Ou. Caressing his cheek, Chun Yan asks to see Chun Ou's face and Ying Zheng squeezes her hand, calling her “Māma”. Chun Yan responds with “Hăo” before dying. Ying Zheng begins to cry over Chun Yan’s corpse.

Afterwards, Ying Zheng arrived safely at Xianyang, the capital of Qin. On July 6, 247BC, following the death of Zichu, Ying Zheng became the King of Qin at the age of twelve. As he walks through a hallway where servants bow at his sides, Ying Zheng looks at his blindfold. He asks Chun Yan to watch over him and after putting the blindfold on, Ying Zheng tells Chun Yan they should walk the path of an Emperor together.

### The Unification of China

Long before China was unified, it was ruled by a Demon God named Chiyou. At that point in time, kings did not become kings: they were only allowed to act as kings with Chiyou's permission. In 220BC, Qin Shi Huang overthrew and annexed the six warring states, unifying the country of China into one. Due to receiving a Mandate of Heaven, Qin Shi Huang made the journey east and ascended Mount Tai to perform the Rite of Feng and Shan. It was said he went there to pay homage to Chiyou.

In actuality, on that day, Qin Shi Huang dragged along a coffin while ascending Mount Tai. At the peak, he found Chiyou munching on a Human's bones with many other bones and skulls scattered around the area. Chiyou commented on how young Qin Shi Huang is before complimenting him for still smiling as other kings would normally be trembling at the sight of him. Chiyou then offered to make him the Emperor of China – a king among kings – in exchange for Qin Shi Huang offering up 10,000 of his own people and bowing.

Lifting up the coffin by the rope he has wrapped around it, Qin Shi Huang revealed he already has a sacrifice and threw the coffin at Chiyou.

The coffin opened up midair and Chiyou ended up catching a soldier made out of clay. Qin Shi Huang told him the soil of Qin was delicious, encouraging Chiyou to eat to his heart's content. After taking a bite, Chiyou spat it out and called it disgusting. Throwing the rest of the soldier at Qin Shi Huang's feet, Chiyou warned Qin Shi Huang that without his divine admittance, he would never be able to rule over China. Chiyou insisted he should've bowed before him like all the kings before him but Qin Shi Huang bluntly stated that he disapproved of Chiyou's face, voice and attitude. He asserted he'd rather die than bow before him.

Chiyou was angered he'd say this to a God but Qin Shi Huang thinks of him as a "man-eating beast" rather than a God. After remarking that the kings before him were not truly kings, Qin Shi Huang swore to defeat the Demon God, resulting in a battle between Chiyou and Qin Shi Huang that lasted for six days. During the fight, Qin Shi Huang mastered the five techniques of his martial arts and named it **Chi You**, after the Demon God himself. On the final rainy day, Qin Shi Huang finally defeated Chiyou, causing the history of China to pass over into the hands of man and becoming known as "*The King Where It All Began*".

## Ragnarok

2200 years after his death, all of the Gods decided to end all of Humanity, but Brunhilde points out a clause known as Ragnarok which gives Humanity a fighting chance. All of the Gods rejected the idea until Brunhilde insulted their pride as they agreed. Qin Shi Huang was one of the peak Human warriors selected to participate and fight against the Gods in Ragnarok.

### Seventh Round

Prior to the beginning of the seventh round, Qin Shi Huang wandered around the Valhalla Arena out of boredom. He began creating many holes in the corridors to find his waiting room and winds up outside of the Gods' VIP section, where Ares and Hermes are. After walking in, Qin Shi Huang sat down on Hades' seat. Thinking he's a lost Human, Ares attempted to guide Qin Shi Huang to Humanity's side of the crowd and grabbed his arm, only for Qin Shi Huang to use **Chi You – Armor Form: Heavenly Hand of Defense** to redirect the energy of Ares' grip, allowing Qin Shi Huang to throw Ares into the air with ease. As Ares laid on the ground, confused as to what happened, Hermes stood in front of Qin Shi Huang as he questioned who he was. Qin Shi Huang ordered the two Gods to humble themselves in front of him and said it matters not what this place is.

Because he is the Emperor, the throne is where he sits. Angered, Ares questioned what Qin Shi Huang thought he was doing as he was only trying to be nice. He ignored Ares and complimented Hades' seat for being so soft. Ares grabbed Qin Shi Huang's arm to get him to stand up once more but Qin Shi Huang used **Heavenly Hand of Defense** again to throw Ares against the door behind him. After calling Ares a lively guy, Qin Shi Huang asked if they had any drinks as he's thirsty.

Out of curiosity as to who he is, Hermes gladly served Qin Shi Huang some honey mead and after taking a sip, Qin Shi Huang was thoroughly pleased and asked for Hermes' name. At that moment, Ares attempted to yell at Qin Shi Huang and Hermes for ignoring him but ended up getting his face hit by Göll opening the doors. She exclaimed it's just like Brunhilde said and Brunhilde came in, admonishing Qin Shi Huang for not staying in his waiting room and creating so many holes in the corridors.

Qin Shi Huang reassured Brunhilde that as the Emperor, the road is where he leads. She then ordered him to come with her but Qin Shi Huang refused because he's come to like this place.

It is at that moment that Brunhilde informed Qin Shi Huang he's going up in the seventh round, exciting Qin Shi Huang as he was getting bored. Brunhilde told him to come with her to Humanity's entrance but he reminded her the road is where he leads. Heimdall tried to introduce Qin Shi Huang into the arena but when no-one came out of Humanity's entrance, all the former Chinese Emperors (including Zhu Yuanzhang, Liu Bang, Liu Che, Liu Bei, Cao Pi and Sun Quan) made their way to the Gods' side of the arena and lined up between the VIP room and the arena. They then laid out a giant carpet that Qin Shi Huang used to descend into the arena as Heimdall decided to go with it and did his introduction.

After Qin Shi Huang landed in the arena, the tenth Valkyrie, Alvitr came through Humanity's entrance and complained about Qin Shi Huang leaving her waiting.

She recalls how he told her not to worry but she pointed out they haven't even practiced their Völundr yet and expressed doubt that their hearts could become one.

Qin Shi Huang suddenly picked her up and after being told not to act so rough, Alvitr succumbed to Qin Shi Huang's good looks and underwent Völundr with him, becoming Almighty Spaulders, armor on his arms.

Hades then came through his entrance, the Gods all standing at attention as he did.

After Hades took off his coat, Heimdall started the fight.

Lifting up his bident, Hades apologised to Qin Shi Huang in advance, telling him to rue the fact that he's a part of the race that killed Poseidon. Hades proceeded to unleash a mighty jab, aiming to kill Qin Shi Huang with one blow. Qin Shi Huang narrowly moved his head out of the way, resulting in his left earring being broken. Hades began using a flurry of jabs that Qin Shi Huang expertly dodged. Jumping up, Hades used **Persephone Kallichorono**, jabbing down at the ground. Qin Shi Huang dodged but the force of the jab carried through the ground and followed Qin Shi Huang all the way to the stands.

At that point, the full force of the jab hit the stands while the wind created by the jab cut Qin Shi Huang's side.

Aiming to end it, Hades then unleashed **Persephone Roa**, using a more powerful jab that created a shockwave.

In response, Qin Shi Huang used **Heavenly Hand of Defense** and intercepted Hades' bident with the back of his left hand, taking the energy into his body before deflecting its strike.

Qin Shi Huang then transferred the energy from his body back into the bident and after Qin Shi Huang let go, the energy reflected back at Hades, causing the other end of his bident to strike him in the chest and send him flying across the arena. As Hades laid slumped against the stands, Qin Shi Huang recalled how Heimdall said he was the King of the Netherworld before triumphantly declaring he is the only king in this world. After getting up, head bleeding, Qin Shi Huang asked Hades if he wants to continue, calling him "Lord" of the Netherworld instead of "King".

Hades decided to ask what makes a king in Qin Shi Huang's eyes and Qin Shi Huang declared a king is someone who never doubts, never yields, never relies and always stands as the leader of his people. Hades began uncharacteristically laughing with a big smile and Qin Shi Huang laughed along before questioning why Hades laughed. Hades admitted Qin Shi Huang's philosophy of what makes a king reminded him of how Poseidon acted like that too. After calling Poseidon the one most worthy of the title of "King", Hades gripped his bident above his head and swore, as Poseidon's older brother, to never give in to a King of Men.

From that unusual stance, Hades swung his bident forward while moving his grip down to the end, using a downward crushing blow known as **Persephone Titan**. Qin Shi Huang attempted to block by crossing his forearms and prepared to use **Heavenly Hand of Defense** but Hades began gripping the bident with both of his hands. Hades then drew his bident back and the combination of the bident being swung down and drawn back became too much for Qin Shi Huang to deflect away. After yelling that he's King of the Netherworld, Hades applied more force, resulting in him being lifted into the air and Qin Shi Huang being crushed into the ground. Landing on the opposite side, Hades blew away the dust created by his attack to see a lying-down Qin Shi Huang, with blood covering his head. Heimdall was about to declare him dead when Qin Shi Huang spat out some blood. He then stood up and Hades playfully asked if he's still willing to fight, still addressing him as the King of Men.

After complaining about the blood making his blindfold sticky, Qin Shi Huang takes it off and decided to acknowledge Hades' title as King of the Netherworld, inviting him to continue. Impressed by Qin Shi Huang smiling after taking his attack, Hades moved in and jabbed his bident multiple times, grazing Qin Shi Huang's right cheek and chest.

Parrying the bident with his hands, Qin Shi Huang looked for an opportunity to use **Heavenly Hand of Defense**. After cutting Qin Shi Huang's side, Hades held his bident above his head again and once more used **Persephone Titan**.

Qin Shi Huang is about to be crushed down again when he decided to use his eyes to see the flow of Hades' Qi and the cruxes that are along that flow in the form of stars.

Looking at the largest star on Hades' left arm, Qin Shi Huang used **Chi You – Crossbow Form: Tortoise Ripple** to fire a ball of condensed air from his mouth to hit the star to disrupt the flow of Qi.

This made Hades' left grip to involuntarily loosen and apply less force, much to Hades' confusion. Taking advantage of this, Qin Shi Huang gripped the bident by the spearhead and caused the polearm to slip off of Hades' right hand and be wedged into his armpit.

Lifting Hades up through lifting the bident, Qin Shi Huang employed **Heavenly Hand of Defense** and throws Hades behind him, letting the polearm embed itself across Hades' chest, making him spit out blood.

As dust arised around Hades, Qin Shi Huang charged in to stab him with the zhijiatao on his right hand, only for Hades to jab out from the dust. Qin Shi Huang dodged by jumping up, spinning in midair and landing behind Hades. After looking at the wound on Hades' chest, Qin Shi Huang received the same damage as Hades, which is a result of his Mirror Touch Synesthesia.

After briefly covering his eyes, Qin Shi Huang charged back in and Hades charged in too, calling head-on attacks his domain of combat. Qin Shi Huang used **Tortoise Ripple** again to hit the star in Hades' chest. After ducking to dodge Hades' attack, Qin Shi Huang got close and used **Chi You – Spear Form: Mount Tai Dragon Claw**, stabbing Hades in the stomach and gouging out his flesh with the zhijiatao on his right hand. After Hades flied back and held onto his wound, he figured out that Qin Shi Huang fires his breath at the crux of his power to disrupt the flow of his technique, which he called impressive for a "mere puff of air". Qin Shi Huang smiled and with stars in his eyes, revealed to Hades that he could see all the stars in his body.

Qin Shi Huang suddenly winced in pain and Hades questioned what's wrong. As Qin Shi Huang's stomach receives the same damage as Hades, Qin Shi Huang complained about how this is why he didn't want to use his eyes.

Smiling, Qin Shi Huang then pointed to his head and overcomes the pain, sighing about it.

Qin Shi Huang complained about how this hurts. Hades realised he could feel the pain of others and called it an unfortunate blight.

Qin Shi Huang disagreed and asserted that, because he can feel the pain of others, he is the greatest king.

When Hades questioned if Qin Shi Huang was really calling himself the greatest king while disregarding him, Qin Shi Huang admitted that Hades was strong but in order to fulfill his promise with Chun Yan to become the greatest king, he cannot afford to lose. After Hades acknowledged that Qin Shi Huang has a promise to never lose, he then claimed he could not lose as he had his own vow to keep and charged directly at the Emperor. Qin Shi Huang tried firing **Tortoise Ripple** but Hades spun his bident around himself, dispersing the air bullet.

As Qin Shi Huang paused from shock, Hades swung his bident down while firmly planting his feet into the ground. Qin Shi Huang blocks the bident but is then surprised to see Hades perform **Cornucopia**. Qin Shi Huang just about blocked Hades' right knee with his right hand and as he fell back, Hades swung his bident with both hands.

In that moment, Qin Shi Huang fired **Tortoise Ripple** once more, hitting Hades' left shoulder and causing his attack to swerve away. Now that Hades was vulnerable, Qin Shi Huang lifted up his right leg into the air and performed **Chi You – Halberd Form: White Tiger Crescent Moon**, swinging his kick in a crescent arc. Hades just about blocked with his left forearm but ended up blown back.

With the skin of his arm torn open, Hades admitted he was aiming to kill Qin Shi Huang just then and called him magnificent for countering, to which Qin Shi Huang said "Hăo!". Hades reacknowledged that Qin Shi Huang was worthy to be a king and decided to respond as King of the Netherworld.

Hades then dragged the fin protrusion of his bident along his chest and ripped his shirt in the process. Hades then began to whistle the same tune as Poseidon before slicking back his hair with his blood.

Qin Shi Huang questioned why Hades would inflict so much damage upon himself as he feels his pain. Hades charged in and Qin Shi Huang fired **Tortoise Ripple**.

But now that his body is covered in blood, Hades catches where the air bullet is about to hit him. Before the air bullet can go through the blood on his chest, Hades leans backwards and causes his Qi crux to shift downwards, negating the effect of the air bullet entirely, much to Qin Shi Huang's shock. Hades acted as if he was going to thrust his bident forward, only to change it into a swinging motion midway through. Qin Shi Huang managed to sidestep the attack and huffed as Hades explained how Qin Shi Huang was no longer a threat to him, now that his air bullets are ineffective.

Soon after, Qin Shi Huang got surprised when he witnessed Hades' bident was now soaking and dripping with Hades' blood. After noting it was finally complete, Hades ordered his bident to "Assemble". Hades' blood, known as "Pluto Ichor", contains his life force and has the ability to turn any Divine Weapon more powerful.

Qin Shi Huang noticed that Hades' Qi is going into his bident and soon after, Hades' bident transformed into Ichor: Desmos. Hades informed Qin Shi Huang that this was his trump card before unleashing **Ichor: Eos**, his ultimate attack. Qin Shi Huang could see Desmos shining as Hades charged in. After intercepting the attack with the back of his left hand, Qin Shi Huang attempted to use **Heavenly Hand of Defense** to redirect it, only for Hades to break through the armor on Qin Shi Huang's left hand and cut off his ring and pinky fingers.

Hades continued going forward and gouged out Qin Shi Huang's left shoulder. As Qin Shi Huang skidded back, Hades declared he was not going to be defeated as he is the eldest brother. Knowing Alvitr got injured too since Hades broke a portion of the Almighty Spaulders, Qin Shi Huang asked her if she was alright. Alvitr replied that this was nothing and Qin Shi Huang apologised to her since she only got hurt because of him. Alvitr insisted her pain was nothing compared to his and asked how he was doing. Qin Shi Huang said "Moumantai" since he can bear his own pain better than the pain of others, which impressed Alvitr. Pointing Desmos at him, Hades told Qin Shi Huang to be proud as he drove him to the point where he had to use his trump card.

Thinking about it for a bit, Qin Shi Huang relayed to Alvitr that he thought they'd lose if this continued any further. That is why he wanted to bet everything on their next strike. Upset at how meek he's being, Alvitr yelled at Qin Shi Huang to say what he wants, loud and clear like a king. After remarking on how haughty she is, Qin Shi Huang declared he wanted to win, no matter what. Sighing about how stubborn kings are, Alvitr took Qin Shi Huang by the hand and promised to give him all her power. Thanks to Alvitr's Völundr Re-Cast, Qin Shi Huang Re-Casts the left sleeve of his Almighty Spaulders into the Shi Huang Goujian Sword. Holding it up, Qin Shi Huang said he was an Emperor, a king among kings, and asserted that a king's only pride was in protecting his people.

Both Hades and Qin Shi Huang could tell that their match was coming to an end. Hades charged in with **Ichor: Eos** and Qin Shi Huang responded with **Chi You – Sword Form: Shi Huang Yan Cut**, swinging his Goujian Sword forward. The two attacks met and **Ichor: Eos** proved to be much stronger, knocking the Goujian Sword back. As Hades continued to move forward, Qin Shi Huang just about leaned to the right, causing Hades' strike to cut off his left arm. Qin Shi Huang ended up lying on the ground while Hades catched his breath.

Alvitr apologised to Qin Shi Huang as they couldn't hit Hades, even at full power. However, Qin Shi Huang chuckled and remarked about how beautiful the star he saw was. Qin Shi Huang then got back up, repeating what a king was, ending with the fact that a king doesn't surrender. Alvitr said it was good that Qin Shi Huang wasn't giving up but wanted to know what his plan was. Qin Shi Huang said he was going to use **Heavenly Hand of Defense** again. Alvitr couldn't believe that since Qin Shi Huang was missing an arm but the Emperor told Alvitr to believe in him. Deciding to, Alvitr stood next to Qin Shi Huang and put her hand over his, causing the Goujian Sword to shine brightly.

Hades admitted he was proud to have fought Qin Shi Huang and prepared to strike once more. Hades started, using **Ichor: Eos** once more. As Hades came closer, Qin Shi Huang clashed the tip of his Goujian Sword against Desmos. At the same time, he applied **Heavenly Hand of Defense** through the blade, letting him hold the spear back. Hades dug his foot forward and began pushing against him. Everyone watching thought this was the end, except for the King Where It All Began. Hades' Qi inside Desmos means that a Qi crux has formed at its tip. Thus, Qin Shi Huang fired **Tortoise Ripple** at the star he saw, weakening Desmos. Qin Shi Huang began thinking about how his life began from the end but Chun Yan had taught him that a king was one who arose from the end to bring about the beginning.

Redirecting the force of Desmos against it, Qin Shi Huang used **Chi You – Sword-Armor Form: Shi Huang Guard and Yan Cut**, breaking through Desmos and stabbing Hades through the chest. As Qin Shi Huang huffed, Hades called him magnificent again before lifting up the remains of his weapon to try and keep attacking. Qin Shi Huang cut him off by slashing through his heart and out of his left shoulder. As blood gushed out of him, a smiling Hades said he expected nothing less from a king.

After Hades disappeared, Qin Shi Huang looked as if he would fall too but stood his ground. Putting the Goujian Sword down, Qin Shi Huang expressed how glad he was that he got to speak with Hades. He initially addressed him as "King of the Netherworld" before taking it back. Making a one-armed prayer, Qin Shi Huang called Hades "Péngyou", which meant "Friend", showing his final respects to his opponent. As Heimdall announced that Qin Shi Huang was the winner, the Goujian Sword and the last few bits of the Almighty Spaulders turned back into Alvitr, who was heavily wounded all over.

She was about to fall to the ground when Qin Shi Huang caught her, though at the same time, he winced as his body experienced her pain. Alvitr warned Qin Shi Huang not to push himself when he's more hurt but he told her not to worry. After getting Qin Shi Huang to sling his remaining arm over her, Alvitr began guiding them both towards the exit, still in disbelief that they won, and calling it a miracle. Qin Shi Huang disagreed and reminded Alvitr that he told her to trust him. Alvitr sighed about how stupid Qin Shi Huang was before the Emperor collapsed on the floor, prompting Alvitr to exclaim his real name in a panic.

Qin Shi Huang was then gurneyed away by nurses and was taken to a hidden medical room behind a door that said "Do Not Use", in a dilapidated part of the Valhalla Arena. Inside, both Qin Shi Huang and Alvitr were placed in recovery pods. When Brunhilde and Göll came to see them, a doctor said that Qin Shi Huang was in a critical condition and that the rest depended on his own strength to live.