Chapter 4: The Eastern Nibelungen Plan
The Hybrid families appearing in the Type-Moon series, taking the Tōno family as an example, are not only major financial magnates in modern society but also the patriarchs of subordinate branch families like the Kugamine, Gakuma, and Tōzaki. Their influence is undeniably vast.
And the Hybrids who have inherited non-human blood often awaken powerful abilities and unique supernatural powers. The purer their bloodline, the stronger their strength. Of course, there are also cases where a thin bloodline results in no difference from ordinary people.
However, Hybrids are only one part of the Type-Moon worldview.
What Wei Gong didn't know was that compared to Type-Moon, where immortals, demons, monsters, and ghosts dance wildly, the Dragon world is much simpler. Regardless of what spiritual, supernatural, witchcraft, or divine authorities exist, they are essentially Dragon abilities, and all human extraordinary families or forces are composed of Hybrids, with virtually no exceptions.
"Wow, they're like mutants from American comics! And it's hereditary for the whole family!" Old Tang, who had just heard the science popularization, was full of envy. "Brother, you said I'm always so lucky on missions, will I also awaken some ability?"
Wei Gong Shirou unceremoniously poured cold water on him, "Great power often comes with risks. While Hybrid status grants powerful strength, it also weakens human moral values. When the blood of the non-human is thicker than the blood of the human, 'reversal impulse' will occur."
"In short, turning from a human into a 'ghost'!"
Wa Zhu seemed to take an interest in Wei Gong. "That's interesting. Do your Eastern Hybrids call those out-of-control guys 'ghosts'?"
Wei Gong Shirou was surprised. Was Wa Zhu's side not like that?
...That's right, Wa Zhu's name clearly has a Divine Land style, and besides, ghost species are a unique product of Japanese legends.
According to the FGO setting, Shuten-doji, the Oni King of Mount Ōe, also possesses another divine aspect—"Spirit Ibaraki-dōji." Ibaraki-dōji is the child of Yamata no Orochi, which means the source of the Oni bloodline is very likely Yamata no Orochi.
And the Hybrids of the Divine Land certainly couldn't have mixed with the blood of Oni or Yamata no Orochi. The greatest possibility should be...
"The vast land of Huaxia, auspiciously represented by the Dragon, has remained unchanged for over several millennia," through the screen, one could almost discern the proud tone in Wa Zhu's statement. "True Dragon bloodline is the orthodox lineage of the Divine Land."
This is so reasonable!
The Divine Land indeed has a profound Dragon culture, and the Dragon is also a national totem. Emperors in feudal society even called themselves "True Dragon Son of Heaven." If there wasn't some dragon blood in this, it really wouldn't make sense!
Wei Gong Shirou silently mused, could this be the expanded Hybrid family worldview of the future Tsukihime 2?
"Back to the main topic, kid, which Hybrid family from the Eastern Land are you from?" Wa Zhu's tone became ancient and condescending.
...I'm actually Chinese-American. I'm not a Hybrid, just a half-baked Magician.
"Oh, your ancestors emigrated there?"
Wei Gong Shirou said, "Yes, yes, yes." Yes, his ancestors (referring to his past life). No problem.
"Magician? One who performs Western tricks?"
Wei Gong Shirou frowned. He remembered that the Divine Land in Type-Moon also used magic, but its system was completely different from Western magic, involving thought circuits and such, with very few specific settings.
As for the Western magic system, he could explain it: first, one must create Magic Circuits within the body—a kind of internal simulated nerve network throughout the body, used to draw magical energy from the external Greater Source (Mana) of the planet and to convert the human body's own Lesser Source life force (Od) into magical energy, providing power for various spellcasting.
As for the spellcasting, Wei Gong only knew the more basic Reinforcement and Projection. Those non-basic ones, in Type-Moon, are generally only passed down through families.
Wa Zhu, however, was highly interested. "Hahaha, interesting, interesting! This talk of 'Circuits' indeed bears a strong resemblance to 'Meridians'!"
Wei Gong immediately clapped his hands in admiration, thinking, "That makes sense!" Daoist internal Alchemy also has cultivation methods like "refining essence into qi."
The 'essence' here refers to the essence of heaven and earth and the essence of the human body, which are the same things as the planet's energy/Greater Source and human life force/Lesser Source mentioned in Western magic!
The two began an enthusiastic discussion on "cultivation systems," and the chat interface instantly took on a cultivation novel style.
Only Old Tang, a beginner in Chinese, was left staring blankly at the messages.
What is "breathing exercises"? What is "qi and spirit merging" and "dual cultivation of nature and life"? What the hell are you talking about? I'm even using Google Translate, and I still don't understand!
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Xiangyang, Divine Land, Tang City.
This is an ancient Tang Dynasty-style palace in the area, with upturned eaves and corners. Its wooden pillars are thick, and beams and purlins crisscross. Colorful lanterns hang from the four corners, illuminating the walls with intricate and beautiful patterns of Dragons and phoenixes, and cloud and water motifs. Under the glimmering lights, many people dressed in Tang Dynasty attire stood in two rows, waiting, like solemn generals before the hall.
In the center of the main hall, a beautiful, fairy-like young girl sat before a computer.
The young girl wore a magnificent Tang dress, its train extremely long. Her long hair was unbound, her face was without makeup, her cheeks small and round, her brows and eyes like a painting, and her skin appeared translucent.
Not far away, a slender young man, also dressed in Tang attire with a calm expression, stood quietly in attendance.
"Zhou Yuxuan, do you think this kid's talk of 'Circuits' is true or false?"
The young girl spoke first, her voice clear.
The slender young man, Zhou Yuxuan, bowed respectfully and replied,
"Reporting to Wa Zhu, this person's statements are similar to 'Qigong' theories. In earlier years, Ji Kang's 'On Nourishing Life' stated, 'Breathing in and out, absorbing qi to nourish the body.' However, after the Tang and Song dynasties, the theory of qi absorption was proven false. Internal Alchemy can cultivate one's temperament, but increasing one's cultivation is probably a delusion."
"Instead of pondering internal Alchemy and Daoism, it's better to study True Word spells, artifact refining, and talisman drawing."
What is called "True Word Art" in the Divine Land is known as "Spirit Language" in the West. It is a special ability possessed by Hybrids with dragon blood in this world. Spirit Language is released by driving elements through Dragon script and Dragon language, and it is a legacy from the Dragon domain.
Another legacy of the Dragon is Alchemy. In the Western Hybrid world, it has given rise to studies such as the refining of the Philosopher's Stone and Alchemic weapons. In the Divine Land, it has similarly given rise to studies such as pill refining and artifact refining.
As for Wei Gong Shirou's talk of cultivating magical energy or qi, it does not exist in this world. Hybrids with dragon blood generally tend to utilize the advantages brought by their bloodline or research how to refine and improve their bloodline.
There is simply no such thing as cultivating to become stronger. Counting on that is less reliable than hoping to become stronger by bathing in dragon blood like Siegfried, or improving one's bloodline with Dragon fetal blood or evolution potions. Even elixirs of immortality can only be refined with dragon blood.
"Heh, you're entirely on the 'External Alchemy' side, aren't you?" Wa Zhu chuckled. "If you ask me, what if... it's true?"
Zhou Yuxuan was surprised. "Wa Zhu thinks it's true?"
"—Do you know about Western Alchemy? Recently, young people who studied abroad at 'Kassel' in the West have returned with rumors that Kassel College is proposing something called the Nibelungen Plan, which involves implanting Alchemic matrices similar to Daoist patterns throughout the human body, capable of stably enhancing bloodlines." Wa Zhu spoke of some rumors, her eyes flickering.
Zhou Yuxuan seemed to remember something. "The disciples from the Chen family also mentioned something similar. Is this Magic Circuits the Alchemic matrix? Is it actually true?"
When she heard the words "Chen family," a subtle look of disgust appeared in Wa Zhu's eyes.
"Whether it's true or false, we'll know once we try."