Gawain's Life Points: 4000 → 3000.
Even though most of the Knights of the Round Table had revealed their hands, the situation remained precarious. Without a few trump cards, Jiang You wouldn't be able to overcome this. To defeat Gawain now required two non-targeting destruction effects, which he currently lacked, forcing him to stall for another turn.
"I overlay these three 'Hundred Faces' and Xyz Summon 'Fanatic' in Defense Position!"
The fanatical warrior, clad in pristine armor and radiating murderous intent, burst from the shadows onto the battlefield. Since witnessing King Hassan, she had become noticeably more serious.
Fanatic: Defense 1000
Gawain glanced at Fanatic. The girl exuded an exceptionally dangerous aura, far surpassing that of the other Hassans. He hadn't expected the Mountain Folk to possess such formidable combatants. Given the immense number of servants required for her summoning, similar to the Lion King's methods, this must be their trump card.
"Next, I activate 'Battle Retreat.' I return 'Morning Glory' to my hand and draw a card."
Knowing he would likely be wiped out by a mass destruction effect on the next turn with no chance to bait out his opponent's abilities, Gawain decided to act immediately.
"Finally, I set three cards face-down in my back row and end my turn."
"Using a servant with only 1000 defense as your front line?" Gawain wasn't fooled by the three Xyz Materials stacked beneath the Fanatic card. He knew he needed to proceed with caution.
"My turn. Draw!"
"First, I activate the effect of my Equip Spell Card, releasing the Revolving Sword of Victory to destroy all servants on your field!"
Without hesitation, Gawain released his Holy Sword. The blade, now radiating scorching light, soared into the air, forming a blazing solar halo.
Catching the flaming Holy Sword as it fell from the halo, Gawain swung it forward, unleashing a torrential wave of fire.
"Fanatic's effect! By detaching one Xyz Material as a substitute, she cannot be destroyed by card effects!"
Fanatic now had only two Xyz Materials remaining, allowing her to withstand two more destruction effects.
"Just as I suspected. Still, it's good to have confirmed her exact capabilities."
Gawain had anticipated this outcome. Xyz Monsters were at their most terrifying when they had ample Xyz Materials, so being able to steadily deplete those materials was a good thing.
"Activating the effect of 'Blessing of the Everlasting Day'! I equip 'Revolving Sword of Victory' to myself again from the Graveyard!"
"I activate the Spell Card 'Glorious Round Table Knights'! This card can only be activated if I control only 'Round Table Knight' servants on my field. Once per turn, I can Special Summon one 'Round Table Knight' from my Deck. I Special Summon 'Round Table Knight Lancelot' from my Deck!"
A lake of water covered the battlefield, and a knight rode across its surface, ripples spreading with each stride.
[ Round Table Knight Lancelot ] - Attack Power: 2400.
"Lancelot, what's the situation on your end?" Gawain asked, also relaying information. He had initially believed Chaldea to be the most dangerous rebel faction, but it turned out they had been hiding an even more formidable servant.
"Whether or not you've captured the Chaldea group, please return to the Holy Capital immediately. We've all been deceived—this Eastern Servant named Jiang You is the true enemy!"
Lancelot saw the pillar of light erupt from the heart of Camelot, realizing the Lion King had begun the final phase of her plan.
"There's not much time left..."
"Indeed, time is running out."
Gawain knew he couldn't defeat a servant who even the Lion King considered a pressing threat. He needed Lancelot to return and reinforce them immediately. Every extra person would buy the King more time to complete her scheme.
"Hurry back to defend! If I fall, Agravain won't be able to hold him either!"
"I never expected things to reach this point. You're Jiang You, correct? I'll relay this information to Mash and the others."
Lancelot understood that the Singularity would soon be destroyed. He knew the Lion King's current power; even if they ignored the source of her Blessing, all the blessed Knights of the Round Table combined wouldn't stand a chance against her. He couldn't believe Jiang You could defeat the Lion King alone. "If possible, please destroy me quickly. I'll return with reinforcements immediately."
"What are you saying?! You traitor!"
Gawain never imagined Lancelot would betray the King again, especially after he had chosen to trust him. "Was one betrayal not enough?! If you meant to rebel, you should have done so during the Summoning Ritual. At least then you could still be considered a Knight. Don't you feel ashamed for being so disloyal and unjust, you dishonorable wretch?!"
"Advising the King and correcting her mistakes is also a Knight's duty!"
At heart, Lancelot's motives were for his daughter's sake, though he couldn't admit it outright. "The King is charging down a misguided path. As Knights, we must stop her and point out her errors! Gawain, you're the real traitor here!"
"You won't succeed in delivering your message!"
With only two Knights of the Round Table left at the Lion King's disposal, Gawain would never allow Lancelot to pass so easily.
"I activate the Spell Card 'Saint's Numerology'! It can only be activated when there are three Servants on the field. I'll flip three coins, and the number of heads will determine the effect."
"Due to the effect of the Continuous Spell Card 'Blessing of the Everlasting Day', all three coins landed on heads!"
Cu Chulainn would probably be weeping at this sight, though his coin flips were remarkably consistent, reliably triggering the worst possible outcome.
"All three effects activate! 1. All allied Servants gain 333 Attack Power and Defense Power. 2. Choose one Servant on the field to grant it immunity to destruction by card effects. 3. Designate a Servant to attack three times this turn! Furthermore, the opponent cannot activate Trap Cards until the end of this turn!"
"I choose to make Lancelot immune to destruction by card effects, while I will attack three times myself!"
Gawain aimed to protect Lancelot with the immunity effect, while Lancelot's boosted Attack Power of over 2700 would make him difficult to defeat in battle.
Enforcement Knight A: Attack Power 1200 → 1533.
Lancelot: Attack Power 2400 → 2733.
"Alright, Battle Phase!"
Gawain finished playing his cards and launched his attack.
"First, Enforcement Knight A attacks!"
As an assassin, Fanatic naturally had low defense. The Enforcement Knight removed one of her Xyz Materials.
"Next, the traitor Lancelot attacks!"
Even if Lancelot resisted, once he was in the Battle Zone, he had to obey Gawain.
"And then my own three attacks!"
Gawain eyed Jiang You's motionless back row, realizing they were all Trap Cards.
Gawain's overwhelming attack power, combined with three attacks and immunity to Traps, was indeed terrifying. But Jiang You wasn't without countermeasures.
"Hold on. I activate the effect of Morning Glory from my hand."
The reassuring effect of Ra Sphere mode was precisely what Jiang You needed.