"Sir Gawain has been defeated?!"
The Camelot soldiers stared in disbelief at the Sun Knight, collapsed on the ground. Even in Nevernight mode, with triple his usual combat power, Gawain had been defeated. They realized that attacking now would only feed the enemy EXP. Except for Gawain's Royal Guard Knights, the other soldiers instinctively retreated several steps, their will to fight utterly shattered. At this point, a single advance from Jiang You would send them fleeing in terror.
"You fools!"
The commotion outside the Light Curtain had long alerted Agravain. As the only remaining combat-capable Knight of the Round Table serving the Lion King, he had long acted as her secretary, assisting her from her side. Being the sole Knight of the Round Table without a Blessing, he rarely participated in combat.
"Look at his unsteady gait! He possesses no martial skill whatsoever!"
Any Heroic Spirit could discern Jiang You's condition at a glance, and Agravain's position as secretary was well-earned.
"He is indeed a formidable Servant, but his victory over Gawain relied entirely on his Noble Phantasm! Have you knights forgotten the oaths you swore to the King? His very nature prevents him from swiftly defeating opponents. Stall him with numbers! Only his Noble Phantasm can guarantee his safety."
Agravain had instantly recognized Jiang You's weaknesses. Even defeating a mere security guard had taken Jiang You at least two turns. While his raw stats allowed him to overwhelm the Nameless Knights in melee combat, one man couldn't stand against a horde. With Jiang You's skill level, he would be riddled with holes within seconds. By the time Jiang You had finished dealing with these enemies through Duels, the Lion King would have long since completed her mission.
The knights possessed far greater mental fortitude than the soldiers. After a brief moment of chaos, they swiftly regrouped, surrounding Jiang You in a tight formation.
Unfortunately for Agravain, Jiang You possessed not only the power to Duel but also the ability to summon Duel Spirits. His solo drop essentially meant his entire team had arrived. Clearing out the grunts was child's play for him.
Minamoto no Raikou and Medea instantly materialized beside Jiang You, unleashing thunder and magic bullets upon the unprepared knights. Within moments, several knights were incapacitated.
"Is this the interior of Camelot?" Medea keenly sensed something amiss. Even without Jiang You's explanation, she immediately grasped the problem. "This isn't so much a city as a fortress. Truly unsettling."
"Sir Gawain has already fallen? What a pity. I was hoping to test my skills against a knight from the Age of Gods."
Despite her usual persona as an obsessive mother figure, Minamoto no Raikou remained Heian-kyō's most renowned warrior, yearning for battles against worthy opponents.
With the Knights of the Round Table neutralized, the two top-tier Heroic Spirits—Minamoto no Raikou (considered peak second-tier or low first-tier) and Medea—moved through the battlefield like ghosts. It didn't take long for Jiang You to find himself surrounded by no remaining enemy units capable of posing a threat.
Unimpeded, Jiang You strode directly toward the Light Curtain. He patted it, finding it felt like an invisible wall, as if it were dividing space itself. There was no sensation of touch, yet his hand couldn't advance even a micrometer.
"Medea, can you break through this thing?" Jiang You asked, turning to the Magus from the Age of Gods—the same era as the Round Table servants.
"If I'm not mistaken, this city was constructed using a Noble Phantasm," Medea replied. "Judging by the magical power output, it's likely something along the lines of the Holy Lance or Holy Sword. Given its form, I'd guess the Holy Lance."
Medea declared this barrier beyond her capabilities. While she was confident in her magical prowess, everything was relative. Even in the Age of Gods, she wasn't considered an exceptional Magus, let alone capable of handling something like the Holy Lance.
"The strength of this Light Curtain is comparable to the Holy Lance's outer shell. You'd need the power to shatter the Holy Lance itself to break through it. Of course, analysis and dissolution are also possible, but I lack the means. Even if someone could do it, we can't guarantee the time required."
Medea hadn't left any legendary feats of spellcraft in her tales, mostly negative appraisals of her emotional and ethical(?) conduct. Jiang You had no intention of making things difficult for her.
"Give up," he said.
Sprawled on the ground, Gawain forced a laugh. "I admit, you're indeed strong. But My King's current power surpasses anything a Heroic Spirit could challenge. She's about to complete humanity's salvation. Please understand her actions—it's a necessary measure."
"You thick-browed, wide-eyed guy—why are you suddenly talking in riddles?" Jiang You scoffed.
Gawain was indeed trying to convey information, but without prior knowledge of the situation, who could possibly decipher his cryptic words?
"I can't understand," Jiang You declared. "If we're doomed to destruction anyway, why not fight to the death? We have nothing left to lose. If we can't achieve a happy ending, I refuse to accept it! At worst, we'll just try again!"
Gawain wanted to say more, but Jiang You had no patience to listen. Time was truly pressing. According to the original storyline, the world-ending Light Curtain wouldn't activate until the Allied Forces breached the city walls. However, because the Lion King had learned of Jiang You and King Hassan's intelligence in advance, the Light Curtain had already been deployed several hours earlier, leaving even less time than in the original scenario.
"Lord Old Man of the Mountain, you must be watching."
Jiang You knew King Hassan was nearby. Despite his fearsome appearance, the old man was remarkably kind-hearted, even disguising himself as an ordinary elder to guide Gudako. His true nature belied his intimidating exterior.
"I implore you to grant my previous request. Only you can shatter this Light Curtain."
Jiang You calculated the timing. The plot hadn't yet progressed to Gudako seeking out the Pharaoh voiced by the same actor as DIO. Relying on Ramesseum Tentyris to clash his Spirit Origin with the barrier at full force was impossible. Only King Hassan possessed the necessary power.
Without warning, the once clear blue sky churned into a swirling mass of dark clouds. A fierce gale swept through Camelot, forcing everyone to squint against the blinding winds. Those who dared to look up would have seen the storm clouds clearly forming the shape of a colossal skull.
"The contract is sealed; I shall offer my aid!"
King Hassan materialized before Jiang You, lightly touching the Light Curtain. Where his fingers met the barrier, the burning flames hissed and corroded the surface—even the concept of death proved effective against the protective barrier.
"Since fate has decreed this moment, draw your sword!"
A resonant bell tolled from an unseen source. Moments later, the dark clouds and raging winds that had accompanied the sound vanished without a trace, allowing everyone to finally open their eyes and survey their surroundings. Not even a wisp of cloud or a gust of wind remained, as if it had all been an illusion.
Yet the colossal sword scar, several meters wide, etched into the Light Curtain, and the flickering ethereal flames testified to the reality of the previous encounter.
"This... how is this possible?"
Gawain, standing nearby, had witnessed everything clearly. The skeletal swordsman in black armor had shattered the King's Light Curtain with a single strike—a feat even Gawain himself couldn't accomplish. And it was just one sword strike! The sheer skill behind that strike defied his comprehension. He knew that even if he honed his swordsmanship for millennia, he couldn't hope to replicate even a tenth of that blade's power.
"As I said: you'll soon understand."
Jiang You smiled at the stunned Gawain, picking up where he had left off.
"He... is Hassan? The Assassin?"
Gawain stared in disbelief at the answer.