Now.
Whether it was Tenkei Shiomi or the Lion King, the appearance of either left everyone stunned. The battle halted, all movements paused.
"That's… King Arthur, deified…"
Gray caught a glimpse of the Lion King's profile through a gap in the Enforcement Knights.
In the darkness, that face—so familiar yet distant—shone with brilliance. For a moment, she was frozen, unable to breathe.
The fate and wishes passed down through a thousand years in Blackmore Village had once terrified her. She had done everything she could to escape.
But now, standing before the one who carried all of that, Gray suddenly understood why everyone in the village had been so fervent.
This was a flawless king. One look was all it took to understand.
"Gray…" Ritsuka tugged at her cloak, whispering a warning.
Taking advantage of the brief pause and diverted attention, the two quietly moved along the wall.
"My King, forgive us. Our battle has been disgraceful," Tristan said, bowing his head in surprise.
Agravain stepped forward and bowed behind the Lion King. "My King, we were in the midst of defending the Round Table Fortress and exterminating the rebels attempting a prison break. There's no need for Your Majesty to be troubled with such trivial matters."
"I already know of your battle. But the prisoner—Master—has severed the contract. He is no longer under my control," the Lion King said calmly, standing in the drizzling rain. "That is why I am here."
"Yes, my King!" Agravain responded, then looked up and shot a cold glare at Shiomi.
He had no desire to speak with this man.
It was undoubtedly this man who had taken the King from the Holy City and led her here.
Fortunately, the Lion King had not been swayed by him. She had only accidentally allowed him to escape her restraints and regain his freedom.
Which was just as well. Now, with Chaldea's entire group gathered here, they could be annihilated, and the last obstacle to the plan would be removed.
Agravain raised his hand. The Enforcement Knights, all driven mad by enhancement, lifted their weapons, awaiting the Lion King's signal to strike.
Mordred, blocked by Shiomi, stepped aside, sword in hand, eyes locked on the Lion King. But she didn't even glance at her—as if her betrayal, or anything else, meant nothing to her.
The indifference was suffocating. Mordred felt a surge of bitter frustration.
"As you can see, no matter what you do, the Lion King won't react," Shiomi said quietly to Mordred. "All that matters to her now is the plan—and whether someone can serve as her right hand to carry it out."
"Shut up. I don't need your lectures. I'm only doing this for Sakura's sake…" Mordred snapped, then caught herself. "No… I'm doing this for me. This has nothing to do with any of you!"
"But continuing to fight here won't help us—" Shiomi raised his hand.
As if in response, more Enforcement Knights streamed out from the fortress. From top to bottom, they flooded the area, surrounding the square in front. In under a minute, Chaldea's group would be crushed under sheer numbers.
These knights were similar to the Celtic warriors from the North American Singularity—close to Servants in nature.
But unlike the Celtic warriors, who drew power from Medb and the Holy Grail, these Enforcement Knights were purer. Perfect soldiers, created by the Lion King through the power of the Tower at the End.
And considering the gap in power between the Lion King and Medb, these knights were far more dangerous than any Celtic army.
They had to fight off the Enforcement Knights while keeping an eye on the Knights of the Round Table—and the Lion King herself.
This narrow space would soon become their grave in an endless battle.
There was only one way to end it.
If it were Morgan, she would almost be ready by now.
Shiomi, having realized this, raised his left hand to summon his wand—then remembered it had already reverted to its original form. So instead, he aimed his spear at the fortress's weak point.
In the blink of an eye, the Noble Phantasm spell was complete. The Lion King subtly tilted her chin. Agravain, ever attentive, caught even that minute gesture.
"Slowly flank them and wear them down with attrition."
Knowing he couldn't stop that Magecraft, Agravain issued the order.
Shiomi's spell activated. Pure magical energy blasted through the side of the fortress, shattering a thick stone wall. The collapsing boulders took out the Enforcement Knights blocking the path, clearing a narrow, dangerous route to the outside.
Ritsuka, closest to the breach, immediately carried Hassan of Serenity on her back and ran. Gray took one last glance at the Lion King, realizing the time wasn't right. She and Mash escorted Ritsuka out.
"Seal the gap. Don't let a single one escape."
Though the Enforcement Knights quickly closed in, they failed to stop the prison break. Their overwhelming numbers, while an advantage, also became a liability.
Too many knights meant they could slowly grind the group down—but it also hindered Knights of the Round Table like Tristan and Agravain from fighting freely.
The Lion King couldn't join the fray either. One swing of Rhongomyniad would harm both friend and foe alike.
Mordred clicked her tongue and charged out, slashing through the knights to carve a bloody path once again.
Bedivere, drained from his duel with Tristan and the release of his Noble Phantasm, staggered, trying to turn back to the Lion King—but his body gave out. He collapsed, unable to speak a word.
"Hassan of the Cursed Arm, take him and fall back. I'll cover the rear."
"Understood."
Hassan of the Cursed Arm recognized the urgency. Their objective was complete—retreat came first.
He hoisted Bedivere onto his back, shielding Sakura and Caren, and followed the trail Mordred had carved, heading toward the breach.
To stop them, Agravain unleashed Mad Enhancement repeatedly, disregarding the toll on his body as he drove more and more Enforcement Knights into madness.
In the square, Shiomi weaved through the chaos, his golden spear blazing like a meteor as he cut down foes.
"As expected, that man is built for the frontlines. If he'd lived in an age of war, he'd have been an unmatched warrior," Tristan said quietly, plucking his harp and firing invisible arrows at Shiomi's blind spot. "Yet here I am, forced to kill him by any means. It saddens me."
Even so, the arrows couldn't hit their mark—even from angles that should have been blind spots.
"He's got eyes in the back of his head! Don't underestimate him!"
Shiomi twisted his spear and slammed it into the ground. The impact sent a shockwave rippling out, flinging nearby knights into the air and crashing them into their comrades.
Under his cover, Mordred led the others and broke through the breach in the crumbled wall.
Beyond it lay a steep mountain slope—but for these fighters, that was no obstacle. Even Ritsuka, lacking special abilities, managed to retreat safely with help from Mash and Gray.
A storm of arrows rained down, following the sound of bowstrings. Shiomi spun his spear, clearing the threat and ensuring no one was struck from behind.
"?!"
Just as he prepared to strike again, he felt something latch onto him. As if triggering a trap, threads hidden throughout the fortress wrapped tightly around his body, binding his movements.
"I can't help it if the others get away… but you must stay," Tristan said coldly.
The Enforcement Knights surged like a tide.
"Ever consider I stayed behind on purpose?" Shiomi said calmly, eyes on the golden chains unfurling from the Lion King. "After all, only once the others are safe can she unleash her Magecraft without worry."
"She?" Agravain frowned.
Just as Shiomi expected, a beam of starlight shot into the sky. It didn't light up the heavens—but it was a clear signal.
"There's a kind of Magecraft Morgan specializes in, called 'Tower.' Ever heard of it?"
The night sky, thick with cloud, split open—just like that day in the desert.
A golden pillar of light burst through.
"Say goodbye to your Round Table Fortress… under the very 'Rhongomyniad' you revere."
Shiomi snapped Tristan's threads, swept his spear to clear the surrounding knights, and stepped back to the breach.
"Farewell, Lion King. Knights of the Round Table. The next time we meet… it'll be the final battle. If you survive Rhongomyniad, that is."
He wiped the rain and blood from his face—then turned and leapt off the cliff.
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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