"Lord of the Astromancy Department, Millian Animusphere, reporting to you: calibration and debugging complete, astromancy magic is operating smoothly and can be activated at any time—"
"Permission granted."
"Lord of the Future Magistry Department, Aphra El-Mello, reporting to you: Future Magistry's base array completed, optical and electromagnetic magic are operating smoothly and can be activated at any time—"
"Permission granted."
"Lord of the Basic Disciplines Department, Carroll Tranbellio, reporting to you: the Royal Capital's magic base array is operating smoothly and can be connected at any time—"
"Permission granted."
One by one, the Lords of the Clock Tower came to the gates of the Silver Crown Royal Court, reporting to the cold Princess Royal, clad in a blue corset long gown and wearing a crown of thorns.
Nominally reporting, but behind it lay a series of exchanges of interests: either a bias in research funding, or the suppression of newly emerging forces, or perhaps for some research purely to satisfy private desires but not permitted by common society, possibly risking 'seal designation.'
Competent mages are like this: ruthless and unscrupulous in their pursuit of the Root, showing no reverence even for monarchs. To control them, one must offer them something they would go mad for, using worldly power to promise them they can advance in chaotic, unknown, and insane directions.
In an era where mystery still exists and the Root is within reach, letting such a group of madmen become even madder might lead to tragedy and disaster.
But it doesn't matter.
Despite feeling disgusted, even physically nauseated by some research, to control them, for the survival and order of the British Isles, Morgan Le Fay chose to grant permission.
"Then, Princess Royal, no, Your Majesty!"
"Now, witness the miracle—"
Clack!
It was as if a match had been struck in the darkness, instantly drawing countless gazes hidden within the shadows. Three million eyes collectively turned towards St. Stephen's Cathedral.
The surging [Faith], like a tsunami, converged, forming a whirlwind almost solidifying into reality.
The billowing gown and the silver-white strands of hair stirred on her forehead instantly confirmed to Morgan Le Fay—
She had finally, as she wished, stepped onto this stage.
The fifteen-year-old girl's gaze was firm. She slowly raised her head, directing her vision, devoid of likes or dislikes, existing solely for a pure purpose, towards the end of this path:
The longsword plunged into the stone pedestal.
She took a deep breath, slowly moved her high-heeled boots, and stepped onto this path specially laid with a red carpet, strewn with petals, and filled with Su Yaring hymns.
Along both sides of the red carpet, countless knights of renown in the capital lined up in two rows, kneeling, their heads bowed, awaiting the monarch they had chosen to walk this path.
She walked past Sir Euphemias, Sir Breuse, Sir Gawain, Sir Galahad, Sir Lamorak, all kneeling on the ground, one by one.
It was just a pity that the figure she most wanted to see was not on this path.
She advanced step by step.
To reach this point, she had promised concessions to the nobility and the Church, wealth to the knights, and the Root to the mages.
She promised herself to the Red Dragon.
And now, she had finally arrived.
At the end of the path, beside the stone pedestal, King Pellinore—King Uther's appointed regent for Arthur, and the father of Sir Lamorak—stood there, holding a folded blue-backed red dragon cloak in his hands, smiling as he watched her.
Morgan Le Fay took the cloak, swung it over her shoulders, and draped it on.
Immediately after, under the gaze of three million eyes, as this almost theatrical ceremony progressed, countless powers of faith continuously converged into her body, shaping her identity as 'King' and the unique powers corresponding to that identity.
She ascended the stone steps one by one, stepped onto the stone pedestal, and stood before the Sword in the Stone.
Then, she slowly raised her head, meeting the gaze of three million eyes that watched and believed in her, and then, with a clear yet majestic voice, she proclaimed aloud:
"My name is—"
"Morgan Le Fay!"
"The legitimate daughter of King Uther, the highest heir to the British monarchy!"
"By the grace of Great Britain, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and my other territories and realms, and by the grace of the Protector of the Faith, I faithfully promise and swear that I shall inviolably uphold the order and glory of Britannia!"
"Today,"
"In the name of the Pendragon Royal Family, I declare—"
"I shall veto the will of God!"
"I shall veto the grace of the Almighty!"
"I shall veto the establishment of the Tower of Divine Grant!"
"I shall veto the sanctity of the Church and the legitimacy of the Holy Knights in Britannia."
"I shall veto all transactions detrimental to the order of Great Britain, and hereby swear to eradicate all parasites that contribute to this!"
Boom!
As the oath fell, the entire Royal Capital, and indeed all eyes from across the world that were focused on this place, trembled simultaneously.
Everyone watched in disbelief the newly enthroned Dominant King on the stone pedestal, Morgan Le Fay.
Then, they saw—
Morgan Le Fay slowly drew a ruby dagger from beneath her cloak, and coldly gazed at the Sword in the Stone before her.
Without hesitation, before anyone could react and stop her, she gripped the [Riddle Blade of the Bible] in reverse and stabbed directly towards the Sword in the Stone!
"CLANG!"
A sound like clashing metal rang out!
The blade of the Riddle Blade of the Bible shattered, and with it, the Sword in the Stone suddenly flared with brilliant light.
And immediately following were several terrifyingly intense presences that suddenly appeared in the field!
Morgan Le Fay discarded the now hilt-only [Riddle Blade of the Bible], and reversed her grip to seize the Sword in the Stone, intending to pull it out and point it at her enemies.
However—
She pulled hard, then suddenly her eyes widened in astonishment.
The Sword in the Stone did not budge!
At this moment, the magic sustaining the illusion began to collapse. Su Ya reflected on the scene he had just witnessed, a bewildered expression on his face. Just as he was about to question Alexia beside him, he found that the entire Knight's Street, already submerged in the night, was empty. It was as if the Conqueror King Alexia had never appeared there at all.
Only the rustling of plane tree leaves stirred by the hot summer wind remained, along with an increasingly silent, increasingly anxious heart pounding in his chest.
And closely following this unease—
Were five sets of mad eyes, like those of bloodthirsty beasts, shining from the restless night!
The next instant, crunch, crunch!
Shadows, stepping on the eaves of buildings on either side of the street, surrounded and leaped from all directions! Su Ya instinctively sensed the oppressive atmosphere. He placed his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist, cautiously turning his gaze.
Pat-a-pat, pat-a-pat!
Suddenly, Su Ya heard the sound of running from the end of the street. Soon, a white-haired mage girl appeared in Su Ya's sight, panting heavily. She opened her mouth, seemingly about to warn him of something.
And the next moment, a shadow emerged from the alley's darkness, lunging directly at Merlin, who had inexplicably run to Knight's Street!
Su Ya's pupils suddenly constricted. His clear jade eyes instantly transformed into blood-red vertical slits!
He immediately bent into a deep lunge, drew the longsword from his waist, and threw it, unleashing a streak of sword light like a piercing rainbow towards the figure lunging at Merlin!
And simultaneously, four other shadows suddenly lunged from the four directions around Su Ya, bringing with them a chilling gleam!
Su Ya abruptly looked up, only to see—
The creatures attacking him were a group of grotesque beings with rat heads, human bodies, and leopard legs, seemingly stitched together from humans and various monstrous creatures.