This was the matter he cared about the most right now. Logically speaking, the Counter Force would not easily intervene, and if Gaia had stepped in, there was a very high probability that it had encountered a danger on the level of "planetary destruction."
Alvin believed his own strength was not weak. Saving the world might still be feasible, but if it involved something on the level of "saving the planet," that was, in all likelihood, still beyond what he could do right now.
["There is something that will descend upon Britannia during the next traversal."]
Silent words quietly appeared in the boy's mind, ["It will affect this planet."]
'Just as I thought.'
So that's why Gaia showed up, and even came looking for me, Alvin said, "Why is Alaya here as well?"
As he spoke, he glanced at the sky, at a 'sphere of light' high above the firmament, illusory and dangerous. Alaya Consciousness.
Clearly, it seemed that due to the reinforcement of the Holy Lance, Gaia possessed greater power in this era, and thus used some method to temporarily prevent the descent of the Alaya Consciousness.
It needed to achieve its own purpose during this window.
["Alaya holds hostility toward you."]
Gaia never made a sound. Its words were still presented in the form of text, ["Your appearance does not exist in the records of history. In the future, you will become an enemy of the Alaya Consciousness, an obstacle to the Human Order."]
["I can guarantee your safety. But first, you must undergo a test."]
'A test?'
'Forgive me for saying this, but why do I feel like your intentions aren't exactly pure either,' Alvin complained inwardly, when he suddenly felt a sharp edge whistling toward him, accompanied by a stream of golden light.
Rumble!
A phantom image of a sword, exceedingly illusory, quietly floated within the golden pillar of light, appearing out of nowhere.
It was a sword with a very plain and simple design. The blade seemed to faintly glow with a layer of pale gold, an incomparably gentle light.
In the distance, several Knights of the Round Table were stunned the instant they saw this sword.
"The Holy Sword?"
Morgan's eyes also flashed with uncertainty and shock.
'Logically speaking, isn't the Holy Sword in Lily's hands? Why would a second Holy Sword appear now?'
In a corner of the royal palace, Scathach likewise narrowed her crimson eyes, gazing at the vague blade silhouette emerging within the golden pillar of light, her expression carrying palpable wariness.
Even from such a great distance, she could sense the danger of that weapon.
And moreover, it seemed to still be in a sealed state.
It was hard to imagine what would happen if that seal were lifted.
And at the very moment this sword appeared, in Avalon, Merlin suddenly opened his eyes as if he had sensed something.
As though unable to believe it, he hurriedly got up and strode outside the tower, using Clairvoyance to gaze at the dreamlike sword within the palace.
"Is there something wrong with my eyes?"
Soon, after confirming that his vision was fine, Merlin murmured in disbelief, "How could it appear here?"
After a brief moment of shock, as if realizing something, his expression changed abruptly.
"This is bad!"
'Could it be that Gaia isn't targeting Alvin, but trying to recruit him?'
And on their very first meeting, Gaia had already shown sufficient sincerity.
Fortunately, Alvin was not 'King Arthur.' No matter what, he could not possibly draw that sword.
The White Dragon itself was already an uncontrollable factor. If he were to become the owner of that sword as well, then no one in Britannia would be able to restrain him anymore.
After a brief panic, Merlin gradually calmed down, and a composed smile quickly appeared on his face.
At the same time, his Clairvoyance quietly fixed on Alvin, watching the boy walk toward the golden pillar of light.
Alvin raised his head, looking at the phantom of the sword bathed in the golden pillar, brimming with sacred aura.
At the same time, a line of system text quietly appeared before his eyes: [The strongest sword capable of severing extraterrestrial planetary threats. Its blade is sealed with thirteen restraints. Only in circumstances where multiple glories and missions can be fulfilled will the Holy Sword be released.]
[Please note: When you touch this sword, certain existences beyond the planet will increase their attention toward you by 10 points. (Maximum Value: 10)]
Staring at the red-highlighted text, a chill ran through Alvin's heart.
'This old bastard Gaia really is insidious. On the surface, it's inviting me and even giving such a generous gift, but in reality, it wants to bind me to its pirate ship.'
'Just touching the sword will get me noticed by certain things. Judging by this, this should be the Promised Sword of Victory.'
"What happens if I fail?", Alvin asked calmly.
["Nothing will happen. The cooperation continues, but you will be unable to become its master,"] Gaia replied.
Alvin glanced once more at the other sphere of light in the sky, the one originating from 'Alaya,' then looked up again at the sword immersed in the golden pillar.
["Will you accept this test?",] Gaia asked again.
["As long as you draw that sword, it will be yours."]
A smile quickly appeared on Alvin's face, "Of course, you've gone out of your way to descend. I can't very well refuse such kindness, can I?"
Under everyone's gaze, he walked step by step toward the golden pillar of light.
The Holy Sword radiated blazing firelight. Streams of flame burst in the air, turning into ripples, as if trying to block Alvin's approach.
Morgan le Fay silently watched, secretly anticipating something.
The Knights of the Round Table felt the same anticipation, as did Sajyou Manaka in the distance.
Then she watched as Alvin extended his hand and gently touched the surface of the golden pillar.
"..."
"..."
Yet after nearly several seconds passed, the Holy Sword showed no reaction at all.
"Just as expected," In Avalon, seeing this scene, a faint smile quickly appeared on Merlin's face, and he quietly let out a sigh of relief.
Whether it was the Holy Sword of this era or one from another spacetime, both harbored an innate hostility toward the White Dragon. No matter what, Alvin could not become the master of the Promised Sword of Victory.
He had been worried before, 'But judging by this, there is no need to be worried.'
Lancelot lightly frowned and murmured, "So there's no response after all."
"After all, according to legend, only the king can wield the Holy Sword," Agravain said grimly.
Although they didn't know from which spacetime Gaia had prepared this Holy Sword. Aside from King Arthur, there should be no one in this world capable of drawing the Promised Sword of Victory. Not even the White Dragon.
["It seems you are not its true master,"] Gaia said coldly, without a trace of emotion.
'This damn Gaia, did it never intend to give me the Promised Sword of Victory from the start, just using it as bait, freeloading a laborer?', Alvin grumbled inwardly.
Unwilling to give up, he tried to push his hand further into the golden pillar, attempting to reach the Promised Sword of Victory.
Within the golden pillar, one could almost see with the naked eye nine distinct layers of 'barriers.' The closer one got to the center where the Holy Sword lay, the more terrifying the heat and repulsive force became.
Alvin had no choice but to mobilize the mana of the White Dragon's core. He soon reached the third layer of the barrier. The increasingly scorching heat felt as if it would roast his skin, yet the White Dragon's powerful body endured it barehanded.
By the fifth layer of the golden pillar, almost no one believed Alvin could hold on, because they could clearly see that the mana enveloping his body was already dissolving.
Morgan kept her eyes fixed on Alvin. The moment he could no longer endure, she would immediately step in and pull him out of the Holy Sword's range.
"If you can't do it, then give up. Even without the Holy Sword, you'll still be on Gaia's side from now on. You won't have to fear Alaya anymore," Ishtar was so nervous she quickly shouted.
Alvin said nothing. At this moment, he had no capacity to be distracted. One slight mistake, and his body could suffer severe damage.
BOOM!
When Alvin's hand reached the sixth layer of the golden pillar, the Holy Sword unleashed an even more terrifying repulsive force. Ten-thousand-meters golden light surged toward him, enough to make one's heart tremble.
Morgan subconsciously clenched her hand, already preparing to step forward.
However, at that moment, within the White Dragon's core, black, viscous mud began to quietly flow out, rapidly enveloping his entire body.
It emanated an ominous and profound power, actually withstanding the blazing radiance of the Holy Sword head-on.
"The Chaos Tide?", Morgan muttered subconsciously, a trace of doubt quickly flashing through her heart.
'If I remember correctly, this should be one of the authorities of the primordial mother goddess, Tiamat.'
'Why does he possess Tiamat's power?'
As the mastermind manipulating everything behind the scenes in Britannia, Morgan's reaction was naturally swift. She slightly narrowed her beautiful eyes, silently staring at Alvin.
The White Dragon's core was not considered a magic circuit, so the mana of others could not be directly given to Alvin.
'Unless… some special kind of mana exchange has happened.'
'Could it be that Alvin and that primordial mother goddess has...'
After realizing this, a hint of darkness quickly appeared in Morgan's gaze.
"You really are favored, Alvin."
Not everyone was as perceptive as Morgan. At this moment, most people were holding their breath, watching nervously.
Seventh layer, eighth layer...
People soon discovered in astonishment that with the support of the Chaos Tide, Alvin's hand had drawn infinitely close to the Promised Sword of Victory, and even his fingertips had already touched the hilt.
Finally, Alvin broke through the ninth layer of the barrier and touched the Promised Sword of Victory. In that instant, the Holy Sword erupted with dazzling brilliance. Golden, scorching light blanketed the entire land, even eclipsing the sun.
As if at that moment, the Promised Sword of Victory had become the only light between heaven and earth.
Alvin was swiftly swallowed by the magnificent radiance. The White Dragon's core accelerated to its absolute limit. Amid the tsunami-like light, he reached out and grasped the Holy Sword.
Buzz!
Endless sacred brilliance lit up the entire sky like daylight. The heavens seemed to burn with boundless fire, and the clouds collapsed at one corner from the scorching heat.
From within the golden pillar, relying purely on the White Dragon's brute strength, he violently pulled out the Promised Sword of Victory.
The space itself seemed to tremble violently. Finally, the radiance gradually dimmed, and heaven and earth instantly returned to calm, as if nothing had happened at all.
Clang!
Accompanied by a trembling chime, the sharp Holy Sword pierced the ground and fell before Alvin, breaking the eerie silence.
Alvin raised his head toward the formless Gaia and smiled.
"Does your word still count, Gaia?"
———
Deep within the royal palace—
Tiamat sat by the windowsill, resting her cheek in her hand as she stared blankly at the world outside.
A pair of small feet clad in white ankle socks swung back and forth in boredom.
A pile of delicacies was laid out on the table. She casually picked up a biscuit and nibbled on it with relish.
Some of these treats had been brought by Alvin from Artoria's drawer.
Not far from Tiamat, the golden-haired King of Knights stood there, the golden crown fully displaying the king's dignity and noble bearing.
"Aren't you worried about him?", Artoria's voice was cool and pleasant.
Not long ago, when she learned that Alvin had initiated a Round Table vote, Artoria knew that something must have happened on Alvin's side.
And shortly after that, she sensed a trace of will from the two great Counter Forces descending upon Britannia.
Although she didn't know the reason, anything involving 'Gaia' and 'Alaya' was bound to be nothing good.
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