Chapter 261 I'll Protect You!
The outline of the Holy City Camelot completely disappeared in the sandstorm, and the invisible force field that enveloped the land and suppressed magic power dissipated with it.
Almost at the same instant, Ritsuka's communicator on her wrist vibrated frantically.
"It's connected! It's finally connected!"
A virtual screen unfolded before everyone.
Dr. Roman's face, etched with anxiety and exhaustion, popped up, with the chaotic temporary command room of Chaldea in the background.
"Ritsuka! Mash! How are you? The magic power reaction earlier was astronomical; I thought…"
Roman's urgent words came to an abrupt halt.
Ritsuka simply stepped aside silently, giving the camera full view of the man behind her.
On the other end of the communication screen, Chaldea fell into a deathly silence.
"Ka… Arthur!?"
Roman sprang up from his chair, his eyes almost bulging out of their sockets.
The coffee cup by his hand clattered and overturned, the hot liquid splashing his white coat and making him jump.
"Long time no see, Dr. Roman. Oh, should I be calling you Acting Director now?"
Arthur's smile was gentle, completely different from the taciturn young man Roman remembered.
Roman seemed to have all his strength drained, sinking heavily back into his chair, his hands running through his messy hair, his mind a blank.
"What… what exactly is going on? Weren't you already…"
"As you can see, I just didn't die completely."
Arthur lightly brushed over the topic and continued to explain.
"The Lion King's problem is temporarily resolved. I've sent her to reflect in the Holy Capital, to think about whether she is a god or a human."
He spread his palm, and a golden urn, radiating brilliant light, floated silently.
"And the Holy Grail of the Sixth Singularity has been recovered."
Roman's gaze shifted back and forth between the Holy Grail and Arthur, and after listening to the half-true, half-false explanation, it took him a long time to find his voice.
"Wait, Arthur… what exactly are the 'crack in the door' and 'something' you mentioned earlier? Is there another crisis besides the Incineration of Humanity?"
"Of course."
Arthur's smile remained unchanged, but a meaningful glint flashed in his silver eyes.
"The fellow who lit the fire of humanity has motives that aren't so simple. Wouldn't you agree, Doctor?"
"…I don't know what you're talking about."
Roman's eyes darted away, his voice dry.
"It's alright, you'll understand soon enough."
Arthur stopped pressing him, changing the subject and looking towards the distant, sand-filled horizon.
"We plan to go to the territory of the Mountain People first. The truly troublesome part of this Singularity has only just begun."
Roman opened his mouth, but in the end, it only turned into a sigh, his warning lacking conviction.
"…I understand. Everyone, please be careful. Magic power interference is severe within the Singularity, and the support Chaldea can provide is limited."
Before he finished speaking, an operator behind him suddenly gasped in surprise.
"Multiple high-intensity Spirit Origin reaction conflicts detected in the Front area! Servants are fighting!"
The moment the warning sounded, a ball of fire erupted from the distant horizon, and the violent magical impact even shook the sandy ground beneath their feet!
"This reaction is…" Arthur's eyes narrowed, "I'll go check it out first!"
Da Vinci immediately turned the sand boat, speeding towards the battlefield… On the battlefield, filled with dust and smoke, the cries of killing shook the heavens.
Purification Knights in silver armor surged like a tide, tightly encircling a group of tattered refugees and several Hassan of the Hundred Personas.
In the center of the encirclement, two figures were clashing fiercely.
"Haaahhh!"
Mordred roared, shattering the ground, her royal sword wreathed in crimson lightning, striking down with immense force!
Lancelot, clad in heavy purple armor, parried the thunderous blow with just one hand, unmoving.
His face was handsome and resolute, yet his expression always seemed to be covered by an unresolvable sorrow.
"Give up, Knight of Treachery. Return with me and accept the King's judgment."
Lancelot's voice was soft, yet each word was like a heavy hammer, striking Mordred's heart.
After receiving the Lion King's [Blessing], Lancelot, who was already at the pinnacle of the Round Table, had his strength become even more unfathomable.
Mordred, on the other hand, was continuously expending her power, with invisible shackles tightly restricting her movements.
"Shut up! You traitor! I don't recognize that as my father!"
Mordred gritted her teeth, crimson lightning flashing around her, but her offensive was completely suppressed by her opponent. Each impact made her tiger's mouth tingle, and she retreated step by step.
If this continued, let alone protecting the refugees, she herself would die of exhaustion!
In despair, a pale storm swept across the battlefield, kicking up a sky full of sand!
"If you don't mind, let me lend you a hand."
The moment the words fell, countless fine wind blades condensed into form!
They swept across the necks of every Purification Knight with the precision and elegance of a grim reaper's scythe.
The knight army, which had been so imposing a second ago, simultaneously had their heads separated from their bodies, their heavy armor crashing to the ground, raising a sky full of dust.
The entire scene was dead silent.
Lancelot looked up at the sky in surprise and uncertainty, while Mordred suddenly raised her head, her pretty face, smudged with sand, filled with an unbelievable ecstasy.
Arthur descended with the wind, ignoring Lancelot's wary gaze, and walked directly towards Mordred, a hint of emotion in his eyes from a long-awaited reunion.
"This is a heaven-bestowed glorious blessing; you shall make a contract with me here and display your supreme courage in hunting lions and dragons!"
Buzz!
A pale brilliance descended like a heavenly pillar, enveloping the scarred Mordred.
She could clearly feel the weakness in her body being instantly washed away, replaced by a surging, boundless energy capable of tearing through the sky!
The power gap instantly reversed!
"Hey! Thanks, Master!"
Mordred felt an unprecedented power within her, and she suddenly looked up, her eyes burning with fiery battle intent, glaring at the pale-faced Lancelot.
"Come on, traitor! Round two begins!"
Clarent Blood Arthur!
The next second, a black and red pillar of destruction shot into the sky, its scorching energy evaporating the desert into a terrifying, bottomless chasm!
The toppling pillar of heaven completely engulfed the Knight of the Lake, exploding like a volcano in a deafening roar that tore at the eardrums!
Mordred gasped for breath. She glanced at Lancelot, who lay motionless in the impact crater, sheathing her royal sword, and rushed to Arthur in a few quick strides.
She raised her hand and punched Arthur in the chest. The force was not heavy, but her tone carried an indescribable mix of grievance and excitement.
"Where… where did you pop out from?"
"Hmm—to handle some private matters."
Arthur looked sideways at the still-shaken refugees, then raised his hand to ruffle her messy golden hair, praising her.
"You did well this time."
"Hmph, of course I did!"
Mordred slapped his hand away and rubbed the tip of her nose, but the smile in her eyes couldn't be hidden.
"So what? The private matter you mentioned is…"
Before she could finish her question, a female Hassan wearing a bone mask quietly stepped forward, kneeling on one knee, her posture incredibly respectful.
"Child of the Stars, we have been waiting for a long time. Please follow us to the village for a discussion."