Three days later.
Looking at the clear lake before him, even the Lion King, known for his majesty, couldn't help but twitch his eyelids, a cross-shaped vein bulging on his forehead.
They had been circling here for three full days!
The story began three days ago.
Emrys had completed the blood trial and gained the approval of Zabriel, a member of the original Dark Angels Legion, the Knights of the Holy Three Keys, now the Angels of Salvation and the Sons of the Forest Chapter, which was killing two birds with one stone.
Thus, the Lion King declared their 'outing' a complete success. Next, they were to return to Calimas, find the rebel warships, and contact the other Imperial forces.
But shortly after the Lion King announced his plan, they encountered a problem.
How to get back?
The Lion King himself was utterly bewildered. He had received a revelation from the 'Emperor' in a dream, leading the two into this forest, but he had no idea how to get out!
Because he had only recently awakened his Warp essence, the Lion King still didn't know how to use this power.
This led to the current situation.
They had been circling in this cursed forest for three full days, but they just couldn't find the exit!
The Lion King remained silent.
The surrounding air pressure grew somewhat tense.
But Emrys, from the Lion King's perpetually majestic and solemn expression, discerned a hint of deeply hidden—embarrassment.
That's right, embarrassment.
They were lost, and what's more, they were lost in the Lion King's own Warp domain. This eerie forest was like a giant maze; the three of them had wandered here for two days and still hadn't found a way out.
"Lord, we—we're back again."
Logically, Zabriel should address the Lion King as 'Father,' but given the past, he simply couldn't bring himself to say it, so he opted for 'lord' instead.
The Lion King gazed at the lake, still silent. Seeing that he didn't speak, Zabriel meekly said, "Um—lord, we're back again."
"Shut up."
The Lion King glared at him, gritting his teeth, "My eyes aren't blind yet, I know we're back again!"
Zabriel wisely closed his mouth.
But he felt a little thrill inside, a sense of schadenfreude. Perhaps this was 'filial piety'?
Looking at the secretly amused Zabriel, Emrys was helpless. He hadn't wanted to interfere, but the Lion King was truly unreliable!
"Ahem, I think," Emrys broke the silence, addressing the quiet Lion King, "This should be some kind of revelation. Every time we get lost, we return to this lake, so there might be something here."
However, as he spoke these words, the Lion King gave him a strange look.
This gaze—made Emrys a bit uneasy.
"Those are just my guesses. If there's nothing, we'll just keep looking. We can't be trapped here forever, can we?"
"No need."
The Lion King withdrew his gaze and stepped into the lake.
The clear lake water swirled around the Lion King's knees, and before him, a vortex gradually formed.
The water churned violently, and as the vortex took shape, the entire lake's waterline began to drop suddenly, as if there were a pump at the bottom!
Soon, after the entire lake's waterline dropped, a massive gray rock in the center of the lake was revealed.
Upon the rock was a power sword, its cold gleam sharp, its edge buried an inch into the stone. The elegant blade exposed from the rock made it seem not like a weapon for the battlefield, but a ceremonial court sword.
Yet, its hilt, bearing the Imperial twin-winged emblem embracing a roaring lion, proved its Sir's identity.
The Lion King's Sword!
Or, it could be called the Sword in the Lake!
Compared to the sword that was 'buried' with the Lion King himself in his sarcophagus upon his awakening, this sword was undoubtedly of a much higher caliber.
This was a divine artifact given by the Emperor to his own son!
Emrys couldn't suppress his excitement, his eyes wide as he watched the Lion King, waiting for him to draw this legendary Sword in the Lake!
As for why he was excited?
Does it even need to be said? Of course, it's a secret!
The Lion King's gaze sharpened, staring at the 'Sword in the Lake' for a long time, his lips moving slightly, as if in bitterness, or perhaps a sneer, but ultimately turning into a sigh.
He reached out and grasped the hilt.
With a slight pull, the sword, embedded in the rock, was easily drawn by him. With a soft hum, the blade, illuminated by the moonlight, shimmered with a deadly, heart-stopping, bone-chilling light.
And the ruby eyes of the lion carved into the hilt also seemed to glow faintly!
The blade trembled slightly because of the Lion King, emitting a series of chimes that echoed between the lake and the forest.
By the lakeside, ancient and vigorous trees, their branches drooping in the breeze, seemed to bow before the Lion King, and the rustling sounds in the forest converged into a hymn!
"Time to go."
The Lion King was expressionless, seemingly greatly disgusted by everything happening around him. After drawing the 'Sword in the Lake,' he immediately sheathed it, turned, and strode ashore.
Zabriel followed him.
"Um—" Emrys hesitated, rubbing his hands, the light of excitement barely concealed in his eyes.
"Respected Lord the Lion King, I have a small matter—I'd like to ask for your help."
"What is it?"
The Lion King stopped, looking at him with some confusion.
"It's just, the next time you encounter a battle and need to draw your sword, could you please shout 'Excalibur'?" A hint of fanaticism appeared in Emrys' eyes.
Although the roles had changed, he really wanted to see the Lion King raise the 'Sword in the Lake' and shout 'Excalibur'!
The Lion King's mouth twitched. Seeing the fanaticism in Emrys' eyes, he said with a speechless expression, "Leaving aside why I should shout that, don't you think shouting during a battle is a very foolish act? Why would you warn your enemy beforehand and make them vigilant?"
"Because it would be cool!"
Emrys replied without hesitation, "Don't you think shouting it out when unleashing a big move can deliver a double blow to the enemy, both psychologically and physically?"
"I think you've been training too little."
The Lion King roared, "Zabriel, starting today, you train this boy well for me and make him deeply understand the essence of Caliban Knight swordsmanship!"
"No, Lion King!"
Emrys was still not giving up.
"Please, train me to death if you want, just grant me this request, just one shout, just one!"
"Scram!"
After throwing out these words, the Lion King stormed off. Zabriel looked helplessly at Emrys, then sighed, "grandmaster, this—this isn't my fault."
Two days later, the Lion King finally led Emrys and Zabriel out of that cursed forest!
However, the situation was somewhat unexpected.
What greeted their eyes was not the forest on Calimas, but a desert!
In the vast, endless desert, hot winds whipped up sand, stinging their faces, leaving all three temporarily bewildered.
Where was this?!
But this question didn't linger for long before it was broken by a group of people.
Not far away, several figures appeared on a sand dune. By their height, they should be Space Marines. Just as the Lion King was about to speak and ask where this was, a bolter round grazed his face and blasted a pit in the sand behind him.
"?"
The Lion King slowly formed a question mark.
But immediately after, those Space Marines began to charge, firing bolter rounds one after another, their target quite clear: to kill them.
Soon, the Lion King's question transformed into rage.
"Lion King!!!"
At this moment, a voice came from behind.
The Lion King looked back and saw Emrys' pleading expression, his mouth twitching a few times.
These past few days, this boy had been driving him crazy!
No matter how harshly Zabriel trained him, this boy just wouldn't give up, always clinging to him and repeating that phrase.
The Lion King sighed.
Then, he looked at the charging Space Marines, thought for a moment, and with a stiff face, drew the blade from his waist, taking a deep breath.
"E... Excalibur!"
Zabriel covered his face, unable to watch. "You really spoil him!"