[Damage contribution calculation in progress…]
[Survivor #11766 (Cyan) dealt 41% damage to the evil Archduke Garibaldi. Obtained Silver Card.]
[Survivor #9731 (Asuka) dealt 32% damage to the evil Archduke Garibaldi. Obtained Silver Card.]
[Survivor #13001 (Asama Ai) dealt 9% damage to the evil Archduke Garibaldi. Obtained Bronze Card.]
[Story character Percival dealt 7% damage to the evil Archduke Garibaldi.]
[Story character Lancelot dealt 6% damage to the evil Archduke Garibaldi.]
[Story character Arthur dealt 5% damage to the evil Archduke Garibaldi.]
It's over…
After glancing at the damage contribution information, Cyan picked up the now-dull crown from the ground.
[Crown of Lifedrain]
[Type: Head, Face]
[Stats: This equipment is damaged and cannot display attributes.]
[Equip Requirement: None]
[Remark: A crown commissioned by Merlin from the Lady of the Lake. While it grants power to the wearer, it also continuously drains their life force.]
Merlin… the guide…
Only those recognized by the Golden Grail can become king…
Was all of this a conspiracy from the very beginning?
Was Merlin the mastermind behind it all? Was he doing this to push Arthur onto the throne?
Cyan looked at Arthur and recalled what Asuka had told her about the story of King Arthur. In that story, Arthur had also become the king of England after being guided by Merlin to pull the sword from the stone.
Regardless of what conspiracy existed, completing Survival Mission One required taking the Golden Grail.
With that thought, Cyan walked over to Asuka while holding the crown and showed her its information.
This…
Asuka's eyes widened in shock when she saw the crown's attributes. Just as she was about to speak, she noticed Cyan placing a finger to her lips. She glanced at Arthur and the others, guessed what Cyan was thinking, and put on an exaggerated expression.
"Wow, the gems on this crown are so pretty! Cyan, can you pry one off for me?"
"I can, but now's not the time for that."
Cyan stored the crown away and looked up at the Golden Grail slowly descending from above. She gave Asuka a meaningful look.
"So this is the Golden Grail…"
Arthur and Percival stared at the Golden Grail with excitement. The one chosen by the Grail would use its power to pacify the chaos and become the king of England.
"Master, I'm here~!"
Nishi arrived beside Cyan. She looked at Garibaldi's corpse and circled around it with sparkling hazel eyes, but didn't find anything valuable. Staring at the dried-up body, she tilted her head in confusion.
How did this old man even put on this armor?
"Let's go."
Cyan looked at the Golden Grail. Golden lightning wrapped around her legs. She snatched the Grail right in front of Arthur and the others and was about to store it in her inventory when she received a notification from the survival brand.
[Survivor #11766 must hold the Golden Grail for 12 hours before it can be stored in the inventory.]
[Note: Only after a survivor holds the Golden Grail for more than 12 hours can Survival Mission One be completed.]
The notification from the survival brand was sent to all survivors.
[Golden Grail]
[Type: Special Item]
[Effect: Currently cannot be displayed]
[Remark: Legend says the Golden Grail possesses mysterious power.]
Arthur, Lancelot, and Percival felt their vision blur. The Golden Grail disappeared, and the next moment they saw Cyan glowing while holding it.
"Lord Cyan! What are you doing?!"
Lancelot frowned and asked. He had a bad feeling. Could it be that the outsiders' goal was…
No way… You're just going to rob it outright?
Asuka was stunned by Cyan's bold move.
"Killing the evil Archduke Garibaldi and obtaining the Golden Grail was our goal."
Cyan tossed the Golden Grail to Nishi, then picked up the stunned Asuka and ran over to Nishi, carrying her as well. She charged toward the north window.
Asama Ai received the notification from the survival brand. Seeing Cyan's actions, she blinked, then immediately summoned Kayako without thinking too much.
She could only ask the cute and beautiful Big Sister Kayako to help her escape. If she stayed here any longer, it was 100% certain she would be captured!
"Raise your shield."
Cyan's voice reached her ears. Asuka finally reacted and quickly took out her greatshield.
Crash!
The window was smashed apart by the greatshield. Cyan looked down at the height of several floors below and jumped.
Ripple Dash!
Cyan's feet moved as if they had suction cups. She ran vertically down the wall as if she were running on flat ground.
Nishi's eyes widened. This kind of thrill was a first for her.
It's a bit too thrilling though!
Arthur and the others who reached the window stared in shock as Cyan ran straight down the wall at a 90-degree angle — something no human should be able to do — while carrying two people on her shoulders.
Arthur and Percival immediately ordered the arriving soldiers to issue a capture order for the outsiders!
The Golden Grail absolutely could not be allowed to leave with the outsiders!
Percival, who wanted to become king, was especially unwilling to let the outsiders ruin everything. He personally led the army out of the palace and chased after Cyan's group as they ran toward the city outskirts.
"Kyaaah! Where are you touching?!"
Asuka felt Cyan's hand brush against her butt and started struggling.
"It wasn't on purpose…"
Cyan ran toward the city outskirts at her maximum speed and said in a low voice, "Stop moving around. If you keep struggling, I'll throw you here."
"You wouldn't dare!"
Asuka immediately stopped moving after hearing Cyan's words.
Nishi, who was being carried on Cyan's left shoulder, skillfully tied a rope around the Golden Grail and herself to prevent it from slipping due to the rough movement.
Whoosh!
The soldiers only felt a gust of wind pass by. It seemed like something had run past them. They rubbed their eyes, thinking they were seeing things.
"Nishi, switch equipment with me."
"Huh?"
Nishi, who had been drooling while touching the Golden Grail, let out a confused sound when she heard Cyan's words.
"Wait. You and Langley go first. I'll stay behind and block Merlin if he shows up."
Since all of this was part of Merlin's plan, and things had developed outside of it, he would definitely appear. Right now, it would be difficult for all three of them to escape together. It was better to let Nishi and Asuka go first.
She would stay behind to stop Merlin if he appeared. Thanks to the contract between her and Nishi, she would be able to find them again after shaking Merlin off.
Of course, this was only Cyan's guess. It would be best if Merlin didn't appear at all. They could leave the royal city safely, and by the time Arthur and the others caught up, they would already be far away.
Would Merlin come that quickly?
Asuka wasn't sure why Cyan was so certain Merlin would appear.
"Alright."
Nishi also knew this wasn't the time to be sentimental. She couldn't say the kind of lines you often hear in dramas like "I won't go! If we're leaving, we're leaving together!" She understood Cyan's strength. If she stayed, she would only become a burden.
After switching equipment, Cyan ran to the base of the city wall and leapt up, running vertically upward along the wall.
Cyan carried Nishi and Asuka up onto the city wall and saw Merlin standing there, waiting for them.
"Outsiders, leave the Golden Grail behind. I will allow you to leave."
Merlin held his staff and stared at Cyan's group with a calm gaze.
"Cyan, put me down first… Wait, you're not planning to—" Asuka wanted Cyan to put her down. Before she could finish speaking, she felt Cyan's movements change and realized what she was about to do. Her face turned pale.
"Waaaaah!!!"
Asuka was thrown like a projectile by Cyan and couldn't help but scream.
"You can't escape!"
Merlin glanced at the thrown Asuka, then looked at the Golden Grail tied to Nishi. A flash of anger appeared in his eyes. He had spent so long planning to put Arthur on the throne of England, only for these outsiders to ruin everything at the most critical moment. His current mood could easily be imagined.
Hearing Merlin's words, Cyan remained silent. She then threw Nishi, who had been about to say something, as well.
Nishi spread her arms and legs and activated her Flight Cloak, diving toward Asuka at high speed while shouting, "Langley! Grab onto me!"
Asuka heard Nishi calling her. She turned around and hugged Nishi's neck, wrapping her legs around her waist. She let out a sigh of relief.
A gust of wind blew past. Instead of descending, the two of them rose several meters higher.
Nishi turned back to look at Cyan, who was standing on the city wall and blocking Merlin. She bit her lip and quickly flew away into the distance using the Flight Cloak.
Master, you have to come find me soon!
"Don't even think about leaving with the Grail!"
Merlin saw Nishi and Asuka flying away. He raised his staff, and a blazing flame shaped like a dragon lunged toward them.
Clang!
Cyan leapt into the air and drew her demon blade, cutting the fire dragon in half. She then swung her blade rapidly. The fire dragon broke apart into small flames that fell from the sky and were extinguished by the rain before they could reach the ground.
"Your opponent is me."
Cyan gripped the demon blade with both hands. She twisted her waist and spun through the air, slashing toward Merlin's head.
Bang!
A spherical magic shield formed from pale blue flames appeared around Merlin and blocked Cyan's attack.
"I already gave you a chance!"
Merlin looked at the blade striking his magic shield. His pupils shrank. He raised his staff, and the temperature around them dropped sharply. Ice and snow covered the city wall. The stones on the wall seemed to come alive and twisted toward Cyan.
Flame Roar!
Cyan slightly opened her lips. Firelight appeared as blazing flames shot out from her mouth, melting the ice and snow and creating a burning area on the ground.
"You can breathe fire from your mouth? What are you?!"
Merlin stared in shock at Cyan's attack method. As far as he knew, only dragons could breathe fire from their mouths.
"It has nothing to do with you."
Become a Demon!
Cyan answered coldly. She ran her hand upward across her face. Her hair changed to a fiery red base with streaks of blue, green, white, and coffee color, styled upward as if with gel. The Prajna Mask appeared on her face. Black ghostly aura poured out from the mask's mouth and wrapped around her body.
At this moment, Cyan looked like a vengeful demon had descended.
(This version of Cyan could easily cameo as a corrupted character in Yu-Gi-Oh!. Maybe add a creepy expression too.)
Ripple Dash!
Shua!
Golden lightning wrapped around her legs. Cyan's figure disappeared from where she stood.
Bang bang bang bang!
The magic shield was attacked from all directions. Merlin's magic couldn't keep up with Cyan's speed.
Ordinary people couldn't follow Cyan's movements with their eyes at all. Even Merlin could barely track her.
Just what kind of monster is this?!
Cold sweat ran down Merlin's forehead. He was confident he could damage Cyan with magic, but against someone with such bizarre speed, even powerful magic was useless if it couldn't hit.
Strength and Agility +10, along with a 20% increase in attack speed and movement speed, more than doubled Cyan's combat power while the skill was active.
Infinite Style · Gale Slash!
Crack crack!
With a crisp sound, cracks appeared on the magic shield. Cyan's left fist, wearing Bloody Tear and burning with deep purple demonic flame, punched the cracked shield.
Pop!
The magic shield shattered. Cyan thrust her blade toward Merlin's chest.
At the moment the demon blade pierced his body, bang!, Merlin turned into smoke and disappeared.
He disappeared?
Cyan looked around. She sensed malice coming from below and leapt up, slashing apart the fire ropes that tried to bind her legs as they flew out from the burning area.
That's enough… I've bought enough time.
Cyan sensed the direction Nishi had fled in and leapt down from the city wall. She didn't have time to waste here with Merlin.