The plain declaration carried no mystical power—it was simply confidence.
But that confidence alone was something no one, not even Jeanne d'Arc, could ignore—especially after Alaric revealed the Holy Spear Rhongomyniad, which no one had ever seen before.
No one could fully grasp the changes happening to Alaric right now. Even before obtaining the Greater Grail, Alaric had already been a top-tier existence capable of battling great heroes like Karna and Achilles.
And now, after obtaining the Greater Grail, he had created the Aurora, a phenomenon that seemed to transcend human comprehension. No one could truly understand what the existence of the Aurora signified.
However, Jeanne and the others were certain of one thing: the Aurora, stretching infinitely toward the sky and the earth, was not something beneficial to this world.
During the breakthrough battle led by Jeanne and her allied forces, as Karna and the crimson dragon girl clashed and the group advanced toward the Hanging Gardens, the Aurora stood unshaken at the end. The land it consumed had already turned into an abyss, stretching thousands of meters and unfathomably deep.
Jeanne didn't dare imagine how much of the land's mass had been taken. They couldn't even approach the Aurora.
Realizing its danger, Jeanne and the others tried to destroy it through physical and magical means, but anything that came close to the Aurora was destroyed, absorbed, and became part of it.
This applied not only to physical matter but also to magic.
Faced with the seemingly invincible Aurora, Jeanne even considered using her second Noble Phantasm. But until she saw Alaric again, she couldn't make that decision—
"Mr. Alaric, what exactly is your wish?"
Jeanne stared intently at the man embraced by the goddess. The closeness between him and the God of Origins was far beyond anything Jeanne had anticipated.
But no matter what, Alaric had to abandon his wish!
"Nothing much—just the continuation of myself. I want to live, Saintess."
Finally shifting his gaze slightly away from Sieg, Alaric turned to Jeanne and said with a faint smile:
"If it's you, surely you can understand me—my wish to survive in this world. Humanity's voyage forward is charted by what is called the Human Order. But it seems there's never been a place for me in this world.
Where did the problem lie? No one told me. So, I decided to solve this problem through my own efforts."
Step. Step.
Alaric began descending the stairs, each step seeming to weigh heavily on everyone's hearts.
"The Lion King—the pure white Lion King, also known as the Knight King, Artoria Pendragon. She was the one who allowed me to take my first step forward, the king I served as a Knight of the Round Table."
Hearing Artoria's name, Mordred's expression tightened slightly, but she suppressed her temper and refrained from interrupting Alaric.
"She gave me dragon's blood and used the Holy Spear Rhongomyniad as an anchor to stabilize my existence, allowing me to survive."
At the mention of the dragon's blood, the crimson dragon girl's expression shifted slightly, and she instinctively turned to look at Alaric on the steps.
Their gazes met at that moment.
A nameless unease stirred in the heart of the crimson dragon girl.
"Afterward, I embarked on several adventures. I ended the life of the oldest Heroic King, witnessed the war of the Supreme God, and even killed the God of Origins—Tiamat, who once became the Second Beast."
At the mention of that battle, the previously drowsy goddess instantly puffed up with agitation, tightening her embrace around Alaric.
Jeanne, on the other hand, turned pale at the mention of the Second Beast, an incredulous thought surfacing in her mind.
It wasn't just Jeanne—while most couldn't fully grasp the meaning of Alaric's words, some did, like Karna, the Hero of Charity. With his insight into the truth, he could confirm that every word from Alaric was true.
If so, then Alaric was indeed a hero forged through countless extraordinary adventures.
"After defeating Beast II, I met the Demon God King Goetia, who sought to burn away the Human Order and reconstruct the cosmos. His true form was a correction device for the Human Order, created by the Magecraft King Solomon.
I bore witness to Solomon's final vow, sacrificing everything to restore divine grace. And thus, the Age of Gods came to its ultimate end."
Alaric's tone was calm, but his words painted images of grand, tumultuous adventures in the minds of everyone—the beginning and end of the Age of Gods, all with Alaric at the center.
"Although the journey was rough, I participated in the Fourth Holy Grail War—the ritual in Fuyuki, seeking the Grail to make my wish."
Having descended halfway, Alaric's mention of a Fourth Holy Grail War that had never happened made everyone hold their breath and listen to this story from beyond the world.
"Everything went smoothly, but I lacked the final courage to gamble others' lives for my wish. So, I failed. I couldn't kill the evil occupying the Grail's core. In the end, I overexerted myself and was cast out of that world."
Step. Step.
Alaric descended the final stairs, stepping onto the same level as Jeanne and the others.
Behind him, the obsidian Aurora radiating from the Greater Grail shimmered with the brilliance of a starry sea.
"But this time, the moment I learned of the Pure Greater Grail's existence, I knew this would be my victory."
Stopping his advance, Alaric's calm gaze swept over Jeanne, Sieg, and the others as he continued:
"If you had destroyed the Greater Grail before this moment, that would have been the only way to stop me. But you cannot destroy it now.
Thus, the outcome is already decided."
"Stop babbling! What exactly are you planning to do?"
Unable to hold back any longer, Mordred interrupted, shouting:
"What's the deal with that light and your wish? Don't tell me you want to destroy the world or something ridiculous!"
"I've seen the possibilities of the future. The real ticket is already in my hands."
"Holy Spear, raise the anchor."
There was no emotional fluctuation, and even the act of raising the Holy Spear seemed unremarkable. Yet, to everyone else, it was like a tidal wave crashing down.
"Holy Spear, proclaim the end—Rhongomyniad."
What emerged was no longer a false imitation but the true release of the Spear of the End.
In ancient times, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table established thirteen seals to suppress the Holy Spear's original power. Only in situations fulfilling multiple honors and missions could the true Holy Spear be released.
And the required number of approvals for full release was seven.
"Don't even think about it!"
The moment Alaric acted, Karna transformed into a streak of light and shot toward him. But the crimson dragon girl intercepted him, preventing Karna from interfering with Alaric!
[Thirteen Seals Released—Round Table Decision Commenced!]
The voice of the king flickered, followed by the Round Table's deliberation on the legitimacy of the battle:
[This battle is one of survival]—Approved, Kay;
[This battle is a struggle against the stronger]—Denied, Bedivere;
[This battle does not deviate from humanity]—Denied, Gareth;
[This battle seeks the truth]—Approved, Agravain;
[This battle does not oppose the fairies]—Approved, Lancelot;
[This battle is to defeat evil]—Denied, Mordred;
[This battle is not driven by selfish desire]—Denied, Galahad.
The approvals and denials clashed as if this battle was unnecessary.
The Round Table's rejection couldn't stop Alaric. The Aurora, deeply entrenched, bypassed the [Thirteen Seals], forcibly imprinting his mark upon it.
[This battle is fought for oneself]—Approved, Alaric.
Absolute human will—the miracle capable of altering even the world itself.