Aslan retrieved the bottle that had been absorbing the island's power from behind him. Gazing at the highly compressed black liquid within, he took a gulp. The surging, immense power of the island immediately suffused every corner of his body.
The demonic dragon before them grew darker the holier the weapons wielded against it, devouring their light. If light could not break through this darkness, then he would become darkness itself—to devour darkness with darkness and reclaim the light!
Black island power erupted from Aslan. This power stained his silver-white armor the color of obsidian, interspersed with its original gold. While it lost some of its sanctity, it gained a solemn air, and sharp, aggressive features emerged along its edges and corners.
The unruly lock of hair that usually stuck up on Aslan's head gradually smoothed down. His light golden hair lost some of its brilliance, taking on a paler hue, as if a once carefree, bright youth had transformed into a battle-hardened, resolute, ever-victorious general. His light blue eyes, too, turned completely golden as his dragon blood activated.
If one considered this current Aslan an 'inverted' version, then with each spiritual ascension, his armor would diminish, revealing the white dragon scales emerging on his body. Indeed, even now, the pristine white of a few scales could be glimpsed at his neck.
The contrast of white dragon scales against the solemn black armor made Aslan appear both sacred and possessed of an undeniable, unyielding majesty—like a holy swordsman walking through darkness, yet steadfastly upholding the creed of light. He was an unwavering point of light flickering within the darkness, conspicuously out of place despite standing amidst it.
The golden Sword of Glorious Victory in his hand was now tinged with black. A black-gold light flickered incessantly. The draconic shadow originally coiled at the hilt now permeated the entire blade. As a weapon reforged by Aslan and perfectly attuned to him, the Sword of Glorious Victory could flawlessly adapt to his changing state.
"I'm coming, Father!"
Black demonic energy and powerful dragon breath clashed relentlessly over the ruins. The battle raged for several hours. With both sides possessing formidable reserves of power, this protracted fight was one they had both long steeled themselves for.
The longer the battle of attrition dragged on, the more Vortigern found this son of his difficult to handle. Flowing with the same blood, his son could also wield the island's power that Vortigern himself channeled. To overwhelm him, Vortigern would have to sever that connection to the island's power.
However, if he cut off the island's power, the destruction of Britain would be delayed, and his own strength would diminish. Consequently, Vortigern focused his attention even more intensely on Aslan, creating an opportune moment for Artoria.
Artoria, wielding the Spear of Radiance, Rhongomyniad: The Lance That Shines to the End of the World—seized the moment. While the demonic dragon was focused on Aslan, she leaped from a high point in the ruins, aimed the spear at the base of Vortigern's tail, and thrust it down violently. The spear's power, like a radiant tower, pinned Vortigern's tail firmly to the ground. Striking the base of the tail, it even hampered the movement of Vortigern's legs.
Previously, despite its enormous size, the demonic dragon had used its wings and the island's power to continually evade powerful attacks. While not as fast as Melusine, its speed was considerable. Defensively, it could even withstand a blow from Aslan's holy sword and slowly regenerate, leading to the current stalemate.
Now that the demonic dragon's mobility was finally restricted, it was a golden opportunity. After such a prolonged battle of attrition, it was time to deliver the final blow!
Behind Vortigern, Artoria raised her holy sword. Though its radiance wasn't as dazzling as before, it remained Glorious and striking. "This is the battle to protect Britain! This light is the hope of the stars, the proof of life that illuminates the land!"
The golden holy sword was held aloft, a mighty attack gathering within it.
Aslan dodged a swipe from his father's claws and raised his own black-gold holy sword. Watching Melusine, who was soaring through the sky and had once again wounded his old man, he took a deep breath, channeling all his magical energy into the sword.
"Melusine! No need to hold back any longer! Let this demonic dragon witness who the strongest dragon truly is! I will carve our path forward here! I shall achieve a radiant victory! Sever evil, banish the shadows! Try and withstand this glorious light—"
Melusine flew back a short distance, a confident smile playing on her lips. She was about to unleash the power of the Horizon Dragon. Her form transformed into a beam of light, breaking through ring after ring of luminescence as she soared from the earth towards the distant horizon!
"Grovel before me! Heart of the Planet, the strongest. Come forth from these decaying husk! Breath of flame, wings of iron, like a newborn's cry across the twilight sky!"
The Horizon Dragon, above the dim storm clouds, beneath the distant sunlight, slowly expanded its chest. A mighty cardiac pulse, an endless pressure, was about to erupt!
"Witness, [Excalibur]!!"
"[Caliburn]!!"
"[Hollow Heart Albion]!!"
Golden light and black-gold light struck the demonic dragon from either side. The golden cardiac pulse, like a colossal, world-destroying spear, descended from the heavens!
The dark clouds shrouding the island were utterly dispersed by the immense power. Dust, debris, and blood, in the face of this magical outburst, vanished into the sky.
Gawain and the others stared, stunned, at the immense pillar of magical light. This was truly not a battle they could lightly interfere in.
As the immense magical energy gradually dissipated, Melusine landed behind Aslan. Sensing the island's power around them slowly waning, Aslan's 'inverted' state also began to fade.
Artoria retracted her holy spear, leaning on it for support. "Is it over?"
Before them lay only shattered ruins and an enormous crater.
Aslan closed his eyes. A subtle intuition guided his gaze to a patch of ruins not far from the massive crater. "You could say it's over. Leave what comes next to me. This will be just the two of us—father and son."
With that, Aslan took out his forging hammer and walked towards the ruins.