Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: 「Father」

The dragon scales faded.

The wings fell away.

The grotesque flesh and eyeballs all over his body contracted back into that form.

On this scorching battlefield of Grand Servants, which stood like pillars of heaven...

The silver-haired witch embraced the knight in black, tears streaming from her eyes like a broken string of pearls.

The Grand Servants watched this scene, completely lost in thought.

The wind was bone-chilling, the rain torrential.

Yet, both the sound of the wind and the rain seemed to vanish into the silence.

Alwin Pendragon.

He had turned from a Beast... back into a man.

"—But... how is this possible?"

Romulus stared at this scene in disbelief.

He was the founding emperor of ancient Rome, hailed as the strongest warrior and divine ancestor, who lived a magnificent and glorious life, revered and worshipped by countless people.

But even he, the Divine Ancestor, had never witnessed such a scene—

"He clearly, clearly had already completely transformed into a Beast," Romulus murmured.

Such an event completely overturned all his prior understanding.

"Why... why could this process possibly be reversed..."

"—It is because of... Love."

The silver-haired boy worshipped the heavens, his eyes brimming with tears, praying to the True God for the reunion of the lovers.

"The so-called 'Evil of Humanity' is also 'Love of Humanity'.

"As a Beast, Alwin had forgotten everything, leaving only the thirst and instinct for Continuance, but... he still remembered what she looked like.

"At this moment...

"—She became his Savior."

Noah clasped his hands together as if in prayer.

The torrential rain, like a cascading waterfall from the sky, slowly began to subside.

A crack appeared in the strange, spiraling clouds, and a bright, clear sunlight shone through, like a gentle gauze, softly draping over the pair of lovers.

"True God, thank you! Thank you for letting me witness such pure love, for letting me see such a miracle of salvation!"

The silver-haired boy shed tears of emotion, his devout prayers echoing across the battlefield.

Watching the embracing lovers before the throne, who at this moment seemed to have eyes only for each other...

The strongest hunter of Greece, Orion, was lost in thought.

Love.

What a dazzling word.

He, who bore the love of Artemis, seemed to see the figure of the Moon Goddess in that silver-haired witch.

Looking at the silver-haired young man on the field...

Orion's hand, holding his bow, trembled.

Because he seemed to see himself in him as well.

He was deprived of his life because of love, separated from Artemis by death, yet just before, he was about to make Alwin... suffer the same fate.

Taigong Wang and the Old Man of the Mountain exchanged a look, both letting out a long sigh of relief.

Although he couldn't see the expression under Hassan's skull mask, Taigong Wang knew that the other was also greatly relieved.

Subjugating Beasts was their duty as Grands, that was true, but they did not want to kill Alwin.

This time, they had descended from the Throne of Heroes with a mission.

Compared to subjugating Alwin...

They actually wanted to recruit him.

Their simultaneous appearance was also a game of chess between the powers behind them.

Putting work aside for a moment, their personal thoughts were the same.

—Such determination, such a spirit. This man's will had moved every Grand Servant present. When it came time to kill him, Taigong Wang's own hand holding the talisman had been shaking.

He just wanted to live in peace. What was wrong with that?

Such a small wish, yet it was met with hostility from the Counter Force.

A sense of indignation welled up in Taigong Wang's heart.

The Counter Force, which was meant for protection, was in reality a cage.

To avoid the destruction of being pruned, following the quantum record's fixed band was the most stable path.

And so, this world tended to refuse to embrace any change.

It wasn't just the forces behind Taigong Wang and the Old Man of the Mountain playing their game.

Even the planet itself was in a constant game against the primates living on it.

Alaya. The collective unconscious of humanity, which tends to avoid human extinction.

Gaia. The planet's own unconscious, which does everything in its power to maintain the planet's survival.

The two, collectively known as the Counter Force.

The game between these two sides led to the anchoring of human history.

Because, following the path of the quantum record's fixed band would indeed allow human society and the planet to coexist peacefully for a long time.

But it also sealed off the upper limits of both.

Gradually intensifying, irreversible contradictions would only lead to a desperate end.

Humanity needs variables.

Yet, the Grand Servants were being pushed by the Counter Force to kill the variable.

This was the tragedy of humanity, and even more so, the tragedy of this planet.

Taigong Wang sighed at this, but even more, he was moved by Alwin's determination.

Even as a Beast, he had not forgotten his love.

"To turn from Beast to man, this is a great good. Truly worthy of being a bug that doesn't exist in this world—Alwin, you are a miracle in human history."

In this moment of the Grands' stunned silence...

The figure of the golden-haired man suddenly appeared at the very center of the battlefield.

Standing in front of the two, Smoking Mirror faced the five Grand Servants, slowly twisting his neck with a crisp krak sound.

"Today," he said, tossing aside the crushed sunglasses in his hand, his azure eyes seeming to emit a cloud of smoke. "No one fucking touches this kid. I said so."

The golden-haired man's expression was calm.

His tone was as still as an ancient well.

However, the arrogant content of his words made the atmosphere on the field instantly tense.

For no other reason...

Than that Tezcatlipoca, the golden-haired man and Grand Berserker, was undoubtedly the strongest being present.

His strength was overwhelmingly superior to the other Grands present.

The so-called Grand Class was just a game he deigned to join, using a body he casually molded from clay.

As the most powerful chief god of Aztec civilization...

Tezcatlipoca was the god of battle and magic, of beauty and discord, of the night and dominion, of storms and disease, of crime and order...

The things he governed were the opposing sides under heaven's will. He himself was the incarnation born from all contradiction and opposition.

And so...

This kid, Alwin, was perfectly to his taste—

This battlefield suited his taste;

His fighting style suited his taste;

His undying will to fight suited his taste;

And that endless spiral of contradiction suited his taste perfectly!

Survival is a battle.

Alwin, if only you were a woman!

Tsk, well, it probably doesn't matter...

Anyway, Smoking Mirror figured he could turn into a woman himself. He had plenty of avatars.

Though they had only just met...

Smoking Mirror already considered the kid behind him a soulmate.

"Fuck you, Counter Force."

The golden-haired man gave the sky the middle finger.

Alwin was no longer a Beast, so Smoking Mirror had no reason to attack him.

A soulmate so rare you couldn't find one in a lifetime—how could he not protect him himself!

"Hoo~"

The golden-haired man opened his mouth and exhaled a cloud of mist.

The mist enveloped his body, instantly transforming his flashy greatcoat and jeans into a set of form-fitting armor.

A leopard's tail extended from his spine swayed behind him, his reconstructed right foot symbolizing the collapse and destruction of the world. His solemn face made the hearts of the other Grands palpitate.

Smoking Mirror had switched to his combat form. He was actually serious.

So what if it's a Grand Spirit Origin?

The power Smoking Mirror could wield with a Grand vessel was not something these others could compare to—he alone could suppress the entire field.

"Tezcatlipoca, you want to protect him... but what about the return of the Age of Gods?" Romulus's expression was grave. "We have half an hour of deployment time left, but Vortigern is about to project the Holy Spear—he only needs a few minutes!"

"What the hell does that have to do with me? If you've got the guts, Counter Force, then take my damn Spirit Origin back!"

As his words fell...

As if in response to Smoking Mirror's words...

A de-summoning circle suddenly lit up beneath his feet.

He stomped his foot hard, extinguishing the thing directly.

"Fine! Fine, fine, fine! You're really going to do this?"

Smoking Mirror looked up at the sky, a slightly ferocious smile on his face.

"When a divine spirit descends as a Servant, its very existence can form a massive Singularity. Goetia and his seventy-two demon god pillars already gave you a massive headache. Believe it or not, I can make your Human Order blossom with problems everywhere!"

To protect one person, he was willing to flip the table on the Counter Force...

The faces of the Grand Servants changed.

No one responded to the golden-haired man.

But everyone knew, Smoking Mirror was speaking directly to the Counter Force.

Click—

On the throne, a crack suddenly appeared on the blood-red crystal that enveloped half of the silver-haired old man's body.

The old man's fingers seemed to twitch slightly.

Vortigern... was about to awaken.

To return the Age of Gods, to let his people live on in peace—this was the final will of the island of Britain that this demonic dragon shouldered.

If he broke free from the thirteen restraints and lifted the anchor of the Holy Spear, the Star Anchor would also fall, and human history would be completely overturned.

No one hoped to have a chance to persuade this demonic dragon to stop. They certainly knew what kind of person Vortigern was.

Like father, like son. Seeing Alwin's character, they knew Vortigern would be even more unshakeable.

What's more, the Grand Servants had no other solution. The people of the island were destined to die.

"Step aside, Tezcatlipoca. We have no issue with you protecting this kid, but Vortigern must die!"

The Grand Servants did not dare let Vortigern awaken.

Because they had only descended with Grand Spirit Origins, while the Vortigern here was in his true body.

In this Britannia, there was no protection from the Roman gods, nor the ideological keystones of the Celestial Dynasty.

When the Vile King Vortigern stood on the island, he had the blessing of the entire island of Britain. Before his Britain-fused body, the Grand Servants would be stripped of their fame bonus.

However, as Romulus's words fell...

The silver-haired young man kneeling on the ground, staring blankly at the witch, slowly turned his head.

His consciousness seemed a bit hazy, but his hand subconsciously gripped the Sword of Lingering Ember.

Smoking Mirror glanced back at the kid, feeling a bit emotional.

His subconscious instinct to protect his family was practically etched into his very being.

Without a doubt...

He would block all attacks aimed at Vortigern.

A dead-end dilemma...

Even as the chief god of South America, a troubled expression appeared on Smoking Mirror's face.

The Grand Servants said nothing, only raising their weapons.

The atmosphere on the field gradually became tense and confrontational again.

In this nearly frozen atmosphere...

The witch's dazed and ethereal voice suddenly sounded.

"There is a way..."

Instantly...

Everyone on the field looked at her.

Holding the silver-haired young man's face tightly, embracing him in her arms with heartache...

The witch of Britain said in a low voice.

"...There is a way to convince Vortigern."

For a time...

The expressions of the Grand Servants were filled with suspicion.

In this dead-end, there was still a spark of life?

"What way?"

"With the decline of the Age of Gods, all the prosperous things on the island of Britain will gradually wither away, and the land will become barren... Vortigern... he has always wanted to resist the decline of the Age of Gods, simply because he wants the people of the island to survive as much as possible. And Alwin, to achieve this goal, has been conducting research for nearly ten years."

Embracing her lover...

The witch's light voice echoed faintly before the throne.

Her words made the Grand Servants fall into deep thought.

And it made the Knights of the Round Table, standing at the edge of the battlefield, look almost frozen.

"Fae Queen Morgan... what is she saying—"

"The Vile King Vortigern... he... wants everyone on the island to live?!"

"Lies... it's just lies! If that were the case, why would he bring in foreign tribes?! And why wouldn't he make such a truth public?!"

This answer, which nearly overturned their understanding, was something the Knights of the Round Table found hard to believe.

Rather, it was impossible to believe.

If that was the case...

Then what was the reason for them holding their swords?

Wasn't the goal of subjugating the demonic dragon a joke from the very beginning?

"Because," Morgan said softly. "If he told you, it would only accelerate the decline of the Age of Gods."

"I see..." Smoking Mirror understood instantly. "Because the Celts are the remnants of the Age of Gods. Their cognition would also affect this island..."

His own Aztec civilization had experienced such destruction many times, ultimately writing the epic of the Five Suns.

The golden-haired man turned his head, his azure eyes looking down at the knights below the battlefield.

"Don't you get it?" he said with a smile. "The world wants you all to die—"

Silence.

Dead silence.

The battlefield was utterly silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The Knights of the Round Table looked down at the swords in their hands in utter confusion.

Their wrists were trembling.

Morgan looked up, meeting the slightly dazed silver-haired young man's gaze. She gently pressed her forehead against his and kissed his lips.

"Alwin's research succeeded with the algae... He found Chlorella, a food that can serve as a final salvation. Give him ten years to transform the island's ecosystem... even after the decline of the Age of Gods, most people will be able to barely survive until they completely adapt to the environmental changes."

"Chlorella..." Noah murmured the word. His Ark of salvation had gathered all the species of the world, making him an expert on flora and fauna. "That's right, that's an answer. And it's a brilliant answer! Alwin must have spent countless painstaking efforts... —The smallest creature can shatter the grandest fate."

As his words fell...

The expressions of the Grand Servants were quite complex.

They had tried their best to kill Vortigern.

However, that person was not only desperately protecting his father, but the knight was also desperately protecting this island.

At this final moment...

All the truths were revealed.

All the silent secrets were no longer buried.

Kay stood frozen at the edge of the great hall. He had run up after Lily, but at this moment, his hands were trembling.

"Alwin... you kid... you kept everything to yourself."

Beside her brother...

Artoria's expression was dazed and frozen.

The decline of the Age of Gods would cause people to die. She had actually known this for a long time, but she couldn't say it.

Because if she did, the entire Celtic kingdom would quickly collapse.

If Alwin wanted to destroy her country, it would be very simple. He just needed to announce the truth.

But he shouldered it all himself.

This was their unspoken secret.

She had always had a tacit understanding with that person.

She had always maintained this silent agreement with him.

But what she didn't know was...

—It wasn't just a verbal oath. He had actually been trying to save this land all along.

He had been walking on that dark, lightless path with his own footprints, his own sweat.

He had never, ever stopped.

Artoria dazedly recalled the wheat field where she first met him.

The Silver Star of the蒼銀, would actually... bow to farming?

「Because I have a research topic I want to pursue.」

Ah...

So it had already begun back then.

But her attention had been completely focused on practicing her swordsmanship, and on that person.

A sense of loss.

As if her soul had been ripped out.

A twisting pain.

Artoria felt a sharp, twisting pain in her heart.

That's right.

She had overlooked... such an important thing.

In fact, she didn't understand him at all, did she?

She... hadn't noticed anything.

Because she had never truly believed in him—believed that he could save this island.

Just as he had said...

What she possessed—was just a laughable sacrificial desire.

The world didn't matter.

She just wanted... to save him alone through a kind of martyrdom, to prove her love.

Her worldview was collapsing.

Artoria finally, suddenly realized... everything she had done was just... holding him back.

Pulling at him...

Hoping...

—Hoping that he would selfishly stay by her side.

Ah... that's right...

Why was I pushed away?

Why couldn't I save Alwin, why couldn't I bring him back to his senses?

Because.

I...

—I couldn't compare to my sister in any way.

Thump.

Artoria knelt on the ground, powerless. She covered her face, letting out a sound that was half-whimper, half-sob.

In the end...

She... still couldn't do anything—

In the center of the ruined great hall...

The Grand Servants stared blankly at the silver-haired young man kneeling before the throne.

"The Great Path has fifty, the heavens move through forty-nine, and man follows the one," Taigong Wang said with great emotion. "Alwin... his perseverance, his willpower, his conviction, allowed him to finally grasp this one, single thread of life."

Really.

The more I look at this kid, the more I like him.

Jiang Shang secretly glanced at the Old Man of the Mountain beside him and found that the blue fire in the other's eye sockets was also glancing at him.

"This child has a connection with my Lord," the assassin hummed.

The fisherman said with a grin, "Go to hell."

"He is a Briton, naturally bathed in the glory of my Lord."

"He's not even from this world. Maybe he was one of us before? How dare you assume his faith, Hassan."

"Jiang Shang, thou art being most uninteresting."

"Uninteresting is uninteresting. Let's rely on our own abilities."

That's right, let's rely on our own abilities.

The situation seemed to be clearing up.

Something called hope seemed to be taking root.

Yes... if this is the case—

"Morgan," Romulus said solemnly. "Are you confident you can persuade Vortigern?"

Although the Counter Force's order was to kill Vortigern...

A general in the field is not bound by his sovereign's commands. Does the Counter Force understand this principle?

The situation on the battlefield changes in an instant.

Whether to kill or not is not up to us Grands to decide.

You just give us a Grand Spirit Origin and no salary. We're all just overtime workers, why should we risk our lives? The Counter Force needs to get a grip.

If they could persuade Vortigern to give up on returning the Age of Gods, then the Grand Servants wouldn't have to subjugate him.

This was the perfect ending.

This was the one thread of perfection that Alwin Pendragon had chased after with his day-after-day perseverance.

Hearing Romulus's question...

Morgan's expression grew slightly dazed.

In fact, she had already asked Vortigern this question next to the Star Anchor.

Hearing about all of Alwin's efforts and the new dawn of hope, the silver-haired old man's eyelids had lowered slightly, a look of sorrow and wistfulness on his face.

"Morgan, I'm sorry... I dare not gamble."

That's right, Vortigern did not dare to gamble.

The Holy Spear was right before him. Vortigern did not dare to gamble on what other changes might happen in the next ten years.

Alwin's research was hope, yes, but it was just hope. What if this hope was shattered?

Lifting the anchor of the Holy Spear was a 100% certain answer.

And... the success rate of transforming the ecosystem was still unknown.

Vortigern was the incarnation of the island's will. Everything he did was for the continuation of the island. It was difficult for him to go against this instinct.

"So... I'm not confident," the witch admitted softly.

She knew that in front of these people—any lies, disguises, or concealments were meaningless.

"But..."

The witch looked up, her gaze meeting the eyes of every famous hero present without fear.

"Alwin definitely can."

She said with resounding confidence.

"—If it's Alwin, he can definitely persuade his father."

"My... wife...?"

The silver-haired young man looked up.

His dazed gaze seemed to be gradually regaining its clarity.

And the witch's answer...

Also made a brilliant smile suddenly appear on Smoking Mirror's face.

Woo!

That's right, if it's this kid...

He can definitely do it.

"I believe in this kid."

Smoking Mirror took out a new pair of sunglasses from his pocket and put them on with a grin.

His form-fitting armor had, at some unknown point, changed back into that flashy greatcoat and jeans.

His gaze from under the sunglasses swept over the Grand Servants before him.

"Gentlemen, state your positions."

After a moment of silence...

Grand Lancer, the Divine Ancestor, Romulus.

The blue-haired man lowered his eyelids, sighed, folded his golden wings, and slowly descended to the ground.

"What an... unassailable answer."

Grand Archer, Orion.

The man as burly as a giant bear slowly relaxed the taut bowstring in his hand with a complex expression. The gentle sunlight draped over him like the cool moonlight.

"I don't want to... destroy such a beautiful love again either."

Grand Rider, the Savior, Noah.

The silver-haired boy clasped his hands together, a devout and bright smile on his face. White doves cooed softly, landing peacefully on his shoulders.

"Ah... this must be the will of the True God. Even after the world-ending flood, the earth will surely welcome the sun."

Grand Caster, the most ancient fisherman, Taigong Wang.

Meeting everyone's gaze, the long-haired man in the black cloak with auspicious clouds waved his hand.

"What are you looking at me for? I'm the laziest one here. Let's all clock out early and have some hotpot."

However, what Taigong Wang didn't say was...

You guys are clocking out, but I'm not done yet!

His Spirit Origin wasn't just for one hour.

After this matter was resolved so perfectly, it was a good opportunity to form a good relationship with Alwin, making it easier to recruit him in the future.

Taigong Wang rubbed his hands with a grin, looking at the hot commodity on the field.

Such a talent must be reserved by them.

Grand Assassin, the Old Man of the Mountain, King Hassan.

From beneath the skull mask, the assassin's dull hum sounded.

"Hast thou heard? The evening bell... has not yet tolled..."

The five Grand Servants had all stated their positions.

"Alright, alright, consensus reached!"

Smoking Mirror clapped his hands with a smile.

The tense, confrontational atmosphere seemed to dissipate instantly.

"Anyway, we still have half an hour. So what if Vortigern wakes up? If he still wants to lift the anchor of the Holy Spear, we'll just help Alwin beat up this old geezer! Until he doesn't dare to lift it anymore!"

As if a pent-up breath could finally be released...

The tense atmosphere on the battlefield suddenly became peaceful and enthusiastic.

The Grand Servants gathered together and started chatting about various things.

Seeing this, Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash looked at each other and finally let out a long sigh of relief.

"That's great, Mash..."

Although they hadn't done anything...

As Masters, they had participated in and witnessed this tense, world-shaking battle!

The grand scene of seven Grand Servants subjugating a Beast, and I, Fujimaru Ritsuka, was there!

Wait, it seems there were only six Grands? Was one missing?

Whatever, it doesn't matter.

Now that the dust had settled, Fujimaru Ritsuka couldn't help but feel a sincere joy and relief.

"It seems... things have been resolved perfectly..."

That's right.

They had long since realized the source of that King Arthur's inner conflict...

The person she wanted to save by pruning the world—was Alwin Pendragon.

Now, Alwin had not died.

Then, that noble King Arthur would naturally not think of destroying the world in the future.

This trip to Britannia had also resolved the Jerusalem Singularity. The red-haired girl couldn't help but feel that this was a complete carry...

If only every Singularity could be resolved so perfectly, how wonderful would that be?

The two of them hurried towards the center of the battlefield.

As the last Master of Chaldea, Fujimaru Ritsuka had piles of Command Spells, all pure sources of magical energy.

If they could help heal Alwin, that would be for the best.

"..."

Standing alone in a corner of the city wall, listening to all the commotion below...

The nightmare magus's expression was dazed and lost.

He wandered on the city wall with a trance-like expression and staggering steps, as if his soul had left his body.

Why... why did it turn out like this?

No... this isn't right—

This script isn't right...

Shouldn't it be that Vortigern is targeted by the Grands, Alwin falls into a Beast, and is then killed by the Grands, ending in an incredibly tragic way?

Surely...

Surely something went wrong somewhere...

"Ha... hahaha..."

The hearts of the people were all filled with tranquility and joy.

Tasting such emotions...

The nightmare couldn't help but laugh.

His mouth split open, a chilling smile on his face.

So...

I was wrong.

Everything I did, everything I carefully planned, was just the antics of a clown.

No value.

No meaning.

Even the world had abandoned him.

The happiness of the people piled up in the nightmare's heart, like the most intense mockery.

Alwin Pendragon had a perfect ending.

Emptiness.

Loss.

As if his soul had been ripped out.

The dust had settled.

He himself wasn't important at all.

"Haha! Hahahaha—!"

The nightmare let out a hoarse, beast-like laugh.

His decayed vision suddenly went dark, and his entire being fell from the high wall towards the ground—

He had gone mad.

...

The spiraling clouds above gathered more and more, flowing faster and faster, like a soul-capturing vortex.

On Vortigern's throne, the blood-red crystals all over the old man's body were constantly collapsing and shattering.

The Vile King was about to awaken.

The Grand Servants also held their breath for the final moment.

Artoria walked forward dazedly, looking at the silver-haired young man being embraced by the witch.

The Command Spells in Fujimaru Ritsuka's hand were activating, pouring pure magical energy into him.

His consciousness was also becoming clearer and clearer.

The witch just held her husband gently, with eyes only for him, caressing his face.

In a daze, as if sensing something...

That person slightly lifted his gaze and looked over.

"Ar...toria?"

He recognized her.

But her eyes were still stained with tears.

How could she... not show him her best side?

Her soft golden hair fluttered in the scorching wind of Londinium.

The girl known as a king, slowly, with effort, squeezed out a smile.

It doesn't matter if he doesn't love me.

Artoria felt a sense of release.

Just being able to watch him is enough.

"Alwin..."

Such a dust-settling encounter.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

At the very center of the eternal night spiral above the fortress city...

That dark, lightless void, like a cold and emotionless pupil, looked down upon all the beautiful things in this world.

Everything...

Everything.

Was for this one moment.

All the Grand Servants' attention was on Vortigern.

The Chaldea party and the witch were focused on Alwin.

And so, at the first moment...

Except for Kay, no one noticed—the golden-haired girl's hand quietly gripped the hilt... of the Holy Sword of the Planet.

Everything...

Every scene seemed to slow down.

"LI—LY—"

Kay shouted with an expression of utter terror, but his lips had barely opened.

Voom—

The brand of the Silver Arm suddenly lit up.

Fujimaru Ritsuka was slightly stunned.

All the Command Spells...

Without her permission...

In an instant, they were linked and activated by the Silver Arm—

Smoking Mirror, the most perceptive on the field, slowly, slowly turned his head.

He slowly raised his hand, a deep black hole beginning to form in his palm.

But it was already too late.

The brand from the Silver Arm, at such a close distance...

Had completely awakened that Holy Sword of the Planet.

BOOM—

An incredibly intense, endless light suddenly burst forth from the golden-haired girl's seven orifices.

Her body floated into the air, a halo of pure white light appearing behind her head. Her golden hair floated up, every strand seeming to flow with a brilliant fluorescence.

This divine armament, forged within the planet...

Under the full power of the planet's will—

All the seals were instantly broken.

All the shackles fell away in an instant.

Thirteen restraints, all released.

The Holy Sword of the Planet, at full power—

At this moment...

It was no longer Artoria.

But the First Wielder of the Holy Sword.

The will of the Holy Sword of the Planet had completely taken over Artoria's body.

This is a battle to save the world

Before the disbelieving, dumbfounded, shocked, and astonished expressions of everyone present...

The slash of the Holy Sword of the Planet locked onto Vortigern Pendragon.

"NO—DON'T—!!!"

Amidst the girl's wails...

The sword was swung down...

BOOM—

Light.

Seemingly endless, boundless, ceaseless light.

Like the breath of the planet, a naturally irresistible force.

The brilliant light pouring out from the Holy Sword of the Planet shot straight towards Vortigern's throne.

A trap.

This was a trap.

At the closest distance.

At the moment of lowest vigilance.

By the most unexpected person.

The most indefensible fatal blow.

The Counter Force...

In a flash of lightning...

Realizing this fact, the expressions of the Grand Servants twisted with anger and disbelief.

All their Noble Phantasms were instantly activated, all possible enhancements were instantly applied.

To protect the demonic dragon...

The heroes gambled everything.

And yet...

Bang—

His armor shattered, and the golden wings on Romulus's back were destroyed and fell off.

Bang—

The bowstring snapped completely, and a large part of Orion's chest was directly burned through.

Bang—

Attempting to transport Vortigern away, but the light had already locked onto its target. The oar suddenly broke in his hand, and Noah's Ark capsized in the sea of light.

A huge golden whip struck down from the sky, but it was directly washed away by the light. Taigong Wang looked at the charred God-Striking Whip in his hand, his face grim to the extreme.

Attempting to cleave the beam of light, but Azrael, the angel of death that never breaks, also emitted a humming sound of being overwhelmed and suddenly shattered.

The black hole gathering in his hand was completely swallowed. The sunglasses on Smoking Mirror's face suddenly shattered, and one of his body's hands was completely annihilated in the light of the star.

Layer after layer of legendary defenses were pierced, overwhelmed.

Under the light of the fully released Holy Sword, which could shoot down the vanguard of a wandering star, even the defense of the Grands was like a mayfly trying to shake a tree.

In the violent, clamorous wind...

The beam of light rushed towards the throne.

Morgan stared blankly as the silver-haired young man's hand gently caressed her face.

"I love you."

A vast shadow spread out, pushing the witch's figure away.

The knight in black gripped the twisted, spiral sword.

The deep green lake surged violently.

The golden-haired girl's face, filled with light, was full of holiness and divinity. Only in her deep green pupils did complete despair swirl.

That person.

The person before the throne, he stood up.

He was his father's final line of defense.

Alwin Pendragon.

Endless, boundless, ceaseless light...

Completely submerged his figure—

Tssss...

As if burning the soul...

A sharp, corrosive sound came from all over his body.

Unspeakable pain.

His body felt like it would be instantly destroyed.

His spirit felt like it was being tortured by a thousand cuts.

And yet... Su Shu held on—

An endless shadow spread out from his body. The spiral sword in his hand twisted and spun dazzlingly, desperately resisting the light of the Holy Sword.

The souls stored within it were burning and being consumed at maximum power—

His body was constantly being annihilated by the light, and constantly being repaired.

And yet...

Until all the souls stored in the sword were finally burned out...

Crack.

The spiral sword... suddenly cracked.

The light completely swallowed the knight's body...

A brilliant bolt of lightning fell from the sky, roaring, as if the heavens were weeping.

On the throne...

The light-devouring demonic dragon suddenly opened its eyes.

In that instant...

A spiraling holy spear instantly formed in Vortigern's hand.

The Vile King suddenly stood up, the blood-red crystals all over his body exploding and shattering. He raised his hand and violently thrust out the Holy Spear Rhongomyniad.

"Breath of Vortigern"

With the blessing of the entire island of Britain and the Holy Spear...

The light-devouring demonic dragon unleashed a breath of light devouring.

BOOM—

An endless, boundless, ceaseless beam of dark light burst forth from the tip of the Holy Spear, directly annihilating the already weakened beam of the Holy Sword, causing a massive explosion.

Dust.

Dust spread across the battlefield...

A knight, a knight in black, seemed to still be standing tall amidst the dust.

On the ruined battlefield, everyone stared blankly at that person's figure.

The light of the Holy Sword of the Planet in her hand had completely dimmed.

The fallen golden-haired girl and the silver-haired witch, as if they had gone mad, desperately ran towards that figure.

Suddenly...

Artoria stopped in her tracks.

She stood blankly in the dust, like a wind-up doll.

Morgan, however, continued to run forward madly, tripping over rubble several times, getting her face covered in dust. She immediately got up and continued to run.

The dust was gradually blown away by the wind pressure.

That figure also gradually became clearer.

But the clearer it became, the more desperate it felt—

Soft silver hair fluttered in the wind.

The knight in black stood before the throne. His left hand, along with a large part of his chest, had been completely swallowed by the light of the Holy Sword.

In his right palm, the spiral longsword was already covered in cracks.

His entire body was also covered in cracks.

That colorful, ever-burning fire of the star was still scorching his body.

Through the gaping hole in his chest, one could see the small half of his heart that was still weakly beating.

Morgan stood blankly on this ruined battlefield.

She stood blankly before him, unable to say a word.

"What's... wrong, my wife?"

The silver-haired young man with cracks on his face tremblingly took her hand and placed her palm on his face, trying his best to smile.

"...Your hand... why is it still so cold."

Click.

A piece of skin from his face cracked and fell to the ground, turning into black dust.

His body had been burned out by the Holy Sword of the Planet.

His consciousness at this moment was just a final afterglow.

No skill, no Noble Phantasm could save him.

The silver-haired young man's head drooped.

He was still standing.

But his head had drooped.

Thud.

Artoria knelt on the ground, her hair disheveled.

Looking at the Holy Sword of the Planet in her hand...

She used the last of her strength to throw it away, letting out a heart-wrenching, utterly mournful wail from her throat.

Looking at the unfallen knight in black...

The heavily injured Grand Servants gathered around, their expressions sorrowful, silent.

Before the intact throne...

The Vile King Vortigern stood expressionlessly.

The burly, silver-haired old man held the Holy Spear Rhongomyniad, his presence never so immense, so suffocating.

Standing on the land of Britannia, as the will of the island, he was invincible.

"We failed. A complete failure..." Taigong Wang had a bitter smile on his face. He looked at his Grand companions around him. Everyone was silent and bitter. "The Counter Force betrayed us all."

The Holy Sword of the Planet was a divine armament that could even pierce the vanguard of a wandering star.

It was dissatisfied with the Grands' transgression.

It wanted to kill Vortigern so badly.

Its plan was perfect.

However, It could not predict the variable.

However, the sneak attack It had created at the perfect moment was blocked by Alwin for a few seconds with all his might.

This allowed the Vile King Vortigern to successfully project the Holy Spear. No one present could stop him now.

In this situation...

Having killed his son...

How could they possibly persuade this demonic dragon.

Kneeling on the ground, Fujimaru Ritsuka's face was covered in blood. He stared blankly at the brand on the back of his hand.

"Mash... a Human Order like this... why should we... save it."

Looking at the silver-haired young man's withered, dying body...

Vortigern's presence suddenly erupted, knocking everyone except Morgan away.

Bang—

The restraining spirals on the Holy Spear Rhongomyniad in his hand exploded layer by layer, instantly breaking twelve restraints.

"The Holy Spear's anchor is about to be lifted..."

Bathed in the demonic dragon's aura...

The Grands, except for Smoking Mirror, tremblingly raised their weapons.

However, after a sigh, the Grands all lowered them again.

The golden-haired man, who had lost his right hand, looked sorrowfully at the dark knight with only half a heart, his head lowered.

An expression of gritted teeth appeared on his face.

"I don't want to save the world anymore, Vortigern."

Smoking Mirror ripped off the stump of his arm and threw it to the ground.

"For your son, go fuck up this goddamn world..."

Thunder and lightning.

Torrential rain.

In the gray sky, the eyeball formed by the spiral clouds began to slowly take shape, staring down at the Vile King Vortigern on the ground.

At the same time...

In the depths of the Inner Seas of the Planet all over the world, a total of nineteen remaining Star Anchors all began to vibrate violently.

Voom—

The Star Anchors began to resonate with each other, and the projected Holy Spear Rhongomyniad also resonated, as if trying to break free from Vortigern's grasp.

Layers of spiral restraints reappeared on the tip of the Holy Spear.

These were the restraints the Counter Force had re-imposed on the Holy Spear through the resonance of the Star Anchors.

Breaking six restraints could release the Holy Spear's power, but as long as all thirteen restraints were not broken, the Star Anchor would not fall, and the laws of the Age of Gods would not return.

Under Vortigern's power...

The spiral restraints on the spear tip continuously shattered, and continuously reformed.

Twelve restraints had already been broken.

However, the final restraint stubbornly resisted Vortigern's power.

"Just one last step..."

All the Grands present watched Vortigern wrestle with the world with bitter smiles.

Though they were the forces that protected the Human Order...

At this moment, they desperately hoped Vortigern would win.

"The Holy Spear Rhongomyniad is what anchors the Age of Gods of Britain..."

The witch's trembling, ghost-like voice echoed across the battlefield.

"The thing with the densest aura of the Age of Gods must be used to break the final seal of the Holy Spear. Having fused with Vivian, I am the Great Mother of Avalon. Vortigern! Come! Sacrifice me! And then, shatter this world—"

The thing with the densest aura of the Age of Gods...

The burly, silver-haired old man seemed slightly stunned.

"COME ON—! VORTIGERN!!!"

The witch threw herself before Vortigern, grabbing his collar and roaring.

Then, she was pushed away by the old man.

"No, Morgan," Vortigern said softly. "It shouldn't be you. You must live. Your power is very useful. The most suitable one on the field is undoubtedly..."

The thing with the densest aura of the Age of Gods.

Under the shocked, horrified gazes of everyone...

Pshk—

The silver-haired young man's body trembled.

The tip of the Holy Spear had pierced straight through the dark knight's tattered, drifting heart.

A dying person is most suitable.

"Vortigern...

"—I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!!!"

Smoking Mirror's eyes looked like they would split. He rushed forward to fight the demonic dragon to the death, but was casually thrown aside by Vortigern, slumping into the ruins.

Ugh...

He vomited a mouthful of black blood, like charcoal.

Stimulated by the final pain, Su Shu dazedly lifted his gaze.

His gaze, with great difficulty, also lifted.

Looking at the expressionless face of the burly, silver-haired old man before him.

I see...

—Ah... so that's how it is.

He was not surprised.

Rather, had he not foreseen this outcome long ago?

A despicable... king.

A light-devouring... demonic dragon.

The final, flickering will of this island, who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

"Cough... cough cough—"

Coughing up blood from his tattered lungs...

The silver-haired young man, with great effort, smiled.

"Dad...

"Well done.

"Take my part with you, and go, strike down that damned..."

"—Alwin."

Under the thunder and lightning...

In this torrential downpour...

Vortigern looked up at the entire world that wanted him dead, and dazedly recalled that afternoon many years ago when his father took him to drink dragon's blood.

"Vortigern, you must protect this island, protect Britannia."

No... I'm sorry, Father. I didn't protect Britannia.

Because I had to protect Alwin.

The Holy Spear was a divine armament that connected the surface and reverse sides of the world.

Then, it could also connect... the blood of father and son.

His face was cracking.

His body was collapsing.

His consciousness as a person was constantly being annihilated.

The silver-haired old man's figure began to dissipate from this land. Under the effect of the Holy Spear, everything he was was being sacrificed. All his magical energy and life force were being poured into the silver-haired young man's body.

The ever-burning fire of the star...

Was being suppressed and dimmed by the majestic will of the demonic dragon.

At this final moment, just one step away, as long as he pierced Alwin's heart and sacrificed his own son, he could shatter this world.

However, he gave up.

He gave up on the return of the Age of Gods.

Because his heart had softened.

Vortigern Pendragon.

Not a despicable king, not a light-devouring demonic dragon, not even the final incarnation of this island's will.

At this moment...

Just... a father.

"Don't be soft, Alwin.

"This is your father's final advice.

"Properly... "

The old man reached out and, as always, ruffled his son's silver hair, a gentle and kind smile appearing on his face as usual.

"—Live on."

His figure dissipated in a spiral of light.

Su Shu dazedly lifted his gaze.

He found himself sitting in a chair.

Sitting in his own, incredibly familiar bedroom.

He was facing the window of the castle's high balcony.

Before him was the vast, endless land of Britannia.

Birds were singing happily.

Flowers were laughing joyfully.

The blazing sun hung high, and all things grew.

Everything in the world still seemed to be thriving.

Just like this clear, cloudless sky, the young man's heart could not be bound by anything.

The bright sunlight streamed in through the window lattice, warmly draping over him.

Just like... his father's warm embrace.

Fire.

The fire in the fireplace was crackling.

Su Shu lowered his gaze, slightly dazed, and looked at his own palm.

A young man's hand, fair and tender.

On that smooth, delicate skin, there was not a single trace of blood.

Blood.

There is no... blood.

Was it... a dream?

So—was that a dream?

Su Shu dazedly recalled that he seemed to have dreamed... of a very tragic battle.

So tragic...

That he was about to die.

But—it was a dream.

Thank goodness, it was just a dream...

Fire.

The fire in the fireplace was crackling.

Su Shu looked up at the window before him.

Below the towering castle balcony, this land was bathed in the clear and pure sunlight of the sky.

Looking at this bright scene...

The silver-haired young man's expression was slightly dazed.

"Alwin, you seem distracted?"

Along with the old man's familiar, mellow voice coming from behind...

A rough hand, covered in scars and calluses, gently rested on the young man's shoulder.

Su Shu suddenly turned his head.

What met his eyes was the gentle smile on Vortigern's face.

"Father..."

He called out softly, slightly dazed.

His voice was a little too light.

So light it was as if he was afraid of scaring something away.

And yet...

—There was no response.

The smiling silver-haired old man fell into a strange, silent silence.

Like a wind-up doll that had run down, the expression on his face quickly faded, becoming as cold as ice.

In Su Shu's vision...

Blood was slowly seeping from Vortigern's seven orifices.

The silver-haired old man's figure collapsed like a pile of ashes, like a sandcastle washed away by the tide, leaving no trace behind.

"...Father?!"

Su Shu suddenly stood up.

Suddenly...

The light dazedly dimmed.

The clouds grew gloomy, the sunlight waned.

As if, in an instant, it had gone from noon to dusk.

Outside the window, the once bright and clear sunlight of the sky was obscured by a layer of gloomy clouds, casting a hazy, sickly light into the bedroom.

Fire.

The fire in the fireplace was crackling.

Su Shu turned his head, a little stunned.

He looked at the dim sunlight behind him.

However, he did not see the sun.

Because dusk had already turned into night.

Under the deep night sky...

A burly, silver-haired old man, holding a wooden sword, stood before him with a frozen, somewhat sorrowful expression.

Su Shu stood dazedly in the training ground.

Before him was a broken wooden sword.

His sword had broken.

But he had won.

Because, at only eight years old, he had used his exquisite swordsmanship to withstand ten rounds of his father's attacks—he had proven his determination to protect himself.

Standing under the vast night...

The silver-haired old man was silent for a long time, finally letting out a faint sigh.

"Alwin, in terms of swordsmanship alone, Father has nothing more to teach you. What path you take from now on, you can explore freely yourself."

"Father..."

The silver-haired young man walked forward.

His pace began to quicken.

He began to run.

He stumbled and fell to the ground, but without caring about the dust on his face, he immediately scrambled up on all fours and began to run wildly forward.

"Dad!"

And yet...

No matter how he ran...

No matter how he tried his best to catch up...

Vortigern's figure grew more and more distant. The vast twilight of this night was not as lonely as the old man's back.

Fire.

The fire in the fireplace was crackling.

The sound of the wind was fading.

Everything around him seemed to be dimming.

Su Shu's pace also gradually began to slow.

Beside him, specks of light, like fireflies, began to flicker and flow.

The young man's figure also began to grow.

As he walked...

The young man grew into a young adult who could stand on his own.

Su Shu seemed to... remember something.

Dazedly remembering—he had stood guard in Londinium...

"Alwin..."

The silver-haired old man, surrounded by dim fireflies, stood before him, his back to him.

The old man's voice was like a flickering ember.

"Alwin, this world wants us to stretch out our necks and die."

Death.

The silver-haired young man dazedly muttered this word.

The silver-haired old man with his back to him began to expand and change.

He grew sharp wings.

He grew sharp claws and fangs.

Around Vortigern, dark figures with angry expressions appeared. They brandished various weapons and shouted all sorts of curses.

Those twisted, resentful expressions...

Were like graffiti, painted on people's faces with blood-red pigment.

Drip.

Drip, drip, drip...

Su Shu lifted his face.

A raindrop fell on his face.

He stood at the top of the castle. The pouring rain began to fall, but it was as thick and red as blood.

As if... the entire world was bleeding.

Roar—

The White Dragon of Britain let out a final roar, spread its wings and flew high, its majestic, burly dragon body charging straight towards the sky.

"Dad!!!"

The silver-haired young man subconsciously shouted, reaching out his hand.

The next instant—

Whether it was the sound of the rain or the curses...

The clamorous sounds suddenly stopped.

The falling rain of blood suddenly froze.

To be precise, the entire world... had frozen.

Like a movie, someone had suddenly pressed the pause button.

For a time, all was silent, all noise ceased.

The silver-haired young man stood dazedly at the top of the castle. He was like he had been suddenly thrown into a paused silent film, with no sign of life.

The cursing figures, like demagnetized hard drives, became blurry, distorted, a mass of chaos.

The scenes in all directions began to fold and shrink, as if a playful child was fiddling with a paper doll model...

In the bright firelight...

Su Shu dazedly lowered his gaze.

In his gradually clearing vision, he saw...

Fire.

The fire in the fireplace was crackling.

No longer a young boy.

The silver-haired young adult stood silently in the bedroom.

He was wearing that dark, lightless armor.

However, the tragic injuries, the half-swallowed chest, had all disappeared.

As if sensing something...

Su Shu raised his hand and dazedly wiped his cheek.

Looking at the slightly damp trace on his fingertips...

He couldn't help but be a little stunned.

...Tears.

Why am I crying?

—Why am I shedding tears?

So... sad—

A sorrow like a surging tide seemed to ripple through his heart.

"Dad..." he murmured.

He looked up, his vision blurry, towards the front.

An old, silver-haired man was sitting quietly before the fireplace.

The light from the burning fire flickered on the old man's face.

Vortigern stared at the fire in the fireplace, just sitting there, his back to him.

The wood crackled.

Everything seemed so peaceful and serene.

As if...

Everything that had happened before...

Was just a dazed dream.

He and his father had actually been in the bedroom all along.

Peacefully enjoying this tranquil and simple time together.

Vortigern Pendragon.

As if hearing his son's call, the old, silver-haired man slightly turned his head and looked at the silver-haired young man.

"Alwin, you're here. Father has a request..."

The old man said with a smile.

"Burn yourself, and go shatter the Inner Sea of the Planet."

Looking at his father...

The silver-haired young man was silent.

He was silent for a long, long time.

As if wanting to burn the other's face into his eyes.

"I can't, Dad..."

Su Shu was shedding tears, shaking his head, forcing a smile on his face.

"Didn't you tell me to live on..."

"Alwin, don't you want to avenge me?" the old man said with a smile. "The will of the world is still watching you. It is—taking pleasure in your suffering."

"I do, of course I do, Dad. But... I still have Morgan, I still have my daughter..."

Unable to suppress the surging sorrow in his heart...

The silver-haired young man's voice trembled.

"They are waiting for me, waiting for me to return, to live a peaceful and happy life with them..."

"Yes, the Counter Force killed me, Alwin."

"...The Counter Force?"

"That's right, the Counter Force," the old man said with a smile. "To survive, They will do anything. Have you forgotten how you were forced into becoming a Beast? If you don't make Them feel pain, They will not let you have peace. Everything, everything is because They forced you into this situation. They are the parasites of this world. They not only forced me to my death, but they also destroyed the peaceful life you wanted. —Do you really not want to avenge me?"

"But... this isn't what you really think, Dad..."

The silver-haired young man whimpered, sobbed, a pained smile on his face.

"This is my dream... to save me, you sacrificed yourself, Dad. You clearly told me to live on—"

"...Just do it for my sake, Alwin?"

The old man stood up.

He reached out and, as always, ruffled his son's silver hair.

On his face...

Was the usual...

Gentle and kind smile.

"—Use the Holy Spear on the Inner Sea of the Planet."

There was no howling.

Nor any crying.

The silver-haired young man just stared blankly as his father's figure slowly dissipated before his eyes.

The wind howled.

The rain poured.

Uncontrollable tears, mixed with the rain, fell onto the muddy ground.

On the ruined battlefield...

Under the almost frozen gazes of everyone...

Click.

The knight in black standing before the throne slowly raised his arm.

He gripped the Holy Spear that had pierced his own heart.

Pshk—

The Holy Spear Rhongomyniad was pulled out.

A large amount of blood spurted out with it.

However, Su Shu didn't even tremble in the slightest.

Because such pain no longer mattered.

The gaping wound on his chest quickly healed, covered and concealed by the spreading shadow, forming a dark, lightless armor.

The silver-haired young man slowly, slowly lifted his gaze.

The pouring rain streamed down his face.

Like mottled tear tracks.

In the pouring rain...

Su Shu looked at the Grand Servants before him, their expressions incredibly complex.

"Thank you..."

He said softly.

"You've all worked hard."

Heroes.

「They are brilliant and radiant.」

「They are dazzling and eye-catching.」

「They are, without a doubt, heroes.」

「And you are pointed at by a thousand fingers, cursed by ten thousand mouths.」

「You are the villain, the notorious evildoer.」

「But even if fate is not on your side at all...」

「Even villains...」

「...need a savior for the wicked—」

Savior of the wicked.

The silver-haired young man lowered his eyelids, staring blankly at the Holy Spear in his hand.

It seemed to still hold his father's warmth.

"Alwin, how are you feeling..."

Taigong Wang's bitter voice sounded, but...

—There was no answer.

Su Shu looked up, a little dazed, at the sky where the rain poured like a waterfall.

In the center of the spiraling, gray clouds, the hollow vortex, like a cold and emotionless pupil, looked down at him from above.

The Holy Spear in his hand hummed and vibrated.

The spiral restraints continuously formed on the spear tip, layer after layer of restraints being imposed upon it.

Vortigern had sacrificed himself to save him from the brink of death.

The demonic dragon was vanquished.

As long as Su Shu gave up on lifting the anchor of the Holy Spear, he could live a stable and happy life with his wife and daughter. By transforming the ecosystem, he would have a high chance of saving this island.

If the Age of Gods did not return...

The world would not be pruned.

All the choices...

Seemed so clear.

Just give up... on lifting the anchor of the Holy Spear—

And he could have a peaceful life.

Su Shu understood clearly.

The dream before...

Was just... a hallucination.

Dad had given up on the return of the Age of Gods. His final words to him were clearly—

「Live on.」

"I'm sorry..."

Boom—

A massive aura burst forth, sending the rainwater flying.

On the Holy Spear in the silver-haired young man's hand, twelve restraints instantly shattered.

Having received all of Vortigern's magical energy and life force, his power was now even greater, even more immense than the White Dragon of Britain at its peak.

Even if the will of the world was doing its utmost to stop him...

It was not enough to resist... the will of the Son of the White Dragon at this moment.

The Grand Servants watched in mournful silence as the silver-haired young man was bathed in the rain.

This damned world, maybe it's better off being destroyed...

They wanted to persuade Su Shu to give up.

But how could they say it?

If any of them were in Alwin's position, they would have made the same choice.

The return of the Age of Gods.

That was Vortigern's final wish.

The world wants me to die.

Then I will overturn the world.

"Don't hesitate, Alwin."

The golden-haired man wiped his wet hair with his remaining left hand, his eyes filled with only pity.

"I... support you."

Under the mixed gazes of the Grand Servants...

The final spiral restraint shattered and crumbled inch by inch.

Click.

The thirteen restraints of the Holy Spear... were released.

"The Holy Spear's anchor is lifted..."

The Grand Servants laughed with a mix of wistfulness and relief.

Wistful because the pruned ending was hard to reverse.

Relieved because a world like this was better off being pruned.

They had lost all faith in the Counter Force.

These two parasites... we'll settle the score with them when we return to the Throne of Heroes.

What happens in a hundred years, we'll deal with in a hundred years.

First, we have to settle our accounts with the Counter Force.

The Holy Spear was a projection of the Star Anchor.

Lifting the anchor of the Holy Spear meant the Star Anchor could fall.

From then on, the Age of Gods would gradually return to this island and spread to the entire world.

History...

From this moment on, was declared completely overturned.

And yet...

After a moment...

The Grand Servants dazedly realized...

The Star Anchor had not fallen.

...What?

Everyone suddenly looked at the silver-haired young man in the center of the field.

"Alwin, you..."

—Why?

Vortigern had sacrificed himself, finally freeing the Holy Spear from its thirteen restraints.

But Su Shu had not made the Star Anchor of Britain fall, had not chosen to let the Age of Gods return.

He stared at the Holy Spear in his hand.

Then looked at the spiral in the sky.

His expression was slightly dazed.

The Age of Gods did not return, so...

"Could he be planning to..."

Looking at the silver-haired young man's posture...

An unbelievable thought suddenly arose in Taigong Wang's mind.

"Directly shatter the Inner Sea of the Planet..."

Removing the Star Anchor to let the Age of Gods return—that was equivalent to boarding a train heading for a cliff. In a hundred years, the entire world would face a pruned end.

And yet...

"The one I love is still in this world."

The silver-haired young man's ethereal voice echoed faintly.

"The Britannia my father entrusted to me is still in this world. I have no reason to choose destruction. Instead... I will twist off the head of the Counter Force, pull out its spine. I will make It feel pain."

That's right.

The Inner Sea of the Planet was the planet's dream, and also one of the vessels of the Counter Force.

—Su Shu was going to directly open a bloody hole in the Counter Force.

"That's impossible, Alwin..."

As a Grand Lancer, Romulus knew better than anyone.

"Even a fully released Holy Spear cannot do such a thing... Even Vortigern only wanted to lift the anchor of the Holy Spear to make the Star Anchor fall."

That's right.

The Holy Spear Rhongomyniad was a divine armament forged by the planet itself. How could it be used to oppose the Inner Sea of the Planet?

The Holy Spear was not enough...

Then—what if he added the Sword of Lingering Ember?

The knight in black slowly raised the cracked spiral sword in his right hand.

The endless spiral of the sword began to twist and rotate, hissing and screaming, calling upon all the lost souls of the world.

And yet...

「You attempt to continue burning souls.」

「You have failed.」

「Because you have no more souls to burn.」

"No..." Su Shu said softly. "I still have one."

「That's right... you still have one.」

「However, that is...」

「—Are you sure you want to do that?」

There was no answer.

But...

Su Shu gripped the spiral sword.

Fire.

A fire silently spread.

A vast amount of shadow magic poured out, rising from the dark knight's body, gradually taking on the intense color of flames.

That was... the King of Cinder.

A crown of fiery thorns, representing the birth of the King of Cinder, slowly formed above the silver-haired young man's head.

"What are you doing...

"—Alwin, no! Stop!"

Sensing the burning of a soul...

Smoking Mirror suddenly raised his remaining left hand, trying to stop the silver-haired young man.

All the other Grand Servants who could still move rushed forward, trying to stop Su Shu.

The rain fell in torrents.

The wind howled.

The gray sky seemed about to collapse.

The cold and emotionless pupil in the sky just silently watched him.

The witch before him reached out her hands and cupped the silver-haired young man's face. She was shedding tears, having realized what Su Shu was about to do.

"Alwin, don't..."

"My wife, take care of our daughter."

At such a close distance...

Su Shu could see the tear tracks on her face.

As always... she really doesn't look good when she cries.

The witch watched in despair as the figure before her grew more and more distant.

She was gently pushed away by the shadow.

This was his final act of gentleness.

"Lingering Ember, endless spiral... please, light the First Flame for me."

The crown of the King of Cinder took form.

The knight in black was burning with a brilliant flame.

Crack.

The spiral sword in his hand, named Lingering Ember, suddenly shattered, completely melting into the Holy Spear Rhongomyniad.

Tremble.

Hum.

The shaft of the Holy Spear was covered in狰狞 thorns.

The brilliant light brewing at its tip also gradually became deep, dark, and filled with a demonic, annihilating nature.

The Holy Spear had fallen, been defiled.

No longer the divine armament The Spear That Shines at the End.

But the demonic spiral The Spear That is Silent at the Beginning.

"Counter Force..."

Meeting the downward gaze of the eye in the sky without fear...

The newborn King of Cinder gripped the spiral demonic spear and said softly.

"Welcome to my second phase."

Boom—

A seemingly endless, boundless, ceaseless brilliant flame burst forth from the silver-haired young man's body.

A deep, suffocating presence like that of a prison slowly spread out, forcing back all the approaching Grand Servants.

"Alwin..."

The Grand Servants looked at the silver-haired young man with grim expressions, clenching their fists.

「That's right.」

「You still have one soul to burn...」

「—That is the overflowing with evil, incredibly pure soul named Alwin Pendragon.」

「The so-called 'Will of Black'.」

「Is also the will to completely burn oneself.」

「Your heart, your conviction, your soul—you have thrown everything into the spiral of the Lingering Ember.」

「You have burned yourself.」

「And become... the First Flame.」

「This is the flickering ember of a final afterglow, burning brightly in the eternal night of the Age of Gods' decline.」

「And its target is... the corrupt and fallen soul of this entire world!」

「Reality Marble, deploy—」

「The Dark Sun of Britain」

「Britain's Black Sun」

In an instant...

Heaven and earth were silent.

The pouring rain was pushed away, the gushing water was evaporated. Everything not permitted by the King of Cinder was instantly annihilated.

A scorching battlefield, interwoven with darkness and flame, spread out rapidly with the knight in black at its center, instantly covering the entire city of Londinium.

"Replacing reality with a mental landscape."

The Grand Servants watched this scene, almost frozen.

"He burned himself to activate this miracle... a Reality Marble."

The air was filled with a scorching mist.

The scorched earth flowed with the glow of lava.

This was the declaration of war from the newly enthroned King of Cinder to the will of the world.

The fiery crown of thorns floated above his head, like a black hole madly absorbing all surrounding light.

Compared to the intense flames burning on his body, the light of the Noble Phantasms worn by the Grand Servants seemed dim and lackluster.

As if to welcome the grand entrance of this world's King of Cinder...

A deep or magnificent music suddenly sounded from the void.

Like a roar! Like a bell! Like the cheers of a carnival—

A brilliant, dazzling black sun slowly rose behind the King of Cinder.

One strike.

With the blessing of all of Britain, with the blessing of the Reality Marble, with the blessing of the First Flame born from the complete burning of the ultimate lifeform's soul.

This was a strike that poured all his strength into piercing the world.

The so-called King of Cinder.

Was also the king who completely burned himself.

Facing the spying gaze of the Counter Force...

Aimed at the barrier of the Inner Sea of the Planet...

The knight in black raised his demonic spear.

As if sensing the immense threat...

In that instant...

The earth trembled.

The sky tore apart.

Countless rays of light continuously emerged from the clouds, and countless barriers spread out across the dome of the sky.

Using the power of the planet, using the light of the Human Order...

The Counter Force suddenly laid out its strongest defense before the Inner Sea of the Planet.

"It's... Anti-Purge Defense."

Taigong Wang murmured.

This was a top-tier defense system, pushed by the full power of a planet, capable of withstanding world-ending attacks.

That barrier of light formed by countless magic circles, like a contemptuous and disdainful vertical pupil, looked down upon the small, laughable person below.

And so, the knight in black raised his hand.

With all his strength...

He threw the demonic spear in his hand—

"Rhongomyniad Morgan!"

"The Spear That is Silent... at the Beginning—!"

In that instant...

The light of the entire world seemed to dim for a moment.

All sound was instantly smoothed over, leaving only the humming in the ears from the vibrations.

Deep shadow and intense flame.

The two had never been so perfectly combined.

The thing that was jointly brewed, erupted, gushed, and poured out...

Was the First Flame.

BOOM—

The rain was pushed away, the clouds were swept clean.

Countless violent air currents began to surge, and countless dark clouds began to collapse.

The gloomy, gray sky that had enveloped this city was violently torn and pierced by a great force. It was a deep black spiral that seemed to absorb souls.

Endless, boundless black flames erupted from the very top of Londinium, from the toughest Anti-Purge barrier of the Inner Sea of the Planet.

Like a slowly rising, black sun—

The scorching battlefield faded inch by inch.

The knight in black stood before the throne.

...Crack.

This clear cracking sound seemed to echo throughout Britannia, and in the hearts of everyone present.

"Alwin. You bastard..."

Smoking Mirror murmured to himself.

Whether it was the Grands, the Master, or the Knights of the Round Table, everyone stared blankly up.

At the black sun in the sky, a sun without light, its edges flickering with an intense fiery ring.

The Reality Marble had faded.

However, the black sun still hung high in the sky.

Because, in essence, it was not a sun.

But... a hole torn open in the Inner Sea of the Planet.

The Star Anchor had not fallen.

And so the Age of Gods had not returned.

But the Inner Sea of the Planet... had been pierced.

This meant that from now on, True Ether would slowly pour out from that hole.

This was not the surging tide of the Age of Gods' return or decline—but a babbling stream.

A stream... named Hope.

Pain.

The world seemed to be weeping.

The clouds in the sky trembled continuously, and the rain seemed to sway with them.

The Counter Force tried its best to repair this hole in the Inner Sea, but It could not do so no matter what.

Because on the edge of that black sun, an ever-burning... First Flame flickered.

It would forever scorch the soul of the Counter Force.

Making it forever wail, forever weep, forever remember.

Crack.

Artoria stared blankly at the scabbard floating beside her. A hole suddenly cracked open on its body.

Avalon... this purge-level defense had been pierced.

That deep, dark hole seemed to be able to pull away one's soul.

"Alwin..." she murmured.

Everyone finally snapped out of their shock.

Suddenly, as if realizing something...

Whether it was the Grands or the Master, whether it was the knights or the witch, they all stared blankly at that figure.

An incredibly bitter expression appeared on Smoking Mirror's face.

On the silver-haired young man's chest, a huge hole, almost two palms wide, was burning on his body.

That was the result of being burned by the spiral.

As if a black sun had appeared on his body.

Even such a heart-piercing injury was not fatal to an ultimate lifeform.

However... Smoking Mirror could see it.

Alwin's soul had been burned out.

Only fireless embers remained.

No one could save him.

Crack.

A new crack appeared on the silver-haired young man's face.

That extra crack was inconspicuous among the numerous other cracks.

Cupping his shattered, completely cold face...

The witch's dazed expression was as if her soul had left her.

As if something had been ripped from her brain.

She didn't want to think.

And she couldn't think.

Dizziness.

An intense dizziness made it almost impossible to stand.

Her legs were weak, her nerves were trembling.

"Alwin..."

The witch's trembling voice spoke his name.

Su Shu smiled and raised his hand, gently wiping away the tears welling in her eyes.

Then.

The palm of that right hand shattered with a crack, falling to the ground and turning into black dust.

"Don't cry, my wife."

Having lost his right hand...

The silver-haired young man lowered his eyes and gently rubbed his face against the witch's palm.

A piece of skin cracked off.

At a time like this, he was still in the mood to joke.

"Your hand... is as cold as ever."

"My hand..."

Tears.

Streamed down.

However, he no longer had a right hand to wipe them away for her.

"It's warm. You touch it every day..."

Because I touch it every day.

Holding it so tightly.

Our fingers intertwined.

So it became warm.

It's not cold anymore.

A bitter smile appeared on Su Shu's face.

He knew this, of course.

"So, I'm sorry. It seems I can't feel it anymore..."

The silver-haired young man gently pressed his forehead against hers and lightly kissed the witch's lips.

"Because I'm dying, my wife."

Don't...

You're not allowed to die...

Alwin, Alwin! Alwin Pendragon!

I'm begging you, I'm begging you... don't leave me, don't leave me...

Don't leave... me alone...

The witch didn't say a word.

Although, Su Shu could see the screams in her eyes.

And yet, she didn't say a word.

Yes...

As always, she really doesn't look good when she cries.

"I have... a gift for you."

Tremblingly, he reached his cracked left hand into his own chest.

Su Shu took out his own heart, which had been burned by the flames until it was crystal clear and sparkling.

This was the only thing on his body that was still intact.

He smiled.

Just like that night ten years ago, when the roses drifted.

The silver-haired young man smiled gently, and a large piece of his jaw crumbled away with it.

"I'm so glad I met you... my wife. You're so beautiful, yet I've never given you any jewelry. A witch's heart is not to be approached by the living... so I'll give you my heart."

The witch turned her head away.

She sobbed, her whole body trembling, and turned her head away.

Just like that night ten years ago.

She didn't dare to look him in the eye and shyly ran away.

A large part of Su Shu's face collapsed.

So he could only use his remaining eye, in his gray, almost gloomy vision, to find that trembling streak of gold.

Having a prominent ahoge is a good thing...

"Ar...toria?"

"Al...win."

The golden-haired girl could no longer make any expression.

Her sorrow, her bitterness, her pain...

Had almost completely destroyed her.

It was her... who caused all this.

It was her... who drew that Holy Sword of the Planet...

It was she who killed Alwin.

The more she thought about this fact...

The more terrified she became.

So terrified that her body began to tremble.

She wanted... to end her own life.

What's the point...

A sense of loss...

As if her soul had been blown away by the wind.

"It's not your fault," that person said, his half-face trying to smile. "Artoria, don't blame yourself."

"...Why?" Artoria almost trembled... roaring in despair. "Why!"

"You said I had a sacrificial desire! Then what is all this that you're doing?! You could have lived on, why did you have to burn yourself to shatter Avalon! Didn't Vortigern tell you to live on?!"

Faced with this question...

Su Shu... was silent for a while.

He really didn't know how to answer. Perhaps he was just that willful by nature.

Not listening to his dad's advice.

It seems... he never had.

If he had to give... a reason.

Perhaps it was...

"—Do not go gentle into that good night, Artoria."

The silver-haired young man said with a strained smile.

His hoarse voice was also like a faint wind.

Intermittently, it blew across the ruins.

It rippled through the moved expressions of the people—

Do not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should burn and rave at close of day.

Though I know this eternal night is coming,

The abandonment of the sun makes my words burst forth like thunder.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

If there is never this intense daylight,

Then I shall be the burning kindling.

Dying has made my eyes unable to see the flames.

My blind eyes are still like joyous, shining meteors.

Even if it is that dim, decadent, and flickering ember,

Let it consume this rotten body of mine.

Only because I am not willing,

Not willing to go gentle,

Into that good night...

The good night is coming.

His voice, also like a flickering flame, gradually wavered and extinguished.

"Congratulations, Artoria."

The knight in black lifted his gaze and gave the dazzling king a strained smile.

"Your sword has won."

After one last gentle kiss on the witch's lips...

He dissipated in the wind.

「You have died.」

「This simulation has ended.」

「You have unlocked the ending: "A Black Sun Rises"」

「Your name is unknown, your deeds are eternal.」

「You have gained the support of the wicked, and the curses of the knights.」

「Even the heroes have succumbed to your charisma as the ultimate villain.」

「Among all the flows of fate, you chose the most perfect one, successfully saving the fate of the island of Britain.」

「However, your actions will also greatly increase the hostility you receive from the Counter Force.」

「Overflowing with Evil Value: SSS」

「You have received a simulation reward: Token of the White Dragon's Son」

「Token of the White Dragon's Son: A pure white dragon scale branded with the pattern of a black sun. A token inscribed with the will of the Son of the White Dragon, Alwin Pendragon. While holding it, you can inherit some of Alwin Pendragon's traits.」

「Current Synchronization Rate: 1%」

Facing the black sun hanging high in the sky...

Artoria watched as the young man before her was blown away by the ethereal wind, scattering into a pile of black embers.

Born in the Age of Gods, and now returned to this Age of Gods.

It was as if he had never appeared.

Only that crystal clear heart remained, sparkling.

The Grand Servants stood silently where they were.

The witch's expression was dazed and frozen.

Cupping his heart...

She looked up at the golden-haired girl.

The witch's ethereal voice echoed faintly.

"The happiness I had obtained... was taken away by your own hands, Artoria— This was his own choice. I do not hate you. But from now on... I do not want to see you again, not even for a single glance."

The witch's figure melted into the shadows.

Leaving only Artoria, kneeling where she was.

In the ruined battlefield...

Even after the Grand Servants had dissipated and left...

She remained there, kneeling dazedly.

Clang—

A dark,狰狞 demonic spear descended from the sky and plunged into the ground before the golden-haired girl.

Artoria stared blankly at this demonic spear he had used to pierce the Inner Sea of the Planet.

For some reason...

Her hand then slowly gripped the shaft of the demonic spear.

He is dead.

But I can still... protect his country.

The gold was withering.

A slightly demonic gray gradually spread from the strands of her hair.

Her development, which had been restrained by the Sword of Selection, was once again unlocked.

Her figure gradually became more voluptuous.

Her gaze gradually became more detached.

The knight king in black stood up, holding the demonic spear, draped in dark, lightless armor, and slowly walked towards the army waiting outside the city.

Watching the dark king's receding back...

The lone, one-armed Knight of the Round Table dazedly picked up... the dim, lightless Holy Sword of the Planet from the ruins.

Little Melusine curled up alone in the shadows underground.

Just as her daddy had instructed...

She obediently stayed here, waiting for her mommy to come and get her.

However... how much time had passed...?

In this deep underground...

Little Melusine had almost lost all concept of time.

She curled up alone in the corner.

In a daze...

She seemed to feel... a familiar presence, like her daddy's.

Little Melusine dazedly walked down into the underground cavern.

The earth... seemed to be trembling.

The small, adorable silver-haired loli finally stood, somewhat at a loss, before a huge, golden vertical pupil, as tall as a small mountain.

She looked up and met the dragon's gaze.

Is this... Daddy?

In a domain of blooming flowers and picturesque scenery...

At the end of the fae forest stood a stone tower that stretched endlessly towards the sky.

Hissing in pain from having his heart pierced by a spiral spear...

The disheveled nightmare magus laughed foolishly, staring at the witch before him.

Having lost all his vision...

As a nightmare, he was nailed to the tower by Morgan.

His soul and body were constantly recovering due to his nightmare's immortality, yet they were also constantly being burned by this spiral spear that Morgan had replicated.

Recover, then burn.

This was an endless execution.

In his decayed vision, he didn't need to see.

He could almost feel the overflowing anger on the witch's face.

"Your daughter is missing, your husband is dead. Morgan, you're all alone now, just like me, teeheehee..."

A sharp, twisting pain came from his heart.

It made the nightmare's expression begin to twist.

In a daze...

The mad Merlin thought of a very interesting joke.

It was also a secret he had buried in his heart for many years.

"Actually... Alwin Pendragon... Morgan, my dear~ your husband might still be alive in some era."

Rotting, withered fallen leaves, wilted flowers.

In a dark, lightless deep forest...

A chrysalis on the ground was slowly torn open.

A pair of moth wings then spread out.

With a deep blue crown of thorns on his head...

A handsome, silver-haired young man was born in this forest made of the corpses of fae.

In a daze, as if sensing something...

He dazedly raised his hand and wiped his eye sockets.

Looking at the damp trace on his fingertips...

Oberon was a little stunned.

"Tears...

"—Why am I crying?

"So... sad..."

Born from the remains of the fairies, the silver-haired fairy king dazedly lifted his gaze and looked at the bright, cloudless night sky.

Oberon-Vortigern was shedding tears.

Whispering the name that had surfaced in his heart.

"...Alwin?"

End of Volume 1: The Calamitous White Dragon.

Alwin Pendragon - Pretender

Name: Alwin Pendragon

Class: Pretender

Strength: A+++

Endurance: EX

Agility: A+++

Mana: A+++

Luck: E

Noble Phantasm: EX

Magic Resistance: A+++

Your ultimate lifeform body has grown to the level of a Beast. Only magic of sufficient mystery has a chance of harming you, but only a chance.

Riding: A

An excellent riding skill acquired through a combination of modern knowledge and divine bloodline. You can easily handle both modern vehicles and divine beasts or phantasmal species of the Age of Gods.

Mana Burst (Light Devour): A+++

As the name implies, the ability to devour light. Vortigern was known as the light-devouring demonic dragon, and you, possessing the bloodline of the Vile King, have inherited his shadow attribute. Understanding the identity of light and shadow, you can now take the omnipresent light of this land and convert it into your own magical energy. Now, whether in day or night, even the light of a Noble Phantasm will be easily taken by you. Before the radiance of the planet's breath, you also used all your strength to briefly resist its torrent, buying Vortigern the final moments he needed.

Monstrous Strength: A+

A basic ability of those with monstrous blood, a skill that increases one's own Strength. Your power makes the very earth tremble—as an ultimate lifeform, your Strength is among the top tier of Servants, even surpassing Heracles as a Servant.

Will of Black: EX

In this dark, lightless field, you walk your own path. Your will will never waver.

Ultimate Lifeform: EX

The ultimate lifeform known as the Beast of Continuance is far from the end of its evolution. Even if thrown into space, you can maintain your life without issue, although temperature and magical energy are separate considerations.

A Peaceful Life: EX

The raging torrent of fate in a peaceful life has pushed you to this ending. You lost your own peaceful life, but you gave all the people of this island the security named peace and happiness.

Savior of the Wicked: EX

Sunk into the abyss, you gaze upon heaven. You are the savior of the wicked. Thou art Wicked, what need is there for words? If pursuing a peaceful life is also a sin, then that sin is your justice. Your heart, will, and conviction have won the admiration of the wicked. Those who meet you for the first time will find themselves naturally drawn to your charisma. For individuals of the 'Chaotic' or 'Evil' alignments, you will gain an extremely high favorability bonus.

That Which Burns in this Eternal Night: EX

Life and death, an endless cycle. This is the spiral sword named Lingering Ember, which brings hope and death to all things in the world. It recognized your determination, became your final power, shattered and fused with the Holy Spear, jointly forging that The Spear That is Silent at the Beginning.

Britain's Black Sun: EX

The determination of the King of Cinder named Alwin Pendragon became the black sun that slowly rose in the sky of Britannia. This is the ever-burning First Flame, kindled by burning your own body, and it will forever scorch the soul of that world, making it forever wail, forever suffer, forever remember. Until it meets the end named death and annihilation.

Author's End-of-Volume Thoughts

mat 200 Chapter (Final)

Honkai 150 Chapter

Lobotomy 110 Chapter

MushokuTensei 40 Chapter

'Pure Evil' Simulator 88 Chapter

Crossover Fic Blue-Eyes 130 Chapter