[Regarding the great name of the 'Vile King' Vortigern, you had long since heard of it]
[He was the first opponent Arthur, the King who pulled the Sword of Selection from the stone, faced after becoming King, and very possibly the strongest adversary Arthur encountered in his entire life. Later generations likened the existence of Vortigern to the invading barbarian Angles and Saxons who stormed the British Isles, calling him the Chalk-White Dragon that assailed the island nation; whereas King Arthur was the symbol of the native Briton Celts, the King who bore the blood of the Red Dragon that resisted invasion]
[Though this legend holds errors, in certain respects it is not far from the truth. As you know, in this world and in this era, the existence known as Vortigern indeed is a mighty being who possesses the power of the 'White Dragon']
[Yet he is not, in fact, the invader Angles of Britain. Quite the opposite — the birth of Vortigern represents the will of the island itself, a manifestation of Britain's 'rejection' toward the ancient race of Celts who had always lived upon it]
[Because with the end of the Age of Gods and the fading of Mystery, with the transformation of the world environment — even if Britain, isolated overseas, retained to some degree the best environment for preserving Mystery, and though the speed of its decline was slower than that of the continent, still, to those peoples who stubbornly clung to the ways of survival of the Age of Gods, Britain produced disgust]
[From that disgust was born the existence known as 'Vortigern']
[He is both the 'living device' that seeks to drag the Mysteries remaining on the island to their end, and the atavistic creature born from the island's negative vomit]
[He is one of the extremely rare existences of this era, of the pure 'Dragonkind' — the highest tier, sufficient to oppose even gods]
[And to oppose him, King Arthur was likewise one who stood against the will of the island itself—]
Yes.
Though in body he was human, even the blood brother of King Uther, Vortigern's true essence was not human, but a 'Dragon.'The image of him manifested through mana was absolutely no falsehood.His very being resembled those gods of ages long past, born through surrogate wombs.Every breath he exhaled was high-density magical energy belonging to a dragon.His strength was never something mortals could resist.
Yet though Lucan had long since heard of him, long since studied him, and long since held interest in him, he had not thought he would meet him so soon—at such a time, in such a place.
But since he had come.Naturally, Lucan must also respond.All the more when—the other side had come directly for them, for him!
The two figures appearing in Oktal made the aged northern king of the Huns falter briefly. When his eyes caught sight of the youth among them, he finally breathed out in relief, his trembling hands calming somewhat.
From behind, the retreating King Uther also froze slightly upon seeing the young boy and girl who appeared.
That was…
"Your Majesty, are you unharmed?"
Merlin's voice drifted into Uther's ears.
The aged British king, like an old lion, returned to himself and followed the voice, seeing Merlin stepping forward before him. He asked, "This is…"
"This is a 'surprise.'"
Merlin smiled: "All you need do is watch."
The sudden appearance of the young boy and girl blocking his way likewise caused the towering, brawny Vortigern to narrow his eyes. His mana still surged, dragon roars rising one after another, but crashing upon the person before him they sank like mud into the sea, stirring no ripples at all. Around that boy's body seemed to shimmer an invisible barrier, shielding away all Mystery from without and within.
This was—
"The Mythical 'True Ether'?"
Vortigern's golden eyes narrowed; they were unmistakably a pair of searing dragon pupils.
He also turned his gaze to the blonde girl beside the boy. He did not recognize the youth—clearly one of the outsiders who came together with these Huns. But this girl, he knew.
—Morgan le Fay.
His brother's daughter, the only true princess of the Briton Celtic kingdom of Camelot, and at present the sole legitimate heir.
At the same time, she was another manifestation of the island's will, bearing the 'Authority of Island Sovereignty.'
Similar to him, yet different.
"You two, what is the meaning of this?"
"No special meaning." Lucan continued the words he had spoken before: "As guests, since we have already been received by King Uther, there is no need to trouble a second person, is there?"
"On this island, in the end, there can only be one true 'King'!"
Smiling as he spoke.
Morgan, arriving with Lucan, was slightly stunned at these words, thinking this guy truly dares to provoke… Others might not know, but as Uther's eldest daughter, how could she not? Her nominal uncle's obsession with being 'King of Camelot' was a prideful psychology: something he himself might relinquish, but something no one else could deny him.
Yet at the same time, Morgan also found it strangely thrilling.
To provoke the 'Vile King' Vortigern…
—After all, though born from the island's vomit, existing as an 'End Mechanism,' Vortigern was still a living creature with self-consciousness and preference.
Naturally, he could indeed be provoked.He could grow furious—
"The true 'King' is absolutely not one who harbors naïve, unrealistic ideals."
Yet, beyond Morgan's expectations, Vortigern did not erupt in rage, nor was he easily provoked. He had discerned the barrier of True Ether enveloping the boy, and thus recognized the extraordinariness of this seemingly immature youth.
In ancient times, though True Ether saturated the atmosphere, that was only because the bodies of the gods still existed — it was not something any person could casually wield.
To generate True Ether directly — only 'Divine Bodies' could do so.
In other words, the specifications of this boy's very body did not fall short of a 'god.'
Toward such a talented being, Vortigern's patience was naturally greater.
Of course, more importantly, he had also seen that the other was not Celtic, but an outsider.
The 'vomit of the island' harbored disgust only for the native Celts.
He said: "He cannot give you anything.""But I — I can grant you everything of this island—"
"Then what if I say, I will make the kingdom of Camelot everlasting?"
Half in jest, half in seriousness.
Lucan's words, however, at last left Vortigern unable to respond with composure.
His 'Root,' his very purpose of existence, would not permit such a thing.
"It seems, then, you are determined to make yourself my enemy."
Vortigern's golden eyes, burning strong, in but a blink, flared ever brighter, bursting with intensity.
Lucan thought: If I weren't here to oppose you, why would I even come?
He told himself, submitting to 'fate,' yielding to 'Human Order' — he had seen far too much of that.
In this lifetime, since he had come, he must do things differently.Attempt roads never before walked.
Since he had decided to 'temper' his martial skill.Then naturally he must follow the principle of the 'martial way.'
A true warrior — does not strike at the weak, but swings his blade toward the stronger!
…
The bravest men said, only the brave can attain the martial strategy of battling with the 'dragon.'Arthurian Legend: The Song of Subutai
…
[You resolve to take this battle as the beginning of gathering information on martial arts, to forge your own 'Martial Strategy']
Boom!
Thereupon.
The dragon's mana, just now subdued, erupted again from within Vortigern.
At the same time.
Lucan too raised his hand.
Linking divine thought, manifesting god-spirit, moving the divine body.
Through triple circulation, he set in motion the 'Hand of God'!