Chapter 6: The Sun Knight, Excalibur Galatine
However, this chaotic fleeing only made the situation more disorganized; many fell to the ground and were trampled by other refugees. People tried to escape, but the exits had already been tightly closed, and standing there were the Knights of Resolution holding sharp swords.
Watching the crowd descend into chaos, Gawain shook his head helplessly.
Naturally, he felt distressed by such a scene, but his loyalty to the King ultimately outweighed everything else.
As the knight who had followed the King for the longest time, Gawain, in order to rectify his regret and fault of "causing the King's downfall" during his life, vowed to follow the King as a more perfect knight.
Gawain's greatest regret was his feud with Lancelot.
Because his brothers were killed by Lancelot, and even the King's wife was abducted by the other, it was simply unforgivable in Gawain's eyes.
However, in the end, King Arthur forgave Lancelot, even saying it was all his own fault. Yet, Gawain did not forgive Lancelot's betrayal for this, remaining at odds with him until the end.
Gawain continued to reject Lancelot, who had rushed to Camlann Hill even after being banished; as a result, he caused the King to die in battle, and he himself died at the hands of Lancelot.
Because of this outcome, Gawain, having become a Heroic Spirit, interpreted "assisting the monarch to the very end" as an absolute mission.
Just as the King was self-disciplined and self-reproachful at Camlann Hill, Gawain had also cried out countless times in the abyss of death.
"If... if there is a next time... if there is another chance to make amends, a second life, then this time, I will certainly dedicate everything I am to the King—"
This time, he would follow the King's footsteps unwaveringly, swinging his sword for the King, fighting for the King, and dying for the King.
Tristan, who was responsible for this "Selection" alongside Gawain, wore a look of sorrow, gripping his bow tightly without saying a word.
Just then, both Knights of the Round Table looked up at the sky in surprise.
Unimaginable magical energy transformed into a hurricane, flowing above the circular plaza. The arrows shot by the archers on the walls were now being swept up by the flowing gale.
"This is..."
Gawain frowned, already sensing something was wrong.
Tristan also spoke up in surprise at this moment: "Could it be that the people from Chaldea have infiltrated as well?"
Hearing Tristan's words, Gawain immediately gripped the hilt of his sword.
"People from Chaldea..."
Boom——!
The main gate serving as the exit was destroyed by force, turning into dust with a loud explosion.
Standing there was the red-haired youth who had left such a deep impression on Tristan.
"Gawain, that person's strength is not to be underestimated," Tristan warned.
"Mm, I understand."
Gawain nodded.
He, too, could feel the strength of that youth.
But he was a knight; he would not be intimidated by the strength of an enemy.
At this very moment, the desperate people fleeing were already leaving, driven by the desire to survive as the city gate opened wide.
The Knights of Resolution stationed at the entrance, intending to stop the refugees from escaping, had only just drawn their swords when they were blocked by Mash and Da Vinci.
As for the other Knights of Resolution, they were obstructed by the blades, spears, and halberds projected by Shirou.
Gawain looked at Shirou with a stern gaze.
"Whoever you are, until the 'Selection' is over, I will not let anyone interfere!"
As long as he could eliminate these few people from Chaldea, the refugees fleeing on foot naturally could not outrun knights on warhorses.
Thinking of this, Gawain gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist and suddenly drew it out.
Clang——!
The sound of steel rubbing against steel rang out, attracting the attention of Gudako and Mash.
Within this circular plaza, only Shirou's group from Chaldea remained.
According to Shirou's assumptions, Bedivere should also be here, but the current situation deviated from his expectations.
Bedivere did not appear here.
Where could he be then...
Finding no answers, Shirou withdrew his gaze and looked at Gawain.
As the "Excalibur Galatine" was unsheathed, night turned into day; the dazzling light illuminated the entire Holy City brilliantly.
How many times had this bright, beautiful Holy City been stained with blood?
The shining light now appearing above the Holy City was not the reappearance of the sun, but because the "Excalibur Galatine" was a holy sword containing a pseudo-sun.
This sister sword to the holy sword of King Arthur's legend was originally held by the Lady of the Lake, just like "Excalibur."
In tradition, it was hidden in the shadow of "Excalibur," a holy sword without much description.
According to legend, this holy sword possessed power on par with the King's holy sword.
King Arthur's holy sword gathered the radiance of the planet, while Gawain's holy sword manifested the sun's scorching rays.
If "Excalibur" was a strike that severed everything with the light of the stars, then "Excalibur Galatine" was a burning incineration with the heat of the sun.
The former was a single-point-focused Anti-Fortress Noble Phantasm, while the latter was an Anti-Army Noble Phantasm used to sweep away approaching enemies.
At this moment, Gawain, wielding this "Excalibur Galatine," was confronting Shirou.
Though he looked like a refreshing man, Gawain's muscle density was extraordinary, and his weight was extremely heavy. That heroic spirit, as dashing and shining as sunlight, was not just about having a hot-blooded man who could make others feel warm—he could travel a thousand miles a day as if it were routine.
Once entering battle, the determination to not stop until the enemy was completely annihilated, fighting for three days and three nights without sleep, was a matter of course to him.
Da Vinci, watching the sky turn as bright as day due to the unsheathing of "Excalibur Galatine," could not help but exclaim: "That is... the 'Sun Knight,' Gawain!?"
Gudako and Mash were also on high alert at this moment, raising their shields to defend against the attack that could come at any time.
Shirou was looking at this scene nonchalantly, his brain still wondering where that guy Bedivere had run off to with the Holy Sword.
"Maybe I should just go take a look at the Pharaoh's side..."
As Shirou muttered this, Gawain was already filled with rage at Shirou's dismissive attitude.
"To be so ignored—I will make you pay the price for your arrogance!"
Gawain held his sword horizontally in front of his chest, his raised left hand stroking the blade, and blazing flames ignited instantly.
"This sword is the incarnation of the sun, the solar flame that burns away all impurities—'Excalibur Galatine'!"
After magical energy was injected into "Excalibur Galatine," its blade could be extended, just like "Excalibur."
The power, sufficient to cleave off the top of a hill, was released along with the spreading flames!
"Senpai, watch out!"
Feeling the powerful force of Gawain's Noble Phantasm, Gudako and Mash immediately called out to warn Shirou.
However, having just made the sound, they heard rolls of thunder coming from the horizon.
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