---o---
Little Gui!!
Seeing Little Gui actually charge directly at Gawain's Galatine with her spear, Sushang was so scared she almost fainted.
This was simply a gamble with her life!
How could Sushang not know Little Gui's strength? Her physical constitution was only slightly stronger than an ordinary person's. Faced with Gawain's Sword of Revolving Victory, she would likely be incinerated into ash in an instant.
What was she thinking? She really couldn't have been thinking!
Although Gawain was under the Lion King's orders not to kill Guinaifen, he had already unleashed his ultimate move. Could he possibly pull it back midway?
---o---
[Light Curtain Barrage]
Aventurine: "Gambling with her life? I never expected Miss Guinaifen to have such courage. It is truly admirable."
Aventurine, who often gambled with his life, showed a hint of understanding upon seeing Guinaifen's actions. Not everyone had the courage to place their own life on the gambling table.
For Guinaifen to possess such resolve, she was, in a way, worthy of her status as the protagonist of this light curtain viewing.
As for whether Guinaifen would lose the gamble? Aventurine never considered it. Although he didn't know what Guinaifen's luck was like, had you ever seen a protagonist die so easily?
Gensokyo's City Management: "Though admirable, it was too reckless. Gawain doesn't have enough time to retract his Noble Phantasm. The current Guinaifen has thoroughly forced herself into a desperate situation."
Qingque: "Strange, Little Gui doesn't seem like such an impulsive person."
Otto Apocalypse: "Perhaps she was acting on a momentary impulse, or perhaps she has some kind of trump card, which is why she is completely unafraid..."
---o---
[On the light curtain, Guinaifen's sudden appearance flustered Gawain!]
[This kind of panic should not exist!]
[Although it was the King's command, Gawain's Noble Phantasm was already released. Galatine was irreversible. Even if Guinaifen used her body to block the Noble Phantasm, Gawain should only have felt surprise and regret, not panic.]
[But now, this inexplicable feeling rose in Gawain's heart, making him feel as if he had made a grave mistake.]
[In the nick of time, the tip of Guinaifen's spear touched the blade of Galatine. The next moment, the flames of the sword rushed towards Guinaifen alone.]
["Miss Guinaifen!!"]
[Mash, who was defending with her shield, and Ritsuka Fujimaru, beside her, both widened their eyes. Was a Servant going to be eliminated just as the battle began?]
[And it was Miss Guinaifen, who had become so close to them!]
[How could they possibly accept such an outcome!]
[However… just as everyone in Chaldea was on pins and needles over Guinaifen's actions, a shocking scene occurred!]
[Guinaifen's body was bathed in the flames of Galatine, yet she did not suffer a single bit of harm.]
[The expected scene of her being burned to a crisp did not happen.]
[How could this be? It shouldn't be possible! How could Guinaifen withstand such a terrifying Noble Phantasm impact!]
[You must know, even Mash, as a Shielder, would be unable to block this terrifying blow without releasing her Noble Phantasm!]
[Even if Gawain's Galatine was not at full power, with the multiplication of his Spirit Origin and the blessing of 'Nightless,' it was far more powerful than an ordinary A-rank Noble Phantasm!]
["Wh-…What!"]
[Just like the people of Chaldea, Gawain was stunned when he saw Guinaifen bathed in flames. He was completely dumbfounded!]
[His Noble Phantasm… even top-tier Servants, or even some beings from mythology, wouldn't dare to face it head-on!]
[Even if he had held back his power at the last moment, this was not an attack that a second-rate Servant should be able to withstand!]
["Wait… that holy radiance is…"]
[As if discovering something, Gawain's eyes widened, barely able to believe what he was seeing!]
[He understood now. He knew what had happened to Guinaifen. He knew why Guinaifen could emerge unscathed from the radiance of Galatine!]
[That holy radiance on Guinaifen's body was clinging tightly to her form, protecting her amidst the sea of flames.]
[He couldn't be mistaken. It was the same as when the King granted them their blessings. That kind of holy radiance was precisely the radiance manifested by King Arthur after she had become a god.]
[It was a blessing!]
[The King's blessing, the Lion King's blessing!]
[From the moment Guinaifen was chosen in the Saint Selection Ceremony, the King's blessing had already descended upon her.]
[However… unlike the blessings of the Knights of the Round Table, the blessing on Guinaifen did not grant any increase in strength. All it possessed was the protection of Guinaifen herself!]
[Moreover… seeing the nullified Galatine, Gawain fell into a stunned silence!]
[It wasn't just Galatine. At this moment… all the Noble Phantasms of the Knights of the Round Table, with the exception of Agravain's, the rest… whether it was Tristan's bowstring or Lancelot's blade, none of them could inflict any harm upon Guinaifen.]
[As long as a Knight of the Round Table had received the Lion King's blessing, their Noble Phantasm would be nullified against Guinaifen.]
["Is… is it her…"]
[After a long silence, Gawain retracted Galatine and spoke in a low voice.]
[He wasn't wrong. It could only be her… Only she could make the current King reawaken her human emotions. Only she… could make the King bestow a blessing that symbolized protection. Only she…]
[Gawain looked at Guinaifen. The more he looked, the more similar he found her, and although their appearances were different, the reaction of their Spirit Origins couldn't be wrong.]
[While Gawain was staring intently at Guinaifen, she finally emerged from the flames of Galatine.]
["Hah~~~"]
[I was so dead!]
[I was really so dead!]
[Scalding… My whole body feels like it's been burned by fire, and my brain is hazy from the high temperature. Just as Guinaifen thought, Gawain held back his power at the critical moment. Moreover, because her spear had deflected it, the angle and power of Gawain's attack had dropped by several levels.]
[However, Guinaifen hadn't expected Galatine to be a wide-range attack. In terms of sheer scope, it was even wider than Excalibur.]
[Fortunately, she was currently in a blessed state. The Noble Phantasms of the Knights of the Round Table were useless against her. Otherwise, how would she have dared to charge up like that? Wouldn't that have been courting death?]
[That's right… Guinaifen knew about the change in her own body. The blessing from the Lion King, or rather, King Arthur, was something Guinaifen had been aware of from the moment it appeared on her.]
[Of course, this wasn't something the Lion King told her or something Guinaifen herself perceived. It originated from the only cheat she carried with her from her transmigration—her phone!]
[If one were to open Guinaifen's character interface right now, they would find this line written in her status column: Due to receiving the Lion King's blessing, immune to the Noble Phantasm attacks of all similarly blessed Knights of the Round Table.]
[Originally, Guinaifen was a little surprised when she saw this, thinking her phone had bugged out. She had no connection whatsoever with the Lion King. Why would the other party give her a blessing? But as the situation grew more and more critical, and with the overwhelming might of Gawain's Noble Phantasm, Guinaifen had no choice but to take a gamble. But thankfully… she won.]]
---o---
What was going on? Guinaifen's seemingly reckless action was actually backed by the Lion King's blessing?
And… the Lion King actually gave Guinaifen a blessing?
No, what was this Lion King thinking?
You and Guinaifen are more than just strangers; you're practically enemies!
To not annihilate her is one thing, but to actually give the other party a blessing that's practically a bug!
This has dug a massive pit for the entire Order of the Round Table!
Immunity to all Noble Phantasm attacks from the blessed Knights of the Round Table. If Guinaifen herself were a bit stronger, she could probably solo the entire Knight Order!
Even if Guinaifen wasn't strong enough, she could still act as a meat shield, tanking the ultimate moves of the Round Table for the others.
Across the infinite dimensions, the countless viewers, upon seeing this, all broke into discussion.
Madara Uchiha: "I don't understand. I completely fail to understand… What is the point of making your opponent stronger? What ultimate meaning does this action by the Lion King hold?"
Detective Conan: "Did Gawain figure out Guinaifen's true identity? Although I have my own guesses… it's still quite shocking to have it confirmed!"
Otto Apocalypse: "The first time I learned of it, I was the same as you. But now I'm more curious about what Guinaifen herself will think when she finds out. After all, based on her relationship on Planet Camelot, she and King Arthur are not siblings, but friends."
---o---
[On the light curtain, with the dissipation of Galatine's flames, the camera moved to the interior of the Holy City.]
[The resolute Agravain stood before the throne. He looked coldly in the direction of the city gate, then bowed to the Lion King on the throne and said, "Gawain has already released his Noble Phantasm. It seems the battle is over."
["My King, do not worry. Those outsiders who disturbed the Saint Selection Ceremony have surely been reduced to ashes under the Saint's Punishment."
[It was clear that Agravain had great confidence in Gawain's strength.]
[Galatine was one of the most powerful Noble Phantasms among the many Knights of the Round Table. Once unsheathed, there was absolutely no chance of survival.]
[Not to mention, this was Gawain under the sun with a triple enhancement. Agravain couldn't imagine who could possibly defeat the current Gawain.]
[Even that pharaoh from the west, without pulling Gawain into his pyramid, would not be able to defeat the Gawain of this moment!]
[Then, the camera moved to the throne. The Lion King seated there looked at Agravain below her, nodded slightly, but that was all. There were no other movements.]
[The blessing was still active. Guinaifen had not been reduced to ashes under Gawain's sword. That… was enough.]
[As for whether Gawain would bring Guinaifen before her, it was no longer important.]
[Because from the moment Gawain knew who Guinaifen was, he would no longer bring her into the Holy City…]
[The camera returned to Gawain's side. Just as the Lion King had said, after learning Guinaifen's other identity, Gawain's expression was one of melancholy, sentiment, and deep helplessness.]
["…The King's command… is absolute."
[After a moment of silence, Gawain spoke these words with his eyes closed.]
[Everything was for the sake of his loyalty to the King.]
[However, just as Gawain's Noble Phantasm attack ended, Da Vinci appeared out of nowhere.]
[Seeing the unharmed Da Vinci, Ritsuka was overjoyed. With a lingering fear, she said, "Da Vinci-chan? Where did you just go?"]
[Da Vinci, however, gave a mysterious smile. "I went to make some preparations for our retreat. Now, run! I have everything ready!"]
[As she spoke, she had already taken out a very historical-looking mechanical remote control, with a large red button on it.]
[Then, Da Vinci pressed it directly.]
[And then…]
[Boom—!]
[A series of explosions occurred.]
[It was outside the Holy City, a large area centered around the city gate. A massive explosion, created by a special magic bomb, occurred, instantly engulfing that area.]
[In an instant, a white light enveloped the entire gate area of the Holy City, nearly blinding everyone.]
["Da Vinci-chan, what did you do!?"]
[Ritsuka squeezed her eyes shut and shouted at Da Vinci beside her.]
[Da Vinci, however, covered her eyes and said, "Don't worry about that. A little light like this is far from over. Prepare for the impact of the flash! To be specific, open your mouth, close your eyes, and plug your ears!"]
[As her voice fell, numerous objects similar to stun grenades appeared at Gawain's feet, from who knows where.]
[Then, just as Da Vinci pulled Guinaifen away, the devices, which resembled stun grenades, instantly exploded. Their power was enough to annihilate the Purified Knights, but for Gawain, it was merely an itch.]
[However, the flash from it did stop Gawain in his tracks, preventing him from continuing his pursuit.]
[As for Ritsuka and the others, they took this opportunity to quickly flee with Guinaifen and some of the refugees.]
[Faced with this situation, Gawain, trapped in the flash, was silent for a long while before saying in a low voice, "Well done."
[Then, as if having made a decision, he turned and walked toward the city gate. "My mission is to guard the Holy City. The tasks given to me by the King must naturally be prioritized. Since they have already fled far from the Holy City, it is no longer my mission."
["However, Guinaifen… since you are her, you are destined not to escape."
["The Knights of the Round Table who serve the King to this day are not limited to just me."
["I hope Lancelot can recognize you. If it's him… he might just do the same thing as before."
[As his voice fell, Gawain clenched Galatine in his hand. His relationship with Lancelot was not good, though the current Lancelot was loyal to the King.]
[But… who knew what he would think after seeing Guinaifen.]
[If he betrayed them, it would be perfectly normal. After all, it wasn't the first time. Practice makes perfect.]
[With this, the battle at the gates of the Holy City ended.]
[But for Ritsuka Fujimaru and the others, the escape had only just begun.]]
---o---