The sun and moon revolved, and time flew by.
In the blink of an eye, the sun rose once more from the horizon. After a brief rest, the group gathered in the center of the camp to assign tasks.
Nitocris would command the Sphinxes, tasked with absorbing the first wave of attacks from the Enforcement Knights already positioned on the city walls.
The Mountain People's forces, led by the Hassan of the Hundred Faces, would clear the regular soldiers stationed around the perimeter of New Camelot City.
Da Vinci-chan, Tawara Touta, and the Hassan of the Cursed Arm were assigned to breach the three other city gates, leaving the main gate untouched.
For the final battle, it was time for Tawara Touta and the Hassan of the Cursed Arm—who had been handling logistics and coordination—to finally play a role on the front lines.
"Ruler, are we really going to charge straight through the main gate?"
"Not we. I will, along with Bedivere. Mash, Ritsuka, and the elite soldiers I've personally trained in swordsmanship—I need you to search the Holy City as quickly as possible and rescue any humans who have already entered.
"Remember, if they refuse to cooperate, don't waste time arguing. Just knock them out and carry them away."
"Ruler, I understand. But for you to face the Lion King with just... "
"Enough. If I didn't want Bedivere to apologize to Her personally, I wouldn't even be bringing him. Against the Lion King, I will not lose.
"Of course, if you've finished your tasks and my battle with the Lion King is still ongoing, I permit you to approach and observe.
"After all, you are this body's Master, and Mash has received Galahad's gift. You both have the right to witness the end."
The meeting was brief. Afterward, Nitocris had to return to the Sun King's Temple to report. Only after Sanzang guaranteed she would protect the Sun King with her life did Nitocris quickly rush to catch up.
By the time Nitocris crossed the desert and arrived outside New Camelot City with over a hundred Sphinxes, a massive crowd had gathered.
In addition to the Mountain People and numerous Servants already assembled, many bandits and merchants who had been wandering the wasteland had also flocked to the city.
They understood nothing of a "final battle" or how defeating the Lion King would restore the Human Order. They had only heard that this was a campaign to reclaim the Holy City of Jerusalem and that those who participated could have their names inscribed on the walls of the new Holy City to be built afterward.
For that alone, death no longer held any fear for these life-starved bandits and merchants.
The final arrangements mainly involved assigning them to the Hundred Faces' Mountain Folk Army.
Amid the clamor, Guinevere was the first to stride toward the main gate, letting the Sword of Promised Victory—a weapon she had only recently wielded—settle into her hands.
They had no more time to waste. Thus, she would be the one to declare the start of this battle.
"Excalibur... Is this our first meeting? Or has it been a long time? In any case, thank you for allowing me to wield you. Now, I ask for your aid. Help me restore your true master to her original self.
"Today, the Ever-Victorious King once again steps onto the battlefield!"
Her golden hair billowed, a single stubborn strand standing defiant against the wind. As the "King of Knights" raised the Sword of Promised Victory high above her head, golden mana light coiled around its blade.
Behind Guinevere, the noisy arguments ceased. On the walls of New Camelot City, however, the Enforcement Knights erupted into a chaotic uproar—until Agravain activated their Madness Enhancement, stripping them of their free will.
If Guinevere allowed it, Agravain would stand by the Lion King's side until the very end, serving her with his utmost loyalty.
Unlike the other Knights, Agravain had not sought the Lion King's blessing. His actions stemmed entirely from his purest, unadulterated will.
"This radiance is the hope of the stars, the proof of life that illuminates the earth."
The Sword of Promised Victory began to unleash its power. Golden motes of light coiled around the blade, forming a colossal light sword over forty meters long.
As she chanted the release incantation, Guinevere poured her own mana into the sword, adding a faint crimson glow to its light.
However, the Sword of Promised Victory was, after all, the Sword of the King. The madness contained within her crimson mana was instantly purified upon entering the blade.
"Ex...calibur!!"
With a full-throated roar, Guinevere unleashed her mana, silently praying that the sword would shatter the city gates. Otherwise, she would be utterly humiliated.
Fortunately, the Sword of Promised Victory responded to her plea with its full might. The immense mana she possessed, amplified by the Holy Grail, was more than enough to sustain the sword's maximum release.
A golden torrent surged forward, carrying the power to obliterate everything in its path.
The barriers outside New Camelot City, the gates, and even the walls—all constructed from the Shell of the Holy Lance—were annihilated by this single strike. The golden wave continued its destructive path, carving deep into the city's interior.
When the torrent reached its limit, it erupted skyward like a geyser. The golden light scattered like fireflies, sounding the first thunderous drumbeat of the battle.
At that moment, Guinevere disregarded any coordination with the forces behind her. She called out to Bedivere, gave a quick nod to Mash and Ritsuka, and the two of them charged through the destroyed city gate.
As Guinevere and Bedivere surged past the gate and raced toward the center of New Camelot, Enforcement Knights leaped down from the ruined walls on either side. They attempted to cut off the pair's retreat and block Mash, Ritsuka, and the elite Mountain Folk who followed.
Almost simultaneously, Nitocris abandoned any attempt to coordinate the entire "army." She dispatched several Sphinxes to assist Mash and Ritsuka while directing the rest to attack the other three city gates.
This served a dual purpose: to draw the first wave of enemy fire and to prevent the Enforcement Knights at the other gates from redeploying to defend the main breach.
With Nitocris in motion, the Hassans of the Hundred Faces also broke from the main force. Ignoring the additional "reinforcements" arriving on their own, they proceeded with their planned mission: clearing the several fortresses outside New Camelot to secure the flanks and rear of the main assault force.
Thus, this so-called final battle, mired in chaos from the very beginning, instantly erupted into white-hot intensity.
Three Noble Phantasms—belonging to Da Vinci-chan, Tawara Touta, and Hassan of the Cursed Arm—were unleashed. Yet, perhaps because the Lion King within the city had already been awakened by the Sword of Promised Victory, none of them managed to shatter the gates in a single strike.
However, in the next moment, their planned gate-breaching became unnecessary. From the other three gates of New Camelot City, three squadrons of Enforcement Knights on horseback charged out, breaking through the lines of Sphinxes and Servants. They plunged directly into the nearest mob of disorganized civilians, many of whom were still intent on looting, now left without any command.
Agonizing screams filled the air. Untrained by Guinevere and completely leaderless, the civilians were no match for the Enforcement Knights.
Yet, they still served a purpose. Even for the hundred Enforcement Knights charging from each of the three gates, slaughtering nearly ten thousand "pigs" would take a considerable amount of time.
Seizing the opportunity while the knights were outside and the gates remained open, the Servants stationed at the other three gates—all except Mash's group, still locked in a fierce battle at the main breach—surged into the city. Their mission was to assist in locating and evacuating those who had previously passed the Holy Selection.
But as they entered, followed by Mash, Ritsuka, and the elite Mountain Folk...
At the very center of New Camelot City, the Lion King, who had been waiting on her throne, finally opened her eyes. These newcomers had filled the final quota, prompting her to extend her palm and clench it into a fist.
Instantly, the entire Singularity began to contract, and New Camelot City started reverting to its true form.
To those outside, it appeared as if a towering pillar of light erupted from the city's circular walls, encasing it completely.