"This is… an Inherited Imprint?!"
An Inherited Imprint is when a Heroic Spirit, through the act of inheritance, bestows all of its abilities, skills, and noble phantasms upon an object with a spiritual core capable of adapting to and bearing the Heroic Spirit. The recipient of the inheritance ultimately becomes a semi-Heroic Spirit, possessing a body and life.
A self-sacrificing Heroic Spirit passes on all of its spiritual core and glory to the inheritor, while its own existence is erased from the corresponding Throne of Heroes.
At this moment, Lancelot, having resolved all his obsessions, would be removed from the Throne of Madness upon returning to the Hall of Heroes, becoming one with his counterpart on the Throne of Swords. However, Lancelot, still a Heroic Spirit of Madness, did not want to share the memory of his encounter and shared experiences with Rin with his self in the Hall of Heroes. The shackles of obsession had been severed, but the memory of the knight's encounter with his princess was a treasure that could absolutely not be shared with anyone, not even himself.
The fading knight, in his final moments, still wished to protect his princess. Therefore, he sacrificed his existence "as Lancelot the Berserker," dedicating his entire being to Rin. And Rin, using this power to continue fighting, would be protected by Lancelot at all times.
"Although this power has some minor flaws, if it is Master, she will surely be able to wield it more skillfully than I. While the 'me' on the Throne of Swords can feel the relief of being forgiven by the King, the memories between Master and I shall dissipate into nothingness with me!"
Lancelot's form completely disintegrated after his final whisper. The immensely vast spiritual power of the Heroic Spirit poured into Rin's body. Rin, whose body was already a complete magical conductor, accepted Lancelot's gift without any obstruction. From her body to her soul, everything was sublimated by this gift, taking a step from the human world to a higher dimension!
Boom!
After the inheritance was complete, the black armor that originally belonged to Lancelot covered Rin's body. The valiant and majestic aura of the peerless knight was perfectly superimposed onto Rin.
It was impossible for a Heroic Spirit's armament to be ill-fitting. While retaining its original combat functionality and the perfect design that exquisitely combined beauty and practicality, the magic-composed armor automatically adjusted its size according to Rin's height and figure. It also fit the curves of her body more closely, making its appearance softer than the original, transforming into a feminine heavy knight armor.
Rin closed her eyes, sensing the power that protected her. There was no discomfort or difficulty in controlling it; it felt as if this power had been hers from the very beginning, allowing her to use it as freely as she used her own arms.
Rin raised her hand and looked at her palm. The Avalon instantly appeared in her hand. The power transmitted to her along this holy sword, which had fallen into depravity, told Rin of its authenticity. It was not a projection, nor was it replicated by magic, but a true and genuine noble phantasm!
And as this demonized holy sword, which had fought alongside Lancelot and witnessed his entire life, was held in Rin's hand, the power of this blessing not only acted upon Rin's body but also transformed into a light of the soul, reaching deep into her very being!
It was as if some confinement had suddenly been broken, and everything became clear. While her five senses became incredibly sharp, every part of her body also began to feel strange.
Rin could feel how life force flowed and coursed within her body. Every minute pulsation of her muscles was under her control. She could control every tiny muscle to make the most subtle movements. She could clearly feel how muscles and bones worked together seamlessly under the impetus of blood flow. She could even feel magic and spirit constantly condensing and circulating within her body, ready to erupt at any moment.
She felt as if she had become an observer, dispassionately examining every part of her body like a dissected insect. Yet, at the same time, all her sensations formed a unified whole; her spirit, will, and body were indistinguishable. Every minute movement was under the control of her consciousness. Even the Avalon in her hand became a part of her body, an extension of her arm. How to wield it, how to use it—all obeyed Rin's will, without any deviation or error.
This is Unlimited Martial Prowess?!
To perfectly control every subtle movement of one's body, transforming anything grasped and controlled into an extension of the body, thus allowing perfect control and mastery of any weapon, even if never used before. As long as it is held in hand, it is used like an animal instinctively eats, as if by natural instinct.
Rin casually and freely threw a punch into the air in front of her. Her body, without any conscious control, moved the instant the intention to punch arose. Her feet, legs, waist, back—the strength of her entire body, following the signal of the punch, twisted into a single, cohesive force like a conditioned reflex! A casual punch directly exploded the air in front of Rin. The compressed air, under Rin's strike, acted like an air cannon, smashing a crater into the ground thirty meters away from Rin in the direction her fist pointed!
The techniques and essence of martial arts were thoroughly integrated into every part of her spirit and body. As long as an action was for the purpose of combat, her body would automatically perform it with the most exquisite and suitable technique. There was no need for her brain to remember any moves; her body and subconscious had already integrated all martial arts techniques into every action. Even if she completely lost her reason, as long as she was still in combat, her moving body would respond to all opponents with the most exquisite martial arts.
This is the ultimate martial realm of humanity!
Reflecting the moonlight from the sky, Rin looked at her hands, feeling the power surging and stirring within her body and soul. An indescribable sense of security resonated in Rin's heart. This feeling of being protected by someone, no matter the cost, was something Rin had never experienced before in her life.
Rin looked up at Saber, who was mentally distraught and dispirited.
"Now, do you still believe your kingly path is correct?"
Like the last straw that broke the camel's back, after her former friend and subordinate completely vanished, Saber finally could not hold on and collapsed, kneeling on the ground.
Seeing Lancelot tormented by his inner demons and ultimately falling into madness, Saber thought of many things. Lancelot was fortunate to meet the right person at the right time and place, and was finally redeemed, freed from madness.
But what about the others?
Saber said to herself in her heart, how many people's thoughts and troubles had she overlooked while searching for a way to save the country?
Gawain, who sacrificed himself heroically, Galahad, who died for his mission—what were they thinking in their last moments? Did they leave the world with regret and unwillingness? Were they also tormented by the endless obsessions brought about by her disregard? Could she confidently declare: "That is not the case"?
At this moment, Saber shed the strong facade of a knight and the aloofness of a king, revealing her true self: a lonely and helpless girl, like one who had been bullied, kneeling on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
"The one who should have become King… it wasn't me! Ah… ah…"
Saber, or rather, a girl named Artoria, perhaps for the first time in her life, both before and after death, cried out loud. This time, she completely admitted her failure and naivety. When the false, hard shell of "King" was shattered, her intrinsic self was merely a little girl who loved to dream.
"…Facing such a me… everyone…"
Gawain, Balin, Kay, Galahad… she silently recited the names of the Knights of the Round Table in her heart. Separated by a thousand years, their faces were still vivid in her mind.
"King Arthur does not understand human emotions!"
She remembered hearing this sentence when a knight left the Round Table. Who said it? She could no longer recall, but the disintegration within the Knights of the Round Table had already begun at that moment. The affair between Lancelot and Guinevere was merely the fuse; the ultimate reason, in the final analysis, was… if her being King was fundamentally wrong, then even if time rewound to that era, even if she started over, what would be the point?
The one who should have become King, it was not me…
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