The Holy City, which stood as the singular ideal place within this singularity, fell completely today.
With Rozen, Mash, Bedivere, and Artoria [Alter] invading, the entire Holy City was thrown into chaos.
There were no signs of the residents.
The surroundings were eerily silent.
However, one after another, the Knights kept coming from all directions, their footsteps heavy and resolute, charging toward Rozen and the others without fear.
Rozen's group quickly charged forward to meet the approaching Knights.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Mash led the way, holding her shield like a war chariot, charging forward and knocking down the Knights, sending them flying in all directions.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Artoria [Alter] also advanced, her body swirling with black magical winds. With each swing of her holy sword, the black flashes slashed through the Knights, cutting them down.
"Ha... Ha... Ha..."
On the other hand, Bedivere, who had been able to charge into battle at first, with his silver arm showing tremendous sharpness and cutting down the Knights one by one, now started to gasp for breath.
"Crackle..."
A sound like a circuit board being burned came from inside Bedivere's body.
"Ugh...!"
Bedivere let out a pained sound.
Seeing this, the Knights charged toward him as if seizing the opportunity.
But...
"Al Meissa Mercury!"
At the call, a sliver-colored two-headed dragon descended from the sky like a beast, pouncing at the Knights with incredible speed, its massive jaws snapping shut.
"Whoosh—"
With a sound like a steamroller running over something, the Knights charging toward Bedivere were devoured by the horrific jaws.
Al Meissa Mercury showed its ferocity, tearing through the Knights like wolves entering a sheepfold. With just a few charges, each Knight was swallowed whole, and not a single scream escaped them. It was truly terrifying.
"Are you alright?"
Rozen, still running, looked at Bedivere and asked with a furrowed brow.
"I... I'm fine..." Bedivere gritted his teeth and said, "Please don't worry about me. Keep pushing forward."
Bedivere said this, but Rozen could tell that Bedivere was in serious trouble.
It was all because of Bedivere's silver arm.
Rozen noticed that every time Bedivere swung his silver arm, he had to pay a price.
The price was the burning of both his body and soul.
In other words, each time Bedivere used the silver arm, his lifespan was shortened.
"If you don't want to die before seeing the Lion King, you should stop using that arm."
Rozen couldn't help but warn him.
Bedivere gritted his teeth and replied:
"Please don't worry. I know my limits."
It was clear that Bedivere was not planning to heed the advice.
There was no way to stop now.
"We've come this far. The castle is just ahead. The throne is there. I will reach the King, I cannot stop now!"
Bedivere's words sounded like the cry of his soul, and the look in his eyes was one of readiness to face death.
Seeing this, Rozen fell silent and said no more.
The group continued charging forward, even though Chaldea's reports of magical and life force reactions, along with suggestions to take a detour and avoid the Knights, fell on deaf ears. They followed the shortest path directly toward the royal city.
Mash and Artoria [Alter] were in the lead, one charging like a war chariot, the other rampaging like a storm, clearing the way. All the remaining Knights were swallowed by Al Meissa Mercury, one by one, with no one escaping.
In this situation, Bedivere was protected, with no chance to strike.
Bedivere knew this was the others looking out for him.
So, he could only hold his gratitude in his heart and gaze at the royal city ahead.
"My King..."
The long-awaited goal was just ahead.
He, Bedivere, could finally atone and fulfill his mission.
"Wait for me, My King...!"
Shouting like this, the pain in Bedivere's body and soul subsided slightly.
The group charged forward and finally reached the royal city.
...
Elsewhere, at a corner of the Holy City, Agravain, leading a large force to intercept Rozen and his group, was stopped.
"Splurt!"
The leading Knights were slain by an ominous magic sword, falling to the ground, unable to rise again.
Agravain, leading the Knights, watched this scene with an unprecedented grim expression.
In his eyes burned a fire of anger never seen before.
It was a flame of disgust and hatred.
This disgust and hatred were all directed at one person.
"Lancelot...!"
Agravain finally released the hatred he had been harboring.
Upon closer inspection, at the front of Agravain's army, a knight wielding an ominous magic sword had already struck down several of his men, causing them to dissolve into particles of light.
"Such a pity, Agravain."
Lancelot looked over, his face full of concern but determined. He spoke in a low voice:
"I won't let you pass. You'd better accept it."
Lancelot had appeared here and was now facing Agravain with sword in hand.
This only fueled Agravain's hatred further.
"Have you betrayed the King again, Lancelot?" Agravain snarled in fury. "Are you going to repeat the foolishness of your past life...?!"
Agravain released a torrent of hatred at Lancelot.
This was inevitable.
In his past life, Agravain had been killed by Lancelot, who exposed his affair with Queen Guinevere. That had led to the downfall of the Round Table and the kingdom. Agravain had every reason, both personally and logically, to hate Lancelot.
Before, Agravain had been able to tolerate Lancelot, but now, seeing him once again turning against the King, Agravain couldn't contain his explosion of rage.
Lancelot lowered his gaze.
"I know," Lancelot spoke solemnly. "I've always made mistakes. But, like that child said, I don't want to miss the King's final battle."
Thus, Lancelot had come here.
"It doesn't matter whether it's right or wrong now. The fate of the two kings is something we have no right to interfere with."
Lancelot looked at Agravain.
"Just stay here with me, Agravain."
Hearing Lancelot's words, Agravain smiled in fury.
"Damned traitor!"
Agravain let his anger cloud his judgment.
"This time, I'll make sure to kill you!"
With that, Agravain charged ahead.
Behind him, the Knights followed without hesitation.
Lancelot stood alone against the entire army.
"Come at me!"
With his magic sword raised, Lancelot leaped into his fated battle.