As Melusine's power continued to surge, she began to overpower Altria. The constant strain of the battle wore Altria down, and her movements became increasingly sluggish. She stumbled, her grip on the twin swords faltering as she struggled to maintain her footing.
The clash of their blades echoed across the battlefield once more. This time, while Melusine stood firm, Altria was forced back several steps, barely able to keep herself upright. She planted one of her swords into the ground, using it to support herself as she gasped for breath.
"It's over," Melusine declared, her voice calm and certain. She turned her gaze towards Lott, keeping an eye on him to ensure he didn't interfere. Despite her confidence, she remained wary, knowing he could strike at any moment.
But Lott didn't move. Instead, Altria took the box she had been carrying on her back and set it down in front of her. With a swift motion, she opened it, revealing a brilliant white spear that glowed with a golden light.
"Now, let's continue this fight with my true power," Altria said, her voice steady as she lifted Rhongomyniad, the Holy Spear.
Melusine nodded, a hint of respect in her eyes. "Very well."
The Wind Clan patriarch, seeing this development, was enraged. "What are you doing? Don't just stand there—attack her now!"
But Melusine ignored the order, her focus entirely on Altria. She watched as Altria's form began to change under the influence of the Holy Spear. Her height increased, and her entire body seemed to radiate a new strength.
As Altria transformed, Lott couldn't help but think, [Now that she's using the spear, there's no hiding her true gender anymore.]
"Your Majesty Lott, what's happening to Altria?" Guinevere's voice was filled with concern as she watched the light enveloping Altria.
"It's alright. She's just unlocking more of her potential with a weapon that's rightfully hers. This is a good thing for her," Lott reassured, though his expression was a bit strained. [Though I'm not sure it's good news for you, Guinevere,] he thought, glancing at her with a hint of sympathy.
Guinevere didn't notice his conflicted look, her attention still fixed on Altria. The changes were undeniable: Altria was taller, her stance more powerful, and there was an undeniable grace to her movements.
For a moment, Guinevere was overjoyed. Altria had always been competent, but her short stature had given her a boyish appearance. Now, she looked more mature and commanding. But then Guinevere's gaze drifted lower, and she noticed something unsettling.
"Wait… why does… why does her chest look like that?" she stammered, her mind struggling to comprehend the transformation she was witnessing.
It wasn't the pectoral muscles of a man.
This was…
"Oh no… No, no, no!" Guinevere exclaimed, pointing at Altria in shock. "What kind of Holy Spear can change someone's gender?"
"Calm down, Guinevere," Morgan said gently. "Rhongomyniad doesn't have that power. What you're seeing is the truth that's been hidden all along."
Guinevere turned to Morgan, her eyes wide with realization. "So, what does this mean?"
"It means exactly what you think it does," Morgan confirmed, her eyes filled with sympathy. She knew how much Guinevere admired Altria, but the truth couldn't be hidden any longer.
Guinevere's eyes darted back to Altria, disbelief written across her face. "No… it can't be."
But as she looked at Altria, who was now fully transformed, the truth became painfully clear. Altria was no longer the boyish knight she had thought she knew. She was now a tall, imposing woman, her armor barely containing her newly transformed figure.
Morgan glanced at Altria and then at Lott, her expression torn between frustration and amusement. "She's taller, stronger, and… well, she's outdone me in one department, that's for sure," she muttered.
Lott, sensing where her thoughts were headed, tried to keep a straight face. [I can't laugh, or Morgan's going to murder me later,] he thought, maintaining a serious expression despite the urge to chuckle.
Morgan caught his stoic look and narrowed her eyes. [I'll remember this, you pervert. We'll have words later,] she promised silently before turning her attention back to the battlefield.
For now, there were more pressing matters to deal with. They needed to see how Altria would handle this newfound power.
The knights of the Round Table, who had been engaged in combat, were taken aback by their leader's sudden transformation. The sight of their chief knight, who had always been a reserved and stoic figure, now standing tall as a regal and commanding woman, was a shock, to say the least.
"Is that really Altria?" one of the knights gasped, his voice filled with disbelief.
"What happened to him—uh, her?" another stammered, barely able to process what he was seeing.
Melusine, observing the changes in Altria, felt a pang of unease. She could sense the overwhelming power of the Holy Spear, a force that rivaled her own. "So this is your true strength?" she asked cautiously.
"Yes," Altria replied, her voice now deeper and more resonant, carrying the authority of an experienced warrior. She raised Rhongomyniad, its light shining brightly in her hands, and then charged forward.
In an instant, Altria closed the distance between them, her spear slicing through the air with incredible speed. A beam of light shot from the spear, forcing Melusine to leap aside. The ground where the beam struck exploded, leaving a massive crater several miles long in its wake.
Melusine's eyes widened as she took in the devastation. This level of power was beyond anything she had expected. "You've truly become formidable," she admitted, a wary respect in her voice. "But I won't hold back either."
Altria's gaze was steady, her resolve unshaken. "I wouldn't expect you to. Let's finish this."
With that, the two warriors clashed once more, their weapons meeting in a blaze of energy. The impact sent shockwaves across the battlefield, the sheer force of their duel shaking the ground beneath them.
The knights and fairies around them could only watch in awe and terror as Altria and Melusine fought with a ferocity that defied belief. This was no longer just a battle between two knights—it was a clash of titans, a contest that would determine the fate of everyone on the battlefield.
Morgan and Lott watched closely, their eyes never leaving Altria. This was the moment they had been waiting for—the moment Altria would either embrace her destiny or be consumed by it. And they were ready to support her, no matter what.
As the battle raged on, the outcome hung in the balance. Altria had gained new strength, but Melusine was still a formidable opponent. It was a test of will and power, of skill and courage, and only time would reveal who would emerge victorious.