manynovel Chapter 128 The King of Britain
Chapter 128 The King of Britain
"I'm sorry, Irisviel..."
Artoria held Irisviel tightly, who was swaying precariously, and a hint of self-reproach inevitably flashed in her clear, emerald eyes.
Her gaze fell on the broken yellow demonic spear not far away, which was dissipating into spiritual particles.
She had promised to catch up with Lancelot as soon as possible after severing his obsession, but in the end, she was still a step too late.
Just as she was about to head to the mountaintop, countless Assassin clones wearing pale skull masks suddenly appeared in the dense forest.
The assassins clung to her like maggots, desperately trying to delay her.
Only after that terrifying roar came from the mountaintop, and Tokiomi Tohsaka's tactical intention to divide the battlefield had been achieved, did the Assassins retreat like a tide, disappearing without a trace.
When she finally broke through and arrived, all she saw were the remnants of Lancer's death and Irisviel lying on the ground in agony.
"It's alright, Saber..."
Irisviel leaned weakly against Artoria's blood-stained armor, managing a pale smile. "Your safety is all that matters..."
Just then, a capable figure in a black trench coat emerged from the shadows beside them.
It's Hisayu Maiya.
"Saber, leave the lady to me." Maiya skillfully took Irisviel, whose body temperature was alarmingly high, from Artoria's hands.
"I will take my wife to a completely safe hiding place."
Artoria glanced at Maiya, then at the weakened Irisviel, and nodded solemnly.
"Please, Maiya, please make sure you protect Irisviel."
Without saying a word, Mami helped Irisviel up and quickly disappeared into the dark path leading down the mountain.
On a secluded high ground a few hundred meters away from the Tohsaka residence.
"Diarmuid...you hopeless idiot! You mad dog who disobeys your master!!"
Kenneth, hiding inside the defensive barrier, witnessed Lancer not only refusing to carry out the "delay" order, but also launching a desperate charge and being instantly killed.
The monarch of the clock tower is now unceremoniously launching into a tirade of profanities.
He suddenly raised his right hand and stared intently at the back of his hand.
The once bright red Command Seals had completely disappeared, leaving only a smooth expanse of skin, as if ruthlessly proclaiming his defeat.
"I lost? I, Kenneth El-Melloi Archibald, the monarch of one of the twelve noble houses of the Clock Tower, actually lost to this country magician from the Far East?!"
Kenneth's face was completely distorted by extreme humiliation, his features twisted together, making him look ferocious and ugly.
"A leopard can't change its spots... A traitor can never change his instinct to betray!"
Even in a different world, this will still be true!
Kenneth muttered nervously, but soon, the rationality of the Clock Tower nobles forcibly suppressed his madness.
"No...it's not over yet!"
Kenneth opened his bloodshot eyes and looked toward the new capital of Fuyuki City.
That place is the Fuyuki branch of the Holy Church.
"According to the rules of the Holy Grail War, the Overseer, Risei Kotomine, possesses a large number of unclaimed Command Seals passed down from previous generations."
Kenneth's brain was working at lightning speed.
As long as he exerts pressure using his political status as one of the Twelve Lords of the Clock Tower, and promises him some benefits from the Mage's Association, that old guy, Risei Kotomine, would absolutely not dare to refuse his request!
If he obtains a Command Seal and then re-contracts with an unmastered Servant, he still has a chance to win.
"Just you wait... Tokiomi Tohsaka, Einzbern, my war is not over yet!"
Kenneth dispelled the barrier and, with aristocratic arrogance and a desperate determination, headed towards the church.
Meanwhile, deep within the dark, dense forest behind the Tohsaka residence.
Kirei Kotomine stood silently in the shadow of the tree canopy, like a lifeless statue.
Following Tohsaka's instructions, the mission to delay Arthur was accomplished, so he decisively ordered the Assassin to be withdrawn.
But he never expected that Lancer would completely disappear from the scene in such a short period of time.
"Too fast..."
Kirei slowly raised her hand and pressed it against her chest.
There, it was as if there was a bottomless black hole. The redemption of the berserker and Arthur failed to bring him joy, and Lancer's utter defeat left him feeling utterly bored.
At this moment, Kirei was filled with a restless feeling called "hunger".
Since the game of chess could no longer unfold as he had hoped, tearing apart the king...
Kirei slowly turned his head, his empty eyes locking onto another direction in the dense forest.
There, Emiya Kiritsugu, who had failed in his assassination attempt on Tokiomi Tohsaka and was in a state of utter disarray during his retreat.
"Since I can't find pleasure in things that are glorious, then I'll go and see the man who is in the same abyss as me."
Kirei's lips finally curled into a dangerous smile once more.
Kirei Kotomine transformed into a black shadow and silently pursued the direction in which Kiritsugu Emiya had retreated.
All bystanders had already left.
Tokiomi Tohsaka sat upright in his study on the second floor, gently tapping his ruby cane.
"Buzz!"
The highest-level magical barrier surrounding the Tohsaka residence was fully activated.
This barrier can perfectly conceal the commotion caused by the magical fluctuations that are about to erupt here.
Furthermore, on a physical level, it created a suitable battlefield for these two kings of Britain who transcended time and space.
Arthur held the Star Sword upside down in one hand, his gaze quietly fixed on Artoria, who was ten steps away.
He saw her left shoulder trembling slightly with each breath, where there was a torn wound.
Without any treatment, blood dripped from her silver armor and onto the ground.
Arthur frowned slightly. He wanted to suggest that she go back to heal her injuries first and fight another day.
However, when his gaze met Artoria's eyes, he swallowed those words back.
What kind of eyes were those?
There was no shrinking from pain, no fear of a powerful enemy.
After experiencing the painful baptism of killing his former best friend, his emerald green eyes burned with an astonishing fighting spirit as pure as diamonds and never extinguished!
That was the uncompromising radiance emanating from a monarch who had truly undergone a spiritual transformation and fully shouldered the weight of kingship.
To refuse this battle now, under the pretext of pity and fairness, would be the greatest insult to the young woman before him and to the British king who shared his lineage.
"It seems that any attempt to dissuade them was futile."
Arthur's expression became extremely solemn.
He slowly raised the sword in his hand, making a proper and noble knightly salute.
His silver and deep blue cloak fluttered in the wind, and Arthur's voice echoed through the night sky, carrying absolute authority and reverence:
"Arthur Pendragon, King of Britain".
Upon hearing this announcement, a relieved yet proud smile appeared on Artoria's lips.
She also raised the Star Holy Sword, which was wreathed in a raging wind.
Even though she was covered in blood, her figure at that moment was more dazzling than anything else in the world.
"Artoria Pendragon, Queen of Britain"
Two immense magical forces, originating from the same source but each representing different paths and beliefs, erupted at this moment.