Chapter 267: Chapter 24. The Past We've Crossed
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Magic Cannon get! Flight get!
The law of victory is already decided!
Yeah, right...
When El-Melloi II saw the light cannon coming straight at him, his first reaction was, "What the heck? Do you have any respect as a Servant? Using your Noble Phantasm right after entering?!"
"What... what is this?!" Illya cried out, clutching her head.
With a cold snort, Cyd stepped in front of the light cannon. Blood-red patterns instantly covered the great sword's blade.
Boom———!
The blood-colored great sword struck heavily against the black light cannon, splitting it like it was hitting a prism. Accompanied by two massive explosions, the street in this alternate space was blasted apart.
Crack———!
With the crisp sound of boots hitting the ground, a petite figure in black armor slowly walked out, exuding an ominous presence as she stepped toward them.
Even though the upper half of the face was covered by a mask, Gray could still tell—that was...
"Me?" Gray's legs gave out, and she fell to the ground. The birdcage containing Add rolled out from her cloak.
It was what she would inevitably become.
"That's... impossible! It's the King!" After clearly seeing the petite figure, Add shouted in disbelief.
"King Arthur... the King of Britain, the King of Knights," Cyd shouldered the still-smoking great sword. "A noble king, but ended up like this?"
"Impossible, the King absolutely... shouldn't look like this," Add's voice, which should have immediately denied the possibility, faltered for some reason. "The King, she clearly..."
The King of Knights paused, slowly raising the demonic sword in her hand. Black light gathered along the blade, and the atmosphere vibrated. Even if fallen into corruption, her strength had not changed. The decisive blow of her contract for victory would only become more violent.
"This time, the level is too high. You all step back a few paces," Cyd raised his left hand, and the crystal symbolizing the blessing of the King of the Greek gods began to shine. [Reforged Pandora] transformed from the shape of a great sword into a staff.
"Even you, King of Knights, cannot withstand a god-slaying blow."
Cyd aimed the staff at the King of Knights, as bolts of lightning rained down from the sky, striking the ground.
"Wait!"
The King of Knights took a step forward. A cross-shaped beam of light converged, and the massive magical energy, with its strange oppressive feeling, made everyone except Cyd feel like they were suffocating, as if a huge stone was pressing down on their chest.
"Excalibur."
This time, there was no loud proclamation, just the quiet utterance of the sword's name. Perhaps, after becoming like this, she had already abandoned the things she once took pride in.
"Seriously," Cyd turned the staff upside down and aimed it at the ground. Lightning gathered at the base of the staff, and the god-slaying bolt struck the ground, transforming into a shield.
Boom—————!
The pitch-black beam collided with the rampaging lightning. The ground sank, and the scattering beams sliced through the earth. Not far away, a bridge was unexpectedly struck by the black light, collapsing with a deafening crash.
"Gray," Cyd called the name of the girl hugging his waist, a bit helplessly.
"I'm sorry, I know this is selfish, but I..." For the first time, the girl pulled back the cloak covering her face on her own, her determined expression making El-Melloi II momentarily dazed, as if he were seeing that noble King.
"I want to defeat that King."
This was supposed to be impossible, but perhaps due to fate, she had seen it—the meaning once given to her, the form she was expected to take. Now, she wanted to prove herself!
"Finally... said it," Cyd waved his left hand in the direction of the uncompromising King of Knights, who was preparing another light cannon.
Boom—————!
Countless vines tore through the earth, coiling toward the King of Knights's petite body. The King of Knights immediately retracted the light, swinging her sword to cut through the vines, but they seemed endless, attacking her relentlessly.
"Your apprentice said it," Cyd looked at El-Melloi II.
"Master," Gray instinctively tried to cover her face.
"What a troublesome apprentice, but since I am your teacher," El-Melloi II sighed, as a magic circle appeared beneath his feet, and a feather fan slowly fell into his hand, "there's no need to hide. That is you, Gray, no one else—just you."
"Master?" Gray tilted her head.
"Go, Gray, go prove that you are you," El-Melloi II raised the feather fan toward Gray. "But your opponent is still a Servant, so at least let's level the playing field."
One magic circle after another appeared around Gray.
[Discerning Eye]
[Tactician's Advice]
[Tactician's Command]
"This feeling..." Gray clenched her fists, hardly able to believe the power surging through her!
"Time for your performance, Gray," Cyd gently patted Gray's back.
"Got it! Add, first phase release!" Gray nodded forcefully, raising Add high as she approached the increasingly impatient King of Knights, who was "trimming the weeds."
"Go, go! I don't care what happens anymore!" Add yelled out in a self-destructive tone.
The King of Knights abruptly raised her head, black light gathering along her sword.
"EX..."
"I won't let you use it," El-Melloi II raised the feather fan and waved it.
Eight stone pillars descended from the sky, pinning into the ground and water. The magic surging along the King of Knights's sword was distorted as if disrupted, before dissolving into light and fading away.
"Now, Gray!" Add, now transformed into a scythe, shouted.
Gray's eyes narrowed, and she stepped on the now still vines, rushing toward the King of Knights. She swung the scythe in her hand fiercely at the King of Knights's neck.
Clang———!
The black demonic sword intercepted the scythe at an eerie angle.
"That intuition! Never mind... though it's a bit disrespectful, I won't hold back with your mana!" Add, in the form of a scythe, began to consume the overwhelming magical energy from the King of Knights.
In response to Add's magic absorption, the King of Knights spun his magic sword, and in an instant, black light filled the blade.
"Gray, you can't handle this! Back off!"
Gray's eyes narrowed as she retracted the scythe and leaped backward. In the next moment, a crescent-shaped beam swept across, collapsing what was left of the bridge.
The King of Knights raised his sword again, but this time, it wasn't aimed at Gray. The sword's tip was pointed behind him.
Boom———!
With a loud explosion, the King of Knights launched like a cannonball toward Gray.
"Add, shield!" Gray hastily switched Add into shield form and blocked in front of her.
Clang———!
The demonic magic sword struck the shield with a powerful blow. The immense force pressed Gray down, causing cracks to appear beneath her feet.
The King of Knights, expressionless, continuously slashed at the shield while Gray could only defend passively.
"This won't do. Even with their basic stats matched, Gray is no match for that King," Lord El-Melloi II instinctively raised his fan. "We need to give that King some negative buffs."
"No need, because Gray..." Cyd raised his hand and pressed it against the fan.
This was the final strike.
The King of Knights raised his sword once more and slashed down, but at the moment it struck the shield, the shield vanished. Gray, hiding behind the shield, grabbed Add, now a cube, and rolled aside.
"I haven't lost yet."
Boom———!
The King of Knights emotionlessly pulled his sword from the shattered ground and then kicked Gray hard in the abdomen.
Gray, unable to dodge in time, was sent flying.
"This direction... she'll sink!" Gray's eyes widened, but it was too late. She was already over the middle of the river.
Bang———!
Gray closed her eyes, but the expected suffocation didn't come. Instead, she...
Gray opened her eyes and stared blankly at the flowing water beneath her.
She hadn't sunk!
"Though I'm not a spirit of the lake," Cyd smiled slightly, the crystal on his left wrist glowing faintly blue.
"But Gray, you won't sink now."
The King of Knights leapt and landed not far from Gray on the water's surface. Ripples spread outward from where she stood.
The demonic magic sword was raised high, black light gathering on the blade.
"Tsk, is it coming again?" Lord El-Melloi II raised an eyebrow and lifted his fan. "But this should be your final strike."
"Master! Leave this to me!" Gray raised Add in her hands, her gaze fixed resolutely on the dark figure not far away. "I will win!"
"Believe in her," Cyd patted Lord El-Melloi II on the shoulder.
"I've always trusted Gray," El-Melloi lowered his fan.
Gray slowly closed her eyes.
That light... she could never forget it—bright, yet not blinding. Perhaps that was his very nature. Despite being greater than anyone, he could walk naturally alongside others. How...
Gentle the light was...
Golden rays shot out from the cracks in Add.
"Pseudo-personality suspended. Magical energy yield exceeds regulation. Second stage restraint rescinded."
"Seal Thirteen. Decision, start."
"This is a battle that will harm no Elemental. Approved."
"This is a battle against an enemy mightier than oneself. Approved."
"This is a battle to live. Approved."
"This is a battle that does not stand against humanity. Approved."
"This is a battle for truth. Approved."
Gray opened her eyes and slowly raised her hands, spiraling light gathering around her.
"What... is that?" Illya and the others stared in awe at the glowing golden light surrounding the holy maiden.
"That is the anchor that maintains the world within and without, another artifact no less powerful than the holy sword possessed by King Arthur," Lord El-Melloi II chuckled as he placed both hands into his pockets. "Its name———"
"Holy Lance, Rhongomyniad!" Gray took a step forward, the spiraling light aimed directly at the King of Knights.
"Excalibur," the King of Knights slashed down with her dark sword, and a pillar of black light shot out.
"Rhongomyniad!"
The golden pillar of light collided with the black pillar, both beams devouring each other. Gritting her teeth, Gray pushed her right hand forward. The cloak draped over her was blown away in the fierce wind, and her gray braids completely unraveled.
Boom———!
The golden pillar of light instantly engulfed the black one, striking the area behind the King of Knights. The mask covering her eyes began to crack in the light, revealing pale golden eyes.
Watching the girl give everything at the other end of the light, the King of Knights' lips curled slightly before being completely consumed by the light of Rhongomyniad.
Saber route complete.
Gray's body wobbled, and she collapsed, but a hand quickly caught her waist and held her up.
"Rest for a bit," Cyd raised his hand, and with the splash of water, the Saber class card slowly drifted down and landed in Gray's hand.
"Thank you," Gray held the Saber class card tightly and slowly closed her eyes.
"You did well."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone