"We have already encircled Ravenna, and we anticipate the city's surrender within a few days, without the need for any confrontation!"
"Absolutely! This success is a direct result of King Arthur's astute leadership."
"Indeed, his wisdom has played a pivotal role."
The army has swiftly reached the outskirts of the city, forming a tight perimeter around Ravenna.
The neighboring kings, who hold strategic positions in relation to the Camelot, are lavishing praise upon King Arthur. Some have even covertly reached out to him, expressing their eagerness to collaborate with Camelot in both defensive and offensive maneuvers.
A nation's lack of diplomacy renders it weak, as the strength of a king is intrinsically tied to the overall power of the nation. The formidable 100,000-strong army of Camelot has struck fear into the hearts of these kings.
With the exception of rulers like Attila, who thrive on chaos and annihilation, most kings have displayed a profound respect for Camelot.
Leading the crowd, Shirou strolled deliberately towards the front line, his eyes fixed upon Ravenna's formidable walls looming in the distance.
The ghouls that once plagued the outskirts of the city have been largely exterminated, while all communication channels have been severed, rendering the city an isolated bastion amidst the desolation.
Currently, numerous factions have begun contemplating the division of war spoils. Their foremost concern is to retain the territories they have already conquered, and quite a few are even coveting lands belonging to others.
However, these factions dare not entertain any crooked thoughts about the lands that Camelot has set its sights on.
This army struck terror into the hearts of all who encountered them, particularly the royal's army of three thousand soldiers under Shirou's command. They represented the epitome of excellence, having survived the grueling initial battle in Cornwall.
Every single soldier was equipped with formidable weapons like Gae Bolg, Holy Swords, and possessed innate skills. Their mastery of combat techniques had been honed through years of warfare, making them capable of commanding entire kingdoms as esteemed generals. The fact that there were three thousand individuals of such exceptional caliber, armed and united, ready for battle, was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
In the presence of these extraordinary heroes, it was impossible not to be overwhelmed by a mix of fear and admiration.
Ravenna stood as a mere flickering firework, destined to fade away before long. The emperors who once laid the foundations of the mighty Roman Empire could hardly have foreseen such a bleak future for their descendants.
The ebb and flow of dynasties, the perpetual march of progress—everything is in constant motion and subject to change. Only the fittest survive, while the unfit meet their demise.
In this ever-shifting reality, the true essence of kingship lies in remaining steadfast and adaptable. Embracing the winds of change and navigating the currents of transformation is the path that befits a true ruler.
The army resembled a relentless swarm of ants, encircling the isolated city in a vast sea of people. Despite this overwhelming force, the fortress's formidable walls stood as a formidable obstacle, impervious to easy conquest.
Shirou calmly awaited any updates from Altrouge. However, even before receiving any word from her, his attention was captured by two figures standing atop the city walls.
"Who are they?" one of the soldiers asked.
Arcueid couldn't suppress a shiver that ran through her body involuntarily.
Noticing her reaction, Shirou turned to her and asked, "What's wrong, Arcueid?"
"I... I don't know. As soon as I saw them, my body trembled instinctively," she replied timidly, fear evident in her eyes.
Beside her, the True Ancestor spoke solemnly, "O, great King among men, behold the Crimson Moon!"
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Shirou issued a command, "I see... Inform the army to fall back several miles! What lies ahead is not merely a war, but a true battle!"
The world existed in a constant state of flux, where absolute individuals were nonexistent, and only relative individuals prevailed. Among these armies, the Crimson Moon stood as an entity that closely resembled an absolute individual—a force beyond comparison. Similar to confronting Gods and Bodhisattvas who governed vast galaxies, they became the embodiment of absolute power.
If Shirou lacked effective means to counteract this force, he would never willingly choose to face the Crimson Moon. It was precisely because he possessed a strategy, a means to confront and challenge the Crimson Moon, that he decided to take a daring gamble.
The war had already concluded, and what lay ahead was a battle—a clash between formidable individuals, each wielding immense power.
"What is that?"
"Who is that?"
"Could it be a surrender?"
As Shirou tactfully retreated, he skillfully preserved his forces, aware of the importance of strategic preservation. Meanwhile, the other kings pressed forward, their ambitions fueled by the desire to devour more benefits.
Shirou's advantage lay in his possession of crucial information, which granted him the ability to control the situation at hand. In contrast, the other kings, lacking such insights, fell prey to deceptive appearances.
Nevertheless, he made a deliberate decision not to warn them. By allowing neighboring countries to weaken, he understood that his own dynasty could secure its safety and stability.
Crimson Moon stood tall upon the city wall, his indifferent gaze sweeping over the army below, resembling a swarm of ants.
"So, Trhvmn, is this what you fear?"
"Your majesty, the tide has turned. It would be wise to consider a retreat for now. With your endless life, there is no need to be obstinate about this."
"You fail to grasp the true essence of my existence. I am the Crimson Moon," he declared.
The sky, drenched in a haunting shade of blood-red, cast an eerie ambiance as it stretched overhead, engulfing the earth in its crimson embrace.
Against the backdrop of the city wall, the Crimson Moon began its gradual ascent, creeping higher into the sky, accompanied by the haunting presence of the Blood Moon.
His eyes, crimson and devoid of warmth, fixed upon the world below.
"He's taking to the skies!"
"Is that the magus from the Western Empire?"
"What does he intend to do?"
"Anyone who dares confront my army shall meet their demise beneath the weight of my relentless iron hooves!"
"This city shall be mine for the taking!"
The kings roared with fervor, their voices echoing through the ranks, instilling a fierce determination within their troops to unleash an onslaught upon Ravenna. The allure of wealth and land possesses a profound ability to stir the hearts of men, particularly when they lie tantalizingly within grasp.
Meanwhile, the generals of the formidable Hunnic Empire were also poised for attack, but Attila stopped them.
"What seems to be the matter, Your Majesty?" the generals inquired, their brows furrowed in confusion. Knowing their king's fiery temperament, they had expected her to charge ahead fearlessly. However, the current situation demanded urgency, as delaying their departure could allow another force to seize the city—an event that would require tremendous effort to reclaim later.
Wearing an expression devoid of emotion, Attila delivered her command, "Depart swiftly. Failure to do so will render our retreat impossible."
"Is it possible that the Western Empire has set up an ambush?" one general asked.
"No," Attila replied, shaking her head, her gaze fixed upon the slowly retreating Camelot army.
The generals shared meaningful glances among themselves. They owed their remarkable military successes to Attila, so they refrained from probing further. Instead, they dutifully followed Attila's instructions, orchestrating a deliberate and gradual retreat of their respective armies.
Unlike Camelot and the Huns, the army of the other kings surged forward, propelled by unwavering greed.
High above, Crimson Moon loomed in the sky, casting an impassive gaze upon the earth. His crimson eyes shimmered with a fiery glow, and in a swift motion, he summoned forth a multitude of colossal whales.
Known as Marble Phantasm, the power wielded by Crimson Moon mirrored that of Altrouge's. In truth, it was Altrouge who inherited this ability from him. With an astute understanding of the inner workings of Merem's whales, he materialized them in their entirety.
"Roarrrr!"
A chorus of deafening roars echoed through the blood-stained night sky as dozens of colossal whales, each surpassing 200 meters in size, loomed over the earth like towering mountains.
With commanding force, their immense bodies shifted, trampling unfortunate souls in their path, reducing them to mere carnage and viscera.
"What... What manner of monstrosity is this?"
"Help us!"
"What in the world is happening... Ahhhhhh!"
Panic and terror gripped the armies of the kings, their frantic screams piercing the air as they scattered across the land like frightened mice, only to meet a gruesome fate beneath the colossal weight of the whales.
What had once been a clash of armies now transformed into a relentless struggle between formidable individuals.
Those kings who failed to comprehend this critical shift faced merciless retribution at the hands of Crimson Moon, enduring brutal punishments that left no room for mercy.
Crimson Moon raised his hand, poised to snap his fingers slowly, but...
"Boom rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble!!!!"
The Tower of Light, a majestic miracle rooted firmly on the earth, gleamed with the luminosity of countless stars. In an instant, a tempestuous storm converged with roaring thunder, and brilliant beams of light, sharp as blades, sliced through the dense crimson sky, hurtling toward Crimson Moon.
Crimson Moon's eyebrow arched, a subtle shift in his expression betraying his surprise. With an open palm, he materialized a petite asteroid, measuring three hundred meters in diameter, erecting it as a barrier against the impending assault.
For a moment, he believed he could withstand the onslaught, but the Tower of Light, now fully unleashed and empowered by the Inner Sea of the Planet, tore through the asteroid with relentless force. Crimson Moon swiftly evaded the attack, his body contorting to evade the blow.
The luminous radiance surged, stretching towards the vast expanse of the unknown. As the brilliant light vanished into the infinite distance, Crimson Moon shifted his gaze, redirecting his attention toward Shirou. His eyes fixated on the dazzling presence of the Tower of Light.
"So, another Divine Construct," he remarked. "No wonder they dared to challenge me. But alas, it is that sword alone that truly instills fear within me."
With a deliberate slowness, he snapped his fingers, prompting a colossal mass to gather in the sky. In the blink of an eye, a celestial ballet commenced as hundreds of meteors, each measuring roughly two hundred meters in diameter, began to orbit around the focal point.
"Oh... dear God!" The collective gaze of everyone present turned skyward, fixated on the spectacle of hundreds of meteors suspended in the sky. A shudder coursed through their minds, acutely aware of the potential calamity that would befall them should those celestial bodies descend upon them.
Shirou, too, felt a sinking sensation in his heart as his eyes locked onto the ominous meteors.
Crimson, wielding the formidable Marble Phantasm, had transformed into a force of nature itself. Even without fully unleashing the might of the Moon, his power surpassed human comprehension, rendering him unmatched in his destructive potential.
"Become the cornerstone of the new world order," proclaimed Crimson Moon, casually flicking his finger, causing the multitude of meteors to plummet towards the earth, leaving behind majestic trails of stardust.
"Does he not hold any regard for the survival of Ravenna?" Gawain exclaimed, his horror evident in his voice.
"He is not human, so why would he care?" Shirou dismounted from his horse with urgency, landing in front of the Tower of Light. He raised his voice, "Everyone, except for Artoria, unite and stand against this catastrophic threat!"
"Yes!" came the resolute response.
Meteorites pelted down from the sky, unleashing a relentless barrage.
"Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!"
The earth trembled under the mighty onslaught. Enormous craters marred the once green landscape, appearing one after another. Whales and humans alike were crushed mercilessly, their lives snuffed out by the unforgiving catastrophe.
Crimson Moon remained indifferent, showing no concern for the devastation wrought. And still, the meteorites continued to rain down, unabated.
In response to the dire situation, Shirou triggered the Tower of Light.
The radiant sea of boundless light metamorphosed into dazzling whips, violently striking the oncoming meteorites, demolishing them one by one.
The shattered remnants of rock descended like a torrential downpour, but Gawain, Lancelot, and the Knights of the Round Table swiftly reacted. They unleashed the full might of their Holy Swords, fashioning them into powerful light cannons to obliterate the smaller fragments of rock.
Meanwhile, Merlin and other skilled magi initiated large-scale ritual magecraft, weaving intricate spells to manifest colossal True Ether Cannons. These awe-inspiring cannons bombarded the relentless onslaught of meteorites.
Yet, despite their valiant efforts, the sheer number of meteorites proved overwhelming. Especially the smaller fragments that continued to rain down after the larger ones were shattered, mercilessly striking the ground and causing people to stumble and perish.
In a resolute tone, Shirou bellowed, "First Legion, heed my command! Hurl Gae Bolg at the incoming smaller meteorites!"
With unwavering obedience, the six thousand soldiers of the First Legion obeyed their King's directive. As the small meteorites descended upon them, they activated their Mana Burst, infusing their strength, and launched their spears at the celestial onslaught.
In a breathtaking display, Gae Bolg rained down like a tempest, surging towards the meteorites. Shirou, still manipulating the Tower of Light, closely observed the trajectory of the spears as they closed in on their targets. Then, with a sudden exertion of his will, he commanded the spears to explode in a powerful detonation.
Broken Phantasm!
"Boom, boom, boom, boom-"
The sky transformed into a chaotic battlefield, as artillery fire painted the sky, utterly obliterating the onslaught of small meteorites looming overhead.
The Hun army, faced with the relentless barrage, gradually began to retreat, while Attila herself brandished the Divine Construct, the Sword of Mars. This majestic weapon emitted a rainbow-colored pillar of light, effortlessly cleaving through the meteorites as if they were fragile rainbows.
However, the Huns lacked the formidable Knights of the Round Table, the Tower of Light, and the arsenal of Gae Bolgs and Holy Swords under Shirou's command. As a consequence, colossal meteorites, accompanied by a barrage of smaller ones, continued their descent, resulting in an instantaneous catastrophe and inflicting countless casualties upon the Huns.
"Are you here to oppose me as well, Attila?" Crimson Moon's gaze remained steady as he observed the resplendent rainbow light piercing through the sky. "Had you revealed your true self, I might have shown some measure of respect. However, as a mere human, what reason do I have to fear you? Humans are naught but food."
With an air of indifference, he unveiled several colossal meteorites, each boasting a staggering diameter of five kilometers. Without a hint of hesitation, he hurled them downwards.
"Your words are deeply displeasing," a dissatisfied male voice resonated from the fissures in the fabric of space.
"And who might you be?"
"I am the one who will bring an end to your existence," declared Zelretch as he emerged from the interdimensional rifts. A colossal spell unfurled through the atmosphere, channeling an overwhelming surge of magical energy, harnessed from myriad parallel worlds. Like a torrential flood, this immense power swept forth, propelling all the five-kilometer meteorites off the planet's surface.
As Shirou's eyes settled upon Zelretch, bravely confronting Crimson Moon in the sky, a sigh of relief escaped his lips. "Finally, he's here."
His eyes then shifted, finding Artoria standing beside him. He turned to her and asked, "Artie, are you ready?"
"Yes!" she nodded firmly, her grip on the Sword of Promised Victory tightening.
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