Chapter 130: Seal Thirteen—Round Table Decision, Start!!!
"Try pushing me into a corner, that will only turn your arrogance into a delicious despair!!!"
The Beast of Sodom held the Holy Grail in her hand. Most of her body had already taken on draconic traits as she made her declaration.
Dark mist gushed out from the grail, merging with the fog created by the sea of blood below, beginning to spread across the battlefield.
The Flower Magecraft Merlin used withered the moment it touched that fog, ultimately dissolving into nothingness.
"Saber, this mist doesn't look right at all. Got any clues?"
Iskandar, riding Bucephalus, retreated beside Arthur.
"This filth is oozing from the Holy Grail. It can corrode and corrupt anything it touches regardless of good or evil, and normal protection spells are completely ineffective."
"Oh? That doesn't sound very pleasant."
Iskandar looked toward the ever-expanding dark mist.
"If we can't get close, we're on the back foot. We have to find a way to break through it."
From ahead, the Beast of Sodom let out a mocking laugh.
"What's wrong, wielder of the holy sword, aren't you going to challenge me with that sword of the stars you're so proud of?"
With her laughter, seven demonic beasts hidden within the black mist let out ferocious roars.
"..."
Arthur gripped the Holy Sword of the Stars tightly in his hand.
The overwhelming power of releasing the Holy Sword of the Stars was indeed enough to contend with the Beast before him.
But if he failed to defeat her in a single blow, he—having expended most of his mana—would be in serious danger.
The enemy was clearly trying to lure him into releasing the sword's seal from this distance.
"Everyone get back!!!"
Suddenly, Mordred's voice rang out from behind.
Without warning, a massive wave of mana surged straight toward the dark mist!!!
"BANG——————————!!!"
The mist was dispersed slightly where the blast hit, but as soon as the attack ended, it quickly regenerated.
"Tch, so this is all I've got for now. Just need a bit more rest and I can blow it wide open."
Mordred, panting, lowered her sword, eyes locked on the path ahead.
"Mordred-san!"
Mash came running from afar to assist, as the Gordius Wheel landed beside them.
Ethan and several others disembarked from the chariot to check the situation.
"Rider, what's the situation?"
As soon as he got down, Waver asked about Iskandar's condition.
"Brat, as you can see, it looks like we're stuck in a stalemate."
Iskandar's gaze was also fixed on the dark mist.
Even though Mordred had just used her Noble Phantasm to attack, it only tore through a small section.
"Ohya, looks like everyone's hit a dead end."
Merlin stepped down from the Gordius Wheel and spoke up.
"Merlin, even you have no solution?"
"I've said it already, I'm not Merlin. Just a humble Magus of Flower—Lady Avalon."
Merlin corrected Arthur irritably.
"Fine, let's go with that. Lady Avalon, do you have any ideas?"
"Umu, that mist blocking the way is the embodiment of the tainted mud from the corrupted Holy Grail. But ultimately, it's only that—so long as you don't touch it, you'll be fine. If we use ultra-high-density mana particles to bombard it, we can temporarily open a path."
While observing the mist, Merlin nodded and explained.
"But even then, it would only last for a short time."
"Thank you, Merlin. I'll handle the rest."
"Umu!... Umu?! I told you, I'm Lady Avalon!!!"
Ignoring Merlin's protest, Arthur turned to Ethan who was standing nearby.
"Master, I have a request."
Ethan nodded, signaling Arthur to speak plainly.
"I hope to receive support from the other Servants to create an opening for me to face Beast VI alone."
Seeing the determination in Arthur's eyes, Ethan had no reason to refuse.
The Holy Sword user was born to face the Beast.(Note: Huh? Wasn't Excalibur forged to counter the White Titan and alien lifeforms?)
However, his system had just unlocked a new feature.
By consuming 500,000 points, he could summon a Grand Servant, which would significantly improve their odds against Beast VI.
But currently, his points were still insufficient.
"System, how many points do I have now? How many more do I need to summon a Grand Servant?"
[Beep beep —— Host's current total livestream points: 151,000.]
[You need 349,000 more to summon a Grand Servant.]
Ethan frowned slightly.
Even though he could summon a Grand Servant, he didn't have enough points yet.
Fortunately, there were currently 200,000 viewers watching the livestream simultaneously, so the point accumulation was much faster than before.
If he waited a little longer, summoning the Grand Servant before launching an offensive would be the more cautious move.
Seeing Ethan hesitate slightly, Arthur immediately reminded him.
"Master, right now that Beast is continuously absorbing energy from this planet. If we don't stop it in time, I fear it will soon escape its Larva state."
"——————?!"
That's right, he had nearly forgotten that Beast VI was still in its Larva stage.
And yet, even in the Larva stage, it had already reached Third Planet level. If it were to reach its complete form... it was truly unimaginable.
"I understand."
Ethan nodded, then looked toward the others.
"Everyone, I know this is difficult, but please support this King Arthur from another world."
"Got it, Senpai!"
Mash was the first to respond to Ethan's call.
"King Arthur?"
"Just call me Arthur,"
The knight in white armor said with a gentle smile.
"In any case, right now we're all comrades fighting against evil. No need to be so formal. If you're uncomfortable with that, you can just call me Saber."
"Then I'll call you Arthur-san."
Seeing that Mash insisted on using honorifics, Arthur gave in without argument.
"Hah? Why should I help this so-called King Arthur from another world?!"
Mordred showed open displeasure.
"Mordred."
Arthur suddenly called her name.
"What? You wanna fight?!"
Mordred shouted, holding nothing back.
"If you want to duel afterward, I'll oblige. But I just wanted to say one thing—what you just demonstrated on the battlefield was truly worthy of a royal heir."
If, back then, he could have sincerely praised Mordred with words like that…
Perhaps now, his heart wouldn't be filled with such regret.
"——————————?!"
Hearing Arthur say that with such seriousness, Mordred was taken aback.
"Just now... I really had the presence of a royal heir?!"
She repeated Arthur's words.
"... So that's how I appear in the eyes of a father from another world…"
Mordred's expression softened for a brief moment, but quickly returned to normal.
"Damn it! Even if I get praised by a father from another world, it's not like I'm happy about it or anything!!!"
Seeing that Mordred seemed on the verge of another outburst, Arthur hurriedly apologized.
"Sorry, I just suddenly felt I had to say it."
"Careful or I'll cut you down right here!!!"
Watching the interaction between Mordred and Arthur, Merlin seemed very entertained and gave another umu.
"Umu, looks like Mordred doesn't like Arthur in this world either. But that just makes it all the more fun!"
"Lady, your tastes are a little..."
Waver backed away a step, looking uneasy.
"You have a lot in common with Reines. If it were her, she'd definitely invite Lady Avalon to a ladies' tea party."
Sima Yi, on the other hand, looked thoroughly amused.
"Everyone, I know we're trying to bond as comrades, but those things are starting to move again."
Iskandar raised his sword and pointed toward the distant Beast of Sodom.
"In any case, what we need to do is open a path for you to get close, right?"
Mordred slung Clarent over her shoulder.
"Then don't go dying on us, Father from another world."
"Since it's Master's request, let's get this over with."
Jeanne Alter stepped forward, looking unimpressed.
"Just in time—this arrogant bastard's noise is driving me insane. I'd like to silence it quickly."
"Oh? Even in another world like this, Arthur's still blessed with good luck. Well then, I'll lend a hand too..."
Merlin once again cast Flower Magecraft, restoring everyone's mana and wrapping fresh flower bands around their wrists.
"Three minutes from now, you'll return to the present time. That means you only have one shot to get close to the enemy, got it?"
"You can even do something like this?! You really are an extraordinary Caster!"
Iskandar looked at the wreath on his wrist in amazement.
"I'm just an ordinary Flower Magecraft user. Deceiving that thing for three minutes is still within my ability."
Merlin smiled sweetly.
As for Ethan, this was nothing surprising at all.
After all, this was Merlin.
Succubus' Vicinity Rank-EX—even a "Puny God" would get pranked.
Ethan glanced around at everyone, then gave a small nod.
"Then—let's begin!!!"
"As expected, I'll go first to open the way."
Mordred took a deep breath, gripping Clarent tightly in both hands and pouring all of her remaining mana into it.
"This is the evil sword that destroyed my father—Rebellion Against My Beautiful Father! Clarent Blood Arthur!!!"
A roaring red lightning bolt blasted toward the mist, violently tearing open a path!!!
"Oh, right here, huh?"
Waver swung the feather fan in his hand. Three Bagua compasses flew out in formation, instantly forming a barrier to stabilize the opening in the fog.
"You guys, hurry up!!!"
Iskandar returned atop the Gordius Wheel, calling to Mash and Arthur.
"Yes!"
"Understood!"
Arthur and Mash immediately leapt onto the Gordius Wheel. Jeanne Alter also stepped forward wordlessly.
"Jeanne Alter-san!"
Mash called out, surprised and delighted.
"Hmph, it's not like I'm here because of that guy's orders or anything. It's just… you—Mash—are at least usable, so I'll reluctantly allow you to be one of my subordinates."
"Subordinate, huh…"
Mash looked a little disheartened.
"Ahem… What I mean is, if it's by your standards… you can call it friendship… that's fine too…"
Jeanne Alter crossed her arms and turned her head away, mumbling.
"Thank you, Jeanne Alter-san!"
"Hey—don't thank me! Really now, I said that's what you people call it. I never admitted to anything."
Faced with Mash's innocent smile, Jeanne Alter was visibly flustered.
"Charge, my soldiers!!!"
Sima Yi immediately cast buffs on everyone riding the war chariot.
"Thanks a bunch, strategist from China!"
Iskandar tightened the reins of the Gordius Wheel.
"The rebellious knight can't hold on much longer—my Divine Bulls, charge!!!"
"Moo——————————!!!"
The two Divine Bulls let out thunderous roars, then charged full-force toward the gap in the fog with a deafening boom!!!
"Damn it… still not done yet?!"
By now, Mordred's arms had grown heavy and numb.
"Alright! Knight of Rebellion!!"
Iskandar's voice rang in her ears.
At once, Mordred eased the flow of mana into Clarent, and the Gordius Wheel rocketed forward through the gap at an indescribable speed!!!
Right after the charge, the surrounding fog rapidly began to close in again.
"Deploying Noble Phantasm—Lord Chaldeas!!!"
A silver light shimmered before the Gordius Wheel, constantly pushing back the encroaching mist.
"GRRRRAAAAAHHHHHH——————!!!"
Seven beasts within the fog, sensing the threat, roared and opened their jaws to strike at the chariot!!!
"All evil gathers here…!!!"
Aboard the war chariot, Jeanne Alter raised the flag of the Evil Dragon, aiming directly at the oncoming creatures.
"This is the howl of a soul filled with hatred! Roar, Rage of Mine! La Grondement Du Haine!!!"
Black flames erupted and wrapped around the bodies of the Familiars, creating a raging inferno!!!
After briefly halting the attack, the Gordius Wheel swept under them in a lightning-fast maneuver!
"We're almost there, King Arthur from another world!!!"
Iskandar's eyes were locked straight ahead. At the same time, Mash's Noble Phantasm was beginning to be corroded by the mist mixed with dark energy—it could barely hold on any longer.
"Crack—crack————————!!!"
Mash's shield finally gave in to the corrosion of the fog and shattered into fragments.
In that exact moment, everyone on the chariot—including the Gordius Wheel—transformed into petals and vanished into the mist.
"Thank you, everyone. I'll take it from here."
The moment the war chariot vanished, Arthur pushed forward with all his strength, gripping his holy sword tightly and slashing through the mist—finally arriving beneath the Beast of Sodom.
"How pitiful. You're the only one who made it this far?"
Beast of Sodom, the one holding the Holy Grail, looked down at the Silver Knight below.
"No, I didn't come here alone. They… are still with me!!!"
At that moment, Arthur raised the Holy Sword of the Star, beginning to channel mana into the blade without pause.
"Seal Thirteen—Round Table Decision, Start!!!"