Unbelievable.
This was unbelievable to anyone.
Moon Fall.
Who would've thought that right after the fire meteor rain came this attack!
"Cough cough cough!"
Inside the completely destroyed Camelot city from Moon Fall's impact, Aoko—struggling to crawl out of the rubble—coughed hard several times: "Everyone… okay?"
"We're fine."
The first to answer was Rei, with Gray and Ayaka protected by her Boundary Field. Not far away, the others had also survived Moon Fall in their own ways.
No—it shouldn't be called surviving, but merely not letting themselves be buried alive. After all, most of Moon Fall's power was used to counter Mash's Noble Phantasm. Without the Chalk City, many among them would've lost combat ability entirely.
While helping Mash—who was supporting her shield—stand, Ritsuka asked worriedly: "Mash, are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine, Master."
Mash forced down her still-numb arm and looked up at the sky: "Moon Fall… using this attack means the one who just attacked us is Big Brother, right?"
"Besides him and Arcueid, who else can use Moon Fall?" Aoko clenched her fist. "What a heavy greeting from that bastard. After years away, he really doesn't recognize anyone?"
"Because from the Lord's (Master's) perspective, we're strangers from two thousand four hundred years ago."
Rei looked skyward: "The moment we set foot in Camelot, the Lord saw us through sky surveillance Magecraft and launched the attack from somewhere. The earlier meteor rain was probably his Magecraft too."
"Why is Naoki attacking us?" Ayaka was confused. "Even if we're ready to force him back by fighting, Naoki shouldn't have a reason to fight us, right?"
Naoki's side shouldn't know about this. They didn't believe he'd truly treat them all as enemies and attack without mercy. Even if they were strangers he knew from two thousand four hundred years ago, he wasn't unreasonable.
He should want to know why the remnants of himself from Pan-Human History came to this Lostbelt.
Yet he attacked immediately.
Why?
"Because I already know."
Suddenly, without warning, this voice appeared in everyone's minds.
Not in their ears—but directly in their consciousness.
(This…)
(Direct consciousness intervention!?)
(And this voice is…)
"Naoki—?!"
Aoko couldn't help shouting.
And as her voice fell, a beam of light suddenly shot from the sky—like a spotlight illuminating a star stepping onto stage to boost presence. A shimmering golden-white beam fired into the empty space before everyone.
*TAP!*
The sound of footsteps echoed from within the light.
*TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP!*
Footsteps, like descending stairs, rang one by one from the air—growing closer, louder. Hearing them, everyone tensed for no reason. A powerful pressure unconsciously weighed on every shoulder.
Then, with the final footstep, a figure both familiar and unfamiliar appeared before them.
Short golden hair, azure eyes, a white suit more luxurious and elegant than before, a dark blue gold-trimmed cape draped over his shoulders—this man, like a king, descended step by step down a light staircase from the golden-white beam, arriving before everyone.
And when both feet touched the ground, everyone present felt a powerful suffocating sensation! The pure Mana radiating from him directly caused gravitational anomalies, enveloping all of Camelot in several times normal gravity!
(He…)
(He is…)
This unexpected entrance left everyone in disbelief.
And as if sensing their thoughts, Naoki—bathed in golden-white light—showed a gentle sun-like smile: "Yes, I am Natsukawa Naoki. King of all Fairy Britain."
"The Fairy King who has ruled this land for two thousand years."
"—Kneel, remnants of myself from Pan-Human History."
*BZZZ!*
Gravity pressure several times stronger suddenly descended! In an instant, everyone felt the sky itself falling!
But right as they felt it, Arcueid suddenly lifted her foot and stomped the ground hard!
*BANG!*
As if everything reset, the terrifying pressure vanished instantly!
Naoki slightly raised an eyebrow, looking at Arcueid: "You can neutralize my Imaginary Manifestation, equal to me… So you're Arcueid Brunestud? Though I know of you from memories, this is our first real meeting, right?"
"Should I say long time no see, or nice to meet you? Flawed True Ancestor."
"…"
The term from Naoki's mouth instantly turned Arcueid's gaze ferocious. Her beautiful red eyes turned golden-yellow in a flash!
Naoki rubbed his chin with interest: "Oh~~~ Angry? Seems my greeting to you was a bit rude? Then I apologize, Arcueid Brunestud, my beloved Moon Princess."
"Shut up!"
Arcueid said coldly.
"I'm certain now… I still had a little hope, but now I'm absolutely sure—you've become a complete stranger over two thousand four hundred years here!"
"You're not my Naoki, not our Naoki. My Naoki isn't as annoying as you! He'd never look at us with such emotionless eyes!"
"So—Give him back to us! Give us back the real you!"
*CRASH!*
The ground shook violently!
Countless thick chains suddenly burst from the earth around Arcueid. Like frenzied silver serpents, they shot toward Naoki!
But—
*CRACK!*
The chains didn't even touch Naoki. In mid-air, they shattered into fragments by something bizarre. Then Arcueid herself—as if struck by something—was hurled thousands of meters away!