Chapter 257: Holy Punishment?
Inside the Chalk City, it was not the bustling market the refugees had yearned for, but a vast, eerily empty plaza.
The ground, paved with pure white marble, was spotless, reflecting the cold light of the fake sun in the sky.
The intensely sacred atmosphere made everyone who stepped into this place subconsciously hold their breath.
Under the guidance of the Purification Knights, the refugees gathered in the center of the plaza, their faces a mix of excitement and piety.
To them, this was the promised land, a paradise where they could escape suffering and be reborn.
Gawain stood on a high platform in front of the crowd, his silver heavy armor gleaming in the sunlight.
He wore a gentle smile, and his voice, amplified by magic, spread to every corner of the plaza.
"Welcome, everyone, to the Holy City. The King pities all beings and is willing to shelter all pure and unblemished souls."
At these words, an uncontrollable cheer erupted from the refugees.
Mashu and the other two were also affected by the atmosphere, even beginning to doubt if their previous caution had been overly excessive.
Gawain calmly looked down at the jubilant crowd below, then his tone suddenly shifted, his voice steeped in solemnity and gravity.
"However, on this cursed scorched earth, too many souls have long been corrupted by sin and despair, becoming defiled."
"Such souls cannot find peace in the Holy City. Therefore, before accepting you all, the King will bestow divine grace and perform a Holy Selection for everyone."
The moment his words fell, the entire Holy City seemed to come alive.
Countless light particles gathered from all directions, and at the top of the castle's main gate, a dazzling, unlookable-at pillar of light crashed down!
Within the pillar of light, a tall figure, clad in silver full-body armor and wearing a lion-beast full-face helmet, slowly emerged.
She walked to the edge of the city wall. In her Bigolden eyes, no emotion could be seen, only pure divinity flowing.
Cold, majestic, like a god judging the end of all things.
Arthur, hidden in a corner of the crowd, lifted a corner of his cloak and squinted his eyes slightly.
He could clearly sense the immense and pure divinity surging within that figure.
She was now a completely different existence from the stubborn yet gentle King Arthur he remembered.
'She really is a fool…'
Arthur defined the other party's current state in his heart.
On the high platform, the Lion King slowly raised her hand, and golden light, like dust, sprinkled down, her voice ethereal.
"Those who can be led by us to the end are very few, therefore, I shall conduct a selection."
"Holy Selection, begin."
The divine decree was devoid of emotion, like a mechanical judgment.
The next moment, a soft golden light suddenly bloomed on some of the refugees, spreading like ripples.
The light was incredibly warm, as if it could wash away the fatigue deep within the soul.
However, under the resonance of the light, among thousands of refugees, fewer than ten showed changes, bathing in the holy light.
The god on the city wall scanned the entire plaza, her gaze briefly lingering on Mashu and the others, who also emitted a faint glow, but her eyes remained unperturbed.
"Holy Selection complete. Lord Gawain, lead the chosen ones into the city."
Everyone was stunned. Some quick-witted individuals, realizing the truth, quietly retreated, distancing themselves from those who glowed.
It was clear that the previous act was the Holy Selection, and those emitting light were the chosen targets.
Although golden usually didn't give the impression of a bad person, with fewer than ten people passing a single Holy Selection, it seemed too harsh, no matter how one thought about it.
Gawain first respectfully bowed to the silent Lion King, then turned to face the frightened refugees, slowly drawing the holy sword from his waist, his voice like cold iron.
"Purification Knights, execute those not marked, on the spot."
Huh!?
Fujimaru Ritsuka's mind buzzed, instantly going blank.
Mashu also froze in place, unable to believe her ears.
Execution? Why?
So many people here… are all of them guilty?
The crowd first fell into a deathly silence, then the uniform sound of the knights drawing their swords ignited a panic like a collapsing mountain and a raging sea!
"Why? Weren't we supposed to have passed!?"
"Sir Knight! Is there a mistake!?"
"Help! I don't want to die!"
Their only response was the cold, merciless blades of the Purification Knights.
The refugees, utterly defenseless, fled in disarray.
More Purification Knights poured out from the city wall, drawing bows and nocking arrows, and a cold rain of arrows covered the entire plaza.
Screams! Cries! Wails!
In the blink of an eye, the promised land turned into a bloody slaughterhouse.
"Stop!"
Mashu could no longer bear it. She darted forward, her massive cross-shaped shield slamming heavily onto the ground, blocking a child who was about to be beheaded!
"What exactly are you doing!? They are innocent!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka followed closely, roaring at Gawain on the high platform.
"This isn't what was agreed upon! Weren't you supposed to protect them!?"
Gawain looked down at Mashu, who was blocking the crowd, a flicker of complexity in his eyes, but it was instantly replaced by resolute coldness.
"The King's will is absolute."
"What kind of twisted logic is that!?" Rika trembled with anger. "This kind of thing is not salvation at all!"
Gawain remained silent, but scorching magic power already burst forth from his body, and a colossal pressure descended like a reversed waterfall!
He leaped down from the high platform, his holy sword swirling, igniting a blazing flame, and fiercely struck at Mashu!
Bedivere, hidden in the chaotic crowd, gritted his silver teeth as he watched this scene.
On the face of this gentle knight, for the first time in his life, an angry ferocity appeared.
He tightly gripped his arm, his eyes filled with pain and struggle.
Just as he could no longer stand by and was about to step forward, a hand unexpectedly rested on his shoulder.
Bedivere stiffened, his magic power about to erupt, but he found the strength from that hand as steady as a mountain, rendering him unable to move.
He turned back in astonishment, meeting a pair of calm and profound eyes, his mind greatly shaken.
"You!? No! You are…"
"Stop. How you address me, you still need to consider carefully, Knight."
In the center of the battlefield, the conflict had already reached a fever pitch.
"Maiden, you have obtained the qualification to enter the Holy City. If you insist on obstructing the King's decision, then you will be purged along with them!"
Before his words finished, Gawain's body erupted with terrifying magic power, and he seemed to transform into a true sun, dazzlingly bright!
Under the blessing of the Perpetual Night, the Sun Knight had pushed his power to its absolute limit!
Clang—!
The deafening clang of metal reverberated, and Mashu felt an irresistible force from the shield, her arms instantly numb!
She was sent flying backward, her feet plowing two deep furrows in the ground.
With just one strike, the difference in power was clear.
Gawain calmly shook his head, his gaze falling on the familiar shield, his eyes growing even more complex.
"Is your resolve only this much?"
He sighed, seemingly unwilling to fight further.
"You, who wield that shield, how much of its power can you truly unleash?"
With that, terrifying magic power fluctuations distorted the air. He raised his holy sword high, and scorching light gathered on the blade.
Gawain intended to blast Mashu and the others out of the city with this one strike, considering it his final act of restraint out of their past connection.
Sword of Revolving Victory (Excalibur Galatine)!
The scorching sword light swept out, transforming into a destructive tide.
Mashu gritted her teeth, pouring all her magic power into her shield, preparing to withstand this ultimate strike.
However, the earth-shattering explosion she anticipated did not occur.
A figure clad in heavy steel armor had, at some unknown moment, stood before her.
The other party merely casually raised his right hand, fingers splayed, and with effortless ease, split the solar torrent, capable of incinerating all things, into two!
The Noble Phantasm beam struck a wall of sighs, and all its energy was silently annihilated and repelled!
The violent energy surged past the figure's sides, yet it failed to even stir a corner of his indigo blue cloak!
When the light faded, the figure stood still, completely unharmed.
The entire plaza was deathly silent.
Gawain's composure shattered for the first time, his pupils contracting violently in shock.
Even if his previous strike wasn't a full release of power, to be parried by a single hand…
Arthur slowly lowered his hand, turned around, and patted Mashu's small head, his voice filled with affection.
"You've worked hard. Leave the rest to me."
After speaking, he raised his head, his gaze passing over the incredulous Gawain, and met the eyes of the god at the highest point of the castle, from afar.
"Long time no see, Artoria!"