Chapter 111 Avalon! Who kicks off the final battle?
Inside the air-raid shelter, the already tense atmosphere solidified due to Arthur's meaningful words, adding a touch of eeriness.
Irisviel, always naive to worldly affairs, looked utterly bewildered.
She didn't understand what grievances could exist between her and Arthur, given their mere few encounters.
Kiritsugu Emiya, who prided himself on understanding the depravity of human nature, now had a ashen face, the veins on his arm bulging as he gripped the Thompson Contender, his voice laced with ice.
"Alice has nothing to discuss with you. Get lost!"
Arthur scoffed, "I didn't plan on asking for your opinion."
Before his words fully landed, he was already striding purposefully, heading straight for Irisviel.
Time Alter Double Accel!
Crimson magical energy suddenly erupted from his body. The world in Kiritsugu Emiya's eyes instantly slowed, and the surrounding space seemed to be stretched and twisted by an invisible force.
The Magus Killer wasted no words, raising his gun, pointing it directly between Arthur's eyebrows, and a Origin Bullet, condensed with killing intent, burst from the barrel!
Clang!
Starlight flashed as Arthur swung his sword, precisely and incomparably cleaving the spell-breaking Origin Bullet!
The sharp sword wind rebounded, heavily striking Kiritsugu Emiya's chest. Under intense pain, his Magecraft dissipated, and he tumbled, crashing into the edge of the air-raid shelter, collapsing to the ground.
"Kirisugu!?"
Irisviel shrieked, her beautiful eyes turning to Arthur, filled with unconcealed fury and killing intent.
Arthur shrugged indifferently, tapping his finger, and a pitch-black void suddenly opened beneath their feet, instantly sealing them off.
"Put away that expression. Your husband ambushed me twice. The fact that I haven't killed him yet is a huge deference to you."
Irisviel was struggling to resist the terrifying suction. She paused at his words, then gritted her silver teeth, her expression flickering.
Arthur squatted down leisurely, his gaze brazenly sweeping over her. After a long moment, he showed a look of understanding.
"So that's it... Besides the Einzbern family's modified magical circuits, you actually harbor such a treasure within you."
Arthur finally understood where the faint resonance from earlier came from—
It wasn't from Irisviel herself, but a deeper secret within her.
Arthur raised his palm, pressing it in front of Irisviel.
Magical energy surged, and a soft golden halo slowly emanated from within her, gradually coalescing into form.
A sacred relic, isolated from the world, reappeared at this moment.
With gold as its base, adorned with striking indigo enamel, its beauty was unparalleled. Rather than a weapon, it was more aptly described as a peerless work of art.
In the center of the scabbard, long-lost fairy script was inscribed, indicating that this object could not be forged by ordinary mortals.
Arthur reached out, his fingertips lightly touching the incomparably luxurious scabbard. A joyful, exultant emotion emanated from deep within the scabbard, connecting with his will.
"The Faraway Utopia - Avalon."
As the most important component of the King Arthur legend, Avalon was not as overtly sharp as the Sword in the Stone and the Sword of the Lake.
However, its importance far surpassed that of the Holy Sword.
The scabbard represented the legend of immortality, possessing the basic ability to heal the wielder's injuries and halt aging.
When its true name was released, it could even protect the wielder from all interference, ignoring all attacks, and even deflecting them, achieving absolute defense!
Legend has it that King Arthur's loss of the scabbard ultimately led to the collapse and destruction of his entire kingdom.
Arthur stood tall, his hand gripping Avalon tightening slightly. Golden light flashed again, and the scabbard transformed into a stream of light, integrating into his body.
"This scabbard will serve as compensation for your two attacks on me. Leave Fuyuki City, and the sooner, the better."
As his words fell, the pitch-black void binding the Wei Gong couple quietly dissipated.
The two regained their freedom, quickly got up, and checked each other's injuries.
Arthur didn't spare them another glance, turning and walking out of the air-raid shelter.
...
Thick smoke still permeated the dilapidated streets. As soon as Arthur stepped out, he saw Merlin squatting beside a pile of rubble, spouting nonsense at a disdainful Fou.
The pure white cub, glimpsing Arthur's figure, immediately pushed off with its hind legs, leaping up, and even using Merlin's face for leverage, accurately pouncing into Arthur's arms.
"Welcome back, Fou. Thank you for supervising."
"Fou!"
The pure white cub proudly raised its chin, openly accepting its owner's praise.
Merlin, covering his bright red nose, approached resentfully, speaking in a muffled voice.
"Master, shouldn't you at least offer some comfort to your devoted Servant?"
Arthur stroked Fou's fur, not even looking up as he perfunctorily said.
"Oh, you worked hard."
"...That's a truly insincere greeting."
Merlin cleared his throat twice, discarding his lazy demeanor, and his expression became serious.
"Master, next, will it be a decisive battle with them?"
"More or less." Arthur nodded. "Fortunately, the ley line nodes in Fuyuki City are limited, otherwise I might have been entangled with that troublesome fellow for a long time."
With that thought, Arthur placed Fou back on his shoulder, glancing at Merlin, who was still feigning, and mercilessly exposed him.
"Stop with your nonsense about not being good at combat. I'll deal with the one behind Angra Mainyu. You, hold off all the Servants."
Merlin: Σ(っﾟДﾟ)っ
"Master! You think too highly of me! Lia alone is enough to give me a headache!"
Arthur ignored the Incubus's wailing, walking directly towards the New Metropolitan Hall in the East District.
Merlin complained a few times, and seeing that no one was paying attention, he simply pouted, reined in his exaggerated acting, and quickly followed, leaning on his staff.
...
Light and shadow rapidly receded behind them, and soon, the two arrived near the New Metropolitan Hall.
At the end of the empty street, the building emanated suffocating magical energy and malice, like a giant beast ready to devour people.
In their eyes, the outline of the New Metropolitan Hall was slightly distorted, with an unreal, illusory feeling, as if it were a mirage far off in the distance.
Artoria, leading four Servants, stood grimly at the main entrance, immense pitch-black magical energy surging ceaselessly, radiating killing intent.
And behind them, was a dense army of pitch-black shadow creatures.
They exuded an ominous Servant aura, having already surrounded the New Metropolitan Hall layer by layer, making it impenetrable.
Arthur's expression was calm as he surveyed the vast enemy formation before him, his tone even carrying a hint of teasing.
"You've used up your Command Spells. How long do you think you can last?"
"Well then—"
Merlin lightly tapped his staff on the ground, and a ripple of magical energy spread out.
There was no trace of worry about the disparate forces on his face; instead, he revealed a profound smile.
"If it were just me alone, I would naturally be overwhelmed. But powerful reinforcements have arrived, so I'll be content to simply provide support."
Before his words finished, the clear blue sky after the rain suddenly changed color!
Deafening sonic booms continuously exploded, and countless golden, dazzling, and exquisitely luxurious Noble Phantasms tore through the clouds, raining down like a torrent!
A king's roar, looking down upon the world, rolled in like world-ending thunder!
"Look up at the sky, mongrels!"