Chapter 113: Star Rage Burns Evil! Compensation for Saving the World!
Inside New Metropolitan Hall, a faint blue light seeped from the cracks in the World Crystal Wall, like the dying wails of a person.
It was the painful cry and faint plea of the world itself.
The churning black liquid, rather than a liquid, was more like living evil demons.
Each surge created layers of strange ripples, forming silent, twisted, sinister grins, releasing the purest malice.
Facing the unspeakable, unknown integrated entity, Arthur raised Excalibur Soteria, the marks on his palm and back burning hot.
The power of [Starlight] and [Grace] surged within him, his magic power churning with unprecedented intensity; this was his full-power, no-holds-barred attack!
"Seal Thirteen!"
"Decision Start!"
As the declaration fell, thirteen star-like brilliant points of light suddenly lit up on the scabbard of Excalibur Soteria.
The lights intertwined, instantly outlining an ancient and complete sealing magic array.
Immediately after, an ethereal and gentle female voice echoed from nowhere.
"Approved!"
In that instant, around Arthur, knightly phantoms, bathed in the glow of Excalibur Soteria, quietly appeared. They raised their hands to their chests and bowed solemnly.
Clang!
The first clear chime, symbolizing the dazzling light of the Sun Knight.
The brilliant light points merged into the scabbard, signifying his unconditional support for the Knights of the Round Table's decision!
That gentle female voice, with a barely perceptible hint of a chuckle, resounded again, conveying the King's resolve!
"Bedivere."
The slender knightly phantom nodded slightly, his voice clear: "This battle is to contend against an enemy far stronger than oneself!"
"Approved!"
"Agravain."
The knightly phantom, filled with iron-blooded will, responded in a deep voice: "This battle is to seek the truth of the world!"
"Approved!"
"Lancelot."
The exceptionally brave knightly phantom's gaze was firm: "This battle is not to harm innocent spirits!"
"Approved!"
"Mordred."
The unruly knightly phantom raised her chin: "This battle is to thoroughly vanquish the evil of the world!"
"Approved!"
"Galahad."
The pure and flawless knightly phantom lowered his eyes, his tone devout: "This battle is not to satisfy personal desires!"
"Approved!"
The names of the Knights of the Round Table were sung one by one, and in a blink of an eye, six of the thirteen restraints had been released!
The light of Excalibur Soteria grew even more intense, tearing through the filthy darkness, solidifying into a pillar of light that shot straight into the sky!
The gentle female voice sounded again, this time, it seemed to whisper right by Arthur's ear, the complex emotions it contained, deep and difficult to fathom.
"Finally… Arthur?"
A knightly phantom, as brilliant as pale silver, quietly appeared, standing shoulder to shoulder with Arthur.
The phantom raised a hand, lightly patted his shoulder, and then dissipated into a sky full of starlight!
Arthur pressed his lips together, his eyes resolute, speaking each word like a resounding bell.
"This battle — is a battle to save the world!"
Clang!
With the final clear chime, the platinum scabbard restraining Excalibur Soteria suddenly shattered!
The golden sword body finally revealed its true form, surging and boiling upon it was the Star's Fury, capable of incinerating everything!
Excalibur Soteria!
He took a step forward, the sword tip pointing! In that instant, the stars roared in fury!
That boiling radiance was the only Miracle that tore through pitch-black despair, the dawn that pierced the eternal night!
An unmatched torrent of brilliant gold, carrying the will of the stars, slammed into the World Crystal Wall!
The tottering Crystal Wall actually opened a passage on its own, allowing the unknown integrated entity to be completely engulfed by Excalibur Soteria's final light cannon!
Crack!
A faint sound, like shattering glass, clearly echoed deep within Arthur's soul.
A starlight mark, emitting a mysterious glow, on his left palm, faded away.
The world, at this moment, strangely paused for an instant.
Then, the light of Excalibur Soteria suddenly surged, erupting with a radiant flame far surpassing the previous Star's Fury, reaching its utmost brilliance!
"The enemy that devours the world shall be annihilated by the power of the world!"
The will of the mysterious voice, vast and majestic, surged within the radiant flame!
In this terrifying flame, capable of purifying everything, the unknown integrated entity, churning with infinite malice, was reduced to ashes in the blink of an eye, without even a single wail!
When the terrifying flame that illuminated the entire sky slowly subsided, it revealed Arthur, standing with his sword propped.
He looked up, gazing at the rapidly self-repairing World Crystal Wall, his face as cold as ice.
The cracks in the Crystal Wall were rapidly mending, but beyond the Crystal Wall, the remaining ink marks were still stirring, poised to make a comeback!
The surging magic power within him receded like a tide, and an unprecedented sense of weakness instantly swept through his limbs and bones.
Arthur gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand firm with an iron-like will.
He tremblingly raised his left hand; in his palm, only a single starlight mark flickered dimly, and an indescribable sense of loss welled up in his heart.
"So… it's only temporarily safe?"
Arthur murmured, with a hint of uncertainty.
The mysterious voice did not respond.
Only the sole remaining starlight mark in his palm felt slightly warm, offering him a tiny bit of comfort amidst his confused thoughts.
Arthur suddenly clenched his left fist, as if to grasp that invisible Miracle and hope in his hand.
He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding All the Evils of This World, which, though deprived of the unknown integrated entity's support, still exuded intense malice. A look of undisguised disgust curled his lips.
"A bunch of dregs only fit to be used as tools, hurry up and go to hell!"
Arthur raised Excalibur Soteria, now re-restrained by its platinum scabbard, forcibly squeezing out the last trace of magic power from his body. His figure transformed into an afterimage, and he charged fiercely towards the flailing black mud tentacles!
…
Outside the New Metropolitan Hall, it was a chaotic scene of scorched earth and intertwining flames, yet a strange scent of fresh flowers permeated the air.
Arthur, holding the numb-faced Little Sakura, who resembled a delicate doll, saw Merlin and Artoria talking in low voices from afar.
"Where is Gilgamesh? Why are only the two of you here?"
Arthur's voice was a little hoarse. The two Servants immediately turned their heads at the sound.
Artoria's eyes held a complex and unreadable expression, while Merlin, as always, was flippant, casually raising his hand to greet him.
"Master, it's great to see you alive!"
"As for King Gilgamesh, he ran out of magic power and has already returned to the Throne of Heroes."
Arthur nodded and gently placed the unresponsive Little Sakura, whom he held, on a relatively flat patch of ground.
Then, his gaze shifted to his side, to the King of Knights who seemed to have something to say but hesitated.
"Although you descended in your true form, your magic power must be close to its limit too."
"Do you have anything to say? If you don't speak now, you probably won't get another chance."
As if to confirm Arthur's words, a soft, milky-white halo began to emanate from Artoria, her figure becoming ethereal, flickering, clearly about to return.
Realizing her time was short, Artoria's heart skipped a beat.
She instinctively raised her hand to her chest, her voice soft but with a barely perceptible tremor.
"I asked Merlin… about you, Arthur pendragon."
She paused, her emerald eyes earnestly fixed on him.
"Thank you for helping me find… that long-lost belief again."
"Don't mention it."
Arthur waved his hand casually, a slight smile playing on his lips as he watched Artoria's figure become increasingly transparent and her light grow.
"To be honest, I just couldn't stand your initial self-pitying look. The current you is much more radiant than back then."
For some reason, Arthur's somewhat teasing words cast ripples in her calm heart.
Though she intended to maintain the composure and dignity of a King, Artoria ultimately just gently pursed her lips and solemnly raised her hand in farewell.
"Arthur, Merlin, congratulations on winning this war."
"Take care." Arthur nodded slightly.
"Oh, Lia-chan, see you next time~!" Merlin waved cheerfully.
Artoria: Σ(°△°|||)?!
"Wait! Merlin, what do you mean by 'see you next tim—' "
Before she could finish, a pale white halo suddenly flashed, freezing her final stunned expression.
Artoria, with a belly full of questions and an indescribably subtle emotion, returned to her era to continue her unfinished legend.
Arthur also caught the deeper meaning in Merlin's words, his eyes filled with inquiry as he looked at the silver-haired Magus, who was smiling mischievously.
"As an immortal incubus, you did exist in King Arthur's era."
"But I remember you during that period were supposed to be imprisoned in the Tower at the End of Avalon, never to leave, right?"
Arthur narrowed his eyes, threateningly raising Fou.
"Tell me, after this Holy Grail War ends, what method do you plan to use to see Artoria again?"
Merlin quickly revealed his signature mysterious smile, spreading his hands in a gesture of surrender.
"No violence, Master."
"Perhaps in some future Holy Grail War, adorable Lia and I might be summoned together by some lucky or unlucky Master, who knows?"
"No, absolutely impossible."
Arthur mercilessly interrupted the daydreaming Magus. He looked up, towards the distant Enzou Mountain.
In his silver-white eyes, there was now only a cold determination.
"Because I will personally dismantle the greater grail's ritual array, making the Holy Grail War completely disappear from this world!"