Chapter 7: Mordred: Let's Just All Attack Together!
Along with the rolling thunder, lightning fell from the sky.
As if cleaving the heaven and earth in an instant, a thick bolt of lightning descended toward the red-haired youth's body.
The golden lightning bloomed with a dazzling light that made it difficult even to open one's eyes. Then, after blocking the incoming flames, the lightning did not vanish; instead, it condensed into the shape of a long spear in Shirou's hand.
"What... is that...?"
Gawain's pupils vibrated at the sight of this anomaly.
Shirou, holding the spear of lightning, raised it high.
The raging thunder continued to emit deafening explosions in Shirou's hand, and then, it was hurled by Shirou toward Gawain.
Gawain hurriedly gripped his sword, infusing it with magical energy to make it burn with flames once more, then immediately unleashed it in an attempt to counter this strike.
"『Excalibur Galatine』!!"
The instant the Sword of the Sun clashed with the Spear of Thunder, Gawain felt the violent energy contained within it, his eyes widening in shock.
Boom——!
As the intense concussive sound ended, Gawain's body was sent flying backward amidst a massive cloud of rising gray smoke.
Seeing that scene, Gudako and the others cast surprised gazes toward Shirou.
Seeing Gawain's body flying backward, Tristan, who had not participated in the one-on-one battle between Gawain and Shirou due to his knightly code, hurriedly stepped forward to catch him.
The surrounding Knights of Resolution stood around them at this moment. Despite seeing the crushing strength Shirou had just displayed, they drew their swords toward him without a hint of fear.
Although it would be easy to break through directly from here and storm into the Holy City, the one inside was not Saber, but the Goddess Rhongomyniad.
The best way to restore Saber was to find her own Holy Sword.
Although Shirou could easily forge a holy sword, it would not be the one belonging to Saber, so even if he forged many, there would be no way to restore her.
Without the inclination to linger here any longer, Shirou looked at Gudako and the two others.
"Let's go."
Hearing Shirou's call, the three of them quickly followed in his footsteps.
Behind them, the Knights of Resolution watched the departing figures of Shirou's group with trepidation.
Once those figures drifted further and further away, the courage they had been forcing themselves to maintain suddenly drained away.
Tristan and Gawain also looked toward that direction with burning gazes.
"Damn it... even with the blessing of 'Never-night,' I am still no match for him... Who exactly is that person?!"
Gawain possessed a special constitution.
During the three hours from 9 AM to noon, and the three hours from 3 PM to sunset, his strength would triple.
This also reflected the sacred Celtic number "3."
However, he had a weakness: "inability to escape the constraints of legend." Once this was broken, it would never take effect again.
In legend, Gawain's death occurred because Lancelot stalled for time until sunset, and then a single strike from him caused Gawain heavy injury.
More precisely, even when Gawain was in his triple-strength state, Lancelot still fought him until sunset, until the triple-strength state was broken, and Gawain was quickly knocked flying.
Now, because of the Lion King, Gawain and Lancelot, former enemies, had temporarily set aside their grievances because they both wanted to make up for their faults toward the King, though they still wouldn't have much interaction with each other.
"Let's go report to the King first."
Gawain struggled to stand up. Even though his body felt as if it were falling apart from the impact of the lightning, he used his willpower to pick up the sword that had fallen to the ground and return it to its scabbard.
Hearing Gawain's words, Tristan also nodded.
"Mm... the goals of those people from Chaldea are easy to guess, but that guy named Shirou Orihara..."
Saying this, Tristan's brows furrowed slightly; he wanted to figure out the reason but had no clue.
Gawain patted Tristan's shoulder, bringing him back to his senses.
The two walked into the Holy City together.
Inside the palace, which had become somewhat dim due to the night, only magic lamps released their light.
The Knights of the Round Table were gathered here, each reporting their information.
Finally, it was Gawain's turn. He gathered his thoughts.
"During the 'Selection,' a riot occurred, and those refugees fled into the desert... This is all because of my negligence. Please pass judgment on me, my King."
Rhongomyniad, positioned upon the throne, overlooked the Knights of the Round Table below with shining yellow-green eyes.
"Then raise your head, Gawain. Kneeling is sufficient, for there is no need for you to stand up again."
As she spoke, Rhongomyniad raised her right hand, and a powerful light of divinity shot straight toward Gawain, blasting his defenseless body backward and causing him to crash heavily into a support pillar of the palace.
Gawain, having fallen to the ground, was on the verge of death, blood seeping from the corners of his mouth, yet he still had not completely lost consciousness despite this lethal strike.
Even without turning his head, one could feel the terror of that strike. Mordred couldn't help but exclaim: "As expected of Gawain; he ranks first in endurance among the Knights of the Round Table."
Rhongomyniad glanced at the whispering Mordred, who immediately closed her mouth obediently.
"Listen, I have delivered a fatal blow to Sir Gawain, yet he still survived. Therefore, I have decided to pardon his sins. Does anyone object?"
The Knights of the Round Table said in unison: "No."
Mordred's somewhat eccentric words were mixed in: "Mm, as long as it is Father's decision, then it is correct."
After the King stepped away, the group of Round Table knights gathered to discuss.
"The Master of Chaldea, huh... Sir Tristan, you have fought them. What do you think of the strength of those people?"
Taking a look at Gawain, who had fallen into a sleep as peaceful as an infant's, Agravain asked Tristan.
"Hmm... the time I spent fighting that person was very short, so it is difficult to judge. However, based on the exchange between Sir Gawain and the opponent, he should be on par with Sir Lancelot, or perhaps even stronger..."
Hearing Tristan's words, Mordred's eyes widened in surprise.
"Stronger than Lancelot!?"
Lancelot was one of the strongest combat forces in the Knights of the Round Table and a hero known as the strongest knight.
Even Gawain, in his triple-strength state, could only fight Lancelot to a draw.
"Is he really that strong... are the guys from Chaldea actually that formidable?"
Agravain was also slightly surprised, though compared to the somewhat eccentric Mordred, Agravain appeared much more restrained.
While Agravaine and Tristan were both contemplating how to respond, Mordred spoke up directly.
"Facing an opponent like this, maintaining the knight's spirit of a one-on-one duel is just too stupid."
A flash of excitement crossed Mordred's eyes, and she said with anticipation:
"Let's just all attack together!"
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