Across the infinite multiverse, upon hearing Guinaifen's identity revealed, the viewers outside the light curtain couldn't help but be astonished.
After all, the name "Guinevere" held extraordinary significance for the Round Table.
Guinaifen had said it herself earlier: in a sense, Guinevere's Spirit Origin was a trump card for her, not to be used until a critical moment.
And now, Guinaifen had directly told Ritsuka Fujimaru that her real name was Guinevere.
What was this? If Lancelot had been there, he probably would have performed a light-speed defection on the spot.
---o---
[Light Curtain Commentary]
L: "Is it because she already trusts Ritsuka and the others? Or is she trying to distance herself from the Guinevere of the Type-Moon world?"
Detective Conan: "It should be a bit of both. For Guinaifen, she was initially hiding her name because she was worried about its deeper implications. Later, it was to use Lancelot to save her own life. Now that she's been rescued, she has less need to hide her true name. It's better to use this opportunity to sever ties with the Guinevere of the Type-Moon world."
Kiritsugu Emiya: "Her thinking is sound, but… that knight named Agravain will not let her go now, regardless of whether she is Guinevere or not. Hmph… better to kill the wrong person than to let one escape. In a sense, he and I are alike."
Boothill: "What a treasure. Getting hunted down just for a name, that's just the most precious kind of cute. I really don't know what's going on in that Agravain's head. Can't he confirm things before making a move? That's some real treasure, almost on the same level as those Destruction believers."
Dan Heng, the Cold-Faced Young Dragon: "To be caught in a conflict because of a name? Sigh, I don't know if the Xianzhou can reach that world in time. Although Guinaifen is an outworlder, she is now a resident of the Xianzhou Luofu, practically half a Xianzhou native. And… that world is suspected to have Abundance Abominations."
---o---
[On the light curtain, Agravain's expression was cold, his eyes filled with killing intent as he stared at Guinaifen.]
No, to him, she should be called Guinevere now.
Guinaifen, however, stared back into Agravain's eyes without a trace of fear.
This caused the latter's expression to shift slightly. In truth… Agravain wasn't a fool. At first, he had indeed mistaken Guinaifen for that witch-queen. But after calming down a bit, he wasn't so quick to equate this Guinaifen with the Guinevere from his memories.
However, if Guinaifen wasn't Guinevere, how could her Spirit Origin be explained? Generally speaking, unless a Heroic Spirit actively possesses someone, a normal person would not have a Spirit Origin symbolizing a hero's identity.
There were too many questions. However, for the King's grand plan, all of this was irrelevant. Killing Guinaifen remained the top priority.
"In the end, is a battle still unavoidable?"
Seeing Agravain's expression, Xuanzang sighed. If she could, as a woman of the cloth, she would prefer not to let this conflict continue.
However, as if remembering something, a hint of complexity entered Xuanzang's eyes as she looked at Agravain.
"Agravain, this is the last question for tonight. No, after a half-hour-long standoff and the time spent infiltrating, it should almost be dawn."
Taking a deep breath, Xuanzang held her staff, her eyes turning solemn. "Since you believe the Lion King is absolutely correct, and that only she can save this world, then… why does the 'world' have an end?"
"The End of the World?"
Hearing this, Agravain was visibly stunned.
"I have been to the other side of the desert. I saw that there, which is why I returned."
"Agravain, even if I knew the truth, I would not weep. Since you want to invite me to join the Round Table, then please answer me: what exactly are you planning to do?"
"And… is the Lion King truly still sane?"
"She has long since lost her human heart! She is no longer a Heroic Spirit!?"
Xuanzang's words left Agravain speechless. He fell silent for a moment before saying, "To have crossed that desert on your own two feet… indeed, I have underestimated you."
"Negotiations have failed. The purge resumes."
Agravain had no intention of answering Xuanzang's questions. Rather, there was no longer any need to stall for time.
A moment ago, a Purified Knight had given him a signal. Lancelot had already dealt with the old man of the mountain outside. Although he hadn't found the main body, he had eliminated all of the other's duplicates.
Furthermore, Mordred was rapidly approaching the fortress. With him, that made three members of the Round Table—more than enough strength to quell any obstacle for the King.
"It seems you have no intention of answering my questions, Agravain." Xuanzang shook her head. A pale golden magical energy erupted around her, and even her eyes turned gold. In that instant, her entire aura underwent a world-shaking transformation.
No matter how pathetic Xuanzang's previous performance had been, one must never forget her identity: the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi, the second disciple of the Buddha, the one fated to retrieve the scriptures from the West.
This identity alone made Xuanzang a top-tier Servant, comparable to a god.
"With a single Palm of the Buddha, I can flatten those useless knights like pancakes!"
Seeing the Buddha's light flickering around Xuanzang, Agravain was also filled with apprehension. "You intend to use your full power? Xuanzang, it was truly a mistake to let you leave the Holy City."
"Such might… even Sir Lancelot would find it extremely difficult to handle. However, in the eyes of this modified Order of Purified Knights, you are not an unbeatable foe."
"Hmph, it may be a battle of attrition, but I do not mind. We have plenty of time."
Then, with a cold wave of his hand, Agravain commanded, "Now then, Guinevere, Xuanzang, and you people from a foreign land, this place shall be your grave."
As his icy words fell, the Purified Knights immediately sprang into action.]
---o---
The End of the World?
Across the infinite multiverse, countless viewers took note of this term upon seeing it.
What is the end of the world? Isn't the Earth round? How can there be an end?
All Riejuu Should Explode: "That Agravain, the moment he heard the words 'End of the World,' he was ready to stop talking. It seems he knows that if he continues this conversation, he won't be able to win against Xuanzang."
King Arthur: "The End of the World? Has that Singularity truly reached such a state? The Holy Lance, the Lion King… could it be that she intends to…"
Yukino Yukinoshita: "To cross a desert teeming with demonic beasts all by herself… one can only say that she is truly worthy of being the Tang Sanzang from the legends. Even without the help of Sun Wukong and the others, she is no ordinary demonic beast's match."
Utaha Kasumigaoka: "Because of her previous performance, it seems we all underestimated her a little. The reincarnation of Jin Chanzi, a high monk who attained enlightenment after eighty-one tribulations… Hiss, in the Type-Moon world, that's easily the standard for a top-tier Heroic Spirit!"
Xuanzang: "Hehe, you don't have to praise me so much. I was really angry this time, that's why I got so violent. I'm usually a very nice person! Ehehe…"
---o---
[On the light curtain, as the Purified Knights moved, a blue figure suddenly shot from afar, like a meteor streaking through the dark dungeon, a single sword thrusting towards Agravain's head.]
The newcomer had long, flowing hair and a graceful posture, like a chivalrous heroine dancing through the air.
That's right, this person was none other than Li Sushang.
Ritsuka had secretly told her moments ago that if negotiations failed, she should take out Agravain first. The principle of "to catch bandits, first catch their king" was clearly not unique to Shenzhou.
Although Li Sushang disliked sneak attacks, she wasn't so rigid. Agravain was using superior numbers and fighting a battle of attrition. A sneak attack from her was certainly justifiable.
And in practice, this strike from Li Sushang wasn't even a sneak attack. After all, she had started her move right in front of Agravain; it was just that he couldn't react in time.
The blue longsword was accompanied by a faint white film of light, exuding a cold and distant aura. This was Li Sushang's sword intent.
Li Sushang's sudden attack made Agravain's pupils shrink. In the next moment, blood-red chains mixed with magical energy materialized in the space around him, blocking her path.
The vast sea of blood-red energy clashed with Li Sushang's sword qi. The impact of Honkai Energy and magical energy made the dungeon begin to tremble.
Then… on the other side, the Purified Knights also charged towards Xuanzang.
"Namo Amitabha…"
Xuanzang first formed a Buddha seal with one hand and uttered a chant. Immediately after, her golden eyes flashed with magical power.
A single palm!
BOOM!!!
Before the power of the Buddha, the Purified Knights were sent flying like swatted flies, completely powerless to resist.
It was at this moment that the crumbling dungeon, unable to withstand the impact of Xuanzang's palm and the clash of magical energy between Li Sushang and Agravain, began to collapse.
"Senpai, watch out!" Mash urgently deployed the Shield of Human Order, protecting everyone beneath it.
On the other side, Agravain, who was struggling to hold on against Li Sushang's sword qi, remained composed and continued to issue orders. "Ignore me! Pay no attention to the dungeon! Continue the attack!"
The Purified Knights were not human, nor were they Heroic Spirits. In a sense, they were merely combat weapons with simple intelligence, and they would only obey Agravain's commands.
"You have no regard for your own life? Under this young lady's sword, you won't last much longer."
A falling boulder flew past Li Sushang, but it was unable to cause her any harm.
Until now, Li Sushang had been completely at ease. Agravain had no doubt that in the next second, she would thrust her blade into his throat.
"It matters not. As long as the order is given, even if I die, these Purified Knights will continue to fight until Sir Mordred and Sir Lancelot arrive."
"Oh?" Seeing the fearless Agravain, Li Sushang couldn't help but feel a sliver of admiration for him. Nevertheless, she sighed and said, "Since you are already prepared, then you shall make your exit here."
"Yes, it should be an exit. After all, as a Heroic Spirit, you will not truly die."
Recalling the explanation from Ritsuka and Xuanzang, Li Sushang's wrist trembled slightly. In the next moment, the azure longsword, like cutting tofu, pierced Agravain's mana barrier and stabbed straight into his throat.
Bright red blood dripped slowly down Li Sushang's blade. Agravain did not give up his resistance, gripping the blade tightly with his hands, letting Li Sushang's sword qi slice open his skin.
"Adjutant…!" A nearby Purified Knight saw this and, with a look of alarm, wanted to help.
But Agravain held the blade tightly and said with a hoarse voice, "Ignore me! Continue the fight! Eliminate the King's obstacle!"
To be able to endure the pain of having his throat pierced by the Sword Ki of the Supreme Void and still issue such a command… even as an enemy, this knight named Agravain was worthy of respect.
However, even if his will was astonishing and he could barely resist Li Sushang's sword qi, the gap in their strength was laid bare.
Even a blessed Knight of the Round Table would be no match for Li Sushang, let alone an Agravain without the King's blessing.
The sword's edge pierced deeper into his throat, bit by bit. Agravain's face was now contorted in pain, and the chains wrapped around the blade vanished due to his agony.
But fortunately, fate had decreed that Agravain would not die here.
As the dungeon collapsed, the knight who had once killed Agravain had arrived!
A giant sword flew from afar, directly smashing towards the soon-to-be-victorious Li Sushang. This power was unlike that of an ordinary opponent; even Li Sushang could not afford to ignore the damage it could inflict.
And it was during Li Sushang's defense that Agravain's magical energy surged, reaching its critical point in an instant and tearing the surrounding debris from the collapsing dungeon to shreds.
The wind howled. Under Lancelot's cover, Agravain decisively fled, retreating backwards.
It was at this moment, with Agravain's retreat, that the countless Purified Knights outside simultaneously let loose a volley of arrows.
Countless arrows, imbued with magical energy, flew into the sky, raining down upon the ground like a downpour.
"Mash!"
Seeing this, Ritsuka's pupils shrank as she cried out.
But this time, Mash was powerless. She had just deployed Lord Camelot once and would have great difficulty doing so a second time.
Furthermore, this volley of arrows was specifically aimed at a defensive Servant like her. The magical energy had a piercing effect. Unless she could truly unleash the power of her treasure, otherwise… faced with this rain of arrows, Mash was helpless.
"When did so many people gather? I didn't even notice. So… this was a trap from the very beginning."
Li Sushang was not angry that Agravain had escaped. On the contrary, the fact that he was able to live was largely due to her showing mercy.
After all, Ritsuka had not explicitly ordered her to kill Agravain. Moreover, pointing her sword at a loyal knight was not in line with Li Sushang's principles.]
---o---