Chapter 29: Is This... A Post-War Reward?
At this point, Noah took a deep breath.
He knew that previously, once he had developed to a certain extent, he had often been semi-forced into declaring war on Vortigern, and on many occasions, he was even directly provoked into war by Vortigern.
But this time was clearly different.
In this simulation, he had made thorough preparations and, driven by the conviction that he could win, he took the initiative to declare war on Vortigern.
He trusted his judgment.
Because he understood Vortigern all too well.
This understanding came from multiple simulations of Vortigern's reactions, from decades of battling and comprehending its nature, and from witnessing its resolve when pushed to the brink...
Perhaps even Vortigern itself didn't know itself as well as Noah did.
And it was precisely because he understood the White Dragon so thoroughly that he chose to proactively declare war on Vortigern. With this in mind, he believed that this time, he should be able to overcome the White Dragon in the most straightforward manner!
[The Saxon barbarian forces were no match for your troops at all.]
[Without even deploying the Purification Knight Order, the troops equipped with alchemical gear and led by several Knights of the Round Table easily suppressed the Saxon barbarians.]
[Witnessing this, Vortigern could no longer remain idle and took action directly.]
[You had been waiting for it for a long time.]
[You took the lead, with Artoria wielding Excalibur and Avalon following behind you, alongside Scáthach brandishing her twin spears. Lancelot and King Pellinore's family formed the third unit, with Merlin and Morgan standing alongside them.]
[The Purification Knight Order advanced to the front lines, while the rest of the main forces wielded the specially prepared alchemical equipment they had long readied.]
[An alchemical formation designed specifically for Vortigern was rapidly constructed, and countless gleaming alchemical projectiles rained down upon Vortigern like a storm.]
[Vortigern attempted to strike at them but was intercepted directly by you, Scáthach, and Artoria.]
[It sought to wreak havoc upon Britain, but Morgan, skillfully utilizing the alchemical formation, blocked its efforts.]
[It tried to slaughter the troops, but Merlin's magecraft thwarted its intentions.]
[At this moment, Vortigern transformed into its colossal form, entwined with the Leylines of Britannia. As it emerged in this state, the sun vanished from the sky, and neither the moon nor the stars appeared. The entire sky, and even the whole world, was shrouded in darkness.]
[Light itself was devoured by it.]
[Even subsequently lit lamps would extinguish in Vortigern's presence.]
[Vortigern assumed that, upon entering this state, your forces would falter and descend into chaos. However, having faced Vortigern countless times before, you had long prepared for this very scenario and made all the necessary arrangements.]
[The troops remained cohesive, and the formations held firm.]
[Vortigern was taken aback by this sight, utterly unable to comprehend the reason behind it.]
[After Vortigern entered its second form, under your direction, your forces shifted into a formation tailored to counter Vortigern's second phase. Many large-scale alchemical devices, previously ineffective against Vortigern's smaller form, were now activated.]
[Even enhanced, these machines could no longer harm Vortigern in his current state—a fact you had long understood. Thus, you now reduced their offensive power and imbued them with numerous supportive and restraining functions.]
[The primary force against Vortigern's second form had always been you, while these large-scale machines began their interference, containment, and prevention of Britain's destruction during your battle with him.]
[Vortigern was completely suppressed.]
[He never anticipated that you had seen through every aspect of his being. As he watched you, unaffected by the darkness, wielding a sword and lance in combat against him, genuine fear took root in his heart.]
[But his goal differed from yours—and this was his final resort.]
[He began absorbing energy. This time, even alchemical devices ceased to function, and magecraft became unusable. All light, all that could bring hope, all that could illuminate the path—everything was drawn into Vortigern.]
[He was the antithesis of light, the manifestation of Britain's will, the very essence of cold and despair. He was the Vile King, Vortigern.]
[The darkness deepened, not a single glimmer of light remaining.]
[Even the radiance of the Holy Sword could not tear through this blackness.]
[And in that very moment, you raised the Holy Lance high.]
[With the sun obscured by darkness, you lifted Britain's own daylight.]
[Leaping upward, you held the Holy Lance aloft. The brilliance in your hand became the world's sole light, and the hope borne of this radiance became the world's only hope.]
[Left Hand of God—Gandálfr, activate]
[The thirteen restraints on the Holy Lance were temporarily released. The glory of the Holy Lance transformed into streams of truth, coiling around the shaft. As the full power of Rhongomyniad was unleashed, the Pillar of Light that anchored the world's surface and connected heaven and earth finally illuminated the entire world, dispelling all darkness brought by Vortigern.]
[The world shifted from pure black to pure white.]
[And at the center of the light, you raised your voice in a cry:]
["Holy Lance, weigh anchor."]
[The 'Pillar of Light' reappeared.]
[This time, it descended directly from the heavens, piercing downward toward Vortigern's location.]
[Before this brilliance, even Vortigern seemed insignificant.]
[This was a radiance even he could not devour.]
[Pinned directly by the 'Pillar of Light,' Vortigern could not even self-destruct. His life vanished in that single strike.]
[Vortigern, who had spent nearly his entire life accompanied by despair and darkness, finally fell within this radiance.]
[He was nailed by the 'Pillar of Light' upon this land he deeply loved, and thus his life came to an end.]
[In his final moments, you heard his voice once more:]
["I have failed. I have succeeded. Britain is destroyed. Britain endures forever."]
[You had won.]
[Vortigern was defeated by you. The White Dragon that had shrouded Britain for decades was finally overcome.]
[The darkness receded, and the sun emerged once more. Nearly everyone raised their weapons high, cheering incessantly.]
[From this day forth, from Pictavia to Hibernia, your name would be known to all. They understood that henceforth, they were the people of King Arthur.]
Seeing that Vortigern hadn't pulled any unexpected moves this time, Noah breathed a sigh of relief.
This was the first time he had normally overcome this White Dragon in a simulation... Indeed, the key to defeating this White Dragon was the Holy Lance Rhongomyniad.
Although Noah still felt somewhat puzzled by Vortigern's final words, sensing there might be hidden secrets in this route involving Vortigern, compared to pondering these matters, he was clearly more focused on what would happen next now that he had overcome Vortigern.
Now the curse from Vortigern was gone, and the threat from Vortigern was gone too.
Noah genuinely wanted to see what would unfold next.
Would it be matters related to Rome?
Or had the fact that the Scourge of God hadn't died yet led to another crisis that would erupt because of her?
Just as Noah was thinking this, he then saw the simulation screen display the following segment.
[After defeating Vortigern, you fell into an exhausted sleep from overusing your power]
[In your dream, you saw Merlin]
[But it wasn't the Merlin you were familiar with, the male form of Merlin, but another, completely unfamiliar, female Merlin]
[Although you didn't know how you could distinguish between them, when you heard her voice, you instinctively recognized from her voice that this female Merlin was not the Merlin you knew]
[You felt puzzled that there could be two Merlins in the world]
[And the female Merlin walked over, directly reached out to wrap her arms around your neck, and pressed her face close]
[She initiated a special exchange with you]