In the depths of the forest, Saber—Artoria Pendragon—continued pressing forward. Suddenly, a figure emerged before her.
"Lancer?"
"Apologies," Diarmuid Ua Duibhne said with a sheepish smile. "I let him get away."
Chasing down an opponent and failing wasn't exactly something to be proud of.
"Then..." Artoria narrowed her eyes, shifting into a battle stance. "Why are you standing in my way?"
"My Master is in danger. It seems he's already clashing with your Master," Diarmuid answered grimly.
Far off, the battle between Kiritsugu Emiya and Lord El-Melloi Archibald—Kenneth—raged on. Kenneth was being utterly outmatched.
"It's all going according to Kiritsugu Emiya's plans," Lancer muttered, clearly frustrated.
"Go," Artoria said without hesitation, lowering her sword. She refused to take advantage of such a situation. Her knightly code forbade such dishonor.
"I apologize for my Master's actions," Lancer said earnestly.
"It's fine. Fight for your honor as a knight."
Diarmuid placed a hand over his heart and gave a respectful knight's salute. His form shimmered with prana as he vanished, leaving only a breeze in his wake.
As Diarmuid left, Artoria pressed forward once more. In her heart, she knew—Kiritsugu Emiya wasn't her priority. Alice was.
—
Elsewhere in the forest, Kotomine Kirei silently approached Irisviel. Without hesitation, he raised a Black Key and lunged at her.
Clang!
The Black Key flew from his hand, embedding deeply in a nearby tree.
Kirei looked up sharply—only to see a knight astride a white horse, his gleaming silver lance pointed squarely at him.
"King..." Kirei murmured with a trace of respect. "This woman—?"
"Don't move," Arthur said coldly. "For the strong to bully the weak is a violation of chivalry. And for men to attack women? Even more so."
"But—"
"No 'but.' She's not the true Master. Kiritsugu Emiya is. Killing her serves no purpose."
Irisviel and Maiya Hisau watched in shock. This man... how could he know?
"What are you staring at?" Arthur smirked. "I know far more than you think."
In the moonlight, the knight's features were both regal and stunning—his presence felt like something out of a myth.
"Leave."
Kirei hesitated. But Arthur's words had weight. Keeping Irisviel alive could confuse their enemies.
At that moment, the voice of Hassan-i-Sabbah echoed into Kirei's ears.
"The battle is over. Only King Arthur and Saber remain here. My Master, we must retreat."
Kirei nodded. He turned to Arthur. "Then I'll take my leave. Farewell, King."
With that, Kirei retreated into the shadows—calmly, without fear.
Arthur dismounted, plunging his lance into the ground with a frown. The unfamiliar weapon felt unnatural in his hand.
He approached Irisviel and gently lifted her onto his steed. "I'll save you this once. But in return, I'm taking what lies inside you."
Arthur placed his hand gently over her chest, channeling his magic.
A golden light shimmered through Irisviel's body. Gradually, an artifact materialized in Arthur's hand.
Artoria's scabbard—Avalon.
"This is it."
Just then, Artoria arrived at the scene. Her eyes widened the moment she saw Avalon. She could feel its call—its pull toward her.
"So, it's here," Arthur said, calmly stowing the artifact away.
"Thank you for saving Irisviel," Artoria said respectfully. Despite Avalon's importance to her, the knight before her had just saved her Master. Gratitude was due.
"No need to thank me. The honor of a knight should never be sullied by pride."
Arthur's words resonated deeply with her. A subtle connection had formed between them—two sides of the same coin. The same chivalry. The same ideals.
Artoria nodded
Arthur handed her the reins. "Take them back. I'll be going now."
"Thank you again."
"No need," he replied, already walking away. "Your Avalon—I'll return it. But not just yet."
Artoria watched him go, puzzled. If you're going to return it… why not now?
Still, she didn't question it. Arthur was another version of herself. She knew she could trust him.
Artoria picked up Maiya, mounted the horse, and rode away.
—
Meanwhile, in a dark, winding path—
"Still running? Where exactly do you think you're going?" A shining knight chased a man in tatters—Gilles de Rais.
The knight was Gawain, one of King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table. Gilles was clearly exhausted, tripping as he fled.
"Damn it! If I had more mana, you wouldn't have caught up to me!"
But now, drained and broken, Gilles had nowhere left to run.
"You desecrated my king's honor. And now, I, Gawain—Knight of the Round—will send you to Valhalla myself!"
Gawain drew closer, lance raised.
"Like hell you will!" Gilles bellowed and summoned a horde of writhing, grotesque tentacle abominations with his remaining prana.
"Tch. These things again?" Gawain didn't even blink.
Swish!
In a flash, a dozen monsters were annihilated, reduced to mist by a single sweep.
Gawain stepped before Gilles, sword raised. "Farewell."
Gilles shut his eyes in resignation.
But the deathblow never came.
A radiant battle flag slammed into the ground between him and Gawain, stopping the fatal strike.
"Jeanne...! Jeanne!!!" Gilles gasped, eyes wide. Standing before him was a beautiful maiden clad in silver armor.
"You came to save me! I knew you hadn't forgotten me!" Gilles cried in joy, trembling.
"Of course, my Marshal. How could I ever forget you?" Jeanne smiled, her voice gentle.
"But... that other one wasn't you!"
"No. She only looked like me."
Gawain scowled. Their banter irked her deeply.
"Jeanne d'Arc, I didn't expect you to fall so far."
"Falling... is simply embracing my true self."
"You dare defy my king by saving this man?" Gawain roared. "Then you too shall be erased!"
She raised her blade, brilliant light gathering at its edge—
Excalibur Galatine
Type: Anti-Army Noble Phantasm
Rank: A+
Range: 20–40
Max Targets: 300
Jeanne didn't intend to engage her directly. With a sharp whistle, a massive dragon soared through the skies toward her.
She hurled Gilles onto the beast's back and leapt up after him.
"You won't escape!"
Gawain swung down her shining sword—light burst forth, like a miniature sun tearing through the sky.
The force sent shockwaves through the air, slashing the dragon's path.
Jeanne grimaced, feeling the full weight of the Noble Phantasm's power. With a surge of mana, she shielded herself and Gilles.
SWOOSH!
The beam of light cleaved the dragon in two.
The beast howled in agony and crashed into the sea below.
Gawain scoured the shoreline.
"Strange… no sign of their bodies. Did they… escape?"
He narrowed his eyes, searching—but Jeanne and Gilles were nowhere to be seen.
With no more leads, Gawain turned away, his blade still gleaming in the moonlight.
---------
Need More Chapters?
Give this fic more Power stones!!!!!
Every 250 Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
------------