Chapter 262: A Clash of Knights and Strategies

"Hug with Galahad? That's a bit too much," Ritsuka Fujimaru murmured thoughtfully. "As for holding Mash? Well, that's something else entirely. After all, Mash only inherited Galahad's spiritual foundation. Even in terms of gender alone, there's a significant difference between the two of them. Mash is a girl now."

Morgan watched Melusine departing with Mash from the stands, then turned her gaze towards Ritsuka. "Aren't you worried?" she asked.

"What's there to worry about? I believe if Mash is in danger, she'll protect herself," Ritsuka replied confidently.

Morgan studied her carefully. "You have a lot of faith in Mash."

"Of course," Ritsuka said with conviction. "If you had seen everything we've been through together, you'd know why I believe in her so much."

"Is that so?" Morgan's voice held a hint of admiration. "That's good to hear."

She glanced over the battlefield again before addressing Ritsuka. "It seems that this time, we are the ones who will claim victory. Look around, we are the only ones left standing as victors. Whether it's you or the Scottish warriors, none can challenge us now."

Ritsuka understood Morgan's implication. It wasn't just about the current contest but the larger struggle to restore the singularity.

"The setbacks are only temporary, and we believe that the future belongs to us," Da Vinci interjected, her voice filled with unwavering optimism.

Morgan looked at her with a knowing smile. "Words are sometimes not as powerful as actions in the real world."

She knew precisely what Leonardo Da Vinci was capable of. It would be unwise to engage in a war of words with the great polymath. "I thought Her Majesty Morgan was going to argue with me," Da Vinci teased lightly, noting Morgan's reserved demeanor.

"I'm not foolish," Morgan said with a faint smile. "I'll take my leave for now. If you still want to witness the upcoming battles, feel free to do so. As for your efforts to correct our history here, if you decide to give up, you can leave whenever you want."

"Very well, farewell, Your Majesty Morgan. Next time we meet, it will be on the battlefield," Da Vinci responded politely.

"Goodbye, Your Majesty. We won't be going easy on you," Ritsuka added with a more casual tone as if bidding farewell to an old friend rather than an adversary.

Morgan's expression softened as she remembered her beloved Lott, who always insisted that all people were equal. She looked at Ritsuka. "I must admit, I prefer this straightforward manner of bidding farewell."

With that, she turned and left. Watching her depart, Ritsuka glanced at Da Vinci.

"How much knowledge has Miss Morgan accumulated!" she sighed.

"Even so, we still have to find a way to defeat her and Lott," Ritsuka said resolutely.

"Yes, we must," Da Vinci agreed, though they both knew the difficulty of the task ahead.

They turned their attention to the battlefield, where the next set of battles was about to commence.

The next round of battles nearly turned into a civil war within Camelot, or more accurately, a clash among the Knights of the Round Table.

First, Galahad took on Baobhan Sith. Despite Baobhan Sith's formidable abilities, she was no match for Galahad, who had grown immensely powerful. She tried to hold her ground but was ultimately defeated.

Then, it was Kay's turn, who had previously bested the Scottish warriors, but now faced Gawain. Still empowered by the triple state of her divine blessing, Gawain overwhelmed Kay. There was no way he could win against her in such a state, and he too fell.

The final match was supposed to be between Altria and Melusine. However, when the time came, neither of them appeared. Altria was still eating, and Melusine was busy comforting Mash. The referee and the audience were left baffled.

Despite repeated calls from the referee, they couldn't find either competitor. Finally, the referee had no choice but to declare both of them as having abstained from the match.

The absence of these two powerhouses left the spectators disappointed, and even Scáthach, watching from above, showed signs of regret. She had hoped to face Melusine, a warrior of equal strength, and Altria, who, with the holy spear Rhongomyniad, would have been a formidable opponent. But there was no hurry; Camelot's forces would remain in Scotland for some time. There would be other opportunities to test their strength.

With the absence of Altria and Melusine, the audience turned their attention to the final match between Galahad and Gawain. However, Gawain, looking up at the sky, decided to withdraw.

"Forget it. Now is not the right time for me to face you," she said to Galahad.

"Thank you, Princess, for your humility. It is indeed too late now," Galahad replied respectfully.

The Scottish audience, unfamiliar with the deeper meaning behind their words, might have thought Gawain meant she needed more training. But the Knights of the Round Table knew she was referring to the current time of day. Gawain's blessing from the sun was fading as the sun set in the west, and she knew she wouldn't be able to win against Galahad without it.

Moreover, fighting now would only expose her own vulnerabilities, which could be exploited by enemies in the future. Better to concede early and avoid unnecessary risk.

With the decision made, the referee, though disappointed, announced, "I declare the winner of this tournament to be Galahad, Knight of the Round Table from Camelot."

The Scottish crowd erupted in protests. After the intense battles in the earlier rounds, they had been expecting a spectacular final, only to be let down by this sudden turn of events. If someone had led the chant, they might have even demanded a refund.

Sensing the growing discontent, the Knights of the Round Table stepped forward, their presence immediately silencing the crowd. The fearsome Baobhan Sith, Kay, and Galahad, along with the other knights, cast their steely gazes towards the stands. No one dared to raise their voice in protest.

At this moment, Lott appeared in the center of the field, his calm demeanor soothing the tense atmosphere. "Don't worry, we won't harm you," he assured the Scots, his reputation for fairness and reliability calming their nerves.

Seeing the crowd settle, Lott continued, "As for why we came to Scotland and held this tournament, I'm sure many of you have already guessed. I'll be straightforward. We are here to unite England and Scotland to face the challenges ahead together."

"Challenges?" The word hung in the air, and the Scots exchanged uncertain glances.

Lott nodded. "Yes, difficult times are coming. If you believe our strength is sufficient, then join us. If not, we'll prepare our armies and meet you on the battlefield."

His confidence was palpable, and the Scots knew in their hearts that even if they united, Lott would crush them effortlessly. Many of the Scottish nobles present had already made up their minds. Joining Camelot was the safest choice.

In the stands, Mash and Ritsuka, who had returned to watch the proceedings, shared a knowing look. They both understood that the real struggle was far from over.