C209

Altrouge, the princess of the hybrid race of Dead Apostles and True Ancestors, amused herself by teasing a comatose True Ancestor girl with a straw. Despite being unconscious for over two years, the girl still displayed faint signs of life.

Growing bored with the game, she carelessly discarded the straw and leaned against the edge of the bed. She began to absentmindedly swing her smooth and tender legs while gazing over at Merem Solomon, who was seated not far away.

"Merem!" Altrouge called out.

Merem approached and asked, "What can I do for you, Your Highness?"

"I've grown weary of this tiresome island. When can we finally depart?" she asked, her impatience evident.

Gently, Merem reminded her, "Your Highness, we have yet to fulfill the king's mission."

With a huff, she retorted, "Isn't your incompetence the reason for our delay? We could have easily conquered this island, but you opted to skulk around in this tiny area, squandering our precious time."

Feeling somewhat at a loss, Merem remained silent. However, a nearby white mouse chimed in, "Your Highness, you mustn't speak ill of our lord in such a manner. The fairy is extremely sensitive to the aura of Dead Apostles. A wide-ranging search would only cause it to flee."

Altrouge questioned, "And how are you so certain that the fairy is even on this island?"

Merem reminded her, "Your Highness, do you not recall? The king himself mentioned detecting the fairy's aura on this very island."

She snorted dismissively and sneered, "Crimson Moon is nothing but a fool. If his senses were of any use, he wouldn't have spent nearly a thousand years fruitlessly chasing after this fairy..."

Merem's expression turned stern as he interjected, "Your Highness! I cannot stand by while you insult the king in such a manner!"

"Isn't it true, though?" she scoffed. "He wields power surpassing the gods of this world, yet cowers before an insignificant fairy. He has immense strength but fails to utilize it effectively. If he's not a fool, then what is he?"

The white mouse interjected with a tone of resignation, "Your Highness, the king may indeed be troubled by something, but it's certainly not the fairy."

"And what exactly is it, then?" she demanded impatiently.

The white mouse hesitated before admitting, "I... I don't know. The king has never confided in anyone about his concerns, only instructing us to capture the fairy."

She persisted, "That's exactly my point—he's a fool. If he's so desperate to catch the fairy, why doesn't he come to the island himself?"

The white mouse sighed in resignation, "There's nothing we can do about it. Gaia forbids the king from setting foot on the island, and besides, he has to investigate the numerous traces of the fairy scattered across the European continent."

Merem interjected, "Over the years, our discreet search has yielded some results. We've at least determined that the aura the king initially sensed originated from a forest in this kingdom. I believe that within a few days, we'll uncover more leads."

"Hmph! Mere leads, you say? Ugh, you're all so tedious! Continue playing your little games without me! I'm done with this!" Altrouge huffed, got off the bed, and stormed towards the door.

Merem halted her, asking helplessly, "Your Highness, where do you intend to go?"

"I'm leaving! I can't stand this dull place any longer!" she snapped.

"But don't you enjoy the company of the True Ancestor girl?" Merem gestured to the unconscious girl on the bed.

She frowned in dissatisfaction, "Her soul remains dormant; she's nothing more than an empty vessel. I've grown weary of playing with her. I want out! I need to leave this place."

"Your Highness, that's not possible," the white mouse intervened. "If you depart the island so abruptly, Crimson Moon will be furious. You're well aware of the consequences when he loses his temper, aren't you?"

The mere thought of it sent an involuntary shudder down Altrouge's spine.

Suddenly, her eyes widened in shock as she pointed past Merem, exclaiming, "What... what is that?"

"Your Highness, I won't fall for this trick again," Merem asserted.

"I'm not trying to fool you! Just look behind you! What is that?" she insisted, her eyes wide as she pointed past Merem.

A blinding flash of light illuminated Altrouge's delicate features, casting her face in an ethereal glow that left Merem feeling unnerved. Sensing something strange, he turned to face the source of the light, his pupils contracting to pinpricks as he took in the breathtaking sight before him.

Against the backdrop of the dark night sky, a towering column of light seemed to rise up from the ground, stretching towards the heavens like a beacon of power and majesty. Its brilliance was so intense that it seemed to drive away the very fabric of the night sky, leaving only a vast expanse of pure, radiant light in its wake.

As the wind howled and the clouds churned overhead, Merem felt a sense of unease settle in his gut. The sheer power emanating from the light was palpable, a tangible force that seemed to twist and warp the very air around it. It was a manifestation of raw, untamed energy, a force of nature that defied comprehension.

"What... what is that?" he asked, incredulous.

Astonishment overtook Merem as he stared at the spectacle.

Suddenly, the towering white pillar of light birthed countless smaller beams, each carrying a terrifying energy. They streaked across the sky like meteors, scattering in every direction.

One such beam hurtled towards the nearby kingdom where Altrouge and Merem stood.

Panicked, Merem sprang into action.

In the blink of an eye -

"Boom, boom, boom, boom -"

A colossal whale, as massive as a mountain, emerged from the landscape and roared in defiance of the incoming beam.

With determination, it charged at the pillar of light, attempting to shield the kingdom with its enormous body.

The gargantuan creature, over two hundred meters tall and mountainous in scale, caused the very earth to tremble as it moved.

However -

"Boom, boom, boom, boom -"

In the span of a heartbeat, the beam of light pierced through the mighty whale's formidable body and hurtled towards the kingdom's palace.

"Princess Altrouge!" Merem bellowed.

"I'm here, I'm here! Don't make such a fuss!" Altrouge snapped in irritation. She lifted a delicate hand, and a strange power enveloped the area.

The blood moon hung high overhead, and a blood-red shield materialized around the palace.

The white beam of light from the heavens crashed into the blood-red shield, causing even the space around them to momentarily freeze. Then, a deafening roar erupted like thunder.

"Boom, boom, boom, boom -!!!"

The blood-red shield appeared to shatter, but fortunately, it managed to withstand the attack. It was left covered in cracks like spiderwebs, but it held strong.

Altrouge breathed a sigh of relief, preparing to mock Merem for his fear. But in the next moment, the towering pillar of light unleashed several dozen beams that converged on her.

Altrouge's expression twisted in shock. "What... what's happening?"

Her question wasn't just hers alone. It was also shared by the kings and even Shirou, for the beams of light emanating from the Tower of Light were striking not only Merem's kingdom, but other nations as well, particularly Cornwall.

As the beams of light descended, Shirou hastily projected twelve Caliburn swords, using them to shield against the onslaught.

Despite his efforts, the beams of light overwhelmed the swords with ease.

Had it not been for the timely aid of Merlin and Morgan, who led the court magi in deploying a massive True Ether Cannon to fend off the attack, the Tower of Light's beams would have decimated the heart of the city that Cornwall had worked tirelessly to construct.

The potential loss of life would have been catastrophic!

"What in the world is that?" Shirou asked, his gaze fixed on the Tower of Light as he turned to Merlin for answers.

"It's a tower of light that anchors the layers of the world." Merlin replied.

"Rhongomyniad? So that means... Camelot has finally fallen?" Shirou murmured to himself, his expression grave.

...

Camelot, once a thriving capital, now lay in ruins.

The ground was littered with the broken bodies of defeated knights, their internal organs grotesquely exposed and scattered about.

Rivers of blood ran across the landscape, giving it a dark and gruesome color. Adding to this nightmarish sight were monstrous creatures engrossed in the horrific act of feasting upon the remains, all within the view of the few unfortunate survivors.

The once-beautiful city was now a desolate wasteland, inhabited only by the depraved creatures that roamed its streets.

Vortigern stood before the throne of Camelot Palace, carefully placing the holy lance upon it. As he did, an eerie transformation overcame him, and his once-healthy complexion turned pallid, taking on a sickly, ghostly hue.

Gradually, the Holy Lance Rhongomyniad began to emit a brilliant, star-like light. Its shape shifted from that of a lance to that of a towering pillar of light, shattering the very foundations of the palace and reaching up to connect with the heavens above.

The light illuminated the darkness of the night sky, casting a radiant glow across the ruined city of Camelot.

Vortigern drew in a deep breath, his transformation into a white dragon growing more pronounced by the moment. At long last, he had succeeded in conquering Camelot and had seized control over sixty percent of the land, establishing himself as the ultimate ruler of the island and the last "God" of the Age of Gods.

As his physical form continued to evolve, his connection to humanity waned, leaving behind only the steadfast convictions that had driven him throughout his ascent. Even as a "God," he remained unwavering in his beliefs, never losing faith in himself or his cause.

Meksis spoke with deference, addressing the "God" before him. "Your Majesty, may I ask how the surrendered nobles will be dealt with?"

The "God" remained silent.

"Your Majesty?" Meksis asked cautiously.

The "God" turned to face him, and as their eyes met, it was clear that there was no humanity left within that imposing gaze.

"Commence the purging, Meksis," the god commanded.

"As you command, Your Majesty," Meksis replied with reverence, before taking his leave to begin the process of purging the surrendered nobles.

The lifeless forms of Sir Ywain and his companions were put on display within the palace, their once-noble bodies now mere husks, sullied with the filth of their spilled blood. The pure white walls, which had been blessed by the fairies, were now marred with crimson stains, serving as a stark reminder of the brutality and violence that had befallen Camelot.