King of Knights (II)

Sensing a looming danger, Beast VI, just a step away from being born, began to restlessly stir.

Its seven heads, now resembling dragon heads, fixed on Arthur, seemingly eager to strike but hesitating for some reason.

"Not even willing to attack you... Seems like that girl truly loves you, fufu..." Mari glanced skyward, chuckling softly.

"That's just her idea of love... It's too heavy and dark... No one can bear it, not even me..." Arthur shook his head, his gaze clear and resolute.

At this moment, he was no longer the aloof and ruthless Lion King but the King of Knights bearing the weight of destiny.

"Meh, that's no big deal." Merlin waved her hand dismissively, then asked. "So, are you ready?"

"I once swore to fight against all evil..." Arthur placed his hand on his chest, his gaze unwavering. "Whether in life or death, this remains my eternal belief."

"Not bad, Arthur, that's my boy!" Merlin grinned and clapped her hands. "But even though the spirit is there, your equipment is lacking a bit. How can a brave knight slay dragons without a good sword?"

She flicked her staff into the air, and amidst a brilliant light, a golden holy sword known as the Sword of Promised Victory, Excalibur (Proto), slowly materialized.

"This sword took quite some effort for me to find. If you lose it again, I won't help you find it next time." Merlin complained.

As Arthur looked at this familiar holy sword, a hint of nostalgia and fondness welled up in his eyes.

"...Thank you."

He reached out his hand and firmly grasped the handle of the sword. A sensation of familiarity and warmth coursed through the sword, causing it to tremble slightly in joy for this long-awaited reunion.

"Long time no see, old friend..." Arthur's face lit up with a warm smile. "This time, let's fight side by side once again."

*ROOOAAARRR—!!!*

Beast VI suddenly let out a furious roar.

In the moment Excalibur appeared, old memories flooded its mind, followed by overwhelming anger and fear.

How could it have forgotten that sword?

Even to this day, it still vividly remembered the excruciating pain when its body was severed by that damnable sword.

If not for that, it would have turned this world into its playground, spreading evil and depravity to every corner.

Realizing the past was about to repeat, how could it sit idly by?

"I won't let you unleash that sword!" 

In the next second, the monstrous creature raised its seven heads, and the horns representing the 'Domina Cornam' emitted boundless light.

Soon, as if a voice emanated from the light, obscure yet majestic, it resonated throughout the endless sky, traversing the vast earth, echoing to every corner of the world, as grand as the tolling of the world's summit bell.

Amidst this dazzling light and majestic chanting, it seemed as if a fiery red star rose in the sky, covering the entire sky with its fiery glow, like a sea of fire floating in the clouds.

Before long, the sea of fire descended from the sky, like a fiery curtain falling toward the earth, a spectacle both magnificent and breathtaking.

However, the sharp-eyed Servants on the ground had already seen that it wasn't just a mere sea of fire; it was a massive meteorite the size of a mountain!

It burned fiercely as it tore through the atmosphere, trailing a long tail of flame that slashed across the sky, carrying unparalleled speed and power, traveling toward the ground.

Even before it drew near, its terrifying momentum filled everyone on the ground with near despair.

This was a true calamity.

Whether they were Servants or humans, beneath this divine power, all were as insignificant as ants, with no chance of resistance, only able to bow their heads and await death.

Seeing the incoming meteorite, Arthur's brow furrowed deeply.

If he fully unleashed Excalibur, he might be able to shatter the meteorite, but doing so would mean missing the optimal moment to destroy the Beast, allowing it to complete its transformation and be born.

On one side were his endangered fellow humans, on the other, the impending Beast's arrival.

Nevertheless, Arthur only hesitated for less than a second before making his decision.

He was a king who protected his people; he would never waver from this original belief.

"Fufu, don't rush, Arthur."

Merlin's light chuckle suddenly reached Arthur's ears.

"You're not the only king standing here, remember?"

Upon hearing that, Arthur paused for a moment, then seemed to understand something, lifting his head to look up at the sky.

A tall figure unknowingly had appeared high in the distant sky, looking up at the falling meteorite.

With deep, unfathomable black eyes like an abyss, he remained calm as he casually threw something out.

It was a small, deep red sphere, perfectly positioned on the trajectory of the falling meteorite.

"The time has come, O tyrant of the sky. Witness the shattering of stars!"

"Star of Eden, Zeroth Power - Quasi Black Hole!"

In the moment the meteorite drew near, the palm-sized red sphere suddenly expanded into a black hole with a diameter of dozens of meters, emitting a terrifying suction force that sucked everything tangible and intangible into it, then annihilated them into utter nothingness.

However, since it was not the original Star of Eden, the power of the black hole was somewhat diminished, unable to completely engulf the meteorite. But under this terrifying suction force, the kinetic energy carried by the meteorite was quickly depleted, hanging in the sky, inching closer and closer to the position of the black hole.

"Shamash, unleashed!"

*Whoosh!*

Without delay, Arkhan quickly swung his blazing greatsword.

*BOOOOM!*

As flames surged forth, the meteorite instantly shattered, transforming into a rain of stones pouring toward the ground.

Arkhan lowered his head, looking at Arthur on the ground.

Although Arkhan didn't say a word, the meaning in his eyes couldn't be clearer.

—I've already taken care of this trouble for you, so what are you still waiting for?

Watching that firm figure in the sky, Arthur quickly closed his eyes and took a deep breath. In the next moment, he opened them, revealing a gaze filled with stronger determination and resolve than before.