C154

Vortigern pulled the holy lance Rhongomyniad out of the chest of the enemy commander defending the city with a crisp sound. He turned to his magus attendant, Meksis, who was standing nearby and smiled, blood staining his clothing. "You see, Meksis? I told you I didn't need to personally intervene. They end up fighting amongst themselves."

"Our king is wise!" praised Meksis. "But I don't understand, why would they fight amongst themselves?"

Vortigern replied, "Because there are too many clever people. People like Ywain, Brastias, and even fools like me are becoming scarce. Don't try to flatter me, Meksis. I know you see through it. You're just trying to make me happy. You don't have to be so cautious. Only you can make me speak the truth."

Meksis remained silent.

"How many of my soldiers died?" Vortigern inquired.

"Three, my king," replied Meksis, the runes flashing in his eyes.

"The news has already been announced, and still three died? It seems they're not afraid enough of me, Vortigern!" he chuckled, then asked, "Meksis, do you know what the greatest joy in life is?"

"What is it?"

"The greatest joy in life is to chase your enemies everywhere, invade their lands, plunder their wealth, and then listen to the cries of their wives and children. It's a pity that I can no longer experience this kind of joy," Vortigern lamented. He then clapped his hands and ordered, "Give the command to slaughter the city! Don't worry about the Knights, they have already been eliminated by my holy lance!"

"Understood!" Meksis nodded and, using his spell, informed the various commanders.

"Let those poets and bards spread my military exploits far and wide. Whenever there is even a single casualty in any city I pass through, I will slaughter the entire city! From nobles to commoners, I won't spare a single soul!" Vortigern declared. He paused for a moment, then chuckled, "I want to see how many people dare to raise their swords against me!"

Meksis gazed at the newly conquered city in front of them and asked, "Should we also execute the surrendered nobles, my king?"

"No," replied Vortigern. "If we do, it will only make them more determined to resist me. I will treat them well and let them witness the fate of those who dare to oppose me."

"You truly are wise, my king," Meksis complimented.

"This is just how the world operates. Even if a lamb were to be under your crotch, without wisdom and skill, you wouldn't be able to kill or consume it. However, with profound wisdom and clever methods, even a dragon can be defeated with ease." He continued, "Furthermore, I must have complete control over all of Britain before I consider eliminating them."

Meksis interjected, "If you were to exterminate them all, my king, it would be difficult to govern your domain."

Chuckling, Vortigern responded, "I have no intention of ruling over them!" As he spoke, a faint white dragon shadow surrounded him, his eyes shone with golden light, and his holy lance, Rhongomyniad, emitted a subtle glow.

Vortigern patted Meksis on the shoulder before departing with a smile.

Meksis gazed at Vortigern's retreating figure and let out a sigh. "My king, I can no longer remain calm and collected around you. You have transcended your humanity and have become a harbinger of fear, a god who controls the fate of others."

A complex expression crossed Meksis's face.

With the power of the white dragon and his plunder of Uther's position as the Lord of the Island, Vortigern had ascended to a level that was nearly god-like. Furthermore, he obtained the holy lance Rhongomyniad, which had further eroded his character, bringing him even closer to nature.

A person of such caliber could no longer be classified as "human."

"My king, you are now the Lord of the Island, and the possessor of the holy lance Rhongomyniad. Although you haven't forgotten your initial intentions, there is still a fundamental disparity between humans and gods," Meksis lamented.

"Nevertheless, I will remain by your side until the very end. Because-- I am the only one who understand you,"

...

"Speak! My Orkney! How could Vortigern seize my kingdom so quickly?" Morgan demanded, staring intently at the messenger.

"It's because Orkney surrendered without a battle," the messenger replied weakly. "Vortigern massacred three cities and issued a warning. If a single soldier died in any city, he would raze the entire city to the ground... No one had the courage to defy him!"

"What happened to the King of Orkney?" Gawain asked with growing concern.

"Sir Brastias hastily led us to defend the city, but by the time we arrived, it had already been engulfed in flames... It was too late. No one survived," the messenger replied with a heavy heart.

Boom!

A thunderbolt rang through the clear sky!

The news left everyone in Orkney stunned and pale. Gawain was so overcome with grief that he stumbled back and slumped down heavily.

A wave of panic spread through the city. It was clear that Vortigern had arrived, and worse still, the Saxons had invaded!

The news quickly spread throughout the capital like wildfire, leaving people frightened and uneasy. Even the noble kings and aristocrats, who had been laughing and relaxed moments ago, couldn't help but turn pale and serious. Fear and unease gripped everyone, and it seemed as though there was no escape from the imminent danger.

The Archbishop took charge of the situation, standing at the forefront and addressing the assembled crowd. "Please, everyone, lay down your weapons! The enemy is at our gates. We mustn't turn our swords against our own people!"

Ywain and Baldwin also stepped forward to persuade the kings..

After a brief moment of hesitation, the kings gave the order for their soldiers to sheathe their swords.

Ywain then spoke up, "As Vortigern came from Orkney, it's highly likely that he will march towards the Barton Mountains!"

"If Barton Fortress falls, there will be no defense in the northeast of Camelot. Under Vortigern's invasion, all of Wales will be plunged into chaos!" Baldwin elaborated on the dire situation and looked at the kings. "My lords, we must set aside our differences for now and unite to drive away the invaders!"

The kings were somewhat swayed by Baldwin's words, but at that moment, King Mark pointed his finger at Shirou and spoke up. "Driving away invaders is our duty as kings. However, this man is not Arthur, and his origins are suspect. How can we trust him and work together?"

Shirou glared at King Mark with a deadly intent and retorted, "King Mark, the enemy is at our doorstep, and yet you continue to sow discord. I strongly suspect that you are the spy sent by Vortigern!"

The nobles and kings looked around with a sense of despair, unsure of what to do.

No one in the room had a relaxed expression on their face. For the schemers, this should have been a perfect opportunity, but it had been disrupted by Vortigern's invasion. As for Shirou, the ceremony should have been a straightforward affair, but it had been turned into a vortex of scheming and uncertainty.

King Mark pointed at Shirou and accused him, "Your background is shrouded in mystery and suspicion. No one will trust you or cooperate with you!"

Shirou looked at King Mark with an icy glare, then drew the Caliburn from its sheath and stepped forward onto the platform. "Those who stand here with me have fought by my side and continue to trust me to this day. Therefore, I fear no false accusations from wicked men!"

"I said it back in Tintagel, and I'll say it again here in Camelot! I'm the King of Britain, and anyone who places their trust in me and hands me their sword will bask in the ultimate glory!" With a triumphant gesture, he held the Caliburn high and declared, "As the Red Dragon unfurls its wings, the land it soars above shall be its kingdom!"

The people looked at Shirou in a daze, unsure of whether to trust him or continue to harbor doubts. They were at a loss as to how to handle the situation, uncertain of what to do next.

Morgan's voice rang out, breaking the silence. "Attention, soldiers of Orkney! Step forward!"

Responding to her call, the soldiers of Orkney advanced, their eyes fixed on Morgan with anticipation. "Listen up, soldiers of Orkney! It's time to heed King Arthur's orders!" she declared with authority.

"King Arthur! King Arthur!" The unified chant of the Orkney soldiers echoed through the air, a resounding affirmation of their new loyalty to the King of Britain.

King Mark spoke up again, "Other than relying on your sister's popularity, who else supports you?"

Shirou didn't respond with words, but instead, he raised the Caliburn high. The soldiers of the northern kings stood firm and unwavering, but some of them still had doubts and hesitation in their eyes.

"I have faith in King Arthur! I truly believe he will be an exceptional king!" A squad leader named Yewel stepped forward and joined the ranks of Orkney.

Shirou recognized Yewel and nodded, "I will grant you the glory you deserve, Yewel!"

Some people who knew Yewel were taken aback by Shirou's recognition of him. "How does he know Yewel's name?" they murmured.

Furthermore, when Yewel stepped forward and pledged his allegiance to King Arthur, other soldiers from different kingdoms became restless and began joining the ranks of Orkney, like a steady drizzle.

"King Arthur is a just and wise ruler! He will share his glory with us!" one soldier exclaimed.

"He has led us out of the darkest moments and helped us defeat the terrifying Beast! He has danced and sung with us, making him the kind of king we want to follow!" another soldier declared.

"That king bears the false accusations of others, but he still shines so brightly! He's the kind of King I'd gladly serve!" a third soldier added.

"That king has sung with us and shown us great care and compassion. He couldn't possibly be a spy! He is the wise and destined King of Britain, and I am honored to follow him!" a fourth soldier affirmed.

The soldiers of other kingdoms were slowly being swayed by Shirou's charisma and leadership, and his ranks continued to grow.

Soldiers from the Kingdom of Uriens, the Kingdom of Nantes, and even King Mark's own Kingdom stepped out of their ranks and joined the troops of King Arthur. Many of these soldiers had fought under Shirou's leadership to defeat Cath Palug and had witnessed his bravery and leadership firsthand.

As more and more soldiers joined the ranks of King Arthur's army, it became clear that Shirou's charisma and unwavering determination had won over the hearts and minds of the people.

"What are you going to do, Bedivere?" Lucan looked at Bedivere, who was walking towards the Orkney troops.

With a regretful expression, Bedivere glanced back at Lucan and replied, "I am sorry for leaving after you took care of me for so many years, but I have found a lord to whom I can pledge my allegiance. Thank you for everything."

He walked towards the troops without looking back.

"So, Bedivere," Lucan spoke softly, "you have found a lord to swear your allegiance to as a knight." He gazed at Bedivere, silently offering his blessings.

Like drops of water merging together, people gathered and joined Shirou's troops. In a sudden surge, over a thousand individuals pledged their allegiance to Shirou!

The number of soldiers in Shirou's army immediately swelled to over two thousand!

Countless kings were bewildered, and King Mark's face turned livid with anger. He opened his mouth to speak, but his nephew Tristan let out a deep sigh and spoke up from behind him. "Uncle, I am grateful for all you have done for me, but I have found a king to whom I must pledge my allegiance."

With these words, Tristan stepped out of the ranks.

"Hold on, Tristan!" King Mark growled, his face twisted into a ferocious expression. "Are you... betraying me?"

Tristan maintained his composure as he calmly responded, "I never swore my allegiance to you, so it can hardly be seen as a betrayal. King Arthur, on the other hand, truly grasps the desires and sentiments of his people. Unfortunately, you seem to lack that understanding."

With these words, he joined the Orkney army.

The situation changed too rapidly for the other kings to react in time, leaving them stunned and speechless.

Shirou lifted the sword in his hand and spoke with conviction. "My soldiers... you have placed your trust in me, and I will do the same for you! With this sword, I swear that my glory is your glory!"

"King Arthur!"

"King Arthur!"

The people, nobles, and kings looked on in stunned silence, but Shirou's army echoed his name with passionate shouts.

King Mark's expression darkened as he spoke. "Even with cavalry and soldiers, the suspicion surrounding your unknown origins cannot be ignored. Cooperating with you only makes people uneasy!"

Shirou stared back at King Mark with cold eyes. "As a king, one should prioritize the greater good of the situation! In the face of an external invasion, we should work together in unity to resist. Yet, you continue to pester me. Tell me, have you already aligned yourself with Vortigern and wish to see us fall apart?"

"I am a king of honor," King Mark sneered in response. "How could I ever be considered a spy?"

The kings and nobles of Nantes watched Shirou and King Mark with uncertainty, unsure of what to do. It was clear that cooperation was not feasible.

Sir Ywain rose to his feet and made a proposal. "Vortigern is coming with eighty thousand troops, and will inevitably split his army into two. One force will attack the Barton Mountain Fortress in the northeast, while the other will assault Caerleon in the northwest. Why not assign King Mark to defend the Barton Mountain Fortress and have Your Excellency Arthur lead the defense of Caerleon?"

"Agreed!" Shirou declared as he waved his cloak. "The presence of a traitor among us has left me uneasy, and this proposal provides a sound solution."

"What did you just say!?" King Mark retorted, his expression icy with anger.

Ignoring King Mark's cold stare, Shirou turned to Artoria and Gawain, both of whom were deeply affected by recent events. Speaking in a commanding tone, he said, "Artoria, Gawain! How long will you continue to wallow in your sorrow? It's time to gather your strength, unsheathe your swords, and fight by my side! There is no time for despair!"

Artoria and Gawain met his gaze, gritted their teeth, and replied with determination, "Yes!"

Mounted on his silver horse, Dun Stallion, Shirou surveyed his soldiers with a determined expression. With one hand gripping the reins and the other firmly grasping the Caliburn, he bellowed, "March forth!"

The army immediately sprang into action and began to move.

...

Caerleon.

Merlin observed Kay as he packed his belongings with a gloomy expression, and let out a sigh. "Kay, there's no need to be in a hurry."

Kay glared at Merlin with a cold stare and retorted, "No need to be in a hurry? Listen here, Merlin! If anything happens to Artoria and the king in the capital, I will never let you go."

Merlin smiled and replied, "The first grand battle of King Arthur won't be held in the capital."

"Then where will it be?"

Merlin tapped his staff on the ground and grinned, "Right here."

...

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