People in Type-Moon have a hero simulator.

"I should have said it was a choice."

"But I still have to choose between the two; I don't want to give up either the future or the present."

If we set aside the unchangeable past, then the sheath is the power to protect the present, and the sword is the power to forge the future.

Artoria will not stagnate with the present, nor will she abandon the present with a vision for the future; she wants both.

silence.

The fairies fell silent; no one knew what Vivian was thinking. Finally, the Lady of the Lake simply said to Merlin:

"You've taught your apprentice well."

……

The previously disorganized resistance forces gradually coalesced, and without you and Vortigern at the front lines, you were unable to halt their unstoppable advance.

The story of King Arthur begins to circulate in London, and you learn that the other party has obtained the Star Sword from the Lady of the Lake.

Even if the situation begins to reverse, you don't think you've lost.

"Although I don't think I will lose, aren't you being a bit too hasty, Vortigern?"

Beneath the sacred tree, Fujimaru Kyoya looked at the falling leaves and spoke these words, wondering if the white dragon who had transformed into the sacred tree could hear him.

If Vortigern hadn't transformed into the sacred tree, they could have taken advantage of Arthur's absence to defeat those troublesome knights one by one, instead of ending up in the current situation where they were tied down by the sacred tree.

"The Holy Sword is the only means that can defeat me now. Everyone else is just a minor detail. Whether the Age of Gods can continue depends on Arthur and me."

The falling leaves brought a message: Vortigern's words appeared in Fujimaru Kyoya's mind. After months of silence, the white dragon finally regained some consciousness.

"Or is it that you can't handle the combined attack of the other knights?"

"Without your protection, we really couldn't win."

Fujimaru Kyoya made no attempt to deny that he was no match for the group of knights in his normal state. After all, a single Gawain with three times the strength was already a headache, not to mention the likes of Lancelot.

However, there is an old saying that goes, "Once I accept my weakness, I am invincible." It is clear that Fujimaru Kyou accepted his weakness and thus readily accepted the protection of the sacred tree.

Beneath the sacred tree, the blade is invincible.

"Then it's up to you, Lloyd. Remember, our victory or defeat is not important. The key is the establishment of the sacred tree and the continuation of the divine age."

"I understand."

The message of the fallen leaves ends here. Fujimaru Kyoya sensed a touch of melancholy within it, a sorrow that came from abandoning everything and only needing the era to continue.

This is not only the final manifestation of the personality of the gods, but also Vortigern's emotions as a human being.

Throughout his life, Vortigern was determined to continue the Age of Gods. He became an enemy of the people who had protected him all his life, an enemy of the brothers who fought alongside him, and went against the entire world. In the end, the only person he could talk to was a stranger named Fujimaru Kyoya.

How ironic.

Vortigern had given up too much along the way, so he absolutely could not fail. Even if it meant giving up the advantage in the battle, he had to ensure the continuation of the Age of Gods.

"Then everything is in your hands. I will hold off all enemies except King Arthur, and you go and kill Artorius."

Atolis was both a nemesis and a friend to Fujimaru Kyoya, but now that their positions were opposed and their debts of gratitude were settled, there was no need to show any mercy when they faced each other on the battlefield.

"Artoria, have you gotten your answer?"

Fujimaru Kyoya leaned against the sacred tree, golden leaves sliding down his side. Regardless of the final outcome of Atolis' victory or defeat, he at least hoped that this person, who was touted as the birth of the perfect king, could truly be a human being.

[You delivered the order for passive defense; no matter how Arthur's army attacked and captured territory, you remained unmoved.]

Rumors began to circulate in London, which dampened morale, but you paid no heed. As long as the Sacred Tree grew, victory would be yours.

Battle reports poured in like snowflakes, rumors circulated that King Arthur possessed a holy sword that guaranteed victory, and morale plummeted once more.

The territory that once encompassed two-thirds of Britain began to shrink dramatically, and with this ebb and flow, defeat seemed imminent.

[You inquired about Vortigern's progress; it seems the anchoring of the Age of Gods will be completed in just three days. You'll need to stall for time during this period.]

……

"Merlin, how much time do we have left?"

"Atoris" looked at the towering tree that covered the entire city of London. If it continued to grow, its roots would probably reach the inner sea of ​​the star and begin to draw nutrients.

"Three days. We must destroy that sacred tree within three days."

Merlin looked at the sacred tree before him and couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

If this tree is allowed to use the inner sea of ​​the star as nourishment to bring the true ether back to the human world, it will greatly accelerate the consumption of the Great Source and may even trigger the pruning event.

"Take London and burn that tree in three days? That's a bit difficult, but we should be able to do it if we work together."

"Artoria" thought of Fujimaru Kyoya, who was guarding under the sacred tree, and glanced at the knights beside him, each with their own unique skills.

"Lloyd, I'm here to save you."

"Artorius" mounted his horse, sword in hand, and looked out over London. Behind him stood Gawain, Tristan, Lancelot, Agravivan... one after another, renowned knights gathered.

Now "Atoris" is coming to "save" people.

Chapter Twelve: Come and experience Vortigern's blade!

London gradually crumbled under the onslaught of enemy forces, and panic began to grip the city as King Arthur's fame grew.

The Anglo-Saxons, who had come for profit, scattered in droves. They were people who had gathered based on self-interest; they could not be relied upon in times of crisis.

[You can feel it; more and more people are approaching the sacred tree. There are only three hours left until the tree blooms.]

"Only three hours left?"

Fujimaru Kyoya sensed the approaching people, all of whom transformed into his domain beneath the sacred tree. He could feel that there were still about... 50,000 enemies.

"To hold off 50,000 people for three hours? That's not difficult."

This was not just Fujimaru Kyoya's confidence, but also a consensus between the two sides. "Atoris" only brought a few knights to the foot of the sacred tree. More people would only increase casualties and become a hindrance.

Beneath the sacred tree, he was invincible.

"Gawain, Agravan, Lancelot, Tristan... are these all? Atolis, do you have no one else to rely on?"

“You tried to provoke our emotions with words from the very beginning, Lloyd. This is a sign of your insecurity.”

"Atoris" will not be swayed by such clumsy rhetoric; this is a sign of trust in his partner.

"If I could, I would like to end your life myself, but your fate has already been decided by him."

The fallen leaves brought a message: the will of Vortigern. He wanted to see the puppet called "King Arthur" and see what gave Merlin the audacity to speak such arrogant words.

“I’ll take care of Vortigern; Lloyd, you’ll have to stall for time.”

"Atoris" doesn't expect anyone to be able to defeat Fujimaru Kyoya under this sacred tree, and the key to whether the Age of Gods is declining doesn't lie here.

The fate of the gods rests solely in the struggle between the red and white dragons.

"Lloyd, I'll come to save you."

"unnecessary."

However, a mere brush past each other was enough to convey a thousand words to these two arch-rivals.

"Atoris" understood that Fujimaru Kyoya helped Vortigern only so that the person he cared about could live out his life in peace, and that he himself had no reason to necessarily help Vortigern.

So all we need to do is make the decline of the Age of Gods transition more slowly and smoothly. The current "Atoris" can't come up with this method, but as long as we don't give up, anything is possible.

This is human "greed," and "Atoris" has already come to realize it.

"You all come at me together, I'm in a hurry."

Fujimaru Kyoya drew his holy sword, but in just a brief exchange, he sensed a change in "Atolis" that made him somewhat uneasy.

Can Vortigern really win?

Although Fujimaru Kyou wasn't exactly Vortigern's subordinate, as an ally he respected the other's choice. He didn't intend to interfere in the fated battle between the red and white dragons, but that didn't mean he would sit idly by and watch the Age of Gods decline.

Even if "Atoris" wins, he will betray his opponent and allow the Age of Gods to continue.

"Lloyd, aren't you underestimating us a bit too much?"

Gao Wen stepped forward. It was now exactly 3 PM, and the next three hours would be his strongest.

He naturally took the initiative.

"Sorry, maybe I didn't express myself clearly. I don't mean to look down on you, but every single one of you is trash."

The sacred tree swayed in the wind, creating ripples, and the dazzling sunlight immediately dimmed, as did the blessing that had been manifesting on Gawain.

Just as Gawain was stunned, Fujimaru Kyoya moved.

Whether it was the verbal provocation just now or the current domain suppression, Fujimaru Kyoya seemed to take these people lightly, but everything he did was for this moment of hesitation, so that this attack would surely succeed.

Who would have thought that Fujimaru Kyo would attack when Gawain suddenly weakened?

"Clang~"

A dark figure rushed forward, momentarily blocking the seemingly inevitable sword strike. Even if he couldn't stop Fujimaru Kyoya, it was enough time for Gawain to react.

"Gao Wen, you're still distracted on the battlefield."

Among the knights, Agravain was the first to see through Fujimaru Kyoya's scheme. Although his strength was limited, he still played a role.

"It's truly tragic that a holy sword as clear as water has fallen into the hands of a villain."

The mournful sound of the zither accompanied the arrows. Tristan had already drawn his bow and nocked an arrow. He had ventured deep into this sacred tree and knew that Fujimaru Kyoya's strength was far greater than that.

We must go all out from the very beginning, otherwise they will be the ones to lose.

"What a troublesome guy. I wanted to take care of that muscle gorilla as soon as possible, but since I failed, I'll just have to give it my all."

Degrading an enemy to the point of being trash in words is just basic tactic, but taking one's own words at heart is the beginning of failure.

Fujimaru Kyoya released his magic power, which stirred up the moisture in the air, causing droplets of water to float in mid-air.

"Then let me show you what the Vortigern's blade is like."

A cyan sword light flashed, and the water droplets in the air transformed into sharp blades under the guidance of Fujimaru Kyoya's swordsmanship. This sacred tree was his absolute home ground, and he had no reason to fail here.

"I have said it before, I am invincible under the sacred tree."

……

"You have arrived, son of the red dragon."