Fairy Round Table Realm, Poem of Eternal Mist

Ritsuka: 'On your bed... wait... this...'

She looked down sharply at herself and realized that her original combat uniform had been replaced by an exquisitely crafted silk dress. Silver thread embroidered vine patterns meandered along the hem, and the moonstone adorning the neckline gleamed softly under the light.

'Could it be... that you really saved me?' Ritsuka's fingers unconsciously tightened around the hem of her skirt. 'But...'

Morgan approached slowly, her skirt trailing across the gleaming marble floor. "You mean we're enemies? Indeed, after traversing five Lostbelts, you will finally stand before me." She gently stroked the folds of Ritsuka's dress shoulder. "I foresaw all of this. Even that woman's arrival was expected."

Ritsuka stared blankly at the Lostbelt King so close to her. If she were truly an enemy, why would she have changed her clothes so meticulously, and why would she have intervened to save her? What intrigued her even more was the hidden meaning in Morgan's words.

"Wait," Ritsuka suddenly grabbed Morgan's wrist, "the 'woman' you're talking about is...?"

Morgan glanced down at her wrist, a faint smile playing on her lips. "You don't know? That visitor from beyond the stars." She gently pulled her hand away, turning to look out the window. "The other day, she forced her way into Camelot; her target seemed to be you."

(Two days ago, in Camelot Royal City)

The shadow of the Great Calamity loomed over the royal city, and the palace was busier than ever. Morgan, by candlelight, reviewed mountains of official documents, secretly deploying disaster prevention measures to avoid panic, while also arranging for the fairy knights to go to Darlington to rescue Mash, who was under house arrest. Boggart, that seemingly submissive but actually treacherous traitor, dared to exploit her trust to secretly collude with rebellious forces, even coveting the power of the Prophet's Child—all of this was under the Queen's control.

"Your Majesty, the supply list for the Northern Defense Line has been..." Before the fairy knight Gawain could finish speaking, the entire council hall was suddenly enveloped in a bone-chilling cold. A surge of magical energy from beyond the starry sea rushed in like a tide, instantly putting all the guards into battle mode.

'Enemy attack?' The fairy knight Lancelot had already drawn his twin swords.

The fairy knight Mordred spread his butterfly wings and stood protectively before the throne: 'Your Majesty, please step aside!'

Morgan gently pushed aside the guards in front of him, his black robes billowing in the strange flow of magic: 'Step back. This visitor... is not someone you can handle.'

She walked slowly to the center of the hall, raised her chin at the empty space, and said, 'Since you've graced us with your presence, why hide?'

The air began to distort, and a pale portal of light appeared in the ripples. A woman emerged from it, her body entirely white, her hair shimmering with the light of a galaxy, her form beneath the thin veil seemingly woven from moonlight. When she raised her eyes, a microcosm of the entire universe was reflected in her azure pupils.

"It really was you." Morgan's fingertips gathered azure magic. "A Star Messenger of the Stars, resorting to such underhanded tactics?"

The alien priestess did not speak, but her tightly furrowed brows revealed a raging fury—clearly, the failure of the assassination attempt on Senji Muramasa had thoroughly enraged her.

The unfamiliar language echoed in the hall, its syllables like shattered stars.

The knights present exchanged bewildered glances, but Morgan wore a knowing smile: 'Trying to disturb my mind with alien whispers? I've seen through your schemes, you extraterrestrial visitors.'

When the alien witch spoke again, Morgan's composure froze. She took a step forward, her black robes billowing without wind: "You said... the Naraku Insects have awakened?"

'■■■□□■■□■■□' The alien witch's voice carried a mocking rhythm.

Morgan suddenly sneered, and the temperature in the throne room plummeted: 'Trying to harm that child? As long as I have a breath left, I will never let you succeed!'

Before the pale messenger vanished into dust, it left behind a final, obscure star prophecy. The fairy knights looked at the queen with worry, only to see her standing amidst the fading starlight, her fingernails digging deeply into her palms.

(The gist of the star's prophecy: Take care, poor queen. Your good fortune is about to run out.)

Ritsuka: 'Wait, that woman...'

After listening to Morgan's account, Ritsuka paced back and forth in the room like a cat on a hot tin roof. The Lostbelt repairs hadn't even begun, and bad news kept piling up. Not only had she suffered repeated hardships, but now even alien forces were eyeing her. If Morgan truly held the same "human survival above all else" philosophy as Qin Shi Huang, then his intervention would make perfect sense.

Morgan: 'That's just how it is—'

Before she could finish speaking, the entire castle suddenly shook violently. Ancient books on the shelves fell one after another like dominoes, and the crystal chandelier made a dangerous, clattering sound. Ritsuka instinctively crawled under the bed and only peeked out when the shaking gradually subsided.

'earthquake? '

'No…' Morgan stared out the window at the darkening sky, 'that's a worse sign.'

(Five hours ago, Darlington border)

Following Morgan's orders, the fairy knight Gareth, along with Senji Muramasa and the others, traveled day and night to reach the location, only to be shocked by the scene before them. Although the residential area was intact, the castle area had been reduced to scorched earth, with ruins faintly visible amidst the smoke of battle.

"This is bad." Senjimura gripped the hilt of his sword. "That girl must have been transferred with the retreating troops."

The fairy knight Gareth looked around in bewilderment: 'But why are the civilians unharmed? The war hasn't reached them?'

The residents of the market went about their lives as usual, as if yesterday's battle had never happened. From the scattered conversations, it was clear that this military operation was precisely targeted at the ruling class. In the long history of the Fairy Kingdom, rulers who could exercise such restraint were few and far between.

'Besides His Majesty, perhaps only the legendary 'Eternal King' remains,' murmured the fairy knight Gareth. 'When the powerful and wealthy launch coups these days, they never care about the lives of ordinary people.'

Leonardo da Vinci astutely grasped the key point: 'The Eternal King? Could it be that the Fairy Kingdom once had two rulers?' (This violates the fundamental laws of the Lostbelt...)

The fairy knight Gareth explained, "That was the monarch before His Majesty Morgan. But apart from His Majesty himself, almost all records about that king have been lost."

Leonardo da Vinci fell into deep thought (Two Lostbelt Kings? This Britain is far more complex than imagined...)

"Is Miss Da Vinci still concerned about this?" Sei Shonagon asked with concern.

'Just baseless speculation.' Da Vinci suppressed his doubts and glanced at Gareth and Sei Shonagon, who continued to refuse treatment. The Bedivere curse was still spreading within them, yet they stubbornly refused to accept help.

Oberon suddenly clapped his hands: "Since Ritsuka might be moving with the army, Norwich is the most likely destination."

Senji immediately pressed, "Can you catch up with the troops?"

"As long as they don't stop," the fairy knight Gareth said, unfolding a map. "We should be able to catch up by taking a shortcut."

(Camelot Royal City - This Moment)

As the tremors subsided, Morgan gently helped Ritsuka, who was curled up under the bed, out of bed. She took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the cold sweat from the girl's forehead, her silver hair carrying a refreshing fragrance as it fell down.

"The time has come." Morgan looked out the window at the churning clouds. "A great calamity is approaching the British coast."

Ritsuka suddenly remembered: 'Fairy Knight Gareth mentioned it... I didn't expect it to come so soon.'

'You must evacuate immediately.' Morgan pressed down on Ritsuka's trembling shoulder. 'This disaster shouldn't involve anyone else...'

Before the words were finished, the crystal ball that had rolled to the ground suddenly burst into light. The anxious face of the fairy knight Gawain appeared in the light screen: 'Your Majesty! The vanguard of calamity has landed in Norwich! Moss is spreading—'

"Protect the Child of Prophecy at all costs!" Morgan grabbed the crystal ball. "I will go to the front lines immediately."

'But Your Majesty, is your safety...'

"No need for further words in times of crisis!" Morgan cut off the communication, his black robes billowing as he raised his sapphire-encrusted staff. A deep blue magic circle shimmered and flowed beneath Ritsuka's feet.

"I will teleport you to a safe place." Morgan chanted the incantation, but his sleeve was gently tugged.

"Please let me go with you." Ritsuka looked up, her eyes burning with a fire that had witnessed countless hardships. "That alien is indeed looking for me, but precisely because of that... I cannot betray your life-saving grace."

Morgan gazed into those eyes that had witnessed the end of five worlds—the chanting of Sanskrit in the cycle of Indian rebirth, the cannon fire of Olympus, the frost of the eternal winter in Northern Europe—all the suffering had settled into the resolve of this moment.

"Alright." The magic circle's light gradually faded, and Morgan tied a jade necklace around Ritsuka's neck. "When you're in dire straits, it will guide you."

The moment the gemstone touched their skin and warmed, the teleportation array lit up again. This time, the light was as gentle as an embrace, carrying the two towards the Norwich coast, which was being swallowed by darkness.

(Norwich Central Square)

When the violent tremors finally subsided, the crowd rose from the ruins. They had been forced to evacuate to this relatively open square to avoid the collapsed buildings. Overturned stalls and crying residents were all around, with broken planks and goods scattered everywhere.

"Was it an earthquake?" Qianzicun asked, brushing the dust off his shoulders.

Artoria gently pulled away from his embrace, her cheeks slightly flushed: "No...this is no ordinary earthquake. Thank you for protecting me just now." In the instant the disaster struck, it was the old man who used his broad arms to shield her from the falling debris.

The fairy knight Gareth removed the ice shield protecting the group, his gaze turning grave as he looked towards the harbor. Dark clouds churned in the sky, lightning bolts darted among them, and a purplish-black mist-like substance writhed and swirled as if alive. Even more chilling was the sight of a colossal phantom with antlers, gradually solidifying on the sea's surface.

'Cornunos...' the fairy knight Gareth's voice trembled, 'It awakened prematurely...'

Artoria gripped her staff tightly: 'How could this happen at this time...'

Even without knowing the details, Senji Muramasa and the others could feel the suffocating oppressive aura. Da Vinci quickly detected the magical fluctuations in the air, his expression changing drastically: 'The curse concentration exceeds the measurement range! It's a thousand times stronger than any calamity ever recorded on Earth!'

"That's precisely what makes it so terrifying," the fairy knight Gareth said bitterly, "a culmination of millennia of resentment... but His Majesty clearly prophesied that the calamity was still some time away..."

'Oberon?' Artoria suddenly realized she was alone. 'That guy's gone again!'

Chizuru clicked his tongue in annoyance: 'He always disappears at crucial moments...'

Just as everyone was distracted, a dark shadow appeared silently. The sticky tentacles, accompanied by a whooshing sound, aimed straight for Artoria's back—Senjimura drew his sword with a backhand motion, flames drawing a crimson arc, and Moss was reduced to a foul-smelling black mist amidst a scream.

"They're here!" the fairy knight Gareth exclaimed, sword drawn. "These monsters will clear the way for Cornunos!"

The purplish-black mist above the docks had solidified into a tangible form. Giant antlers pierced the clouds, and with a deafening roar, the Mos Legion surged into the city like a flood bursting its banks. Their twisted limbs crushed the streets, leaving behind a trail of corrosive slime. Residents who couldn't escape were assimilated into new monsters amidst screams.

"Break through!" Senjimura swung his sword, slicing through three charging Moss demons. "Fairy Knight, use your Noble Phantasm to clear the way!"

'But the chill will affect you...' Before the fairy knight Gareth could finish speaking, the Morse wave had already engulfed them. The defensive line formed by the intertwining of sword light and magic bullets was collapsing.

"I can resist the cold!" Artoria slammed her staff on the ground. "Mr. Muramasa, please buy me ten seconds!"

Senjimura leaped into the air, his katana unleashing a storm of flames: 'Burn to ashes—!' Where the ring of fire passed, the Morse swarm turned to charcoal.

[Noble Phantasm Unleashed!] Artoria's magical barrier unfolded like a blooming crystal flower, its pink petals enveloping everyone amidst the tolling of the Paradise Bells.

'Now!'

The fairy knight Gareth clasped his hands together, and icy magic surged forth like a tsunami: [Eternal Freeze - Annihilation of All Things!]

Frost spread rapidly from her center, instantly transforming the plaza into an icy inferno. The Morse's movements became stiff and sluggish, their purplish-black bodies covered in pale ice armor. Da Vinci's instruments emitted a piercing alarm: 'Minus 273 degrees Celsius?! This is approaching absolute zero!'

'Click—'

With a snap of his fingers, the fairy knight Gareth shattered the frozen Moss Legion, turning it into a shower of ice crystals. She staggered to her knees, her face ashen: 'My magic…'

"Ritsuka!" Artoria suddenly pointed to the end of the plaza.

An orange-haired girl in a Morgan gown ran through the icy mist, the star and moon embroidery on her skirt shimmering in the dim light.

'I'm so glad everyone's alright!'

Senjimura pressed her shoulder, scrutinizing her closely: 'This outfit... have you met Morgan before?'

"There's no time to explain now." Ritsuka gazed at the colossus gradually solidifying on the sea surface. "I must stop Cronus from landing!"

The fairy knight Gareth struggled to his feet: 'But that's the creator god, whose curse has accumulated over millions of years...'

"That's precisely why I can't back down." Ritsuka gripped the jade necklace around her neck. "Grandpa Muramasa, please lend me a hand."

The old man laughed loudly, and his katana burst into flames: "Consider this repaying Morgan's favor!"

A purple-black lightning bolt cleaved through the dark clouds, illuminating the sea like a scene from hell. Under the oppressive power of the creator god, the tiny girl faced the torrent of destruction.

Meanwhile, the Queen's Army escorting Matthew had just finished clearing out the Moss along the way and was heading in the direction of Ritsuka and the others. On a high rooftop, Koyanskaya sat gracefully with her legs crossed on the edge of the eaves, her scarlet eyes watching the purple-haired girl in the group with great interest.

'Heh~ I didn't expect this little girl to have such a high status in Britain.' She lightly twirled her pipe. 'Much better treatment than in the previous Lostbelts. But…' A dangerous smile played on her lips. 'I just want what I want. That simple-minded alien probably hasn't realized the swordsmith has betrayed her yet, has he? It's pathetic. The only one still loyal to her is probably that old fogey Rasputin.'

Just as she was whispering, Ritsuka and her group happened to encounter a marching army. When that familiar figure came into view, Ritsuka's heart nearly leaped out of her chest—

'Mash—!!!'

A hoarse cry pierced the noise, but failed to make the purple-haired girl turn around. Ritsuka rushed forward desperately, tears blurring her vision: 'Look at me, Mashu! Please... I can't lose you!'

Despite his weakened state, the fairy knight Gareth urgently contacted his companions telepathically: 'Lancelot, Gawain! Bring them together!'

The marching troops suddenly stopped, and the Queen's soldiers spread out in well-trained formation. Mashu looked around in confusion: 'What's going on?'

"Your loved ones have arrived," the fairy knight Gawain said in a deep voice.

'senior?'