Fairy Round Table Realm, Poem of Eternal Mist

After the meal, Senko Muramasa strolled to the terrace for some fresh air and happened to see Koyanskaya waving anxiously downstairs. Seeing her serious expression, the swordsmith had no choice but to leap off the windowsill.

'What brings you to see me at this hour?'

“That alien freak came to see me just now,” Koyanskaya said in a low voice. “She revealed that she wants to carry out ‘that plan’—it seems she’s extremely dissatisfied with the current situation and intends to cause the entire planet to collapse.”

Senji Muramasa felt a chill run down his spine. A planet collapsing? This was no joke; that being actually intended to completely erase Earth from the universe. This news was like a bolt from the blue, leaving the swordsmith in disbelief.

'What exactly is she trying to do?' Senji Mura gripped the hilt of his sword tightly. 'No wonder she instigated me to assassinate Morgan earlier; it was all part of this plan?'

“Exactly.” Koyanskaya nodded. “She seems to know that Morgan is guarding some secret. I don’t know the specifics, but if Morgan dies, her plan will proceed without hindrance.”

'Damn it, of all times...' Senjimura gritted his teeth, 'that child's future path will likely become increasingly difficult.'

"By the way," Koyanskaya adjusted her glasses, "your situation in the Fairy Kingdom is truly dire. Besides dealing with Morgan, you also need to be wary of that girl—the entire Fairy Kingdom is eyeing her covetously. You'd better watch your step!"

The Fairies of Wales - Fairy Round Table Realm, Poem of Eternal Mist

After the uninvited 'visit' of the fairy knight Tristan, Senko Village and the fairy knight Gareth spent a sleepless night.

To avoid causing panic, Senkomura chose to bury the shocking secret revealed by Koyanskaya deep within his heart—the alien god's plan to cause the entire Earth to collapse. But this news, like a venomous snake, entwined his thoughts, causing him to toss and turn in bed. This was no child's play. Ever since the alien priestess summoned him, Ashiya Doman, Rasputin, and Koyanskaya here, he knew that being was like a cunning fox spirit. She planted the Imaginary Tree, created Lostbelts, plunged the world into a crisis of blankness, and secretly directed him to carry out various dirty tasks: sowing discord and eliminating dissidents. During this long period of oppression, he had already harbored rebellious intentions. But he never expected that she would plan such a mad ending—to completely wipe the entire Earth from the universe. Perhaps in the alien priestess's eyes, Fujimaru Ritsuka's resistance had become an obstacle that had to be eliminated, which was why she decided to cut off all escape routes once and for all.

In the room at the other end of the corridor, the fairy knight Gareth was equally distraught. Tristan's sudden appearance had already alerted her, but what troubled her even more was the 'Mother' she had blurted out in her haste—a secret almost unknown outside the royal city. Fortunately, only Senko Village was present at the time. But what if Ritsuka also learned the truth one day? How would she face it? Thoughts surged like a tide, and she couldn't help but bury her face in the blankets, letting out a soft sigh of regret.

Camelot City - Late Night

As the city lights gradually dimmed and the fairy kingdom drifted into slumber, the queen's palace remained brightly lit, as if it were daytime.

Before Morgan stood three goblin knights, solemn and respectful. Lancelot's silver armor gleamed in the moonlight, Mordred's crimson armor reflected the candlelight, and Gawain's golden helmet shone with unwavering loyalty. They listened silently to the Queen's decree.

'It's time to launch an investigation.' Morgan's voice was exceptionally clear in the silence. 'Now that the great calamity has subsided, it's time for that lurking white creature to make its move.'

“Your Majesty, please entrust this matter to me!” Mordred stepped forward, his eyes burning with a sense of mission. “This was precisely why you summoned me here.”

“Very good. Lord Gawain, you will assist Lord Mordred.” Morgan nodded slightly, then turned to the youngest knight, “Lancelot, find a suitable time to see the children… it’s time to tell them the truth.”

"Yes, sir!" the two knights replied in unison.

Seeing their resolute posture, Morgan sighed with relief and turned to look at the night outside the window.

'You must not hinder that child's pilgrimage. This is her mission as a fairy of the paradise, and a destiny we must respect... As I said, my prophetic abilities are fading... Now, all we can do is continue to suppress 'that thing'...'

Her voice gradually lowered, carrying the weariness of exhaustion, like a king about to fall from grace. This somber tone permeated the entire room.

"Your Majesty!" Mordred suddenly knelt on one knee, his voice as firm as iron, "No matter what lies ahead, I will follow you to the death! I will never allow […] to destroy this land again! My life was given to me by you, and this loyalty will last until death!"

These resounding vows, like sunlight piercing through the gloom, warmed Morgan's frozen heart. Despite inheriting the name of a rebellious knight from the pan-human history, Mordred before him consistently displayed extraordinary loyalty. Perhaps this was the most fundamental difference between her and her counterpart—in this knight's heart, the thought of betrayal had never existed.

In the soft light of dawn, Fujimaru Ritsuka and her companions set off early from Camelot, heading towards Wales. The addition of the fairy knight Gareth did not arouse suspicion—she was not a spy, but a genuinely dedicated protector of Ritsuka. As for the deeper reasons behind her insistence on accompanying them, perhaps many untold stories remain.

Traveling along the plains east of Gloucester, they soon reached the Welsh border. Completely different from the bustling Wales of pan-human history, the scene before them took their breath away—there were no noisy streets, only a fairytale forest perpetually shrouded in autumn. No matter the season, crimson and golden hues remained the dominant colors, the endless autumn hues radiating a unique brilliance across British soil.

As they stepped into this secret realm, a group of tiny, delicate elves peeked out from the treetops, curiously circling around these tall visitors.

"Oh my, welcome~" Oberon emerged from the depths of the forest, but before he could finish speaking, Artoria had already taken a step forward and grabbed his collar.

'Oberon—' she said, a chillingly kind smile on her face, 'do you know how much trouble your sudden departure has caused us? And now you think you can pretend nothing happened?'

'Well... after all, a great calamity is coming, and I have to protect my territory...'

'What are you worried about! You're clearly trying to desert your post!'

The next second, Artoria unceremoniously shoved Oberon's head into the tree hollow next to them. Seeing him struggling inside, Ritsuka couldn't help but laugh. Senko Muramasa mischievously stepped forward and patted him on the back:

'Oh dear, Oberon's really getting his comeuppance now!'

'Mr. Muramasa, please stop making fun of me... Please help me pull it out! I'm suffocating... Artoria, you're too rough...'

'Hmph, let's see if you dare to disappear again!'

Joking aside, Senji Muramasa still reached out and rescued Oberon from the tree hole. Oberon rubbed his neck, which was red and swollen from being squeezed, and complained softly, "It hurts so much... Did you have to be so serious about it...?"

'What? You think the punishment is too lenient? Want to try it again in a different place?'

"No, please! You're so rough, child." Oberon quickly waved his hand, "I'm just worried about this forest and these little elves..."

"Oh?" Senji Muramasa said thoughtfully, "After all, you were born here, so it's natural that you'd care about this place—"

"What?!" Everyone exclaimed in unison, even Oberon was stunned.

Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, Senji Muramasa calmly explained: "Before arriving in Britain, I had gathered information about this place through various channels. While I wouldn't claim to know everything, I do possess some knowledge of certain secrets—such as your origins, Oberon."

'I see…' Oberon chuckled wryly, straightening his clothes. 'Artoria, stop glaring at me like that…'

'Hmph! I hope you don't try anything funny again!' Artoria stood with her arms crossed, 'You're the most troublemaker in the whole team!'

It seems Artoria won't forgive him easily anytime soon. However, the most urgent matter is for Oberon to explain the truth about himself to everyone.

In the distant past, Autumn Forest was not as vibrant as it is today. Back then, it was a desolate and lifeless land, until one day, a mysterious chosen one descended upon it.

As this handsome man slept, he unleashed a torrent of magic, revitalizing the barren land. Trees sprouted, streams began to flow, and the wasteland was gradually bathed in the crimson and golden hues of maple leaves. When the last trace of magic was exhausted, the slumbering creator transformed into the fairy prince, Oberon. From then on, the Autumn Forest became the final refuge for displaced fairies, a place where all those who had suffered oppression in the fairy kingdom could find dignity and peace. This explains why Oberon cherished this land so much—he was not only its guardian but also the very source that gave it life.

'I see…' Ritsuka nodded thoughtfully. 'I think I can understand why you…'

"Ritsuka, don't be fooled by him!" Artoria interrupted hastily, "This guy's best skill is pretending; he's actually always scheming about how to slack off!"

Oberon lowered his head helplessly, seemingly unable to refute the accusation. While the crowd was buzzing with discussion, the fairy knight Gareth noticed something amiss—she noticed that Oberon's gaze would shift unnaturally every time he spoke. Just as she was trying to delve deeper into this detail, an object beneath the tree roots caught her eye.

'Oberon, what is that? Would you have a painting like that in your collection?'

"What?" Oberon looked in the direction of the voice. "I don't remember leaving anything here... Wait, this is—!"

He picked up the dusty portrait, and the moment he gently brushed away the dust, he froze. The painting depicted a woman clad in armor, her fur cloak billowing, her golden hair streaked with silver, and her crowned face both familiar and strange.

'This is…' Oberon's voice trembled.

"Impossible!" Artoria exclaimed in shock.

Ritsuka and Leonardo da Vinci both gasped in shock—it was clearly the Lion King they had encountered in the holy city of Camelot! But upon closer inspection, there were differences: the woman's golden hair was streaked with silver, and her brows held less divinity and more signs of vicissitude.

'The Lion King? How could she be here? Could it be...?'

'What Lion King?' Artoria frowned in confusion. 'The Fairy Kingdom has never had such a title. She is Liliana, the Eternal Queen who ruled Britain before His Majesty Morgan! But why is her portrait in the Autumn Forest? Oberon, could this be one of your tricks?'

"I'm completely clueless too." Oberon frowned. "The existence of [Eternal Queen Liliana] should have been erased from history long ago... The only one who should know about her now is the one in the royal city..."

'No…' the fairy knight Gareth murmured, 'If it's truly top secret, why…'

"Wait!" Leonardo da Vinci suddenly noticed a note tucked behind the frame. "There's a message here..."

The yellowed pages bore distorted handwriting: 'No need to hide it any longer. The people of the Fairy Kingdom have the right to know the truth. That witch has been hiding for far too long.'

'This seems like a conspiracy…' Leonardo da Vinci keenly sensed the anomaly. 'The queen would never reveal a secret in this way.'

'Could someone have infiltrated His Majesty's quarters?' The fairy knight Gareth clenched his fist.

Leonardo da Vinci gazed at the majestic figure in the painting and murmured, "The Eternal King... It seems the waters of this Lostbelt run deeper than we imagined."

(Note: Readers should view Oberon's narration with caution, as more truths will be revealed in subsequent plot developments.)

**Fairy Kingdom - 2000 Years Ago - Unknown Land**

As the dizziness from the time travel gradually subsided, Mashu slowly opened her eyes. She forced herself to endure the discomfort and began to survey this unfamiliar era.

Despite being in the fairy kingdom two thousand years ago, the scene before him was exactly the same as what he had seen in the misty sea: a thick fog that blotted out the sun, ruins and broken buildings, forming a stark contrast to the prosperous kingdom of the future. This place was more like a ruin that had just experienced a catastrophe; there was no trace of life in the air, only deathly silence and nothingness permeating the mist.

"Um... who are you?" A melodious voice, clear as a spring, came from behind. "Could you be a survivor? That's wonderful! Totorut! Come quickly, it's been sixteen days... we've finally found a survivor!"

Survivors? Could it be that the fairy kingdom of this era really suffered an unimaginable disaster? Mashu could hardly believe that the glorious kingdom two thousand years later was built from such ruins.

Two figures gradually emerged from the mist. The one in front was a tall, slender girl, her golden twin ponytails still shimmering in the gloom, her emerald eyes like the waters of a lake in early spring. She wore a blue and white uniform, and a ruby ​​brooch on her chest emitted a warm glow in the thick fog. The wooden staff in her hand was topped with a matching gem, seemingly the source of her magic.

Following behind was a fairy the size of a doll, whose petite and adorable appearance reminded Mashu of a familiar figure.

As the blonde girl approached, Mashu froze—the girl's appearance was practically identical to Artoria's! Aside from the black headband, all her other features were exactly the same as the Artoria Mashu knew. If she were wearing that gray uniform, it would be impossible to tell them apart.

However, despite their similar appearances, the magical power emanating from the girl was completely different from Artoria's. It was a kind of pressure that Mash felt was familiar—exactly the same magical power she had felt from Morgan in the royal city.

'Artoria...is that you?' Mash asked tentatively.

The girl paused for a moment, then shook her head: 'Artoria? Who's that? Let us give you a check-up first! The aftershocks of the Great Calamity haven't completely subsided yet.'

'A great calamity? Could it be...?'

"Yes, it's the disaster that happened sixteen days ago." The girl's voice lowered. "Totoru and I have been searching here for a long time... It's so good to have found survivors!"

When the topic of the Great Calamity came up, Mashu immediately recalled her recent experience, the terrifying scene of the world's destruction still vivid in her mind. Judging from the desolate ruins and the girl's narration, the fairy kingdom of this era had just experienced a devastating calamity, and no one could withstand its onslaught.

After a careful examination, confirming that Mashu was not infected by the curse of calamity, the two finally breathed a sigh of relief. The blonde girl gave Mashu a warm smile:

"Thank goodness! You're alright... I am Vivian—the prophesied child of the Eternal Queen Liliana. Please join us; the threat of the Great Calamity is not over yet."

Side Quest: The Continuation of the Disaster - Fairy Round Table Realm, The Poem of Eternal Mist

16 days ago · Old Fairy Kingdom · Edinburgh

'boom--!'

With a piercing cracking sound, countless ice crystals shot out from a majestic marble building. A prominent 'No Entry' sign stood outside this gold-trimmed church-like structure, and a powerful protective barrier enveloped the area within a two-meter radius, clearly guarding some important secret. However, the Fairy Kingdom was now in hell—countless gigantic, purplish-black hands lashed out like crazed octopuses, leaving ruins in their wake.

Amidst the swirling icy dust, a blonde girl struggled to her feet from the shattered ice. She picked up her fallen hat and rubbed her eyes to adjust to the light. In the mirror, her twin ponytails were covered in debris, her eyes were dark-rimmed, and the ruby ​​in the center of her bow was flashing rapidly, a stark warning of the impending danger. Looking out the window, the colossal claws that blotted out the sky and the raging flames sent shivers down her spine.

'A great calamity?! Where is His Majesty now? What exactly happened in Mecaro?!'

The young Vivian grabbed the staff leaning against the ice coffin—the rough wooden staff topped with a gem of the same origin as the brooch. With a burst of dark blue magic, the sealed gate shattered. She rushed towards the outside world, and the wandering giant hand immediately sensed her life force, surging towards her like a tide.

'Disappear!'

A bluish-black blade of light condensed at the tip of the staff, and with a piercing shriek tearing through the air, the first wave of giant hands instantly vaporized. But this was only the beginning—a viscous black liquid seeped from the ground, twisting and writhing as it coalesced into purplish-black ellipses. In the blink of an eye, swarms of Morse, like a black tide, enveloped her. Faced with this overwhelming number, Vivian finally collapsed to the ground.

'Your Majesty...save me...what should I do...I don't want to die...'

Just as Moth's claws were about to strike, golden light suddenly burst forth! A white-blue magic circle swirled beneath her feet, and wherever the holy light touched, Moth was reduced to ashes. Before she could react, the magic circle split in two, enveloping her. A flash of intense light, and she found herself in a ruined palace.

'Mercarole? Your Majesty! Where are you?'

The once glorious royal city is now stained with blood. The arched throne has been swallowed by a purplish-black substance, and the fresh bloodstains on the walls tell of a final resistance. Only a golden spear stands in the center of the hall—its shaft is wrapped with the magical markings unique to the fairies of the paradise, and its holy light dispels all evil.

'Why is the Holy Lance...? Am I the only one left in the Fairy Kingdom?'

In her despair, the Holy Lance suddenly burst forth with a blinding light. When Vivian regained her senses, she found herself in a pure white space. Standing before her was a woman clad in blood-stained armor, her scattered golden hair interspersed with silver strands, a shattered crown perched askew on her forehead. Her once emerald eyes were now as dull as still water.