Fairy Round Table Realm, Poem of Eternal Mist

Trembling, she twisted open the two capsules that glowed with an ominous purple light. In an instant, the demonized illusions of Melusin and Sylph solidified in the air, emitting maniacal laughter. A chilling wind arose, and the surrounding Morse, drawn by the illusions, surged towards Diana like moths to a flame.

[Nightmare Fusion! With flames burning to ashes and natural disasters destroying everything, the demon of annihilation has descended!]

Enveloped in a purplish-black light of calamity, the phantom and the real began to intertwine. Cicada wings and dragon wings tore out from Diana's back simultaneously, sharp fangs pierced her lips, and claws replaced nails. Her eyes turned blood red, blood vessels pulsating in their depths with each heartbeat, and twisted horns and cicada-like antennae grew simultaneously from her forehead. A viscous, asphalt-like liquid of Morphine flowed around her, emanating a chilling aura.

What is about to happen is a story woven from unimaginable despair.

-

The rebel fortress had just weathered a fierce battle. The Fang Clan's raid had left it in ruins, with the walls and rubble littered with the remains of wounded soldiers. Artoria, having exhausted her magic power from the earlier long-distance teleportation spell, could only lean weakly against the wall. The others, all bearing claw wounds inflicted by Woodworth, were receiving emergency treatment.

Ritsuka looked down at the wound on her abdomen and thought with a wry smile: "Once this Lostbelt ends, I'm afraid I won't be able to find an inch of intact skin on my body."

However, during this brief respite, an even more terrible disaster was quietly approaching—

Please forgive me, please forgive me, forgive my sins.

Fairies who love freedom, fairies who protect love.

Your Britain must be prosperous and thriving.

The corpses piled up like mountains, forever and ever.

But never forget

The world is ever new, but its foundations are ever more rotten.

Without realizing it, just like this—

Because of a tiny, insignificant insect, a single bite was enough to cause it to fall apart.

Please forgive us, please forgive us, forgive our sins.

The earth suddenly trembled violently, and the sky was tainted by a murky darkness. Nearby trees were instantly ignited by a purplish-black substance, and the inferno quickly spread, turning everything to scorched earth. Panic screams and the deafening roar of collapsing buildings intertwined to create an apocalyptic symphony.

In the distance, against the crimson sky, a terrifying figure with dragon wings was approaching. It was shrouded in a purplish-black substance unique to Morster, and its scarlet eyes flickered with the rhythm of its heartbeat, each pulse stripping away the will of living beings.

This reaction is absolutely correct—it's the priest god Cornunos!

whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—

The heavy, piercing sound of flapping wings pounded in everyone's ears like a death knell. In the sky, a twisted figure slowly descended—no longer Diana, but a terrifying being embodying the very essence of calamity. She was enveloped in the malevolent aura of the priest god Cornunus, mirroring the threat encountered at the beach, yet far more suffocating. It was as if another incarnation of that ancient evil god had descended upon the world through Diana's utterly corrupted body.

"What a joke..." Senjimura struggled to his feet, blood seeping from his wounds with each movement. "At least let this old man catch his breath!!!"

The twisted entity in the air let out a low laugh, a voice that seemed to emanate from the abyss: 'Didn't expect this, did you, Child of Prophecy, Caster? This 'inferior being' willingly abandoned her own body, choosing destruction for power… Your fairies' repentance is never sincere enough, sealing me away time and again—' Its gaze locked onto Artoria, 'What's wrong, Caster? Are you afraid? Or is it that in the memories of all the Children of Paradise, I will always appear this way?'

By this time, Diana had long lost her self-awareness; her body was completely possessed by the will of Kornunos. Although this was not the complete form of the evil god—its true form was still sealed beneath the city of Camelot—Diana's excessive absorption of Mos's power undoubtedly opened a dangerous window into Kornunos's consciousness.

Despite the evil god's mockery, Artoria remained unmoved. She had long anticipated this possibility. Slowly removing her beret, she gripped the Staff of Choice tightly in her hand, her knuckles turning white from the force.

'I will never fear you, Cornunos.' Her voice was clear and firm. 'No matter how many times you descend, I will defeat you. This is the mission passed down through generations of fairies in our paradise! Come!'

"Wait, Artoria!" Ritsuka called out urgently, "Don't go alone! We—"

"No, this is the choice I must make." Artoria interrupted her, her voice filled with unwavering determination, "If I back down here, then everything His Majesty and all the previous kings have sacrificed will be in vain..."

Senko took a difficult step forward: 'But... how could you possibly do this alone...?'

"I'm so grateful to all of you." Artoria turned around, a complex light flickering in her eyes. "To be honest, since leaving Paradise... I've never felt so fulfilled and happy. But this time... please forgive my stubbornness."

"Wait a minute!" Mash tried to rush forward, but was blocked by a magical barrier that suddenly rose up. This solid barrier isolated everyone from the battlefield—Artoria was determined to face this fateful battle alone.

The purplish-black substance in the air writhed and emitted a nauseating stench that irritated every nerve in Artoria's body. But she forced herself to concentrate, refusing to be disturbed by these vile things. She could feel that this filth contained the fairies' resistance and resentment towards the pilgrimage accumulated over thousands of years, and it was now surging towards her through this twisted vessel.

Without the slightest hesitation, Caster frantically poured the remaining magic within her into her staff. Several shimmering energy orbs instantly coalesced around her, hurtling towards the figure corrupted by calamity with a piercing whistling sound. However, Diana—or rather, the being occupying her body—made no attempt to dodge. When the smoke from the explosion cleared, she stood unharmed, as if the attack had been nothing more than a gentle breeze.

The next second, an invisible impact struck Caster hard in the abdomen.

Ugh!

The excruciating pain sent her flying backward like a puppet with its strings cut, crashing heavily to the ground. She struggled to get up, but blood gushed from the wound in her abdomen, and her body felt as if it were filled with lead, making every movement extremely difficult.

Calamity gave her no chance to breathe. A shadow flashed, and it appeared before Caster, its claws slashing down with an aura of death. Caster barely managed to raise her golden shield—

'Snap!'

Black markings spread rapidly across the shield's surface, like decaying mycelium. With a cracking sound, the shield shattered completely. Castor seized the opportunity to roll behind Calamity, about to counterattack, but found himself covered in frost, his movements instantly frozen.

'puff--'

The calamity's elbow strike slammed into her back, blood gushing from her mouth. A pale blue orb of light silently appeared beside her—

'Boom!'

The violent explosion threw Caster into the air, and she fell like a rag doll into a pool of blood, unable to move.

"Artoria!!!" Ritsuka pounded on the barrier in despair, "Are we just supposed to watch her get killed? Grandpa! Please think of something!"

Senji Muramasa's eyes widened in fury, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked: "I know the situation is dire! This foolish girl is acting too recklessly!!" He abruptly drew his katana, "Percival, lend me a hand!"

Percival immediately understood, and his holy lance and katana shone simultaneously. The two beams of light converged into a single point, slamming fiercely into the magical barrier—

'Bang!'

The barrier shattered instantly. But Senko Muramasa reached out and stopped Ritsuka and Da Vinci from rushing out.

"Child..." the old swordsman's voice was unusually heavy, "This time, listen to me... don't go. If you fall here, the consequences will be unimaginable. Leave the rest to your elders."

Ritsuka bit her lower lip, her nails digging deep into her palms. She understood perfectly well that her magical energy was now depleted; even if she forced herself to transform, she would only become a burden. In the end, she, Da Vinci, and Sei Shonagon silently retreated into the ruins of the dilapidated fortress, forced to watch helplessly as the faint figure lay in a pool of blood in the distance.

'Cough...I haven't...lost yet...'

Artoria struggled to sit up, but a giant foot covered in a viscous, purplish-black substance slammed down on her back. The terrifying weight rendered her, already severely injured, completely immobile, forcing her cheek to press against the cold ground.

'Hmph,' Cornunos sneered through Diana's throat, 'the fairies of Paradise are getting worse with each generation. Any last words? Hmm? What!'

Just as the blade formed from calamity was about to strike, a katana burning with flames appeared out of nowhere, forcefully blocking the fatal blow. Senji Muramasa's eyes widened in fury, his teeth clenched, and all his muscles tensed to the limit. He suddenly exerted his strength, knocking Diana back several steps.

Percival seized the fleeting opportunity, his holy spear piercing his opponent's chest like a venomous snake. However, the spear tip was blocked by an invisible barrier just inches from its target, and the ensuing burst of violent air forced him to his knees.

"You fool who doesn't know what's good for him!" Cornunos roared. "Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish!"

Percival groaned, and the temperature around him plummeted. Frost visibly condensed around him, transforming into dense hailstones carried by the gale. These sharp-edged ice blocks rained down like a storm, leaving countless bloody gashes on his face and arms. But he paid no heed to these superficial wounds, resolutely using his body as a shield, roaring towards his comrades behind him:

'Now!'

Senji Muramasa's eyes were closed, and ancient chanting began to echo around him:

Reaching this point requires countless studies.

More than a thousand swords were used as models.

Piled up with mounds of knives

Arriving here is a convergence of all things.

It is the wish of all things to be displayed here.

Gathered here are all non-businesses

Everything in my life

All exist to reach this blade.

The pulse of the sword is here.

Bring it on!

This is mine

Du Mouyi—

Muramasa!

The instant the incantation was completed, a raging sea of ​​fire appeared out of nowhere. The old swordsman standing atop the sword mound was surrounded by countless floating katanas. These weapons, as if possessing life, shattered and transformed into blazing sparks, which eventually coalesced into a unique, fiery divine blade.

At the same time, Percival's holy lance erupted with dazzling light, a golden torrent fueling the katana's propulsion. Artoria, barely able to stand, poured her last bit of magic into it, and the tip of her staff shone with pure light.

'Break forth, Chastro!'

The three forces merged perfectly, and Senji Muramasa gripped the hilt of his sword tightly with both hands, pouring all the will he had forged throughout his life into this strike:

'Take this! You hideous monster!'

'Boom—!'

Amidst a deafening explosion, the flaming katana, imbued with the combined power of three formidable warriors, pierced through the air, aiming straight for Diana's face. However, this body, consumed by calamity, neither dodged nor evaded, instead taking the devastating blow head-on with her bare flesh. The violent impact forced her fortress-like frame backward, her feet carving two deep furrows in the ground.

'Bang! Bang! Bang!'

The conjured Melusin weapons emitted a series of ear-piercing cracking sounds; the imitations were ultimately no match for the sharpness of the genuine article. But at that moment, Diana made a move that shocked everyone—she suddenly opened her arms, completely abandoning her defenses, allowing the power of the katana to penetrate her body!

A viscous, purplish-black substance surged wildly towards her chest, causing her dragon wings and cicada wings to tremble violently. Her once ferocious dragon horns twisted and deformed, transforming into grotesque, antler-like branches. Lightning and calamistic energy converged on her chest, and ancient markings symbolizing destruction appeared on the ground.

Fear! Fear! Deny it, deny it, child of paradise. I am the denial of your pilgrimage by all, I am the resistance to your mission, I am the escape from my own sins! Sin will come, sin will multiply, sin will decay! Reveal yourself! Respond to the prophecy with the sin of fairies—the ultimate sin stands here!

(What sounded like a chaotic roar to everyone else was actually a sound that only Artoria could understand.)

The moment the spell was cast, the pink sky was covered in filthy mud. Deafening thunder and torrential rain swept through the entire rebel fortress. Every drop of rain, every clap of thunder, proclaimed to Castor: the Fairy Kingdom refused the pilgrimage; this was all the fairies' denial of her mission. Stopping her at all costs was the consensus of this world.

A dark substance the size of a basketball coalesced on Diana's chest, then exploded violently after expanding and collapsing. A viscous, crimson-black liquid surged forth like a burst dam, turning everything in its path to black ash. Rebel soldiers who couldn't escape in time were touched by even a single drop; their bodies began to turn black from the inside out, their limbs and hair falling away like withered leaves, ultimately transforming them into Moss figures with only blood-red eyes remaining. These newly formed Moss figures were then absorbed by Diana, becoming nourishment for her power.

At this moment, Muramasa's katana dissipated due to exhaustion, leaving only a deep wound on Diana's chest. A purplish-black substance was continuously gushing from the wound, spreading towards Caster like a tide of death.

Seeing the approaching torrent of calamity, Caster suddenly understood something. Despite her numerous wounds, she resolutely raised her staff:

That is the star of the end, which I once witnessed. A thousand vows, a faint starlight. No matter how far apart we are, no matter how much filth we bear, I will pursue my own star. Come—draw back the curtain, embrace the star of hope!

A dazzling sea of ​​flowers descended like a savior, instantly enveloping the fortress and Senji Muramasa's group. The writhing, purplish-black substances dissolved instantly upon touching the petals, as if encountering their nemesis. This radiant floral display, like the morning star before dawn, illuminated the path forward for those who had fallen into despair.

Mashu immediately understood, erecting a pure white barrier that echoed the sea of ​​flowers. Under this double protection, the surging black mud receded at a visible speed. However, this was far from enough—Artoria's body had reached its limit, blood continuously seeping from the corners of her mouth, ears, and forehead, her arms supporting the magic circle trembling violently, and her whole body swaying precariously.

At this critical moment, Ritsuka had a flash of inspiration and shouted to Mashu, "Mash! In the name of my Command Spell, I command you—use the Black Gun and aim at that monster's wound!"

'Understood! Activate! Blackshoot!'

The pitch-black spear that had once pierced through numerous true-body Mechs on Olympus reappeared. An ominous light burst from its muzzle, and the bullet sliced ​​through the air, striking precisely at the gruesome wound on Diana's chest.

*Pfft!*

With a tearing sound of flesh being ripped apart, the bullet pierced Diana's body without resistance. This demonic gun, specifically designed to counter True Aether, ignored all defenses and delivered a fatal blow. Diana, who was unleashing calamity, collapsed to her knees, and the continuous flow of black mud ceased. A jet-black liquid gushed from her body like a burst dam, pooling on the ground to form a nauseating swamp.

However, seeing Diana kneeling on the ground, unable to get up, Artoria's face showed not the joy of victory, but a deeper fear.

'She's not dead yet! Everyone get out of the way!'

'What?! Ahhhhh—!'