Fairy Round Table Realm, Poem of Eternal Mist

"Since that's the case, it's time for this old man to settle this score." Before Senji Muramasa could finish speaking, the crisp sound of shattering chains tore through the air. A blinding white light flashed before the two leading horse-headed soldiers, and when the light dissipated, blood gushed out like a fountain. In the blink of an eye, the front-row soldiers had been cut in half at the waist.

Before the other soldiers could react, a second white light followed. The guards beside the fairy knight Tristan fell like wheat being harvested, the swift flashes of the blades too fast for the naked eye to see. By the time she realized what was happening, Senji Muramasa had already grabbed her by the neck and slammed her against the wall.

'How... is this possible...' Tristan gasped for breath.

"Thank you for your 'hospitality' these past few days, Your Highness the Princess of the Palace." The swordsmith sneered, "Now it's time for you to taste the bitterness of torture?"

'Don't be so smug, you lowly commoner!'

A sharp spike suddenly shot out from the sole of her high heel, aimed directly at the main gate of Qianzi Village. The old man neither dodged nor evaded, but precisely seized her ankle.

"Terrible taste," he scoffed. "You think you can hurt me with this cheap iron spike?"

He casually tossed aside the dangerous high heel, grabbed Tristan by the collar, and flung her away. Before she could get up, Senji Muramasa had already crouched down to examine the royal princess: her waist-length red hair was adorned with a gleaming crown and hairpin, her blue eyes were as clear as Morgan's, and her pointed ears and fangs revealed her true nature.

'I hadn't looked closely before; I didn't realize you were not only a fairy but also a vampire.'

'Don't underestimate me!'

Crimson mist condensed in Tristan's palm, transforming into a harp bow. The strings vibrated, and three blood-red wind blades pierced through the air.

'Well done!'

Magic circuits appeared on Senji's face, blue lightning swirling around him like sparks from forged iron. The katana materialized the instant the wind blade struck, and with a clang, the wind blade shattered.

"How dare a mere human react like this!" Tristan roared, his heel spikes plunging into the ground, countless spikes surging towards the old man like a tidal wave.

'Drink up!'

Senjimura raised his sword, gathering power, blue lightning and flames intertwining and flashing. The sword energy, crackling with lightning, tore through the ground with devastating force, heading straight for Tristan, who hadn't had time to deploy his barrier.

'I can't defend against it—ah!'

The explosion shook the entire Camelot Castle. Amidst the smoke-filled ruins, Tristan lay unconscious on the ground, having only suffered minor abrasions from the impact.

"It seems the Queen has cast a protective spell on you." Senji Muramasa sheathed his sword and muttered to himself, "You're lucky this time, little girl. The debt you owe me will be repaid in the future."

The corridor leading to the ground, which should have been silent, was now echoing with a symphony of clashing metal. Guards fell one after another like dominoes, until a tall woman clad in heavy armor blocked her path. Her nearly two-meter-tall body was covered in thick armor, and blue and yellow horns peeked out from between her light brown curly hair.

'Oh my, so this is the young and strong fairy knight Gawain? Such a physique for a woman is truly admirable.'

'This farce must end! His Majesty has already shown mercy by sparing your life; now it is my turn to finish you off!'

'You? Let this old man have his fun, Fairy Knight Gawain!'

A deathly silence fell over the hall as the two warriors stared at each other. Gawain, facing this swordsmith for the first time, felt a surge of nervousness, while Senji Muramasa remained composed. The next moment, both leaped into the air, sparks raining down from their clashing weapons. Each attack was precisely parried, until an opening appeared under Gawain's left armpit—

'Success!'

The katana pierced through a gap in the armor, and the wounded Gawain retreated hastily. Blood seeped from his armpits, and Senji Muramasa laughed loudly: "Exposing weaknesses on the battlefield gives the opponent an opening. Young man, you don't yet understand the true meaning of battle!"

Before Gawain could adjust, the sword energy, wreathed in flames, blasted her away. The knight, covered in flames, crashed heavily to the ground.

'I was careless... but it's not over yet! I'll show you my true strength!'

A barrier instantly enveloped the city, and Senji Muramasa finally revealed a battle-ready smile: 'So, you're finally getting serious? Come on!'

'Let me show you my true form! What is the history of humankind? Insignificant, weak, unworthy even to become a stain on my sword! Ariane tentacles, unleash!'

The plucked horn caused a dramatic transformation in Gawain's body; his eyes turned red, his fangs bared, and he transformed into a colossal creature.

Kneel down, you predatory horn of the sun!

Where the flaming giant sword struck, pillars of fire shot into the sky like fangs, turning the surrounding area into scorched earth.

'Turn to ashes, human! What…'

"You really did burn me," came Senko Muramasa's voice from behind her. "Now it's my turn!"

Countless red-hot swords danced around the old man, blue lightning and steam intertwined, and finally condensed into a crimson katana.

'Arriving here is the culmination of countless studies and countless sword mounds. Through karma, I sever all past ties with a single stroke! This is—Muramasa Tomori!'

The crimson blade slashed towards the gigantic Gawain, and a burst of heat swept through the barrier. In the deafening explosion, a white flash engulfed the massive figure.

After the barrier dissipated, the fairy knight Gawain collapsed unconscious, his armor covered in burn marks, steam rising from his wounds. Senji Muramasa tossed aside his katana, which had turned to wisps of smoke, and whispered:

'Sleep well. Next time we meet, I won't show any mercy—Fairy Knight Gawain, no, perhaps I should call you ■■■■?'

Camelot, the Fairy Kingdom

After defeating the fairy knight Gawain, the remaining guards in the palace fell like withered grass under Senji Muramasa's sword. As the last metallic clang faded, the old man leaped out of the window, his robes fluttering in the night wind.

'Finally free—' He breathed a sigh of relief, but his words trailed off, 'This is…'

The sight before them was chilling—Camelot Castle stood atop the edge of a bottomless abyss. The cliffs were steep and sheer, clearly a man-made chasm. Even more terrifying was that the axes of all the cities pointed precisely to this black hole-like pit.

'Could the Queen have buried some secret here?' Senji Muramasa muttered to himself, carefully moving to the edge of the pit and peering down.

A nameless monster lurked in the darkness: its hairy body coiled at the bottom of the pit, its antler-like horns pressed against the rock wall. Its distorted face, like charred tree roots, twisted and knotted, sent chills down one's spine. Countless magical inscriptions, like chains, bound the monster's body, while floating elven enchantments wove a net across the sky. The air above the pit was deathly silent, save for the scattered remains of birds and withered, blackened plants.

"Such a terrifying creature lurks beneath Britain..." the old man gasped. "This is no ordinary being. What is Morgan hiding?"

He swiftly retrieved his magic recorder, capturing the scene before disappearing into the night. Moments later, the guards' furious roar echoed throughout the royal city: "Find that human, even if you have to dig three feet into the ground! Otherwise, how can we explain this to His Majesty!"

***

Gloucester five hours later

As dusk settled in Gloucester, the city was immersed in the revelry of the night. A woman with animal ears strode gracefully through the bustling streets, the hem of her emerald green dress brushing against the jewel-encrusted pavement. She adjusted her glasses and entered a Western-style restaurant filled with the aroma of coffee.

In a corner booth, Senjamura put down his newspaper and sighed, "Koyanskaya, you're always late. This old man really feels like he's sitting on pins and needles in this kind of ostentatious place."

"Well, don't be so serious." The woman chuckled as she sat down. "I heard you caused quite a stir all by yourself?"

"If Rasputin hadn't disappeared and Ashiya Dōman hadn't gone missing, why would I have risked my life alone?" Senji Muramasa pushed the recorder across the table. "Take a look at this."

The image of the monster appearing on the screen made Koyanskaya gasp. Her previous composure vanished, and her fingertips trembled as she swiped across the screen: 'This is…'

"The waters of this Lostbelt run deeper than I imagined," Senji Muramasa said gravely. "Now you understand why that woman insisted we come."

The two stared at the distorted monster in the image, and fell silent.

***

Camelot

Morgan, escorted by three fairy knights, ascended the palace steps. Suddenly, a silver-haired knight blocked his path: 'Your Majesty, please wait! The royal city seems to be…'

"It's alright." Morgan brushed aside the hand that tried to stop him. "Everything is going as expected."

Inside the palace, the wounded fairy knight Gawain knelt on one knee: 'Your subordinate is incompetent, allowing the prisoner to escape...'

Unexpectedly, the Queen stood on tiptoe and embraced the tall knight: 'You have done very well. But next time, don't use your Noble Phantasm so readily.'

The dignified knight, now like a petted cub, bent down and buried his face in his monarch's shoulder. The other knights chuckled and teased, causing Gawain's ears to flush red: 'You're making fun of me again!'

'They're happy for you.' Morgan patted the knight's back lightly, his gaze turning cold as he turned away.

Inside the palace, the crystal ball recreated the scene of the Thousand Sons Village fleeing. When Morgan saw the image of the old man passing the giant pit, his fingers tightened abruptly: 'A miscalculation... he actually discovered it.'

She put away the crystal ball and pushed open a scarlet door. A dazzling light flowed out—hundreds of exquisite high heels were displayed on the walls, and the collection in the crystal cabinets resembled art exhibits. This was the bedroom of the fairy knight Tristan.

The red-haired girl sat by the window with her knees drawn up, the Milky Way shattering into shimmering waves in her eyes.

'Mother…' She turned and threw herself into Morgan's arms, trembling like a leaf in the wind, 'That human… I almost…'

"No, I won't." Morgan gently stroked her daughter's long hair. "How could I let you leave me?"

"But back then..." the girl choked back tears, clutching the queen's robes, "I thought I'd never see you again..."

Morgan hugged his daughter tighter, his voice as calm as a vow: 'Even if the Lostbelts collapse and stars fall—I will always be by your side.'

The Illusory World - The Fairy Round Table Realm, The Poem of Eternal Mist

Hidden Villages in the Fairy Kingdom

As the starlight faded and the pinkish-orange dawn gently bathed the sky, the British night quietly receded. Fujimaru Ritsuka awoke in the treehouse, surrounded by the scent of nature, realizing that this was her seventh morning recuperating there.

'A new day...' she gazed at the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves, 'We can't stand still any longer.'

After her heart-to-heart talk with Amy, the gloom that had been weighing on her heart had dissipated. She began to re-examine this journey that had traversed countless wars—from the raging flames of Fuyuki to the frigid Russian tundra, had there ever been an easy obstacle to overcome? She hadn't retreated in those life-or-death situations, so how could she be defeated by setbacks now?

Beryl's mocking words suddenly pierced through the memory: 'Fujimaru Ritsuka? She's just a half-baked woman who relies on Mash. Without that shield, she couldn't even survive on her own, could she?'

Even though much time has passed, the thought of that smug face and the vanished figure in the Greek Lostbelt of Kirshtalia still burns with rage in my chest.

'Beryl...you'll never understand...' She gripped the corner of the blanket tightly, then slowly let go.

Anger needs to be transformed into power. The immediate priority is to find the lost comrades and end this Lostbelt. Pushing open the door, the village begins its new day in the morning light. Artoria and Amy, who were waiting outside, come forward to greet them.

'You look much better.' Artoria carefully observed her expression.

'So you've made your decision?' Amy fluttered her butterfly wings.

"I must go find Mash and Da Vinci to complete my mission." Ritsuka's gaze was resolute, "But alone, I'm afraid..."

Looking at the girl who had regained her spirits, the two women smiled at each other. They had been filled with worry just that morning.

'I've been sleeping since yesterday afternoon, it's really worrying.'

Only she can save herself. Having gone through so many tragedies, she must be in immense pain.

Seeing Ritsuka regain her resolve, Artoria gently took her hand: 'You don't have to bear this alone; we will walk with you.'

“That’s right,” Amy said, walking around to the other side and taking her arm, “even the most dangerous journey becomes more interesting with the three of us together.”

A long-lost smile finally broke through the gloom and bloomed on Ritsuka's lips. Despite the devastating blow she suffered upon arriving in Britain, the flame of hope had never been extinguished. Now, a new journey was unfolding in the morning light.

Camelot, the Fairy Kingdom

After being banished from the capital by Morgan, Beryl Gat led a life of wandering in Camelot. Due to the lack of currency and his awkward social status, he was forced to sleep on the streets for extended periods. As a human, he already faced difficulties in the capital city teeming with elf nobles, and the powerful took pleasure in bullying him, making him experience the harsh realities of life firsthand.

This city, predominantly silver and azure, exudes royal grandeur, with Gothic spires and architectural styles from the Queen's era complementing each other. The fairies strolling the streets are all impeccably dressed—some are lords of illustrious lineage, others are meritorious subjects, and at the very least, knights with titles. At this moment, in a dark alleyway, Beryl is huddled behind a cargo box, staring blankly at the cobblestone street.

"Your mother is really cruel to you—" a familiar, spoiled voice rang out, "How long have you been wandering the streets?"

Beryl didn't turn his head: 'From the day the Queen rejected me. Why bother counting those days?'

'You are still my Master, how can you behave in such a wretched state?'

"Do you think you can persuade that heartless queen?" Beryl scoffed. "I don't believe it."