Fairy Round Table Realm, Poem of Eternal Mist

This is the first time I've heard "thank you" / the first time I've felt warmth.

This nameless girl was none other than Tristan, the fairy knight established by Queen Morgan after the founding of her kingdom. Giving her the name of Tristan from the pan-human history was actually quite meaningful: because the Tristan of the pan-human history was shrouded in sorrow in everything he did. Morgan hoped that Bavanshi wouldn't be constantly immersed in sorrow, but could live cheerfully and with a completely different attitude. Bavanshi did indeed achieve this, but it seemed to have gone too far: the pampered treatment in the palace made her forget the pain once the wound healed, and she became indifferent to everything except destruction. Morgan's pampering further fueled her nature. When she heard Belial describe the "pan-human civilization," her eyes lit up; the high heels were made according to the template and description provided by Belial. This gave her a life goal: to become a shoemaker surpassing all others in the pan-human history. But under Belial's influence, she developed a terrible obsession with collecting fairy heels. The girl Morgan hoped for should not have developed in this direction at all—

-

In the morning light of Gloucester, the fairy kingdom, last night's ball seemed like a distant dream. Although everyone had stayed up all night again, the joy of successfully having the fairy knight Tristan complete the true name identification still lingered in Ritsuka and Castor's hearts. As promised to Pepe, they were now heading to Manchester to prepare for the final assault on Camelot. This would be the decisive battle that would determine the fate of Britain, and Ritsuka dared not slacken her efforts in the slightest.

Despite Morgan's tender care for her, this couldn't change their fundamental positions. Their mission was to destroy the Lostbelt and save humanity. But when faced with the Queen, Ritsuka wasn't sure if she could remain rational.

"Now, only the final battle remains." Mashu's expression was solemn. "Senior, are you ready?"

Seeing her junior's serious expression, Ritsuka flexed her wrists. From the very first Lostbelt, she had never backed down. Now that fate had brought them to this point, she would never desert her post.

"No problem," Ritsuka straightened her back, her voice firm, "Now that we've come this far, we absolutely cannot give up halfway!"

"Yes," Caster nodded, "Time is of the essence; let's return to Manchester as soon as possible. Although time is tight, I need to conserve my strength for the final battle. Let's go, everyone!" She silently thought: [Your Majesty, do you see? I have grown. Soon, Ritsuka and I will be able to present you with the most perfect answer.]

The journey from Gloucester to Manchester is over a hundred kilometers, crossing the northern plains. It was destined to be a tedious trip. However, just when everyone thought they could travel peacefully, an uninvited guest had been waiting for them for some time—

'Bang!'

Several sharp spikes suddenly appeared, pinning the carriage firmly to the spot. Everyone looked up and saw the unpleasant flower magician sitting leisurely on a boulder, legs crossed, looking down at them with the same gaze one would give an insect.

"Don't rush off, little birds~" Merlin's sweet voice carried a dangerous undertone. "I've been asked to do something. Just leave Artoria Caster and Fujimaru Ritsuka here. I'm particularly interested in those two children~"

'Merlin!! It's you again, woman!'

Muramasa's roar shattered the morning tranquility. With Merlin's appearance, everyone instantly went into battle mode. This venomous woman, this ruthless killer, had once again appeared silently. But this time she wasn't alone—beside her stood Bavanshi, disheveled and covered in wounds. At Merlin's nod, Bavanshi unleashed a hysterical roar at Ritsuka and Caster:

'Unforgivable! Absolutely unforgivable! Custer, you took everything from me, and I'll take everything from you too!'

Suddenly, a strange, box-like object appeared in Bavanshi's hand. Just as everyone was about to retaliate, their bodies seemed to be firmly nailed to the spot by an invisible pile driver. The petals fluttering around Merlin transformed into tough vines, tightly binding everyone's limbs. These petals also possessed the property of absorbing magic power, instantly draining everyone's newly recovered magic power.

Most devastatingly, a deep abyss suddenly opened beneath Ritsuka and Castor's feet. Darkness, writhing and spreading like a living thing, completely engulfed them before they could even cry out.

"Ritsuka! Caster!" The shouts of the crowd echoed across the empty field.

'Excellent! Great! Let them plunge into the abyss!' Bavanshi waved her arms wildly, but her smile suddenly froze. 'Wait... Merlin, what are you trying to do?'

Before she could react, Merlin had already grabbed her by the neck and lifted her up. A chilling smile appeared on the Flower Magician's face:

"You think I care what you do with those two birds? Don't be naive, Bavanshi." Her voice was sweet as honey, yet carried a chilling edge. "To me, you're nothing but a pawn—well, now it's time to think about how to pay off my debts. How about this? You go here!"

Merlin casually opened a portal and mercilessly tossed Bavanshi inside. This unexpected double-cross left everyone present speechless with shock. Ultimately, it was all the little princess's own doing: first, she was fair and squarely defeated by Ritsuka and Castor, harboring resentment; and throughout the entire fairy kingdom, the only one likely to tolerate her capriciousness was the Queen in Camelot. But Merlin never indulged anyone.

For Bavanshi, no matter what trouble she caused in the past, someone would always clean up the mess. But today was different—this venomous woman would not tolerate her at all. She had only intended to make Ritsuka and Castor suffer a little, but she ended up reaping the consequences herself.

The instant the portal closed, Da Vinci keenly captured the scene of their destination. Though it was only for a moment, it was enough for her exceptional memory—the place was in Darlington, a dark corner, indeed an ideal location for a clandestine transaction. They had passed by there on their way to Norwich, and now it had come in handy.

However, at this moment, the three, still bound, were like lambs to the slaughter. But unexpectedly, Merlin suddenly turned and left, as if something even more 'interesting' awaited her. As she disappeared, the petals that had been wrapped around them scattered.

Senji slammed his fist into the tree trunk beside him, sending splinters flying: 'Damn it! That damned Merlin! I really miscalculated; that woman appeared here without a trace!'

Da Vinci strode forward, his fingertips lightly touching the remaining traces of magic: 'Mr. Muramasa, now is not the time for self-reproach. We must get to Darlington immediately! The magic box that imprisoned them seems to have fallen there. It's a special magical device; if we can find and open it, we might be able to rescue them.'

Percival frowned, his armor clanking crisply with his movements: 'But how can you be sure it's Darlington? The speed of that teleportation array is impossible for the naked eye to see! Why did you...'

"Because my optic nerves have been specially modified," Da Vinci interrupted, tapping his temple with his finger, "as a genius of all kinds, my eyesight is naturally different from that of ordinary humans. I'll explain the details on the way; right now, the most important thing is to contact Pepe!"

Every second counted, and no one dared to waste a moment. Da Vinci activated the communication crystal, concisely informing Pepe Loncino of the situation. A gasp came from the other end of the crystal, but quickly, his calm voice rang out again:

"Taking a carriage is definitely too late. It takes at least five days to get from the northern plains to Lington, and Fujimaru Ritsuka and Artoria definitely won't last that long." The rustling sound of something being rummaged through the communication crystal came through. "I'll just open a portal. That thing Kirshtalia left me can finally come in handy!"

Pepe took out a cheese-shaped crystal that emitted a faint blue light from his pocket. As the crystal spun in his hand, a dazzling portal slowly opened in front of everyone, revealing the street scene of Darlington on the other side.

"This is the 'Warp Cube,' a creation of an alien god." Pepe carefully retrieved the crystal. "It allows for long-distance teleportation without consuming magic. However, it has a limited number of uses; it will shatter after a maximum of three uses." His voice suddenly deepened. "That was the second time. The first time was when I escaped Olympus, and the last time..." He paused, "I originally intended to keep it for myself."

The portal flickered with an unstable light before them, as if warning of the dangers of the journey. No one knew what awaited them on the other side of Darlington, but everyone understood—this was destined to be a one-way expedition.

Uncertain space

"Ouch... ouch... ouch... Where am I..." Caster rubbed his aching temple and propped himself up, his expression suddenly changing. "Wait, this feeling! This is bad! Ritsuka! Ritsuka!"

The information gleaned through the fairy's eye sent a chill down his spine. This pitch-black space, where one couldn't see their own hand in front of their face, was called the "Garden of Disappointment." Seemingly ordinary, it was one of the most terrifying magical artifacts in the Fairy Kingdom. As its name suggested, it gradually eroded the will of its captives, leaving only an empty shell. Its horror lay in its ability to ignite and amplify the deepest fears within. In this suffocating darkness and deathly silence, the prisoner would endure both physical and psychological torture until utterly broken!

Ritsuka, lying beside him, had unfocused pupils and her body was limp like a puddle of mud. She had clearly been corrupted by the Court of Disillusionment. No matter how Castor called out or shook her, she remained unresponsive like a puppet with its strings cut, as if this body no longer belonged to her.

[Ritsuka's Perspective]

The scene flashed wildly, like a malfunctioning projector. Scenes from various Lostbelts alternated rapidly: the icy plains of Russia, the snowfields of Northern Europe, the Great Wall of China, the temples of India, the city-states of Greece. Layers upon layers of figures—Yaga, Norse warriors, Qin soldiers, Indian monks, and Greek citizens—caught in unison, accusing: "It's all your fault! You destroyed our homeland!" Their voices grew increasingly shrill, almost piercing eardrums.

Ritsuka felt as if her head was about to explode, as if a million speakers were blasting at her eardrums, and her eyes were bombarded with blinding light and shadow. Her spirit was being slowly eroded. Was this the end for everything?

Just as despair was about to engulf her, a deep voice cleaved through the chaos:

"Hey! This is outrageous!" The figure of the Count of Monte Cristo pierced through the illusion like flames. "Cheer up! Fujimaru Ritsuka, I told you no one can invade your mental domain."

The moment the words left his lips, the wildly shifting scene shattered like glass. The wild man, cloaked and top hat in hand, stood proudly in the void.

'Eh... Edmund... cough...' Ritsuka gasped weakly.

"Catch your breath, child," the Cave King's tone was unusually gentle. "You almost got swallowed by that thing. It seems you still need to work on your mental defenses." He lowered his hat brim. "The rest is up to you. This is all I can do."

A flash of eerie blue flame disappeared in an instant, and the Count of Monte Cristo vanished without a trace. When Ritsuka opened her eyes again, she was greeted by Castor's face, which was filled with worry.

'Ritsuka! Ritsuka, you're awake! That's wonderful!'

The Mirror Clan—Eternally Dim—Fairy Round Table Realm, Poem of Eternal Mist

The time has come. They are about to march on the capital of Camelot—kill them, Melusin. From this day forward, the Mirror Clan will be forever erased from the history of the Fairy Kingdom, and even their 'last hope' will be crushed! Remember, everyone must witness the tragic fate of these two 'hopes' for the best spectacle. This is what I most desire to see! Melusin, act!

[Yes, sir! All soldiers, listen up! Attack the rebel fortress immediately!]

At the petite girl's command, the fully armed and disciplined knights responded in unison. The vast army of knights surged forth like a burst dam, charging straight towards the rebel fortress like wild horses. Meanwhile, those inside the fortress were completely unaware that a devastating crisis was sweeping towards them—

-

Fairy Kingdom Rebel Fortress

As usual, even without the main force of Percival, the stationed soldiers remained highly vigilant. Inspired by the pilgrimage, many refugees from the Fairy Kingdom volunteered to join the resistance, replenishing the forces lost in the previous battle against the Great Beast. Reinforcements from Manchester were also on their way, as planned by Pepe. Everyone thought this was just another ordinary day before the final battle—

'Urgent military situation! The Cavalry are attacking!! All personnel, prepare for battle!'

The sudden alarm shattered the tranquility. Patrolling soldiers quickly grabbed their weapons, and magicians hastily set up defensive formations. However, just as the rebels were scrambling to prepare, the enemy was already ready. Arrows, fireballs, and lightning rained down like a storm, and the sounds of explosions and shouts instantly mingled into a chaotic symphony.

The rebels, who had not yet completed their defenses, were caught off guard, and the first wave of attacks caused heavy casualties. Within a minute, the ground was littered with corpses. These arrows, bearing the royal emblem, indicated that the Queen's army intended to strike first, weakening the rebels before they could even move out.

Gareth placed Sei Shonagon behind the ramparts, and watching the endless stream of righteous knights pouring in, she realized this was going to be a fierce battle. Considering Sei Shonagon's lack of combat ability, Gareth had her take cover with the other wounded.

'Noko! No matter what happens, don't come out!' Gareth gripped his spear tightly. 'If I don't return... you must run away immediately! The Mirror Clan is down to just us. If we all die here...'

'I understand…' Sei Shonagon's voice trembled. 'The Fairy Kingdom will forever lose the light that illuminates 'hope'…'

Although they knew this journey might be their last, as long as the Mirror Clan survived, the hope for the Fairy Kingdom would not be completely extinguished. Even though Gareth and Sei Shonagon had already witnessed the massacre of their clansmen, fear still lingered when death truly approached—after all, for any living being, nothing is more terrifying than death.

Gareth took a deep breath, a resolute glint in her eyes. She raised her shield, gripped her lance tightly, and charged without hesitation towards the swarming Righteous Knights. These cold-blooded killing machines cared nothing for their opponents—any life within the fortress, regardless of age or gender, even an ant, would be mercilessly crushed. This was the code of conduct for the Righteous Knights of the Fairy Kingdom: merciless killing, indiscriminate slaughter. Wherever they were, whoever commanded them, this army was always this brutal.

Facing the surging tide of swordsmen and spearmen, Gareth deftly parried with her shield, her spear dancing like a silver snake, accurately felling one enemy after another. The continuous battle sent her adrenaline soaring; the sounds of shattering armor, tearing flesh, and clashing metal seemed to weave together a bloody symphony, echoing fiercely in her ears. With each purgatory knight she slew, her fighting spirit grew ever stronger.

Gradually, the charging righteous knights piled up around her, their blood almost staining the entire ground red. Just as Gareth was about to catch her breath, a cold voice suddenly rang out:

'Enough, Gareth. Your performance ends here!'

*Pfft!*

In the instant she turned her head, a flash of silver light grazed her cheek. A searing pain shot through her right eye, as if she had been branded with a hot iron, causing her to stagger backward. The attacker showed no mercy, following up with a heavy blow to her chest. Gareth flew backward like a kite with a broken string, rolling several times on the ground before barely coming to a stop.

Thick, warm liquid, carrying a familiar metallic scent, kept flowing from her right eye. Only when she saw the blood mixed with pinkish tissue on the ground did she realize—the blow had shattered her right eyeball. A deep, bone-revealing wound was also slashed open on her chest, blood gushing out. Her vision was severely limited by the loss of her right eye, and the excruciating pain made it difficult for her to concentrate and identify her enemies.

When those familiar blue armored boots came into view of his only remaining left eye, Gareth immediately recognized the newcomer.

Gareth struggled to lift his head, blood gushing from his shattered eye sockets: 'Melusin...ah...why did you...'

Melusin, who had walked up to her, didn't answer. Instead, she grabbed Gareth by the hair, swung him through the air, armor and all, and slammed him to the ground. The deafening impact nearly knocked Gareth unconscious. Looking at Gareth's blood-covered face, Melusin merely uttered a few words with contempt:

There's no need to tell you!

"It seems...cough...even so...I can't give up!" Gareth forced himself to his feet. "Take this—[Raging Wolf Girl]!"

This was a technique that elevated lance skills to the level of a Noble Phantasm. However, just as she launched her first attack, Melusin easily parried it. Her elbow blades flashed blue as they crossed, and Gareth's lance was violently deflected, embedding itself deeply into the distant forest. Immediately afterward, Melusin's twin blades slashed down, shattering the shield blocking her path.

Gareth was now completely disarmed, and without her weapons, she was like an unarmed civilian.

'It seems... I'm already...' Gareth closed his left eye in despair.

'Don't even think about escaping!'

*Pfft!*

Enemies never know mercy. Although the wounds to her eyes and chest were enough to slowly kill Gareth, Melusin chose a more cruel method. Her elbow sliced ​​precisely across her throat, then she ripped out her vocal cords. The instant her carotid artery ruptured, Gareth collapsed to her knees like a puppet with broken strings, blood gushing out like a fountain with each heartbeat.

'Cough...' she uttered her last breath.

Melusin mercilessly plunged another elbow blade into her heart. In the final glimmer of light in Gareth's eyes, her powerless regret and endless despair were reflected. The moment the hidden blade was withdrawn, Gareth, with both arteries ruptured simultaneously, burst like a crimson firework. As she slowly collapsed, she realized she could no longer utter a sound.

[So that's how it is... Melusin's method of killing was to let her victims die slowly in excruciating pain. A ruptured artery would only bring unbearable agony, ultimately leading to death from excessive blood loss...] This was Gareth's last realization before his consciousness faded.

Dead silence.

The battlefield, which had been filled with the clash of weapons and shouts, was now shrouded in an eerie silence. Sei Shonagon huddled in the shadows of the ramparts, her heart pounding wildly in her chest, threatening to shatter her ribs. It was too quiet, unnaturally quiet. Gareth had told her not to come out, no matter what, but why was there not a sound? Where was that knight, always so vibrant, so radiant like the sun?

A cold, sticky fear, like poisonous gas in a swamp, slowly rose from the deepest part of her heart, choking her breath. She needed to know what was happening outside, she needed to make sure Gareth was alright.

Her trembling fingers had barely touched the edge of the cold stone wall when a flash of cold light grazed her cheek at a speed beyond what the eye could perceive!

"Sizzle—!"

A searing pain exploded on her left cheek, warm liquid trickling down her jawline. Sei Shonagon froze, her pupils shrinking to pinpoints in terror. Before her stood the fairy knight Lancelot—Melusein—like a silent grim reaper. His icy eyes held no emotion, only pure, efficient killing intent.

The instinct for survival overwhelmed everything! Sei Shonagon's aura surged, her dyed hair instantly fading to pure black, and her strange attire transformed into a solemn and intricate thirteen-layered kimono amidst the flowing light. She attempted to activate the barrier of *The Pillow Book*, transforming the power of the words into a protective bulwark—

too slow.

Before she could utter the first syllable, Melusin had already moved. It wasn't running, but a leap through space, a tangible rush of death. The deafening explosion that tore the air apart arrived belatedly, and an irresistible force slammed into Sei Shonagon's frail body.

"Ugh!"

She was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, the world spinning in her vision. Her internal organs seemed to have shifted from their positions, the metallic taste in her mouth still lingering, her vision still unfocused—

"Pfft!"

A dull, damp sound pierced through bones and flesh.

Sei Shonagon's body trembled violently in mid-air.