Fairy Round Table Realm, Poem of Eternal Mist

Nocnarria's facial muscles twitched violently; after the initial shock came a more frenzied rage and a violent rage born of utter offense.

"The...the former Queen?! How could you...ah...hahahaha!" She let out a series of twisted laughs, trying to cover up her inner turmoil with arrogance. "It seems that the development of events is truly unexpected! But do two 'losers' who have long been abandoned by the times have the right to stand here and point fingers at me?!"

Liliana calmly gazed at the seemingly crazed "new king" on the stage, her purple eyes devoid of any emotion, only displaying a condescending indifference, as if scrutinizing an ignorant child.

"It seems that the royal clan of today... is far too arrogant and ignorant." Her voice was not loud, but it carried a kind of pressure that penetrated the soul. "You forced the Empress to abdicate, taking away the power and responsibility that belonged to her, and yet you can still speak so shamelessly and righteously."

She shook her head slightly, as if in regret.

"As expected... he's still an immature child, lacking the necessary... discipline."

The moment the words left his mouth, a sudden change occurred!

Liliana didn't even make any obvious casting motions; instead, the air behind her strangely twisted and rippled—six ancient-looking spear phantoms, their bodies flowing with seven colors of rainbow light—red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple, appeared out of thin air, hovering behind her like guards! The spear tips pointed at Nocnarria on the altar, emanating a terrifying aura of destruction!

There was no chanting, no gathering of energy.

The seven-colored spear phantom suddenly shone brightly, converging into an incomparably condensed and dazzling seven-colored rainbow light, like a judgment spear that transcends time and space, tearing through the air and shooting towards Nocnarria at a speed beyond visual perception!

"BOOM—!!!"

A deafening explosion erupted on the platform! A burst of multicolored light and a violent shockwave instantly engulfed the area where Nocnarria stood! The sturdy stone platform shattered, sending debris and dust billowing into the sky!

At the very instant the explosion occurred—

"Let's do it!"

The Chaldea members and their allies, who had been patiently waiting for their chance, suddenly erupted like a long-suppressed spring! Ritsuka, Mashu, Senji Muramasa, Percival… everyone instantly leaped from the stands, weapons in hand, magic at full power, and attacked with lightning speed the Righteous Knights and rebel soldiers who were momentarily stunned by this earth-shattering event! Shouts of battle, the clash of weapons, and screams instantly replaced the previous silence!

The smoke and dust slowly dissipated.

At the center of the altar, Nocnarria reappeared. She was surrounded by several pink Mystic Codes with sharp edges and in the shape of hearts. These Mystic Codes had obviously automatically protected her at the critical moment, forming layers of defense that barely withstood the direct hit of the deadly rainbow light.

However, the cost was heavy.

The brand-new crown on her head was knocked askew, a deep crack running through the gemstone. Even more shocking was the wound on her forehead, torn open by the aftershocks of the explosion, from which blood gushed. Warm blood flowed down her brow bone and cheeks, dripping onto her magnificent robes and staining the crown that symbolized her ambition.

She stood on the broken altar, clutching her bleeding forehead, her eyes contorted with pain, anger, and disbelief as she stared intently at the two queens standing side by side below, who seemed to have stepped out of a historical painting.

"It seems... you're determined to make your move?!" Nokreina wiped the blood from her forehead, the last trace of pretense in her eyes completely stripped away, leaving only a beastly ferocity and madness. "Fine! Then I won't show any mercy either!"

Liliana remained expressionless, not even a ripple in her purple eyes, and simply replied in a flat, factual tone: "You probably haven't truly realized who you're facing right now... . With your meager magical skills, do you even deserve to be compared to me?"

Nokleina didn't answer; Liliana's response was her actions!

She slammed her palm hard on the ground! A thick, murky, earthy-yellow magic instantly spread rapidly in a ring from the center of her palm!

"Splash—!!"

Except for the small patch of ground beneath her feet, the rest of the church's solid floorboards instantly transformed into a bubbling, muddy swamp! The viscous mud flowed and swirled rapidly like a living thing, generating tremendous pulling force that instantly swept over and engulfed the Chaldeans and their allies who had not yet found their footing! Cries of alarm and struggles immediately rang out.

However, this swamp, which could trap ordinary people, was like ordinary ground beneath Morgan and Liliana's feet. Their bodies remained as steady as rocks, their boots not even sinking an inch, their cold gazes still fixed on Nokreina in the center of the swamp.

"A mere trick." Morgan scoffed, lightly tapping the air with his black staff. A dark blue shockwave erupted from the tip of the staff, skimming the muddy surface like a swift ice blade, silently yet fiercely slashing towards Nokleina!

"Snapped!"

Just as the shockwave was about to hit her, a flash of pink light appeared in front of Nokreina! A heart-shaped Mystic Code instantly transformed and elongated into a pink energy whip with serrated edges! The whip lashed out in mid-air, striking the shockwave precisely and producing a piercing crack, neutralizing Morgan's attack.

Before the whip's shadow had even dissipated, it instead used the momentum to flick it, like a venomous snake spitting its tongue, aiming to bite at Liliana's face!

Liliana didn't even lift her eyelids; she simply raised her hand casually and closed her fingers—

"Snapped!"

She firmly grasped the swift and cunning tip of the energy whip in her bare hand! The violent energy on the whip tried to erode her palm, but it melted away instantly, like ice and snow meeting boiling oil.

"Got you?" Liliana said indifferently, her right hand gripping the whip suddenly tightening, pulling her back sharply!

"Ugh!" Caught off guard, Nokleina felt an overwhelming force that she couldn't resist coming from the whip. She was involuntarily lifted into the air and flew towards Liliana!

However, instead of panic, a sinister smile of triumph flashed across her face! Just as her body was torn away, her free left hand subtly pointed downwards—

"boom--!!!"

The churning swamp below suddenly erupted! A violent energy, a mixture of magic and the power of the earth, burst forth from the depths of the mud, transforming into a turbid, earthy-yellow pillar that slammed upwards, crashing into Morgan and Liliana, who were standing on the swamp! Mud flew everywhere, energy raged, and the "ground" beneath their feet instantly collapsed, their bodies slightly thrown off balance by the sudden counterattack!

Nokreina seized the opportunity to break free of the whip's restraints, staggering to the ground with a smug, twisted smile on her face:

"You didn't expect that, did you, Morgan! Now that you've lost the blessing of the throne, you're nothing but an empty shell devoid of power before me! And I—" She opened her arms as if to embrace the entire church, and the fairies outside who (forced or willing) supported her, "As long as the faith of the royal clan remains, as long as there are fairies on my side, my power will never run dry, it will only grow stronger!"

Liliana gently brushed away the mud splattered on her cloak, as if she were merely dusting off some dirt, her voice remaining calm and undisturbed: "I am different from Ash. I do not need to lean on any throne, nor do I need to draw upon anyone's faith. My power originates from myself and also ends within myself."

Before she could finish speaking, a flash of light appeared behind her, and a long, silver-white spear engraved with ancient runes appeared in her hand! There were no fancy moves, just a simple horizontal sweep, the spear tip cutting through the air with a shrill whistle, aimed straight for Nokreina's waist and abdomen!

Nocrena's pupils contracted, and the formal attire in front of her transformed once more into a broadsword, which she used to parry with all her might!

"clang--!!!"

The deafening clang of metal clashing against metal sent shivers down everyone's spines! The two figures clashed, swords flashing and spears clashing instantly! Nokreina's swordsmanship was ruthless and cunning, utilizing the ever-changing nature of her costume to launch unpredictable and unpredictable attacks; while Liliana's spear techniques were simple and unadorned, each strike powerful and heavy, containing the force to shatter mountains and split rocks. Seemingly ordinary, they always precisely blocked Nokreina's most lethal attacks. For a moment, they were evenly matched, unable to determine a winner!

As Nokreina stated, as long as there are any fairies in the arena who harbor "support" for the royal clan or for her personally, she can draw power from them, resulting in a magic recovery speed and attack strength far exceeding the norm. Morgan, having lost the deep link between the throne, her source of magic, and the authority over the British lands, has indeed suffered a significant reduction in strength. Coupled with her previous serious injuries, she can only barely maintain her current state, making it virtually impossible for her to suppress Nokreina, who is receiving a constant supply of magic.

Meanwhile, the Chaldeans and their allies were still struggling in the swamp. The sticky mud not only restricted their movement but also continuously drained their magic and stamina.

"Miss Artoria!" Mash shouted anxiously, barely managing to create a small space with her shield. "Think of something quick! If this continues, even if we don't get trapped to death, the corrosive power of this swamp will drain our strength!"

Caster, who was also struggling against the pull of the mud, looked bitter upon hearing this: "I... I am now too..."

"Leave it to me!" Morgan shouted, her voice weak and strained. She bit her tongue, forced herself to focus, channeled her remaining magic into her staff, and plunged it deep into the mud beneath her feet!

A complex, ice-blue magic circle rapidly unfolded around the staff. Wherever the light passed, the boiling swamp seemed to freeze instantly, quickly drying up, solidifying, and returning to its original hard floor!

"Cough...!" The moment the spell was completed, Morgan could no longer hold on. She coughed up a mouthful of blood, her body went limp, and she collapsed to her knees. Her vision blurred, and an ominous crimson light filled the edges of her eyes. That seemingly "ordinary" magic trick had been the last straw that broke the camel's back for her, who was now completely exhausted.

"Your Majesty!" Caster hurriedly broke free from the now-hardened ground and rushed forward to support the swaying Morgan.

In the center of the battle, the fierce fight between Lilliana and Nokleina continues. Continuing the stalemate will only become increasingly disadvantageous for their side.

Fujimaru Ritsuka's eyes sharpened, and she decisively gave Mash a look. The tacit understanding cultivated through long-term comradeship allowed Mash to instantly understand.

"Drink up—!"

Mash exerted force with her feet, raising her shield in front of her, and like a tank starting up, launched a full-speed charge towards Nocreina's side and rear, who was locked in combat with Lilliana! Gravity acceleration gave this collision terrifying kinetic energy!

Nokleina was focused on dealing with Liliana's relentless gunfire when, caught off guard, she felt a tremendous force slam into her side!

"boom--!"

With a dull thud, she flew out of control to the side like a baseball hit at home base!

Liliana wouldn't miss such a perfect opportunity. She pressed her left hand lightly against the ground—

"Shhhhh!"

Several chains made of pure light energy burst forth from the ground, like living serpents, precisely wrapping around Nokreina's limbs and torso as she lost her balance in mid-air, tightening abruptly! They bound her tightly, slamming her heavily to the ground!

Ritsuka's figure darted out like a cheetah, her uniquely shaped shotgun already raised, the dark muzzle pressed firmly against Nokreina's temple at extremely close range!

"Don't move!" Ritsuka's voice was icy. "Move again, and I guarantee your head will explode like a watermelon!"

However, Liliana's warning and Mash's exclamation rang out almost simultaneously:

"Hey! Human girl! Don't go near her! Her formal attire still has—"

"Senior! Watch out—!"

Before the warning had even faded, another anomaly occurred!

Bound by the light lock and seemingly powerless to resist, Nocrena's remaining pink heart-shaped costume pieces on her back suddenly writhed and deformed violently, as if coming back to life! In the blink of an eye, they transformed into several incredibly sharp metal spikes, gleaming with a dangerous, cold light, which stabbed towards Ritsuka, who was right next to her and completely unprepared, with lightning speed and from an extremely tricky angle!

"What—?!" Ritsuka's pupils shrank sharply. At such close range, there was simply no time to make an effective dodge!

At the critical moment—

"senior--!!!"

Mashu let out a piercing scream! Before she could even think, her body reacted instinctively—she threw away the heavy cross shield in her hand, lunged at Ritsuka with all her might, hugged her tightly, and used her back to meet the deadly spikes!

"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft—!!!"

The sickening thud of sharp blades piercing flesh rang out one after another!

Several sharp spikes pierced through Mashu's thin back armor without any resistance, embedding themselves deep into her body! A wave of excruciating pain instantly overwhelmed her, causing her to let out a muffled groan of agony. Warm blood immediately gushed from the wounds, soaking her clothes and trickling down her pale skin, dripping onto the floor and blooming into glaring blood flowers.

Even so, Mashu held onto Ritsuka's arm tightly, without letting go at all, but instead tightened her grip, as if she wanted to keep all the dangers behind her.

"Mash!!!" Ritsuka's eyes widened in horror as he felt the girl in his arms trembling and her body rapidly losing warmth. His heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an icy hand.

"Enough is enough, Nokreina!!!"

Caster's furious and heartbroken shouts echoed throughout the church! Without even completing a full incantation, the Staff of Selection suddenly pointed at Nokreina, and a dazzling beam of light, more than half a meter in diameter and composed entirely of destructive energy, tore through the air like a sword of divine punishment, grazing past Mash and Ritsuka, and slammed into Nokreina, who had just launched her sneak attack, with unstoppable force!

"boom----!!!"

A deafening explosion was accompanied by a blinding flash of light! Nokleina was as if she had been hit head-on by a speeding heavy train; she was blasted off the ground and sent flying in a gruesome arc before crashing heavily into the solid wall at the far end of the church! The hard stone wall was dented and cracked, and smoke and dust filled the air!

This strike contained Castor's heartache over his friend's betrayal, his helplessness in the face of the current situation, and his fury at witnessing his companion's serious injury! Its power was so great that even with Nokreina's constant replenishment of faith power, it was enough to damage her internal organs and disrupt her magic cycle!

The smoke and dust slowly dissipated.

Nokreina slid limply down the wall crevice like a broken doll, collapsing onto the cold, blood-soaked stone floor. Her crown shattered completely, scattered to the side. Blood gushed from her forehead wound and mouth, staining half her face and her magnificent robes. Her breath was weak; she had clearly lost the ability to continue fighting.

Caster stood rooted to the spot, her chest heaving, her hand gripping her staff trembling slightly. Her face was a complex mix of anger, sorrow, resolve, and profound weariness. Friends who had once fought side-by-side, shared laughter and joy, were now forced to fight to the death; the harsh reality was suffocatingly heavy.

Nokleina barely managed to lift her head, her vision blurred by blood as she looked at Caster. A strange smile, a mixture of mockery and understanding, tugged at the corner of her lips as she weakly uttered broken words:

"Hmph... Caster... It seems... you hate me more than anyone else... But..."

She didn't finish her sentence.

An elegant, gentle, yet incredibly cold and cruel female voice suddenly rang out not far behind her, like a ghost.

"It's over, Nokreina."

Aurora, the patriarch of the Wind Clan, had silently appeared in the shadows on one side of the church. She maintained her pristine and holy demeanor, a perfect yet cold smile on her face, as she slowly walked forward and looked down at the wretched Nokreina lying in a pool of blood.

"There's no need for you to continue playing the ridiculous 'queen' role here." Her voice was as soft as a feather, yet every word pierced the heart. "Now, the first, second, and third 'Children of Paradise' are all gathered here. For someone like you, a 'comedic character' who can't even grace the stage, this is no longer a place for you—"

Bloodstained Crowning Ceremony (Part 2) - Fairy Round Table Realm, Poem of Eternal Mist

At that moment, Aurora's voice pierced the sky, instantly reaching the ears of everyone in the Fairy Kingdom. This nauseating voice made everyone feel extremely uncomfortable. They had initially thought she was speaking to offer help to Nokreina, but what she said next completely surprised them.

Aurora: Listen to me, my fellow inhabitants of the Fairy Kingdom! The so-called Fairy Queen is nothing but a deception. Whether it's Morgan or the previous Queen Liliana, they are both symbols of the Fairy Kingdom's oppression—they seized the throne simply to control the Fairy Kingdom, to manipulate it at will. They never truly respected the fairies. Nokreina is no different; her ascension is merely a means to control the Fairy Kingdom, to seize power, and to prevent the Fairies from living freely! Fairies! Unite! If you refuse to be manipulated by the Queens, join forces and rebel against them! Let their faith crumble!