The world was collapsing.
This was the only thing Gawain and the others could comprehend right now.
And it wasn't a metaphor—literally, the [world] they were in was starting to crumble.
"This world is a Unique Barrier manifested by Vortigern through the Holy Grail. It was a place he prepared for his rest. Now that it's collapsing, it means…"
"Vortigern is about to awaken."
Artoria finished Gawain's sentence.
"And that's why so many dragon calamities are suddenly appearing now."
The three of them were currently outside the White Dragon City. After the battle between Naoki and Arthur began, for some reason, a massive number of dragon calamities kept emerging outside the city. Their numbers were so overwhelming that Tristan alone couldn't handle them.
As a result, despite their desire to see the outcome of that battle, Gawain and the others quickly returned to the main gate and, with great effort, managed to hold back the dragon calamities.
But to say they were holding them back—
"If this keeps up, it'll never end!"
Brandishing flames to incinerate the swooping wyverns into ashes, Jeanne Alter sighed heavily and complained.
Unlike Jeanne, whose defense was like a fortress, Jeanne Alter's firepower was undoubtedly battleship-grade. The main reason she could steadily withstand the dragon calamities' onslaught was her relentless weapon barrages.
But this had its limits. If she were a Servant, it wouldn't be an issue, but now Jeanne Alter was using Gray's body.
"If this continues, this Gray girl won't hold up! And our resistance like this is pointless!"
These dragon calamities weren't living creatures but manifestations of Vortigern's Mana. As long as Vortigern had Mana, they would endlessly regenerate. Though defeating them could reduce Vortigern's power, it wasn't entirely futile, but Vortigern was a being with the Holy Grail. Such small losses were negligible.
Everyone knew this fact.
But—
"We can't just watch and do nothing, right? After all, if we just stand there, we'll be wiped out instantly."
"Tch!"
Lancelot's response made Jeanne Alter pout.
Indeed, though they knew this was a futile effort, wasting energy and Mana, the fight couldn't stop. These dragon calamities were ferocious, driven only by cruelty, and even Jeanne Alter couldn't control them.
(That said… Gray, can you still hold on?)
[I can… please don't worry, Miss Jeanne Alter, I'm fine.]
(Who's worried about you! I'm afraid if you can't hold on, I won't either! And that jerk will worry about you too!)
*BAM!*
While bickering with Gray in her mind, Jeanne Alter swung her dragon flag again, instantly engulfing a massive swarm of attacking dragons in a sea of flames!
It was impossible for wyverns to break through Jeanne Alter's firepower, but the moment after this swarm was burned to ashes, an even larger group of wyverns filled the void, continuing to dive down!
Just as Jeanne Alter had said—it would never end.
And at that moment…
*BANG!*
A loud crash echoed from a section of the city wall.
A wyvern had slammed its body into the White Dragon City's wall! It created a small dent, and immediately after, among the countless wyverns, hundreds, even thousands, began crashing into the wall one after another!
Countless debris fell from the city wall, raining down on the camps below.
These camps, led by the Knights of the Round Table, provided protection for ordinary people who couldn't enter the city. If they were hit by the falling stones…
"Protect—"
"GAAAAAAAA!"
Gawain immediately wanted to rush to their aid, but before he could move, dozens of wyverns slammed into him at full speed in a suicidal attack! Forcing him to dodge!
But after he dodged, the wyverns crashed into the city wall! Once again destroying part of it!
"They're practically siege weapons… Are they planning to make us unable to defend both sides?"
"No, the biggest problem is their numbers! Even if we unleash our Noble Phantasms, we can only take out the tip of the iceberg. We can't match their regeneration speed!"
[Oh? Want to compete with numbers?]
At that moment, in the ears of everyone desperately fighting the countless dragon calamities, a voice suddenly rang out. Hearing it, Jeanne Alter and Artoria, previously filled with anxiety, relaxed for a moment.
The same went for Gawain, Lancelot, and Tristan. The appearance of this voice here meant—
*SWOOSH!*
Accompanied by a tearing sound, in front of the wyverns relentlessly crashing into the city wall, countless chains appeared without warning along their flight path, instantly forming a massive chain net large enough to cover the entire wall!
The next moment, the net rapidly tightened forward, completely enveloping all the countless dragons! Forming a gigantic iron ball in the air!
Then—
*CRACK!*
The iron ball's size suddenly shrank! The countless dragons inside were instantly crushed to pieces by the external pressure!
The dragon swarm that, moments ago, had covered the sky and earth, as if it would blanket the entire heavens…
"The only one who could do something like this… it's him, right?"
"Yes, it must be Master."
Jeanne Alter and Artoria simultaneously looked toward the city gate behind them. Below the wall, already damaged by the wyverns' impacts, Naoki stood there, raising the iron ball from a distance and smiling at them both.
"You guys are really a mess. Can't even handle this level? Lia, Jeanne Alter."
"You're late and still dare to say that!?" Jeanne Alter wanted to rush over and smack his head with her flag.
(Does he think everyone has demonic strength like him!)
On the other hand, though Gawain, Lancelot, and Tristan noticed Naoki, their attention was on the person standing beside him.
"Your Majesty…"
"My Lord…"
"Has the King finally awakened?"
Hearing the whispers of the three Knights of the Round Table, Arthur, standing beside Naoki, looked at Gawain and the others, a warm smile appearing on his face: "Yes, I'm back. During this time, thank you all for your perseverance."
"King… no, there's no such thing as hardship. As long as it's the King's command, it's a duty we undertake wholeheartedly!"
Gawain, stepping forward to Arthur, knelt on one knee and answered.
"Compared to the burden the King bears, our contributions are nothing… I'm so glad you're back, Your Majesty."
"Yes, it's all thanks to Natsukawa. Destroying my Spirit Origin and giving me the Holy Grail from you three finally gave me the ability to keep fighting—raise your head, Sir Gawain, and also Sir Lancelot and Sir Tristan."
Arthur lifted his head, gazing at the already shattered sky.
"Our battle isn't over… In fact, it could be said it's only just begun."
*RUMBLE!*
As if responding to Arthur's words, the moment his voice fell, the entire sky shattered to pieces!
Blinding white light covered everyone's vision.
The Unique Barrier was fully released!