[Such arrogant insects]
This was the only thought in Vortigern's mind now.
Though he had been slumbering to heal the wounds inflicted by Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, those wounds had long since healed with the near-infinite magic of the Holy Grail.
If it weren't for Arthur acting as a living seal, Vortigern would have already reemerged and destroyed everything in this Singularity.
So, in truth, Vortigern hadn't been asleep for half a year as Naoki and the others thought. In fact, he had awakened from his slumber four months ago.
Thus, he knew everything that happened within the Unique Barrier.
The King Arthur who defeated him in the past, the King Arthur from this parallel world, and the King Arthur who wasn't fully a King Arthur but had inherited the Holy Sword.
Three wielders of the Holy Sword.
Now, to defeat him, they had combined their powers.
[Are there three red dragons of Britain?]
Perhaps this was a situation that would only happen once in all of history, even into the future. It was a miracle confined to this moment.
But—
[Too weak, this magical light]
Just as the attack from the floating cannons and the thirty-meter giant light sword was about to touch Vortigern, his massive, hill-sized body vanished into the air without warning!
The cannon barrage and the slash missed!
"It disappeared?!"
Artoria looked around in shock.
[That's Displacement Magecraft. He used it when I fought Vortigern before. It must be an ability he gained after merging with the Holy Grail. Be careful]
"Alright—"
Before Artoria could respond, she felt her vision flicker, and the entire machine was instantly displaced hundreds of meters away. Almost the moment it moved, a blazing dragon's breath fell from the sky like a waterfall!
*BAM!*
The dragon's breath struck the ground below. The once-uneven terrain transformed into a massive, burning meteor crater under this attack!
Its depth was likely around a hundred meters.
"Just one attack…"
"I told you not to stop!" Naoki shouted sharply. "I'll handle evasion and defense. You just need to keep attacking with all your strength!"
(That's true, but Vortigern using Displacement Magecraft is completely unexpected—this won't be easy.)
That thought briefly crossed Naoki's mind. The next moment, the blazing red machine vanished into the air just like Vortigern, and when it reappeared, it was at a higher altitude than Vortigern in a single strike!
Holy Sword output: maximum!
Thrust output: maximum!
The shining light sword slashed at Vortigern with full speed! Its velocity was so fast it resembled a falling meteor!
*BAM!*
A swift and heavy strike hit Vortigern's back! The loud sound and vibrations instantly dispersed the surrounding clouds and atmosphere!
However…
At the spot struck by the Holy Sword's heavy blow, let alone leaving a wound, there wasn't even the slightest damage to Vortigern's massive dragon body! It was as if the slash had landed on empty space!
Not only that, the moment the Holy Sword touched Vortigern's scales, the giant light sword visibly shattered and disintegrated, turning into countless specks of light and vanishing… no, it was entirely swallowed by the darkness enveloping Vortigern!
Then—
*BUZZ!*
A wave of darkness suddenly erupted from Vortigern's body!
Naoki used all his Mana to form a defensive barrier for the first time. Even so, when the dark impact hit the barrier, the three felt a shock as if struck by a train at full speed!
*BAM!*
With a dull sound, the blazing red dragon-human was sent flying hundreds of meters through the air!
Artoria stabilized the machine with all her strength: "Such a powerful impact… Master! Are you alright?"
The blazing red machine's body was Naoki's, magnified exponentially and transformed by summoning magic. Any damage it took would fully transfer to Naoki himself.
"I'm fine, just got hit, no big deal." Naoki replied. "Minor injuries like this will be healed by the scabbard in no time, but the problem is…"
The Holy Sword's slash was ineffective.
No, it was the Holy Sword's light that was swallowed.
"Arthur, how's your situation?"
[Not great. Though it's the Holy Grail, so output won't decrease, it definitely can't maintain maximum output all the time—Naoki!]
"I know!"
Just as Arthur reported his situation, Vortigern turned toward the blazing red dragon-human again. A blazing dragon's breath spewed from its bottomless abyss-like mouth! A black-and-red laser instantly tore through space!
Though he still didn't know how strong this attack was, judging from the situation on the ground, if they took it head-on, it would be a massive disaster! Even with the scabbard, he'd lose half his life!
Without hesitation, Naoki instantly vanished via spatial displacement from the dragon's breath's path, then reappeared behind Vortigern—
"Fire!"
The eight floating cannons fired at full power!
A golden and red blazing storm, equivalent to the True Name Release of the Promised Sword of Victory, erupted!
Unlike the scattered attack before, this time Naoki focused the shots on a single point!
(How's that!?)
*BANG!*
The answer to Naoki's thought was a giant dragon tail that instantly shattered the golden and red blazing storm. The massive dragon tail, shrouded in dense darkness, obliterated the light cannon barrage in one strike without taking any damage! Then it slammed hard into the blazing red dragon-human!
Without any suspense, Naoki, as if forgetting about Displacement Magecraft, froze in the air and took the full brunt of the dragon tail's strike!
*BAM!*
Like a falling meteor, the giant dragon-human crashed into the ground below. Amid the deafening roar and earth-shaking tremors, it smashed into a small hill, shattering it to pieces!
It had no chance to resist.
[Foolish]
Spreading its wings in the air, Vortigern looked down at the severely injured, grounded red dragon like a dominating demon king. Its dark red dragon eyes were filled with mockery and indifference.
Foolish.
Utterly foolish.
With only this level of power, you dare to try saving this world? If you can't even overcome the end of a single island like him, saving the world is nothing but nonsense!
No, after all…
[The world has long been burned to ashes. You, the last unburned firewood, can do nothing]
[You are powerless]