Chapter 1082: The Two Missing Courts
As soon as the words fell.
It was as if the world had been overturned. The original rules vanished without a trace, replaced by a fairy domain that covered the entire Oxford!
Within it, all strength obtained through training would be negated, leaving only one's innate power usable.
"...Muryan?"
Woodwose suddenly froze.
"That's right, it's me!"
A winged fairy with a figure as petite as a young child appeared on the battlefield.
"I am the last remnant of the Wing Clan, hunted down by your Fang Clan with no escape to heaven or earth 1200 years ago! Woodwose, I have come for revenge against you, against your Fang Clan!"
She cast a hateful gaze towards Woodwose.
Helpless.
Since that day, Koyanskaya had not returned to Gloucester.
But a Beast does not die. Muryan knew that Koyanskaya had likely learned of her betrayal and thus no longer considered her a partner, leaving this Lostbelt.
Muryan had no choice but to step onto the field herself.
In the past, with Koyanskaya backing her, she was full of confidence, considering herself the mastermind behind the scenes of the Fairy Kingdom, looking down on everyone with a condescending attitude. Whether it was the Foreign Traveler or the Child of Prophecy, she paid them no mind.
As long as she seized the opportunity, taking revenge on the Fang Clan would be effortless.
But now that Koyanskaya was gone, she no longer had such a powerful figure supporting her from behind. Her arrogant spirit instantly plummeted to the depths.
To take revenge on the Fang Clan, she had no choice but to agree to Oberon's proposal—
an alliance with the rebel army!
The period when the rebel army moved troops against Oxford was also her best chance for revenge against the Fang Clan!
"I see, so you were persuaded…"
Woodwose gradually fell silent.
This lineup was strong.
If it were just Muryan alone, he could still resist her fairy domain somewhat using the power of the Lord of Heat Haze. Moreover, Muryan was poor at physical combat; he could completely resolve her within seconds, and then rest easy.
But at this moment, he was surrounded by so many hostile Servants!
He would hardly have any chance to deal with Muryan.
Instead, he would have to withstand the pressure of Muryan's domain, with his magical and physical energy consumption greatly increased, while fighting these enemies!
Could he win?
The possibility was slim.
Breaking out of the encirclement now and heading to Camelot to reunite with the Queen was the best strategy.
But.
Woodwose glanced at Muryan, whose eyes held only the hatred accumulated over a thousand years.
"Hmph, it's just adding one more pest! I'll crush you all underfoot!"
Woodwose made his decision.
A defiant smile rose on his face once more, and he charged forward relentlessly towards everyone!
"Woodwose, my father—!"
Percival raised the Select Lance, swinging it fiercely as if to sweep away the grief in his heart.
"I will defeat you here! Let's settle this!
...
Barghest knelt fearfully on the smooth, cold floor.
Above her sat the Queen upon her throne.
Compared to usual, the aura emanating from the Queen hadn't changed in the slightest; it remained as icy as ever.
No.
At this moment, the Queen was even colder than before!
As if radiating an aura of extreme chill from head to toe, Morgan lowered her head, glaring at Bavanchi with seething resentment beneath her black veil.
"Why must you always be like this...!"
Never since becoming queen had she felt such overwhelming fury.
No.
It was less anger and more pity—frustration at her repeated failures.
Time and again, she would attempt something only to fail, and even after failing, she would persist, as if trapped in a vicious cycle of self-destruction!
"Calm down. At least she returned alive—that's what matters most, isn't it?"
Eiji appeared beside the throne.
Gently stroking Morgan's back, he comforted her in a soft tone.
"Sigh…"
Morgan let out a deep sigh.
Under his soothing, she reluctantly eased her tension.
Bavanchi was terrified.
But along with fear, she was equally bewildered.
She had only been away from Camelot for a short while—how had her mother and this consort grown so intimate? Weren't the two of them practically strangers not long ago?
"Enough. I won't waste more words."
Morgan quickly regained her composure, returning to her usual poise.
"The rebel army will likely attack soon. You've lost your bestowed name, and your strength is pitifully weak. For now, you will remain in the palace and go nowhere. Understood?"
"Ah, yes, Mother!"
Bavanchi looked up, flattered and surprised.
Despite being scolded and confined, her face glowed with happiness.
An observer might think she shared Darkness's peculiar interests.
"Mother spoke to me—she said so many words at once! And she even showed concern for me! I'm so happy!"
A blush of shy delight spread across Bavanchi's face.
It was hardly the expression of someone about to be placed under house arrest.
"Now, return the 'Garden' to me."
Morgan extended her hand toward Bavanchi.
"Garden."
It was one of the unique categories of magecraft Morgan possessed, alongside "Mirror," "Tower," and "Coffin."
Among Morgan's magecraft, the Garden was an especially peculiar outlier.
Simply put, each "Garden" was a Great Bounded Field from the Age of Gods!
Each one's mystery reached the level of a Forbidden Spell!
The fairy realm that Muramyn took such pride in could easily be dismantled by the Garden, had Morgan wished to—she simply saw no need.
Though it was a bounded field-type magecraft, Morgan had crafted it into a Mystic Code and concealed it beneath the throne.
Few in the entire Fairy Kingdom knew that her throne hid such powerful bounded fields.
But Bavanchi was one of them.
After being defeated by the Child of Prophecy, she couldn't swallow her pride. She was determined to prove she wasn't the worthless figure others claimed, to show that she alone was worthy of being her mother's daughter!
So, she stole the Garden from beneath the throne and ambushed the Child of Prophecy and her companions as they passed through New Darlington.
The outcome, naturally, was defeat.
Fortunately, they were in a hurry to return to Norwich and prepare for the assault on Oxford, sparing her further trouble. Otherwise, New Darlington would likely have already fallen to the rebels!
"The… the Garden was slashed and broken…"
Bavanchi's voice dropped to a whisper as she replied with trepidation.
Slashed and broken?
Morgan frowned slightly.
There's no helping it.
The Garden was crafted as a Mystic Code, its interior brimming with immense mystery, but externally it remained merely an object with limited durability. Having it shattered by a blade was hardly surprising.
"The one that was destroyed was the 'Garden of Lost Will,' correct? What about the other one?"
Morgan pressed further.
Another one?
Eiji raised an eyebrow.
Did Barghest steal more than one Garden from the throne?
"The other one?"
Barghest herself was taken aback.
"I only took the Garden of Lost Will... With my magical energy, I couldn't possibly control two Gardens... Please believe me, Mother!"