Who won?
This was not only a question on Lot's side.
Even among the fairies, who were facing the onslaught of the Knights of the Round Table, the same concern lingered. The Wind Clan's chieftain stared intently, her expression grave.
The outcome of this battle would ultimately decide the victor of this war.
It must be our side that wins!
As the dust cloud slowly dissipated, both sides watched anxiously, their hearts filled with urgency.
The state of the battlefield gradually came into view.
Who had won?
No
Neither side had emerged victorious.
Artoria Pendragon gripped the Holy Lance, raising it high toward the sky.
And in the sky, Melusine hovered midair.
Moreover,
She no longer resembled her form from earlier battles.
A dragon.
A wyvern soared through the air.
Its visage was ferocious, as if ready to devour everything in its path.
The Albion Dragon.
At the sight of this dragon, Lot, Morgan, and the others immediately recognized its origin.
**[Damn it, why is our luck so terrible? First, Vortigern transformed into a great dragon when we fought him. And now, in this battle against Melusine, the fairy-lizard has once again become the Albion Dragon.
If I'd known it would turn out like this, I should've summoned Siegfried. With him here, these dragons wouldn't stand a chance.]**
Lot couldn't help but grumble internally.
...
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Artoria Pendragon gazed at Melusine hovering in the sky, her lips curling into a battle-hungry smirk.
"So you've turned into a dragon? That just makes you an easier target."
Melusine said nothing.
She spread her wings wide, exposing her underbelly.
Then
A massive beam of light shot toward Artoria Pendragon.
"A beam battle, is it?"
Artoria let out a cold laugh, raising the Holy Lance. She unleashed her own energy in retaliation.
BOOM
The two beams clashed in a continuous exchange.
The brilliance of their collision was blinding.
This spectacle was no less intense than the battle against Vortigern if anything, it surpassed it.
Seeing this, Lot tightened his grip on Joyeuse.
"Don't worry. It's just beam spam. That's something I'm good at too."
Hearing Morgan's inquiry, Lot responded with a grin.
Then, he charged forward, brandishing Joyeuse, and unleashed a beam of his own at Melusine in midair.
As he fired, Lot spoke to the sword in his hand:
"Listen, buddy. I know you're itching for a fight. Let's prove that you're every bit as strong as Rhongomyniad."
As if responding to Lot's thoughts, Joyeuse radiated even brighter, amplifying the power of his attack.
Melusine was still locked in her beam struggle with Artoria.
But now, from another angle, she saw Lot's Joyeuse strike incoming.
She barely managed to dodge.
Seizing the opportunity, Lot moved to Artoria's side.
Their eyes met.
Lot felt a flicker of nervousness.
What expression would Artoria show?
Was she still herself, or had she already become the Lion King?
He looked at her.
And Artoria
She gave a slight nod.
Her mature, regal eyes shimmered with admiration.
[Good. She hasn't changed. Artoria is still Artoria.]
Relief washed over Lot.
Hearing her husband's words, Morgan's lips curled into a delighted smile.
Perfect. This is exactly what we've been waiting for.
Morgan turned her gaze toward the Wind Clan's formation, still under relentless assault by the knights. She intensified her magical output even further.
Attack!
Defend!
Morgan unleashed spell after spell, bolstering the knights' strength beyond their previous limits.
They tore through the Wind Clan's ranks, cutting down fairies without mercy.
Soon, the Wind Clan's forces began to falter.
Their chieftain, seeing that Melusine was making no progress, screamed in frustration:
"MELUSINE! HURRY UP AND FINISH THEM OFF ALREADY!"
The shout only added to Melusine's desperation.
She had already been struggling to gain an edge against Artoria's beam onslaught.
And now, with Lot joining the fray
His own strength might be average, but his sword was anything but.
She couldn't afford to dodge.
Yet every time she tried to counterattack, Artoria's beam would intercept hers.
This had become a battle of endurance.
How could she possibly win quickly under these conditions?
Just as she was lost in thought
Another beam of light streaked toward her from the distance.
"DON'T YOU DARE HARM MY FATHER!"
Gawain's voice roared across the battlefield.
Under the triple-strength boost of Numeral of the Saint, Excalibur Galatine's radiant slash surged forth.
Now, Melusine found herself facing three simultaneous beams.
What an honor it was to receive such undivided attention.
"ROOOAR!"
Melusine let out a deafening roar.
She mustered every ounce of her power, unleashing a colossal wave of energy to counter the triple assault.
The effort drained her completely.
Exhaustion weighed her down.
Seeing this, the Wind Clan's chieftain realized
Victory was no longer possible today.
"Melusine, hold them off. I'm retreating."
Without hesitation, the chieftain activated her magecraft, preparing to flee.
Escaping with the entire Wind Clan would've been impossible.
But saving herself?
That was easy.
Watching her abandon Melusine so callously
Without even a shred of hesitation
The moment she deemed Melusine useless, she discarded her without a second thought.
Who… am I even fighting for?
Melusine's movements slowed.
Her attacks grew sluggish.
But Artoria, Lot, and the others showed no such hesitation.
The outcome of this battle was no longer in question.
The Wind Clan's chieftain didn't spare them a single glance.
Her only thought was escape.
But just as she was about to make her getaway
A figure blocked her path.
"Sorry, but this road's closed."
Galahad stood before her, his tone polite but firm.
Though he looked youthful, his swordsmanship was anything but amateurish.
The chieftain tried to weave another spell, desperate to flee.
But then
From behind her, the thunderous march of an army echoed.
Camelot's reinforcements had arrived.
The fairies…
Had utterly failed.