Rainbow-colored light overflowed from Fou's body. Becoming a warm light, it colored Fou beautifully.
—Thank goodness... Fou really did have a good soul...
(It's the brilliance I got from you! More importantly, Air! You are amazing! It's unbelievable! The brilliance!)
—Eh...?
...From the Vimana, a shining pillar extended. Or perhaps stairs piercing the heavens, or like a comet ascending to the sky.
From the King of Heroes' body, a 'Platinum' brilliance rose up. The supreme color layering noble and pure white over blinding gold covered the Vimana and the sky.
The fierceness of a great waterfall, the grace of a gentle stream. The platinum pillar, the comet, clad in seven-colored radiance, sent its brilliance high into the heavens, standing tall with authority and majesty surpassing even the shine of the sun.
"Such... brilliance—!"
Witnessing the supreme radiance wrapping his body warmly, the Knight King realized.
Innocence that never wavers.
A platinum soul that is never stained.
Never dyed—no, 'Seven-colored brilliance possessing everything.'
"This is... a brilliance that only 'Life' can emit...! No matter how powerful you are, as a Heroic Spirit, you cannot emit this radiance...!"
"Hmph. You are perceptive. But well, it is impossible not to notice."
The King of Heroes laughed cheerfully.
"Who on earth are you—No, one thing makes sense...! Why the Lion King was so obsessed with you...!"
Artoria, as the factor of the Lance, had taken form as a Servant.
Therefore, she had not fully grasped the Goddess's aim like the true Knight King would.
"You possess another soul..."
(This is the source of the brilliance of your soul that kept defeating me! Hahaha! Amazing, it's amazing! Such blinding, radiant nobility! It pierces the clouds and almost reaches the stars! Amazing, my Princess is truly so—!)
—Fou! Calm down! right now, the survival of everyone down below is more important and precious than whether I have value or not!
She scolded Fou sharply, and Fou shrank back.
(S-Sorry! I got excited despite being a Beast!)
Yes, to Air, the nature of her own brilliance was not a major issue.
Because the one who decides its value is not herself, but the King of Heroes.
At the time of her own end, at the time of judgment, the King of Heroes will decide the value. Therefore, Air has no attachment to her own evaluation or that of others.
Value is something that will be decided eventually. There is no meaning in the evaluation given by herself, who is not absolute. Air has defined herself as simply living desperately in the now.
Besides... the value of others, of the world, is not something to be compared or selected. Air has defined it as something to be discerned, cherished, respected, and acknowledged.
Meaning exists in the 'value' that each individual produces, and for Air who wants to watch that, the presence or absence of someone's value, or superiority and inferiority, is not something to worry about.
Because—'There is nothing in this world without value' and 'All living things' are equally wonderful just by 'living.'
And her desire to watch that, her 'Love', and her 'Compassion' that wishes for a healthy life for all... are all that constitute the Hero Princess.
Therefore, for the current Air, what has the most value right now is nothing other than 'those attempting to live in the now.'
(————That is how it should be. Who am I to you? I await the day you speak that answer, the day you come before me, I await your answer.)
He muttered quietly in a voice meant for no one.
『—The Holy Selection is done. Invite only "those three." Collect them, Sir Gawain.』
And the Lion Knight vanished.
—Now...
(—Hmph. It seems she desires your seal of approval. What answer will you thrust at her—think about it from now, Air.)
...The right or wrong of that Lion King's deeds—
"—The situation is moving, King of Heroes."
The Knight King quickly placed his hand on the Holy Sword.
—It's coming!
Air excited every part of her soul and began the sorting.
Chapter XVI: The Rebuke of the Wind
"—Your will."
Slowly, Gawain announced.
"—It's coming, Mash."
"Yes—give me courage... Senpai!"
Ritsuka donned the Azi Dahaka Armor, and Mash poured strength into her entire body.
"Everyone. It is truly regrettable. But this is also to connect the world of man to the future."
He closed his eyes and delivered the proclamation.
" The King has desired your purge. Now then—from here—"
Slowly, the Knights drew their swords.
"—Execute the [Holy Punishment]—"
—In that instant.
[Come!! 'Knight King'——!!!!!]
The Evil Dragon's right hand, tearing through the purge, shone red—!
"————!?"
Gawain's reaction was delayed by a few instants due to the sudden appearance, the irregular existence.
From where—in that gap of consciousness.
Piercing through that opening with full power was—
"This time, your presence is unnecessary. We sever the arrogant purge."
The Knight King, transferred directly in front of Gawain by the 'Command Spell'—!
"Wha————"
"『Strike Air (Hammer of the Wind King)』"
Without letting him grasp the situation, he pressed the Holy Sword against Gawain's abdomen.
"————Whaaaaaat————!!?"
And just like that—with the 'Storm of the Wind King', he blew Gawain all the way to the top of the Holy City's castle—!!
With Gawain blown away, the sun sitting in the zenith vanished, and darkness wrapped the area.
"Sir Gawain!?"
The removal of the general dulled the actions of all the Knights.
"—Fuhahahahahaha!! Scarecrows like you can be finished off even with my eyes closed! For humans to judge humans is the height of presumption! Die and apologize for that arrogance!!"
—Multi-lock, treasure selection, position acquisition complete!!
(Go!!)
Golden radiance illuminating the night sky dazzlingly.
One hundred deployed gates. Preparing for reinforcements, first, annihilate the surrounding Knights—!!
"Shatter!! 『Gate of Babylon (King's Treasure)』!!"
Countless treasures were unleashed. A rain of death that could never be blocked filled the area, scattering the Knights—!
[Come! "Amadeus"! "Caesar"!]
To calm the panicked refugees, she summoned two Heroes!
"Panic is not suitable for a great escape. Listen to a tune fitting for the darkness of the night and calm down, will you?"
The tune played by Amadeus soothed their minds, bringing the refugees back to calm senses.
"T-This song is..."
"Everyone, be calm...! Calm down!"
Caesar's words echoed through the quieted field.
"Ohh, what a tragedy! You came to the Holy City! You saw the true nature of the abominable Knights! Then—next, you have no choice but to run without looking aside! If you stay here, your loved ones will fall to assassin blades and end their lives! Meaninglessly, worthless-ly, cruelly!"
Caesar's agitation fanned and moved the hearts of the people.
"Now advance! There is no longer safety or peace in this place! Grasp life and walk! The die is cast! Advance, advance!"
"A-Ah! Everyone! Calm down and run!"
"Don't panic! Survive together!"
Agitated by Caesar, the group moved away from the main gate with disciplined movements.
['Jack-chan'! The deep and thick one, please!]
She further summoned Jack.
"Leave it to me, Mommy."
Deploying Jack's Noble Phantasm 'The Mist (Dark Capital)' over the refugees, obstructing vision and wrapping them in it to aid their escape and withdrawal.
[Order Change! Come! "Teacher Hassan!"]
Swapping with Caesar, she summoned Cursed Arm Hassan to handle rapid and precise guidance.
"Follow me, the Old Man of the Mountain! Do not fear, everyone will surely be saved!"
"—Hanam...!?"
The mother hugging her child tightly muttered.
"Senpai! I'll prepare for the enemy!"
The rear guard, Mash, no—
[Order Change! "Leonidas"! Defend with Mash!]
Mash and Leonidas stood ready!
"This battle we absolutely cannot yield, I shall protect with you, Sir Mash!"
"Yes! Mr. Leonidas!"
Reinforcements of Enforcement Knights closed in as the rear guard, trying to cut down the refugees.
[I won't let anyone die!]
—Absolutely!
The battle to protect life begins!
Epilogue: The Silver Arm Ignites
"It seems the battle has begun. Then I, too, shall do what I can."
"—"
"What will you do? An audience would be possible now..."
"...I will..."
"Make a choice with no regrets. Well then, let us meet again!"
"—...What, what was I hesitating for...!"
"Helping the weak and crushing the strong... There is no mission superior to that!"
"—『Take up the sword, Switch On Agateram (Silver Arm)』—!"
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