"How could this be..."
In the midst of the burning forest, Mélusine clutched her arm.
The sight of the usually gorgeously dressed, petite swordswoman was now gone.
In her place was a figure covered in wounds.
Of the two Arondights she was so proud of, one now lay broken by her side.
"I was just retrieving a spear, why did it turn out like this..."
Time rewinds to several days ago.
Camelot, the throne room.
"Well then, I'll be leaving now, Artoria."
"Mm, I'm counting on you for everything."
Having received the request from the King of Britain to retrieve the spear from her dreams, Mélusine embarked on this journey that only she knew of.
Wings spread.
Under Artoria's gaze, she leaped, fell, and then flew up again, heading for the distance.
However, what Mélusine didn't know was that after she departed, Artoria turned and walked into the depths of the castle, a complex expression in her eyes.
"Mélusine..."
"You... do you really think I don't know anything?"
The beautiful swordswoman spread her butterfly-like wings, soaring freely in the sky.
For her, high-speed flight like this was not a difficult matter.
You see—
Mélusine could easily fly across straits far more terrifying than this, let alone the current situation.
But even so, Mélusine soon discovered that this matter was not as simple as she had imagined.
According to Artoria, the Holy Spear did not exist in the air, but was something firmly planted in the earth.
This meant that it was completely impossible to scout the situation from the air at high speed.
I have to walk on solid ground, how troublesome.
If that guy were here, I could have him carry me.
"Hm?"
Mélusine's expression flickered with surprise.
Wait.
Why did I just think of him for no reason?
No.
He's the one Artoria has claimed by name. After I retrieve the spear, she'll probably make some incredibly shocking announcement right away.
If I become her enemy before that...
Things would probably get even messier.
That's right.
I can't think about it.
At least, not now.
After I bring back what Artoria wants, I'll find a chance to confess everything clearly about what happened before. It'll surely be fine.
Thinking this, Mélusine slowly landed.
For the next few days, Mélusine diligently carried out Artoria's request.
However, the area she needed to search was simply too vast.
Even at her full strength, Mélusine had only managed to confirm less than a third of the area.
But luckily enough, within that less-than-a-third of the region, she did indeed find the "spear" that Artoria had mentioned.
Just as the King of Britain had said, it was a weapon that, once it appeared, could be confirmed immediately.
Now, it was stuck in the ground before her, shining with golden light.
Mélusine breathed a sigh of relief.
Although she was tired, at least she wouldn't have to continue searching the remaining two-thirds.
She walked forward, step by step, until she stood before the long spear.
However, the moment she touched it, Mélusine felt a powerful aura.
Her intuition was telling her that if she were to pull out this spear just like that, a problem beyond imagination might occur.
But...
I've come this far.
If I don't do something now, wouldn't it all have been for nothing?
She reached out.
And pulled with force.
Shouldering Artoria's request, Mélusine pulled the long, golden-glowing spear out with one motion!
The next moment, a roar echoed.
It was an extremely resounding sound, like the cry of a dragon.
But—
It had no physical form; it was like an existence of pure resentment.
"Return my son to me!"
In a single clash, Mélusine was sent flying, spear and all.
Fortunately, she managed to spread her wings for an emergency stop just in time to avoid crashing into anything.
"What is this thing?"
Hugging the long spear, Mélusine looked at the giant form that had materialized before her, and felt her breath catch for a moment.
Is that something that should exist in Britain?
It can't be, right?
The last time she had seen an existence this large was when Ian had revealed his true form.
Before Mélusine had time to think further, the roar sounded once more.
This time, it was not just a sound.
BOOM!
Crimson flames, mixed with fury, rushed towards the petite swordswoman who had just dodged the previous attack.
Even if she didn't know the other's intentions, its menacing appearance was enough to let Mélusine know that this being was not to be trifled with.
And what was even more terrifying was...
The opponent seemed to have no so-called fatigue time.
The wave of all-consuming fire tailed the high-speed Mélusine all the way, until it had set everything in the vicinity ablaze.
It was only a matter of time before she was seriously injured.
Realizing this, Mélusine no longer hesitated, but turned around, gripped Arondight, and launched a charge!
But in the moment of their clash, in a flash of icy light, she realized the opponent's strength.
It was a terrifying power on par with Ian's.
It's over—
Mélusine was swatted out of the air.
And then, came the present situation.
"What... are you...?"
Mélusine struggled to get up.
But her question received no answer.
The opponent merely continued to repeat the same phrase with immense obsession—
"Give me back my son!"
"GIVE ME BACK MY SON!!!"
"Otherwise, all of Britain will perish with him!"
"I, Tiamat, promise that!"
A lunatic.
This is definitely a lunatic.
An obsession even more terrifying than Morgan and the others.
How could something like this appear in Britain?
Mélusine realized she had to get back and tell Artoria at once.
Otherwise—
There would absolutely be a catastrophe.
But she had clearly underestimated her own injuries.
I can't move.
Mélusine could only watch as the flames shot towards her, unable to react at all.
This is bad...
She shielded the spear she had pulled out.
At least...
I have to protect what Artoria wanted!
"ROAR—"
A figure streaked across the sky.
Immediately after, a fierce gale descended from the heavens, crushing the burning trees with destructive force.
A black dragon landed on the ground with a thud, positioning itself in front of Mélusine.
The gushing flames were met with a simple and brutal block from its draconic arm, and were actually forcefully split into two parts, upper and lower!
This familiar yet unfamiliar scene, Mélusine would never mistake it.
It's Ian.
He came to save me