FATE: Target of Grand Master

Artoria smiled slightly and turned her gaze back to Xia Yan.

"When I became the goddess Rungomminiad, I received some information that transcended this world. Master Xia Yan, have you achieved your purpose for this journey?"

As soon as Xia Yan confirmed that the Lion King had returned to Artoria, he checked the mission objectives of his trial. Both the main and side missions were marked as completed, and even the location of the teleportation array appeared in Xia Yan's mind.

Perhaps knowing about Xia Yan's dire situation, the teleportation array thoughtfully appeared in Camelot City this time, which greatly facilitated Xia Yan and his companions.

To prevent any accidents, Xia Yan immediately led his three servants, who were almost in zero condition, toward the teleportation array.

Before leaving, Xia Yan naturally didn't forget to flirt with the two Servants present.

Artoria shook her head slightly, indicating that she still had to wait for someone here, and she could not leave until that person arrived.

This was within Xia Yan's expectations, so Xia Yan's main focus was actually on Richard.

"Richard, are you really not going to reconsider? I have Morgan on my side, you know. If you ever want to unleash 'Excalibur,' just tell me and it'll be done."

Richard seemed conflicted, but after a moment of contemplation, he politely declined with a smile.

"I am, after all, the leader of the false Crusaders. I can't just abandon my commander and leave without a word. Besides, there are quite a few civilians, and it will take a lot of time to settle them."

"Alright. We'll be going now. Please say goodbye to the commander for me."

Forced relationships are never sweet; letting things take their natural course is best. Xia Yan didn't try to persuade them any further and said goodbye to Richard and Artoria.

Morgan was still secretly tugging at Xia Yan's sleeve, expressing her unwillingness to stay in Artoria's Camelot City for even a second longer.

After watching Xia Yan and the others leave, Richard said to Artoria, "King Arthur, I am also preparing to take my leave."

While Xia Yan was trying to persuade Richard, Artoria used her magic to heal Agraven's injuries. Once he recovered, Agraven immediately threw himself into the work of repairing Camelot, and even though Artoria told him there was no need to rush, he was unwilling to be idle.

Artoria sighed upon hearing Richard's words and turned to reply, "I'm sorry for causing you trouble. Please also convey my apologies to the captain. Although this world probably won't last much longer, once Camelot is repaired, you are welcome to bring your civilians to stay here. Don't worry, there won't be any more 'Holy Bashes' this time; everyone can come in freely."

Richard smiled and nodded, then turned and walked toward Camelot's gate.

The pre-war plan stipulated that after receiving the civilians, the false crusaders would take them back to their camp in the northern mountains.

The camp has the effect of being formed into a defensive position, thus blocking most magic detection. Only by personally entering the camp can one feel the corresponding magic.

Richard, who had borrowed a fine horse from King Arthur, quickly arrived at the entrance to the military camp. He was in a very good mood, but he immediately sensed that something was wrong.

The entire camp was eerily quiet, with no soldiers on guard duty; it was as if the place was deserted.

In contrast to this eerily quiet atmosphere, there was a faint, fishy smell lingering in the air.

Clang—!

After Richard tethered his horse outside the camp, he immediately drew his sword and slowly walked toward the main tent in the center of the camp.

The closer they got to the center, the stronger the fishy smell became, forcing Richard to cover his mouth and nose with his hands.

Upon arriving at the main tent, Richard used his sword to part the tent flap. A pungent stench of fish and blood nearly made him vomit on the spot.

Taking a breath outside the tent, Richard used his sword to push aside the curtain again. This time, he finally saw the situation inside the tent and was completely shocked by the scene before him.

The sheer number of men and women, so densely packed it would not be an exaggeration, lay sprawled in the tent. They had all lost their vital signs, their faces contorted with a mixture of pleasure and madness, and traces of dried magic clung to their bodies and throughout the tent.

In front of the large tent was a row of extinguished candles, and behind the candles was an extremely strange statue, which looked like a bizarre creature with goat hooves and whiskers.

In front of the candles and statues is a stone table. On the table, a large hole has been cut open in the abdomen of a human woman, and various strange offerings have been roughly stuffed into it. Blood flows down from the edge of the stone table, adding to the gore and horror of this extremely eerie scene.

Without a doubt, this was an extremely evil and filthy sacrificial ritual.

Richard immediately checked the other tents and found that they were also filled with naked men and women. The candles, statues, and sacrificial women were all identical. The entire false crusade camp had become a ritual site for the sacrifice of evil gods.

Richard wasn't sure if the mastermind behind all this was still here, but he wasn't in a good state right now, so the safest thing to do was to go to Camelot and tell King Arthur what was going on!

Richard made a quick decision and immediately ran towards the entrance of the military camp.

"Oh dear, you're leaving already?"

A familiar male voice reached Richard's ears.

Richard frowned.

"Commander, no, Jacques de Morais, did you orchestrate all of this?"

A large amount of black mud surged up from the military camp, coalescing into the shape of Jacques de Morais in front of Richard.

"Lionheart, that's a rather harsh way of putting it. How can you call this 'trickery'? I merely allowed them to experience the pleasure of procreation and the joy of abundance. In the end, these people were all intoxicated and obsessed with intercourse, voluntarily completing the ritual of serving my god."

"You've gone mad, Jacques de Morais, you've completely degenerated into a cultist."

After Richard finished speaking, he raised his sword and slashed at Morley, but unfortunately, Morley's body was like soft mud, and he would immediately regenerate after being slashed.

Seeing that his attack was ineffective, Richard turned and ran. Just as he was about to run out of the camp, a black tentacle wrapped around his right foot.

Richard swung his sword and cut it off, but then another tentacle wrapped around his left foot.

Richard kept cutting off the tentacles, but more tentacles kept appearing and entangled Richard's body.

Thump—! Thump—!

Once Richard's body was completely bound, a huge, grotesque monster, as terrifying as a statue in a military tent, slowly emerged from the woods.

It turns out that Richard's whiskers originated from the upper part of this monster, while the lower part consisted of a large mouth that constantly dripped green slime and huge goat hooves.

The monster was enormous, and the ground trembled with every step it took.

"Feel honored, Lionheart, for you have been chosen by my god's agent."

Jacques de Morais slowly walked to Richard's side, his appearance changing with each step he took.

The original white hood and robe were stained black, the breasts and hips that symbolized femininity were raised, and the skin became more delicate and supple. Jacques de Morais thus transformed from a man into a woman in Richard's presence.

"Let me reintroduce myself. My real name is Jacques de Morais, and my class is Descendant~"