Fairy Round Table Realm, Poem of Eternal Mist

'Protect the foreign magician Fujimaru Ritsuka until she comes before you...' Fairy Knight Gareth whispered.

“Very good.” Morgan lightly stroked the crystal surface with her fingertips. “Also, Bagst will be carrying out the mission to burn down the Autumn Forest tonight, the purpose of which is to force out that ‘insect.’ You must avoid fighting her and let those young people witness firsthand what they are about to face.”

'Bagust?' The fairy knight Gareth looked up in surprise. 'Why didn't I know about this?'

"Sylph's actions were somewhat rushed after she discovered the insect's trail," Morgan explained. "Just do your job."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The fairy knight Gareth bowed solemnly, then, as if remembering something, asked, "What did Your Majesty mean by replenishing mana...?"

"As the resistance grows stronger, your magic will gradually diminish," Morgan said calmly. "Replenishing Ritsuka's magic every night will benefit both of you."

After ending the communication, Fairy Knight Gareth fell into deep thought. The 'insects' Morgan repeatedly mentioned were lurking in the Autumn Forest, and Oberon's territory was teeming with various insectoid creatures. Was there any connection? She gently shook her head, deciding to hold back for now. After all, the truth could only be confirmed after Fairy Knight Gawain arrived.

She gazed out the window at the deepening twilight; smoke and dust were already faintly visible in the direction of Autumn Forest. Tonight was destined to be anything but peaceful.

Camelot, the Fairy Kingdom

Morgan slowly veiled her face again and returned to the throne, her long silver hair gleaming coldly in the candlelight. Inside the throne room, the troops led by the goblin knight Gawain were already in formation, the rustling of armor particularly clear in the silence.

'Cavending.'

At the Queen's call, a bronze horse-headed warrior stepped forward. As he knelt on one knee, the royal crest on his breastplate struck the ground with a crisp echo.

"Your Majesty, I am here, awaiting Your Majesty's decree."

Morgan flicked his fingertips, and a cloak shimmering with iridescent light slowly landed in Cavendish's palm: 'The time has come. Go and ascertain what power those two "Children of Hope" possess that has captivated those traitors so fiercely.'

'This is... [Phantom Camouflage]?' Cavendish's voice trembled with shock. 'Such a precious magical artifact, I'm afraid...'

"Make good use of it." Morgan interrupted his hesitation, and the magic around the throne surged like a tide.

"Yes, Your Majesty! I will certainly not fail in my mission!"

The fairy knight Gawain slammed his greatsword into the ground, sparks flying: "All troops, heed my command! Set off immediately!"

The synchronized responses made the crystal chandelier sway slightly.

***

Fairy Kingdom Anti-Queen Alliance Fortress - Evening

Dusk filtered through the stone windows, casting dappled light and shadow on the conference room floor. Percival's narration gradually helped everyone understand the significance of this fortress—a sanctuary for all those dissatisfied with Morgan's rule.

'The Queen's spies are everywhere,' Percival said, wiping his spear. 'We have to use these ruins as a base. But Moss and the monsters are also watching us closely...'

Ritsuka was surprised to learn that the leader of the resistance and Lancelot, the strongest fairy knight, were siblings.

“I’m a war orphan,” Percival’s eyes softened, “and my sister raised me. I don’t hate all fairy knights, it’s just…” He shook his head with a wry smile, “I reacted instinctively when I saw that maid just now.”

Leonardo da Vinci pondered: (So that's how it is. This Percival isn't a follower from Pan-Human History, no wonder his Spirit Origin characteristics differ...)

Suddenly, Oberon stood up abruptly, a rapid communication sound ringing in his ears:

'Lord Oberon! The Queen's army is in Autumn Forest—they've set it on fire!' The communication abruptly ended with the sound of blades cutting through the air, leaving only the crackling of flames.

"What's going on?" Artoria Caster stepped forward with concern.

Oberon's face turned deathly pale: 'The Queen's army is going to burn down Autumn Forest!'

'I have to go back immediately!' Ritsuka grabbed her coat.

Artoria Caster quickly drew a teleportation array: 'Hurry!'

Percival drew his lance: "I will go too. There must be a deeper meaning behind the Queen's actions."

Just as the blue light engulfed everyone, the fairy knight Gareth returned. In the empty room, the lingering magical glow illuminated her conflicted face.

'Has it already been done...?' She clutched the fabric of her dress tightly. 'Baghster, you're being far too hasty.'

His Majesty's orders echoed in her ears, but the anger she felt towards the rebels had not subsided. Her nails dug deep into her palms as she wavered between loyalty and emotion. Footsteps at the end of the corridor made her look up sharply, only to see her own shadow flickering violently on the wall.

Fairy Country·Autumn Forest

The once vibrant maple forest, ablaze with fiery splendor, has been reduced to a sea of ​​flames. The flames, like the tentacles of a demon, coil around every ancient tree, transforming the golden-red leaves into fluttering fireflies. Thick smoke, like the final breath of a dying beast, carries ashes and debris straight into the sky. In this burning hell, the bronze-faced soldiers mechanically carry out their slaughter, their spears piercing the bodies of fleeing fairies, their screams mingling with the crackling of exploding trees, creating a symphony of despair.

'Am I...too late...?' Oberon's voice trembled. The scene before them overlapped with the memory of the Mirror Clan massacre, turning Gareth and Sei Shonagon pale.

The flames suddenly parted to the sides, and the fairy knight Gawain stood like a mountain in the center of the inferno. Her heavy armor reflected the eerie firelight, and her greatsword dragged across the ground, carving scorching grooves.

'Finally shown yourself, Oberon.' Her voice was like the scraping of metal. 'Hand over the insect.'

'What bugs? I have no idea what you're talking about!'

'Playing dumb?' The fairy knight Gawain sneered, his sword tip flicking up a cluster of burning leaves. 'King Vortigern—Sylph's perception is never wrong. Those who harbor such a being should be prepared to be beheaded!'

"Vortigern?!" Leonardo da Vinci exclaimed in shock. The legendary enemy of Britain, who had made a deal with the devil in legend, had also left a shadow in this Lostbelt.

Oberon spread his wings, his scales shimmering in the heat: 'I swear in the name of the Fairy King, I will never allow you to wreak havoc on my territory!'

"Since that's the case..." The fairy knight Gawain slammed her greatsword into the ground, a ring of fire exploding around her, "Let's burn this entire forest to ashes and see how long that rat can hide!"

"Ritsuka!" Oberon looked at the girl eagerly.

The Master took a deep breath, the scorching air stinging his throat: 'All personnel, heed my command! Artoria, Da Vinci, and Muramasa, join Oberon in the battle against Gawain! Gareth, Sei Shonagon, and Percival, stop the soldiers from causing destruction! I'll provide magical support!'

"Interesting." The fairy knight Gawain laughed wildly, swinging his greatsword, the chains writhing like venomous snakes. "Perfect for settling old scores, Senji Muramasa!"

Bring it on!

The battle commenced amidst a deafening roar. The clash between Senji Muramasa's katana and greatsword sparked blinding flashes, while Oberon's summoned crystal butterflies swept across the battlefield like a storm of blades. The fairy knight Gawain, with an agility disproportionate to his size, dodged to the side, his greatsword unleashing fang-like sword energy that shattered the earth wherever it passed.

'Projection begins!' Three short swords pierced the air, precisely striking the arm armor of the fairy knight Gawain. Artoria and Da Vinci's combined attack followed immediately, engulfing her with a magical halo and a storm of flames.

But a cold laugh came from within the smoke and dust. The greatsword swept across, creating a scorching wave of air that dispelled all concealment. 'Is that all?'

"Now!" Oberon snapped his fingers, and the charred tree trunk shot out like a giant crossbow bolt, knocking the fairy knight Gawain backward.

'Summon the phantoms!' Three magical hounds appeared out of thin air, their fangs dripping with corrosive saliva.

"Don't even think about it!" Artoria slammed her staff on the ground, and a wall of azure light rose up, turning the demonic hound into wisps of smoke.

But the fairy knight Gawain had already charged forward like a cannonball, the dog head emblem on his greatsword writhing like a living creature: 'Too naive!' The wall of light shattered under the clash of the canines, and Artoria was forced to raise her staff to take the blow head-on, her knees slightly bent under the pressure.

'Got it!' The chains wrapped around Artoria's waist like a shadow.

At the critical moment, a sapphire-blue blade flashed and severed the chains. Oberon's hurled spear forced the fairy knight Gawain to raise his sword to parry, and in that instant—Muramasa Senji was already close like a ghost, his twin blades, carrying a chilling aura, aimed straight for his throat!

"Too slow!" the fairy knight Gawain roared, scorching steam billowing from the gaps in his armor. But Muramasa's blade had already touched his neck armor, life and death hanging by a thread.

A sharp light flashed in Senji Muramasa's eyes as he drew a deadly cross in front of him with his twin swords. The blades hummed and emitted intense demonic light, with blue and red energy vortices intertwining at the tips.

'Two Heavens First Style! Absolute Slash!'

The cross-shaped slash tore through the air, blasting towards the fairy knight Gawain with devastating power. A shockwave, a mix of blue and red, engulfed her like a raging torrent, the deafening explosion shaking the entire forest. Where the shockwave swept, burning trees were uprooted, and flames on the ground were instantly extinguished.

As the smoke and dust slowly dissipated, the figure of the fairy knight Gawain, kneeling on one knee, gradually became clear. Her armor was covered with fine cracks, and dark red blood seeped from beneath her visor. She trembled as she tried to stand, her greatsword embedded in the scorched earth, supporting her swaying body.

'Damn it... I really underestimated you...'

Artoria Caster stepped forward, her staff pointed directly at the disheveled knight: 'It's time to reveal the truth! The black hound that manipulates fire, the chained monster—you are the calamity roaming northern Britain, Black Hound Bagst!'

The fairy knight Gawain—no, Bagst's body visibly trembled. His mask shattered under the surge of magic, revealing a pair of vertical pupils burning with hellfire.

Ritsuka gasped: 'Bagust...the legendary black dog that devours souls...'

[True Name Revealed: Fairy Knight Gawain – His true form is the calamity beast 'Black Dog Lord' Bagst.]

Bagst slowly straightened up, and dark fur began to emerge from beneath her shattered armor. The chains wriggled in her hands as if alive, and the air was filled with the scent of sulfur and blood.

Bloodstained Theater - Fairy Round Table Realm, Poem of Eternal Mist

The law of the jungle was her motto, and her imposing figure symbolized supreme power in the fairy kingdom—this was Bagst, a figure whose fearsome reputation shone throughout the land even before she was bestowed the title of 'Fairy Knight Gawain.' Beneath her steely, hard exterior lay a soft, unknown heart. But now, the humiliation of having her true name exposed made her tremble. More painful than defeat was the voice from her memory:

Remember, Bagst. From this day forward, you are 'Gawain the Fairy Knight,' your true name must be buried forever. You don't want to betray me, do you? If the world were to discover the true face of the Black Dog...

-

Meanwhile, in a luxurious villa somewhere in the Fairy Kingdom, the battle situation in the Autumn Forest, reflected in a crystal ball, made Sekel and the mysterious white-haired woman smile at each other.

'What a pleasant surprise.' Seckel swirled his glass. 'The most loyal hound has been blinded by a fledgling bird.'

The white-haired woman traced the surface of the crystal ball with her fingertips, the ripples reflecting Bagst's pale face: 'Time to add fuel to this farce.' She suddenly turned to the corner, 'What do you say, Kelby?'

The fairy knight Bedivere, kneeling on the ground, suddenly looked up, a look of panic flashing across his disheveled hair: 'Even Bagst... who exactly is that prophetic child...?'

'Looks like you're not completely stupid after all.' Seckel leaned down and pinched her chin. 'Once that little girl starts her pilgrimage, we'll proceed according to plan.'

Kelby glanced at the gold-embossed file folder on the coffee table—the confidential documents she had obtained the previous night after infiltrating the palace and killing three guards. Morgan's handwritten record confirmed Artoria Caster's identity as the 'Child of Prophecy'.

'It's time.' Seckel snapped his fingers, summoning Diana from the shadows. 'Go and entertain our guests.'

Diana held two differently colored capsules between her fingers, the portraits engraved on their surfaces completely different from before. The moment she pushed open the first capsule with her thumb, a ghostly yellow-green light flashed out like a venomous snake emerging from its hole:

Darius III —

The second capsule popped open, and crimson rose patterns bloomed in the air:

Nero Claudius—Let the final symphony begin!

Two-colored lights swirled wildly within the storage device, gradually solidifying the phantom of an ancient overlord. Diana fastened the device to her waist, and the instant the pull ring was drawn, a violent energy storm swept through the entire room:

The shockwave from the fusion overturned the coffee table, scattering confidential documents like white butterflies. Amidst the falling pages, Diana's new form gradually emerged—her left half covered in bronze armor resembling a Persian war elephant, her right half entwined with golden thorns of Roman roses, and the greatsword in her hand reflecting a dangerous light.

Fairy Kingdom Autumn Forest - Battlefield Flanking

To stop the Queen's army from slaughtering the creatures of Autumn Forest, Gareth, Sei Shonagon, and Percival plunged into the battle like sharp blades. The bronze-faced soldiers formed an impenetrable formation, their spears constantly firing scorching energy beams, weaving a web of death across the burning forest.

'These guys... they're never going to stop!' Gareth swung his shield to deflect a beam of light, and his Holy Lance arced through the air, knocking back three soldiers.

Just as the battle reached a stalemate, a strange surge of magical energy suddenly erupted from the shadows of the forest. An invisible blade tore through the air, aimed directly at Gareth's back—

'clang!'

The deafening impact left Gareth's arm numb. Deep slashes were left on the shield's surface; had it not been for the timely parry, the blow would have been fatal.

"Who goes there?" Percival swept his spear horizontally, precisely blocking the second incoming silver light.

A mocking laugh echoed in the air: 'How can an unseen enemy be defeated?'

The invisible attackers launched a relentless assault, their blades tracing deadly paths through the air. Gareth and Percival formed a defensive formation back to back, their shields and spears flashing in a dense, impenetrable array before them.

'Pillow and chaos! '

Sei Shonagon wielded her brush, and colorful embroidered balls rained down like petals, forming a flowing barrier around the two. Each time an invisible blade collided with an embroidered ball, it sparked dazzling fireworks.