The gravitational collapse triggered by the activation of the Holy Lance was gradually spreading into Calot.
As Shiomi and the other two fought Gawain, bricks and stones from within the city had begun to float, drifting upward and circling the central royal tower.
But this weightlessness only affected lifeless objects—people remained bound by gravity.
Jumping, attacking, and dodging between massive floating stones ant that even the slightest misstep could plunge one into a bottomless abyss. It wasn't just about judging where to land or keeping one's balance—the fierce high-altitude winds also had to be accounted for.
There was no ti to properly asure the height of the Tower of the End, but according to Chaldea's observational data, it was nearing the scale of a structure like the Skytree.
Did the Lion King truly intend to stand alone atop such a cold, towering spire, guarding only the few preserved souls of humanity?
That thought stirred in Shiomi a vague and inexpressible loneliness. And sorrow.
Even if the Lion King herself had never acknowledged it, let alone felt it—without realizing it, she had already "welcod" soone to share that fate with her.
"In the middle of battle, and you're still looking around? How careless!"
Gawain leapt between the floating boulders, swinging his Holy Sword down at Shiomi.
"Just thinking," Shiomi said, blocking the strike with his spear, voice hardening. "If you win today, neither the Knights of the Round Table nor Calot will remain. This Singularity will beco the end of the world. Only that tower and the souls it preserves will be left behind."
"I know that. From the beginning, we of the Round Table had no right to follow the king to the end," Gawain replied, unmoved. "Even so, I will serve my king with unwavering loyalty and fight to my last breath."
The Holy Sword and Gungnir clashed again and again. Gawain had the strength advantage, but Shiomi countered with speed and finesse.
Dozens of exchanges passed with neither gaining the upper hand. Shiomi still couldn't find a window to unleash Gungnir's true na.
"But in the end, that tower will hold only the Lion King," Shiomi said after a downward slash missed, spinning into a backward thrust. The tip of his spear struck against the Holy Sword Gawain raised to block. "Is that your loyalty? To leave the king you serve trapped in eternal solitude?"
"That is the king's will! It is our duty to obey!" Gawain shot back with conviction.
Shiomi narrowed his eyes. "Do you know why the Lion King captured ? Why she kept
at her side?"
"Why?" Gawain asked, a rare flicker of doubt in his voice.
"Because the Lion King needs soone like her. Soone who can also ascend to the throne of Gods," Shiomi replied with a faint, mocking smile.
"Nonsense! Aren't you human too?!" Gawain shouted, refusing to believe it.
But he didn't have the luxury of distraction—his thoughts flashed back to a conversation Agravain had once gathered them for.
They had worried the king might be being manipulated, ensnared. But they'd never understood why she valued this Master of Chaldea so highly.
Now, the answer was clear.
Like calls to like.
The king had cast off her human heart. She had beco a god who judged and selected humanity.
And a god needs another god. As absurd as it sounded, the logic was undeniable.
"In the end, your king doesn't even realize she's lonely. And you, her loyal subjects, never noticed either. That's your failure."
The two combatants separated, their weapons montarily still.
Shiomi stood at the edge of a stone, his gaze fixed on Gawain, whose cloak fluttered violently in the wind.
His chin lifted ever so slightly as he spoke—just enough to spark a fire in Gawain's heart.
The Knight of the Sun ran a hand across his blade, and solar flas burst forth, wrapping around it.
"Now!"
Having been unable to join the main battle due to the shifting terrain, Bedivere—who had landed with Gray on a nearby floating boulder—finally saw an opening and leapt into action.
"Wait!"
Shiomi knew what Bedivere intended to do, but it was already too late to stop him.
The knight with the silver arm, prepared for martyrdom, offered up his soul and unleashed his Noble Phantasm to clash with Gawain.
The violent collision of their Noble Phantasms shattered the floating stones around them, leaving no footholds.
Gawain and Bedivere were sent flying in opposite directions, both plumting downward.
"Sensei!" Gray rushed forward and caught Bedivere in her arms.
Knowing Bedivere's sacrifice couldn't be wasted, Shiomi raised Gungnir. This was the perfect mont to release its true na.
"This is a strike that speaks fate—delivering predestined death to all things in this world. Fall, Knight of the Sun... Gungnir!"
A blinding light, equal in brilliance to the Holy Lance, shot forth. Midair and unable to steady himself, Gawain tried to block it—but the light pierced his heart. He was flung backward, pinned to the steps leading to the Lion King.
"Odin's... spear..." Gawain murmured, feeling his life and strength slip away with his blood.
He could no longer hold his Holy Sword. Lying across the long steps, he looked out at what had once been the holy city—now reduced to rubble, with only the central tower still standing.
The Temple of the Sun King had broken the Holy Lance's activation with its final impact—but it, too, could fight no more.
All it had done... was buy a little ti...
So Gawain told himself silently, his consciousness fading. His battle was over.
Shiomi landed nearby, but didn't glance at Gawain. Instead, he ran to Bedivere, who lay collapsed. Gray tried to support him, but the knight with the silver arm could barely move.
"Don't... worry about ..." Bedivere said through trembling breaths. "You must... stop the king... I'll catch up... after I rest a bit..."
Shiomi didn't answer. He wanted to tell him—his soul had already reached its limit, that he wouldn't make it to the Lion King. But in the end, he said nothing. He only nodded.
"Gray, look after Bedivere. Co once he's stable."
"Understood."
He ran past Gawain without even looking.
Gawain wanted to say sothing—to call out to a friend—but he no longer had the strength.
Shiomi adjusted his Magecraft circuits as he ran, racing up the now-unobstructed stairs until he reached what had once been the throne room.
It had beco the tower's summit.
There, seated alone, was the Lion King. Around her, there was nothing—only the burning light of the world's end, flickering at the far reaches beyond Calot.
"I've been waiting a long ti. You've kept
waiting too long," the Lion King said quietly. "This place is about to beco the land of endings. Co with ."
"Even now, you're still saying that?" Shiomi tightened his grip on Gungnir. "I won't go with you. I'm here... to stop you."
"Is that so? Then allow
to show you the difference in our power."
The Lion King extended her hand. In her palm, light converged and ford into a spear.
"This is the truth revealed when the skin of the world is peeled away."
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