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[FTMWDK] Chapter 193: Despair and Temptation
🕑 Added 2023-12-30 05:30:02 +0000 UTCCrimson Moon's face darkened completely, her golden eyes exuding endless fury, while her entire being radiated a chaotic and frenzied aura.
"Stupid! Ignorant! Mere mortals, mere food, daring to be so arrogant! Pay the price for your arrogance and perish along with this planet!"
She slowly ascended into the sky, and behind her, a massive moon materialized, gradually becoming tangible.
On the battlefield outside the royal capital of Northumbria, the Phantasmal Species battling the army of Camelot suddenly stopped in their tracks, then swiftly turned into wisps of green smoke, dissipating.
Before anyone could make sense of what had happened, a massive planet—or rather, a massive moon, appeared in the sky.
"D-Dear god, what in the world is that!"
"Could it be... A punishment from God?"
The joy of victory was instantly destroyed as everyone stared at the massive moon with pale faces and despair evident in their eyes.
Scathach landed beside Morgan, watching the massive moon with a serious expression.
"Is that what Arkhan referred to as Moon Fall?"
"Most likely." Morgan nodded.
"But didn't Arkhan mention that once Crimson Moon uses this move, she'll immediately be targeted by the Counter Force?"
"A cornered dog will leap over a wall, especially for a mighty being like her. I guess she's pushed to the brink." Morgan shrugged.
"Why do I feel like you're not panicking at all?" Scathach looked at Morgan with confusion.
"No need to panic. Lily wields Excalibur, specifically designed for extraterrestrial threats like this."
As the primordial elf's incarnation, Morgan had a comprehensive understanding of Excalibur.
"Moon Fall is an undeniable act of invasion to the Planet; just wait, the Counter Force won't stand idle."
As Morgan predicted, the moment Crimson Moon unleashed Moon Fall, a will surpassing all living beings descended upon this place.
It was Alaya, the collective unconsciousness of humanity. To ensure the continuity of human order, they arrived first to suppress Crimson Moon.
The once solidifying moon flickered, the massive moon gradually becoming ethereal as if it could dissolve into nothingness at any moment.
"It's useless, Alaya! With just you, you can't stop me!" Crimson Moon shouted with frenzy, and the moon's form stabilized once again, shifting towards substance.
Britain was still at the end of the Age of Gods and humans had not yet ascended to the Seat of Primacy. Alaya, as the manifestation of human order, struggled to exert much power.
To truly deal with Crimson Moon, Gaia needed to intervene.
Artoria raised Excalibur and solemnly declared with loud voice.
"Seal Thirteen—Decision Start!"
"—!"
"—!"
"This is a battle for survival!"
"This is a battle for humanity!"
"This is a battle against evil!"
"This is a battle to save the world!"
However...
"..."
Silence.
A profound silence.
After Artoria declared the liberation conditions, Excalibur remained motionless, maintaining its previous state without fully liberating itself.
"Why... is it like this?" Artoria muttered with a confused tone while wearing an expression of bewilderment.
Once again, she raised Excalibur, declaring liberation, yet the holy sword remained as motionless as before.
High above the distant sky, Alaya continued their struggle with Crimson Moon, but relying solely on their power, they were no match for Crimson Moon. The massive moon was gradually materializing.
By the time it completed its shape, not only Britain but the entire planet would face destruction and the entire ecosystem would be reshaped!
'This is undoubtedly an apocalypse, a threat from outside the planet, but why... why did Excalibur show no response?! What went wrong?!'
Artoria's mind raced, her gaze suddenly fixating on the holy lance in her left hand. She suddenly realized something and then clenched her teeth in frustration.
Excalibur was a creation of the planet itself, capable of preventing the liberation of the holy sword; naturally, only the will of the planet could do so!
She immersed her own will into Rhongomyniad, connecting with the will of the planet, Gaia.
"Gaia, what is the meaning of this!" Artoria questioned with an angry tone.
Artoria, raised as the ideal king since childhood, always held the code of chivalry close to her heart. No matter who she faced, she maintained a humble and respectful demeanor, an impeccable flower of knighthood.
But precisely at this critical moment, she suffered a betrayal from Gaia. Even with her temperament, she couldn't help but feel anger.
"Crimson Moon is my guardian; I cannot harm her."
Gaia responded calmly and indifferently, like a tranquil pool of undisturbed water.
"She's about to kill you, and you still believe in her?!" Artoria was very shocked. She couldn't comprehend Gaia's thought process.
When someone has a blade at your heart, and you don't resist, how can you still foolishly believe they won't harm you?
Artoria might refrain from using strong language, but others wouldn't hesitate to curse Gaia incessantly.
"Crimson Moon's attacks will indeed cause me severe irreversible injuries, but not to the point of absolute lethality. Compared to that, the threat humanity poses to me is greater. In that case, why not take this opportunity and let Crimson Moon wipe out all of humanity?"
"What are you talking about?! Humans are a species born on this planet; how could we pose a threat to you?!" Artoria was very vexed.
Suddenly, several scenes flashed through her consciousness—barren and wounded landscapes, dried-up and lifeless oceans, skies filled with dust and devoid of light.
The final scene showed a massive, dull, whitish planet standing alone in the vast universe, exuding an atmosphere of death.
"This is..." Artoria's eyes widened.
"This is the apocalypse I will eventually face in countless parallel worlds, and the culprit causing all of this is humanity."
"No, this can't be, you must be mistaken, how could it be humanity, how could it..." Artoria couldn't help but take a few steps back, her azure eyes filled with an incredulous expression.
"I want to survive; I don't want to die. So, even if it means paying such a price, as long as I can survive, I will do anything." Gaia spoke with indifference.
Artoria's mind fell into complete chaos. The future Gaia showed her had a tremendous impact on her beliefs, and at this moment, she was lost.
"But you are the chosen Excalibur Wielder. Out of respect for you, I can reluctantly give humanity a chance, as long as you agree to my conditions."
"What conditions...?" Artoria asked instinctively.
"Become my guardian."
"A guardian?"
"That's right, become my guardian. I will bestow upon you incredible power, making you a true Excalibur Wielder. Even eliminating Crimson Moon would be a very simple task."
Although Gaia's voice remained calm, to Artoria, it was full of irresistible temptation.
As long as she became Gaia's guardian, she could completely liberate Excalibur, eliminate Crimson Moon, and save everyone...
As long as she became Gaia's guardian, she could kill Vortigern, seize the Holy Grail, and rescue her teacher...
As long as she became Gaia's guardian, she could unite Britain, becoming the ideal king everyone hoped for...
As long as... she agreed...
"I... I promise to be your—"
"Hahaha..."
Just as Artoria was about to agree, a voice with a light laugh suddenly intruded into this mental space.
"You want to steal someone from me without even saying hello? Oh Gaia, isn't that a bit unbecoming?"
