A Hedgehog Of Chaldea

Camelot (Part 4)


*Holy City Castle*

"I have returned, Majesty. Apologies for the delay. Sir Agravain had an urgent business for me to attend to." Lancelot said

"It's fine. I ordered you to protect any humans fit for the Holy Selection. If that is achieved, I have no punishment to give. Raise your head." Lion King said

"Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you most kindly. We collected twelve humans for the Holy Selection. Collected in the city and handed them off to the supervisors. From now, I will also join in defense of the Holy City. Does that suit you, Sir Agravain?" Lancelot replied

"Of course. The only complicated thing that is against us is that Blue creature. But he soon won't be able o withstand the King with the plans entering their final stages. The confrontation with Ozymandias is near. The third Tower will be the key to protecting the royal castle. Head for the Tower at once." Agravain said

"Before that. I beg our King to please allow me a question." Lancelot asks

"Disrespectful and unnecessary. The King must prepare the sacred lance."

"Wait, Agravain. It is the wish of a knight who has not once asked for a reward in all his years of service. I cannot turn it down."

"Yes, Your Majesty. You may speak, Sir Lancelot. What is it?"

"I have just returned from attacking the village of rebels in response to Sir Tristan's request," Lancelot said

"I heard it. I heard the Blue creature was the one leading the rebels and was the one who successfully pushed you and Sir Tristan back." Lion King said

"The Blue creature again? Who is this rebel that is separately leading an uprising against us?" Lancelot thought

"Anyway, Why was the sacred lance unleashed? Sir Tristan setting fire to the battlefield was already excessive. Dropping the Light of Judgment on top of that wasn't warm-hearted. Thus far, Your Majesty has brandished the sacred lance to rule these wastelands. My King. Why do such a thing to the village? I would like to hear the true intention behind it." Lancelot asks

"For some reason, you grow short-tempered when Lancelot is your opponent. And hear me, my knights. The enforcement through my sacred lance was entire of my own volition. I needed to get rid of that Blue creature once and for all, who I have no doubt was preparing an army to invade the Holy City. The sacred lance has entered the final stages. The Tower at the Ends of the World will finally be welcoming us. Our greatest enemy was time. We had to open the Tower before the King entered the next stage after the Incineration of Humanity. And that is about to take place. The defiance of the mountain people is but a trifle. Therefore, I launched the direct enforcement of the village. If the rebellious forces rise because of it, all the better. If only a tiny number reach the Holy City in a fight to their death, Sir Gawain can manage their extermination on his own. This was my true intention." Lion King explained

"If the defense of the Holy City is complete, there is no need to rob them of their lives so recklessly!" Lancelot shouted

"*Returns With Sword Scratches On His Body* Our failure was inevitable, Sir Lancelot," Tristan said

"You've returned, Tristan. What did you mean just now?"

"The Blue creature isn't no ordinary Blue creature. He is a Knight as well. Also, The eastern village hasn't been eliminated. Unbelievable as it may be, they blocked the King's light completely." Tristan said

"They blocked the sacred lance's attack!? There is none among them capable of such a feat!"

"Arash Kamangir. His skill rivals even mine. He was pretty impressive. He was also the one I asked Sir Lancelot to take care of. With the sheer planning of that Knight and thee rebels Servants. We both failed in our parts. As a result, the rebels survived and left the mountain. They were headed in the direction of the desert. The Blue creature is probably making his way there to negotiate with Ozymandias. Those two together are the worst combination." Tristan said

"Are we seriously going to lose to a talking Blue Rodent?" Mordred asks

"Shut up, Mordred! What a blunder! How do you propose to make amends, Lancelot!?" Agravain said

"Chase the Blue creature, kill him, and capture the Servant rebels. My punishment shall be afterward. For thus disgracing His Majesty, I have no choice but to offer my head." Lancelot replied

"Can you make it in time, Lancelot? I heard rumors that the Blue creature can outrun anyone. Including our soldiers with the fastest resources we have." Lion King asks

"Of course. I swear it upon my treasured Arondight." Lancelot replied

"Hurry. The walls of the castle will soon appear. Return before that. Or that Blue Creature will be the reason for our downfall." Lion King said

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Tch! What else is that Blue creature rebel hiding from us?!" Agravain stressing out

"The one-armed knight. The most loyal among those of the Round Table. Our sworn friend, Sir Bedivere." Tristan said

"Bedivere!? Why would he be there!? There's no way!"

"Yeah, that's right, Agravain. A feeble Knight like him joining the Blue Rodent and his team of Servants." Mordred said

"Mordred! You knew!?"

"I didn't think it was worth mentioning, that's all! I mean, come on, Gawain didn't say anything about it either, right?!"

"Sir Gawain. What is the meaning of this? Why didn't you report this to us, to the King? With Bedivere aiding the rebels, it's no wonder Sir Tristan suffered an upset." Agravain said

"I did not report about Sir Bedivere because it is unworthy of attention. He is a novice like that Blue creature, never even summoned by the Lion King. He is a rebel, nothing more. There is no need to treat such a knight with special attention. In which case, one or two knights shifting sides would not impact the overall plan. What can Sir Bedivere do? No matter what he may do, the Lion King's heart will not be disturbed." Gawain asks

"Even if that man goes over to the enemy, it's not as if he can do anything. Well done, Sir Gawain. You may return to protecting the main gate. Forgive us for disturbing your throne, my King. Please do not let Sir Bedivere concern you. It can very well be Sir Tristan's misunderstanding. Even if it is true, all we must do is welcome him to His Majesty's Round Table." Agravain replied

"Who is this? Bedivere?"


*With Sonic And The Others*

"*Walking Through The Windy Desert While Holding A Map* Alright, that Mountain Person that we ran into back at those wastelands said the location is right here. But we see around is just sand." Sonic looking around

"That mountain person also described an odd figure wearing a black cape and a turban. Do you think something about his appearance will make it obvious it's him? Like, some sort of clothing that stands out?" Mash said

"If I have to guess, it's probably sound like a detective," Sonic replied

"T.E. Lawrence, commonly known as Lawrence of Arabia, fits the description! An Englishman who helped lead Egypt to independence! His story has also been made into a movie!" Mash said

"Well, that's something new I heard about this person," Sonic commented

"So even a figure like that can become a Heroic Spirit!"

"Alright, since the map tells us that the location of this Atlas Institute is right here. We have no choice but to look around this place and hope for the best." Sonic said

"Good thing that we used Chaos Control to get here quicker. We would've been done if he had to face the desert monsters- Argh! *Suddenly Falls Through The Sand*."

"Hey, did Mash suddenly disappear just now!? It's as if she fell into a Whoa! *Falls Into The Sand As Well*" Sanzang said

Touta and Bedivere soon fall through the sand as well. Only leaving Sonic left on the surface. He took a deep breath, squeezed his nose, and suddenly fell through the sand.


*At The Bottom*

Sonic lands on both feet and notices Mash and the others are lying on the ground from the sudden fall through the sand.

"Who would've thought? An underground area. Should've seen that coming." Sonic said

"A graceful landing, if I do say so myself. Bedivere, present."

"My butt..."

"Yes. Xuanzang Sanzang, right here..."

"We fell pretty far. But I didn't think there'd be that much oxygen down here." Touta said

"A sudden introduction into your quest. Though I can't say, I'm surprised coming from you all. Hello there, everyone. And welcome to the Atlas Institute! I am Sherlock Holmes. The world's best detective and its only consulting detective. I am here to guide you all to the truth! I hold all the pieces of the puzzle! It would help if you were Ms. Kyrielight. She is Servant Xuanzang Sanzang. He is the Servant Tawara Touta. And. Well, well, what a surprise. A Knights of the Round Table is also among you. Wonderful to meet you two, Sir Bedivere. Finally, you are Sonic The Hedgehog. Or it can be Ogilvie Maurice Hedgehog." Sherlock Holmes introduces himself

"Nice to meet you, Holmes. My name is- Wait a minute, did you just call me Ogilvie Maurice? How do you my real name?!" Sonic shock

"Why? Elementary, my dear Hedgehog. Your first name almost sounds like Olga Marie's name. That poor girl still in her state since you've arrived here." Holmes said

"How do you even know about Olga's state?!" Sonic shock

"Who is he? Holmes? I don't remember a knight by that name..." Bedivere confuse

"How tragic," Holmes said

"Sir Bedivere. Mr. Holmes is the most famous detective in the world. His class is. Probably Caster. One of the true forefathers of all detectives." Mash replied

"Hahahahaha! You're very aware of my personality! I would very much like to cooperate, too, but there's a case I must solve first. Until that case is closed, I cannot make ties with Chaldea. But that is not a vital problem. I'll leave the battle to you, heroes. I am a detective. I have no interest in justice or honor. I solve mysteries. That is my duty." Holmes said

"So you'll help Sonic but won't join us?" Sanzang asks

"Yes. I came to this institute in search of knowledge. The Old Man of the Mountain must've talked about needing to know everything, right? In that case, you should head for the central area of this institute. I, too, have business there. It is far from here, about half a mile underground. The path twists and folds over itself, much like a labyrinth." Holmes said

"Heh, we can reach there in a few minutes. Besides, we have a powerful team that can handle the traps without a problem. You guys ready?" Sonic asks

"Ready when you are, Senpai!" Mash replied


*Halfway Towards Atlas Institute*

"You may wonder, Mr. Sonic, what is the Atlas Institute. It's one of three branches of the Mage's Association, dealing with accumulation and measurement. They are the progenitors of Magecraft, focused on investigating the principles of the world. Consequently, they do not rely on magical energy to learn the world's mysteries; instead, using many tools. In the world of Magecraft, they are called the Seven Taboos. The Atlas Institute created seven weapons capable of destroying the world. Realizing that they had reached their limits, they sealed them away. The directors of this institute would always go mad, and as a result, they created illegal weapons that would destroy the world. It's also possible they would try to prevent the world's destruction, fail in the progress, and then go mad." Holmes said

"Well, isn't that ironic," Sonic commented.

"Did the Atlas Institute fall to ruin before this time?" Bedivere asks

"As far as I have been able to deduce, the Atlas Institute was active from the BC era up to 2018 AD. We'll know for sure when we reach the center. The path splits in two as we descend, but if you look behind, it's three. Indeed. It's built to confuse those trying to leave. Entering is simple, but exiting is forbidden. The Atlas Institute was a group of geniuses. They immersed themselves in various research, in their independent workshops." Holmes replied

"This is way too much information for someone like me who doesn't know how to use magic," Sonic commented.

"My apologies, I'll get into a more topic you'll. Sonic. When contracted to many Servants, I'm sued that your body can still withstand such use of Magical Energy. Usually, that is a dangerous factor to a Master and can kill them when using too much Magical Energy. But with, the mix of Chaos Energy forms a bond between them. The result of that is something more than impressive. It's a one-of-a-kind. A small portion of Chaos Energy given to a Servant is enough to provide them with the energy they need to use for a permanent Contract with you and battle without relying too much on Magical Energy. Also, Instead of Commanding like any typical Master, you decide to fight along with Servants instead of Commanding. I sure would like to do more research on the Chaos Emeralds when I have the chance." Holmes said

"I'm still shocked you know about Chaos Emeralds. Because we just met each other just a few minutes ago. But I'll agree with you, Sure, I may be a Master here, but I would rather work as a team and let others do whatever is right for them. That's my preferred style here, and it will always be." Sonic replied

"So that's how the last Master ever to exist treats his Servants. The Servants must be proud of themselves for Contracting with such a Master. By the way, Ms. Kyrielight. It would appear you still don't have complete control of your Noble Phantasm. Why is that? Is it something beyond your means?" Holmes asks

"That is correct. I still don't know the True Name of the Heroic Spirit who transferred this power to me." Mash said

"The True Name isn't a big issue. You've erred on which foot to set forth on. But be at ease. You will have the solution soon. Right now, we're fighting another mystery: the culprit behind the Incineration of Humanity." Holmes replied

"Egghead wouldn't be able to cause such a catrasorphere like that. He's more of a world domination type idiot." Sonic commented

"I have almost no information about him. Every corner of time has his tracks, but none of these seem to tie to King Solomon. If someone had seen the King of Mages firsthand, I could've asked if there was any resemblance to Solomon. But of course, there wouldn't be such a convenient witness. I have no choice but to continue inferring from the information." Homles said

"Oh, I met the King of Mages a while ago. He threatened me with death if I ever completed all the Singularities. But that's okay. Even Mash knows about it as well." Sonic replied

"I kinda do, but the recording is all covered in static for me," Mash replied

"So you met the King of Mages before, tell me. What did he look like? Then please, tell me everything! What did he look like? His voice? His magical lineage? Any discomfort? Anything out of place? A sense of despair would be the most crucial key. Mind drawing me a sketch as we get closer, attempting I want a picture of the King of Mages you saw. Normally, you'd be cursed for even attempting, but with such power within you. No harm would come towards you." Holmes said

"*Grabs The Paper And Pencil And Begins To Sketch* What's wrong with sketching all of a sudden? No one needs to be punished just because of their talent." Sonic commented

"*Looking At Sonic Drawing* Wow, Sonic, you're an artist as well? Mind drawing me soon after? How do I look?" Sanzang asks

"This is a serious matter, Sanzang. Yes, he is an artist, but you can ask him at a time when it's not like this." Touta replied

While we're on the Topic of the King of Mages. What the King of Mages said, how he acted. It wasn't consistent. That was what seemed out of place to me. Sometimes violent, sometimes quiet... even totally indifferent toward us at times." Mash said

"Hm. Tell me in more detail. What kind of conversation did you have with him?"

*Sonic Gives Holmes His Sketch while Mash Finishes Explaining Everything About The King Of Mages*

"My my Mr. Sonic detail to skillful with such a simple pencil. It may be just a sketch, but you added great detail to it. With this and the information is given from Mash. It's Enough closer to the true identity of the King of Mages. Based on the sketch and our conversation. The King of Mages is akin to a mirror. A mirror that shows the nature of the person speaking to it. If someone vulgarly speaks, he answers just as rudely. He responds to the cruelness with true dissociative identity disorder violence. It lacks his sense of self, or he has dissociative identity disorder," Holmes said

"Isn't that the reason why he threatened my life for?" Sonic asks

"But not only that, but he knows that Sonic isn't from this world, looking at him as a simple rodent with no power and seeing life with no value," Mash said

"That is the truth for the King of Mages. He's an unpropertied Lion King who seeks to destroy this era. He has already won, which is why he has shown his proper form. I don't have the power to undo what has already taken place. But you do, Mr. Sonic. You have that power to stop the King of Mages and only yourself. The King of Mages underestimates, which is the best opportunity for you to strike." Holmes said

"It's always people underestimating me, huh? Not a suprise to me, to be honest." Sonic replied

"Now then, let's get to what you here for. The first relates to this Singularity: to gain knowledge about the Lion King's objectives and his sacred lance. The second relates to all seven Singularities. In other words, a part of the mystery behind the Incineration of Humanity. You may be wondering why I appeared in front of all of you. That is because I have a declaration. I do not trust Doctor Roman." Holmes said


*Atlas Institute*

Finally, after a while of walking and defeating multiple waves of enemies. The group finally arrives at the Atlas Insitute.

"This is the heart of the Atlas Institute. We're underground, but there's a sky, Master!" Mash said

"Not the worst place I've ever been to."

"I can't believe they could build such a vast structure here. This sure looks like an academic institute, all right. They have everything necessary for humans to live their lives. This would help their students keep sound minds even if the sky was artificial." Bedivere said

"That obelisk in the center is the Atlas Institute's most significant recording medium: a Pseudo-Spiritron Calculation Engine dubbed Tri-Hermes. *Notices something* It looks like we already have guests here." Holmes said

"*Looks Up And Notices Three Wisps Flying Around The Room* Ah, look's like I found more of my friends here. Man, it's great to see you all again." Sonic said

The Drill, Rocket, and Eagle wisps all heard Sonic's voice as they headed straight down towards Sonic.

"Hehe! That leaves us with only a couple more! Our Final Battle is soon arriving." Sonic commented

"Now then, let us begin with our meeting. Tri-Hermes, soaring bird of the underworld! Please answer my question! Tell us of a certain incident, erased from all records and descriptions: the Holy Grail War that occurred in Japan in 2004!" Holmes said

"The Holy Grail War!? Don't tell me you mean Singularity X!? Are you saying that's the truth behind the Incineration of Humanity... The true origin!?" Mash shock

" Not the origin but an essential factor. Listen to me, Mash, That ritual took place in the Holy Grail War. In 2004, located in a particular city in Japan. The only traceable data from that specific Holy Grail War was the identities of the participants' seven mages. Among those seven, one was related to someone you know who's currently in a coma and is fighting for her life. Or the daughter of that person, to be precise." Holmes said

"Olga's parent?" Sonic guessed

"Correct, Mr. Sonic. The father of Olga Marie Animusphere, the late director of Chaldea. I'm surprised you caught that first try. He secretly headed to that regional city of Japan and participated in a bloody ritual. The winner of the 2004 Holy Grail War in Japan was Marisbury Animusphere. Hermes recorded that he killed six other mages and obtained the omnipotent wish granter known as the Holy Grail." Holmes said

"And all of that was before the Incineration of Humanity. Before the Rayshift was carried out?" Mash said

"Correct, Mrs. Kyrelight. Records show that Marisubury brought one of his assistants along to the Holy Grail War... having been given a special exemption, that assistant was invited to join the staff of Chaldea. He became top medical dicing in his early twenties, so special. I'd hesitate to call him an average person." Holmes replied

"Doctor Roman. Did he know the former director before coming to Chaldea?"

"Yes, but it does get stranger. The history surrounding the man Roman Archaman is unknown. I couldn't find anything about him in records before the War. I thought I could at least find some piece of information, but we don't have enough time to look over a billion personal files. The only one not recorded, however, is Sonic, of course. No records appear about him, which is better off like that. But that is the reason why I don't trust him. He may be a human, but he's hiding something. Something close to the truth. I still see him as an important person of interest. You shouldn't tell him anything that you heard here. At the very least, Romani Archaman knows the conclusion of the Holy Grail War and never told you." Holmes replied

"If he's hiding something from us. Then I don't want to know. I rather let him keep his things on his own. That is not my business to tangle with." Sonic said

"I figure you would say that, Sonic. You're not the type who asks to wait or for them to reveal something. So I highly doubt he would do anything to you as well. He knows that you are the only one that can stop this madness. " Holmes said

"Can I ask something? I know I shouldn't just butt in because I'm tired of being quiet, but This Marisbury guy obtained the Holy Grail, right? What did he wish for?" Sanzang asks

"Unfortunately, Hermes doesn't record personal wishes. The only things recorded are results. According to Hermes, Marisbury went on to become a great mage. The Clock Tower mostly disregarded Chaldea and the Animusphere family's theories. That assessment was overturned after repeated successes. The establishment of the Heroic Spirit Summoning System. Experiments made it possible to observe the future and use Rayshifts to intervene in other periods. He had no reason to wish for the Incineration of Humanity. Reading the documents, he comes off as a man of good sense. His desire was ordinary, his envy was expected, and his love of happiness was common. That's the type of man he was. In that case, he was either used by a third party or stepped into a minefield of destruction without even noticing it himself."

"Like Professor Lev?"

"Lev Lainur was appointed to Chaldea at the turn of the century. That coincides with when the technology to construct the observation lens, Sheba, was provided to Chaldea. Lev Lainur was working under the King of Mages. To be honest, this causes me the biggest headache. Chaldea caught the eye of Lev, and he infiltrated it. In that case, there must have been some issue at Chaldea before the Holy Grail War of 2004. That's the conclusion that I can draw. "We don't know what he was doing, but he had no connection to the incident. A simple nuisance, a mystery. Someone who doesn't matter at all." Holmes said

"What's that supposed to mean!? That's ridiculous!"

"Enough about accusing Roman about everything. Just get straight to the next Topic." Sonic said

"Understandable coming from you, Sonic. Now then, switching topics. As I searched through the records of Chaldea, I found an answer for you, Ms. Kyrielight. Do you mind if we speak about it." Holmes said

"An answer for me? About the True Name of the Heroic Spirit who transferred their power to me?" Mash said

"Exactly! I came to a conclusion already but had no clear proof, so I spoke ambiguously. But now, I can say to you as fact. Are you prepared to hear this, Ms. Kyrielight?" Holmes replied

"Wait a minute. That's something for Lady Mash to discover for herself. We shouldn't be the ones." Bedivere said

" must speak my mind! I'm sure everyone has already realized it, anyway! Only fools would continue to avert their eyes from the truth. Are you saying that Ms. Kyrielight is a fool? I say no! No, Sir Bedivere! And besides, what are you so fearful of? That is, knowing her True Name wouldn't change anything? That it wouldn't help her develop her Noble Phantasm? Mash Kyrielight's spirit is already complete! Her fears don't depend on whether or not she possesses a Noble Phantasm! Also! Even if her Noble Phantasm fails to develop, she'll never stop standing up for her beliefs! For the sake of what she believes in, she'll muster her courage and fight to the very end! Apologies. I unashamedly flew into a rage. Anyway, do you mind if I speak openly now? The name of the Heroic Spirit who saved your life." Holmes replied

"Is this okay, Senpai?" Mash asks

"It'll be best if you knew, Mash. Besides, I have been itching to see who gave you that Halloween outfit of yours since the first time we met." Sonic joked

"Haha. Your right. Senpai. If you think it's okay. Then I'll continue forward. Please tell me, Mr. Holmes. My True Name. The real name of this shield." Mash said

"Very well then, A seat where many heroes once gathered. A rite of vows called the Round Table. While the weapon she carries looks like a shield, that's not what it is. The core of her holy round shield is the Round Table itself. The second Heroic Spirit was summoned when you were young. The only successful result of Chaldea's Heroic Spirit fusion experiment. The one who entrusted everything during the Chaldea bombing incident. That Heroic Spirit's name was Galahad. One of the Knights of the Round Table is a holy knight who alone succeeded in searching for the Holy Grail. I'm sure you know that name as well. King Arthur." Holmes said

"Galahad of the Knights of the Round Table...*Slowly Falls On The Ground*."

"Mash?! Are you okay?! What the?! Galahad!" Sonic shock

"I'm guessing you heard the name yourself as well," Holmes said

"Not heard. Met! I fought him before with this sword behind my back!" Sonic replied

"What?! You fought him before?! Sonic, what's going on?" Bedivere shock

"Mash, are you alright?" Sonic asks

"*Hugs Sonic Tightly* Y-Yes, I just had to sit down. I'm happy. I finally know the name of the person who believed in us and helped us back then. I feel so happy right now. Galahad was the reason we came so far to our journey." Mash said

"*Speechless For A Moment* And he will continue to. A great Knight like him deserves all the praise for helping up get through our adventure." Sonic replied

"See, it's just as I said. She's just that kind of girl. She never forgets gratitude. Why would she hold any pessimism in her heart towards the one who saved her life?" Holmes said

"It seems Galahad made the correct decision. They were eons apart; they were a different race. But he truly did entrust this to the person closest to him." Bedivere said

"Now, Mr. Sonic. I'll leave the awakening of the Noble Phantasm to you. Now then, I have more research to share with you. And it's the one you are most interested in, Arthur. The Lion King's sacred lance, Rhongomyniad. You must know why it exists, unlike the sword Caliburn. Rhongomyniad is different. Hermes, show us the truth that lies behind it. The lance that the Lion King possesses. Tell me, Sir Bedivere. How much do you know of it." Holmes asks

"Very little. The King had some holy artifacts aside from the sword. I imagine Rhongomyniad is one of them. Even the Knights of the Round Table were not informed of it. Merlin called it the "Tower at the Ends of the World." A pillar of light that stands far west of the Isle of Britain. A tower that stands beyond the horizon, at the world's edge." Bedivere replied

"A tower? But it's a lance, right? I mean. I understand they're both long and pointy, but..."

"There are two lances, Ms. Sanzang. The first is the massive Tower that pierces this world: the lance in its physical form. Most importantly, it exists at the edge of this world. One can never reach the edge, no matter how much one walk. The Tower stands at the edge of this world, seeing all of humanity, and protecting it." Holmes replied

"You suggest it's a mighty magical tower with a great view?"

"Think of this as the shadow this Tower casts upon the world. A personal weapon that allows the user to use the skills of the Building Authority. The Tower will continue to exist at the world's edge while the Tower's keeper holds the lance. The only mystery remains why the building is pinned on this planet. There is a theory that our world, the human world, is nothing more than a texture placed upon the surface of this planet. Our understanding of this planet's ruling intelligent lifeform The laws of physics as we know it. That results from this understanding is our world. And it is sewn tightly to this planet so as not to be removed. The phenomenon known as the "Tower at the Ends of the World keeps it in place, my friends." And this Tower is not limited to the Isle of Britain, either. There are several around the world. One is the sacred lance currently in the Lion King's hands."

"Now I understand what it means. The King is trying to use such a dangerous thing too." Bedivere said

"Very interesting indeed," Sonic said

"How is that related to the state of the Holy City? What does the Lion King intend to do with it?" Sanzang asks

"The Lion King intends to create an ideal world at the Holy City by gathering only the chosen ones. Not simply a pure human being, but one that will always do the right thing, no matter what. According to Hermes' calculations, the sacred lance can store up to 500 souls. The Holy City was built over the Holy Land in a single night. It seemed impossible, but not until you understand why. That city is the sacred lance itself. People that were brought to the city have all been sealed inside it. The Lion King claims he is quarantining pure humans, but the truth is that he is not letting them get away. It's an elaborate trap." Holmes said

"*Eyes Widen* No way! That lance isn't an ordinary weapon. It's a death trap!" Sonic shock

"Impossible! That city is Camelot. The details may be slightly different, but I've no doubt. It's Camelot!" Bedivere shock

"That is not Camelot. I had an awful feeling from the moment I saw it. That's the outer shell of Rhongomyniad. It is not something that will save humanity." Mash said

"Then, what will happen to all people inside the Holy City? They must live lives of captivity while being protected by the King."

"The lance will consume all those in the Holy City. The sacred lance is similar to the Atlas Institute. Eventually, the Holy City will converge and become a single tower. Inside of that Tower is a smaller version of hell. The people have not been gathered in this so-called utopia to live. They are samples. To be stored for all eternity, underneath the Lion King's command. As though displayed in a case to show the value of humanity."

"This isn't the King Arthur I know about," Sonic shocked.

"Whoever's behind such a malicious deed can't be human!" Bedivere said

"Whether good or evil, it means nothing to me. He's simply protecting his people. That much is true." Touta said

"What are you talking about, Touta?" Sanzang said

"Let me finish! The Holy City has been turned into this Tower. What will happen next? I believe the building will disappear along with the Lion King's army. At the very least, the mountain people and the Lion King will have no reason to fight." Touta replied

"I suppose that would technically put an end to the conflict. Technically."

"The Lion King intends to turn the Holy City into the Tower at the Ends of the World. Surely you know what that means? When the Tower is complete, the entire area will become the Ends of the World. The Lion King is not simply trying to protect his people. He's going to eliminate all other people aside from his own. And that destruction has already begun." Holmes said

"There's nothing on the other side of the desert because this era has already been separated from human history."

"The King of Mages is no longer the one trying to destroy this era, nor the one that created it. The Lion King is willing to sacrifice one of the Foundations of Humanity to create his utopia. Only gods may do that."

"Thanks for the information. Now, if you excuse us! We must head back to the surface as quickly as possible before everything is destroyed!" Sonic said

"We must invade the Holy City before the sacred lance is complete. There, we need to confirm the Lion King's intent."

"The Atlas Institute does not want people to leave. I thought I've explained this to you?" Holmes said

"Then we will force our way out!" Sonic said

Sonic grabs Mash and Sanzang before speeding out of the Atlas Institute. A few moments later, he returns by himself, grabs Touta and Bedivere by the wrist, and speeds off with them soon after.

"See you soon, creepy stalker!" Sonic shouted


*Outside*

"Hey! The dusty wind finally settled. Glad we finally made it out there in time." Sonic said

"Most likely because it was directly above the Atlas Institute. This region does not belong to the Sun King, after all." Mash replied

"Now's not the time to celebrate. We have company." Touta said

"*Notices Lancelot* Sir Lancelot! Master, we're surrounded!" Mash shouted

"I finally caught up to you, Blue animal. There is nowhere to run. Surrender. We have no more time to waste on you. We will not hesitate to kill you if you choose to resist." Lancelot said

"*Pulls Out His Sword And Gets Into A Stance* Sorry, but that's not going to happen. Besides, how did you get here so fast?" Sonic asks

"That is none of your business. Surrender!"

"Sonic, please stand back. It was a matter of time until we met up a failure of one of the Knights of the Round Table." Bedivere said

"However, before we even start starting fighting. We now know the truth about everything. Why not we speak first before we start fighting?" Sonic asks

"Th-That is an excellent point. It seems I let the blood rush to my head, as well. The Knights of the Round Table all believe in the King, but that does not mean they know what the lance represents." Bedivere said

"Yes. If they are following the Lion King without understanding the role of the lance, it makes sense that they would be convinced."

"Sir Lancelot. Before we fight, I have a question for you. Do you know what the lance is? What the Lion King is after?" Bedivere said

"What?"

"The Holy City is no ideal city. That is the Tower at the Ends of the World. It gathers the ideal humans and places them in a cage. And when that is realized, this entire area will disappear. What the Lion King is doing goes beyond what humans must do." Bedivere asks

"To think I would be told this even after finally reaching you." Lancelot shock

"It seems like even the Knights of the Round Table weren't informed about the lance." Mash thought

"I did not expect you to know so much. I suppose that means those over there are privy to the same information? All the more reason I cannot let you escape. You would only spread fear where it is not needed." Lancelot said

"*Blocks Lancelot's Attack* You knew of the sacred lance, yet you still serve the King!? Have you any idea what he intends to do?" Bedivere said

"We of the Round Table tolerate no disloyalty to the King! When the city has enough human souls, the doors to the Tower at the Ends of the World will open. This is what the Lion King announced as soon as he summoned us. And we decided to obey. Based on his ideals, we slaughtered the Crusaders and decided to become enemies to all in this era. We have done this even knowing that what the King does is inhuman! To continue this debate, you must put your life on the line." Lancelot said

"*Notices Mash Raging As She Blocks Lancelot's Attack* Mash? What's going on? Snap out of it!" Sonic confuse

"AAAARGH!" Mash shouted

"Whoa!"

"What?!"

"Milady?!"

"You were able to stop my Arondight? No. This shield, this presence. Don't tell me you're!"

"Furious! Although he is no longer within me, I'm sure he feels the same! Sir Lancelot! Stop this nonsense! I'm disgusted! How can you possibly take pride in yourself as a knight of King Arthur!? The only King Arthur that must prevail is the one in front of you! If this King of this world is wrong, then you fight!" Mash shouted.

"That disrespectful and rebellious tone. That hair that covers one eye."

"No more words, Sir Lancelot! No, I challenge you to a duel once more!" Mash shouted

"Mash?! What's gotten into you?!" Sonic shock

"Rest assured, Your Majesty! I will not lose to this person! This shield, this armor, this burning heart. They all belong to you as well! Because! *Armor Transform*."

"What the?!"

"Fooou!"

"Milady! No, Sir Mash! Y-You, look just like!'

"I am Mash Kyrielight. My True Name as a Heroic Spirit is Galahad! With this flesh and bone, I have been granted. I will purge the filth from the proud Knights of the Round!" Mash shouted

Mash then lunges towards Lancelot and hits him with her shield full force, throwing him several feet back. She then jumps right at Lancelot and slams her shiled down at him but Lancelot quickly gets out the way and attempts to counter by attacking with sword attacks but mash blocks each attack and kicks Lancelot away from her. She then jumps right at Lancelot and performs an overhead axe kick that knocks Lancelot down onto the sand. She then slams her shield down into Lancelot and causes him to fly straight into the air, jumps above him and slams him with her shiled back down onto the ground that causes a massive explosion and shockwave soon after. Once the dust cleared out. Lancelot slolwy gets back from the ground. Not until Mash appears and punches Lancelot in the face and sends him rolling on the ground a few meters and lying motionless on the floor for a while.

"The attack is so strong it reaches the core of my body," Lancelot said

"Now do you see, Sir Lancelot? If you don't understand after this, I'll smash you with my castle!" Mash shouted

"-Castle?!"

"-Castle?!"

"I fought a Knight of the Round Table and was defeated. I can no longer call myself a knight of the King. This doesn't clear away my foolishness, and I have lost my reason to fight you all." Lancelot said

"Man, so much for wanting to defeat us in the first place," Sonic said

"Finally, you've come to your senses. Any way you look, you were fighting reluctantly, after all."

"Galahad and Lancelot are related Sanzang. I don't even want to think about the two other Knights under the same name I met before." Sonic replied

"No, not quite, Sonic. Galahad seemed like a father only when he was a child. Galahad's Spirit Origin wants to make that known. In reality, the relationship between Sir Lancelot and Sir Galahad was not very good. Isn't that right, Dad?" Mash asks

"I'm sorry, calling me that is bad for my heart. I will die from shock if I'm not ready for it. Also, I heard everything you have done in the past Blue creature. Please accept my apologies for doing such horrendous actions." Lancelot said

"I forgive you, Lancelot. Deep down inside your heart, I knew that you didn't mean to cause trouble for everyone. You just had to follow that monster's order." Sonic replied

"Now, what do we do, Sonic? Capture Sir Lancelot and enter the Holy City, or entrust him to the mountain people? That is an option as well."

"Hey, Lancelot. You're welcome to join our site from now to the end. I will gladly accept you. Also, have you seen Da Vinci?" Sonic asks

"You're looking for a friend, huh? Sure, I want to show you something. A certain place. If I disappear, all knowledge of it will be lost. My unit will escort you. From here, it is only half a day's travel." Lancelot replied


*At A Campsite*

A few hours later, the group arrives at a campsite with tents built around the area.

"A campground!? In a place like this!?" Mash surprised

"It's full of people! Mountain people, desert people, and even people from the Holy Land!" Sanzang said

"You could even say this is a refugee village!" Touta said

"Ah, it seems you also cared for the innocent people. I admire your work!" Sonic said

"You gave the refugees shelter here?! Bedivere shock

"There was no choice but to send those the Holy Selection chose to the Holy City. I was free to do as I wished with those who weren't chosen. The King didn't order me to execute them. There were quite a few knights who disobeyed the King. There also needs to be a place for them. In short, my private army." Lancelot said

"Fascinating," Sonic said

"This is serious treason, Lancelot! But it's fantastic! Come on, Mash, let him have it!" Saznang said

"Excuse me, Sir Sonic. Good-for-nothing! Loser! Although this is something, it almost doesn't suit you, deadbeat Dad!" Mash shouted

"Yep, that's my best friend right there," Sonic commented

"I told you, please stop calling me that."

"Well, just when I was wondering what all the commotion was! I see you've finally arrived! It sure kept me waiting! Nice to see you again, Sonic and Mash! I heard both your incredible work around the Singularity. Why don't we all celebrate not only a reunion but for saving Thousands of lives!" Da Vinci replied

"-Da Vinci!"

"-Da Vinci!"

Sonic and Mash ran up to Da Vinci and hugged her while Da Vinic returned the favor.

"You missed me that much, huh? Well, that's what friends are for, right? Thanks for the reunion hugs, by the way." Da Vinci replied

"*Appears* Ah, good, finally connected. It seems like you've returned from the desert zone. I see Da Vinci there as well. Yup, all is right in the world. Wait, Da Vinciiiiiiiiii!? You mean she lived through being all by herself?!" Romani shock

"Well, I can't miss seeing Sonic here fix this Singularity. When I return, I'll start building machines capable of using Chaos Emeralds." Da Vinci said

"Machines that can be powered up with the Emeralds? Edison and Tesla would be excited about those. This reminds me, I need to find the Sixth Chaos Emerald in this place. It's been several days, and still no sight of it. But I'll deal with that right now. More importantly, how did you find Da Vinci in the first place?" Sonic asks

"From far away, it looked like a beautiful woman, so in the spur of the moment," Lancelot replied

"..."

"Hahaha, that's Lancelot for you. Anything for beautiful women." Bedivere said

"I just see Da Vinci as my best friend. Nothing else." Sonic commented

"Wait, Sonic, did you find out the True Name of the Heroic Spirit that fused with Mash!?" Romani asks

"Yes, we did! We confirmed the name of the Heroic Spirit, lending me their power and the true nature of the Lion King's sacred lance. I'm sending information about the lance now." Mash replied

"The truth about the sacred lance, eh? Now that sounds interesting! I'd like to know the details of things up until now, as I was stuck here and everything. I've only been able to stand up like this for a few days. Before this, I was confined to my bed. I suppose I did hear about your exploits from him, though. Don't worry, Sonic. I told you everything and am now on good terms with you." Da Vinci said

"Hey, there, animal. We've met once before, haven't we?" Saruhan asks

"Wait, you're the one who ran away from me when you spotted me!" Sonic replied

"That's the one. Don't worry. I understand you aren't some random talking animal here to kill us and here to save us." Saruhan said

"Similar to you, Sonic, I had Saruhan assist the refugees fleeing in the opposite direction to us. He's a first-class thief. Sometime after that, he couldn't look after them anymore, so he pushed the refugees here. From then on, I had him look into the state of the wastelands. He did some hard work for very little money." Da Vinci explained

"You were quite the nuisance, though. But, well, there's no replacement for Ms. Da Vinci's wisdom. Her skills in the wastelands proved to be a precious resource. Like finding a water source and digging a well in a day, I thought she was a goddess of salvation." Saruhan said

"That's Da Vinci, alright! Always there when you need her!" Sonic said

"*Notices Sonic Sword* Oh my, Sonic, it seems your sword has gotten an upgrade. Something tells me you're ready to challenge our enemies." Da Vinci said

"Trust me, Mash, and I have been through quite the adventure while you were gone," Sonic replied


*Later*

"*Finishes Explaining Everything* And that's the truth about the sacred lance," Mash said

"The point of Holy Selection is to select humans. Those who won't stray from the path of righteousness no matter what kind of evil has invaded their hearts. To gather people of Lawful-Good alignment into the Holy City Camelot, absorb Camelot into Rhongomyniad. It is creating a space colony that can continue to exist no matter what kind of isolation it is in. In which case, it would be able to withstand the King of Mages' incineration. That's the Lion King's goal, yes?" Da Vinci said

"That's right. All of us believed that ideal was righteous." Lancelot replied

"Bedivere, you can say it. Lancelot was wrong." Sanzang said

"I don't want to attack him while he's down," Bedivere replied

"You're so kind. I like that kind of person. The Lion King had the wrong idea. It's not good to take people's choices away from them. But all of the Knights of the Round Table accepted that idea at the cost of their identity. That's because they believed in the past King Arthur. However, the current King Arthur is no longer the same. Right? Why did King Arthur become the Lion King?" Sanzang asks

"Don't worry. I know why Arthur became the Lion King." Sonic said

"You do?!" Mash asks

"Nope! *Winks Eye*."

"..."

"Anyway, When we were summoned, the king was already in that form. There's also no indication that His Majesty's heart was invaded by the one you call the King of Mages. Some knights disobeyed, saying he had gone mad. But really, there was no reason for him to do so." Lancelot said

"I mean, the current King Arthur doesn't even have any sense of reason, to begin with." Da Vinci said

" Are you calling His Majesty a puppet!? One that Agravain controls!?" Lancelot said

"Saruhan mentioned something about him. About how Agravain took over the merchant's guild and lined his own pockets while using his role as a royal aide as cover. Regardless of what Agravain was thinking, I can explain why King Arthur became the Lion King. She is no longer human, no longer a Heroic Spirit. Her existence changed from holding onto the sacred lance for too long." Da Vinci explained

"She changed?"

"She was initially a legend born on this earth, but she became one that sits in the heavens through the sacred lance. If she had any sense of typical reason, she would focus on improving life in the ideal city she aimed to build. She didn't choose that. She didn't even think of that. She turned down all human happiness. She honestly believed this. The result was the Holy City. Indeed a god's perspective. That is what I meant by having no sense of reason." Da Vinci explained

"That's completely different than the King Arthur stories I read about. It's like some type of bootleg I would've discovered inside Egghead's lab." Sonic said

"So the King Arthur who manifested in this Singularity is."

"A Divine Spirit. But why! Why did it turn out that way? King Arthur was trying to bring peace to Britain and happiness to all its people. Why did the King of Knights turn out like that!?" Lancelot upset

"We'll talk about King Arthur's transformation later. Not only was that era already in ruins, but building a human world without humanity? If that's the case, even if we beat Solomon and prevent his machinations, the history of humankind will be a mess. The Holy City Camelot will be cancerous even after humanity is restored. Whatever happens, we have to stop the Lion King." Romani said

"And we're going to take her down. Once and for all!" Sonic said

"As Senpai said, we're going to take down the Lion King. Even if we are in our last breaths." Mash said

"Sir Lancelot, you received a Gift from the Lion King, didn't you? You will be burned away if you turn your sword on the king. The moment they accepted their Gifts, the Knights of the Round Table lost their ability to turn on the king."

"That mighty skeleton guy said he would come to the battlefield, but that alone wouldn't be enough to beat the Lion King's armies. The difference in the forces is too significant. Attacking as we are now would be suicide." Sanzang said

"We don't have the forces to attack the Holy City. But no one else has the strength left to help us." Bedivere said

"*Throws His Sword In Front Of The Group And Get's Stuck Into The Sand* Did you forget about this bad boy? Remember the battles with the other Knights? This sword is telling me that it can also fight the Lion King." Sonic said

"Wh-What? Sonic, what are you talking about?" Bedivere said

"My trusty sword is capable of fighting everything! No matter the strength of its opponent, it still challenges them in battle. But that's not all, though. Remember that Sun King guy we met a while ago?" Sonic asks

"King Ozymandias! That's it, Senpai! What if you asked the Sun King to help us?!" Mash replied

"There's no way! That haughty king would never come to our aid!" Bedivere said

"Trust me, guys, I dealt with Kings before and fought them on my own. So coming to terms with them is my type of job to do." Sonic replied

"You are quite the strange little creature, Mr. Sonic. If we give him our terms, Ozymandias will help us. He would not turn down something to his benefit. He only sides with whoever can win. We'll tell him directly that there is value in fighting alongside us. Besides, you all heard about Sonic and pushing the Knights away from villages. He's practically the one getting everyone together to fight against the Holy City." Lancelot replied


*The Next Day*

The group was ready to head out to Ozymandias's place and negotiate with him on joining Sonic's side in the fight against the Holy City.

"Okay, we're ready to cross the desert. The group consists of you, Mash, Sanzang, Touta, Sir Lancelot, and his elite followers." Da Vinci said

"Sounds good to me, but where the heck is Bedivere?" Sonic asks

"I asked him to contact the mountain people. I had him go to the eastern village a little earlier. He already knows Hassan of the Cursed Arm, so that should be appropriate?" Da Vinci replied

"That's good. Bedivere will have a good rest. You've got quite a good eye for judgment, Da Vinci." Touta said

"Don't praise me as a genius for obvious things. You're also quite the Servant."

"Bedivere will let Hassan know that we'll be joining forces with the Sun King, but Hassan is hostile towards the Sun King, so I worry about whether or not he'll accept it," Mash said

"Don't worry, Mash. They'll understand it once they find out that I was the one that requested this." Sonic replied

"All right. I'm going to go, too, Ms. Da Vinci." Saruhan said

"Sir Lancelot, 40 Raider Knights are prepared for battle."

"Very good. The remaining knights will stay here and await information from Bedivere. If the mountain people accept our invitation, the forces here will move to the hidden valley near the Holy City and stand by." Lancelot said

"Alright, now everyone is ready to go! Let's get going, team!" Sonic said

"Mash! Let's board the new and improved ornithopter! It's been reborn! A land, sea, and air universal mode of transport for four people, complete with thrusters and canards! All powered by a single blue fur from Sonic. Capable of reaching speeds like him! Behold... the Bastinyan!" Da Vinci said

"Wait, did you say it's powered by a single fur of mine? So you're asking for a race, huh? Using my powers against me, huh?" Sonic said

"Winner gets a month-long supply of chili dogs." Da Vinci said

"You're on!"


*Later*

Sonic and Da Vinci were racing each other to see who could reach Ozymandias's Temple first. He and the vehicles were neck and neck as the two weren't planning to lose while Mash, Sanzang, and Touta were all in the passenger seats with seatbelts buckled in tightly.

"Woohooooo! Come on, Da Vinci! Show Sonic you can beat him in his own game!' Sanzang shouted

"D-Da Vinci, please stop! This is too much to handle! Besides, we're leaving everyone behind!" Mash shouted

"Ooooo boy, I never realized how fast Sonic can run." Da Vinci said

"*Running Beside The Vehicle* Ha! I have been running for my entire life! Even using my speed against me, you'll never be able to have control with such speed!" Sonic said

"You're being cocky again, Sonic!" Mash shouted

As they continue to race one another. The group noticed a purple wall of monsters getting closer to them. Sonic takes out his sword and slashes each beast in front of them, opening for him and the vehicle to pass through. Sonic cuts every monster until all of them are taken care of and continue with their journey.


*Night Time*

"We finally arrive at the great temple! As you can see, in preparation for tomorrow's battle, everyone is asleep. Thanks for all your hard work, Sonic." Da Vinci said

"Hey, I should be thanking you as well! You also helped out while we were separated for a while." Sonic replied

"Yes. If it has increased my appeal, I suppose it was worth it. Well, incidentally, I did have something else. By the way, Sonic. Are you hiding something from all of us here?" Da Vinci asks

"What do you mean by that?"

"It involves around your sword. I know you keep saying that's just an average sword that happens to Rayshift alongside you, but It's deeper than that. So, can I Kindly ask you what you are hiding?" Da Vinci said

"...So, you wanna know, huh? *Silent For A Moment* It's been long enough since I kept it a secret. But now it's finally time I finally reveal it. *Looks At His Sword And Takes A Deep Breath* This sword is name Caliburn. What you see here is King Arthur's sword. I pulled it out like how the original story went by. I traveled through the land of Camelot and defeated the Knights of The Round Table and a fake King Arthur. Something similar that's happening here as well. After doing all that, I was told I was worthy of the crown and became the famous King himself. I didn't ask for it initially, but it happened nevertheless." Sonic said

"Are you serious, Sonic? Please don't tell me..." Da Vinci shock

"That is correct, Da Vinci. Not only that, I'm just a hedgehog from another world. I am... King Arthur. I am King Arthur from another world with Caliburn in my hand. I am here to take down the Lion King and save the people of Camelot from disaster. That is something the true King Arthur would do." Sonic replied

"No way. All this time, you were King Arthur secretly and kept it to yourself this whole time. You could've told me secretly, and I would've stayed silent about it." Da Vinci said

"I mentioned it before when I first arrived here. I'm sorry, Da Vinci. I was going to keep it a secret even after we completed this Singularity, but you convinced me to reveal it. So, there you have it. I am King Arthur from another world. I know now till the last time we see each other that you will see me as King Arthur, right?" Sonic said

"*Places Hand On Sonic's Gauntlet Hand* Sonic, to me. You are the fastest Hedgehog alive, and you will always be that. Just because you told me that you are King Arthur doesn't mean I will not change my opinion of you. You are still my best friend and always will be. No matter who you are, King Arthur or not. You will always be Sonic The Hedgehog to me!" Da Vinci said

"*Smiles As Both Hugged Each Other* Glad we became best friends since the beginning. I feel a lot better knowing that I finally revealed everything. Don't worry, as I, King Arthur, will save this Camelot and let the people of this land return to how they were. Happy and living without constant fear." Sonic said

"Just what the real King Arthur would do."

"Now, since I finally revealed who I am regarding Camelot. I wanna talk about Roman." Sonic said

"Ah, you read my mind. Well, care to explain everything about him?"

*Sonic Talks With Da Vinci About Everything On Romani*

"I didn't know that either. I was summoned to Chaldea much later. I only met the previous director very briefly. Near the end of that year, Marisbury died. I didn't know about the relationship between Romani and the former director. Speaking of which, a Heroic Spirit was summoned into Mash shortly before my summoning. At that time, Mash's condition worsened, and the former director asked Romani for help. Romani learned of Heroic Spirit possession experiments at that time and seemed to regret his foolishness. He had been in Chaldea for years but never realized that that section existed. Of course, I was shocked, too. Then angry. I wished I had never been summoned to Chaldea." Da Vinci said

"Why did you decide to stay in Chaldea? Way before I even arrived?" Sonic asks

"Well, there's a chance that Heroic Spirit summoning could disappear in the future, and I had a scientific curiosity, so I couldn't turn it down. However, ever since you arrived and hundreds of hours studying the Chaos Emeralds. Heroic Spirit summoning will continue on. As you said before, Chaos Emerald grants the user the ability of anything based on their thoughts. If you consider calling a Heroic spirit, that thought will become a reality. However, the biggest reason was Romani. Romani is only human. He experiences various emotions when dealing with challenges. He possesses more than ordinary gifts, but he's not a genius to surpass others. That person was carrying humanity on his back and becoming desperate. Romani didn't know why he would have to do such a thing. That's why I chose to stay in Chaldea. The point is I couldn't turn my back on Romani. He even cried at one end to me when you saved Olga from that incident. He said that without you saving the Director, Chaldea wouldn't be the same if humanity were to save Humanity. And that he owes you so much for what you did and doesn't know how to repay you yet. And to be honest, I'm happy that the outcome happen. We owe you a lot for keeping the Director of Chaldea. I'm sure she will immensely thank you once she wakes up and help you and the Servants move forward." Da Vinci replied

"Can't wait for Olga to wake up once the last two Emeralds have been secured. Anyway, I know he's hiding something from us. I'm guessing you know about it as well." Sonic said

"He is holding a trump card. I will tell you that. He's secretly holding onto a means to grant one wish. But he's too scared to even think about it. If he uses it, he'll disappear. That's why he can't use it." Da Vinci replied

"Well, guess what, Da Vinci. Roman isn't going anywhere when I'm around. I won't let him use the trump card that will kill him. Trust me. He isn't going anywhere anytime soon." Sonic said

"That's what I to hear from you, Sonic. Romani will still be your ally until the very end." Da Vinci said

"Not just an ally. A friend." Sonic replied


*Great Temple, The Next Day*

"*Preparing Sword* Alright, it's now or never, team!" Sonic said

"Da Vinci, just to be safe, what was the message?" Mash asks

"We're gonna ask you to join our cause, so be ready when we come get you!" Da Vinci replied

"So much for a peaceful negotiation." Sonic said

"There's movement! A group of guardian beasts is storming out the temple as the gates open! All hands, prepare for battle! Just as planned, we will meet Ozymandias' forces head-on! The time has come! Let us show them a single knight can rival the strength of a hundred soldiers!" Lancelot shouted

"Okay, we'll count on Sir Lancelot to deal with their armies. Are you ready, Sonic?! *Winks*" Da Vinci said

"I'm always ready! Now then, let's go!" Sonic shouted

"Right! Let's break through the guardian beasts and make King Ozymandias grant us an audience!" Mash said


*Inside*

"Look's like that Blue creature has reurned while leading an army. Insolent fool. I cannot be angry at this creature and his insolent fools 't that right, Nitocris? Wouldn't you say your repeated assistance to them has proven amusing?" Ozamandias said

"That was not my intention. My sincerest apologies, Pharaoh Ozymandias." Nitocris replied

"This is rather amusing, it shall not be counted as your failure. To think my guardian star would dwindle on the eve of our confrontation with the Lion King. It seems my judgment was clouded as I took the Holy Grail so rashly. Until now, everyone has been fighting over this Holy Grail. Even after they were made aware of the fact that their world and future would be incinerated. Nay, perhaps that only deepened their desire. Even after they become Heroic Spirits, a hero is capable of great sins. My intention was to seal the Grail, but doing so also sealed away my freedom." Ozymandis said

"Heroic Spirits are greedy beings, but you, and only you, are different from the others. A pharaoh who was more prosperous than anyone on this earth. You alone have not sought after the Grail." Nitocris said

"Prosperity alone cannot erase the greed in my , are you not a pharaoh as well? You, the incarnation of the sky god, Horus. If you want, I can give you the Grail. Well, how about it? It's not too late. You are already a Heroic Spirit. Using the Grail to turn into the real Horus might not be so bad." Ozymandia replied

"I am far too immature to be a pharaoh. Hence, I shall not refer to myself as one in front of you. The Holy Grail belongs to you. I am content to be but a guardian of the mirror to the underworld." Nitocris said

"I admire your loyalty. Perhaps a queen like you does not need power, but a friend. Very well. Talking with you has relieved some of my , Pharaoh Nitocris. Sever that weakness residing in your heart." Ozyamandias said


*With Soinc And The Others*

Sonic and the Servants were running as fast as they towards the throne room to meet up with Ozymandias once again.

"Come on! I still remember where the throne room is! Will soon be there!" Sonic said

"What's the matter Sanzang? You've got a gloomy look on your face." Touta said

"I got a bad feeling the moment we entered the temple. This grand temple feels just like the Lion King's Holy City. I know this place will be a shelter, too. King Ozymandias has the same means as the Lion King. With this grand temple he can probably do the same thing as the Holy City." Sanzang said

"The likes of the Lion King are of no concern to us. Light of Judgment? What a joke! No matter how many times the Lion King throws his sacred lance at us, I will be the very shield that protects this temple!" Nitocris said

"*Skids On The Floor And Aims Caliburn At Nitocris* We meet again Nitocris." Sonic said

"Yes, it has been a while since I last saw you, Sonic. How admirable that you've returned to this grand temple. I should praise you for keeping that promise. However, that also means you must be prepared for a trial. It is time to display your strength. I cannot allow voices of the weak to reach the ears of King Ozymandias." Nitocris replied

"I've been waiting for this moment ever since we first met each other. Bring it on!" Sonic said

"O mirror of underworld, O warriors from the forgotten and ruined world! Nitocris orders you! Return this once to the present world!"

Moments later, Sonic lunges at Nitocris and unleashes a series of several strong sword attacks in different angles of her body, dealing massive damage and leaving scratch marks around her. Sonic then finishes his attack with a downwards slash that knocks Nitocris away a few feet. Soon after, Nitocris regains her balance as she taps her staff on the floor and summoning mummies underneath the five. Mash quickly jumps over the mummies and slams her shield downwards onto the mummies, curshing them and knocking them back down. Da Vinci fires ice from her gauntlet that freezes them completely and throws a string punch soon after with her giant gauntlet that breaks the mummy into pieces. Nitocris summon more mummies and bugs to disrupt the group but Sonic wasn't having it this time as he dodges each attack from Nitocris, as well as jumpiing over the mummies as well. Soon enough, he reaches and slashes Nitocris's staff in half, making it useless for her to use it now. Sonic then charges up his sword and slashes Nitocris multiple times, swinging with a powerful and cuaisng massive damaher to her. As he was attacking Nitocris, Sanzang and Mash both lunge in as well as Sanzang hits Nitocris in the face with the palm of her hand whilst Mash kick's Nitocris in the stomach and throws her straigh towards the wall, hitting it and falling down soon after. Touta aims his bow towards Nitocris and fires several arrows towards her and puncturing her in arms and legs as blood slowly flows down her body.

"Truly the skill of a seasoned warrior. Certainly worthy of an audience with the king. Please forgive me, O Sun King. It seems I'm not strong enough to call myself a pharaoh. *Falls Onto The Ground*" Nitocris said

"Sorry Nitocris. Please forgive us but we had to do this for a good reason." Sonic said

"Okay, let's head to the throne, further into the inner citadel, for the confrontation with King Ozymandias!"


*At the Throne*

"So you bested Nitocris. Good. I congratulate you. State your business, Hedgehog. Are you here to leave me your head, or to beg for mercy? I will allow either of those. I will kill you however you want." Ozymandias said

"We sent a message ealrier but from the looks of it. You don't care joining our side, don't you?" Sonic asks

"Hahahahahahahahahaha! To think that I cannot see through the truth and lies! If I must burn you alive to stop my laughter then that is what I shall do, but I forgive you. Yes, I shall forgive you! How long has it been since I've laughed this much!?"

"Well, I hope you enjoyed your little laughing time." Sonic replied

"Xuanzang Sanzang. The woman who crossed my Egypt without permission. It seems you have something to say to me. Fine. In return for that great feat, I will allow your question."

"I didn't enter the grand temple, but I have been a guest at many other oases and temples. There, I've listened to stories told by many people from this nation: stories of a cold-blooded and narcissistic king, and yet a king that rationally protects his people. You're different from the Lion King. You prioritize the lives of your people. Because you know that is the best way for a country to prosper. Because you think that is the duty of a king. Except, you are going to abandon that duty. You say you don't know imagination, right? You realized that if you were to fight the Lion King, you would both fall. That's why you wouldn't fight. You can't beat the Lion King, so you are trying to lock your country's people in this temple!" Sanzang said

"Fool, what would come of joining in this nonsense with no hope of victory! What would happen when we defeat the Lion King? Through the Incineration of Humanity, the world will be burned away. If that's the case, it's pointless to defeat only the Lion King."

"Enough is enough! For both you and the Lion King! You're just as selfish as Wukong!"

"Wukong... From Journey to the West!? Isn't he a monkey!?"

"Now that you mention it, you two look like each other. You done interrupting me? You see, the end of the world is knocking on your door! You've been saying "I'll protect my people, I'll protect my people," but isn't that just the same as the Lion King!? Pharaoh Ozymandias is the strongest in all of Egypt, right!? Then show me how great you are. Instead of "I'll protect my people," try saying "I'll protect this world!" You're the real fool!" Sanzang shouted

"Haha. Hahaha. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! To protect the world!? You are asking me to protect the world!? The shameful world of humans!? What I protect is the law of the gods! In the end, you claim I am merely protecting my own subjects!? This prominent king is once again a tyrant that needs to be defeated. As such, were I in any era, any world, I would have reigned as your enemy. Pharaoh Ozymandias cannot save the world. The reason being I am the king on the side that rules and intimidates. At the very least, I want to kill you more than anything right now! For that reason, I am saying I will give you that opportunity. *Cuts Himself As The Blood Pours Into The Holy Grail*"

"King Ozymandias cut himself and is pouring the blood into the Grail..."

"Oh, and he just drank it down in one gulp!"

"*Transform Into A Demon God Pillar* I am one of the seventy-two. I am the Demon God Amon... Nay, you shall call me by my True Name. The proper god enshrined and worshipped in this temple! The name is the Great God Amun-Ra!"

"Amun-Ra was one of the gods with the highest level of divinity! It's impossible to manifest something with that level of divinity to this world! However, it's a different story if you grant that name to a Demon God Pillar! Although it's temporary, that's a true Divine Spirit... A monster that far exceeds that of a Demon God Pillar!" Da Vinci said

"*Looks At His Sword* You ready? This is what brought us together again. *Sword Glares Light Off It's Blade* Okay, let's do this!"

Moments later, Sonic charges towards the Demon God Pillar and unleashes a serioes of strong sword slashes, leaving scratch marks in different angles of its body. Mash jumps right at the God Pillar and slams her shield at one of the eyes of the pillars, casuinsg it to crack. Touta aims his bow at the Pillar and fires several arrows at each eye of the Pillar, all sticking into them and causing damage at the Pillar. Da Vinci fires her gaunlet towards the Demon God Pillar and hitting directly at an eye of the Pillar. As the group battle the Demon God Pillar, it counters back by unleashing an explosion around which forced everyone to jump away from it. The Demon Pillar attacks again by unleashing more explosions around them and towards the group as well. Mash blocks it with Da Vinci behind her, Touta and Sanzang both quickly dodge the explosions whilst Sonic hones towards the Demon God Pillar and unleash a series of fast but powerful sword attacks around the Demon Pillar, leaving cuts around it and injurying it around. The Demon Pillar attempts to attack Sonic but blocks the explosion wth his and continues to attack it, dealing massive damage. Touta lunges towards the Demon Pillar and slahses it several times with his sword whilst Sanzang attacks it with the palm of her hands very fast and dealing good dmage towards it.

"Meryamun... Usermaatre! *Heals Itself*"

"The enemy Demon God Pillar won't disappear! The damaged parts regenerate immediately!"

"No way!" Sonic shouted

"The great temple complex must be supplying an infinite amount of magical energy to Amun-Ra. Perhaps this is what King Ozymandias is saving for his final battle with the Lion King." Da Vinci said

"Admiration is nice, but we can't win at this rate! That thing over there won't go down easily!"

"I must apologize to you, King Ozymandias. That was bad of me just now. And that's why I'm going to get serious now. If you'd go so far as becoming an ugly monster, then I must answer your resolve. This skill... I sealed it away after the Buddha got angry in Tianzhu. He told me to stop, told me I was abusing its use. But now... Pratityasamutpada! These merits, skills, and the teachings of the Buddha are honed by the Five Elements Mountain! The time has come to unleash the Buddha Palm! Now, I will save this entire world! Sonic!"

"Got it!"

Sonic and Sanzang both grab hold onto the sword's grip as it begins to charge up. Moments later, the blade of the sword turns golden as both Sonic and Sanzang lunge towards the Demon God Pillar and unleashing a fiery combo of sword strikes towards the Demon Pillar, causing massive damage towards it. Finally, they pulled back the sword from the Pillar and unleahsed a final strike that causes the Demon Pillar to explode from the immense power of the sword. Known as Calibrun. Soon, everything turns bright as the Demon Pillar vanishes away.

"AA...AAaaAAAAAA!"

"The Demon God Pillar has been terminated! But, isn't this..."

"Oops, did I got too far!? Whoa whoa whoa, um... King Ozymandias!?"

"I'll be honest with you Sonic. That sword of yours is far more powerful then what it looks. It actually hurts a little." Ozymandias said

"Yea, it's not my first time battling gods. In fact, this is the several time I fought a god and still came out victorious." Sonic replied

"I see. Just with that statement alone. You passed my qualifications." Ozymandias said

"Excuse me what now?" Sonic confuse

"Wait what?!" Sanzang shock

"Huh?!" Mash shock

"Pharaoh! Are you alright? I thought I saw something strange." Nitocris said

"Nitocris, is that you? I'm glad you're here! This creature stated he's battle gods before. Coming out victorious each time. Which has shown me that he is brave enough to fight side by side with and face the Lion King. *Sits On His Throne* You've demonstrated your strength, Sonic. As such, I mustn't treat you lightly, either. I was so fixated on planning for the future that I chose the safest route. I was determined, but at the same time, narrow-minded. Hmph... Perhaps because I acquired this Grail without much thought, I was obsessed with things I normally would not care about. Your reward. Take it. *Hands Over The Holy Grail To Sonic* You are a unique Master then any other Master that ever existed. You deserve it for going through many tasks and still coming on top. Even a simple Rodent like can still defeat Gods. How fitting. But, this era is different from other Singularities. Humanity will not be restored just by obtaining the Holy Grail." Ozymandias said

"We're aware of it. Unless we can stop the Lion King's sacred lance, this era's disturbance will never disappear. King Ozymandias. You gave up your trump card, the Holy Grail. Does that mean you will cooperate with our capture of the Holy City?" Da Vinci asks

"Don't make me say it out loud, lady of beauty. I have already told the guardian beasts outside to stand down. I'll lend you my Divine Beast Corps. I'd demonstrate my own strength on the battlefield as well, but. I'll likely have to attend to something else. You go capture the Holy City on your own."

"You mean the army of sphinxes outside!? That's this nation's strongest unit! Thank you, King Ozymandias! Although it's a shame you won't be joining us!" Sanzang thanking him

"Alright Sun God. Will be heading out. Thanks for the helping hand." Sonic said


*Outside*

"Then, King Ozymandias, your forces will march in from the west of the Holy City. We will be arriving at the Holy City four days from now, in the morning. We'll march through the night until we get to the wastelands near the Holy City, then march in at the break of dawn. Remember, whatever you do." Lancelot said

"My Divine Beast Corps will arrive on time. Leave the castle's west wall diversion to me. I'll send our beast trainers along with you. Discuss the particulars of the plan with them along the way." Ozymandias replied

"Thank you."

"Focus on hurrying back home. Even with swift horses, it will be difficult to reach the mountainous region in only three days. I'm lending you my precious divine beasts. Don't let them go to waste, will you?" Ozymandias said


*A Few Days Later*

After walking through the desert, Sonic and the group finally made thir way back to the Eastern Village where the Hassans and Bedivere were waiting for him. Everyone all cheered once they all arrived safe and sound.

"Welcome home, we were waiting for you. Requesting King Ozymandias's cooperation, We heard it went better then expected. When I first heard you were going to talk to the king, I couldn't believe it." Bedivere said

"Once you met Kings in the past before. It's easier to negotiate with them." Sonic replied

"Glad to have you back, everyone. As you can see, our preparations are almost complete." Cursed Arm said

"Wow, to think that everyone is ready to fight for what good puts a smile on my face." Sonic replied

"We're all collaborating on the capture of the Holy City. We've gathered eight thousand. Since then, two thousand people from within the Holy City have risen up behind the scenes to endorse our revolt as well." Serenity said

"We should be able to make that up with Lancelot and Ozymandias' forces, thanks to you." Hundred Personas said

"With the help of everyone. The war against the Holy City will be a piece of cake!" Sonic replied

"Ten people turned to thirty. Thirty turned to sixty. They kept doubling like that. Even though nothing we said could ever convince them before. It was, "Someone helped me at the Wailing Wall," "Someone helped us escape from the Holy City," Honestly...this is why I will never understand the human mind. It's obvious for us Old Men of the Mountain to help the mountain people. That's why no one even questions it." Hundred Personas said

"Alright leader. We'll head into the wastelands, assemble the forces scattered there, and head toward the Holy City." Cursed Arm said

"Together as a team. Nothing can stop us!" Sonic said

"Mr. Sonic and I will lead the way. The terrain in the wastelands has blind spots that will not be noticed by patrols. But that is only until we get to the city itself. There are no hiding places in the wastelands surrounding the Holy City." Lancelot said

"Aye. Therefore, we will take our final rest further out, then aim for the Holy City under the cover of night. I hope we reach the city while it's still dark, but we have an army of nearly ten thousand, and few horses. It will likely be dawn by the time we're close enough to see the city. And they will then be able to see us. The Lion King's forces will notice our advance, and strengthen their defenses. We will break through this, and force our way into the Holy City grounds. With our allied forces, we will gain control over the Holy City, and take down the king's castle. After that, I want you to take over, Sonic." Cursed Arm said

"Killing the Lion King will be our role?" Bedivere asks

"Aye. The Lion King is a Servant. We cannot compete with him, no matter how many soldiers we use. Even if we Old Men of the Mountain gather together, our blades will not reach the Lion King's throat." Cursed Arm said

"*Raises Caliburn* Your blades might not finish the King. But this sword will!" Sonic said


*Night Time*

"Lalalaaa... gaaateee... lalaaa... paaaraaagaateeee!"

"Seems like your writing our journey that happened." Sonic said

"Oh, Sonic. I didn't expect to see you here. I'm doing my daily writing. I'm making note of what happened today in a scroll. One day this will be "Monk Sanzang's Tortuous Travels," the hundred-volume set, stored in Chalde...no, the temple." Sanzang said

"I'm sure people will find that amusing." Sonic replied

"Huh? R-Really? I hope thet'll like it. Here, come on. Sit next to me. It's a bit scary, but the view from this cliff is beautiful." Sanzang said

"Sure thing. *Sits Next To Sanzang* So, Sanzang. Are you ready for tomorrow's final battle?" Sonic asks

"I'm roarin' and ready to go! Come to think of it, Mash and I had this sort of discussion once, too. I didn't know much about the Lion King or King Ozymandias. I couldn't decide whose side to take, which side was correct. That's why I decided to take your guys' side. Because you were the easiest to understand, Sonic." Sanzang replied

"That's pretty understandable. Besides, we're just a bunch of normal people after all. It's like how everyone sees me with my old friends as well." Sonic said

"I see. That's wonderful to hear!"

"..."

"Sonic? People aren't all equal, but they all have a path to the Buddha. They all have possibility. I won't approve a way of life that plucks off those blossoms. Because, if they say there's no need for me because I keep screwing up, I'll never become a Buddha!" Sanzang said

"That's just you, Sanzang." Sonic replied

"Yeah, so leave it to me! I've got some special Buddhist punishments up my sleeve to make sure the Lion King sees the light! Also, can I you something else. I don't why but I feel like I met you before even all of this happen. Don't you feel the same way?" Sanzang asks

"Well Sanzang, that's something for you to think about. *Winks*" Sonic replied


*Later*

"Humph. Easy on the liquor, Hundred Personas." Cursed Arm said

"What, I'm just getting started! It's all Touta's fault. He's got some good stuff!"

"Hahaha. Hundred Personas is a chatty drinker, isn't she? On the other hand, Serenity is..."

"Master Sonic... Please don't ever leave me worrying again. I thought for sure I wasn't going to see you again." Serenity drunk

"Hey. I wasn't going to let anything get in my way. No matter what." Sonic replied

"If you are telling the truth. Then follow me to the mountains. Just the two of us." Serenity said

"Wait what?"

"..."

"Ah. Looks like something good has happened. You look as calm as ever." Cursed Arm said

"Yes. I witnessed a wonderful thing just now. It's as if I've gained another treasure."

"Oh? That sounds very interesting indeed. Would you mind sharing with me, too?"

"...Um, Hassan? You're an Old Man of the Mountain of this era, right?" Mash said

"Huh? It was so long ago, I'm afraid I can't recall. Either way, I'm sure it has nothing to do with the me who's assumed this mask. But, I am the Hassan-i Sabbah of this era. When we cut down the Lion King and the Holy Land is returned to normal. The other Hassans will probably leave this world, but I will be left in this era. In that case, I won't have anything else to do. I'll look after the mountain people's lives for a while." Cursed Arm replied

"Oh! Where is the beauty? Where is the passion? It's our last night, and we're spending it in this stuffy tactical meeting!" Da Vinci said

"I am afraid you must overlook that. Someone needs to be aware of the overall movements of each unit. I was looking forward to Touta's dinner as well. But please, you must give it up." Lancelot replied

"Fine, fine. I do owe you for helping me out before. Da Vinci will keep Sir Lancelot company. By the way, how are we getting through the main gates? Wanna blast it with my Noble Phantasm?" Da Vinci asks

"Camelot's main gates cannot be broken so easily. Those gates render ill-intentioned attacks and evil powers ineffective. Even a sacred sword with the highest firepower would not make a dent."

"Then, should we ignore the main gates?"

"We will build a scaffold and climb over the walls into the castle. That is the most realistic plan. King Ozymandias' divine beasts will be attacking from the western side of the Holy City as well. Even if we cannot break through the front gates, it will be ideal to knock down a portion of the wall. If the Holy City is the Lion King's sacred lance itself, even knocking down the castle wall won't go so easily, I'd think." Lancelot said

"Yes, I wonder what the Raider Knights will do? What about Mordred's units?"

"My units will handle that. Mordred's knights are not so proficient. Attacking head-on once or twice should clean them up. Then we will also assist in scaling the wall."

"Sonic and I will wait near the catsle wall. We'll wait for your arrival while protecting the allied forces. Once we get inside, we'll head straight for the king's castle. There'll be nothing left to fear, except maybe the Knights of the Round Table. Those still stuck in the Holy City are Sir Tristan and Sir Agravain. It'll be battle after battle, but we'll just have to manage." Da Vinci said

"Agravain, hm? That man for certain will be aware of what we are up to. The allied forces of the mountain, desert, and Holy Land peoples have grown exponentially. It is not something we can keep hidden. Yet, there has been no developments by the Holy City. He has not told the Lion King about the existence of the allied forces. He must be planning to use us to weaken the Lion King's power. The one I should put to death is that man. Without that man, the Lion King would not have gone insane!" Lancelot replied

"Hmm. I'm not sure you're right about that. If Agravain was really only acting out of his own self-interest, I don't think it would've come to this. The Holy City would've become an over-compartmentalized bureaucracy, full of useless functions that we could've used to our advantage. There are no power-hungry members. And because it's such an unbelievable city, it can't ever be brought down from the inside. I see Consul Agravain's deep-seated hatred in this." Da Vinci said


*With Mash And Bedivere*

"Sorry to interrupt, but have you seen Sonic? I heard Sonic was by the rocky mountains with Serenity." Mash asks

"Uu...gh... Aaaaaahhhhh! W-What is it? Sonic isn't here." Bedivere said

"I guess not, sorry. Um, I'll try looking over there, so... I haven't seen anything, so!"

"Sorry that you had to see me like this. Forgive me, milady? I'm afraid I will only be adding shame to shame, but... won't you sit down? I had something I wanted to ask you." Bedivere said

"Sure. Then, please allow me to join you, Sir Bedivere."

"Everything is tomorrow, is it not? Are you all right, milady?"

"Yes, we're fully prepared. Are you, Sir Bedivere... Er, does your body ache? Was that from pain, just now?" Mash asks

"No. I have been allowed plenty of rest, so my body is in good health. I am used to physical pain. Besides, it has been years since I lost sensation in my body. I was crying out of fear just now. I am not very strong mentally, you understand.I was so scared, that I couldn't muster the courage to raise my face. So I was purging my fear here, where no one would see." Bedivere replied

"You're...scared? I wouldn't have thought so. I'm afraid of combat too, but... You're so used to it, Sir Bedivere. I didn't think you had any fear."

"I do not fear combat. I am just afraid of my actions. Whether I am doing what is right, or not. Perhaps I am doing wrong. That is what frightens me unbearably. I am scared out of my wits about my own decision."

"You're scared of meeting the Lion King, aren't you?" Mash said

"That's exactly it. I came here and became terrified of the Lion King. Milady, you are also a Knight of the Round Table. Do you not also have doubts within your body? Are you not, like me... terrified of confronting King Arthur?" Bedivere asks

"I'm also scared of facing the Lion King. Will I be able to fight... Will I be able to come to Senpai's aid? But, even more than that, I want to believe in that trust. I want to cherish that miracle."

"A miracle?"

"I died once. There was a terrible explosion, and rubble came falling down... and I lost all feeling in the lower half of my body. I knew I wouldn't last another two minutes. I could calculate it exactly. ...To be honest, it was terrifying. Because when I thought about what I could do with the little time I had left, I knew there was nothing. I had someone who held my hand. Inside those flames, I had someone who helped me. Of course, it was impossible to save me. That person was clearly aware of that, too. Because of me, that person would end up dying, too. So that I wouldn't feel that way, that person smiled and held my hand. That person couldn't change the fact that I would die before their eyes. Then, until that final moment, that person believed that comforting me was the best thing to do. I know now. The person Heroic Spirit Galahad approved of wasn't only me. He trusted that Senpai and I... He believed in the goodness of humans, that could do such acts. That is why I fight, even if I'm afraid. For that beautiful moment I witnessed, I fight. For thanks to that wonderful miracle, I am still alive." Mash said

"So that's what happened. I apologize from the bottom of my heart, milady. What a terrible insult, to say that you and I are the same."

"N-No, it's not an insult or anything... I, too, struggle to be like you, Bedivere. Unlike Senpai who's battle tougher opponents then his own size. I'm still scared, and..."

"When I heard you were a Demi-Servant, I thought you were the same as me. That you and I were both a "counterfeit." That we both felt scarcely allowed to breathe." Bedivere said

"A counterfeit?"

"It's just a metaphor. Because my Noble Phantasm is an imitation, a fake. I am without a doubt Bedivere, Knight of the Round Table. Even if I sometimes wish I weren't. I committed a crime. An unforgiveable crime, at that. I came all this way. I have sacrificed many things for is what happened this time as well. I left Sonic in the desert. It was more important for me to head for the Holy City than to bother with your distressed circumstances. And I did the same thing at the gates of the Holy City. To meet the king, I hid my face with my robe, and continued to look down. When the Holy Selection was about to begin. All I heard was sword clanging into one another and hearing many people escape from the incident. I didn't raise my face at that. All I was thinking of at that time was how to invade the Holy City. An unknown Hedgehog and a girl knight fighting the knights to let everyone was something I should have done. At least, the old me would have done the same. After all this traveling, how pitiful have I become? Irritated by such thoughts, I blindly swung my sword. I need not remind you what happened next. I joined you and the the Hedgehog himself, Sonic The Hedgehog. I didn't cooperate with you for your sakes. I only used you, for my own purposes. There's no way that I can call myself the same as you. That is what I have been living for all this time. Yet now, near the end, I am afraid of death. When I thought about that, I was so afraid I couldn't stand. I am terrified of a meaningless ending." Bedivere said

"It won't be meaningless. There's no way. There's no way the ending of this journey you sought will be meaningless, Sir Bedivere. Because you must've been able to end it whenever you liked. But you didn't. No matter how difficult and terrifying it was, you've come this far. That's why... I'm sure there'll be a meaning to the end of this journey. A final salvation that measures up to the long path you've walked." Mash said

"No, if you believe so. Then I will do my best to make it so. I cannot lose to a younger knight, after all."

"I just meant, um... I got all fired up, and. Sorry... pretending like I know better. I haven't even mastered my Noble Phantasm." Mash said

"Mash. Your Noble Phantasm's true nature is to protect people. But are you not mistaking it as one that "blocks attacks"? Focus your mind on the people you should be protecting, rather than repelling the enemy's attacks. That is your shield's, no, a Knight of the Round Table's true nature. That is the path, not to the fake Camelot built on that Holy Land, But the path to the real pure white castle that will never crumble."

"White Castle?"


To Be Continued


"Next Time: Camelot (Part 5.)" Sonic As The Narrator