The Sun Also Rises

I really have to Percival and this gun this time; otherwise, it would have taken a lot of effort to get out of there.

"..."

The Lion King gazed at the figure gradually emerging from the pristine white world, a complex mix of emotions and a sigh flickering in his eyes.

Compared to everything that had happened before, she was truly surprised by Rovey this time.

There is someone.

There was actually someone who walked out of the Avalon she built with divine power and the Tower of the End.

This is theoretically impossible.

After all, who doesn't have regrets in their life, and who doesn't have regrets they want to make up for?

The Avalon she created directly impacted the soul, making it more real than Merlin's illusions and impossible to escape, because it was a world constructed by exploiting the deepest desires and wishes of others' souls.

No one can escape it, because it is the world that the person under the spell longs for most.

This is what is known as the Avalon world, or what is called paradise.

There was once a person who attained enlightenment from the mundane world and reached the Mari of the world. Such a person is a transcendent being, an existence detached from this world.

And that is the Buddha.

A truly enlightened person.

No one else can escape it.

Even if it were another version of himself who had traveled for over a thousand years, such as Rameses II or Gilgamesh, it would be difficult for him to break free from his obsession or regret.

But.

Today, there is such a person, someone who has not truly achieved enlightenment, who, although Child of God, still possesses the seven emotions and six desires of humanity, and who has dreams, has emerged from her Tower of the End.

He was not an enlightened person, nor a Buddha or Bodhisattva, but just a normal human being, a human being with normal desires.

This is truly unbelievable.

After all, he had transcended his own desires, a feat that even gods would find difficult to achieve, yet he had truly accomplished this final step.

An existence between humans and gods...

Perhaps you are more suited to be the Heaven's Wedge than Gilgamesh.

You are more suited to be the chosen king than King Solomon.

If you were to connect humanity and divinity, perhaps the Age of Gods in this world would never end, and there would be no so-called doomsday.

Unfortunately, it was all too late.

"The Tower of the End..."

Standing on the pure white earth, Rovey gazed at the tower that buried humanity's last tombstone and the souls stored within it, and sighed helplessly.

This Tower of the End is the final cemetery where the entire world is buried, and since it is a cemetery, there must be a Gravekeeper.

At this moment, the Lion King, after being rejected by Rovey once again, also felt helpless and bewildered by his irrationality.

"Child of God, the world has reached its end, and you have entered the final realm. Now that you have attained enlightenment and reached the final realm, why continue to rush headlong into the end of this storm, trying to correct everything at the cost of your soul and body? The world always tends towards destruction, and now you are about to inherit your father's legacy, achieve true immortality, transcend this world, and become an observer. This is the more reasonable choice for you."

The Lion King questioned Rovey was no longer in the mood to communicate with this seemingly emotionless goddess whose methods were actually incredibly cunning.

First, the outer shell of the Holy Lance blocked them, then the light of the Tower of the End tried to forcibly absorb them, seemingly indifferent to everything.

However, the Lion King in front of him would not hesitate to use the most effective and efficient methods.

"I have not transcended, much less reached the great state of final enlightenment. I have never regarded myself as a god, so I cannot think from your perspective of indifference."

"Besides—I have no intention of being a savior. If possible, this kind of exhausting, life-or-death situation, where the boss above just watches without helping, is more suitable for Emiya Shirou or Emiya Kiritsugu, who are righteous partners. I just want peace of mind, to make myself feel more at ease in this utterly messed-up world."

Rovey gripped the Holy Lance tightly in his hand and pulled it out of the pierced chest, seemingly sensing a special power within it.

The divine blood that pierced his chest had stained his entire clothes red, and even the gold ring he wore around his neck emitted an extremely dazzling light at that moment.

"If I could, I really wouldn't want to be this tired. Do you think I've fought my way from the Holy Grail War all the way to Jerusalem for months just because I wanted to? The hardships I've endured along the way are far greater than the journey to the West. If I could give up so easily, I would have done so long ago."

"My ideal is really simple: to buy a big enough house in London with the person I love, live happily together, and grow old slowly. I also want to have a few children, preferably daughters, so that when I'm old, I can sit with them and tell them the stories I've experienced. Until I can live a peaceful and normal life."

Rovey said, extremely displeased—

"But even if the sky falls, there has to be a tall person to hold it up, and unfortunately, I am that so-called tall person. I don't want to mention those distant apocalypses, the Steel Earth, Moon Coral for now. Just the Humanity Incineration and Human Order Freezing reason, which are right here, and your Holy Lance setting sail, are making me so worried that I can't sleep."

"People live for peace of mind. I came this far so that I could have peace of mind, and so that my journey with my loved ones wouldn't be suddenly destroyed! What do you think I did it for? Was it for the self-satisfaction of being a savior? Or to achieve self-greatness by saving others?!"

Rovey's questioning voice echoed in the Lion King's ears.

"I understand now. You are neither a god nor a human being at this moment. Even though you have taken the step of enlightenment and have the qualifications to become a god, your obsession has always bound you, which makes it difficult for you to become a true Holy Spirit."

"Is it a deep obsession? Perhaps, but I really have no interest in becoming a god. My original purpose was simply to exploit the power of the Christianity for free. I never thought of reaching the end of the ladder to godhood. I will not abandon my human side to become a god like you. So I will always be myself. That is the difference between you and me."

The Lion King was not the original god, but rather someone who obtained the power of the Holy Lance for some reason. Even after becoming a god, she still retained human consciousness and desires.

However, over the course of ten, a hundred, and a thousand years, the Holy Lance slowly and steadily wore down the Lion King's "human" side, completely assimilating her into the Storm God of the Wild Hunt is today.

As time relentlessly erodes, past glories and beliefs vanish completely, leaving not even a trace. The original desire ultimately condenses into something utterly simple—

Protect Camelot, and create a kingdom that will never exist or perish.

Then it gradually evolved into—

[To ensure the survival of humanity in its own way.]

"But that is your destiny; you are destined to be separated from the humans you walk with."

The Lion King's tone seemed to have changed somewhat.

"Heh, what do you, a mere Holy Lance Spirit, have to talk to me about destiny? Sorry, I've never believed in that—whether I'm the Emperor of War or the Benevolent Dark Emperor, it doesn't prove anything. On the contrary, your so-called destiny is wavering at this moment."

"--What's the meaning."

Rovey raised a finger and said with a smile, "The reason you haven't set sail yet, but instead have been talking to me so much, isn't it because you also yearn for change and want to see my answer?"

"In your heart, perhaps in a place you yourself are unaware of, you are also rejecting what you call reality and beginning to doubt yourself, which is why you are so eager to gain my approval."

"—What pointless speculation are you spouting now, Child of God?"

A slight wavering appeared in the Lion King's eyes.

"This isn't just wild speculation; it's based on reason and evidence. If you only wanted to set sail, you should have activated it as soon as possible during the brief period when the light of the Tower of the End controlled me, instead of engaging in meaningless communication with me here. And you should have let me reach your final tombstone and witness all of this. In the end, you're just afraid, afraid of the coming end, so you want to see if I can provide a new answer. After all, this isn't the ending you, as 'King Arthur,' desired."

"But I am the Lion King, the Storm Goddess, a deity who will do everything in my power to ensure the continuation of humanity."

"Then why are you discussing my actions? Are you trying to persuade me to understand you, or to make me give up and agree with your approach, or perhaps—"

Rovey slowly uttered his final answer, "You want me to stop you, who already understands there's no turning back and can only convey your message in this way?"

"--Shut up!"

The Lion King raised his Holy Lance and unleashed a blinding light upon him, but Rovey raised his arm and used his other Holy Lance to shatter the Lion King's attack without hesitation.

He opened his eyes, and two different colors of light slowly converged in his eyes, bursting forth with a power no weaker than that of the gods of this world.

This was his last remaining asset in coming here to oppose them.

After being silent for so long and talking for so long, he wasn't doing nothing; he simply communicated with the Lion King heart to heart.

After all, all Artoria species share the same flaw, which is—

Stubborn, inflexible, and single-minded.

Ordinary talk therapy is completely meaningless; special methods must be used to awaken the mind.

"Ten seconds."

Rovey suddenly narrowed his eyes and then uttered a number.

In an instant, the Lion King felt a chill and instinctively took a step back.

Ten seconds?

What does that mean?

Is it time to fight?

"No need to guess."

A malicious smile spread across Rovey's face.

"Ten seconds from now, you will definitely die, or the Lion King will disappear."

"—!"

"Alright, philosophical questions are over, my muddle-headed goddess. Now, let me learn from a certain genius and personally infuse some new emotions into your empty soul."

"--you!"

The Lion King's eyes widened slightly.

The gold and blue scabbard fell heavily to the ground.

"See you later then, my silly goddess, Ciao~"

Rovey clutched his chest, a triumphant smile spreading across his face.

Boom—!!

A dull, deafening roar echoed in their ears, followed by a torrent of blood-red liquid that surged forth, shattering the pristine white world and engulfing Rovey and the Lion King.

Chapter 220 The Sun Also Rises

Where should the story begin?

According to this book...

After the Battle of Camlann, King Arthur personally killed the mastermind behind the final blow to Britannia —her son, Mordred. But as the price, Mordred also left her with an irreparable and severe wound, forever robbing her of the light that would never fade, just like Britannia itself.

On her deathbed, the Knights of the Round Table who guarded King Arthur was not the powerful Sun Knight Gawain, or her closest sworn brother Kay, but the gentlest, yet also the weakest, among the Round Table members: Bedivere.

In the true history, the Round Table fell apart because of Lancelot and Guinevere's affair. Mordred's rebellion made the destruction of Britannia irreversible. Although the dying King Arthur had lost Avalon to protect him, he could still cling to life with the sword Excalibur, a gift from the Lady of the Lake. However, in the moment of shattered dreams, he entrusted the sword—which had accompanied him from a naive young girl to a virtuous Lord— to Bedivere, hoping he would end it all and return the sword to the Lady of the Lake.

However, the great tree of history branches out in many directions, one of which is that Bedivere could not bear to see the king die, so he kept the holy sword hidden and did not throw it into the lake. He knew that the holy sword in his hand was not an ordinary object or weapon, but a life-sustaining device for King Arthur.

First time, second time, third time...

Three times, Bedivere lied and claimed that he had already thrown the sword into the lake. Three times, King Arthur simply called to Bedivere in a low voice, telling him to do what he was supposed to do.

In the correct historical account, Bedivere successfully returned the sword in his third act, ending the king's life. However, in this branch of history, Bedivere never made up his mind to take King Arthur's life, which became an act he would forever regret.

When he returned for the fourth time, there was no fourth time. As Bedivere hesitated, deciding to continue hiding the truth, King Arthur's figure had already disappeared from the Serenity forest.

Unable to return the holy sword, the King of Britannia, forever tormented and unable to find peace, could only take up the Holy Lance. Caught between conflicting desires, he gradually merged with Europe folklore, and from this flawed branch of development, a storm god known as the Wild Hunt was born.

It was only then that Bedivere, holding the Excalibur, realized the grave mistake he had made. But when he returned to the Lake of the Spirits, the fairy had already left, the lake had dried up completely, the holy sword in his hand could never be returned, and he had lost all trace of King Arthur.

Unlike Rovey, Bedivere was on the same branch as Artoria and traveled across the land for eighty years, Bedivere in this ending was trapped in the pain and nightmares that plagued him throughout his life.

Unable to return the Holy Sword, Bedivere could only begin his relentless search—

Return the holy sword to the queen, so that she may find liberation and peace.

This was Bedivere's last unwavering belief while he was still in human form.

Thus, Camelot's gentlest "Silver-Armed Knight" disappeared, replaced by an unnamed man who wielded a holy sword, was immortal yet feared to live, more fragile than anyone else, but also stronger than anyone else.

The passage of time and the erosion of the Holy Lance gradually assimilated the Lion King's already crumbling faith, which was weakened by the fall of Camelot. He gradually forgot all the sincere emotions he once had for humanity, leaving only the cold will of the gods.

The passage of time and the erosion of the holy sword caused Bedivere to be controlled by the obsession with "atonement with his own hands." Unlike the Lion King, he did not assimilate with the holy sword and become an extreme god of the holy sword. He could not attain that indifference and transcendence. Although Bedivere obtained an immortal body, he was plagued by self-blame and exhaustion for more than a thousand years.

Over the same long period of time, the endless life made him fear death for everyone he loved. He was terrified of "death" after returning the Holy Sword, and he was so trembling that he could no longer make a sound.

Even so, his determination to atone for his sins and his loyalty as a knight compelled him to continue onward, resolutely choosing the path of redemption in order to return the holy sword to King Arthur.

Finally, in the final stage, with Merlin's help, he crossed the barrier and arrived in this world where the Lion King existed, where he met King Arthur, whom he had wronged. At this moment, the other party no longer bore any trace of the King Arthur in either his personality or actions.

He was in agony and conflicted. Even now, Bedivere still lacked the courage to meet the Lion King he had been searching for for over a thousand years, and he had no face to confront Lion King.

After all, it was he who had stripped King Arthur of her right to die, turned her into this state, and instigated the infighting among the Knights of the Round Table. Furthermore, his own life would end when he returned the holy sword.

However, while Bedivere trembled, struggled, suffered, and feared...

That familiar blond figure appeared in his world.

"King..."