NOVEL WEB Chapter 150: Invincible
[Before entering the enemy Magus Riflemen's firing range, you used your homemade Magic Garment: the Ruyi Magic Ban Directory for the second time.]
[This Directory can ban up to three categories of spellcraft, permanently. Any ability or device involving mana—be it magic, sorcery, curses, miracles, or even naturally powered magical tools—cannot function if its rules involve mana.]
[You designated "ranged attack spellcraft" as the banned category.]
[Usage: 2/3.]
In fact, Artoria had initially considered banning only wind-based acceleration spells, since the captured Magus Rifles she'd seen after defeating Woodworth relied on a simple wind-acceleration array. If she disabled just those, their own forces could still use ranged spells. However, recalling her encounter with Gawain in Oxford, she sensed his firearms differed from the ordinary "Spirit Void" techniques. To be safe, she chose the broader ban—despite significantly weakening her side's spellpower, it would at least neutralize Gawain's feared long-range strikes. And this was only the first layer of protection: if the battle were forced into close quarters, they still had plans to regain advantage. Every preparation aimed to constrain that seemingly flawless, overwhelmingly powerful opponent. Perhaps this could bridge the gap between them.
[Your ranged ban successfully disabled the Magus Riflemen under Tristan's command: they can no longer rain fire from the walls.]
[Seizing the shaken defenders, Nocnarei's giant troops swiftly breach the walls.]
[Gareth, Percival, and Redra lead one vanguard force; Lancelot leads another, and from both flanks they surge into Norwich.]
[Though the city cavalry charged first, they collapsed quickly against the giants' overwhelming strength.]
[After awaiting allied reinforcements, you jointly encircle the Treasury City.]
[Since the walls had been shattered earlier by the Shade of Calamity, you breached the Treasury City without much effort and engaged its knights in fierce combat.]
[In the mêlée, Percival slew the Queen's Knight Jackbar.]
"Jackbar… truly a rout."
Gawain read the battle reports in silence, then turned to Aster—his long-serving knight—and issued orders:
"All units, fall back to a concentrated defense. Don't disperse across the Treasury City; focus on protecting Banwenxi. Abandon the front hall and withdraw inside."
"If we stay scattered, we only present targets for the enemy's elite. Now, tightening our lines may at least buy more resistance." He flipped his odd bone-handled blade in the ground, adding calmly:
"I alone can hold this."
"No—My lord! Let me fight! I fear no death…"
Aster began, but Gawain waved him off:
"Don't worry about trivialities. None of it matters now." He shook his head:
"I am invincible. Leave it to me; reduce needless casualties—every life spared is something."
"Or do you believe I could lose?" Gawain glanced at Aster with rising menace.
"I—dare not," Aster replied, shivering under that murderous gaze.
"By the way, you were close with Jackbar, yes?" Gawain asked.
"Yes."
"Understood. I will avenge him. Stand down."
"Aye." Aster bowed deeply. "May my lord's fortunes be blessed."
Watching Aster depart to rally the other knights, Gawain murmured:
"May your fortunes be blessed… Funny, I recall every story where someone says that line ends badly for them." He shook his head wryly. "Always jinxing me."
Yet it didn't matter. As he said: he was invincible. If some simple curse or omen could make him lose, then he wouldn't deserve that title. He rose from the throne, decided not to remain standing, and instead sat down in Spriggan's old seat in the hall. He stuck his sword into the floor by his side, draped his long, untrimmed hair over his shoulders, and tapped his fingers lightly on his knee, eyes dark.
When Artoria burst into the hall first, she saw this Gawain: more somber and feral than before, and an almost tangible aura of killing intent pressing down on her chest, leaving her breathless.
"So you've arrived?" Gawain nodded slightly, fingers still tapping the hilt, and said in a measured tone:
"Let's begin."
"Wait! Gawain!" Artoria called out, seeing him reach for his sword. "I came first because—before we fight, there are things I must say to you!"
Gawain, amused, paused his motion. After a few beats, he nodded: "…Speak."
"Gawain, I know you're amazing—almost unbeatable in Britain now. But everyone is united against you! You cannot win if you carry on this way!" Artoria raised her voice.
"If you're under coercion by Tristan, or hiding some painful secret—turn back!"
"If some curse binds you, I can dispel it. Tell me its nature, and I'll nullify it!"
"If you're poisoned or wounded, I have a remedy to heal you instantly!"
But Gawain did not choose the response she hoped. Instead, after two seconds of laughter, he broke into hearty guffaws, leaving Artoria bewildered. He managed to steady himself, wiping a tear of mirth:
"…I thought you'd have some grand revelation. Instead, you only offer this?"
"Is it wrong?" Artoria asked, confused.
"Banwenxi is forcing me? Ha, that's the greatest joke." Gawain chuckled. "Artoria, look under my seat: who sits here?"
"This…this is the lord's throne of the hall?" she replied.
"Yes, the high seat of Norwich," he said. "And guess who sits here—not Banwenxi or Tristan."
Artoria's face turned pale as realization dawned. Gawain continued plainly:
"All decisions in Banwenxi's realm have always been mine, not hers."
"Impossible…" Artoria staggered backward, white-faced: "Then all those massacres across the territories…"
"They were my orders," Gawain stated calmly. "Fairies are too troublesome. I tested them: I protected the few good ones, and slaughtered the rest."
"Oh… I see. You even ordered the abductions in Norwich—kidnapping some acceptable fairies to protect them."
"Yes. Thanks to you, fewer kind fairies died when Norwich fell to calamity."
"How…how could you?" Artoria backed away, horrified. Yet she grasped for a lifeline: "But you did kill some good fairies by mistake! Like Mike the innkeeper in Salisbury—plus others whose hearts I sensed were benevolent. You didn't slay only the bad ones."
"Mike… right, I remember him. I felt he might be good… so I regret it." Gawain's expression flickered briefly, then hardened:
"And? So what?"
"You must have felt sorrow when you learned you'd killed good fairies!"
"Sorrow? A little, yes—for those noble fairies mistakenly slain. But that's unavoidable." Gawain shook his head:
"I did my best to filter them, but mistakes happen. When groups act, individuals may be swept into choices against their true hearts. Errors are inevitable. But how else? Did I deny them choice? Was it my fault if they erred?"
He advanced a step, and Artoria retreated:
"Most fairies are beasts; after filtering, the chance of a good one among the slain was maybe one in a hundred. Should I spare that one and let the ninety-nine beasts live?"
"Have you considered how many humans and fairies would die at the hands of those beasts in the future? If Fairy Britain remained a spawn of nine parts evil to one part good, how many tragedies would ensue?"
He drew his blade fully, stepping forward, his presence oppressive:
"My principle is clear: better to kill wrongly than to let evil roam. I bear this sin."
"But…" Artoria tried to protest.
"Enough talk. On the battlefield, be prepared to slay." Gawain pointed his sword at her:
"And remember: you know I'm invincible, don't you? So what right do you have to believe you have even the slightest chance of victory?"
Artoria's heart pounded. She realized there was no turning him back. Gawain had fully embraced the path of ruthless purging, convinced it was necessary—and believed himself unbeatable. Now she must face that truth and fight with unwavering resolve, even hopeless as it seemed.