Fate: Hero Simulator

[3rd POV]

"The sword or the sheath?"

Artoria had already passed the fairies' trials, but before she could take the holy sword, the Lady of the Lake, Vivian, asked her a question.

The sword is the violence that clears all obstacles, and the sheath is the determination to protect everything.

Artoria understood that regardless of her choice, both the sword and the sheath would ultimately be entrusted to her. 

However, she still had to answer the question.

"Without the sword, I cannot protect Britain, but by taking up the sword, I cannot embrace Britain."

Artoria reached for the Holy Sword.

She needed to take it to get a chance of defeating Vortigern, and just as she was about to choose the sword, Kyouya's words echoed in her mind.

"Not human."

She hesitated.

Artoria pulled her hand back. 

She remembered Kyouya's words and decided to reconsider her choice. She decides to think like a human, not a god.

The greed, selfishness, narrow-minded… she wants to lower her perspective from the godly perspective. 

This time, she wants to think from the perspective of a single person.

After understanding the crisis of the Age of Gods and realizing that the people she sought to protect will inevitably die, how should she choose, not as King Arthur, but as herself, Artoria?

"I want both."

Artoria stretched out both hands, taking the sword and the sheath together. 

This not only surprised Vivian but even Merlin was taken aback. He hadn't taught Artoria this kind of thinking.

"I believe I said you had to choose one." 

Vivian remarked.

"But I still choose both. I refuse to give up either the present or the future." 

Artoria replied firmly.

If the past cannot be changed, then the sheath represents the power to protect the present, and the sword represents the strength for the future.

Artoria wouldn't cling to the present, nor would she focus solely on the future.

She wanted both.

Silence.

The fairies were all silent. 

No one knew what Vivian, the Lady of the Lake, was thinking. Finally, she turned to Merlin and said:

"You've taught a good disciple."

...

[The once scattered resistance forces gradually united. You couldn't stop their unstoppable victories without you or Vortigern holding the front lines.]

[The stories of King Arthur began to spread in London. You learned she had obtained the Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake.]

[Even as the tide turned, you still didn't think you would lose.]

"Although I don't think I'll lose, Vortigern, don't you think you're rushing things a bit?"

Under the holy tree, Kyouya spoke as he looked at the falling leaves and wondered if the white dragon who had transformed into the tree could hear him.

If Vortigern hadn't transformed into a Holy Tree, they could have taken advantage of Arthur's absence and dealt with those troublesome knights one by one. 

This situation wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for a tree to hold them back.

"The Holy Sword is the only way to defeat me now. The others are just minor details, and the continuation of the Age of Gods depends on the fight between Arthur and me."

The falling leaves brought a message, and Vortigern's voice sounded in Kyouya's mind.

After months of silence, the White Dragon had finally regained some awareness.

"Or is it that you can't handle the combined strength of the other knights?"

"If not for your blessing, I really can't win."

He didn't deny that he wouldn't stand a chance against many knights in his normal state. 

After all, a single threefold stronger Gawain was a nightmare to deal with, not to mention powerful knights like Lancelot.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Lloyd. Remember, our victory or defeat doesn't matter. What truly matters is the rooting of the Holy Tree and the continuation of the Age of Gods."

"I understand."

The message carried by the falling leaves ended there. 

He could sense a trace of sorrow in it—a sadness born of abandoning everything to ensure the era continued.

This was not only the final manifestation of the Age of Gods' will but also Vortigern's emotions as a human.

Throughout his life, Vortigern had spent his life trying to continue the Age of Gods.

He became enemies with the people he was supposed to protect, fought against his brothers-in-arms, and went against the entire world.

In the end, the only one he could speak to was him, a stranger.

How ironic.

Along the way, Vortigern had sacrificed so much and could not afford to fail now. 

Even if it meant abandoning the advantage on the battlefield, he had to ensure the continuation of the Age of Gods.

"Then everything is left to you. I will block all enemies for you, except for King Arthur. You just need to kill Artorius."

Artorius was both a rival and a friend to him.

However, their positions were opposites, and their debts had to be settled. 

There was no mercy in battle. 

"Artorius, have you found your answer?"

Kyouya leaned against the Holy Tree, golden leaves falling around him. 

He hoped that the one who was seen to be the perfect king would truly live as a human, even just for once.

[You gave the order for passive defense and remained unmoved no matter how King Arthur's army advanced or conquered.]

[There were rumours began to spread throughout London, lowering your army's morale but you didn't care. As long as the Holy Tree grew, it would be your victory.]

[There are spreading rumors of the invincible Holy Sword in King Arthur's hand, causing morale to drop further.]

[The once vast territory of Britain, occupying two-thirds of the land, began to shrink drastically, and failure seemed close with each passing moment.]

[You asked Vortigern about the progress, and it seemed that the anchoring of the Age of Gods would be completed in just three days. During this time, it was up to you to delay the inevitable.]

...

"Merlin, how much time do we have left?"

"Artorius" looked at the giant tree that now covered all of London. 

If it continued growing like this, its roots would likely reach the Reverse Side of the World and draw energy from it.

"Three days. We must destroy that Holy Tree within three days."

Merlin looked at the tree in front of them and felt the situation was tricky.

If this tree were allowed to use the Reverse Side of the World as energy, the True Ether would return to the human world. 

At that point, it would rapidly accelerate the depletion of the Great Source and might even trigger predetermined events.

"Taking down London and burning that tree in three days? It's a bit difficult, but if we work together, we should be able to do it."

"Artorius" 

Kyouya thought who was guarding beneath the Holy Tree, and glanced at the knights around him, each with their own unique skills.

"Lloyd, I'm here to save you."

"Artorius" mounted his horse holding his sword, and looked at the city of London.

Behind him, the powerful knights—Gawain, Tristan, Lancelot, Agravain ... all famous knights gathered around him.

To be continued...

...

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