Fate: Hero Simulator

[You listen to the secret that Vortigern reveals, and you learn the truth behind the decline of the Age of Gods and Mystery."]

[You face a choice...]

"Is this the truth?"

Kyouya instinctively thought of it as a lie, but then he wondered why such a powerful person in front of him would want to lie to him.

He didn't know about the relationship between King Arthur and Kyouya, or else he would have pursued Artoria instead.

However, he still came to find him. This was a form of recognition for someone of his kind which is why he revealed the truth.

"Of course, if it weren't for this, why would I join forces with outsiders to invade the homeland I once protected? If it weren't for the continuation of my race, why would I go against the world?"

Vortigern had abandoned everything and was regarded as a traitor by everyone but he still chose to walk this path.

How could he not know that the young, somewhat famous knight, Lloyd, might be pretending to surrender? 

So what?

He didn't respect those Anglo-Saxon thieves, nor did those he had once protected recognize him.

He had carried too much on his shoulders, and now, facing a rare "kindred spirit," he finally opened his heart.

Even if the person before him truly betrayed him, it would only add one more enemy.

The world was almost all his enemy anyway, and he didn't care about one more.

"What will happen to us after the decline of the Age of Gods?"

"Naturally, we will die. The decline of the gods means that all things from the Age of Gods will vanish. Over these years, Britain hasn't seen many fantasy creatures, and even the resources have become shorter. In the end, we will all starve to death."

He spoke the harsh truth: the survivors of the Age of Gods didn't have the right to step onto the new ship of the era.

"Do you think Arthur is anything special? He's just an artificial creation made by my foolish brother and Merlin—an artificial son of the Red Dragon born to counter me. Do you think that borrowed ideals are enough to defeat me? That's ridiculous."

Kyouya could sense that this old king saw his rival as nothing more than a joke. 

At this moment, Vortigern was not just a man. He was the embodiment of an era, the last will of an entire era in one person.

"Knight Lloyd, I don't care if your loyalty is real or not, but if you have someone to protect, join my side."

He made his offer once again, but he didn't expect an immediate response from him. 

After leaving those words behind, he turned and walked away while Kyouya silently followed behind.

This wasn't about loyalty.

Kyouya was born into a knight family, but he never had an interest in becoming a knight.

He just understood that if he stood by and watched the decline of the gods happen, the people he knew and cared about would become casualties of the era.

That was a future he didn't want to see.

[You joined Vortigern's army, becoming an enemy of King Arthur. He placed great trust in you, and you quickly established your position in the army.]

[Your former friends are puzzled by the change, and even Artorius sent you a letter trying to convince you to return. You handed it to Vortigern to show your loyalty and then burned it completely.]

[Your actions earned you more admiration from him. He entrusted you with an army, and you acquired the talent "Charisma."]

["Charisma": You possess the ability to lead an army, and under your rule and the force of your will, your army will become significantly stronger.]

[The strict rules and violence bring order to your army, and compared to your forces, the other armies under Vortigern's command seem like mere bandits.]

[Your army worships your strength, follows your system, and unleashes overwhelming combat power. Vortigern's soldiers take pride in joining your ranks, and your name makes enemies grit their teeth as they call you "Vortigern's Blade."]

[You have gained a passive skill "Vortigern's Blade."]

["Vortigern's Blade": You are the strongest knight under the Usurper King Vortigern. You are the enemy of all Britain, and you gain a special attack effect against enemies of the British faction.]

...

"Vortigern's Blade?"

Although many people referred to him this way, Kyouya and Vortigern knew this was just a title people had started using.

They were comrades on the same battlefield with no real subordinate relationship.

However, this didn't stop the Britons from calling him a "lapdog" nor could they understand why a legendary holy sword, as clear as flowing water would choose such a person.

The Ryūka did not possess the nobility of the Sword in the Stone nor as unbreakable as the shining light of the Unfading Light of the Lake.

This sword represented something more ethereal; it symbolized clear, quiet courage.

"Clang~"

The swords clashed under the scorching sun. 

Gawain could feel the pure heart of the person before him with each strike. 

Why would someone like this help Vortigern to help the enemy?

"Lloyd, you are no match for me."

Gawain's grip tightened, and his Numeral of the Saint had activated under the blazing sun. 

Suddenly, he became a force few could rival in all of Britain when his strength tripled.

"Vortigern's Blade," Lloyd, while also a well-known knight, isn't someone Gawain could easily defeat under normal circumstances. 

However, in this threefold-enhanced state, Gawain believed himself to be invincible.

The swords clashed once again, and despite taking Gawain's full-force strike head-on, Kyouya coughed up a mouthful of blood.

He had voluntarily chosen to hold the line to protect his soldiers and buy them time to retreat.

Gawain admired this sacrifice, but he will soon regret this admiration.

[You are hit by Gawain's attack, and you feel that taking it head-on will surely result in defeat.]

[As a knight with honor, you desperately think of a way to break the situation.]

[You used "Blindfold Blood" to great effect. ]

"What?"

A gush of blood spilled from Kyouya's mouth, startling Gawain.

He had considered potential countermeasures but never imagined such a lowly tactic used by street thugs.

Gawain was caught off guard, and blood sprayed all over his face, making him temporarily lose his sight for a brief moment. 

This was the exact opening Kyouya had been waiting for.

"Flowing water doesn't rot, and a door hinge doesn't rust."

A greenish glow streaked across the holy sword, and Kyouya's blade flowed like water, continuously attacking and overwhelming the temporarily blinded Gawain.

"Do you still consider yourself a knight like this?"

Gawain raised the holy sword to protect his vital areas. Even under the scorching sun, he was still in his tripled state. 

He wouldn't lose if he didn't suffer a fatal blow.

"You struck me so hard, and now you don't even allow me to spit out a mouthful of blood?"

Kyouya didn't hold back, his blade flowing endlessly like a flowing river. 

However, that mouthful of blood couldn't be delayed for long.

Sure enough, Gawain unleashed his magic, evaporating the blood in an instant, and as he opened his eyes, and ready to teach him a lesson... 

"Fuck."

Even someone as elegant and kind as Gawain couldn't help but curse.

Kyouya swiftly swung his hand, throwing quicklime into the air which descended him back into darkness just as his vision had returned.

"Hmph~ Only an idiot would face you head-on."

To be continued...