Typemoon: Starting Out as the Lion King's Personal Knight

Gawain, ever the polite gentleman, urged Ritsuka Fujimaru and the others to calmly accept their fate and cease their resistance.

 Hearing Gawain's words, Mash's face twisted in pain—a sight that even made Gawain sigh.

"You too... Or should I say, your mindset is so weak that even Ritsuka Fujimaru would be disappointed. You do not see me as an enemy, so why did you come to the battlefield with such feeble resolve? You claim to have the determination to protect these rejects and children, and with hatred, you killed the Enforcement Knights."

"But you show no hostility toward me. Listen well: divine punishment is issued by me. This slaughter is sanctioned by me. The Enforcement Knights are nothing but machines carrying out orders. It is I who killed them."

"The one you should hate is me! If you can't even understand that, then stepping onto the battlefield is nothing but an insult to us!"

With a mighty swing, Gawain's sword crashed against Mash's shield, producing a thunderous roar!

 The impact forced Mash to let out a pained cry—

"This is the end. The weight of this shield is still too heavy for you to bear."

With a cold expression, Gawain raised his sword for a final strike, aiming at the powerless Mash.

Tap, tap!

 Just as Gawain's sword was about to fall—

A tall figure suddenly charged into the battlefield, positioning themselves between Gawain and Mash.

Clang!

 Though it was a collision between an arm and a sword, the sound that rang out was like the clash of steel. Sparks flew, signaling that this arm was no ordinary limb.

"You're the one who's too arrogant, Sir Gawain! Personal beliefs and battlefield conduct are two different matters—

 You have no right to criticize her resolve, especially not after you've fallen into darkness."

A calm, resolute voice echoed across the battlefield.

"What?! Why are you here!?"

Gawain instantly recognized the figure who had just appeared. It was none other than Bedivere, a fellow Knight of the Round Table who had refused the Lion King's call to appear in this world.

"It's you!"

Not only Gawain, but Ritsuka Fujimaru, Mash, and Da Vinci also recognized the figure. It was the mysterious knight who had previously appeared during the battles with Alaric and Tristan.

 Although Ritsuka didn't know his name, she still wanted to express her gratitude.

But before Ritsuka could speak—

"Impossible—impossible! Why are you here?!

 No, more importantly, Sir Bedivere, as a knight of the Round Table, do you intend to betray our King!?"

Gawain's furious question resounded across the battlefield, his anger so intense that he discarded his sword for a moment.

The Sword of Revolving Victory was unsheathed.

Confronting Bedivere, another knight of the Round Table, Gawain finally drew his sacred blade.

As Gawain prepared to strike, Bedivere charged forward without hesitation, shouting,

"Take my soul and go forth! Switch On - Airgetlám!"

A brilliant light erupted from Bedivere's arm—a radiance so dazzling that even the sun seemed dim in comparison.

The silver arm clashed head-on with the Sword of Revolving Victory, creating an earth-shaking roar!

"What?!"

Gawain staggered backward several steps, his face filled with shock.

"Did you just repel my Galatine? Is that arm truly the Arm of Nuada?"

It was daytime, and Gawain, empowered by his Saint's Numbers, never expected to be forced back by Bedivere. He was utterly baffled by the mysterious power of the silver arm.

"Ugh!"

However, just as Bedivere successfully repelled Gawain, the recoil from his own Noble Phantasm began to take its toll—

"Ah, so you finally showed yourself, Sir Bedivere—

 But you're still a step too late."

A faint whisper echoed from behind Bedivere as he activated his Noble Phantasm.

"Ugh!"

Unable to react in time, Bedivere felt the world spin as an overwhelming force struck him from behind.

 It was as though a giant dragon had slammed its full weight down on him.

The sudden assault left everyone in shock.

 Mash, still reeling from barely escaping Gawain's attack, watched in horror as the stranger who had saved her and Ritsuka was knocked to the ground by a single punch from Alaric, who then pressed Bedivere firmly into the dirt with a stomp.

"Eh?"

Mash, unable to understand Alaric's actions, tried to approach him to reason with him, but Ritsuka grabbed her hand.

"Don't go, Mash—"

Ritsuka's face was grim as she shook her head.

"Look for an opportunity to run, Mash."

Da Vinci, who had maintained a heavy expression throughout the battle, spoke in a grave tone,

"This is a fight we can't win. We have to find a way to escape!

 Otherwise, we'll be wiped out!"

While Ritsuka, Mash, and Da Vinci strategized, Alaric remained focused on Bedivere.

Alaric's gaze fell on Bedivere's silver arm—the limb forged from the once-holy sword Excalibur, granted to him by King Arthur.

The arm possessed two types of Noble Phantasm releases: the single-target "Switch On - Airgetlám: O Silver Arm, Take Up Thy Sword" and its true name release, which invoked Excalibur's divine power: "Dead End - Airgetlám: O Silver Arm, Flash."

Unlike counterfeit Noble Phantasms summoned by Heroic Spirits, Bedivere's Excalibur was the genuine article—a divine weapon forged by the planet itself. A holy sword that bore the name of the "Sword of the Star."

"A holy sword, huh..."

"You appeared once before, but why did you flee then?

 Oh well, it doesn't matter. No matter the reason, you're staying here now."

Before Bedivere could resist, Alaric pressed down harder, forcing him deeper into the ground.

"Ugh—"

Bedivere gritted his teeth, trying to release his Noble Phantasm again, but Alaric's cold words cut through him like a blade,

"If you release it now, not only will you die, but you'll never see the King again."

Those words drained the fight from Bedivere. Resigned, he abandoned his attempt to release his Noble Phantasm and allowed Alaric to pin him down.

"Sir Alaric, well done. Leave him to me—"

Gawain, ignoring Mash and the others, stepped forward, his lion-like eyes locked on Bedivere, seething with rage.

However, Alaric's reply made Gawain's face twist in anger.

"No can do, Sir Gawain.

 I have a lot to discuss with this knight. I'll hand him over afterward, perhaps?"

With a laugh, Alaric hoisted Bedivere onto his shoulder like a sack and said with a grin,

"Or do you have urgent business with this knight too, Sir Gawain?"

"You betrayed us too, didn't you?"

Gawain's eyes grew heavy as he gazed at Alaric.

 It was clear he had given up discussing Bedivere's fate, now directing his attention to Mash, Ritsuka, and the others.

When Alaric positioned himself protectively in front of Mash, everything became clear to Gawain.

Once again.

 Once again, betrayal.

How many times must he witness the betrayal he so despised?

 And this time, it wasn't just a knight of the dead like himself.

 This time, it was a living knight, personally appointed by the Lion King. Someone who should have been their successor.

How could Gawain not be furious?

["Careful! Gawain's magical energy is rising! He's going to kill you all!"]

Romani's voice echoed through Ritsuka's communicator like a desperate scream, but there was no reply.

Ritsuka and Mash kept their eyes on Alaric's back, still confused as to why Alari had struck down Bedivere.

"Forget it, Sir Bedivere. Let's have a proper talk."

With a casual toss, Alaric threw Bedivere toward Mash, stepping forward alone to confront the enraged Sun Knight—Gawain.