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

Credits: Sai Manoj Nelavalli

There was no doubt that the blood coursing through Alaric and Mordred was the same—the crimson dragon's blood inherited from the Knight King, Arthur. However, only Alaric's initial blood could be considered pure crimson dragon blood.

After half a year, the blood within Alaric had fundamentally diverged from Mordred's.

Yet, even so, Alaric felt an inexplicable excitement.

It was a desire similar to the one he felt when facing the Lion King!

"Alaric, for the sake of my father, I must kill you."

Mordred gripped the king's sword tightly, and the surging crimson lightning swirled like a thunderstorm, engulfing the valley!

"Mash! Be careful!"

Before Fujimaru Ritsuka could act, Mash had already stepped in front of everyone, holding the Round Table shield to block the terrifying crimson lightning!

"Mordred!!"

Boom!

As Alaric moved, the same crimson lightning erupted like a torrential downpour, covering a radius of a hundred meters!

It completely devoured the magical energy released by Mordred!

"Cursed Arm Hassan, Arash, please check if the villagers have evacuated! Mash, focus on the fight between Sir Alaric and Mordred."

Confronted with the apocalyptic scene, Fujimaru Ritsuka remained undaunted, calmly analyzing the battlefield.

After confirming that there was no need to forcibly intervene in Mordred and Alaric's battle, Fujimaru immediately issued orders to check on the fate of the western village.

"Understood, Lady Fujimaru."

Cursed Arm Hassan, who had come to aid the western village, had no objections, and Arash nodded in agreement with Fujimaru's suggestion.

"Yes!"

Mash, her expression tense, kept her eyes fixed on Mordred and Alaric. In her heart, an overwhelming emotion surged—

Sorrow.

But unlike Mash's sorrow, Alaric was brimming with fighting spirit.

Just like his previous battle with Gawain, this time, it was an even more thorough fight to the death. This elevated Alaric's emotions to an even greater height.

The activity of the dragon's blood brought out an inhuman side, but even so, it could not suppress Alaric's very human emotions!

Boom!

The two figures disappeared in an instant.

The intensity of the battle far exceeded anything before, evaporating the clouds in the sky and causing the mountains to crumble.

The two intertwining crimson streaks of light rampaged across the valley with a terrifying momentum.

Mash held her breath, unable to look away.

It felt as if they might vanish in the next instant.

"Why did you betray the King, Alaric?!"

Mordred, the rebellious knight, roared, questioning Alaric before her.

Those eyes were so similar to the King's.

Those eyes are so similar to hers.

And—

Fate.

Faced with Mordred's familiar accusation, Alaric suddenly smirked:

"Out of love, Mordred!

 I love you all, just as the King deeply loved humanity!"

At that moment, Alaric could no longer suppress the overwhelming emotions in his heart. His gem-like slit pupils burned with fiery passion!

"Who would understand that nonsense, you idiot!"

Mordred swung the king's sword with all her might, the sheer force of it causing the ground around them to crack and collapse!

Boom!

Alaric, who took the blow head-on, didn't stop moving. He countered with a swift attack while still shouting:

"The future of humanity should not end here! And you! My comrades! Should not face death once again, burdened with guilt over the King's actions!"

Even though Alaric had only spent half a year with Gawain and the others, he had truly integrated into the Round Table. But because of this, Alaric could sense the pain buried deep within Gawain, Mordred, Lancelot, Tristan, and Agravain—knights who offered their betrayal as a twisted form of loyalty to the Lion King.

Only he could understand their anguish!

 Even if Bedivere called them the Fallen Round Table, the mental fortitude of Gawain and the others had not changed. What kept them going was the regret of their past lives and their unwavering loyalty to the King.

Gawain, who failed to serve loyally until the end.

 Mordred, who could not offer her true loyalty.

How could they not see how the Lion King's plan violated humanity and morality?

 Yet, for the sake of loyalty, they raised their weapons against their comrades to prove themselves.

The regrets of their past lives had taken the form of torment and suffering in this second chance at life, leading them toward destruction.

However, in response to Alaric's confession, Mordred roared:

"Isn't this fine?!

 We are all sinners. Repentance, atonement—none of it is necessary!"

Clang! Clang!

The clash of their swords rang out like the collision of their beliefs, resounding before Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others.

It was the first time they had seen Alaric like this.

During the battle in the Holy City, Alaric had retreated far away, so Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others had never witnessed this side of him.

Gone was his usual lighthearted demeanor. It was as if he had transformed into a frenzied beast, no longer suppressing the surging emotions in his heart and fully unleashing himself!

"Sir Alaric is—"

The dialogue between Alaric and Mordred was naturally heard by Mash and Fujimaru Ritsuka, leaving Mash puzzled and confused.

Was Sir Alaric always this passionate?

 ["Loving humanity, huh—"]

Romani silently watched the screen displaying the intense battle between Alaric and Mordred, his expression heavy and his gaze deep.

While Chaldea's team was astonished by the content of the conversation between Alaric and Mordred, the battle between the two reached a fever pitch.

"Nothing is immutable, Mordred! Even if you're an echo of someone who died in the past, it's the same!

 Everything—everything must move forward! Whether it's humanity or you all!"

Alaric's sword forced Mordred to the ground, his voice filled with emotion as if trying to pierce into Mordred's heart and make her acknowledge his ideals.

"We are Heroic Spirits! People who died in the past! No matter what happens, that will never change. But this time, I will die as my father's knight!"

But how could Mordred possibly listen to Alaric's words? Her steadfast resolve could not be shaken by a few statements from him.

"That's why I cannot agree, Mordred! Whether alive or dead, we must move forward!!"

As someone alive, even though Alaric was destined to face his fated death, he would not abandon his love.

This battle against Mordred, an echo of the dead, marked the first time Alaric fully opened up about his ideals.

He would reveal every emotion and every ounce of love hidden within his heart!

"Even if I die tomorrow, even if I never see the dawn of tomorrow, even if I am left alone in silence, we must still move forward alongside humanity!!

 That is what the future is, Mordred!"

Alaric grabbed Mordred by the neck and slammed her into the ground like a sandbag!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

 The immense force caused the earth to fracture and explode in all directions within a radius of dozens of meters!

"Even though you carry pain in your heart, even though you know the King has lost their heart, even though you know the King is no longer the King!"

PS: Love is war.