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

The sword in the hands of the Lionheart King underwent a silent transformation under the watchful eyes of Mordred and the others.

In the next instant, a radiant and nostalgic brilliance burst forth from the blade of the holy sword. A grand torrent of light appeared on the vast platform, piercing through the mountainside in a flash!

"Impossible!!"

Mordred, taking the brunt of the attack, was sent flying hundreds of meters away, like a cannonball crashing straight into the mountainside beyond the massive platform. Rubble tumbled down in an instant, burying Mordred beneath!

Even though Mordred's armor was only slightly cracked by the torrent of light, she gazed in shock at the Lionheart King, who was engaged in combat with Lancelot in the distance.

The holy light that had just been unleashed from the sword—there was no doubt—it was the same brilliance as the holy sword Excalibur wielded by the Knight King, Arthur Pendragon! Though its power differed, Mordred was certain she couldn't be mistaken.

Tristan, too, was struck with amazement and sorrow.

"What a familiar radiance—Excalibur, the Sword of Promised Victory..."

Meanwhile, Lancelot, having directly confronted the radiance of the holy sword, swung his blade toward the Lionheart King with a tinge of anger.

"So this is your true form, Lionheart King!"

Clang!

Clang!

Not only was the Lionheart King's weaponry astonishing to everyone present, but his swordsmanship was also formidable enough to hold his ground against Lancelot!

Buzz.

The initial shock dissipated quickly. Tristan, circling on the outskirts of the battle, continuously unleashed slashes in an attempt to assist Lancelot in taking down the Lionheart King.

However, as the duel between Lancelot and the Lionheart King intensified, the two vanished from their original positions. Only the ferocious clashing of blades echoed like a storm across the massive platform!

'So fast!!'

'Supersonic speed? No, even faster!'

Though the battle was fully underway, Alaric stood unmoving, like an outsider. His eyes strained desperately to track the movements of Lancelot and the Lionheart King, but the two were moving at godlike speed—a speed Alaric could only reach through his ultimate technique, Thunder Flash, and even then, it was far beyond his capabilities.

Witnessing the clash of top-tier Servants firsthand left Alaric in awe. Unlike the overwhelming firepower demonstrated by the Lion King's holy spear, the pure duel of swordsmanship mesmerized Alaric. Yet beyond the astonishing speed, what shocked Alaric even more was the Noble Phantasm displayed by the Lionheart King—

"Is this... Excalibur?"

Upon seeing the radiant light, Alaric desperately dug through his memories.

This Servant was not from Fate/Grand Order but from another work released that same year.

The Lionheart King Richard—

Richard's Noble Phantasm, Excalibur, the Sword of Forever Distant Victoryy was an Anti-Army Noble Phantasm with a rank of D~A+. Born from Richard's deep admiration for King Arthur, this Noble Phantasm ascended into legend, transforming anything Richard held—be it a weapon, cutlery, or even a branch picked up from the roadside—into an Excalibur capable of unleashing beams of light for ranged attacks.

"So it is the Lionheart King Richard?"

Alaric remained skeptical but had no way to confirm. The battle continued, leaving no room for hesitation. The Lionheart King's true identity didn't matter; Alaric's only goal was to kill him and thwart his plans!

Just as Alaric resolved to act, a roar of anger resounded across the massive platform!

"You bastard!!"

Charging in with fiery rage was none other than the rebellious knight, Mordred!

Seeing the radiant brilliance unleashed by the Lionheart King stirred an inexplicable fury within Mordred, who harbored complex feelings toward Arthur. She couldn't tolerate seeing the holy light of the sword in the Lionheart King's hands.

Returning to the battlefield like a thunderbolt, Mordred struck with such force that she sent the Lionheart King flying several meters with a single blow!

But before Mordred and Lancelot could coordinate a follow-up attack, the familiar radiance appeared once more.

This time, in less than a minute, that brilliant torrent of light returned to the massive platform.

Yet this time, no one was sent flying.

As Mordred raised her sword high, ready to confront the torrent head-on, a blade's flash sliced through the light, splitting the torrent in two and letting it roar past Mordred and the others!

The one who cleaved through the torrent was none other than the Knight of the Lake, Lancelot!

Such impeccable swordsmanship—it could even sever a flood of light!

However, the radiance didn't fade. Amidst the astonished gazes, the brilliance flared again—

'A Noble Phantasm capable of consecutive use?!'

Even Alaric couldn't ignore this light; from its trajectory, he was also within its range of attack!

What shocked Alaric even more was the magic energy sustaining the Lionheart King's repeated use of his Noble Phantasm. Though each Excalibur was less powerful than the genuine Excalibur, the magic cost was still enormous. Yet the Lionheart King seemed to have no concerns, using his trump card recklessly as if he possessed infinite magical energy.

Alaric could think of only two sources capable of such overwhelming magical energy.

One was the Holy Grail, but this singularity only had one Holy Grail, and it wasn't with the Lionheart King.

That left only one explanation:

"The leyline's magical energy..."

Alaric's eyes glimmered like gemstones as his ability to perceive death reflected upon the world.

Before his thoughts could fully form, the radiance of the holy sword was already closing in!

The air grew scorching hot as Alaric stood alone to face the oncoming light.

Lancelot and Mordred had already darted aside the moment the Lionheart King unleashed his Noble Phantasm.

Yet Alaric stood steadfast, like an unyielding mountain, wielding his sword to confront the torrent head-on!

Clang!

As the torrent arrived, Alaric saw its death. With his blade slicing through the deathline, the radiant torrent that could have melted mountains instantly perished!

"Hm? It seems you have a peculiar pair of eyes. What might they be?"

Seeing his unleashed Noble Phantasm vanish without a trace, the Lionheart King curiously eyed Alaric's jewel-like eyes. But no response came.

Almost simultaneously with Alaric nullifying the torrent, Mordred and Lancelot flanked the Lionheart King!

Tristan's strikes sealed off any escape routes.

An even fiercer battle erupted on the massive platform, reducing it to rubble within seconds! The aftermath of each clash of blades sent shockwaves rippling, shaking the atmosphere.

Yet time and again, the Lionheart King's radiant brilliance prevented Mordred, Lancelot, and the others from inflicting serious harm, even shattering Mordred's armor after several encounters with the Noble Phantasm!

Before Alaric could locate the key point linking the Lionheart King to the leylines to sever his magical energy supply—

The sun descended.

A figure plunged from the heavens, piercing the valley with such force that the massive platform collapsed entirely!

"The Knight of the Sun—Sir Gawain—"

Though they had never met, no one could ignore the brilliance of this sun-like figure.

As Gawain appeared, a blazing sun hung high in the sky, transforming the shadowy mountain valley into a scorching wasteland.