After sending Marie and Mozart back to the base, Arthur turned his attention to the group that would remain by his side.
In the end, those people were more than enough to defeat Fafnir and his legion of wyverns.
Siegfried had already killed Fafnir once, so there was no reason to believe he could not do it again.
As he reflected on this, Arthur raised his hand once more.
"By the Command Spell, come to my side, Richard Lionheart!"
A Command Spell disappeared from his hand, and almost immediately, Richard appeared beside him.
"Yo! Arthur!" Richard greeted him with his usual enthusiasm.
Arthur nodded in response before looking back at those who would participate in the battle.
Jeanne d'Arc, Ishtar, and Artoria.
Behind them stood the three knights: Siegfried, Richard, and Saint George.
Two of them were heroes famous for slaying dragons, while one of them was the very man who had defeated Fafnir.
Yes.
It was a formation that was difficult to improve upon.
"Everyone, this time our enemy is that winged lizard called Fafnir." A smile appeared on Arthur's face.
"We're going to completely annihilate that damn lizard and all of its minions." He finished as he immediately headed toward Fafnir's location.
The ruins of the city of Lyon.
---xXx---
As they advanced, the environment around them became increasingly hostile.
The scorching temperature had hardened the ground, and ahead of them lay a massive crater filled with traces of magma. The heat rising from the depths distorted the air above the region, while violent gusts of dry wind continuously swept across the only road leading into the city.
Arthur observed the area for a few moments before speaking.
"As you can imagine, Fafnir's location is a little farther ahead."
His gaze swept across each member of the group.
"Siegfried, you're responsible for Fafnir. Georgios and Richard will provide support. Meanwhile, the rest of us will handle the wyverns scattered throughout the region."
Everyone nodded immediately.
"Very well. Go teach those damn lizards a lesson. Feel free to unleash your Noble Phantasms as much as you want."
As he spoke, Arthur began levitating several meters above the ground.
"Yes!"
Without wasting time, everyone advanced.
It did not take long for them to reach the ruins of Lyon.
As soon as they arrived on the battlefield, Jeanne and Saint George moved to the flanks to contain the wyverns circling the area.
Artoria and Ishtar headed toward other sections of the city.
Siegfried, meanwhile, advanced directly toward the tower where Fafnir rested.
The enormous dragon remained motionless for a few moments.
Then it slowly raised its head, and its massive pupils fixed themselves upon the man standing before it.
For a brief moment, its eyes seemed to reflect surprise and uncertainty.
Siegfried could not help but laugh when he noticed it.
"I never thought I would meet you a third time. Perhaps, in another era or another world, we could have met under different circumstances..."
He murmured, but the nostalgia quickly vanished from his eyes.
The next moment, his voice echoed through the ruins.
"Fafnir! I, Siegfried, stand before you once again, and once more you shall witness your twilight! I swear it upon my righteousness and my convictions!"
As he spoke, he twisted the hilt of his sword.
The jewel embedded in the guard shone brilliantly, and blue flames engulfed the entire blade.
Within seconds, the flames expanded until they reached more than ten times the sword's original size.
"Hear me, Ruler of the Blue Skies! My name is Siegfried! The one who once defeated you!"
Magical energy began exploding around him.
"Noble Phantasm, release!"
"BALMUNG!"
The blue flames became a torrent of energy that completely enveloped his body.
Siegfried raised his gigantic sword above his head and brought it down.
The strike tore through the air as a wave of heat and magical energy surged directly toward Fafnir.
The flames left a trail of brilliant blue light across the sky while the pressure of the attack swept through the ruins.
Instinctively, Fafnir spread its wings to gain altitude.
A powerful gust of wind swept across the region as the dragon attempted to take flight.
Its reaction was understandable.
Balmung was not merely a powerful sword.
It was the weapon of the man who had defeated Fafnir.
The legends surrounding Siegfried had transformed his sword into one of the greatest nightmares any dragon could face.
A flash of unease crossed the creature's eyes, but it was already too late.
The blue flames reached it.
"ROOOOAAAAR!!"
The dragon's roar shook the ruins as the attack struck.
Two enormous cracks appeared across its durable scales.
Its regeneration began almost immediately, but the damage had already been done.
Only after receiving that blow did Fafnir finally emerge from its initial stupor.
Raising its colossal body, the dragon opened its mouth, and flames began escaping between its teeth.
The next instant, a torrent of fire descended upon Siegfried.
It was the powerful breath of the evil dragon.
"Bayard!"
Saint George acted immediately.
Mounted upon his horse, he charged across the battlefield, and despite the monstrous heat of the dragon's attack, Bayard continued forward.
At the same time, Saint George began activating his Noble Phantasm.
"Your dragon, born of sin, shall witness the truth of Ascalon!"
"Ascalon!"
Holding the sword vertically, he raised it before him.
An intense light traveled across the entire blade, and moments later, he brought the sword down.
The golden brilliance left a luminous trail in the air.
Saint George's holy sword, Ascalon, was not famous for destructive power.
Its true value lay in protection.
It was a sword capable of repelling the malice and wickedness of those who attacked him.
Before that power, Fafnir's breath attack was halted.
Taking advantage of the opening created by Saint George, Siegfried advanced from the left.
At the same time, Richard appeared from the right.
Holding Balmung with both hands, Siegfried launched himself at the dragon.
His sword struck Fafnir's head with tremendous force.
Although it failed to properly pierce the dragon's scales, the impact was like that of a gigantic war hammer.
The creature's head was knocked to the side.
At that very moment, Richard descended from the heavens.
His sword was raised above his head, and intense golden energy enveloped the blade.
"EX—!"
Magical energy exploded around him.
"CALIBUR!!!"
Richard landed directly atop Fafnir's head and brought the blade down with all his strength.
The impact made the earth tremble.
Shockwaves surged through the ruins as the dragon's head was smashed into the ground.
"HAAAH!!"
Richard roared like a lion in battle.
But none of the three knights stopped to admire the result.
Everything was part of the plan they had prepared beforehand.
Richard leaped away from the dragon's head and retreated several meters.
Siegfried and Saint George immediately advanced to prevent Fafnir from regaining its balance.
At that moment, Richard drew the sword Arthur had lent him.
Gram.
The supreme demonic sword that carried the attribute of a dragon slayer.
He held the sword before his face while gathering his magical energy.
Richard concentrated every fragment of energy available into that single strike.
With the tremendous magical support provided by Arthur, he managed to gather an absurd amount of power into his sword.
The energy continued growing until it reached its absolute limit.
At that moment, Fafnir finally managed to lift its head from the ground.
But before it could react, Richard's voice echoed across the battlefield.
"This sword is a path to glory, in pursuit of a miracle!"
"A crystallization of faith, honoring that will!"
"Unfortunately, noble dreams lead to unobstructed ends!"
"Once more engraved... this sword is the only one..."
"EXCALIBUR!!"
(End of Chapter)