Chapter 176: Caliburn
Regarding Noah's proposal for the Knights of the Round Table system and his appointment of Artoria as the High Lord overseeing Britain, aside from King Rience, King Leodegrance, King Rion, and King Pellinore—who were utterly loyal to Noah—the other Twelve Kings, while not voicing it openly, held little regard for Artoria, seeing her as nothing more than a young girl.
Their obedience to the High Lord's commands stemmed entirely from their loyalty to Noah and had nothing to do with Artoria herself.
After all, Artoria had no military achievements to her name, no seniority, and had displayed no exceptional qualities—what right did such an individual have to become the High Lord?
However, their perceptions shifted when they witnessed Artoria confronting the White Dragon.
The arrival of the White Dragon was reported by Noah's messengers to the other eleven kings.
But this notification followed a specific order.
Those closer to the White Dragon were informed later.
Thus, by the time Artoria arrived, even the Northern Six Kings had already brought their forces.
They all saw King Rience and King Leodegrance helpless before the White Dragon, which reminded King Pellinore—who had once battled the White Dragon—of the despair he had felt back then.
He had exhausted all his strength yet failed to harm the White Dragon.
It was true then, and it remained true now.
Therefore.
"Only—"
King Pellinore, typically the most valiant and skilled in combat, was about to be the first to voice this conclusion. But before he could finish, Artoria charged forward with Caliburn in its Released State!
The sword, radiating brilliant light, struck the White Dragon's head, sending the once-arrogant creature crashing from the sky to the ground in a pitiful state!
"—only the King…"
Only then did King Pellinore utter the latter half of his sentence.
But compared to the resolute tone of the first half, these final words grew increasingly faint.
He was stunned, and the others outright ignored his mutterings. Upon seeing Artoria could injure the White Dragon, they hurriedly sought ways to support her!
Those who could shoot arrows tried to do so, those who could hurl stones attempted it, and those with long-range Alchemical Weapons brought them out. Some even steeled themselves, prepared to die if necessary, to block even a single blow for Artoria!
But they soon realized none of this was needed.
The White Dragon, which they couldn't even touch, was not as invincible before Artoria.
Its scales could be torn apart, and Artoria's attacks even made it bleed.
Under such circumstances, wounds soon appeared on the White Dragon's body, and the scorching heat radiating from it gradually diminished as the battle with Artoria progressed.
Seeing this, Artoria—who had clashed head-on with the creature and been pushed back into the ranks—raised Caliburn high and issued a command to the others.
"The enemy's scales and heat are beginning to show weaknesses! Knights, it is time to counterattack!"
At Artoria's cry, the knights—who had been dumbstruck watching her battle the White Dragon—snapped back to attention and resumed their support!
The previously ineffective assistance began to take effect now that the White Dragon was stripped of its scales and the protection of high temperatures.
Nearly all the knights present joined in the fray.
Meanwhile, Artoria was preparing something big.
The Caliburn in her hand had been forged for her by Noah.
In addition to its normal release mode, it also possessed a special light cannon configured by Noah!
Under such circumstances, Artoria watched as the White Dragon fell further into disadvantage, and then she raised the Caliburn high above her head.
"Everyone, stand back!"
At her command, the knights who had been blocking her path earlier all retreated!
They had already recognized Artoria as a great lord during this battle.
Even compared to their king, Artoria might not be as invincible, as wise, or as admirable—but as a great lord, Artoria was absolutely qualified!
With the great lord giving the order, they naturally would not disobey.
Watching the knights scatter almost within a few breaths, Artoria felt the extent to which these knights could follow orders without hesitation. A faint smile appeared on her face as she fixed her eyes on the White Dragon, now covered in wounds, and directly activated the Magical Energy within her body.
Golden light dust, as if formed from gold, emerged from the earth, and terrifying light and heat began converging toward her sword.
The special Alchemical Formula was executed entirely within a very short time.
The power gathered on the blade, after continuous progression and transformation, caused even the surrounding air to tremble!
The vibration, like the heartbeat of a giant, resembled war drums before a final charge, making the hearts of all the knights present beat fiercely in unison.
Artoria looked at the Avatar of the White Dragon before her, took a deep breath, and shouted aloud:
"Though I am still training, I will give it my all! Let's settle this—"
"Caliburn!"
Terrifying radiance soared into the sky as Artoria swung her sword downward!
The violent shockwave could even topple the surrounding trees. Flames were extinguished within the golden, tide-like surge, as the ferocious light and heat seemed to erupt from a single point!
The massive slash tore through the clouds and pierced the sky...
Along with it, it severed the White Dragon, associated with darkness and despair!
Its enormous body vanished directly within the glorious light representing victory!
Sensing the situation with her Incarnation, White did not activate the power to devour light. Instead, she relinquished control, allowing the Avatar of the White Dragon to be shattered directly within the light and then disappear under its cover.
Only she and Noah were aware of this.
Everyone else witnessing the scene believed the White Dragon had turned to ashes under Artoria's attack!
Even Artoria herself looked at the Caliburn in her hand in disbelief.
She vaguely felt that the opponent shouldn't have turned to ashes so easily, but remembering that this sword was given to her by Noah, she let go of her doubts.
After all, this was the power of a king—how could it not be reasonable?
With her doubts dispelled, Artoria looked at the knights and the eleven kings around her, raising her sword high.
"Knights, victory is ours!"
"Ooh—!!"
At the northern edge of Britain, Odin was fishing while casually scratching his ear.
"To think even such a young girl could radiate such brilliance... It's truly hard to imagine. Is this why the stars choose humans? Compared to us, who may not change even over hundreds or thousands of years, humans, though brief, shine with far greater brilliance."
Odin sighed, though in truth, he hadn't even bothered to intervene when the White Dragon emerged.
It wasn't that he couldn't act at all—he simply knew that Noah would never miscalculate such a variable.
Besides, he had already sent word, so nothing major was likely to happen anyway.
However, while Odin paid no attention to that situation, he never expected that while peacefully fishing, a fleet of ships would appear on the distant sea, heading straight for him and firing arrows from afar.
These were the pirates previously contacted by King Londinium.
Or, to put it another way, in another two or three hundred years, these people would be known by another name—Vikings!
These followers of death and art, who believed that after death, Valkyries would take them to the Temple to drink with Odin, likely never imagined that upon meeting the Odin they worshipped, their first reaction would be to attack.
Well, Odin hadn't expected it either.
So, as he watched the approaching fleet, he couldn't help but sigh helplessly.
He felt he had been tricked by Noah...
But never mind.
He hadn't helped with the White Dragon, so here, he might as well stretch his limbs a bit.