The Princess of the Fallen Kingdom (5)
Keyooooth—!
A massive hawk streaked across the battlefield, spewing yellow lightning in its wake.
"R-Run away!"
"Gaaah…!"
With a deafening crack, a savage bolt slammed down, turning a demon who hadn't fled in time into a charred lump of coal.
The hawk soared for a while longer before abruptly slowing and halting before a woman.
"Good work, Thunderbird."
Keyooo—!
The creature cutely rubbed its beak against her hand. With a casual flick of her wrist, it took to the skies once more.
This lasted only a moment.
A knight approached the woman as she gazed up at the hawk.
"Acting alone is dangerous, Lady Tatiana."
"Ah, Sir Gawain."
"Impressive as always. No wonder—it's a superior spirit, after all. The sheer presence is something else."
She let out a quiet sigh of admiration, watching the Thunderbird weave through the chaos, lightning crackling in every direction.
Suddenly remembering the matter at hand, Gawain cleared his throat lightly.
"Ahem! Lady Tatiana, please refrain from acting alone. You never know what might happen."
"Sorry. Thunderbird took off suddenly, and I just… followed without thinking."
At that moment, a group of knights approached from behind her.
They all wore grave expressions amid the battlefield din, eyes fixed on Gawain, awaiting orders.
"It's fine. Just avoid it from now on."
"Yes, I'll keep that in mind."
"Thank you. Now, if you would, follow my lead—humble as it may be."
Gawain smoothly assumed command and began explaining the plan with practiced gestures.
"Unlike His Majesty, who presses ahead, our focus is maintaining the front lines. We'll prioritize sealing any breaches, so keep a close eye on the lines at all times."
"Yes, sir…!"
"Lady Tatiana, I'll ask you to handle scouting and reconnaissance with your spirits. In this chaotic battlefield, getting the enemy's intel one step ahead is our greatest asset. I leave it to you."
"You got it!"
"If we find ourselves at a disadvantage, request support from the nearest Round Table knight first."
With one final caution, Gawain lifted his gaze to survey the distant battlefield.
'We're short on manpower, as expected.'
They had scraped together what forces they could upon arriving via Merlin's warp, but the remnants were barely a handful.
It was a blessing that the line was held by an all-knight unit; ordinary soldiers would have been annihilated long ago.
Or perhaps it was already as good as annihilation.
They'd only mustered this by gathering retreating knights.
Without the Nine Fairies of Avalon holding back the demons, the lines would have collapsed already.
Gawain summoned his temporary aide—a knight—and inquired about the enemy.
"Scale: At least legion-level forces. Affiliation: The Army of Death, led by the Death Devil. A significant number of executive-class demons sighted as well."
"As expected. We can assume it's the full Army of Death."
At least it was the Army of Death—a silver lining.
Excluding the Darkness Devil, whose forces were a mystery due to her lone-wolf style, the Death Devil commanded the smallest army among them.
Still, a legion was a legion—not insignificant numbers. But there was a glimmer of hope.
'If His Majesty—one of the Seven Powers—joins with us Round Table knights, victory is within reach.'
Gawain scanned the field with cold eyes, nodding at his optimistic assessment.
"Let's move out immediately!"
The battlefield assessment was complete.
To minimize allied losses and maximize win chances, they needed to ease the burden of holding the line.
You couldn't stop a waterfall with your palms.
Gawain channeled mana into his feet.
Her sharp eyes spotted a knight on the verge of collapse. In an instant, she was at his side, parrying the incoming blade.
Clang—!
"Hmph!? Who the hell are you?!"
"Gawain of the Sun. I'm joining the fray."
At the same moment, Galatine in her hand erupted in brilliant golden light.
Galatine, Set Up—!
Whoosh—!
A pillar of orange flame erupted around her.
"Guh! What the…!?"
The startled demon recoiled. Gawain burst from the flames, slicing through.
"Haaah…!"
"Gaaah!"
Clad in golden-and-white armor, she raised her golden sword, cleaving the demon. The frozen foes charged her en masse.
"Die, wench!"
"Dieee…!"
"Galatine!"
Boost—! Boost—! Boost—!
Solar Impact—!
A thick beam engulfed the charging demons, carving a long scar into the ground.
"Hold the line, everyone!"
She mowed down demons without pause, issuing orders to the knights.
"Find the Nine Fairies! Protect them at all costs!"
"Yes, ma'am…!"
The knights surged toward the demons at her command.
"Die…!"
"Not one gets past!"
"If you want through, step over my corpse!"
Once scattered remnants, they reignited with hope upon meeting a mighty Round Table knight, fighting desperately.
"Die, knight!"
"Galatine…!"
Galatine Over Drive—!
Moments later, Gawain's body blazed fiercely.
Scorching flames enveloped her, drawn inexorably into her sword.
"Gaaaah! You pathetic fairy…!"
"Indomitable sun…!"
Boost—! Boost—! Boost—! Boost—! Boost—!
She channeled the endless explosions into her blade, then swung at the foes before her.
Flare—!!
A colossal inferno engulfed everything ahead.
Roooar—!!
As smoldering demons crackled with dying embers, revealing the devastation, tension rippled through the surrounding foes.
Steadying her staggering form by stabbing her sword into the ground, she bellowed at the demons around her.
"Come at me! I am Gawain, knight of the Round Table…!"
If she bought time for someone to find the Nine Fairies, they could turn the tide.
'If Avalon recovers function, we have a real shot at victory!'
In truth, even the Nine Fairies deemed Avalon beyond repair—but unaware, Gawain dove into battle with optimism.
Meanwhile, Tatiana, supporting from afar and observing the field, frowned delicately as the situation worsened.
'This isn't good. Even with the Round Table holding the line, one person can't cover that vast front…'
To make matters worse, Arthur—who led the vanguard—was pinned by powerful demons.
The pressure reached even here; they all seemed executive-class.
She wanted to rush aid, but…
"Where you lookin', bitch…!"
"Tch…!"
Dodging the flying whip, Tatiana extended her hand toward the demon.
"Help me out, Elestra…!"
Kroooaaah—!!
A blue glow burst from the crest on her hand, manifesting a massive water dragon.
"W-What the…?!"
The dragon, radiating aqueous power, gathered energy in its maw. The panicked demon gritted its teeth and lashed its whip.
But just before it struck, the condensed water blasted from the dragon's mouth.
"Gahk…?!"
Kroooaaah—!!
The mighty water cannon swept away the whip-wielder and demons in a straight line. Tatiana steadied her breathing, stabilizing her mana.
"Good work, Elestra."
Kroooaaah—!
The superior water spirit Elestra roared skyward, conjuring moisture-laden droplets in the air.
They coalesced around Tatiana, forming a translucent barrier.
"Protecting me?"
Kroo….
"Thanks, Elestra."
She gently stroked the dragon's form in gratitude, then whipped around at a familiar, ominous magic spreading this way, her face paling.
"This is…!"
And she beheld it.
Her hated nemesis wielding a ridiculously massive skull.
'Can I win?'
The mere sight sent chills down her spine. Calculating her odds mentally, she grimaced at the dismal prospects.
But only for a moment.
Spotting the figure before him, her expression flipped to relief as she sighed in relief.
"I'd love to kill you myself."
But that was impossible.
She knew the gap between them all too well.
Tatiana cast aside her lingering regrets.
And right then.
She remembered.
The promise—their first and last.
{The Supreme Student Council, you say?}
{…Understood.}
{I'll gladly join you.}
{But on one condition.}
{My mortal enemy, who took everything from me.}
{Kill the Death Devil.}
{Do that, and I'll stand with you for ten years, a hundred—forever.}
Recalling that memory, she smiled warmly at the scene unfolding before her.
"Impossible. Something like that can't exist…!"
A giant, dwarfing even the skull she'd just seen, materialized behind the enemy—like child's play in comparison.
"Guhk…!?"
The foe who witnessed it was hurled far away in an instant.
She watched it all with a blissful expression, not missing a thing.