Chapter 165: [165] An Unknown Alliance

Words : 1228 Updated : Sep 25th, 2025

Chapter 165 - [165] An Unknown Alliance The eastern sky brightened, and the snow glistened in the light. It was no longer a snowy, pitch-black night, and the blades on the snowfield no longer resembled tombstones. It was no longer a fiery red wasteland, a world like a steel mill. There was no crescent moon, no dark gears, no melancholic sunset-colored horizon... What lay before Lancelot and the others was a beautiful snowfield draped in silver, with a golden morning sun hanging high in the sky. "Ah..." A refreshing, yet not cold, wind blew across the wilderness, sweeping away the snow to reveal fields sparkling like diamonds. "This is!" Despite the romantic scenery, Lancelot took a cautious step back, as if facing a formidable enemy. Were those truly beautiful diamonds scattered across the snowfield? No, absolutely not! —Snowflakes fell. In this world created by the snowy landscape, countless swords were scattered like stars, complementing the pure ice crystals as they extended toward the hill of swords, surrounding Sakatsuki and Lancelot. Beneath the romance lay a clean, deadly intent. "At last, I can step forward and proudly declare my name." The young man said, gazing at the scene with a distant look in his eyes. White hair, white robe, red clothes, and golden eyes—once the overlapping shadows of the same person across countless worldlines, he now stood alone in this snowfield that belonged solely to him. "My name is Sakatsuki, a traveller from a distant land." The battle was over. [Fate Compendium Updated.] [Defeated Knight of the Lake, Lancelot. Proof of the Round Table has been strengthened.] [Inherent Skill - Knight of the Round Table has been charged (1/3)] "Charged?" [When the charge bar is full, the inherent skill level increases by 1 Rank.] "Defeating Lancelot only fills one-third? There aren't many Knights of the Round Table left, are you counting the Fairy Knights too?" [...] No response came. Sakatsuki ended his communication with the Fate Compendium and refocused on the outside world. Though he had defeated Lancelot, he wasn't cruel enough to dismember the old knight—Saber was still watching. At this moment, the successfully usurped Lancelot was speaking with his beloved king. "I apologize, my king. I have lost." "No, raise your head, my friend. We should be proud." Artoria said, stepping down from the dining table and signalling for Lancelot to rise. "Because our Round Table has finally found a new torchbearer." "...Yes, this summoning has been truly fortunate for me." Lancelot said, standing up and looking at Sakatsuki alongside Saber, his eyes free of regret. Not only had he enjoyed a fierce battle and acknowledged the Round Table's successor, but his lifelong guilt had also been resolved. The man named 'Lancelot' had finally achieved reconciliation between his king and himself. "My king, in the end, I want to tell you that you are the greatest king, the most perfect lord for us knights, and you always have been." A golden light began to scatter—Lancelot had voluntarily shattered his spiritual core and was returning to the Throne of Heroes. "Nothing is more fulfilling than fighting under your banner. But you have always been sacrificing, always giving, never considering yourself—it's enough. From now on, please fight for your own happiness. This is my final wish, and I believe it is the wish of all the Round Table as well." "Thank you, Sir Lancelot." The pain of parting was replaced by warmth. If she were to return to the Banquet of Kings, Saber would no longer envy the Conqueror's army. 'Conqueror, my knights, my soldiers are no less impressive than your subjects. They are the best, and they are my pride for life!' "My king, may you find peace and happiness." With those final words, the beautiful knight vanished into the world. Artoria watched her dear friend depart, her saintly emerald eyes filled with guilt but mostly gratitude. "Thank you, my dear friend. You have reminded me... I will no longer foolishly dream of returning to the past to save Britain." "As a king, I believe I did my best. And as Sakatsuki and Merlin have said, Britain's fall was inevitable. There's no need for another to experience such pain." "And if I were to remove my crown and choose as a knight..." Though her eyes were moist, Artoria couldn't help but laugh, her beauty outshining even the moonlight. Perhaps even King Arthur herself had forgotten—this was the innocent, radiant smile of a girl before she had drawn the sword from the stone. "How could I ever bear to let anyone else take my beloved Round Table?" The wind was strong today. The clouds drifted, and the moon peeked out for a moment. The silver moonlight falling in the courtyard illuminated the knightly figure of the girl. Her smile was so pure that it seemed to freeze the world. "I think I understand why you have a thing for Saber." Kariya finally said, forcing himself to look away. "She's a king, a beautiful girl, and has such a good personality... it's just too unfair." "Though it's slightly different from what you're thinking, I won't argue with a mudblood who has no Command Spells." Sakatsuki said, slapping Kariya on the back and pushing him forward. "Hurry up and go to the Tohsaka house to start pursuing your happiness from scratch!" "I don't need you to tell me that!" With Berserker gone and his Command Spells lost, Kariya had no reason to stay. He quickly walked to the gate, but before leaving, he couldn't help but turn back. "After the Holy Grail War, remember to visit Sakura and Rin... they'll miss you!" "Got it, got it. I'll come find you." "Not me!" "Yeah, yeah..." No matter how reluctant he was, Kariya eventually got into a taxi and headed out of Fuyuki City. As the scenery flew by, he realized that 'Servants' and 'Masters' were completely removed from his life, just as Tokiomi would never return... Only then did Kariya truly feel the weight of parting. "Speaking of which, that was my house, wasn't it?" *** "Then, I should take my leave as well, Sakatsuki." After Kariya left, Saber also came to say goodbye to Sakatsuki. "Regardless, we are still competitors in the Holy Grail War. You don't mind if I report tonight's events to Irisviel, do you?" "Do as you see fit. But Saber, you've already given up on your wish, haven't you? Why are you still pursuing the Holy Grail?" "Indeed, I no longer have a wish for the Holy Grail to fulfill. But I promised Irisviel that I would obtain the Grail for her. This is my promise as a knight." "What if I told you the Holy Grail has been corrupted?" "...What?" "At this point, my preparations are complete—in other words, I no longer need to hide anything." Sakatsuki looked at Saber, his tone serious. "I need your help, Saber." The moonlight faded, and the two figures stood in the courtyard for a long time. Finally, one of them nodded with difficulty. *** Hey readers! Want to read ahead? ???? Join my Patreon for early access to 30+ advance Chapters! Your support helps me write more and bring the story to you faster. ????/aarvan???? Thanks for being awesome! ❤️

Chapter 165: [165] An Unknown Alliance

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