In the Fate story, the country of the ahoge King Saber, Britain, ultimately perished due to her mistake.
So as a Heroic Spirit, she participates in the Holy Grail War with only one wish—to return to the past and save her country.
However, history can no longer be changed. Even if she could truly go back, she would only create an alternate branch of history, not truly alter her own.
Su Ye had once discussed this with Saber. Whether she accepted it or not was another matter, but the truth remains.
Perhaps Su Ye's words had some impact on Saber. Although she still has the desire to return to her world and change that history, it was no longer as intense.
However, the thought of saving her country and its people remained deeply imprinted in her soul and became her eternal belief.
Modern-day Britain is no longer the same as the Britain from over fifteen hundred years ago, having undergone countless invasions, wars, collapses, and transformations.
But Saber still loved this land deeply.
This was where she once fought. The people here carried the blood of her former citizens, so even though this was no longer her Britain, it was still her kingdom.
And maybe, she could turn this land back into the Kingdom of Britain again?
This thought passed in a flash. What Saber truly wanted now was to drive away the evil in the black fog and save the people.
As Saber led the Knights of the Round Table into the black mist, they were spotted from afar.
The black mist had long since stopped spreading, and the people had realized that as long as they stayed out of the mist, they would not be attacked by the skeletons.
So outside the black mist, many people had gathered—some escaped from the fog, others came out of curiosity—and all of them witnessed Saber's arrival.
But at the time, they didn't realize what they were witnessing.
"Who are those people? Cosplayers? Performance artists?"
The crowd wore puzzled expressions, thinking these people must be crazy to do something so absurd.
Many even took out their phones to take pictures, preparing to upload them online, with titles already in mind.
"Performance artists walking against the flow—is this the glory of Britain, or the shame of ignorance?"
When the army was trapped in a heavy crisis in the black mist, and advanced high-tech equipment couldn't save the city, a group of people dressed in strange clothes unexpectedly charged into the mist.
Is this mocking the British soldiers for their inaction, or slapping the faces of those who fled London?
If they were really superheroes like the Great Wall defenders, fine, but looking at their age and attire, they are just a bunch of delusional teenagers, and most of them are girls.
Isn't this just ridiculous!
Just as the crowd shook their heads, sighed, and mocked them in confusion, Saber's group had already entered the black mist and encountered a few skeletons near the edge.
Although there were tens of thousands of skeletons in the vast city of London, once dispersed, they didn't seem like much.
Moreover, because they were too spread out, it greatly reduced the collective fighting ability of the skeleton army, so most of them still fought in groups.
However, due to military attacks, some got separated or were revived far from the main force. They became scattered stragglers, aimlessly wandering in the black mist.
A few of them just happened to wander in the direction Saber and her group were attacking.
"These people are finished!"
The onlookers sighed. These kids might have courage, but clearly lacked brains. This senseless charge would only make Britain more of a laughingstock to the world.
Naturally, such a shameful historic moment had to be recorded on their phones.
Mom, I'm witnessing history!
Yeah, that's probably the mindset. Anyway, no one actually believed these chuunibyou teens could save London—much less the world.
Then they saw Saber at the front raise her sword—and with a single swing, a skeleton that could crush cars and withstand bullets was instantly shattered into pieces.
"Holy shit!"
"This has to be fake!"
"What the—"
"Mom, I think I'm actually witnessing history!"
This history is completely different from the previous one, both in concept and emotion.
Slaying a skeleton with one sword—was that chuunibyou?
No, no, no, this is a hero, a hero of Britain. The moment that countless citizens have long awaited was finally playing out.
"A hero of Britain has appeared. Thank God!"
The onlookers were so overjoyed they were moved to tears. Although there were only a dozen or so of them, and the number of skeletons was unknown, the presence of a heroes, even in small numbers, gave them hope for a counterattack.
That blonde girl with the ahoge instantly became the idol of tens of millions of Britons.
And Saber did not disappoint. She led her knights straight into the heart of the black mist—the battlefield that had caused even the empire's giants to fall.
After Saber and her group disappeared, everyone was shocked to realize something.
After Saber's group disappeared into the fog, the crowd suddenly realized something.
"Those skeleton bits... didn't get back up?"
"The black fog... looks thinner?"
"Yeah, I think visibility improved!"
The fog was indeed thinning, though not entirely thanks to Saber.
The 'Aether Particle' Su Ye gave Malekith contained limited energy.
After Malekith created the fog and transformed himself and his minions, most of that energy was depleted.
Afterward, every time the skeletons revived, they absorbed energy from the fog. Once the fog was fully consumed, this fake undead apocalypse would end.
So, the military's efforts weren't entirely futile—they just couldn't see the bigger picture.
As the military pressed on and the skeletons kept reviving, the fog's energy was being depleted. But due to the large area, the change wasn't immediately visible.
When Saber and her group appeared, it was exactly when the gradual changes had caused a small qualitative shift, and the black mist showed clear signs of change.
However, the public didn't understand this, so they mistakenly attributed the credit to Saber and her group.
After all, that skeleton didn't rise again—that was an indisputable fact.
The reason the skeletons that died didn't rise again is because Saber arrived in this world using Su Ye's system and the power of the Reality Stone.
The stone's abilities counteracted the energy that revived the skeletons, so once slain, they stayed dead.
However, the public didn't know this.
Not to mention them, even Su Ye didn't expect this.
"We're saved!"
"Long live Britain! Long live the unnamed hero! Long live the blonde girl!"
Cheers erupted like a New Year's celebration.
And Saber did not disappoint, leading the Round Table Knights, becoming braver with every battle in the black mist. Wherever they went, skeletons shattered and never stood again.
As they advanced, Saber and her group quickly encountered some refugees and scattered soldiers who were being chased and attacked by skeleton soldiers.
These people had nearly lost all their spirit during the chase, and any pride of Britain or gentlemanly demeanor had long since disappeared.
They were like frightened dogs, only thinking about escaping and surviving.
To them, Saber's appearance was like lightning, like a miracle, like a living legend.
At this moment, any thoughts of God or the Virgin Mary were cast aside, and in their hearts, there was only the girl with the blonde hair, whose face, though still youthful, was filled with determination. Her entire being radiating a powerful aura of royalty.
her entire being radiating a powerful aura of royalty.
Many thought so silently.
Britain is a kingdom, and a kingdom must have a king.
At that moment, a sudden thought arose in many hearts:
If this girl were their king, how wonderful would that be!
Under normal circumstances, Saber wouldn't have said much upon seeing refugees.
But recalling the suffering and destruction her country endured due to her past choices, Saber knew she had to change.
Britain didn't need a distant king. It needed one who cherished the people, inspired unity, and brought warmth.
She wasn't there yet—but she would try.
"The path behind has been cleared. You can leave by heading that way."
After cutting down a skeleton with one sword strike, Saber looked down and said to a nearby soldier, who had wet himself out of fear, with an unnatural smile on her face.
"I... I..."
The soldier, though terrified and ashamed, suddenly found courage in her face and said something he never thought he could.
"I won't leave. I'll fight with you!"
Saber shook her head. "I admire your courage, but this war isn't something you can participate in. Please leave."
Then she raised her sword and charged ahead.
The Knights of the Round Table followed without question, advancing deep into the mist.
The soldier glanced around, gritted his teeth, picked up his gun, and followed.
Although he had wet himself in fear of the skeletons, he was still a soldier, and the honor of a soldier, once lost, couldn't be abandoned forever. He hadn't died yet—he could still fight.
Many others felt the same.
At first, the skeletons' undead nature terrified them. But now, after seeing Saber's display of power and knowing the skeletons could die—they regained their courage.
"That girl is called 'King,' right? I don't know where she ruled before, but from now on, she's my king."
"Follow our king! Charge!"
Led by the soldier, along with some refugees, countless people soon gathered behind Saber.
"King, this scene is just like the old days, isn't it?"
Merlin, standing beside Saber, suddenly spoke. Back in the day, they had fought all over, and behind them, it wasn't just the few Round Table Knights, but an army of thousands.
Those people had slowly gathered, admiring the king's courage.
Now, these ragged fighters weren't formal troops, but their numbers brought a nostalgic feeling.
Saber shook her head. "If possible, let them leave. The black fog holds more than skeletons—there are even stronger foes. They're not safe following us."
Merlin nodded. "Alright. I'll go talk to them."
But just as he turned to leave, Saber's expression sharpened. "Something's coming. All troops, prepare for battle!"
The moment the words fell, a massive black figure burst from the mist.
It was an ugly giant, standing at least three meters tall, with two goat-like horns growing from its bald head and massive bat wings on its back.
Seeing him, the crowd panicked.
"A demon! It's a demon!"
"Let's run! Not even the king can defeat that thing!"
"Have faith in the king! In front of her, this guy's no stronger than a skeleton!"
"Yeah! With the king here, even a demon is just cannon fodder!"
Saber's bravery had inspired the crowd, giving them enough courage not to flee.
They shouted louder than even the knights, unaware of how much of a burden they'd become.
At the front of the group, Saber's brows furrowed. She could feel a power from the demon in front of her that was even stronger than the berserker Heracles.
As a warrior, Saber had never feared any enemy, even Heracles, even the fearsome demon king who was stronger than him.
But this wasn't the Holy Grail world, and her Master wasn't with her.
Without mana replenishment, her stamina was limited.
Though the knights had her back, the stragglers were dead weight. The cost outweighed the gain.
Unless she chose to ignore their safety.
But as king, Saber couldn't do that.
At that moment, Saber suddenly missed her Master—Su Ye.
Not just for his magical support—Su Ye was strong. Stronger than any Heroic Spirit who had ever fought in the Grail Wars.
If Su Ye were here, even if the fearsome demon king were a bit stronger, she wouldn't have to worry.
Unfortunately, Su Ye wasn't here…
That thought startled her.
Since when had she started zoning out during battle? Daydreaming about another man mid-fight?
That didn't fit her identity as king at all.
"No Master. No man. I can win this war with my own strength!"
"Roar!"
The fearsome demon king charged with a roar.
Saber also shouted loudly, charging forward in response, her sword, Excalibur, swinging out.
"Hyah!"
The sword clashed with the demon's fist. With a boom, Saber was sent flying—he didn't even budge.
In a battle of strength, Saber was utterly defeated.
Before becoming the fearsome demon king, Algrim was already a fearsome warrior who could beat down Thor and Loki.
After becoming the fearsome demon king, although he didn't gain the demon king's specific abilities, his physical attributes had been significantly enhanced.
If he attacked Asgard now, as long as Odin didn't awaken, he could even wipe out the entire realm.
Saber had been rash to challenge him with brute force.
"My king!"
The Round Table Knights cried out, rushing to help. But Saber stopped them.
"You protect the people. Leave this one to me!"
At the same time, countless skeletons and gargoyles flying in the air appeared around them. As a result, the Round Table Knights had no choice but to stay back and protect the refugees.
There were simply too many stragglers joining in. Though the Knights where strong, there were too few of them, and they could only run around in a panic. Even Merlin couldn't spare a hand to help Saber.
But Saber didn't care about that. At this moment, her eyes were locked on the fearsome demon king.
She couldn't match his strength, but she had skill—and her Noble Phantasm.
"I can kill him!"
Saber gritted her teeth and charged at the fearsome demon king again. This time, she didn't foolishly clash with him head-on but used her speed advantage to circle around him, attacking with both speed and precision.
Excalibur, as an A++ rank Noble Phantasm, had unquestionably powerful attack power. However, when the sword struck the fearsome demon king, it... merely scratched him.
Yes, it was just a scratch.
A fearsome demon king enhanced by Aether Particle, who could swat away Thor's hammer with a single slap, along with the person holding it. Even Excalibur, without the power of an absolute strike, felt like just a light scratch to him.
Moreover, although the fearsome demon king was quite large, his movements weren't clumsy at all. Saber quickly realized that the speed and skill she was so proud of were nothing in front of him.
With one spin of his wings, he interrupted her attack and slammed a massive fist down.
Boom!
Her longsword barely blocked the punch, but Saber was once again sent flying.
"Cough!"
This time, she spat blood.
"My king!"
The Round Table Knights in the distance shouted in unison.
Mordred, who had once fought Saber to a draw, was among them. With their help, things would be easier.
But Saber raised a hand to stop them.
"Protecting the people is your duty. This enemy is mine to deal with!"
Seeing Saber, leaning on her sword, rise to her feet again, the Round Table Knights were on the verge of tears.
At that moment, the scattered soldiers and stragglers they had been protecting understood that by following them, they hadn't been any help and had instead had become the biggest burden.
"Sir Knights, you don't need to protect us anymore, go help the king fight!"
"Yes, we shouldn't have followed you. We've been a burden. Please don't worry about us, go ahead!"
"Let us die if needed! Just end this disaster!"
Everyone shouted in unison. They were afraid of death, but they couldn't just stand by and watch a hero die before their eyes without doing anything!
"Quiet!"
Merlin silenced them with magic.
"We don't protect you because we must—we follow the king's orders. That is our resolve. So say no more. If you truly care, then silently pray for our king."
"Pray she leads us to victory, as she's done countless times before."
The stragglers quieted down, and one of the civilians, who had come closer to Merlin, suddenly knelt and asked.
"Lady Mage, who exactly is this king?"
Mordred finally spoke,
"Our king's name is Artoria Pendragon. In life, she was known as King Arthur."
"King Arthur? The one who pulled the sword from the stone?"
In Britain, King Arthur is a legend, not recorded history—said to be from around 500 A.D. in the early Middle Ages.
That era was too distant from the present, and precisely because of that, the legend of King Arthur became even more enchanting.
Now hearing Saber was King Arthur, no one doubted it.
Come on—Thor showed up in New York. Why not King Arthur in London?
Although she's a girl, and looks young, which doesn't quite match the legendary image of the heroic King Arthur, it was after all just a legend.
Legends are often misinterpreted.
So, the legendary tough King Arthur and the real-life one standing before them—appearing soft and cute, but with immense power.
Which one should they believe in? Is there even a need to hesitate?
What you hear is often false; what you see is the truth!
At this moment, not only had everyone accepted the fact that Saber was King Arthur, but another thought also immediately appeared in their hearts.
If the Arthur before them could become the king of Britain again, could she lead them to reclaim the glory of the past and restore Britain to the once great empire. Could she bring back the empire on which the sun never set?
On the other side, Saber herself also had a question in her mind.
If she were to unleash her ultimate move now, would it be enough to severely injure the fearsome demon king?
Excalibur, as her ultimate move, consumed a great deal of mana, and after using it, she would need some time to recover.
If she could severely injure the demon king, it would be fine. Saber would have time to recover and continue the fight, with a chance to defeat him.
But if she couldn't severely injure him, then she would be in danger herself.
Unfortunately, Su Ye wasn't here. If he were, with his mana support, her stamina would be near limitless.
There's an old saying: hesitation leads to defeat.
Although Saber had never heard this saying, she understood the truth. Now was not the time for hesitation.
So, as the fearsome demon king charged toward her again, she resolutely raised her sword.
"EX… Calibur!"