Lord Marco sat in a dimly lit chamber, his face twisted with fear.
This nobleman, who had profited the most from the White Dragon War, had long forgotten the terror the White Dragon once instilled in him and the wild, desperate relief he had felt upon barely surviving.
Over the years, he had forged alliances with other great nobles, secretly amassed troops, and hired mages, transforming himself into a behemoth among the aristocracy.
His ever-growing ambition drove him to crave greater power, to climb higher and higher… so much so that when the White Dragon returned, he had even dared to disregard him.
But now…
The god he had summoned had vanished.
King Arthur and Morgan had both appeared in his estate not long ago.
If word got out that he had orchestrated an attack on the White Dragon, that alone would be enough for Arthur to condemn him.
Though the White Dragon was not well-liked in Britain, in a way, he was still part of the kingdom's highest echelons.
Not to ntion that dangerous witch..she would probably kill him regardless of anything.
At this thought, Lord Marco's regret deepened.
"It's all that woman's fault… Yes! She was the one who tricked !"
If not for the persuasion of that woman, who claid to be a Lord from the Clock Tower's Departnt of Policies, why would he have dared to summon a god?
"Hmph… So, you regret your actions, do you?"
"No, wait—it's not that you regret what you did. You just regret getting caught, isn't that right?"
Just then, a cold, lodious voice spoke from behind him.
"Who—who's there?!"
Lord Marco whirled around, his pupils contracting sharply.
In the shadows of the room, a pair of eerie crimson eyes stared silently at him.
"Who are you?! What do you want?!"
His estate was guarded by nurous Age of Gods mages and layered with powerful bounded fields.
Yet, within just a few days, intruders had breached it repeatedly, without triggering a single alarm.
"Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is that I know what troubles you… and that I can help you. Isn't that enough?"
Footsteps echoed softly in the silent room before the woman's ice yet alluring voice sounded.
"Do you desire power, Lord Marco?"*
Gradually, she stepped out of the darkness.
Her cold, elegant white gown shimred faintly in the dim light.
Cascading golden hair frad a face with srizing scarlet eyes that glead like rubies under the flickering candlelight.
The mont he saw her, Lord Marco's breath hitched.
Though her aura was restrained, just her presence alone sent an instinctive chill down his spine.
"It's you… You're the extraterrestrial from that flying vessel?!"
"Flying vessel?"
Crimson Moon's brow arched slightly before she let out a derisive chuckle.
"I have nothing to do with that ship."
"But its owner likely shares my goal—to slay the strongest being on this planet."
"You know who the vessel's owner is?" Lord Marco couldn't help but ask.
"Naturally. Though she has already left."
A faint smirk played on Crimson Moon's lips.
"But that's irrelevant to you. Let's move past idle chatter."
She lazily settled into a chair, lifting her gaze to fixate on Lord Marco with an eerie intensity.
"Now, answer a few questions for … about King Arthur and the others."
"You're targeting Arthur and Morgan?" Lord Marco forced himself to remain calm.
"If I had to say, they're secondary objectives. What truly interests now is that individual Gaia has taken a liking to."
Crimson Moon's expression remained unreadable, yet an invisible pressure radiated from her.
"I've done my research, Lord Marco."
"You're quite familiar with him… with that White Dragon, aren't you?"
---
Late at night, amidst the pouring rain.
Crimson Moon stepped over the threshold, her heels clicking softly as she left Lord Marco's estate.
"What are you planning?"
Gaia's voice echoed in her mind.
"Nothing much. Just that everything in this world is unbearably dull, so I'm amusing myself."
"What do you intend to do?" Gaia repeated as Crimson Moon smiled faintly.
"Assuming no surprises, that White Dragon you ntioned must be Britain's strongest being, no?"
"Since you, too, despise humanity… why not let take your place as this planet's will?"
Slay the White Dragon.
Destroy Britain—this radiant last bastion of the Age of Gods.
And then, standing atop its ruins, ascend as Earth's Ultimate One.
If nothing else, that should stave off the boredom for a while.
"You seek to beco Earth's UO?" Gaia's voice was calm.
Crimson Moon didn't answer. Instead, she gazed into the dark curtain of rain ahead.
As if recalling sothing, a trace of nostalgia flickered in her cold eyes.
Back then, if only he had agreed to beco her kin… she could have perford the "Embrace," turning him into an immortal True Ancestor.
Yet he refused.
Choosing instead to wither away from illness, dying a mortal's death.
After a long silence, Crimson Moon whispered softly:
"Perhaps… it's because of the words of an incurable fool before he died."
.
.
.
Alvin and Ishtar left the flying vessel together.
After returning safely to Britain, Alvin didn't imdiately seek out Artoria.
Instead, he first approached Lancelot, instructing him to temporarily seal off the forest area where the vessel had landed.
At the ti, Lancelot was in the training grounds, swinging his sword.
Upon hearing Alvin's warning, he simply responded with a "Hmm" and said,
"You worry too much sotis.
The mont that vessel landed, Galahad and Tristan were already on their way to the forest. By now, the area should already be sealed off."
As Lancelot continued his sword practice, his gaze inadvertently flickered toward the Goddess of Heaven standing at the training ground's entrance.
Lowering his voice, he asked, "What's the deal with that goddess?"
As a man of experience, he could tell there was sothing unusual about the way Ishtar looked at Alvin.
"Alvin, I have to warn you—"
"I know what you're going to say. Don't worry, I have it under control," Alvin interrupted with a smile.
Lancelot could only shake his head helplessly.
When it ca to matters of personal relationships, he wasn't in much of a position to give advice either... after all, they were both cut from the sa cloth in that regard.
What did concern him slightly was the matter of the flying vessel Alvin had ntioned.
A being from beyond the heavens...
A trace of unease flickered in Lancelot's eyes.
For Britain, this could very well herald another great upheaval.
---
...
Leaving the training grounds, Alvin turned to Ishtar at the entrance.
"I'll take you back first. Later, I still need to report today's events to the King."
Under normal circumstances, Ishtar would have outright refused Alvin's offer.
But after recalling everything that had happened inside the vessel, she reluctantly nodded in agreent.
After escorting Ishtar back to her quarters, Alvin headed straight for the Throne Room.
Not everyone in the castle knew what the "Night's Watch" looked like, but even setting that identity aside, Alvin was one of King Arthur's right-hand n.
The guards naturally recognized him and allowed him passage.
Guided by a servant, Alvin entered the Throne Room, where he found King Arthur seated upon the royal throne.
The golden crown upon her head added a regal and dignified air to her already stunning beauty, her eyes shining brilliantly.
Gone was her usual gentleness, replaced instead by the noble, icy allure of a monarch.
'In the private, Lily might be playful, but in formal settings like this, she has a charm all her own...'
Since other guards were present, along with King Arthur's other aide, Ariel, Alvin maintained a respectful deanor and bowed. "Your Majesty, I have returned."
Artoria, unusually solemn today, first instructed Ariel to prepare tea before speaking. "I heard you left the castle earlier... Did you go to the northern forest?"
"Yes... This afternoon, a vessel from beyond the heavens descended upon Britain. I was concerned, so I went to investigate. Inside, I found this."
Alvin retrieved a gold coin from his pocket and handed it to Artoria.
"This coin was taken from the vessel. There were many more like it inside, each bearing the sa engraving on the reverse."
Artoria turned the coin over.
On its back was carved the image of an impossibly massive being, as though holding up the heavens and the earth. In its grasp was a greatsword radiating an aura of lethal intent.
Staring at the engraving, Artoria's eyes flickered before she spoke. "You suspect the owner of the vessel is the being depicted here?"
"It's a possibility, but I can't say for certain. That's why I brought the coin back to you," Alvin replied.
Artoria pondered for a mont.
"I've never seen this being before... Do you have any leads?"
'An extraterrestrial being? How would I know...' Alvin shook his head helplessly. "I'm not familiar with it either."
Though Alvin had followed Type-Moon gas in his past life, his knowledge of extraterrestrial beings was limited.
He had heard of powerful entities like Ultimate Ones (UO) and Beasts in the Type-Moon universe, but specific, such as who exactly counted as UOs, were beyond him.
The only one he could recall from past simulations was a self-proclaid "UO" he had once encountered.
She lived in a castle, often sitting alone on the terrace, sipping crimson wine while gazing absently at the moon.
She called herself Crimson Moon.
Artoria thought for a mont before instructing her aide, "If I recall correctly, rlin was spotted in the castle today, wasn't he? Summon him at once."
Ariel bowed slightly and quickly exited the hall.
Watching her leave, Artoria couldn't help but furrow her brows deeply.
At present, they knew far too little about this mysterious vessel.
Though ever since Britain began experiencing an influx of "transmigrators," she had anticipated a day like this would co.
After all, what if those who "crossed over" weren't just modern mages, but beings from other planets?
The challenges Britain would face in the future would only grow more nurous.
Still, even Artoria hadn't expected this day to arrive so soon.
Just then, a gentle voice spoke beside her.
"Your Majesty, frowning like that doesn't suit you."
"The hardships you've overco in the past were no fewer than what we face now, yet you persevered through them all, didn't you?"
Alvin comforted her softly, giving her shoulder a reassuring pat.
"Don't worry. This ti, I'm here with you."
Although Artoria had been visibly agitated just monts ago, her expression gradually softened with his words.
He was right... As long as he was there, so long as the Red Dragon and White Dragon stood together—there was no challenge in this world they couldn't overco.
Artoria glanced at the guards in the hall and softly said,
"You may all leave us."
Once the guards had all withdrawn, only the two of them remained in the royal hall.
"Alvin..."
Only then did Artoria finally relax her body as she placed her hand gently over Alvin's and slowly tightened her grip, savoring the brief warmth of their private mont.

...
Elsewhere in the palace, Ariel walked through the corridors, her eyes scanning around as she searched for rlin.
But she couldn't help sighing inwardly.
In Britain, everyone knew how mysterious the great mage rlin was.
He could find you at any ti, but if he didn't wish to be found, even flipping the entire palace upside down wouldn't help.
But this ti was different.
The arrival of the flying vessel was too important.
Since the King herself had given the order, no matter what, she had to find him...
As this thought crossed Ariel's mind, she couldn't help thinking again of the boy who served alongside her as the King's second hand.
Alvin... A transmigrator who, not long after arriving in this world, had sohow earned the King's trust and even risen to the sa position as her, his left hand.
Why? Even now, she still couldn't understand the reason.
"Miss Ariel, are you looking for soone?"
A warm male voice suddenly rang out behind her.
"Yes, I'm looking for Lord rlin—"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Ariel suddenly realized sothing and instinctively turned around.
At so point, a tall man with flowing white hair had silently appeared behind her, smiling calmly.
Ariel's eyes lit up in surprise and she imdiately said,
"Lord rlin, the King has requested your presence."
"I know. Lead the way," rlin replied with a gentle smile.
Ariel blinked in surprise.
"You already know?"
It truly was worthy of the great mage of Britain, nothing could escape his sight.
"Of course. There's nothing in this world that can hide from Big Brother rlin... except for him,"
rlin said with a sigh. "But this ti, the matter is quite tricky... Even knowing about it doesn't make it easier to deal with."
His Clairvoyance could peer into anything, but if the subject was too powerful, they could sense being watched.
And this ti, Britain had received not just one, but two extrely troubleso guests.
"The one piloting the flying vessel isn't so bad," rlin continued.
"They didn't arrive in person, only a fragnt of their will was sent through the ship."
"But the other..."
rlin lifted his gaze toward the blood-red moon hanging in the night sky, his expression heavy with concern.
"This one... will be a real problem."
...
Under Ariel's guidance, rlin soon arrived at the royal hall.
"My King, Lord rlin has arrived,"
Ariel said respectfully, stepping quickly to Artoria's side and bowing her head.
Artoria didn't respond right away.
Ariel glanced at her and was taken aback for a mont.
Because, at this mont, she saw a faint blush on the King's face... Far from her usual stern and regal deanor, she now looked far more delicate, almost womanly.
Artoria gave a soft "Mm" in acknowledgnt, then raised her eyes toward rlin, who was watching with a knowing expression.
"rlin, I assu you already know why I've called for you?"
"Of course," rlin said with a smile. "It's about the flying vessel that arrived today, isn't it?"
He paused for a mont, then continued, "I know who its master is."
As expected, there truly was nothing in this world that rlin didn't know. Alvin instinctively turned to look at him.
"But the real issue," rlin said, shifting his tone, "is not the vessel's master."
He pointed toward the blood moon outside the hall.
Artoria and Alvin exchanged glances, both seeing the sa confusion in each other's eyes.
"What do you an?" Artoria asked quickly.
rlin's tone turned grave.
"The one who ca to Britain from beyond the stars today... was not just the owner of the vessel. There is another enemy, one who is already within Britain."
"And she... may be even more dangerous than the vessel's master."
In Alvin's increasingly bewildered gaze, rlin slowly spoke the words:
"She cos from the Moon."
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