-863- For our own desire

"————"

In the basin, an indescribable silence pervaded.

Everyone present looked at Arjuna, waiting for his choice.

Only Karna, silently gazing at Arjuna, already knew what choice he would make.

It must be...

"Regrettably."

Arjuna coldly expressed his refusal.

"I've said it before. Only opposition to Karna is my path."

This was Arjuna's only obsession.

This obsession, even in the face of the crisis in humanity, under the end of the world, could not be eliminated.

"How could it be eradicated?"

Arjuna spoke with suppressed voice.

"This is the only meaning of my existence now."

Saying this, Arjuna turned his gaze toward Karna.

Then, like an arrow leaving the bowstring, Arjuna suddenly shot forward, disappearing into the distant mountains with a whistling wind and afterimages.

Obviously, Arjuna had made a choice and would not fight alongside Rozen's group.

The reason being solely that Karna was already here.

Everyone seemed to have guessed this outcome and looked at Arjuna leaving with complex expressions.

"You... Aren't you going to chase after him?" Jason asked as if unable to understand. "If that guy runs away and joins the Celtic side, what are we going to do?"

This was not an impossible scenario.

Remember, earlier Arjuna had joined the Celts because Karna joined the indigenous side, becoming an accomplice to the Mad King and the Queen.

Now, realizing it was no longer possible to challenge Karna here alone without being stopped by Rozen's group, Arjuna decisively retreated. It was undoubtedly his intention to join the Celtic side to seek a decisive victory against Karna in the upcoming mythological war.

At least, if Arjuna doesn't join the Celts, he won't have a fair chance to battle Karna.

If this had happened earlier, the group wouldn't have stopped Karna and Arjuna's destined battle.

However, after the incident where Cú Chulainn secretly attacked Rozen and the imminent outbreak of a full-scale mythological war, the group couldn't allow Arjuna to challenge Karna anymore. Furthermore, they wouldn't permit Karna to face Arjuna alone.

Given these circumstances, if Arjuna wants a fair fight against Karna, he can only join the Celts.

Naturally, having a top-tier Servant like Arjuna join the Celts would be extremely unfavorable.

Ideally, the group should have surrounded and attacked Arjuna on the spot after learning of his choice, preventing the Celts from gaining a powerful new ally.

Jason certainly thought this way, unable to comprehend why the group was letting Arjuna leave.

From this perspective, Jason's thoughts were correct.

However...

"Let me defeat Arjuna."

Karna declared this emotionlessly, his tone and expression displaying an undeniable determination.

As mentioned earlier, just like Arjuna's persistence in facing Karna, Karna was also pursuing Arjuna's figure.

So, if the group intended to kill Arjuna, Karna might not object.

Being hailed as "The Hero of Charity," Karna accepted any injustice, disadvantage, or unfair situation with equanimity. Even if he held a personal attachment to Arjuna, when Rozen decided to surround Arjuna, Karna wouldn't oppose it.

But precisely because of this, Rozen couldn't issue such an order.

After all...

"Understanding goes both ways. If others are willing to accommodate me, I'm willing to accommodate them."

Rozen looked at Karna.

"Arjuna is in your hands, Karna."

Rozen simply said this.

Upon hearing this, a faint smile appeared on Karna's face.

"Thank you, Master."

Karna bowed sincerely to Rozen.

Being able to make "The Hero of Charity" bow in genuine gratitude indicated how honorable and significant this moment was.

However, looking at Karna in this way, not just Rozen but even Mash felt a sense of pity.

This great hero from India had suffered too much injustice in his lifetime. Even after manifesting in this singularity, with the intervention of the unseen hand behind the incineration of humanity, all his companions around him were killed, leaving only him alive.

In this situation, Karna, despite facing all the difficulties and sorrows, protected the remaining indigenous people, enduring it all without complaints and regrets, persisting until the end.

Being "The Hero of Charity" was not as easy as it seemed.

Therefore, even if it was only this once, Rozen wanted to fulfill Karna's wish, allowing Karna to fulfill his own desire and have a fair showdown with Arjuna.

"The Hero of Charity."

"The Endowed Hero."

The fate between these two heroes can only be resolved by themselves; others have no room for intervention.

"Let's go with this decision."

Rozen glanced around at everyone present.

"Now, let's thoroughly set up this basin and then head to the northern lands."

This would be the final war and battle.

"Yes."

Mash nodded heavily.

"Let me witness the end."

Scáthach said with a smile.

"Sita..."

Rama looked towards the north, holding the immortal blade tightly, as if gazing at a loved one in that direction.

"Arjuna..."

Karna also gazed towards the north, flames burning in his eyes, casting a fiery hue.

As for the Greek side, each of them had their own emotions as they looked at Rozen's group.

"Perhaps they can really defeat the Celts."

Atalante hoped somewhat.

"Now, we can only win in this mythological war."

Jason gritted his teeth.

"I'll always be watching you."

Medea murmured silently to the enraged Jason, her eyes showing a strange radiance.

"Roar————!"

Finally, Berserker roared towards the sky, like a pre-battle horn, or the rallying drum inspiring morale, echoing through the heavens.

The day slowly brightened, welcoming the dawn.

However, whether there was light ahead, no one knew.

All they knew was one thing.

The road ahead would surely be rugged.

Even with all the Servants from both Indian and Greek myths gathered, forming the same camp with a total of eight Servants, whether Rozen could defeat the Celts remained an unknown.

What could be confirmed was that no advantage had been established.

Next, how to move towards victory would depend on individual perspectives and strategies.