Chapter 548: Knight's Lament

"Use your sword to completely destroy my soul and my decaying body, annihilate everything!" Randuin loudly voiced his final wish. "Use your unique power to turn my flesh to ashes, my soul to nothingness, obliterate both my body and spirit! This is my last wish!"

Randuin's wish shocked everyone.

"No, I can't do that!" Ryan was astonished by Randuin's request and immediately shook his head. "No, Sir Randuin, I can't swing my sword at you again; we've already decided the outcome!"

Under the early spring moonlight, on the muddy swamp, the Knight of the Lake laughed upon hearing this. He laughed heartily.

Large drops of tears fell on his armor, mixing with his blood.

"Back then, I said the same to Sylruf," Randuin was still laughing, but his tears had already covered his face. "After that championship duel, I defeated Sylruf. Sylruf asked me to kill him, and I said the same thing. I told my good brother that the outcome was decided, and I wouldn't swing my sword at him again."

The laughter disappeared. The greatest of the first Holy Grail Knights, the first Duke of Mousilon, the Knight of the Lake was now crying uncontrollably.

"My good brother, Sylruf, I owe him an apology," Randuin's tears fell like rain, and his sorrow affected everyone. "At that time, Sylruf told me we were no longer brothers. If I didn't kill him, he would live with hatred and spend his life hating me."

"But I had no choice. I was not only myself; I was also the Duke of Mousilon. When my people needed me to step up, I had to fulfill my duty. I could only tell him that I had a clear conscience and that the duel was fair."

Everyone was silent. Many Holy Grail Knights thought of Sylruf, who lived for 350 years before dying in battle by the River Sones. Was it hatred that gave him strength?

"Even so, I can't... Sir Randuin, do you know what this means?" Ryan's voice trembled uncontrollably. "You will disappear forever from the universe, completely erased from existence. Except for the memories of others, you will leave no trace in this world!"

"That's right!" Randuin nodded. "I know. If I wish, my soul can return to the Lady's divine kingdom. She would gladly open the doors for me, but what is the point?"

"But..."

"I only hope for a true successor! My will, my martial skills, my legacy." Randuin looked at Ryan's handsome face, his voice filled with relief. "Now I've found him, Ryan Malcador. You defeated me, you inherit from me, and I have no regrets."

"Moreover, for Mousilon, I must die." Randuin spoke seriously. "Only by my complete disappearance can Mousilon truly be saved!"

"Truly saved?" Ryan asked incredulously. Why could only Randuin's complete death truly save Mousilon?

As if seeing Ryan's confusion, Randuin slowly explained, "I am too powerful, so powerful that this land of Mousilon felt my sadness and pain, responding to my emotions. In my final moments, it was my emotions that eroded this land, gradually causing Mousilon to become depraved and corrupted. Even after my death, the environment here continually worsens. Chaos and the undead have exploited me, with two corrupt and depraved energies entangled within my remains."

"I must die! Only by completely destroying my soul, ending my sorrow, can the corruption of Chaos and the undead on this land cease and gradually fade!" Randuin ordered loudly. "So I command you, Ryan Malcador, my successor, kill me! This is my wish!"

"Only by my complete disappearance, soul annihilation, can the corruption of Chaos and the undead vanish from Mousilon, and Mousilon can be saved. This is my destiny, a debt I must repay!" Randuin signaled Ryan to act while maintaining his kneeling posture.

The greatest of the first Holy Grail Knights was to sacrifice everything to save Mousilon.

"No... I can't... I..." Ryan was already in tears.

The Count of Glamorgan, or rather the new Duke of Mousilon, was trembling as he held the Vengeful Goddess.

After a bitter battle with Randuin from noon till now, deep into the night, Ryan's hands had never trembled once. But at this moment, facing this situation, Ryan felt his hands shaking, unable to grip the sword handle of the Vengeful Goddess tightly.

He couldn't bring himself to strike Randuin, this venerable person who had passed everything on to him, even if it was an order.

Seeing that Ryan couldn't act, the Knight of the Lake's gaze gradually became gentle and compassionate.

"Sacrifice is a virtue, Ryan," Randuin said softly.

"When we took up the lance and embarked on the path of knighthood, when we knights swore our oaths to the Lady, we were destined to bear the burden of protecting the kingdom. Facing strong enemies, knights never fear. Facing difficulties, knights never give up. This is the path we chose, this is chivalry. When we chose the path of chivalry, we wouldn't be crushed by its weight!"

"Because this is the sacrifice knights make for the mortal world, what we feel is not a bit of selfish and pitiful happiness. A knight's sacrifice will benefit millions. Though not all knights who sacrifice will be remembered, and not all who sacrifice will be treated fairly, knights will never regret it. Noble people will shed tears over our ashes."

"This is a knight. Sacrifice is the foundation upon which humanity stands. Remember, no sacrifice, no victory."

Ryan cried, tears streaming down his cheeks. The Lady of the Lake's chosen champion wiped away his tears and nodded vigorously. "I understand, Sir Randuin!"

At this moment, the onlookers were all sobbing. Even Orion, the King of the Wood Elves, turned his face away and sighed softly.

"Do not grieve!" Randuin saw that Ryan finally agreed to his request and nodded with satisfaction. "Do not cry. This is not an expression a man should have. Ryan, be strong. Our deeds will be sung until the world's end. You can always see me in your memories!"

"Now, do it!" Randuin closed his eyes, signaling Ryan to proceed.

"Ahhhh!" Ryan let out a mournful cry. He raised the Vengeful Goddess, the sword burning with psychic fire pierced Randuin from behind. The psychic fire spread from the void, gradually consuming Randuin's soul.

This process was extremely painful. The feeling of one's soul being burned was not something a mortal could endure. But Randuin gritted his teeth and persevered. The Knight of the Lake looked down at the Vengeful Goddess piercing his heart, then looked up at the night sky. "Until the end, I can only express my longing this way."

He remembered many things.

He remembered practicing knightly skills from a young age, pursuing victory and strength.

He remembered forming an alliance through marriage with Arthur and Sylruf.

He remembered the years of war when greenskins ravaged Bretonnia, each leading their duchy's army to form a coalition against the greenskins.

He remembered the appearance of the Lady of the Lake, drinking the Holy Grail water, the twelve founding battles, the gathering of the Holy Grail companions. He remembered those companions: Marcus, the son of the sea god from Bordeleaux; Aguilger, the Pegasus rider from Paravon; Bauduin, the strong one from Brionne; Fredmond, the falcon trainer from Aquitaine; Beron, who loved stags from Gisoreux; Sylruf, the bravest from Lyonesse; and the most mature and charismatic, Arthur...

Twelve Holy Grail companions plus Arthur, everyone united tightly. Those were wonderful times!

At his peak, day after day, he repeated deadly battles, charging into the fray, a knight solely pursuing strength and victory.

I always owe Arthur and Sylruf an apology.

As Randuin's memories flashed back, he felt his body being embraced. Struggling to open his eyes, he saw a blinding green light.

"Randuin, my brother!" The Green Knight held the Knight of the Lake's body. The King of Green Eyes had finally arrived.

"This familiar voice..." Randuin suddenly understood. He understood everything. The Knight of the Lake smiled bitterly. "My king, your judgment comes late, but I must still apologize. I once believed I could find a solution, a way to earn your forgiveness. Sylruf too."

"In the end, I chose this escapist method, hoping to gain your forgiveness." Randuin's voice grew fainter as his soul was gradually consumed by Ryan's psychic power.

Guilt and pain accompanied Randuin's life.

"I forgave you long ago, Randuin." The Green Knight, radiating green light, choked up. "Sylruf too. I came to forgive."

"Is that so? That's great." Randuin's voice was almost inaudible. "Pity, we can never return to those magnificent, beautiful past... Ryan?"

"Yes!" Ryan responded quickly, already in tears.

"Well done... my successor, Mousilon is in your hands..."

In the flames of psychic power, Randuin's body gradually dissipated. Along with the last remnants of light, his soul and body were completely annihilated.

Except for his sword and lance, Randuin left nothing behind.

"This is for you. In the future, this will be your lance." The Green Knight picked up the indestructible Lake Light and handed it to Ryan. "As for the Immortal Hand, keep it and find someone worthy to entrust it to!"

"Yes!" Ryan took

 the lance and wiped away his tears.

"Do not grieve, successor of Randuin." The King of Green Eyes' voice carried some heaviness. "Look at the sky."

Ryan looked up.

Thousands of glowing iris petals scattered from the Green Knight's embrace, flying into the night sky and spreading around Mousilon. "So warm. Is this Sir Randuin's power?"

"This is Randuin's final gift. He sacrificed everything to save the land he loved." The Green Knight raised his head. "Now, fulfill your duty as Duke of Mousilon! Drive out Chaos, destroy the undead, and bring glory and virtue back to this land!"

"Yes!" Ryan responded loudly.

With Randuin's complete disappearance and thousands of iris petals scattered across Mousilon, the corruption and decay that plagued this land for a thousand years began to fade.

Mousilon's long night was about to break.

A new dawn had arrived.

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