Warhammer Divine Throne

Chapter 1278: Chapter 548: Knight’s Lament

”Use your sword to completely destroy my soul along with my decaying body, to obliterate it all!” Landuin loudly declared his final wish: ”Use your unique power to turn my flesh into ashes, my soul into nothingness, to utterly annihilate my shell and spirit! This is my last wish!”

Landuin’s wish shocked everyone,

”No, I cannot do this!” Laine was astonished by Landuin’s wish, and he immediately shook his head: ”No, Sir Landuin, I cannot raise my sword against you again; we have already settled the outcome!”

Under the early spring moonlight, above the muddy swamp, the Lake Knight laughed after hearing this, bursting into hearty laughter.

Large tears dripped onto his armor and mixed with his blood.

”Back then, I said the same to Sirulf.” Landuin was still smiling, but his tears had long streamed down his face: ”After that champion duel, I defeated Sirulf. Sirulf asked me to kill him, and I said the same; I told my dear brother that the match was decided and that I would not raise my sword against him again.”

The laughter disappeared, and the greatest first Holy Grail Knight, the first Duke of Musillon, the Lake Knight, was crying uncontrollably.

”My dear brother, Sirulf, I owe him an apology.” Landuin’s tears flowed like rain, his sorrow affecting everyone: ”At that time, Sirulf told me that we would no longer be brothers; if I didn’t kill him, he would live on hating me for the rest of his life.”

”But I had no choice. I am not just myself; I am also the Duke of Musillon. When the people needed me to stand up, I had to fulfill my duty. I could only tell him that I was without guilt, that the duel was a fair one.”

Everyone fell silent, as many Holy Grail Knights recalled that Sirulf lived for a full three hundred and fifty years before dying in battle on the banks of the Sannes River. He was the last of the twelve original Holy Grail Knights to pass away. Could this be the power that hatred granted him?

”Even so, I cannot... Sir Landuin, do you know what this means if you do so?” Laine’s voice trembled uncontrollably: ”You will disappear from the universe forever, be completely erased from the tapestry of existence, leaving no trace in the world except in the memories of others!”

”That’s right!” Landuin nodded: ”I know, as long as I wish, my soul can once again return to the Goddess’s Divine Kingdom, and she would certainly be willing to open the door for me. But what does it matter?”

”But...”

”I only long for a true successor! My will, my martial skills, my legacy.” Landuin looked at Laine’s handsome face, with a voice full of solace: ”Now, I have found it, Laine Macado, you have defeated me and inherited from me. I have no regrets.”

”And also, for Musillon, I must die.” Landuin earnestly said again: ”Only if I completely disappear can Musillon truly be saved!”

”Truly saved?” Laine asked incredulously, unsure why only Landuin’s complete destruction could truly save Musillon.

As if seeing Laine’s confusion, Landuin slowly explained: ”I was too powerful, so powerful that the land of Musillon felt my sorrow and pain and responded to my emotions. In my final days, it was my emotions that corroded this land, gradually making Musillon fall into corruption. Even after my death, the environment here continued to deteriorate. Chaos and the Undead both used me, two corrupted and decayed energies tangling endlessly within my remains.”

”I must die! Only with the complete destruction of my soul, only by ending my sorrow, can the corruption of Chaos and the Undead stop and gradually dissipate!” Landuin loudly commanded: ”Therefore, I order you! Laine Macado, my successor, kill me! This is my wish!”

”Only with my complete disappearance, my soul obliterated, will the corruption of Chaos and the Undead vanish from Musillon, and Musillon can be saved; this is my destiny, a debt I must repay!” Landuin then gestured for Laine to act, maintaining his kneeling posture.

This greatest first Holy Grail Knight was about to sacrifice everything to save Musillon.

”No...I cannot...I...” Laine’s eyes were already brimming with tears.

The Count of Glamorgan, no, the newly appointed Duke of Musillon, was trembling as he held the hand of the Goddess of Revenge.

Even after struggling with Landuin from noon till now deep into the night, Laine’s hands had never once trembled. But at this very moment, faced with this situation, Laine only felt his hands shaking; he couldn’t grip the hilt of the Goddess of Revenge properly.

He was unable to act against Landuin, a man who had entrusted him with everything, even if it was his command.

Seeing Laine unable to act, the Lake Knight’s gaze gradually became gentle and compassionate.

”Sacrifice is a virtue, Laine.” Landuin said softly.

”When we picked up the cavalry lance and walked the Knightly path, when we Knights swore the Knight’s oath to the Lady, Knights 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 have chosen. This is the Knightly Path. When we choose the Knightly Path, we will not be crushed by its weight!”

”Because this is the sacrifice Knights make for the Mortal World. What we can feel is not just a morsel of selfish and pitiable joy. The sacrifice of Knights will benefit millions, even if not all Knights who have sacrificed will be remembered, even if not all sacrificed Knights will receive fairness, Knights will never regret it. In the face of our ashes, noble people will shed tears.”

”This is what it means to be a Knight. Sacrifice is the cornerstone upon which humanity stands. Remember, No sacrifice, no victory.”

Laine cried, two streams of tears traced down his cheeks. The Divine Chosen Champion of the Lake Fairy wiped away his tears with his hand, nodding vigorously: ”I understand, Sir Landuin!”

At this moment, the crowd of onlookers were all sobbing, even the King of Wood Elves, Olein, turned his face and sighed softly.

”Do not be sad!” Seeing Laine finally agree to his request, Landuin nodded in satisfaction: ”Do not sob; this is not an expression a man should have, Laine. Be strong; our deeds will be sung until the world’s end. You can always see me in your memory!”

”Alright, make your move!” With that said, Landuin closed his eyes, indicating to Laine that he could proceed!

”Ahhhhhhh!!!” Laine let out a mournful howl. He raised the Goddess of Revenge, burning with Spiritual Fire, and pierced through Landuin’s figure from behind. The Spiritual Fire spread from the void, beginning to gradually consume Landuin’s soul.

The process was extremely painful, the sensation of the soul being burned is not something a mortal can endure, but Landuin continued to grit his teeth and endure. The Lake Knight lowered his head to look at the Goddess of Revenge piercing his heart, then lifted his gaze to the nighttime sky: ”Until the end, I can only convey my thoughts in this way.”

He recalled many things.

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

He thought of Arthur, Sirulf, and himself forming an alliance through marriage.

He recalled the days of turmoil and warfare when Greenskins ravaged Brittania, as the three each led their own duchy’s armies to form an alliance, jointly resisting the Greenskins.

He remembered the appearance of the Lake Fairy, drinking the Holy Grail Water, the twelve great founding wars, and the assembly of the Holy Grail Companions. He thought of those companions: Marcus, Son of the Sea God from Boldro, Agirgel riding Pegasus from Paragon, the strong Balduin from Borelion, Fredermond from Aquitaine who tamed birds, Belon from Jisoleox who liked deer, the bravest Sirulf from Leonais, and the most mature and charismatic Arthur...

The twelve Holy Grail Companions along with Arthur, closely united together, what a wonderful time that was!

In his prime, repeating day after day the days of deadly battles on the battlefield, charging ahead as a knight only focused on striking stronger.

I always owe Arthur and Sirulf an apology.

While Landuin’s memories flashed by, he felt his body being embraced. Struggling to open his eyes, a dazzling green light appeared before him.

”Landuin, my brother!” The Green Knight held the Lake Knight’s body in his arms, the King of Green Eyes had finally arrived.

”This familiar voice...” Landuin suddenly understood, he understood everything. The Lake Knight smiled bitterly: ”My king, your judgment is late, but I still must apologize to you. I once believed I could find a way to solve the problem, I could find a way for you to forgive me, and so did Sirulf,”

”Ultimately, I chose this method of escape, hoping to gain your understanding.” Landuin’s voice grew quieter, his soul gradually burning away under Laine’s spiritual energy.

Regret and pain accompanied Landuin’s life.

”I have long forgiven you, Landuin.” The Green Knight glowed with green light, his voice choked: ”The same goes for Sirulf, I came for forgiveness.”

”Is that so? That’s truly great.” Landuin’s voice was almost inaudible: ”What a pity, I can never return, to those grand and beautiful past... Laine?”

”Yes!” Laine quickly responded, already full of tears.

”You’ve done... very well... my heir, Musillon, I’ll leave it to you...”

In the flames of spiritual energy, Landuin’s body gradually dissipated, along with the final remnants of light, his soul and body had completely vanished.

Leaving behind only his sword and cavalry lance, Landuin had nothing left.

”This is for you, in the future, this will be your cavalry lance.” The Green Knight reached out to pick up the Unbreakable Lake Light, handing it to Laine: ”As for not dying barehanded, you better keep it safe, find someone worthy of trust!”

”Yes!” Laine took the cavalry lance, wiping away his tears.

”Don’t be sad, inheritor of Landuin.” The King of Green Eyes’ voice carried a heavy tone: ”Look at the sky.”

Laine looked up.

Thousands of glowing iris flower petals scattered from the Green Knight’s embrace, flying towards the night sky, spreading around Musillon: ”How warm, is this Lord Landuin’s power?”

”This is Landuin’s final gift, he sacrificed everything of himself to save the land he loved.” The Green Knight lifted his head in pride: ”Now, fulfill your duty as the Duke of Musillon! Drive out Chaos, eliminate the Undead, bring back glory and virtue to this land!”

”Yes!” Laine answered loudly.

With Landuin’s complete disappearance and the scattering of thousands of iris flower petals over all of Musillon territory, the corruption and decay that had plagued the land for a thousand years began to gradually fade away.

The long night over Musillon is about to break.

A new dawn has arrived.