From God of Lies to Lord of All Worlds

Chapter 458: Drawing the Sword to Become King

The young woman's bloodstained hands, her incredibly resolute gaze, and her indomitable aura delivered a massive shock to the crowd.

Only then did they realize that they did not merely fall short of this young woman in one aspect, but in every conceivable way.

She could have chosen not to participate in the battle, but once she did, she performed better than even the most physically fit military personnel. She faced King Arthur's attacks head-on, forcibly blocking them instead of letting go of her weapon. She endured impacts capable of shattering a person's hands through sheer willpower.

"Why did you do that?" Edwin asked in confusion from behind her. "You have lived alone for so long, so you should know exactly what injuring your hands means."

His curiosity stemmed from the fact that Livia had gone against human nature. Instead of relaxing her grip upon being injured, she held her weapon even more firmly, which was the only reason she managed to withstand the strike.

That alone was something none of them could achieve.

It sounded simple, but going against human nature was inherently difficult. It required betraying one's own survival instincts.

Hearing his words, Livia raised her head and replied, "Because fighting with wolves is just like this. If I cannot trade injuries with them, they will drag away my sheep!"

Her tone was perfectly calm, yet the almost cruel reality of her life conveyed in those quiet words left everyone speechless.

Many found it hard to even imagine that in this modern society, there was still someone who needed to snatch their means of survival right from the jaws of wolves.A hushed silence fell over the crowd, and their gazes toward the young woman filled with a profound sense of awe. Exactly what kind of environment and willpower could forge a young girl into someone like this?

Her devotion was unparalleled, her willpower was as solid as bedrock, and she was an unwavering patriot—someone capable of protecting her sheep from a pack of ravenous wolves.

Looking at it this way, she truly was a fitting candidate for a king, especially since she also enjoyed the favor of the deities.

Such favor might seem insignificant on ordinary days, but at crucial moments, it could prove vital. Take King Arthur's past, for instance; if she had truly been on good terms with the gods, perhaps her journey to the homeland of the fairies would not have ended in a simple burial, but in a direct resurrection.

At this moment, the young woman's prestige began to steadily rise, reaching its peak as the subsequent trialists failed their challenges against King Arthur one after another.

The trials for the thirty-two candidates had completely concluded. Aside from Livia, only one man, exuding an icy demeanor, managed to pass King Arthur's test.

No one was familiar with this man, but with a single sentence, King Arthur denied his path to kingship.

"Your courage and willpower meet the standard, but as for your power... you cheated!" King Arthur declared. "I can sense an aura brimming with malice on you. It is the aura of a demon. Tsk... It seems Christianity has failed to manage its own Hell properly. How did they allow you to come here?"

The man's already frigid expression grew even more sullen. He had remained silent among the crowd, concealing himself all the way to this point, only to fall short at the final hurdle.

He raised his head, his face full of resentment. "No one ever stated that borrowing other powers was forbidden during the trial. If they are allowed to use guns, why am I forbidden from using the power of a demon?"

"If you had used magic, herbs, a baptism, or even this world's enhancement serums, I would not have said a word. What is not forbidden is permitted—but the power of Evil Gods and demons is absolutely unacceptable!"

King Arthur spoke with a calm indifference, a trace of disappointment visible on her face as she looked at the man. "I cannot even permit you to join any organization in this country, even if the blood of the Celtic people flows through your veins!"

"Demons should not exist in the human world, for they are the slaves of Hell and the very embodiment of malice!"

"The moment you accepted their power, you forfeited your right to be called human!"

Hearing this, the man finally dropped his facade. "Bullshit! How else was I supposed to pass your test without accepting this power? I have a grand plan that could revitalize this nation, yet you discriminate against me purely because of the nature of my strength!"

His words were genuine. After all, within the illusionary trial, he had indeed governed a nation perfectly—ruling it better than anyone else.

Unfortunately, he had strayed down the wrong path.

"Besides, how can anyone pass the test without relying on power?" The man pointed a finger at Livia. "Only a monster like her could pass. Was this not rigged by you all along?"

His hysterical outburst failed to elicit any reaction from King Arthur. She merely felt a sense of pity. "You could have become a knight like Lancelot, as we do not only crown kings in this world... What a shame. You have lost your chance!"

"Your soul has been corrupted. The lands of the Celts will not tolerate the presence of a demon's creation!" she declared, drawing the sword from her waist.

It was a blade forged from gold, gemstones, and incredibly sharp fairy metal. It was the legendary blade passed down through mythology, bearing the name Excalibur!

Seeing King Arthur draw her sword, the man no longer held back. He raised his head, his face contorted with cruelty and venom. "I am an Irishman! I am willing to do everything for this country, so why must you stand in my way?"

"But that does not matter anymore. You even gifted me a massive present. With the blessing of Crown Lucifer, I shall leave with this boon!"

When his hope warped into despair, his power seemed to receive a tremendous boost. His stature visibly expanded, and a dark aura began to emanate from his body.

This sudden twist left all the spectators caught completely off guard.

They frantically searched for any sign of the deity, only to realize the divine being had long since departed, leaving only King Arthur behind.

Was this legendary monarch about to battle a demon hidden among the trialists? What kind of chaotic development was this?

However, they barely had time to feel anxious. At the exact moment the battle between the two was about to ignite, a terrifying blast of fire roared and exploded across the area!

The man vanished entirely, replaced by a sheep-headed demon completely wreathed and saturated in raging fire!

The demon pointed a claw at Livia, then at King Arthur, and growled in a low voice, "I know I cannot possibly be a match for the great King Arthur. But if I decide to kill the future king of Britain right here and now, what do you think my chances of success are?"

"If I use my life as the price, I wonder if the great monarch can make a choice between saving these thirty trialists and protecting the new king?"

True to its nature as a demon, a single sentence was enough to make the sword-wielding King Arthur frown. She had chosen this testing ground herself; it had seemed perfectly adequate before, but now, it was far too cramped. If the enemy truly self-destructed, it would be incredibly tricky to handle!

She was a knight and a monarch, not a guardian or a mage. She could easily execute the creature on the spot, but she could not protect everyone present if it decided to blow itself up!

The cramped space had instead become an obstacle binding her hands.

"Please protect them, Your Majesty!" Livia spoke up softly at that moment, her words carrying a firmness that left the others stunned. "I can feel it. He cannot hurt me."

Hearing this, King Arthur hesitated no longer. She trusted the choice of the deities and immediately walked toward the crowd behind her.

This action made the demon's face twist with fury. It locked its deadly gaze onto the young woman. "Monarchs who love to play the hero never live long enough to take the throne!"

As it spoke, it prepared to hurl the fire in its hands at her. The terrifying flames surged directly toward Livia, causing all the spectators' hearts to clench in dread!

If their chosen sword-wielder died, what would they do?

In the very next second, a voice rang out from the courtyard of Buckingham Palace. "The Sword in the Stone has vanished!"

On the broadcast screens, a sword firmly embedded in a stone suddenly materialized right in front of the raging fire, blocking the flames entirely.

"The Sword in the Stone!" someone among the trialists shouted loudly, drawing everyone's attention instantly.

No one could have expected that instead of the young woman seeking out the Sword in the Stone, the sword had come to find her on its own accord. Such divine favor and supreme grace from the deities left everyone completely astounded!

At this moment, everyone's attention shifted away from the demon and converged entirely upon the young woman.

King Arthur's voice echoed in their ears, resounding clearly to observers all over the world.

"Go forth, divinely favored maiden, warrior of Britain, shepherd of Wales!"

"Draw that sword from the stone, and recite the name inscribed upon it! From this moment onward, you are the new king of Britain!"

Amidst the demon's fire, under the watchful eyes of countless people, Livia's calloused hands firmly gripped the sword hilt.

In this moment, she would draw the sword and become king!