Rhongomyniad: a Holy Lance of the same tier as the Holy Sword of the Planet.
Its true form is the Anchor of the Planet, connecting the Reverse Side and the surface of the World, pinning down the rules of the planet. At the same time, as a divine artifact even more renowned than Excalibur, it goes by many other names.
The Anchor that Pins the World, the Spear of the Storm, the Shining Pillar of Light, and the Spear that Penetrates My Son, among others...
As for its function, to use Merlin's words: the world of humans and the world of fairies are like a layer of skin draped over the planet. It needs a "Pillar of Light" like the Holy Lance to stitch them together. If these pillars are dismantled, this "skin" of the world will peel off the planet.
Simply put, it is merely a fig leaf for a setting in the Type-Moon universe.
However, after understanding the setting of Rhongomyniad, Souya finally understood why Vortigern was willing to risk having his territory taken rather than spare any effort to pull out the Holy Lance.
This was not just because its power was immense, but also because only by pulling out the Anchor of the Planet could the influence of the world's rules on Britain be weakened. This would loosen the boundary between the Inner and Outer World, allowing Vortigern to obtain True Ether from the Inner Sea of the Planet to support the preservation of the Age of Gods.
What caught both Vortigern and Souya completely off guard was that upon their very first meeting, Rhongomyniad resonated with Souya and chose him.
But at this moment, Souya did not delve too deeply into why the Holy Lance chose him. His mind was entirely occupied by Vortigern's words.
"You want me to go undercover in the Knights of the Round Table?"
Seemingly completely unprepared for Vortigern to suggest this, Souya's brow furrowed instantly.
He instinctively refused:
"That is impossible. Those people at the Round Table all know I serve Lady Morgan; they will not trust me at all. Furthermore, I have already sworn an oath regarding this matter—an oath I will absolutely not break."
"Moreover..."
At this point, Souya paused slightly.
"What does this have to do with our plan?"
"It has everything to do with it."
Vortigern seemed to have anticipated Souya's refusal and continued, his expression unchanged.
"Even though I have pulled out the Anchor of the Planet, loosening the Inner and Outer World, this is ultimately an act that transcends the rules of the world. If we do not break the shackles between the inside and outside within a specific timeframe, then even if we have prepared everything, we will still not succeed."
"The dragon has already taught us this truth through its actions."
As he spoke, Vortigern looked up again at the massive corpse. The corpse still maintained a posture of digging downwards; even in death, this final dragon never abandoned the idea of digging through the wall of the world.
"Therefore, before that moment arrives, I will bear the attacks of the Red Dragon and her knights. All you need to do is hide among them and hurl the Holy Lance when the time comes."
"This is the safest method."
Listening to Vortigern's words, Souya instantly understood his meaning.
It was very simple: Vortigern was afraid that all his preparations would go down the drain just like Merlin's so-called prophecy predicted. That was why he sought out Souya, who shared the same destiny, to act as the ultimate failsafe.
When the time came, only the Calamitous White Dragon, the Vile King Vortigern, would stand before everyone. He would absorb and endure all the hostility and attacks, solely so that Souya—hidden in the most unexpected place—could successfully hurl Rhongomyniad.
That way, even if he lost his life, everything he had done would not be meaningless, nor would it be considered a failure.
"But..."
Knowing Vortigern's intention, Souya still hesitated and wavered.
His mind was filled with thoughts of Morgan, of Camelot about to welcome its glory, and the promise to marry him upon his return.
If possible, Souya did not want to participate in this kind of thing at all. He only wanted everything to settle down, to return to Camelot, and to marry Morgan and have children like in his ideal dream.
That was the ending he truly dreamed of.
However, as if to shatter Souya's fantasy, Vortigern spoke a series of words with absolute finality.
"There are no 'buts', Lamorak. In such a damned era, targeted by such a damned world, can there truly be a happy ending for you and me?"
The old man reached out and pressed the young knight's shoulder, every word piercing his heart.
"As the abandoned, we should have the resolve of the abandoned. If these sorrows can end in our hands, then do not leave them for those who come after. This is the biggest divergence between me and my twin brother."
"Face reality, Knight. The counterattack of the Age of Gods will not place all its bets on us. Even if we fall, there will be the next Vortigern, the next Lamorak, until all the people and things of the Age of Gods are completely dead."
"Who do you think, after we die, is the most likely person on this island to be chosen by the Age of Gods that has been driven to a dead end?"
"You mean..."
Souya's eyes twitched as he thought of an ending that was hardest for him to accept.
"Make your decision, Lamorak. The lingering light of the Age of Gods is both a blessing and a curse."
Vortigern's words were low and filled with resolve. He did not try to guide him patiently anymore, but waited for Souya's final answer.
He believed that this young knight possessed a resolve no less than his own.
Thus, after a brief silence, Souya's voice echoed in the underground cave once again.
"What should I do."
Hearing this, a smile tugged at the corners of Vortigern's mouth.
"The specific arrangement is very simple. We just need to stage a classic, crowd-pleasing story of rescuing a knight."
"All the infamy will be borne by me. You only need to make your preparations, and..."
At this point, Vortigern paused slightly, looking at Souya with a strange look in his eyes before saying:
"And decide whether or not to tell Morgan the truth of the matter."
Listening silently, Souya did not answer Vortigern's words. Instead, he lowered his head in silence, pondering something.
[Thus, you truly understood and confirmed what role you would play and what you must do in this final act.]
[Vortigern told you the infiltration plan.]
[It was an extremely cliché script: an overconfident knight attempts to assassinate the calamitous Vile King, but due to carelessness, is captured by the Vile King and imprisoned in a city. This news would then reach King Arthur's military camp.]
[As for whether King Arthur would actually come to save you, Vortigern held an indifferent attitude toward this almost decisive factor. This was naturally not because he was overly confident in you, but because his eyes had already seen the answer he wanted.]
[However, at this moment, you were not paying attention to this matter, but were writing a letter.]
[Yes, a letter. A letter addressed to Morgan.]
[You did not want to act like those cliché, trashy novels, hiding everything to do this out of some self-satisfying martyrdom, only for it to end in deepening misunderstandings between the two of you and causing even greater pain to each other.]
[So you wrote a letter, informing Morgan of the entire cause and effect. You expressed to her that you had absolutely no intention of betrayal, but merely wanted to do something for her and for this land of hers in the little time you had left.]
[It was just that, even though the letter was written, you still hesitated.]
[Ultimately, this was just your wishful thinking, your own self-righteousness.]
[This matter, this choice, was entirely decided based on your subjective judgment. For Morgan, this was unfair.]
[You could not guarantee that Morgan would accept such a reason, but under Vortigern's urging, you had no choice but to face the moment the play began.]
[In the end, this letter was still sent out, carrying your conflict and expectations.]
[And with Vortigern's deliberate orchestration, the news of Knight Lamorak being imprisoned due to a failed assassination attempt on the Vile King spread out, and was quickly known throughout all of Britain.]
[And so, an Infernal Affairs of Britain was about to begin.]