When the plot-skips players into the game world

These gargoyles were positioned in the sky specifically to prevent Gryphons from flying about. They were like "mines" in the air.

Originally, these Gryphons could carry some bishops and use Holy Fields to neutralize the gargoyles or shrink their area of operation, then slowly destroy them with storms.

After all, the gargoyle's magic resistance could not significantly weaken the innate spells of the Gryphons, just as Law Magic of the Third Power Level or higher was also effective against the gargoyles.

White-winged Gryphons were at least Fourth Power Level transcendent creatures. Although stone is an insulator, making it difficult to inflict effective damage with thunder, those sharp blades of wind were still effective. They just needed to be cut up, and the balance-lost gargoyles could no longer fly.

But now, gargoyles could resist dispersal and even fire back with machine guns to a limited extent. Even if knights clad in Blessed Armor were not particularly afraid of the bullets, it didn't mean that the flesh-and-blood Gryphons could bathe in a barrage of machine-gun bullets and charge in the opposite direction without using Elementalization.

...Without a doubt, this must have been a technical application developed by this world's own.

With these gargoyles, it was impossible for Princess Isabel to fly to the Holy Nation on a Gryphon.

The gargoyles could also provide vision for the rear, including night vision. Under their surveillance, even travelling by boat was very dangerous... Once discovered, a swarm of enemies would immediately appear. Even for a Fifth Power Level Transcendent, not all Paths have the ability to transport people across the sea.

Upon this thought, the Stranger paused for a moment.

...Speaking of which.

How did Princess Isabel get to the Holy Nation? Was she directly teleported there?

But if Princess Isabel had already been teleported, the ascension ceremony should have ended already...

Then there's probably only one answer left.

"They must have taken a boat,"

The Stranger answered, "You should be able to tell, I'm telling the truth—I indeed saw Princess Isabel. She previously appeared at Moriarty Manor. She must have left with Bishop Moriarty."

"...Aiwass, eh? No wonder..."

The Guardian murmured, "That child Aiwass sent me a letter a few days ago, saying that the people of Star Antimony might be making a move, advising me to be more vigilant. It's because of this that I was able to reach the border area in time to stop the large Star Antimony forces...

"I can't leave at all now. If I were to turn back, the front line would immediately be breached. Once their main force lands, there would be no hope left."

Seeing the Guardian's expression relax, he began to speak more.

Only then did the Stranger confirm... The Guardian indeed had a death wish a moment ago.

He felt that the queen and the princess were dead, and Prince John was probably deceased as well. Since Avalon was essentially no more, he saw no need to keep living—he didn't want to live in an Avalon controlled by Star Antimony.

The words the Guardian conveyed to "Master Nobel" were like a will.

...One could only imagine how he planned to die.

If it were a Knight...

For some reason, an image suddenly appeared in the Stranger's mind—a lone Guardian riding his Gryphon under dark clouds, facing the sky full of armed gargoyles.

It was a suicide charge. Or rather, it was a charge to certain death.

He did not use combat skills to evade injury, nor did he call upon any spells. The charge seemed to be a statement of "I'd rather die than stand with you," and therefore he did not Elementalize. Instead, he accelerated without limit and crashed into them with his body violently.

The image was so clear, as if a Prophet had transmitted the vision directly into his mind.

With a surge of passion, the Stranger suddenly spoke out, "I know the weak points of the gargoyles."

"...Oh?"

The Guardian perked up, "You're truly Master Nobel, so quick to discern their exact weaknesses!"

"...Of course. The person who created these things must be a vain and ignorant fool. He doesn't have any real strength, only a bit of cunning.

"Unlike the Rune Colossus, the weak points of the armed gargoyles are very deadly."

The Stranger, suppressing his discomfort, spoke slowly, "He must have known these weak points for a while but kept them hidden. It's undoubtedly risky behavior. Once someone discovers the weak points on the battlefield... like me right now, the front lines would immediately face trouble."

It was all just a promotion ceremony after all, he consoled himself.

In the real world, even if he was dissatisfied with Star Antimony, he would never provide Avalonians with the weak points of the armed gargoyles.

But all this was fake now.

...So, in this falsehood.

He decided to see what it would be like to destroy them.

Whether he would feel heartache, loss... or just relief.

Thinking thus, he took out a blood-red potion from his carry case. It was only the size of a baby's fist, small enough to be concealed directly in the palm of an adult's hand.

This was the "Life-V," a Fourth Power Level healing concoction that was the most effective on the market. It could restore vitality even to a Fifth Power Level Transcendent... There were only two bottles in the case, originally intended for his teacher and Tussaud.

If they were to fight, then it was best to heal the Guardian first.

The Stranger handed it over to the Guardian.

And the Guardian, without any suspicion, took it and drank it down in one go.