Overview
Arthur Pendragon, also known as King Arthur, was a young and determined ruler at just 16 years old. Renowned for his bravery and strong sense of justice, he embodied the spirit of a true leader, always striving for the best for his kingdom, Camelot. He was a friend of the Seven Deadly Sins, especially Meliodas. However, the harsh realities of his idealistic vision and the acquisition of the power of Chaos led him down a darker path, turning him into a sadistic and ruthless tyrant.
Story
Early Life
Arthur was adopted by Uther Pendragon, then, the king of cammelot. In this new family he also had an adoptive brother, Kay. Despite being aware of Kay’s hostility, he only wished to improve their relationship. He never held a grudge against Kay.
Arthur’s Charm
Arthur quickly adapted to court life, gaining the respect of his father, the nobles, and the servants.
Kay’s challenge to Arthur
From a young age, Arthur excelled with swords, consistently overcoming Kay’s challenges. Once, Kay dared him to hit an apple with a wooden stick while blindfolded on a cliff. He succeeded, which infuriated Kay, who then pushed him off the cliff. Bartra Liones, the King of Liones, saved him. During their conversation, Arthur mentioned that he knew Kay didn’t like him, yet he showed no anger towards his brother. Bartra admired this attitude so much that he even predicted Arthur would one day become a king.
Rise to Kingship
Arthur’s destiny took a significant turn when he pulled the sacred sword Excalibur from a stone at just 16 years old, marking him as the rightful king of Camelot. He succeeded where many powerful individuals had failed. As a young king, Arthur was idealistic, dreaming of transforming Camelot into a peaceful and prosperous place.
Challenges and Tragedy
Arthur’s reign was fraught with challenges. Despite his noble intentions, he faced numerous threats to his kingdom. The fall of Camelot was a central moment in his life. The destruction of his kingdom and the loss of his people plunged Arthur into deep despair.
Arthur’s Transformation into the King of Chaos
Arthur became the King of Chaos after a series of dramatic events. Guided by Merlin, who secretly planned to awaken the ancient power of Chaos, Arthur was revived after being mortally wounded.
This resurrection made him the host of Chaos, giving him great power. His new abilities, which changed his appearance and allowed him to control reality, came with the duty of shaping the world to match his new vision. Arthur’s path was set when he absorbed Cath Palug, a creature drawn to Chaos, fully accepting his role as the King of Chaos.
What Happened to Arthur in The Four Knights Anime?
“Now bow before the supremacy of the king, all you who partake in wickedness”
Arthur Pendragon to the people of Liones.
Why did Arthur become evil?
In Nanatsu no Taizai: Mokushiroku no Yonkishi, Arthur’s character has undergone significant changes, even though his appearance has remained the same after 16 years. His goal now is to create a world where humans can live in peace, but he plans to achieve this by eliminating all non-human races. He believes that their coexistence would only lead to endless wars and human sacrifices.
This conviction likely stems from the destruction of his kingdom during the war between demons and other races. Additionally, his connection to the power of Chaos might be influencing his current mindset, as Chaos was sealed by the Goddess and Demon races and holds a special appreciation for humans. In chapter 159 of Mokushiroku no Yonkishi, Arthur’s brother hints at this, telling Percival that what they see now isn’t the Arthur he once knew.
Arthur used the power of Chaos to create a new Camelot in a separate dimension, often referred to as the Eternal Kingdom. He takes parts of Britannia and moves them to this new kingdom, slowly consuming Britannia’s terrain and natural resources, like rivers. This is one of the main reasons for the war between Britannia and the rebuilt Camelot, along with the twisted ideology of the King of Chaos regarding other races, which directly conflicts with the beliefs of Meliodas and Liones, who think all races should live together peacefully.
Arthur’s attack on Liones
Arthur descended from the sky on a massive stairway created with Chaos power. Upon arriving, he immediately demonstrated his strength by effortlessly tossing Percival aside when he tried an offensive. When he unleashed Chaos’s power, most people present, including Nasiens, Percival, and Donny, could barely move due to its overwhelming force, although Gawain, Arthur’s niece, remained unaffected.
After displaying his power, Arthur delivered a speech directly into the minds of everyone in Liones, trying to convince them that Camelot is a safe haven free from all threats and disasters. He assured them that he wouldn’t force anyone to join him.
When Meliodas stepped in to protect his son, Tristan, who had come to challenge Arthur, he tried to reason with him. However, Arthur remained firm, saying that his eyes were already wide open. In the battle that followed, he easily handled both Meliodas and Tristan, even though Tristan unintentionally got in his father’s way. Achieving this without using his full power is still impressive.
Lancelot then entered the scene, catching Arthur off guard with a powerful attack and a kick, mocking him effortlessly. In response, the Chaos within Arthur instinctively acted to protect him, landing a hit on Lancelot, who then unleashed his full power, surprising Arthur.
However, before the situation could escalate further, a flying ship carrying the Knights of Chaos arrived to call Arthur back. Recognizing that a full-scale battle was unwise at that moment, he wisely agreed and used his reality-manipulating power to vanish from the battlefield.
Wolnack arc
After the last events, Arthur takes his next step by capturing Princess Guinevere to use her Kaleidoscope magical ability. This power lets her see the future in vivid and realistic dreams. It’s similar to Bartra’s future prediction, but less vague, as Guinevere experiences those moments as if they were real. When Ironside comes to capture her, she doesn’t resist because she knew it would happen. She says that if she tries to change her fate, it will come at an even higher price.
When Guinevere arrives, she goes straight to Arthur, knowing this is where her fate leads. Arthur, seemingly accompanied by Merlin, assures her that she’s not a prisoner but an honored guest, promising to give her as much freedom as possible. He also mentions wanting to make her his bride, not out of love, but for appearances in Camelot. His real interest, however, is in her Clairvoyance.
Guinevere then unnerves Arthur by revealing that the Merlin with him is just an illusion created by the power of chaos. The real body belongs to an unknown fairy held hostage by Arthur, who was made to look like Merlin. Arthur admits that he had nearly convinced himself it was the real Merlin.
Arthur then asks Guinevere about the future involving him and the four knights. She explains the knights’ plans, including their journey to Wolnack and what they’ll do there. She also reveals that Arthur will send two of his Chaos Knights, Macduff and Teaninich, but Lancelot will spot them, forcing both to flee. Arthur is impressed by the level of detail in her vision and orders Orlondi to send anyone stationed near Wolnack into the town to try to defeat the four knights, believing it will be easier now that he knows where they’ll be. Guinevere warns him that trying to change his fate comes with higher costs, but Arthur dismisses her, saying he’ll never know unless he tries.
The move led to the deaths of both Macduff and Teaninich, who died for Camelot, and Jade, who was lost from Percival’s team. When Arthur received the news, he was surprisingly happy with the outcome. He claimed that Percival and his friends are just a bunch of kids and believed the loss would have a big emotional impact on them. Arthur considered the cost of losing two on their side to be low.
