[Chapter 2]: The Might of the Lion King

"Guh!"

Blood streamed from Kenshi's seven orifices as unbearable pain surged through him, relentlessly assaulting his mind and intensifying with every passing moment.

It was a violent destruction and rebirth from the inside out!

First, his bone marrow underwent a qualitative change, producing blood that was almost akin to a dragon's blood. Then, under the stimulus of this blood, his heart transformed into a magical furnace, continuously pumping blood and magical energy throughout his entire body—into his limbs and every part of his being. His bones, blood, flesh, and skin were all undergoing a full-scale metamorphosis at that moment!

Kenshi was evolving into something beyond human!

The blessing ended.

Kenshi, who had remained silent throughout, was now breathing heavily. The Crusader armor he once wore had been reduced to dust by the Lion King's magical force, revealing his sculpted, statuesque upper body.

Amid the soul-piercing pain, Kenshi could sense the changes in his body—an all-encompassing enhancement and an expansion of his limits!

The blessing granted by the Lion King, through dragon blood and magic, had elevated Kenshi's body to the brink of becoming godlike, endowing him with immense potential!

"Sir Kenshi, use your eyes well—" the Lion King's expression remained unchanged as if bestowing blessings was a mere casual act.

Kenshi's gem-like magic eyes were still functioning, but compared to before the blessing, he could now see the death lines on the Lion King's body more clearly.

They were within arm's reach, capable of delivering a fatal strike—

Kenshi took a deep breath and spoke with conviction.

"Thank you for the blessing, my King!"

At this moment, the Lion King was not someone he could challenge. In fact, after successfully becoming a knight, Kenshi had set a new goal—to firmly hold onto the Lion King's favor!

Now that the Lion King had compensated for his innate deficiencies, all Kenshi needed was time to grow stronger.

Thus, before Chaldea arrived, Kenshi had to seize every opportunity to gain enough power!

"Heretic! Heretic!!"

Roars echoed from the distance—the arrival of another squad of Crusaders!

As soon as the Crusaders appeared, Kenshi spun around, sword in hand, launching himself forward like a bullet, giving them no chance to even approach the Lion King!

Unlike facing the Lion King, Kenshi could see the death lines on all the Crusaders.

They were within reach!

Slash!!

Kenshi moved like a ghost, weaving through the ranks of Crusader knights, his blade flashing coldly and relentlessly.

They were all annihilated without any resistance!

Only a terrified black horse remained, which Kenshi seized without hesitation.

"My King, where shall we go next?"

Kenshi flicked his sword, drawing a crescent of blood on the ground.

Although Kenshi knew the Lion King's objective, he still wanted to hear it directly from the King.

"Destroy the Crusaders, establish Camelot," the Lion King replied, expressionless, as if it were a trivial matter.

Hearing this answer, Kenshi felt a chilling killing intent wash over him.

With casual words, the end of the Crusaders had been declared.

This was the divine Lion King.

'Oh no, the Crusader headquarters should be in Jerusalem, right? But which way is Jerusalem?'

Kenshi's expression stiffened. As a former Crusader, this was the moment he should be leading the way, guiding the Lion King to Jerusalem to wipe out the Crusaders in one fell swoop.

But as a fake Crusader, he didn't know the way!

Breaking out in a cold sweat, Kenshi realized that having just been promoted, he could not afford any missteps—how could he ever become the Lion King's trusted right-hand man like this?

Kenshi would not allow his ambitions to crumble halfway through!

"My King, the Crusader headquarters is in today's Holy City—Jerusalem. Do you require a guide?"

After much internal deliberation, Kenshi finally spoke up honestly.

"The Holy City lies ahead; no need for a guide."

With a slight squeeze of her thighs, the Lion King's white steed burst forth with incredible speed, charging into the wilderness!

Seeing this, Kenshi hurriedly spurred his black horse to follow the Lion King closely.

...

After several hours of battle, Kenshi followed the Lion King to the top of a barren mountain. The sun was slowly setting towards the horizon, casting an awe-inspiring glow over the city emerging before Kenshi's eyes. Though he had never seen it before, he recognized it at once.

The Holy City—Jerusalem!

It was also the Crusaders' base in this singularity.

Without a word, the Lion King raised her hand, where an oddly shaped spiral lance materialized out of nowhere.

'The Holy Lance—Rhongomyniad!'

At that moment, Kenshi's gaze was uncontrollably drawn to the spiral lance in the Lion King's hand. With just one look, he recognized the Holy Lance Rhongomyniad—it was the Storm Anchor that bound the stars. Legend says its true form is a tower that connects the inside and outside of the world!

In the next instant, the Lion King unleashed her divine-level magical power, sending violent winds roaring across the land!

Kenshi's black horse collapsed in fear, kneeling on the ground, not daring to breathe.

"The Holy Lance, drawn from its anchor, is the storm that tears the heavens and binds the earth. It shines as the Spear of the End (Rhongomyniad)."

As the Lion King's ethereal chant echoed, brilliant light erupted from her, connecting heaven and earth.

'Is she going straight for it!?'

Kenshi had underestimated the concept of a king. There was no need for any buildup or probing; with her overwhelming power alone, she would simply crush everything in her path!

Boom!!

Without regard for anyone's will, the Lance of light descended from the heavens like divine punishment.

It struck Jerusalem directly!

The blinding explosion of light expanded, unleashing heat capable of evaporating everything in its path. All was vaporized instantly! The shockwave expanded outward, turning the Holy City into a flat plain!

And just as the Lion King retracted her lance, a massive, polygonal structure appeared above the ruins of Jerusalem, emanating intense magical energy that even Kenshi, still on the distant mountain, could feel!

"What is that?"

Noticing the sudden glow over the ruins of Jerusalem, Kenshi instinctively asked.

"A Heroic Spirit Summoning Ritual."

The Lion King's face remained expressionless as she answered calmly.

It was a summoning ritual that had been activated by someone inside Jerusalem just before the Lion King's Noble Phantasm had struck!

Kenshi's expression grew tense upon hearing this.

A summoning ritual at this moment?

As soon as the ritual concluded, the sky radiated with light, as if the sun had descended upon the earth.

A grand, pyramid-like structure floated in the sky above.

Its design immediately reminded Kenshi of the pyramids, solidifying his suspicion about the identity of the summoned being.

"Hahaha! I am the Sun King—Ozymandias, King of Kings! Who are you?"

A wild, arrogant laugh echoed through the sky, as a presence no less powerful than the Lion King's occupied the heavens, standing on equal footing with her!

With overwhelming confidence, he revealed his true name the moment he appeared.

'It's Ramses II!'

Kenshi's expression turned serious, but at the same time, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Indeed, only someone of Ramses II's caliber could stand against the Lion King at this moment. If any other hero had appeared, the Lion King's plan might have succeeded before Chaldea's forces could arrive.

If that happened, even Kenshi would be doomed.

Facing Ozymandias' boastful challenge, the Lion King calmly responded, "I am the Lion King, Master of Storms, and Lord of the End."

With that, she gripped her Holy Lance once again.

At the same time, Kenshi noticed that the temple in the sky was slowly opening, revealing a massive transparent structure, like a giant bulb, aimed directly at the barren mountain!

"In that case, let this strike serve as my greeting! Lion King!"

Both kings gathered their magical power, and the sky began to change…