[Chapter 15]: The Strongest

Even the ground beneath was scorched, leaving blackened marks!

The Ifreeta that had taken the brunt of the fierce strike was instantly vaporized, half of its body gone in a flash!

Four more to go!

Alaric's eyes sharpened as he scanned the remaining Ifreeta, who were still attempting to attack him.

Suddenly, sensing danger, Alaric swiftly dodged, retreating just in time to see a brilliant beam of light sweep past where he had stood, leaving a scorched trench in its wake.

Was that Ozymandias's doing!?

Alaric's expression tightened. Judging by the direction the beam had come from, he immediately deduced that the source of the attack was Ozymandias!

Almost by instinct, Alaric turned his head slightly toward Ozymandias.

The Pharaoh stood in place, unmoving, holding his hooked scepter. Their eyes met for a brief moment before Ozymandias swung the scepter once again.

The air was torn apart, and beams of light burst forth from the void, arriving in an instant!

But Alaric was even faster!

Bang!

Using the momentum from dodging the light beam, Alaric closed the distance between himself and the remaining Ifreeta.

He swung his sword once more!

Another Ifreeta was cleaved in two on the spot!

"Eeee!!"

The consecutive deaths of their companions caused the remaining three Ifreeta to shriek in despair.

"You can dodge, I see!"

Ozymandias's voice of praise echoed as five beams of light shot toward Alaric from different directions.

It was a perfectly coordinated attack that blocked all escape routes!

Szzzt!!

Alaric's magic-infused sword clashed directly with the beams of light!

The collision generated a shockwave that collapsed the air around Alaric like a tidal wave, exploding outward in a burst of pressure!

"And what about this?"

Giving Alaric no time to catch his breath, an overwhelming surge of magical energy appeared, forcing Alaric to turn—

Behind Ozymandias, an enormous Sphinx emerged, far larger than the one Alaric had seen in the desert before.

Not only was its size overwhelming, but its starry, celestial face made Alaric's eyes widen in astonishment.

Damn it—!

A radiant blue light surged forth, this time, not the small beams from earlier.

What came at Alaric now was an ocean of light!

Before Alaric could fully react, the attack was already upon him!

There was no escape!

Boom!!

An explosion erupted within the temple.

After the blast subsided…

Alaric was still standing, though barely.

Tch.

His upper armor was destroyed, and his face was expressionless as blood trickled down his cheek.

He gazed at the Ifreeta, who were watching him intently.

Suddenly, crimson magical energy exploded from him!

The power of dragon blood surged, and the terrifying pressure of the red dragon immediately caused the remaining Ifreeta to panic.

As fire spirits, they were even more sensitive to the terrifying aura of the red dragon.

"Oh? So you possess the power of dragon's blood—"

Ozymandias stood unmoving, arms crossed, completely unfazed by the fearsome dragon's aura.

Alaric silently lowered himself, his cold gaze sweeping over the three Ifreeta and Ozymandias.

"Thunder—!"

"Eeee!!"

The Ifreeta screamed and rushed forward, attempting to attack Alaric in a desperate bid to lessen their fear.

"Flash!"

Alaric's figure disappeared, leaving a web of cracks spreading through the ground.

A red crescent moon flashed.

The resulting explosion drowned out the Ifreeta's cries.

Boom!!

A corner of the temple was shattered, but almost simultaneously—

Red lightning surged out once again!

"Second strike!"

His target—Ozymandias!

"So your target is me!"

Ozymandias finally moved. With a wave of his hooked scepter, brilliant circles of light filled the temple floor, all bursting simultaneously!

The red lightning was engulfed, but it was useless!

The crimson lightning surged forward, unstoppable!

"Hahahaha!"

"I acknowledge your valor. You've succeeded in making me move. Celebrate, knight of the Lion King!"

As Ozymandias laughed heartily, the atmosphere froze. Alaric felt an indescribable wave of magical power emanating from Ozymandias.

Even the temple itself responded to the awakening of the God-King.

In an instant, the brilliance intensified!

Alaric, who had been charging forward with all his might, suddenly felt an overwhelming force explode beside him, forcefully stopping his advance!

It was a beam of light that Alaric recognized well.

Although it appeared to be the same pure white beam as before, this time the magical power behind it was on an entirely different level!

Boom!!

The attack, far more powerful than any that had come before, sent Alaric flying backward.

Crash!

Alaric's feet dug into the ground, scattering rocks like waves as he skidded back.

He came to a halt only after sliding dozens of meters, nearly leaving the temple's boundaries.

So this is Ozymandias's true power!

Breathing heavily, Alaric barely managed to stand, glaring at Ozymandias, who retained his calm, unbothered expression.

He didn't dare relax, fearing that the immense magical pressure surrounding him would crush him if he let his guard down!

Yes, even the mere magical presence of Ozymandias exerted enormous pressure on Alaric, forcing him to use every ounce of his strength just to resist!

But it's not over yet!

Alaric's expression grew colder, his pale golden eyes fixed on Ozymandias's figure.

This battle couldn't end here. He had to earn Ozymandias's recognition.

Otherwise, his life was forfeit.

Crackle—

Crimson's magical energy contracted, filling every inch of his body.

He abandoned all external defenses, channeling everything into one final, explosive burst!

In silence, the red lightning surged again.

As Alaric vanished, a violent windstorm tore through the temple like crashing waves!

The distance of dozens of meters disappeared in an instant.

The sword was now just three inches from Ozymandias—

But it could go no further.

Alaric's entire body was flushed red, his chest heaving. Beams of light, like chains, bound his limbs.

It was an incomplete technique, to begin with, and after three consecutive bursts of the Thunder Strike, combined with the inertia he had forcibly endured, Alaric's body was at its absolute limit!

"As expected of a knight of the Lion King. To be called a Knight of the Round Table, you must indeed possess inhuman courage."

Ozymandias, seeing that Alaric could no longer fight, decisively withdrew.

He turned and ascended back to his jade throne.

As Ozymandias left, the magical pressure retreated like a receding tide.

Alaric exhaled heavily, gasping for air.

"Hahahaha, interesting! Knight of the Lion King, tell me your name. I intend to hear more of your bold words."

Back on his throne, Ozymandias snapped his fingers. The temple, damaged from the battle, instantly restored itself, as if the fight had never happened.

The gap between me and a top-tier Servant is enormous.

Still catching his breath, Alaric swallowed nervously and called out in a loud voice, "I am Alaric, a Knight of the Round Table, a foreign knight who has survived under the brilliance of the Lion King."

"Great Pharaoh, for the sake of humanity's salvation, I seek comparison."

"Alaric, is it? Never mind your rebellious nature. Though you've demonstrated some bravery, where do you find the confidence to compare yourself to me, a king?"

"Because I live in the present. Whether it's the Lion King who has become a god, or Ozymandias who stands here as a Heroic Spirit, we are ultimately not the same."

"A king's decisions are beyond my comprehension, and so I wish to witness the Sun King's decisions for myself."

For the first time, Alaric directly met Ozymandias's gaze.

Almost immediately, a hearty laugh echoed from the throne: "Hahahahaha, are you serious!"

Even as the revered Pharaoh, Ozymandias couldn't help but laugh.

"First you question your king, and now you question me. Is this so-called comparison meant to prove you are right? What arrogance from a rebellious knight!"

"Interesting, so very interesting. I shall permit your insolence and acknowledge your arrogance!"

Thus spoke the strongest Pharaoh.