Chapter 8: The Golden Sword of the Monster

Whoosh—

A fierce wind roared past her ears as Medusa's twin purple ponytails whipped about like enraged serpents, wildly thrashing in the gale.

Summoned by the Counter Force, Medusa possessed a unique, time-limited ability: Ascension of the Spirit Origin. Usable only within this singularity, it allowed her to evolve her Spirit Origin to a form closer to her true self.

However, the ability was irreversible, and Medusa disliked using it.

Once activated, there would be no turning back. Once activated, the scent of Athena would emanate from her being.

With such thoughts weighing on her, Medusa had deliberately suppressed the ability and would likely never mention it again.

From behind her waist, she drew a short sword.

The blade swung through the air, scattering golden light. From this brilliance emerged a massive golden-winged eagle.

Thud—

Medusa landed steadily on the eagle's broad back. Flipping over, she ran her hand along the expanse of the majestic Caucasian eagle's spine.

"The target is that serpent. Fly over there and kill it—just like pecking at Prometheus."

Her voice was cold as she grabbed the eagle's feathers with her left hand, the sword firmly gripped in her right. Crouching low like a predatory leopard, she fixed her gaze ahead, her legs bent and coiling with stored power.

The Caucasian eagle let out a piercing cry, its wings suddenly flapping with explosive force. Like a streak of golden light, it shot into the battlefield.

"■■■■■■——!"

"■■■■■■——!"

Darius and Ugallu once again roared deafeningly.

On one side stood the 3.5-meter-tall Persian king, while on the other loomed the 10-meter-tall solar lion. The two clashed fiercely, the ground itself trembling beneath their titanic struggle.

The two had been grappling for some time. The war elephants summoned by Darius had disintegrated in the fray, but not before inflicting grievous wounds on Ugallu, whose body was covered in scars. The lion, however, had not been idle, leaving a massive claw mark across Darius's chest.

Ugallu's body was riddled with bleeding wounds. Roaring in rage, it swiped its claws at Darius while exhaling a cyan-green storm from its maw. Darius dodged deftly, evading Ugallu's strike. The storm struck the ground, carving jagged fissures into the earth.

Seizing the moment when Ugallu's claws missed their mark, Darius raised his dual axes and brought them down with all his might on Ugallu's leg. Blood and bone splintered as crimson liquid gushed forth, drenching Darius from the waist down.

"■■■■■■■————"

Ugallu swung its massive forepaw with all its strength, sending Darius flying with a sonic boom.

"■■■■" Darius let out a pained cry as his enormous body hurtled through the battlefield, scattering monsters and humans alike.

"Bucephalus!"

Alexander shouted, forcing back an Uridim in front of him. He seized the reins of the galloping Bucephalus and vaulted onto his steed.

"Clouds! Lightning! Father! Bear witness!—"

He raised his short sword high, his entire body shrouded in thunder, and charged toward Ugallu with unstoppable force.

"Bucephalus: The Ruler's First Domination!"

Dark blue lightning erupted from his sword, descending like divine punishment upon Ugallu. The blade easily tore through the solar lion's tough hide, filling the air with the acrid smell of burnt flesh.

But then, the venomous serpent Bashmu lashed out, hurling away nearby soldiers and sweeping its massive tail horizontally. The blade-like tip of its tail sped toward Alexander, threatening to slice him in half.

"Lord Iskandar!"

"Watch out!"

Caesar and Leonidas shouted from the other side, attempting to rush to his aid but were blocked by two Ushumgallu monsters.

Hearing their calls, Alexander hastily turned to defend himself—

—!

"Chrysaor: The Golden Sword of the Monster."

From above, Medusa dove down from the Caucasian eagle, swinging her sword. Golden light streaked through the air and struck the ground, transforming into a towering giant with three heads.

The giant, Chrysaor, raised its shield to block Bashmu's tail swipe. Then, lifting its golden sword high, it severed the serpent's tail with a single slash. Venomous blood sprayed from the wound, corroding the solid ground into pockmarked holes.

"Wow, looks like I don't need to intervene," Merlin remarked from afar, visibly relieved. He continued using his illusions to transform Bashmu's venomous fog and Ushumgallu's flames into harmless flower petals.

"■■■■■■■■■■■■■■————————!"

Bashmu let out a shrill, agonized cry, its entire body convulsing violently. In its frenzy, it crushed monsters and humans alike into pulp.

But it wasn't over yet.

Medusa removed her sunglasses, revealing pupils that had turned into pitch-black squares. Deep purple beams shot from her eyes, striking Bashmu.

The serpent screeched, powerless to resist. From the point of impact, its flesh turned to stone, the petrification gradually spreading across its entire body.

Medusa replaced her sunglasses and swung her golden sword again.

This time, from the golden light emerged a monster as large as Ugallu, with the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a venomous snake.

It was the Chimera, a child of Typhon and Echidna.

The Chimera roared upon appearing. The snakehead at its tail shot out green beams, the goat head on its back spewed blue flames, and the lion head ferociously bit down on Ugallu's neck.

Moments later, Chrysaor brought its golden sword down once more. Ugallu, already at its limit, was unable to further reinforce its body and was cleaved in half on the spot.

"Reinforcements?!" Alexander exclaimed in delight.

He had thought his journey would end here, but it seemed the heavens still favored him.

Even in becoming a Heroic Spirit, was his father, Zeus, still watching over him?

Medusa paid him no mind. Having killed Ugallu, her depleted magical energy surged back.

She swung the golden sword again, causing Chrysaor and the Chimera to vanish. The Caucasian eagle reappeared on the battlefield.

"Kill it," she commanded coldly.

The eagle screeched and shot toward the now mostly petrified Bashmu. Like an arrow loosed from a bow, it pierced through the crowd, its sharp beak tearing into Bashmu's flesh and ripping it apart piece by piece.

Finally, after several seconds of desperate cries, Bashmu succumbed, following Ugallu into death.

"Lord Iskandar," Caesar called, slaying an Uridim as he shouted, "Take Darius and the lady back behind the city walls. Leave this to us!"

Soldiers gathered around to shield Alexander from the monsters' attacks.

"Understood! Be careful!"

Alexander rode Bucephalus to Medusa's side, extending his hand to her. "Get on!"

Medusa shook her head slightly.

"I'll walk. I don't need help."

She spoke coldly, gripping her golden sword as she ran toward the city walls on her own.

"Ah," Alexander sighed, retracting his hand with a wry smile. "Rejected again."

"Let's go, Bucephalus."

Shaking the reins, Alexander followed Medusa's lead, picking up Darius along the way.

Poor Bucephalus.

Both were Heroic Spirits, and Alexander was still riding his beloved steed. They quickly reached the base of the city walls.

Entering through the gates and moving to the rear of the battle line, Alexander dismounted.

"■■■■"

Darius collapsed to the ground, smiling at Alexander.

"Haha, you fool. Even now, you're trying to show off," Alexander teased. "We know how strong you are. Just rest."

Then, turning to Medusa, he asked, "And you are...?"

"Medusa. Saber."

Adjusting her glasses, Medusa replied coolly.