"Such insolence! Why do you not kneel when granted an audience with the great Pharaoh, King Ozymandias?!"
Nitocris's beautiful eyes widened, her face seeming to forever carry an angry expression.
"How strange, Nitocris. Though you are a great bird, you were never one to squawk like this. It seems you are quite fond of this knight. Hahaha, interesting, very interesting."
Ozymandias's teasing words made Nitocris lower her voice at once. "My sincerest apologies, Pharaoh..."
"Hahaha! Tell me, what did the Lion King send you here for?"
After laughing for a full minute, Pharaoh Ozymandias surveyed Li Ye with great interest.
The undisguised gaze made Li Ye uncomfortable, as though it intended to dig out everything hidden within him!
"Honored Sun King, I did not come on behalf of the Lion King. Rather, I came to make a comparison."
"Oh? You wish to compare me with the Lion King and determine who is superior? Such bold words, knight."
Ozymandias sat upon his jeweled throne with his arms folded, having heard Li Ye's laughable declaration.
Below, Nitocris's beautiful eyes widened further. "Insolent fool! How could you compare the great Pharaoh to anyone else?!"
"Has the Sun King heard of the Holy Selection?" Having composed himself, Li Ye had already decided how to deal with the Sun King.
"It is the selection ritual held by the Lion King, is it not?"
Ozymandias replied carelessly.
Three days had passed since the Holy Selection. Through the deliberate promotion of the Knights of the Round Table, the reputation of Camelot, the pure white paradise, had rapidly spread across this land.
Even the chasm-like sandstorm barrier had failed to keep the news from reaching Ozymandias's ears.
"That is correct. The Lion King's method of resisting the Incineration of Humanity is to create a world of towers and bring selected humans into the future.
"But humanity's salvation should not have only one path. That is why I need to compare them."
Li Ye's words rang with conviction, echoing through the temple.
"Hahaha, interesting. Knight of the Lion King, it seems you know quite a lot. But if you wish to compare the gap between me and the Lion King, then show me power equal to your words! Prove it before me!"
Ozymandias covered his eyes as he laughed without restraint. As he slowly rose, magical energy crashed down upon Li Ye like mountains and seas!
"Nitocris, summon all the Fire Spirits capable of dispelling drowsiness. It has been far too long since I last stretched my body."
"Yes!"
As Ozymandias descended from the jeweled throne, dazzling flames rose one after another.
The spirits emerging from the flames gave off magical energy fluctuations comparable to Servants, and the entire temple instantly became scorching hot.
Six of them. Their mere presence has raised the temperature by around twenty degrees...
With Li Ye's current physical abilities, strengthened by Dragon Blood, this level of heat was nothing. But he knew full well that this was only the beginning.
"What is it? Have you begun to fear the battle?"
Having stepped down from the throne, Ozymandias now stood at the same height as Li Ye.
Nitocris quietly followed behind him, no longer speaking.
Meanwhile, the Ifrits summoned by Nitocris floated through the air, their childlike gazes lingering on Li Ye.
Li Ye forced a smile and drew his sword. "It is my honor to cross blades with King Ozymandias."
"Hahahaha, how amusing. Then do your best to survive, knight of the Lion King!"
Ozymandias made a grasping motion through the air, and a hooked scepter appeared in his hand.
At Ozymandias's command, the Ifrits above scattered with a roar and charged toward Li Ye!
Before they even approached, Li Ye could feel the air heating and warping.
Knowing this battle could not be avoided, Li Ye pushed down his headache and immediately entered fighting form. Seeing that Ozymandias had made no move, he turned his attention to the Ifrits.
The Ifrits now filled the temple, some near and some far away.
They had vaguely formed an encirclement, trapping Li Ye within!
They have intelligence?
Li Ye did not dare let down his guard. His breathing gradually steadied as he expanded his senses to monitor the Ifrits around him.
"Eee, eee, eee!"
To Li Ye's surprise, the Ifrits suddenly let out clear cries.
Almost simultaneously, all six Ifrits launched their attacks!
Gathered magical energy released blazing heat through their mouths, shooting forth amid their shrieks!
Fireballs!
Li Ye saw six fireballs flying toward him in unison, nearly sealing off every escape route.
He decisively gripped his sword with both hands. Crimson magical energy spread from his palms across every inch of the blade, then surged outward!
The blade, originally only three feet long, instantly extended to a full five feet!
The greatest result Li Ye had gained from seventy-two straight hours of high-pressure training over the past three days was not that thunderous strike, but his mastery of Mana Burst!
The sword edge formed from magical energy swept across the sky.
Boom!!
The fireballs that had yet to reach him were detonated midair by Li Ye's sword, bursting into incomparably dazzling flames!
A wave of heat rushed over him. Li Ye's eyes shifted, and he saw that after launching their fireballs, the Ifrits had already rushed before him, swinging their burning claws to tear him apart alive!
Li Ye simply reversed his grip and swept his sword across them!
"!"
The Ifrits' response made Li Ye's eyes widen.
The tall Ifrits each moved with light, graceful poise, bending at the waist with non-human flexibility to evade the slash!
They were now only an arm's length away from Li Ye!
Before Li Ye could recover his guard, his sword-wielding right arm suddenly encountered resistance, restricting his movements!
Clear division of roles. Their intelligence is high!
Li Ye decisively released the hilt and spun into a sweeping kick!
Bang!
A dull impact exploded as the Ifrit restraining his blade was sent flying!
Just as Li Ye gripped the hilt again, another Ifrit came straight at him!
The searing heat warped the atmosphere before Li Ye.
But it was still not enough to affect him!
Just as Li Ye charged forward with his sword.
"!"
Li Ye's heart tightened. From the corner of his eye, he had already caught that approaching red glow.
It's too close. There's no time!
Knowing he could not evade it, Li Ye did not slow his assault. He drove through the flames and pierced the Ifrit before him clean through!
Blood like motes of light, along with half a Spirit Core, was forced out of her body by the sword's tip. The Ifrit wailed as she fell, dissolving into firelight.
At the same time Li Ye dealt with one Ifrit, that red glow had already closed in!
Scorching heat instantly engulfed Li Ye's body, and the ensuing impact sent him flying!
Boom!
Flames shot skyward, kicking up smoke that swirled around one corner of the temple.
Before the Ifrits could continue their attack.
Crackle—
Crimson arcs of lightning danced through the temple, instantly raising the already scorching air until all moisture evaporated!
Before the smoke could disperse on its own, a violent gale blew it away, revealing Li Ye embedded in the temple's stone wall!
Crimson Lightning coiled around Li Ye's body, swelling and shrinking as though it were breathing.
Most conspicuous of all was the charred wound on Li Ye's right shoulder, as though seared by raging fire—the work of a Fire Spirit Ifrit!
Though Li Ye had blocked the attack with his powerful physique, his armor had not.
Crash
Rubble tumbled down. Crimson Lightning flashed, and Li Ye vanished from where he stood.
"Eek!"
The Ifrit who had sent Li Ye flying only felt a gale rushing toward her as crimson light filled every inch of her vision.
The instant they came into contact, terrifying crimson electricity erupted from Li Ye and spread violently in every direction!