Ozymandias

"Insolence! How dare you not kneel before the great Pharaoh Ozymandias!"

Nitocris's beautiful eyes widened, her face seemingly forever etched with anger.

"How strange, Nitocris; Even though you're a great bird, you wouldn't have such a boisterous personality. It seems you're quite fond of this knight. Hahaha, interesting, very interesting."

Ozymandias's teasing words caused Nitocris's voice to immediately shrink, "My deepest apologies, Pharaoh..."

"Hahaha, I ask you, why has the Lion King sent you here?"

After laughing for a full minute, Pharaoh Ozymandias observed Li Ye with great interest.

His undisguised gaze made Li Ye uncomfortable, as if it were trying to excavate everything within him!

"Esteemed Sun King, I am not here on behalf of the Lion King, but for a comparison."

"Oh? You wish to compare me and the Lion King, to see who is stronger? What bold words, knight."

Ozymandias, on his throne, crossed his arms. Upon hearing Li Ye's laughable statement, Nitocris below widened her eyes even further, "Insolent wretch! How dare you compare the great Pharaoh to others!"

"Has the Sun King heard of the Holy Selection?" Li Ye, having regained his composure, had figured out how to deal with the Sun King.

"It's the selection ceremony held by the Lion King, isn't it?"

Ozymandias said nonchalantly.

Three days had passed since the Holy Selection. With the intentional promotion by the Knights of the Round Table, the reputation of Camelot, the pure white utopia, had spread rapidly across the land.

Even with the insurmountable obstacle of sandstorms, the news had still reached Ozymandias's ears.

"That's right. The Lion King's method of confronting the Incineration of Humanity is to create a world of towers and bring selected humans to the future; However, there shouldn't be only one way to save humanity, therefore, I require a comparison."

Li Ye's words were powerful and echoed through the temple.

"Hahaha, interesting. Knight of the Lion King, it seems you know a great deal. But if you wish to compare the gap between me and the Lion King, then bring forth equivalent power! Prove it before me!"

Ozymandias covered his eyes, laughing uncontrollably. As he slowly rose, his magic surged towards Li Ye like a mountain and tsunami!

"Nitocris, go and summon the Fire Spirits that can dispel sleepiness. I haven't moved my body in a long time."

"Yes!"

As Ozymandias descended from his throne, brilliant flames rose one after another.

The spirits emerging from the flames exuded magical fluctuations comparable to a Servant, and the entire temple instantly became scorching hot.

'Six in number, their mere presence raises the temperature by about twenty degrees—'

With Li Ye's current physical condition plus the Dragon Blood buff, this temperature was manageable, but Li Ye knew this was just the beginning.

"What, are you starting to get cold feet?"

Ozymandias, having descended from his throne, now stood at the same height as Li Ye.

Nitocris followed quietly behind, no longer speaking.

The Fire Spirits, Ifrits, summoned by Nitocris floated in the air, their childlike gazes lingering on Li Ye.

Li Ye forced a smile and drew his sword, "I am deeply honored to be able to exchange blows with King Ozymandias."

"Hahahaha, amusing. Then strive to survive, Knight of the Lion King!"

Ozymandias casually reached out, and a curved hook scepter appeared in his hand.

At Ozymandias's command, the Ifrits in the sky scattered with a roar and charged towards Li Ye!

Even before they got close, Li Ye felt the air heating up and distorting.

Knowing that this battle was unavoidable, Li Ye, feeling a headache coming on, immediately entered his combat state. Seeing that Ozymandias made no move, he turned his attention to the Ifrits.

The Ifrits were now spread throughout the temple space, some near, some far.

They were subtly forming a pincer, trapping Li Ye within!

'They have intelligence?'

Li Ye dared not be careless, his breathing gradually steadied, and his senses amplified to watch the surrounding Ifrits.

"Ee-ee-ee!"

To Li Ye's surprise, the Ifrits suddenly let out crisp chirps.

Almost simultaneously, the six Ifrits launched their attack!

Converged magic was released through their mouths as dazzling heat, erupting with each scream!

'Fireballs!'

Li Ye saw the six fireballs flying towards him in unison, blocking almost all escape routes.

He decisively gripped his sword with both hands, and crimson magic spread from his palms to every inch of the blade, causing it to suddenly surge!

The blade, originally no more than three feet long, instantly grew to a full five feet!

The greatest achievement from Li Ye's seventy-two hours of non-stop, high-pressure training wasn't his thunderous strike, but his mastery over releasing his magic!

A blade forged from magic sliced through the air.

BOOM!!

The fireballs that hadn't even reached him were detonated in mid-air by Li Ye's sword, erupting in an incredibly dazzling blaze of fire!

A wave of heat washed over him. Li Ye's eyes flickered as he saw the Ifrits, after releasing their fireballs, rush towards him, swinging their scorching claws to tear him to shreds!

Li Ye simply reversed his grip on his sword and swept it sideways!

"!"

The Ifrits' reaction made Li Ye's eyes widen.

The tall Ifrits moved with surprising agility, bending their bodies with inhuman resilience to dodge the sword strike!

They were now less than an arm's length away from Li Ye!

Before Li Ye could defend himself, his sword-wielding right arm suddenly felt resistance, restricting his movement!

Their division of labor is clear, their intelligence is very high!

Li Ye decisively released his grip on the sword hilt and spun, delivering a horizontal kick!

THWACK!

A muffled thud echoed as the Ifrit restraining his sword was sent flying!

As Li Ye re-gripped his sword, another Ifrit charged at him!

The searing heat distorted the air in front of Li Ye.

But this was still not enough to affect him!

Just as Li Ye charged forward with his sword.

"!"

Li Ye's heart tightened. His peripheral vision had already caught sight of the approaching red light.

Too close, no time!

Knowing he couldn't dodge in time, Li Ye didn't slow his attack, pushing through the flames to pierce the Ifrit in front of him!

Like scattered light, blood and half a spirit core were pushed out of the Ifrit's body by the sword. The Ifrit let out a mournful cry as it collapsed and dissolved into flames.

As Li Ye dealt with one Ifrit, that red light had already closed in!

The scorching heat instantly engulfed Li Ye's body, and the subsequent impact sent him flying!

BOOM!

A pillar of fire erupted, kicking up a cloud of smoke that circled a corner of the temple.

Before the Ifrits could launch another attack.

ZZZZT—

Crimson arcs of electricity danced in the temple, instantly raising the already hot air to the point where moisture evaporated!

The smoke hadn't even dispersed on its own before it was violently blown away by a gust of wind, revealing Li Ye embedded in the temple's stone wall!

Li Ye was surrounded by crimson electricity that pulsed, growing and shrinking as if he were breathing.

Most striking was the charred wound on his right shoulder, as if seared by intense fire, clearly inflicted by the Fire Spirit Ifrit!

Although Li Ye's powerful physique had blocked the attack, his armor could not.

CRASH

With a cascade of rubble and a flash of crimson electricity, Li Ye's figure vanished from his spot.

"Eek!"

The Ifrit that had sent Li Ye flying felt a fierce wind hit its face, and crimson light filled its entire vision.

The moment they made contact, terrifying crimson currents spread outwards from Li Ye in all directions!