Atlas, Part Two

As the suction reached its peak, Li Ye and the others finally saw clearly what was approaching—

Pitch black all over, with complex inscriptions visible to the naked eye emitting a faint glow, like a coiling Ouroboros!

This automatic defense device was concentrating an extremely strong vortex of air, continuously devouring the atmosphere!

"This thing feels really bad, Mr. Holmes. Do you have any way to deal with it?"

Li Ye could detect a deep curse emanating from the automatic defense device, clearly indicating that this device was not the same model as those Li Ye had encountered before.

Whether the combat strategy could be applied was unknown, but the curse made Li Ye feel a bit of a challenge.

After all, it was an alchemical device manufactured by the Atlas Institute, which had created world-destroying weapons, completely different from the remnants of the Crusaders Li Ye had met before.

Li Ye could still block the minor curses from the Crusader remnants, but this one in front of him made him feel a considerable danger!

Avoid contact as much as possible—

"Mr. Li Ye, the machine is equipped with Rune Magic. It's likely a Norse curse that causes physical weakness. We can have Miss Nitocris's familiar take the lead in the attack—"

Holmes, who had been observing the automatic defense device from the moment it appeared, spoke rapidly.

"Use your Noble Phantasm, Miss Nito!"

Almost simultaneously, Li Ye also made his decision.

His thoughts were similar to Holmes', and Li Ye also wanted Nitocris to be the main damage dealer, but he wanted to go even further.

Directly using the Servant's strongest trump card!

As far as Li Ye remembered, Nitocris's Noble Phantasm, Mirror of the Netherworld, was classified as an Anti-Army Noble Phantasm. According to Nitocris herself, it was a mirror capable of reflecting the form of the Underworld, or perhaps a dark otherworld!

Its attack method was not a massive torrent of magic power, but rather a summoning using the Mirror of the Netherworld to launch an attack with a large number of undead!

This way, even in this narrow tunnel, the use of Mirror of the Netherworld would be feasible!

Upon hearing this, Nitocris, understanding Li Ye's intention, immediately deployed the Mirror of the Netherworld. "I need time!"

"Leave it to me!"

Zing—

Li Ye stood ready with his sword, blocking the space between the automatic defense device and Nitocris!

"Mirror of Corpses, Mirror of Darkness—"

A loud chant accompanied by a surge of magic power, with rays of light enveloping Nitocris. A dark shadow vaguely appeared behind her!

Hum!

The moment Nitocris began her chant, the automatic defense device immediately launched an attack!

The vortex, compressed to its limit, suddenly reversed, and what was being devoured was spewed out, carrying an invisible curse!

With a terrifying momentum like an overwhelming tide, it was about to engulf Li Ye and the others!

Screech—

His clothes rustling, Holmes stood beside Nitocris, holding his pipe. His attention, however, was not on the automatic defense device, but on the back of someone with a raised eyebrow.

That streak of Crimson Lightning, accompanied by a surge of dragon might.

The extending sword edge flowed against the current!

It forcefully tore apart that gust of curse!

The cursed wind howled past Li Ye's sides, scouring the bluestone walls of the tunnel without leaving a single trace.

At this point, Nitocris's chant was also nearing its end!

"Become a gate, and bring terror here.

—Mirror of the Netherworld!"

Nitocris's impassioned Noble Phantasm chant concluded, and a towering figure quietly appeared behind her.

A dark form adorned with incredibly noble metal ornaments, a jackal's head exuding divine presence.

Li Ye's gaze caught sight of the sacred being known to all in Egyptian mythology—

Anubis!

The Golden Mirror that appeared above Anubis unfurled its wings, and an aura Li Ye was all too familiar with gushed forth.

'Is that the Underworld behind him!'

Before Li Ye could marvel, the undead rushing out of the mirror flew past him!

Heading straight for the automatic defense device!

The curse surrounding the automatic defense device had no effect on these undead, allowing them to impact the machine!

While Mirror of the Netherworld was continuously unfolding, Li Ye suddenly took a step forward, pulling his right arm back.

He actually used his long sword as a javelin and threw it with all his might!

The sword was like a thunderbolt, charging forward!

Boom!!

The air surged, and a sword edge, imbued with a large amount of magic power, pierced directly through the center of the automatic defense device!

In an instant, crimson lightning raged, causing the tunnel's temperature to skyrocket!

Clang!

As the automatic defense device fell with a heavy thud, it seemed to signal the end of the battle.

But Li Ye didn't dare to relax his vigilance at all. He stared intently at the dulled automatic defense device and said in a low voice, "Mr. Holmes, what's the possibility of this thing's curse leaking out?"

"It's zero, Mr. Li Ye. This kind of curse relies on inscribed Rune inscriptions to function; it's not stored and then released. Unless the magic circuits go berserk and overload the runes, a curse leak won't normally occur. That's common sense."

Holmes chuckled.

Receiving Holmes's answer, Li Ye finally felt relieved.

Nitocris also finished unfolding the Mirror of the Netherworld, and the eerie magic power that had been swirling around her dissipated.

"Are you commanding a Pharaoh to fight for you?! How insolent!"

Nitocris glared at Li Ye.

"This is all King Ozymandias's order—"

Li Ye had already found the best way to communicate with Nitocris: when in doubt, bring up Ozymandias.

"Insolent fool!!"

As Nitocris shouted angrily, Li Ye pushed open the door.

Despite its considerable weight, it was forced open by sheer strength.

"It wasn't locked, and there were no corresponding mechanisms—"

As he opened the door, Li Ye felt a wave of heat accompanied by a strange odor wash over him.

"This doesn't look like something from this era, Mr. Holmes."

Upon opening the door and seeing the scene inside, Li Ye couldn't help but laugh.

Behind the door was a room with a distinctly modern feel, filled with everyday items and alchemical materials piled everywhere.

Most of them were ordinary objects, vastly different from the forbidden weapons Li Ye had imagined.

However, it was within Li Ye's expectations. As Holmes had said, weapons manufactured by the Atlas Institute were generally sealed away, so it was unlikely they would be placed in a location like this.

And without any protective measures.

"Yes, Mr. Li Ye, this indeed isn't something from this era. However, it seems Mr. Li Ye is quite familiar with it—"

Holmes walked beside Li Ye with a smile.

Servants are endowed with knowledge upon being summoned to help them adapt to the current era, but Li Ye was not a Servant. As a living person, he shouldn't know this information.

Tsk—

Li Ye smiled nonchalantly. "Mr. Holmes, it's not strange that I know these things. You can traverse Singularities to come here, and others can do similar things."

Holmes paused, not following Li Ye into the room, but standing outside the door and watching Li Ye's retreating back.

Having successfully entered the room and surveyed the surroundings, Li Ye turned to look at Holmes outside the door. "Mr. Holmes, is there something you wish to ask?"