Leaving Soon

If Li Ye truly had ties to Chaldea, then the source of his intelligence could be explained.

Moreover, the questions Li Ye had searched earlier clearly showed a profound understanding of Spiritron Transfer, not merely a superficial grasp—

Holmes pinched his pipe, a deep glint flickering in his eyes.

While searching for information on the Holy Grail War, he had conducted an additional search, naturally targeting Li Ye.

Yet no matter how he searched, Li Ye's information was completely blank.

Even Hermes could not uncover the slightest trace of him. That was exceedingly strange—

Li Ye did not know what Holmes was thinking at that moment, though he could roughly guess that Holmes was considering matters related to him.

"Mr. Holmes, since Hermes can no longer be used, how about we return to the surface first? I still have matters to deal with."

Li Ye glanced at the now-dull Hermes, then looked toward Nitocris in the distance. "Miss Nitocris, sorry for making you come here for nothing. Later, I will accompany you to meet King Ozymandias and explain everything that happened here."

Li Ye did not intend to flee with the Holy Grail just like that.

After recognizing his destiny, Li Ye's view of the previous situation had changed somewhat.

And after meeting King Ozymandias, the remaining Crusaders still needed to be dealt with.

Li Ye did not know whether the Crusaders had another leader after that Maji, but the matter definitely had to be resolved.

"Mr. Li Ye, are you returning with Nitocris to the Holy City in the desert?"

Holmes glanced between Li Ye and Nitocris. Hearing that Li Ye still intended to visit the Holy City and meet King Ozymandias, Holmes was somewhat surprised.

If his deduction was correct, Li Ye and Ozymandias should currently have been on opposing sides.

The situation seemed somewhat different from what he had expected.

"That's right. After all, I obtained this—"

In front of Holmes, Li Ye picked up the Holy Grail. "King Ozymandias gave me the Holy Grail. Its existence means I must see this journey through to the end."

The Holy Grail—

Holmes's deep gaze swept over the golden cup before moving on.

Li Ye had never concealed the Holy Grail's existence. Holmes had initially taken notice of Li Ye and the others because of it.

Yet during their previous travels together, Li Ye had never used the Holy Grail.

Nor had Holmes ever taken the initiative to bring up the subject of the Holy Grail. Once that topic began, it would not be easy to wrap up.

At last, Holmes had waited for Li Ye to explain the Holy Grail's existence himself.

"So the Holy Grail was held by King Ozymandias—"

Holmes could not understand why Ozymandias had given the Holy Grail to Li Ye. According to Li Ye, the Lion King had already become an enemy of humanity. Yet Ozymandias, a Servant manifested in this world and in possession of the Holy Grail, had actually handed it over to a Knight of the Round Table under the Lion King's command.

That was absurd.

"I won't go into the reasons. As for why I'm carrying the Holy Grail around like this, it's because I never learned how to use it—"

As he said that, Li Ye subconsciously turned his head away, avoiding Nitocris's gaze.

Seeing that Li Ye was unwilling to continue discussing the Holy Grail, Holmes looked toward Trismegistus.

"Hermes should possess an energy self-recharging system. However, at its natural rate, it will take at least half a year before another search can be conducted—"

"Half a year is enough. We can come back later."

Just as Li Ye and the others left the central hollow, a familiar alarm blared!

Bursts of red light suddenly flared from every direction.

"I can understand there being Automatic Defense Devices on the way back, but why are they here so quickly?" Li Ye clicked his tongue instinctively.

"Of course they are. And this time, the opponents cannot be compared to the ones we encountered before. The Atlas Institute will not go easy on those attempting to leave—

Didn't I mention that?"

"Did you?!"

Hearing Holmes's utterly unconcerned tone, Li Ye twitched his mouth and shot him a glance.

As though nothing had happened, Holmes smiled and said, "This is the final battle of the underground world. Mr. Li Ye, please give it everything you have!"

"Miss Nitocris, I'll have to trouble you to support me with your Noble Phantasm again."

Li Ye turned to Nitocris.

"No problem. The great Pharaoh Nitocris will fight."

Nitocris proudly tapped the Staff of Vance.

As her words fell, intense waves of magical energy stirred up a gale, making Li Ye's clothes flap violently and cling tightly to his body.

Facing this group of lethal weapons, Li Ye's presence did not falter in the slightest. He decisively went all out!

Boom!!

The Red Dragon rose, the surging magical energy it brought sweeping through the underground world like raging waves!

Unlike the instinctive activation before Hermes, Li Ye, as though reborn, now understood his own power differently.

Li Ye lowered his body as the magical energy surrounding him erupted at high speed.

Crackle—

Crimson Lightning bloomed once more, streaking past Holmes and Nitocris before extending in every direction like swimming dragons!

The rapidly spreading Crimson Lightning continued along the dark tunnels, as if it intended to illuminate the entire Atlas Institute!

In that instant, Li Ye caught sight of every Automatic Defense Device about to attack, as well as the enormous creature beyond them!

Li Ye's act, tantamount to a declaration of war, prompted the approaching Automatic Defense Devices to immediately prepare their bombardment!

Terrifying magical energy gathered throughout the tunnels from every direction.

They actually intended to blast Li Ye and the others to death in one fell swoop!

"Not a chance!"

Sensing the magical fluctuations, Li Ye's eyes sharpened as he decisively pressed the final switch.

Almost at the same time, Nitocris immediately began her Noble Phantasm chant.

"Mirror of Corpses, Mirror of Darkness—"

"Thunderclap Flash!"

An absolute strike that reached the speed of sound tore through the dark tunnels like racing Crimson Lightning.

The atmosphere was ripped apart and vaporized.

Wherever the Crimson Lightning passed, billowing shockwaves slammed into the bluestone walls on both sides!

The unleashed violence met no obstruction. The instant the two collided, a thunderous explosion erupted.

It was followed by a belated sonic boom that resounded throughout the underground world!

"Become a gate and draw terror unto this place—Mirror of the Netherworld!"

The resounding chant ended. From the opened Mirror of the Underworld, howling undead surged forth, flooding into the tunnels like a mountain-crushing tsunami!

At the same time, dazzling beams erupted from each tunnel and collided head-on with the horde of undead!

Boom!!

The ceaseless undead melted away within the beams, but they successfully stopped the beams from advancing!

Just as Nitocris faced the numerous Automatic Defense Devices alone and reached a deadlock with them, Crimson Lightning flashed past her once more.

The distant voice could faintly be made out.

"Second Strike!"

Rumble!!

The high-frequency roar was like rolling thunder, yet Nitocris immediately felt the pressure on her lessen.

"Third Strike!"

As Li Ye swiftly destroyed the Automatic Defense Devices and charged forcefully into a vast open space, the final shadow he had seen earlier bared its fangs.

Heavy breathing echoed out as enormous dragon wings unfurled and whipped up a violent gale.

Li Ye looked up and met a pair of icy vertical pupils.

It was a giant dragon—