Merlin waved his hand, conjuring a new image inside the carriage.
A golden chain was streaking through the air—heading straight toward their carriage!
"Oh my… he reacted faster than expected," Merlin murmured softly, raising his staff slightly.
An attack of such magnitude was clear to Lily even without Instinct, and the hundred knights under her command similarly sensed the fatal blow bearing down upon them.
"Maintain the charge!"
Slicing apart a beast lunging toward her, Lily didn't halt at all despite the sudden attack, instead shouting clearly to the knights behind her.
She trusted in her companions!
Standing atop the carriage, Mash stared grimly at the golden chain—Kingu, transformed into a deadly projectile.
Although this chain wasn't as overwhelming as the one that had nearly slain Altera previously, it was still more than enough to annihilate their entire cavalry squad instantly!
But I can stop it!
Her resolve wouldn't lose to the enemy!
Mash's shield erupted in dazzling white radiance.
"[LORD CAMELOT]!!!"
The phantom of a majestic chalk-white castle unfolded, barring the path of the golden chain.
This flawless fortress of legend gave Kingu no option but a direct frontal collision.
The golden chain crashed against Lord Camelot, creating rippling waves of energy—but ultimately went no further.
An attack powerful enough to pierce Uruk's walls effortlessly couldn't even leave a scratch on Mash's shield!
Seeing his attack thwarted, Kingu retreated momentarily, reverting swiftly to human form. At the same moment, Mash—her magical reserves limited—dispelled her Noble Phantasm.
Yet, in the very next instant—
"Oh no—such speed!?"
At the precise moment her defense dropped, a flash of gold blurred past, and Kingu appeared right beside the carriage.
Mash had no knowledge of "Transfiguration," thus completely failing to predict Kingu's terrifying speed, far exceeding anything she could react to. Panicked, she hastily swung her shield around, but Kingu had already aimed his finger—charged with fierce, golden energy—directly at the carriage.
No matter how one looked at it, Mash couldn't raise her shield in time!
Several knights nearby rushed to attack Kingu but were suddenly impaled by weapons erupting violently from the earth. Only Merlin's defensive magic around the carriage kept it intact.
At the same moment, countless chains surged upward, aiming to entangle the carriage.
Suddenly, a faint ripple passed through the air, causing Kingu's eyes to narrow slightly.
Shifting instinctively, Kingu's energy-charged hand blurred momentarily, leaving a golden afterimage trailing behind him.
Then, blood sprayed forth.
The strange distortion faded quickly, revealing a towering black figure.
Heracles stood there, wielding a massive axe-like weapon, blood gushing relentlessly from a deep wound in his throat.
"Did you really think such a weak illusion could deceive me?" Kingu snorted disdainfully—but no response came.
While he'd been busy posturing, the carriage had already raced away.
Kingu stood there awkwardly for a moment, his flashy display wasted on empty air.
Didn't you people value comrades so dearly? Was this hulking brute really so unpopular? He gets killed instantly, and nobody even spares a glance?
Old humanity really excelled at hypocrisy, huh? Spouting ideals while abandoning their own without hesitation.
Scoffing again, Kingu raised his hand, golden energy gathering anew.
Running away won't help. Those special horses might match modern racing cars at full sprint, but at such a short distance… for me, it's just a blink.
But at that moment, the giant behind him—whose eyes had grown dull—once more shone fiercely with blood-red light!
"GRAAAAAAAAH!"
With a thunderous roar, Heracles' stalled body reanimated, swinging his immense axe downward with tremendous force.
Even a lower-grade Noble Phantasm couldn't match such overwhelming power!
Yet a fist slammed violently against the axe's side, knocking it wildly off-target.
Before the axe could hit the ground, Kingu's palm pierced directly into Heracles' abdomen, detonating golden energy upon impact.
The golden light formed a blade, tearing straight through Heracles' body.
Then, Kingu's arm became a blur of motion. In less than an instant, Heracles' entire form was riddled with countless deep cuts.
A mere gentle push would shatter him into innumerable fragments.
Having done this, Kingu glanced emotionlessly back at the distant carriage.
"Hmm?"
BOOM───
The massive axe crashed into the earth, forming a huge crater—while Kingu smoothly flipped backward, avoiding the blow.
Standing firmly before a now fully restored Heracles, Kingu raised an eyebrow.
Enkidu was an incarnation of the earth and nature itself; thus, Kingu, inhabiting Enkidu's body, was exceptionally sensitive to life-force. When he'd first slashed open Heracles' throat, Kingu clearly felt the giant's life-energy hadn't entirely vanished. Although appearing indifferent, Kingu had secretly remained wary.
So when Heracles suddenly sprang back to life, Kingu had easily struck him down again—this time confirming beyond any doubt the complete disappearance of the giant's life-force!
"I first assumed it was some kind of rapid regeneration…but it's actually resurrection?"
Carefully observing Heracles, Kingu smiled with genuine interest.
Not mere immortality—but an ability to literally revive after death.
And given the first situation, rapid regeneration probably came along with it!
No…
After a closer examination, Kingu paused slightly.
"Ah, I see now…"
His lips curled knowingly.
"So, it was she who gave you this power."
Enkidu's senses were terrifyingly sharp—beyond even abnormal—and Ophis's presence was utterly unmistakable.
Within this hulking warrior, Kingu clearly sensed Ophis's aura…
The resurrection itself probably wasn't from Ophis. Perhaps extreme regeneration was her contribution, while true resurrection belonged to the warrior's own Noble Phantasm or skill.
Not immortality exactly—abilities targeting true immortals wouldn't affect him—but there was no creature in this world without a weakness.
And the weakness of this giant before him was painfully obvious. To Kingu, whose very existence specialized in dealing with such beings, that vulnerability practically radiated like the sun…
By now, the carriage had traveled quite far.
At Kingu's speed, catching up was effortless…
Yet—
"You're just a mad dog after all."
Earth erupted from the ground beside Kingu, forming hundreds of weapons hovering ominously midair, all aimed toward Heracles.
"A mere mad dog. Killing you is nothing more than a minor inconvenience!"
A reckless smile bloomed on Kingu's face as the countless Noble Phantasms shot mercilessly toward Heracles.
"I don't know which old-era god spawned you, mongrel—but since you bear divinity, fall to ruin beneath my god-slaying authority!"
"GRAAAAAAAAAH!"
A thick, blood-red aura erupted from Heracles, his already fearsome power surging higher still. Facing a barrage of endless Noble Phantasms, he neither dodged nor hesitated, instead launching himself straight toward Kingu!
A clash transcending eras exploded violently within this Age of Gods!
---
T/N: 4 chaps meeting this weeks quota, i was toooo lazy and slept allllllllll week sorgee
bonus chaps
100 stones -> 1 chapter
200 stones -> 2 chapters
300 stones -> 3 chapters
and so on
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