"Roar!!!"
It was a feral battle cry that far surpassed the Sphinx's—the roar of the mightiest Heroic Spirit.
Boom!
The sand before Fujimaru Ritsuka exploded in an instant. Without giving Ritsuka a chance to issue commands, Heracles charged directly at the Sphinx, which was locked in combat with Heroic Spirit Emiya!
There was no technique involved—or perhaps the art of combat had become second nature. With overwhelming brute force, this wild beast crushed its opponent!
Splat!!
Even a glancing blow from the great sword-axe was enough to obliterate a typical Heroic Spirit on the spot. The resulting shockwave was piercingly sharp, its sound relentless and unceasing.
The unleashed violence met no resistance. The lion-headed, human-faced Sphinx, granted by Ozymandias, was severed in two by the absolute strike of the Greek hero.
Cleaved in half!
Crimson blood gushed forth like a fountain, instantly dyeing the sands red.
Though Heracles had the advantage of the Sphinx being gradually weakened by Heroic Spirit Emiya, this strike still displayed the brutal beauty of pure power.
At this point, the undead warriors summoned by Nitocris and the Sphinx had all returned to the Underworld, as though the battle had concluded.
But Nitocris did not see it that way. Witnessing the death of the Sphinx—the Pharaoh's gift—her rage only intensified. She glared furiously at Alaric and shouted,
"So this is what you came back to the Pharaoh's domain to do after a month?!"
A surge of magical energy, even fiercer than before, erupted into the air. Without hesitation, Nitocris raised her voice,
"Mirror of Corpses, Mirror of Darkness.!"
Her actions immediately put Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others on high alert.
"Stay sharp, Mash! She's activating her Noble Phantasm!"
Fujimaru hesitated briefly before decisively canceling the summons of Heracles and Heroic Spirit Emiya, redirecting all remaining magical energy to Mash's support.
"Yes! Sir Alaric, please be careful!"
Mash did not stand in front of Ritsuka and the others. Instead, she moved closer to Alaric, who was nearer to Nitocris.
Her massive shield emitted a faint glow, as though constructing a peculiar pattern of light.
'?'
As Alaric looked at the girl shielding him, his gemstone-like eyes flickered slightly, and the Sword of End he had been about to raise was slowly lowered.
Mash, who treated all people and the world with infinite gentleness, showed no hesitation in extending her kindness.
'Was I too harsh earlier?'
Even in this critical moment, Alaric found his thoughts wandering, reflecting on whether he had been too strict with Mash before. A few punches earlier had shattered even her light armor.
"True Name, Pseudo Register! Unleash the Noble Phantasm!"
"Become a doorway and bring terror here—Anpu Neb Ta Djeser!!"
Simultaneously, Mash and Nitocris unleashed their Noble Phantasms.
A dazzling wall of light surged upward, embodying the thoughts and hopes of a certain king. Though its appearance was indistinct, Alaric could make out familiar landscapes.
Meanwhile, the pitch-black mirror unfolding in the sky was a pathway to the Underworld, from which countless undead spirits surged forth, spiraling like waves in the air.
They rushed toward Alaric!
But the wall of light stood as an insurmountable barrier, shielding everyone. Together with this luminous wall, Mash stood against the terrifying tide of death.
Roaring winds swept past on both sides, carving deep furrows into the sand that grew ever deeper.
"Ugh—!"
Gritting her teeth, Mash held firm with her shield, refusing to let the wave of death advance any further.
"Command Spell! Grant Mash victory!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka's resolute cry echoed. A flash of crimson light surged from behind, entering Mash's body.
Alaric could sense Mash's magical energy surging visibly, her attributes rising briefly.
Facing the Anpu Neb Ta Djeser released by Nitocris, she now exuded composure, no longer struggling as before. Fujimaru's timing was impeccable, and their use of the Command Spell left no room for waste.
Rustle.
Before Mash and Nitocris could remain in a stalemate too long, Alaric calmly bypassed Mash and stepped out of the range of her Noble Phantasm.
Facing Nitocris' unleashed Anpu Neb Ta Djeser directly!
"Sir Alaric!"
Mash called out anxiously as she watched Alaric leave, seemingly forgetting the incredible strength he had demonstrated earlier.
Ding!
A faint, clear sound was swallowed by the raging sandstorm. In an instant, the wave of death vanished.
"Eh?"
Nitocris let out a melodious gasp of confusion, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.
Behind Alaric, Mash felt an immense pressure suddenly lift. The overwhelming force, akin to a tidal wave, was gone.
Yet she couldn't understand what had happened.
Had Nitocris willingly deactivated her Noble Phantasm?
Mash cautiously lowered her shield, her expression grave as she watched Nitocris high in the sky.
"Was that the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception?"
Nearby, Da Vinci observed Alaric nullify Nitocris' Noble Phantasm with a serious expression. That feat could not be achieved by mere Mystic Eyes of Life. It was much closer to the legendary Mystic Eyes of Death Perception—the ability to kill the concept of death itself.
Only a handful of powers could make Nitocris' Noble Phantasm vanish with a single slash. What's more, Alaric's earlier strike carried no excess magical energy.
Da Vinci trusted her eyes.
Meanwhile, Fujimaru Ritsuka stroked her chin, also deep in thought.
Unlike Da Vinci and Mash, who were surprised and puzzled by Alaric's slash, Alaric casually sheathed the Sword of End as if chatting with a friend.
"Lady Nitocris, calm down. Since King Ozymandias hasn't issued an expulsion order, I can still formally meet him. Your actions won't change that. Besides, you can't beat me."
"You!!"
Nitocris glared at Alaric, too furious to speak.
At this moment, she indeed had no way to defeat Alaric. A half-year ago, when he first arrived and lacked a Holy Grail, Nitocris had been confident in her chances.
But now, after six months of growth, Alaric was on a completely different level. Even a month ago, she had found him formidable. Meeting him again now was an even greater challenge.
Unwilling to continue speaking with Alaric, Nitocris, having vented her anger, spread the dark mirror of the Underworld behind her.
This action immediately put Mash on edge, thinking Nitocris was preparing to resume the battle.
But Alaric knew her intention.
"Oh, Lady Nitocris, could you give us a ride?"
Seeing Nitocris about to leave, Alaric asked with a smile.
He was well aware that Nitocris could use the Underworld's pathways to return to the radiant grand temple where Ozymandias resided. He had experienced it many times.
This time, however, his wish went unfulfilled. Nitocris shot him a disdainful glance and said,
"If you wish to meet the great Sun King, then travel to the Holy City on your own. Prove your sincerity in desiring an audience with him!"
Before her words finished echoing, Nitocris disappeared into the mirror of the Underworld.
Leaving Alaric and Fujimaru's group staring at one another.
"So, Sir Alaric, what exactly is your grudge with Nitocris, the Pharaoh of the Sixth Dynasty, to anger her so much?"