Typemoon: Starting Out as the Lion King's Personal Knight [409] (Patreon)

BOOM!

The snow-white sword aura, perhaps even purer than the frozen landscape itself, tore through half the imperial palace in an instant, slicing it apart inch by inch! From the shattered palace, a cold current transformed into a long dragon, dancing wildly as it lifted the princess’s form high into the air, soaring upwards, pulling the battlefield out of the palace’s confines.

Prisms of ice spun endlessly in the atmosphere, refracting the brilliance of the sun, instantly rising to a startling temperature—hot enough to melt gold and iron, to pierce through human flesh! Blinding beams, as if descending from the heavens to deliver judgment, locked unerringly onto the figure speeding through the streets of Moscow.

Not only that, but countless icicles rained down from above, each dropping with tremendous force, like cannon shells, their interwoven might exploding on impact and unleashing frigid streams of air nearly two hundred degrees below zero!

Crouching behind Anastasia, Kadoc gritted his teeth, enduring the assault of the cold currents, activating protective magecraft to keep his vital signs stable.

His heart pounded wildly as Kadoc fought to suppress his panic, looking down to glimpse the tiny figure below.

There, on the ground dozens of meters below, a knight sprinted at full speed.

Anastasia had used magically conjured ice to lift them high into the sky, avoiding a direct confrontation with Alaric, whose strength lay in close combat.

If it were a battle of magecraft, Kadoc was absolutely confident in Anastasia.

But—

“He’s too strong—ridiculously so—”

Staring intently at the scene below, Kadoc couldn’t help but mutter, “Is he even human? Or is he actually a Servant?”

Alaric running through Moscow’s snowy streets swung his sword-lance, sending out snow-white sword energy that tore apart the land of snow, cutting down the blinding beams from above. Even the falling icicles were shredded to pieces, the surging cold currents countered by an even greater heat!

Even when Anastasia wielded the power of the spirit Viy, causing ice to bloom and pierce from beneath Alaric’s feet, it couldn’t touch him at all.

It was instantly cut down and vaporized.

A scene unseen in centuries unfolded here—not some mystical phenomenon wrought by the stars, but something accomplished by human hands—

A changing of heaven and earth.

With each beat of his dragon’s heart, waves of heat erupted, sweeping through all of Moscow.

Wherever he passed, ice and snow melted, and water vaporized.

The great cold snap that had shrouded the land for centuries was entirely dispelled!

Even if it was only a corner of Moscow, it allowed the people now called the Yaga to glimpse a strange yet familiar world—

The knight, racing down the street, released his sword-lance, turned, drew his bow, and nocked an arrow, aiming at the princess high above!

Whoosh!

Several arrows of light shot forth, splitting into thousands, stripping heat and light from the air as they soared upward, striking directly at Anastasia!

Before the arrows of light could pierce her, Anastasia decisively raised the spirit called Viy in her arms, her voice echoing ethereally: “Viy, stop.”

Buzz.

An invisible force spread out—a Mystic Eye’s power released through her gaze.

Though not a full release, it was enough to twist and deflect the incoming arrows of light, defending and even retaliating!

“Anastasia, use your Noble Phantasm!”

After Anastasia successfully blocked Alaric’s attack, Kadoc, still crouched behind her, was deathly pale, cold sweat pouring down as he shouted hoarsely, “Don’t worry about me!”

Kadoc knew he couldn’t afford to drag this out; the fight had to end quickly! He couldn’t supply Anastasia with the magical energy needed for such an intense, drawn-out Servant battle—if it continued, she would lose her fighting strength because of him, an unqualified Master.

To prevent that, he had no choice but to risk everything now, while the outcome was still uncertain!

“I understand.”

With a calm expression, Anastasia hugged the doll in her arms tightly and said softly, “Viy, open your Mystic Eye.”

Whoosh—

Wind and snow surged again, but this time it was not pure cold. Amid the freezing, an invisible spirit opened its Mystic Eye.

That eye, which could see through all things, could even create weaknesses by distorting causality.

“Viy, witness everything, pierce everything. Use your immense power as an offering upon my gravestone—”

Anastasia softly invoked, “Viy Viy Viy: Dash - Spirit Eyeballs!”

Buzz.

The Mystic Eye’s power ignored distance and instantly locked onto the knight below.

A spirit born of fantasy, in this Lostbelt it was even more greatly empowered—its might rivaled that of top-tier Servants, even surpassing them!

Its full release was not to be underestimated!

Alaric, caught in its gaze, could feel the overwhelming force of this so-called spirit’s eye—

Countless cold currents manifested from the void, freezing into ice, swallowing Alaric completely. Invisible power twisted his body, creating a fleeting vulnerability in his otherwise perfect physique.

Even though his real weak point was elsewhere, this mysterious power created a new weakness.

This was the Mystic Eye that defied causality—it could perceive and twist the weak points of fortresses, let alone a human body.

As the cold currents invaded, Alaric heard the sharp crackling of ice.

It was the sound of the ice encasing his body shattering—but it wasn’t just the ice breaking; his frozen body was fracturing as well!

Previously, this would have done nothing to Alaric, but with Viy’s Mystic Eye in effect, his weakness was now tied to the ice itself.

Making the impossible possible!

Rip.

An aurora surged forth, stripping away all the ice, magic, and even the Mystic Eye’s power itself, transforming it into the driving force of the aurora.

Uninjured, Alaric looked up at Anastasia, whose magical energy was dwindling, and at the increasingly pale Kadoc.

Just as Alaric was about to speak, a subtle twitch at the corner of his eye brought a sudden sense of danger—a sense of death.

Even he could be seriously injured, or even killed.

Something felt wrong—

‘Even if Anastasia has multiple Noble Phantasms, none should surpass Viy in power. Could Kadoc have some hidden energy reserve?

Is this something unique to Kadoc, or do all the Crypters have it?’

Perplexed, Alaric stared up at Kadoc and called out loudly, “Kadoc, what are you planning to use against me?”

Kadoc, who had been mustering his courage, froze at the words, his shock impossible to hide.

Did Alaric even know about that?

An overwhelming psychological pressure crashed over Kadoc like a tidal wave, making it hard to breathe.

“Hey, hey, what are you all doing?”

At that moment, an oblivious voice interrupted.

A goddess, spear in hand, walked forward slowly, looking Alaric and the two in the sky over with surprise.

Alaric, standing his ground, glanced at the divine spirit who had appeared some time ago but only now made her entrance.

That’s right.

This sudden arrival was a divine spirit descended into the world as a Servant—her name was Caenis.

A warrior and usurper from Greek mythology.

One of the Argonauts, she had shared adventures with many heroes.

Once an actual woman famed for her beauty, praised as a lovely maiden in Thessaly.

Though she had always refused all suitors, one day she was loved by Poseidon, who took her chastity.

It is said that the satisfied sea god told her: “I can grant you any wish.”

Caenis replied, “So that this never happens again, I no longer wish to be a woman.” Thus, she was transformed into an invincible man.

Whether she truly became male is unknown.

Another tale says that after death, she turned into a bird with golden wings, vanishing into the sky, leaving behind her female corpse.

After that, Caenis/Caeneus became a mighty warrior, ruling the land as a usurper.

That is where her myth ends. Now, Caenis has manifested as one of Kirschtaria Wodime’s three divine Servants.

The Crypter Kirschtaria Wodime is one of the beings Alaric fears most.

According to information sold by Koyanskaya, the magus Kirschtaria Wodime even defeated the great god Zeus head-on, gaining dominion over the Lostbelt.

He commands multiple divine Servants.

To defeat Zeus outright is something Alaric himself cannot do at present.

Leaving Kirschtaria aside, Caenis’s appearance here meant she had come on a mission—

She was acting on behalf of the Crypters.

‘What a pain—’

Alaric clicked his tongue, then looked at Caenis. “Divine spirit Caenis, are you here on Kirschtaria’s orders to see Kadoc?”

“That’s none of your business, knight.”

Caenis grinned. “I don’t care what squabble you’re having. Just stop it now.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Caenis.”

Alaric shook his head. “I’ve come this far—can’t just turn back and take a nap, can I? You’re either here for the Fantasy Tree or Chaldea. The Fantasy Tree can’t sprout without the Lostbelt King Ivan’s approval, and Chaldea landed here not long ago.”

“Oh? Interesting fellow.”

Caenis’s gaze sharpened. “Are you trying to drive me off? It’s true we’re forbidden from interfering with other Crypters, but I suppose I can kill you if I feel like it.”

“Want to try? Killing gods isn’t new to me.”

Alaric smiled. “Don’t worry, it’ll be a painless death.”

“…………”

Watching the exchange below, Kadoc bit hard on his back teeth.

Asking for help, especially from a fellow Crypter’s Servant, was something Kadoc could not accept.

“Fine, fine, let me see if your words have any substance!”

Caenis’s eyes flashed murderously, the majesty of a god erupting forth.