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TM : [228] The Path to the Throne
🕑 Added 2024-01-03 16:01:01 +0000 UTCThe seventh Sphinx!
Jing Ke's heart skipped a beat as she faced the seventh Sphinx. Her legs were weak; while she could still manage to run, overcoming this Sphinx seemed impossible. Dodging its claws, flames, and storms—all of it was beyond her capability.
In general, it was an impossible feat.
But...
"Master—"
She wasn't alone; it wasn't like the last assassination. This time, she had her own Master, someone who could unleash her abilities at a crucial moment—Command Spells!
"Assassin—by the command spell, I order you..." Colin Kidd, who was observing everything through Assassin's eyes, spoke, "Avoid that Sphinx and kill Rider!"
"Understood—"
Jing Ke, with a bloodstain on her forehead, smiled. Though unfamiliar with this Master, helping her succeed in the assassination of the king— that made him the best Master!
This time—she would not fail!
Looking at the dimming command spell on his hand, Colin Kidd breathed a sigh of relief.
"It seems the situation isn't going well," DIO, sitting on the throne and flipping through a book, commented without looking up.
"Yes... Although Rider hasn't appeared, Assassin was detected the moment she entered the pyramid. Even her ability to conceal her presence was ineffective. Then seven Sphinxes appeared, likely of Servant level. That's the situation with those Sphinxes," Colin Kidd reported.
"I see." DIO nodded, took a sip of what appeared to be red wine but was, in fact, fresh blood.
The blood of high-level dead apostles...
Previously, DIO hadn't touched his subordinates who were dead apostles. But yesterday, during the battle with Berserker, some of the high-level dead apostle had spouted a considerable amount of blood, some of which DIO absorbed.
Thus—
He felt a much greater life force than that of human blood.
In the end, both the dead apostle and DIO were vampires, but they belonged to different breeds.
Presently, DIO treated the dead apostles as a source of food.
After all, the blood of the dead apostles could significantly increase his strength!
However, DIO wouldn't kill his subordinates. Instead, he would only consume a portion of their blood, letting them replenish it by consuming other humans.
In simple terms, the dead apostles feed on humans, and DIO feeds on the dead apostles.
But—
How many dead apostles would willingly allow DIO to consume their blood? Colin Kidd didn't know. What he did know was this—if DIO wanted to drink his blood, how would he react? Would he refuse, agree, escape, or perhaps feel honored? He had no idea.
...
On the other side.
Jing Ke passed through the last Sphinx and rushed further inside.
Then—the wall blocked her path!
Jing Ke came to a halt.
"Haha, haha..." The effect of the command spell was about to end, and there was no way forward!
And then...
A curse.
Legend had it that there was a curse of the gods within the pyramid, causing tomb raiders to die one after another.
It was the same here!
Even walking inside this pyramid caused her parameters to continuously drop. It was a deadly poison for ordinary humans, enough to cause death within a few breaths. Even Servants couldn't endure it for long. Although, at the moment, it only manifested as a decrease in ability parameters.
But... it was deadly enough—turning back, the seven Sphinxes were already approaching her!
Not only that—her Noble Phantasm was unusable.
At the moment, her Noble Phantasm was just a simple dagger with deadly poison.
This pyramid sealed her Noble Phantasm!
Decreasing ability parameters, Noble Phantasm sealed... these were the current abilities displayed by this pyramid.
And... she couldn't break the wall in front of her.
The wall was incredibly tough; even facing an army's Noble Phantasm, it would remain unscathed. Relying solely on her dagger was futile.
Moreover, there was no other way forward. At the moment, the only options were to run away or... die here!
"I can't fall here—"
However, she wouldn't just retreat like this. Even if she were an Assassin, her only option now was direct combat.
"Haha!" At this moment, the laughter of the Pharaoh reached her ears. "Not bad! Even facing such fear, Assassin remains calm! Interesting! Not bad! I appreciate someone like you, undoubtedly deserving the title of a brave warrior! Assassin, tell me your name!"
"A small fry has nothing special to say, but if you really want to know, I don't mind telling you."
"Very well, speak. What is your name?"
"Jing Ke, that's my name," Jing Ke said, noticing that the Sphinxes in front had stopped moving.
"Oh..." The Pharaoh fell silent for a moment and then laughed. "Haha! Not bad! So, you're historical figure who attempted to assassinate a king. Indeed, you have courage!"
Saying that, Jing Ke noticed that the Sphinxes in front of her had gradually disappeared. In the end, only one remained!
"Come, Assassin... no, Jing Ke—kill this Sphinx, and all the paths to my throne will open for you! Come, let me witness your bravery! And then—you must also give a rating. Among the kings you have encountered, how do I rank?"
"With due respect—"
Jing Ke laughed, tightened the dagger in her hand, and with the other hand, shattered the attack of the remaining Sphinx.
In other words...
She mustn't be hit!
Absolutely cannot be hit by this Sphinx.
Being hit meant death.
But as long as she killed this Sphinx... she would meet the Pharaoh.
At that moment, she would definitely be able to successfully kill him! This time, she wouldn't fail. Absolutely wouldn't fail! This was her wish.
As for the Holy Grail, drinking alcohol wasn't bad, but as for wishes, she would pass!
Her wish was only this... to personally kill the king!
