Without even an opening statement, King Ophis suddenly attacked—just like every encounter they'd had with other kings so far.
Without exchanging a word, Mash and Lily immediately moved together. Mash took the front, clearly intending to block the attack, and, with calm professionalism, began reporting the situation to someone unknown.
Ophis raised an eyebrow and flicked her staff lightly. The lasers that were about to strike the shield froze midair, defying every law of physics. Then, just before impact, they curved around the barrier, circling the two girls instead.
"[Wall of Firmly Honorable Snowflakes]!"
Mash didn't falter. Silver-white light burst from her shield, wrapping both of them in a protective sphere.
"Oh?"
With a subtle motion of Ophis's finger, dozens of lasers bent again, pouring down like rain against the silvery barrier.
Boom, boom, boom, boom—!
The result was immediate. Unable to pierce the silver wall, the magic beams dispersed violently on contact, triggering a series of explosions.
"Yaaah!"
From the rising smoke, Lily leapt high with a spirited shout. Gripping her holy sword—its shape strikingly similar to Merlin's—she swung it down hard toward Ophis.
Clang—!
The surprise strike failed. The staff met the sword effortlessly, sparks scattering from the clash. Ophis batted the blade aside and swiftly reversed her grip, aiming the staff straight for Lily's head.
Though frustrated by her failed attack, Lily wasn't surprised.
After fighting through countless Singularities, she'd learned that few mages lacked close-combat ability. The sheer pressure radiating from Ophis made it clear—this King of Uruk was no ordinary opponent.
Lily pulled back, narrowly dodging the blow. Almost instantly, a shadow dropped from above—Mash, shield raised before her.
At the same time, Lily's sword flared with golden light.
The shield's weight, combined with Mash's momentum, made it a force no ordinary Caster could withstand head-on. Their plan was simple: force Ophis to dodge, giving Lily a brief opening to strike. The moment their opponent retreated, Lily would unleash her full power before Ophis could react.
That was the plan—at least in theory.
At the tip of Ophis's staff, purple light surged, overwhelming Lily's gold. Magic condensed near the orb, forming a massive sphere of dark energy.
"Wait—this reaction!?"
Through Ritsuka's communicator, Romani's alarmed voice cut in.
Ophis ignored him. So did the girls, far too busy fighting for their lives. She swung her staff toward Mash's descending shield.
The instant they connected, the sphere detonated, blasting Mash backward. The wild surge of energy immediately condensed again, lancing straight toward Lily as a focused beam.
"Guh—!?"
Caught off guard, Lily barely had time to release the incomplete power of her Noble Phantasm toward Ophis.
Golden and purple beams collided violently, the recoil sending Lily flying just like Mash.
The two tumbled back, distance widening between them and Ophis. Though both looked a little worse for wear, neither was seriously injured—Ritsuka's quick healing from the rear had already mended the scrapes. Without hesitation, the two re-formed their stances.
"King Ophis's fighting style leaves no openings... Even with all those attacks, that hasn't changed," Mash said to Lily, frowning.
"No openings" didn't mean flawless technique, but rather that Ophis had no clear weaknesses. She could respond to nearly any assault.
Lily frowned as well.
It was a little embarrassing to admit, but she and Mash were both more defensive than offensive. Against someone like Ophis, they lacked any decisive means to break through.
And so the two sides faced each other in tense silence.
Chaldea's pair could only rely on Mash's defense, waiting patiently for a chance to strike. Ophis, meanwhile, simply stood there—glaring, unmoving.
"My King, if you have no intention of killing them, perhaps we should end this? These two have remarkable skills and could become warriors worthy of your service. Might they be the foreigners Merlin mentioned? Recruiting them could improve our situation, don't you think?"
Just as Chaldea's group began wondering how long the stalemate would last, Siduri suddenly knelt and spoke.
Having served beside Ophis for some time, Siduri had learned her habits well. This king often acted on impulse, doing something unexpected on a whim—then finding herself unsure how to stop, leading to awkward pauses like this one.
Moments like these were when Siduri, ever the loyal aide, had to step in and smooth things over.
"You must be the ones from Chaldea?"
The purple glow on Ophis's staff slowly faded, returning to gold as she turned her gaze toward Ritsuka standing at the back.
"Y-yes! My name is Fujimaru Ritsuka. I'm the Master from Chaldea!"
Swallowing her nerves, Ritsuka stepped forward a few paces, meeting Ophis's eyes.
"Hm... I'm not particularly interested in your name, but never mind. Do as you wish. I won't hinder you, nor will I assist you—until you understand what it is you must do."
After a short pause, Ophis continued.
In truth, she wasn't entirely sure what she herself should be doing. Since Chaldea specialized in matters like this, letting them handle it seemed reasonable.
To her, the greatest threat—or perhaps opportunity—lay in the south, with the goddess she had yet to meet. But she lacked the strength to send anyone there, nor would she order others to their deaths, Chaldea included.
Unless they proved themselves capable, she wouldn't allow them to set foot in the southern jungle.
As for withholding assistance... Uruk simply didn't have the resources to spare.
"However, if you can prove your worth," Ophis added after some thought, "I may offer guidance."
Merlin alone against the goddess's Authority left her uneasy. If Chaldea truly had the strength, she could let them accompany him—to explore that mysterious southern jungle.
---
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