Chapter 265 The Sun King in the Oasis!
"Take us to Ramses II."
Arthur said calmly, "I will eliminate these evils. This will benefit you, and this land, without any harm."
Nitocris gritted her teeth, Mordred's cold blade pressed against her neck.
The instinctive aversion to the unknown entity and the deep apprehension towards Arthur fiercely battled within her heart.
Finally, all the pleasantries turned into a suppressed whimper.
"…Please follow me."
She put away her golden scepter and led the way, her heart a mix of emotions.
The anomalous situation beneath the Great Temple was a top secret known only to her and the Pharaoh.
Who exactly was this person?
The sand boat restarted, and the group passed over the glassy crater carved out by the azure thunder, entering the world behind the sandstorm.
Instantly, bright sunlight spilled down, dispelling the gloom of the journey.
There was no more dust in sight, but behind them was a wall of sand connecting heaven and earth, towering and stretching, as if dividing the world in two.
Outside the sand wall was a desolate desert, but inside, it was a vast, vibrant oasis.
Clear rivers meandered, nourishing the fertile lands on both banks, and people in the fields were working diligently, their faces radiating peace and contentment.
In the distance, large pyramids rose from the ground, forming a desert city centered around the pyramid complex.
At the center of the architectural complex, a magnificent composite Great Temple stood on the earth, its golden spire glittering in the sunlight, like a miracle.
The sight before them made Ritsuka exclaim in admiration.
"This place… it's like paradise."
Compared to the oppressive and solemn atmosphere of the Holy City, and the arduous living conditions of the Mountain People, this place was undoubtedly a true utopia.
Nitocris heard her exclamation, and a look of pride returned to her face.
"All of this comes from the grace of the Sun King."
She said with reverence, "As long as it is under the radiance of the Pharaoh, no matter what kind of disaster, it cannot invade this land and its people."
"Compared to the other two, he is indeed an extraordinary king."
Arthur's evaluation surprised Nitocris a little; she had thought this strong man would dismiss it with disdain.
The sand boat drove straight towards the Great Temple. Along the way, people in the city, upon seeing Nitocris, stopped their work and bowed respectfully, their eyes filled with adoration.
In such an atmosphere, Nitocris led Arthur and his group through huge colonnades carved with intricate murals and entered the interior of the Great Temple.
Inside the hall, the light was dazzling, and the decorations of gold and jewels were extremely luxurious, yet not at all vulgar, leaving only a sense of sacredness and nobility.
At the end of the central hall, a staircase dozens of steps high stood, and at the top of the staircase was a suspended golden throne.
A brown-skinned man in luxurious robes was lazily resting his head, looking down at everyone.
Even though the hall was bathed in sunlight, the man on the throne had his face hidden in a peculiar shadow, making him difficult to see clearly.
"I apologize for disturbing your rest, Lord Ozymandias."
Nitocris quickly moved past everyone and came to the foot of the steps, bowing respectfully with her golden scepter in hand.
Ozymandias remained unperturbed, his gaze passing over her and falling directly on Arthur, his golden eyes deep and mysterious.
"To be able to cross the sandstorm, defeat my divine beast army, and arrive here unharmed, this bravery is worthy of praise."
Before Ritsuka and the others could breathe a sigh of relief, his tone abruptly changed, carrying the majesty of a king.
"However, to enter my territory with such a forceful attitude is also a disregard for the Pharaoh's prestige!"
"State your purpose, intruders. I will decide whether to bestow glory or unleash divine punishment based on your answer."
The air seemed to solidify, and the invisible pressure made Ritsuka catch her breath, while Mash subconsciously tensed her body.
Mordred, on the other hand, pouted, unimpressed.
Arthur looked up at Ramses II, who was high on his throne, and calmly stated the facts.
"I came to eliminate evil. The Mountain People's issue has been resolved, and I presume you, the Sun King, are also troubled by the unknown entity deep within the temple."
Arthur took a step forward, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"So, put away your Pharaoh's airs and lead the way."
Simple, direct, and utterly rude.
Ritsuka and Mash's hearts were in their throats, while Da Vinci wore an expression of someone watching a good show.
Mordred even gripped her sword hilt excitedly, her fighting spirit high.
On the throne, Ramses II, who looked down on all living beings, fell silent.
The person before him had been too calm from beginning to end, as if he were entering not a temple ruled by a king, but his own backyard.
This composure did not stem from ignorance, but from absolute self-confidence.
Especially the phrase "eliminate evil," which precisely hit his biggest current worry.
"Since I descended here, you are the first to dare speak to me like this. Very good, I acknowledge your courage."
Ramses II's gaze lingered on Arthur for a moment, then he asked casually,
"Then, before dealing with that 'evil,' I want to know, what do you plan to do with that goddess in the east?"
This was a test; Arthur saw through the other's thoughts but did not answer directly.
"First, solve the problem at hand."
His attitude was clear and firm, giving the other party no chance to change the subject.
"Nitocris." Ramses II commanded again, "Take them to the 'depths.'"
"Yes!"
Nitocris respectfully accepted the order and rose to lead the way.
Only this time, a hint of awe was added to her gaze towards Arthur.
Under her guidance, the group passed through several ornate corridors and arrived at a forbidden area on the lowest level of the Great Temple.
An ominous aura permeated the entrance, and a magical barrier shimmering with complex runes sealed the path to deeper areas.
"This is it."
Nitocris stopped first, her expression unusually serious.
"Beyond the barrier is the corrupted area."
Arthur nodded and turned to the others behind him, instructing them.
"The unknown entity is best at corrupting bodies. All of you stay here; do not go in."
Ritsuka was stunned and exclaimed, "Is the Captain going to deal with that unknown entity by himself again?"
Mash also looked worried, while Mordred seemed somewhat unconvinced.
"Master, those disgusting things can't affect me, can they? Before, too…"
"No."
Arthur's answer was crisp and decisive, directly cutting off her words.
He knew very well that the current situation was completely different from the previously elusive unknown entity puppets.
The external unknown entity has a strong corrosive effect on any living creature, even Servants are no exception.
Rushing into it without world-level protection would have unimaginable consequences.
Seeing his resolute attitude, everyone could only stop.
"Don't worry, it'll be quick."
Arthur left a sentence and then stepped alone into the magical barrier.
A flash of light, and his figure disappeared from everyone's sight.
Beyond the barrier was a scene completely different from the temple's splendor.
Darkness, viscous, ink-like solidified evil filled the entire space.
Sphinxes stood silently, strange black patterns entwined around their bodies, and scarlet flames burned in their eye sockets.
The moment Arthur stepped in, all the statues came alive, and at the same time, hundreds of humanoid monsters dressed in guard uniforms also awakened.
They opened their tattered mouths, roaring silently, and surged towards Arthur from all directions with pure destructive intent.
But an even stranger scene occurred.
The unknown entity lurking outside the rift, which should have been the source of pollution here—
The moment it sensed the Child of the Stars' aura, it actually fled in a panic without hesitation!
"It ran pretty fast."
Arthur snorted coldly. The trap of luring the enemy deep, as expected, could only be used once on such cunning things.
He raised his hand and summoned his Holy Sword, and its radiance instantly dispelled the darkness, illuminating the entire space.
He no longer paid attention to the fleeing unknown entity, his gaze sweeping over the group of puppets before him, now out of control and left with only pure destructive intent.
"Time to work."