Typemoon: Starting Out as the Lion King's Personal Knight

As the suction force reached its peak, Alaric and the others finally saw what was approaching—a pitch-black structure covered in intricate, glowing runes, resembling a coiled serpent biting its tail!

This automatic defense unit was gathering a powerful air vortex at its core, continuously devouring the surrounding atmosphere.

"This thing looks bad. Mr. Holmes, got any ideas on how to deal with it?"

Alaric could sense a deep curse emanating from the device. It was clear that this model was different from the ones he had encountered before. Not only was he unsure if his previous tactics would work, but the curse itself posed a serious challenge.

After all, this was an alchemical device created by the Atlas Institute, a facility known for developing world-ending weapons—nothing like the remnants of the Crusaders he had faced before. Alaric had been able to block the minor curses from the Crusaders, but this device radiated genuine danger. Avoid direct contact as much as possible—

"Sir Alaric, the machine is inscribed with Rune magic, likely a weakening curse from Northern Europe that affects living beings. Miss Nitocris's familiars should handle the main offensive—"

Holmes, who had been closely observing the defense unit, spoke rapidly.

"Use your Noble Phantasm, Miss Nitocris!"

Almost at the same time, Alaric made the decision. Like Holmes, he intended for Nitocris to take the lead in the attack, but he wanted to go further—straight to using her most powerful move. From what Alaric remembered, Nitocris's Noble Phantasm, Anpu Neb Ta Djeser: Nether Mirror Tome, was an Anti-Army type. According to Nitocris, it was a mirror capable of reflecting the Underworld, or perhaps a dark, otherworldly realm.

Its method of attack wasn't a massive surge of magical energy, but rather a summoning technique that called forth countless undead to swarm the target. This meant that even in the narrow confines of the tunnel, Mirror of the Underworld could still be effectively used.

Upon hearing Alaric's command, Nitocris, who understood his intentions, immediately began to deploy the Mirror of the Underworld.

"I need time!"

"Leave it to me!"

Clang—!

Alaric stood ready, sword in hand, positioning himself between the defense unit and Nitocris.

"Mirror of Corpses, Mirror of Darkness.—"

Her powerful incantation resonated with magical energy, and beams of light began to swirl around Nitocris. Behind her, a dark figure slowly appeared!

Buzz!

Just as Nitocris was chanting, the automatic defense unit launched its attack. The highly compressed vortex suddenly reversed, unleashing everything it had consumed in a torrent of invisible curses. The overwhelming force, like a tidal wave, threatened to engulf Alaric and the others in an instant.

Fzzz—!

Alaric's clothes fluttered in the violent wind. Holmes, standing beside Nitocris with a pipe in hand, seemed unconcerned about the defense unit. Instead, he raised an eyebrow, watching a certain figure. That flash of red lightning, accompanied by the roar of a dragon, surged forth. Alaric's sword extended, cutting through the oncoming curse wind. The cursed wind split around Alaric, rushing past him and slamming into the stone walls of the tunnel, leaving no trace.

By this time, Nitocris's chant was almost complete.

"Become a doorway and bring terror here. ――Anpu Neb Ta Djeser!!"

As Nitocris finished her incantation, a towering figure silently appeared behind her. Though shrouded in darkness, the figure was adorned with regal metallic ornaments, its jackal-headed visage emanating a divine aura. Alaric's eyes locked onto the sacred being from Egyptian mythology—Anubis!

Above Anubis, a golden mirror appeared, its wings spreading open, releasing a surge of familiar energy that Alaric immediately recognized. Is that the Underworld behind it?

Before Alaric could fully process his awe, a flood of undead spirits rushed out from the mirror, roaring past him. They charged straight toward the automatic defense unit! The curses surrounding the defense unit had no effect on the undead, who relentlessly battered the machine.

As the Mirror of the Underworld continued to unfold, Alaric took a bold step forward, pulling his right arm back. He treated his sword like a spear and hurled it with all his might! The sword shot forward like a bolt of lightning—unstoppable!

Boom!!

With a roar of wind and magic, the sword pierced straight through the core of the automatic defense unit. Red lightning erupted wildly, and the temperature in the tunnel spiked instantly.

Clang!

The heavy sound of the defense unit crashing to the ground signaled the end of the battle. But Alaric didn't relax. He kept a close eye on the now-dull defense unit and muttered, "Mr. Holmes, what are the chances of a curse leak from this thing?"

"Zero, Sir Alaric. These curses are inscribed using Rune magic, and they don't store curses to release later. Unless the magic circuits overload and cause a Rune malfunction, there shouldn't be any curse leaks. Elementary, my friend."

Holmes smiled.

Satisfied with Holmes's answer, Alaric finally let his guard down. Nitocris ended her deployment of her Noble Phantasm, and the eerie magic that had surrounded her dissipated.

"Are you commanding a pharaoh to fight for you now? How insolent!"

Nitocris glared at Alaric.

"It's all part of King Ozymandias's mission—"

Alaric had already figured out the best way to talk to Nitocris: whenever in doubt, mention Ozymandias.

"Insolent!"

With an angry shout from Nitocris, Alaric stepped forward and pushed open the door. Despite its weight, he managed to open it with sheer brute force.

"It wasn't locked, and there are no mechanisms or traps either—"

As he opened the door, Alaric was hit by a wave of heat and a strange smell.

"This doesn't feel like something from this era, Mr. Holmes."

Seeing what was inside the room, Alaric couldn't help but chuckle. Behind the door was a room full of modern conveniences, with various everyday items and alchemical materials piled up everywhere. Most of the objects were quite ordinary, completely different from the forbidden weapons Alaric had imagined.

But this was within Alaric's expectations. According to Holmes, most of the weapons made by the Atlas Institute were sealed away, so it was unlikely they'd be stored in a place like this. There weren't even any protective measures.

"Yes, Sir Alaric, these things don't belong to this era. But it seems Sir Alaric is quite familiar with them as well—"

Holmes walked up beside Alaric, smiling mischievously.

Upon being summoned, Servants are granted knowledge to help them adapt to the current era. But Alaric wasn't a Servant, and as a living person, he shouldn't have known about these things. Damn—

Alaric smiled faintly.

"Mr. Holmes, it's not strange that I know about these things. If you can cross Singularities to get here, others can do similar things."

Holmes paused for a moment, not following Alaric into the room. Instead, he stood at the doorway, watching Alaric's back.

After successfully entering the room and surveying his surroundings, Alaric turned back toward Holmes at the door.

"Mr. Holmes, is there something you'd like to ask?"