337 King and Hero
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
Several raging thunder descended from the sky, unleashing the mighty power of the gods, blasting massive charred craters into the ground.
As Heracles dodged the thunderous onslaught, he simultaneously wielded his obsidian longbow, unleashing arrows at Ozymandias with a speed that defied human perception.
*Whoosh!* *Whoosh!* *Whoosh!*
The arrows flew straight and unharmed, each possessing speeds surpassing sound, carrying astonishing destructive power. Even the most advanced sniper rifles couldn't match these arrows.
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
Brilliant lightning clashed, colliding with the arrows.
Yet, as if imbued with life, the arrows changed course in the air, skillfully avoiding the lightning, relentlessly charging toward Ozymandias with precision.
"No arrows shall approach me."
Ozymandias's deep voice echoed as the power of 'Imperial Privilege' instantly activated. Most of the arrows seemed to bounce off an invisible wall.
However, amidst this, one arrow persisted stubbornly, yet it still failed to pierce the pharaoh; it merely grazed his cheek and pierced the throne behind him.
*BOOM!*
Even sturdy gold couldn't escape the fate of shattering under the divine might of the arrow as the magnificent golden throne exploded in an instant.
Ozymandias touched the scars on his face expressionlessly, the blood on his fingertips vividly crimson.
"Well done, truly worthy of the hero who completed the twelve impossible labors. To hurt me under such circumstances, you can indeed be proud, O Greek hero." Ozymandias looked down at Heracles. "But how much longer can you hold on?"
"And why do you think you're better than me?" Heracles replied calmly. "Maintaining such a massive Reality Marble must also be quite draining for you. Under normal circumstances, that arrow just now shouldn't have hit you at all."
"You're right, I can't keep this up much longer..." Ozymandias admitted frankly, a proud king who disdained lying in such matters. "But the remaining time is enough for me to deal with you."
He raised his scepter and countless thunderbolts soon converged to form a massive thunderball, illuminating the entire temple as bright as day with its dazzling thunderous radiance.
"Let this final blow send you to hell, Greek hero!" Ozymandias smirked cruelly as he swung down his scepter, sending the massive thunderball flying.
Watching the huge thunderball descending toward him, Heracles slightly furrowed his brows. His strong battle intuition warned him that taking this hit would almost certainly mean certain death.
His battle with Penthesilea had already consumed nearly half of his resurrection chances. The probability of surviving this hit with the remaining chances was incredibly slim.
But so what?
He was someone who completed the twelve impossible labors alone. This kind of thing was far from what he had experienced.
Heracles bent his longbow, calmly staring at the looming thunderball with unwavering eyes.
'I am Heracles, the one who has completed twelve impossible challenges in succession! I won't fall before reaching my goal!'
*BOOOM!*
*Bzzzt—!*
As the thunderball fell, it unleashed its violent thunder straight away. The dazzling light made it impossible to keep one's eyes open as its terrifying power wreaked havoc everywhere as if painting the entire world with a sea of thunder.
It wasn't until over ten minutes later that the thunder gradually dissipated.
Ozymandias coldly eyed the spot where Heracles had stood, devoid of any signs of life.
"A hero who has turned impossibilities into possibilities twelve times in a row, your bravery is indeed admirable. But unfortunately, courage and belief alone won't bring you victory against this King of Kings."
Ozymandias remarked calmly and lowered his scepter, preparing to dispel his Noble Phantasm, Ramesseum Tentyris. The previous attack had depleted most of his remaining magical energy; he needed to conserve some to face the next enemy.
Objectively speaking, Ozymandias, though a lofty and arrogant ruler, was never one to underestimate his opponents easily. It just, to him, most enemies didn't even qualify as his opponents in the first place.
Therefore, anyone he considered an opponent must have earned his recognition in some way, and for this reason, when facing an acknowledged opponent, he would suppress his inner arrogance.
This was not only to pursue victory and maintain the dignity of the King of Kings but also to show respect to his opponents.
From the beginning, Ozymandias never underestimated Heracles.
In order to deal with this Greek hero, he had almost exhausted all his available options. Even after defeating him, he only let down his guard after confirming that Heracles truly had no trace of life left.
But sometimes, life was full of dramatic twists.
When the coin of fate had yet to land completely, no one could guarantee what variables might come into play.
*Swish—!*
At the moment he let down his guard, a piercing sound of breaking air whistled in.
An arrow of destiny tore through the air like a raging dragon, devoid of any fancy moves or magical effects. Just a simple arrow, plain and unadorned, yet it tipped the scales of victory in the final moments!
Ozymandias hurriedly blocked the arrow with his golden scepter, but unfortunately, it was pierced through in an instant.
*Pu-chi!*
The arrow's power remained undiminished as it pierced through his body, leaving a gaping wound the size of a fist in his chest.
*Thud!*
The arrow embedded deep into the wall, blood staining its feathers as it slid down slowly.
Ozymandias lowered his head, gazing at a fist-sized wound in his chest—a glaringly fatal injury. He raised his head slightly at the devastated land, where a dark tall man, despite being ravaged by his thunder, stood like a tower.
Covered in countless blackened scars with his obsidian longbow nearly shattered, Heracles still stood firm, unyielding like his indomitable will.
"Ahh, I see now..."
Ozymandias spoke calmly as he sat back on his throne, resting his chin on his hand as if unaffected by his injury.
"A last-ditch counterattack, facing death head-on... I never expected that at this final moment, you would manage to break free from the shackles of life and death and resurrect yourself by using the thirteenth labor that has never existed."
Heracles lowered his head slightly, gazing at his obsidian longbow that shattered bit by bit.
"Because... I had a reason to win..." Heracles said with a hoarse voice.
"I know what you mean... Without such resolute conviction, how could you have released that arrow?"
As the magnificent temple dissipated into the brilliance of light particles, Ozymandias gradually faded into nothingness, even in the final moments of his life, the pharaoh who created the glorious nation of ancient Egypt remained calm and collected.
"I am the King of Kings, transcending all gods—Ozymandias. As long as the sun has yet to set, I will once again reign over this land. Cherish this victory, O Greek hero. When you and I face each other next time, I will show you what true despair is."
As the light of the light particles faded away, Rider of Red, Ozymandias, made his exit.
The ancient and grand pyramid quickly disappeared, and the deep twilight once again enveloped the land.
