High-temperature flames were the nemesis of Steel Hero Gods.
Steel, which could always display sharp characteristics, would only be melted by high temperatures.
So under Laevatein's world-destroying flames, Lancelot was temporarily caught in a hard battle.
The Authority [Charge of Solitary Cavalry] was useless under the Aegis Shield, and the Mist Undying Body was countered by the flames.
Whenever he tried to hide himself in water mist to heal his wounds, Laevatein's flames would burn all the mist together, leaving him nowhere to escape.
The army of wild knights summoned by his Authority also couldn't break through the flames' shackles.
Not to mention, there was still a Campione watching like a tiger and continuously escalating.
Conceptual Armament・Simulated Divinity・Vajra!
Brilliant lightning burst from another weapon. This lightning wasn't ownerless power—not only couldn't it charge Lancelot, it would also stack together with Laevatein's flames.
Lightning and fire intertwined, bringing maximum damage to the Steel Hero God.
"The more familiar the concept, the greater the effect that Simulated Divinity seems to display." Observing the output of the two Simulated Divinity weapons, Ryuga confirmed this point in his heart.
As beliefs of the same Aryan people, Zoroastrianism's Verethragna and Hinduism's Indra actually had the same source.
The relationship between these two gods was somewhat similar to that between Vulcan and Hephaestus—originally different masks that gradually formed different divinities in mythological evolution.
Therefore, when Ryuga wanted to simulate Indra's (i.e., Sakra's) lightning, he only needed to borrow the lightning from Verethragna's goat incarnation and fuse it with the Zeus lightning inherited by God King Melqart and wine god Dionysus to obtain a first-class Simulated Divinity weapon.
Originally, the conceptual armaments Ryuga created had an upper limit of only second-tier Sanctuary level, requiring multiple layers to stack to affect gods.
Now, with the addition of Simulated Divinity, the conceptual armaments Ryuga created directly leaped to divine-level power, becoming divine weapons that even gods dared not resist.
This was still just conceptual armaments created from pure magical power.
If he could obtain rare materials from mythology, such as the Divine Sea-Calming Iron and similar mythological materials, the weapons Ryuga forged could continue to increase in power.
However, materials of this level were rare even in the Campione world and couldn't be forced.
"War God Lancelot, if you don't have any power that can interest me, then let's end this here."
Having finished experimenting with the power of Simulated Divinity, Ryuga had no intention of continuing to waste time and directly urged.
"Cough cough! To think I'd be driven to such an extent by the Raksha King, how disgraceful!"
War God Lancelot retreated in embarrassment.
His armor had been burned and deformed, his helmet slightly cracked, revealing pale skin that didn't look masculine.
However, at the moment, no one cared about these trivial details.
After creating distance, despite showing clear disadvantage, he hadn't lost his fighting spirit—his attitude became even more elevated.
"Campione Ryuga, as the strongest enemy I've encountered so far, I'll remember your name! I also acknowledge that with my power alone, I'm no match for you."
The War God, straightforward as a warrior, didn't deny his defeat.
In the battle just now, Ryuga hadn't even made a move yet had already driven him to desperation.
Although he didn't know why, if the opponent had even half an intention to end the war, he would have been unable to hold on long ago.
Understanding this, he naturally wouldn't shamelessly consider the recent battle a draw.
"Suddenly saying this—do you want to surrender?"
Ryuga glanced at the white War God's waist and asked knowingly.
"No! Just giving advance warning."
The white War God smiled slightly, then drew a platinum-colored long blade from his waist.
"Because what I'm about to use next is power from the Last King! Although it's somewhat like cheating, a War God using weapons at hand isn't something worth criticizing—you shouldn't mind, right?"
"Even if I said I minded, you wouldn't stop, would you?"
Ryuga asked back, but his gaze remained fixed on that sword.
The platinum long blade displayed an extremely strong steel aura, even purer than Lancelot's steel attributes as a Steel Hero God.
Earlier he had just thought that if there were suitable materials, he might be able to forge weapons stronger than ordinary divine weapons.
Now one immediately appeared—material better than most divine artifacts.
"Of course not!"
The War God revealed a hearty smile.
"If I stop here, I won't be able to protect my beloved child, so no matter what, I'll use my full power here!"
After expressing his will, Lancelot directly thrust the platinum blade into the ground beneath his feet.
"Come, Salvation God Blade, Divine Sacred Sword of Falling Stars!"
"For my martial achievements, please allow me to conduct sacred plunder!"
Steel was born from the earth but could extract the earth's essence.
As the Sword God closest to the Steel Origin, Lancelot also possessed the qualifications to use the Salvation God Blade.
Under his Word Spirit's drive, the earth's ley lines beneath his feet were rapidly extracted into the Salvation God Blade.
Originally, for divine battles, the spiritual power temporarily extracted wouldn't be of much use, but before participating in battle this time, Guinevere had already supplemented the Salvation God Blade with some cursed power through the Holy Grail.
So soon, the Salvation God Blade's true power was activated.
The platinum blade shone with golden light, floating in the sky like a brilliant white star.
Vast cursed power brewed in the center of the white star, transforming into Salvation Divine Lightning—this was power that originally belonged to the Last King.
Same as the "Thousand Lights, Thousand Swords" that Ryuga had used to instantly kill Melqart, Salvation Divine Lightning possessed nearly unavoidable divine speed, with each strike having the power to eliminate a Campione.
With Lancelot's power and current cursed energy, he wasn't yet sufficient to fully activate the Salvation God Blade and release tens of thousands of Salvation Divine Lightning.
But it was enough to project dozens of attacks.
For ordinary Campiones, this power alone would be sufficient for certain death.
Without divine speed Authorities or martial arts intuition, it would be impossible to dodge the lock-on of Salvation Divine Lightning.
"Blade that destroys heaven, earth, stars, and seas completely, replacing your rightful master, now I am your wielder—display sacred annihilation and slaughter."
Lancelot formally activated the white star's power, looking at Ryuga with confident eyes.
"Raksha King, the decisive battle truly begins now!"
He had sufficient reason to believe that even the mythological Aegis Shield couldn't withstand the bombardment of Salvation Divine Lightning.
Just as Lancelot thought a dragon-tiger battle was about to unfold and the opponent would have to bring out stronger power to respond.
Ryuga's actions left him completely stunned.
Facing this Salvation Divine Lightning, facing this planet-cleaving blade, facing this undoubtedly lethal attack.
Ryuga not only didn't bring out any trump card power but actually recalled all the Simulated Divinity armaments he had constructed earlier.
A posture of completely abandoning defense and letting the enemy attack freely.
As if noticing Lancelot's gaze, after withdrawing all defenses, Ryuga spoke in an extremely calm tone:
"Begin?"
"No, it's already over."
Since he had already seen the power of the Salvation God Blade, there was no need to continue wasting time.
"What are you say—"
Hearing Ryuga say this, Lancelot's heart tightened.
Just as he was about to activate the Salvation God Blade and ask what Ryuga meant.
Suddenly, he saw a familiar strand of orange-red divine light.
Then, he was defeated.
All his power was completely drained in an instant, and he collapsed limply to the ground, completely losing the strength to resist.
"What happened?"
Lancelot showed an extremely bewildered expression.
He had thought that mysterious technique was ineffective against him, but unexpectedly, Ryuga simply hadn't used it?
Even facing the power of the Salvation God Blade, he could still instantly defeat him.
So the previous battle was just playing house with him?
As Lancelot showed the same expression of questioning life as Marquis Voban, Ryuga stepped forward and picked up the Salvation God Blade that had fallen to the ground after losing control.
Although not the original, it possessed the same properties as the original.
Whether used as weapon material or for researching the so-called "Steel Origin," it was excellent material.
After collecting his spoils of war, Ryuga finally looked down at the goddess who had lost her helmet and revealed a beautiful face. He wasn't surprised by this point at all.
"The reason for your defeat is simple—your divinity is too straightforward."
The Victory Sword technique had another crucial judgment—those whose divine information was completely grasped by Ryuga would be defeated.
The reason supporting this judgment's existence was simple: Verethragna's most special power, the Golden Sword that slays gods.
Hearing Ryuga's words, the War God showed an extremely astonished expression.
My divinity is simple?
What kind of joke is this!
Do I look like a simple Lake Knight Lancelot to you?
Seeming to sense her confusion, Ryuga casually added:
"The Spear War God worshipped by the Sarmatians, the rarest female Steel Hero God in mythology, Lake Knight Lancelot, and—Amazon Queen Hippolyta. Am I wrong about anything?"
"..."
The War God, completely exposed in all her details, fell completely silent.
She had thought she was well hidden, but had she been seen through from the very beginning?
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