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

Suddenly, Alaric pointed his sword at the world-famous dragon slayer, Siegfried.

"You must be Mr. Siegfried. I've always wanted to fight you."

Though he spoke of wanting to fight Siegfried, Alaric's glance shifted briefly to the visibly nervous Fujimaru Ritsuka, and his satisfaction was clear.

To think that Ritsuka would summon a Servant specifically designed to counter him after sensing his draconic attributes—truly worthy of being humanity's final Master!

Fujimaru Ritsuka herself might have been fragile in terms of physical strength, but her combat intellect and adaptability in critical situations deeply impressed Alaric. No matter the battlefield or the odds, Ritsuka could analyze and summon a Servant perfectly tailored to the scenario. The many heroic spirits who had bonded with her were always ready to answer her call..

It was as though humanity's entire history had become Fujimaru Ritsuka's logistics corps.

As Alaric marveled at the qualities and intelligence Ritsuka displayed, Siegfried had already closed the distance! The holy sword Balmung tore through the air and the raging sandstorm, its icy blade poised to cleave Alaric in half.

In response, Alaric raised his sword, the Sword of End, to meet the attack.

Clang!

As the blades clashed, Alaric swayed slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. Not only had he been outmatched in raw strength during their exchange, but the dragon blood coursing through him seemed to falter, losing much of its vigor.

From his understanding, Siegfried's strength should not have surpassed his own—

Or had something weakened him?

Staring at the dragon slayer, realization dawned. Siegfried's legendary feat of slaying a dragon had been sublimated into a skill—one that significantly amplified the damage he could inflict on all dragonkind.

Although Alaric had anticipated this, the oppressive sensation of standing before a dragon slayer was indescribably exhilarating.

Their blades parted briefly before both figures vanished into the swirling sandstorm, moving too fast for Mash, who had just arrived, to follow. Sword flashes cut through the storm, each collision scattering sand and carving marks into the golden dunes.

"This guy is strong—"

Da Vinci, who had remained by Fujimaru Ritsuka's side, observed the battle with keen eyes. Siegfried's dragon-slaying advantage should have allowed him to dominate, yet Alaric held his ground, trading blows with the dragon-slayer as an equal. This alone testified to Alaric's immense strength.

Yet it puzzled her. Alaric was no Servant, nor did he seem to belong to the history of 13th-century Middle Eastern legends. His noble demeanor and draconic aura only deepened Da Vinci's confusion. Without a doubt, a demonic dragon resided within his human body.

While Da Vinci mulled over Alaric's mysterious origins, the battle intensified.

The clash of swords grew louder, their echoes rumbling like thunder through the storm. Even from afar, Fujimaru Ritsuka could feel the vibrations ringing in her ears.

"Hyah!!"

Mash's spirited voice cut through the storm. Charging toward Alaric, she aimed a heavy blow with her massive shield.

Clang!

Clang!

Alaric noticed her approach from the corner of his eye but did not evade. He intercepted her strike with his bare hand while continuing to fend off Siegfried's relentless attacks.

In this moment, Alaric radiated sheer confidence. After six months of grueling training and countless battles against knights like Gawain, his combat prowess had grown to rival that of Servants. Even without the power of a Holy Grail, he could fight Servants head-on—holding his own against three at once if necessary.

However, this stalemate didn't last long. With precise timing, Alaric delivered a powerful blow that sent Mash staggering backward, forcing her out of the fight.

Crimson lightning arced around his body as he vanished, reappearing behind Mash in a flash.

Boom!

A devastating punch sent her flying, shield and all. Despite her efforts, she could not withstand his overwhelming force.

Siegfried immediately charged at Alaric, but Alaric grinned as lightning coursed through his veins. With an impossibly fast strike, he forced Siegfried's Balmung aside, leaving him vulnerable.

Alaric seized the opportunity, thrusting the Sword of End toward Siegfried's chest. Victory seemed within his grasp—

Until it wasn't.

Despite the weapon's destructive power, Siegfried's impenetrable Armor of Fafnir rendered him unharmed. Not even a scratch.

"As expected... It can't deal any damage," Alaric muttered, his tone a mixture of frustration and intrigue.

The battle raged on, each fighter testing the limits of the other. At last, Alaric, realizing that brute force wouldn't prevail, disengaged. Transforming into lightning, he darted away, heading straight for Fujimaru Ritsuka.

Siegfried gave chase, determined to protect his Master. But in this fleeting moment of distraction, Alaric executed an ordinary, unassuming thrust.

Schlick—!

Shock rippled through the battlefield. The Sword of End, which had previously failed to harm Siegfried, pierced his invincible armor.

For the first time, Siegfried faltered. His raised Balmung froze mid-strike, unable to complete its arc.