Jobless Reincarnation: Emiya the Great Hero Must Show His True Skills

Page 252

In contrast, Shirou saw it much more clearly than Rocchio; he even deduced that Alexander was using the Kitakami-ryu's Twenty Slashes.

However, compared to the ordinary twenty cuts, Alexander's speed and power were beyond description.

At least with Shirou's strength as the Northern Saint, he absolutely could not unleash that level of twenty-slash.

Who is this person?

The Northern King? Or the Northern Emperor?

Shirou fell into thought, his hand unconsciously resting on the Phoenix Dragon Sword at his waist. He was not currently wearing the armor given to him by the Sword God, so he was no longer restricted in using swordsmanship.

Despite not using the Sword God Style for such a long time, Shirou's Sword God Style skills have not regressed but improved, and are now almost as powerful as the Sword King.

Wearing armor that restricted his power for a long time further honed and improved Shirou's physique. The various skills complemented each other, and Shirou's understanding of the swordsmanship of the Sword God style also deepened.

If he hadn't yet received the Sword God's approval and guidance, he could have directly proclaimed himself the Sword King without any problems.

Even with the strength of the Sword King, Shirou wasn't entirely confident he could defeat this young man who suddenly appeared claiming to be an adventurer, let alone protect Loki beside him...

Shirou was therefore prepared to use all his trump cards to fight the powerful young man before him.

However, just as Shirou became wary and was even preparing to take out the distant Utopia and give it to Loki to protect himself, a chain reaction of collapses seemed to occur in the area where Alexander was located.

As Keith had previously warned, the environment inside the maze is quite fragile and dangerous.

Alexander's act of forcibly smashing down the walls to widen the road further damaged the labyrinth's already fragile support structure.

Shirou even suspected that the other party might have smashed the maze's pillars all the way here, leaving them in a mess.

For this reason, the wall above Alexander's head is now completely unable to support itself.

With a series of cracking and creaking sounds, the ceiling shattered completely, and countless pieces of rubble fell down, engulfing Alexander.

"Boom!"

Shirou and Loki were dumbfounded.

They watched helplessly as Alexander was buried in the ground by the collapsing ceiling.

As the stone fell, Shirou instinctively shielded Rocchi behind him, causing a noticeable blush to appear on the girl's face, even extending to her ears.

"Is he...is he alright?"

When Loki saw Alexander buried under the rocks, she couldn't help but show a worried expression.

Shirou was initially a little worried, but he quickly shook his head, not believing that the other party would be in such a simple situation.

Indeed, that is true.

The moment Alexander was buried, a crisscrossing slash came from the ground, shattering all the stones.

"boom!"

Alexander did not draw his sword; he simply tore through all the rubble with the scabbard and emerged from beneath unscathed.

He then said with a big smile, "Oh dear, I didn't expect the stone above my head to suddenly crack open. The maze is really interesting."

"..."

Unexpectedly, the other party used the word "interesting" to describe the difficult environment of the dungeon. Both Shirou and Rocchi looked strange for a moment.

However, based on what had just happened, Shirou judged that the other party might not actually be hostile.

He relaxed as a result and no longer displayed a fighting spirit.

Most importantly, he lacked confidence that he could protect Luo Qixi while fighting such a powerful enemy in this environment.

It would be better to make a gesture of goodwill first.

……

Shiron and the others soon joined Paul and his group.

After discovering that Loki was safe and sound, the group happily withdrew from the maze temporarily, intending to go back and rest before attempting the maze again.

After leaving the labyrinth, Shirou formally introduced himself to Rocchi.

This greatly surprised Loki, who never expected Shirou to undergo such a dramatic change. Not only had he grown considerably taller, but he had also acquired the strength of a sword king.

However, Luo Qixi herself hadn't changed at all after their long separation; she still looked exactly the same as before.

Loki herself seems to care about this a lot.

Having been trapped in the labyrinth for a month, Loki appeared quite weak, thin, and exhausted, so upon returning to the labyrinth city, she went back to rest immediately.

Although Rudeus was very interested in discussing magic with Loki, especially the King-level magic that Loki possessed, he also knew that Loki was not in good condition, so he did not disturb her.

He then went to find Shirou and discussed with him the matter of Alexander returning with his companion.

Yes, Alexander also returned to the Labyrinth City with Shirou and the others.

The other person seemed to be trapped in the teleportation maze for several weeks, just like Loki. During this time, he was unable to use magic to obtain food and water, but he seemed to be fine. You know, Loki fainted as soon as she returned to the inn, but Alexander was still full of energy and vitality.

"This guy is definitely not a normal human being."

Rudius couldn't help but make this judgment.

"I think so too, but it doesn't look like anything inhuman..."

Shirou was also unsure about Alexander's situation, so he could only try to probe first.

As evening fell, Alexander was drinking water at the hotel counter.

Yes, unlike most adventurers, the other party had no intention of drinking. Instead, he held a cup of hot water and quietly sipped it while looking at the road under the night sky.

"The moonlight is so beautiful tonight."

As soon as Shirou approached, Alexander noticed his actions and uttered a sigh.

"..."

Shirou was at a loss for words when faced with these words, feeling that the other person was emanating a certain aura that made him reluctant to get close to them.

But he couldn't help but probe the other party, so he quietly asked, "Your Excellency Alexander, why are you trapped in the teleportation maze?"

"Hmm, that's a good question."

What's better?

Shirou almost couldn't hold back his吐槽 (tu cao, a Chinese internet slang term for sarcastic or witty remarks) and blurted it out.

Alexander then spoke up to himself: "Actually, I want to become a world-famous hero."

"???"

Shirou was completely dumbfounded, never expecting the other person to jump to such a different topic.

Alexander, seemingly having been given a chance to speak, continued, "The reason I came to the continent of Becarit is because I heard that it is full of suffering and disaster, teeming with monsters and demons, and that people have endured unimaginable torment from them. So, if I can eliminate all the monsters on this continent and destroy all evil, perhaps I can be respected and worshipped by the world, just like the Second God of the North, and become a hero."

"..."

Upon hearing Alexander's words, Shirou fell silent.

He hadn't expected the other party to have such a purpose, which instinctively reminded him of his past self. Perhaps long ago, he, like Alexander, had given everything to save those who were suffering and to achieve justice in the world.

Unfortunately, he can no longer do that now.

"To become a hero, you are destined to make many sacrifices."

Perhaps because Alexander's words resonated with him, Shirou couldn't help but respond in this way.

"Oh? You know a lot!"

Alexander's eyes lit up when he heard Shirou's response, as if he had found a kindred spirit. "The path of a hero is destined to be rugged, accompanied by countless sacrifices and pain. My father always told me that, but I will not give up. I will do my best to pursue the path of a true hero."

"why?"

Upon hearing Alexander's words, Shirou couldn't help but ask, "Why must you pursue the path of a hero?"

Shirou was asking Alexander the Great, but also asking his former self.

He has almost forgotten his original intention to become a partner of justice.

The young man, or rather the slightly immature black-haired boy, Alexander, fell into a long period of contemplation in response to Shirou's question.

After a long while, he quietly said, "If I had to say why, it's because I want to surpass him."

"Surpass him?"

"Yes, to surpass my father. My father was a great hero. If I want to surpass him, I must become an even greater person."

"Uh……"

Unexpectedly, the other party's reason was so straightforward. Shirou's complex emotions, which had been building up, suddenly became strange, like someone ordering a glass of plain water in a coffee shop with a wonderful atmosphere.

"There's no way around it, the reasons for doing something are always very simple, aren't they?"

Alexander, however, did not have many complicated emotions. "It may have stemmed from the simplest aspirations, or it may have been a pure desire to win. In any case, the starting point for me to embark on this path was that simple feeling at the time. As for me now, I no longer just aim to surpass my father. I hope that one day I will surpass all the great figures in history and become a hero who is unprecedented and unparalleled."

"So that's why you challenged the Transcendent Maze?"

"Yes, after all, becoming a hero is baseless, isn't it? Although it's about surpassing great beings, what's the basis for proving that you've surpassed them? That's the problem, isn't it?"

Alexander began to speak, “Someone once suggested that I challenge a great and powerful figure from the past, but that would be pointless. After all, people have their prime, and battles are also related to circumstances and luck. Even if I won, if people say that I only won because of luck or that I used a sneak attack, it would be a waste of effort.”

"I don't intend to deny victories achieved through luck or surprise attacks. However, the world doesn't see it that way. True greatness is defined by the recognition of greatness by others. Therefore, my conclusion is that achieving merit—whether it's challenging a labyrinth or defeating a behemoth—is enough to make people aware of my achievements and acknowledge my greatness, thus making me a hero!"

"Since the Transfer Labyrinth is one of the most difficult labyrinths in the Labyrinth City, anyone who manages to cross it will be praised and celebrated. After destroying the labyrinth, I will also completely destroy its core and exterminate all the monsters within. In this way, the lives of the people of the Beccalit Continent will be improved, and they will praise me even more."

"..."

After listening to Alexander's story, Shirou realized that the other person was different from himself.

Or rather, Alexander's own ideas were too superficial.

While the initial intention may have been based on some kind of aspiration, the destination that Alexander himself tried to reach was far too simple and plain.

Of course, Shirou wouldn't deny Alexander's idea because of this. Having long since given up on his ideal of being a partner in justice, he is now even inferior to Alexander.

However, he still couldn't easily let go of it.

While Shirou was experiencing complex emotions, Alexander smiled and said, "I was prepared to challenge the dungeon alone, but the transfer magic circle was too complicated and difficult. I wandered around for more than half a month and still couldn't find the exit. Although I can find the exit sooner or later if I try for a few more years, as the saying goes, 'He who travels a hundred miles is only halfway there at ninety.' If it takes so long to even challenge the dungeon, I really can't call myself a hero."

"what do you mean?"

"Can I join your team? You were able to rescue that girl back then, which means you have the ability to see through teleportation magic circles, right?"

"Didn't you want to be a hero?"

"Heroes are not without companions; in fact, all heroes in history have achieved great feats with the help of their companions."

Alexander spoke without hesitation, "If you let me join, I'll take down the boss deep in the labyrinth. Don't worry, even if a monster of Behemoth's caliber appears, I can eliminate it!"

"Who are you?"

Hearing the other party's confidence, even claiming that he could destroy Behemoth, Shirou finally couldn't hold back and asked a question.

Seeing this, Alexander no longer concealed anything and said with a smile, "I've already said it, my name is Alexander Rebek, or perhaps more specifically, the name the world calls me by—the Third of the Northern Gods! And my father is none other than the Second of the Northern Gods, Alex Rebek, who slew Behemoth!"

Chapter 329 Shirou, let's become heroes of justice together!

Alexander the Great III!

Upon hearing this name, Shirou finally realized where the sense of familiarity he felt from the other person came from.

Looking back, the boy in front of me did indeed give off a very similar feeling to the Second Northern God I had seen in the Holy Land of Swords, especially his eyes, which were almost identical.

The only difference between the two is that the Second Northern God has experienced more hardships, making him look more weathered.

Upon realizing that the other party was the third king of the Northern Gods, Shirou finally understood what those feelings of unease he had sensed in the dungeon were all about.

If the other party is indeed the Third King of the Northern Gods, it means that the other party, like the Second King of the Northern Gods, is also a descendant of the Undead.

As undead, they wouldn't be greatly affected even if they stayed in the labyrinth for a month or two, or even for several years.

At the same time, the opponent's physical strength is far greater than that of ordinary humans, so the scene of tearing apart a thick wall with bare hands is only natural.

Of course, most importantly, as the third generation of the Northern God, the opponent's strength is undoubtedly at the god level.

In fact, in the eyes of the world, Alexander is the true current god of the North, compared to the Second God of the North.

It's not surprising that someone could unleash such a powerful slash without even drawing their sword.

"..."

To his utter surprise, Shirou unexpectedly encountered the current North God. For a moment, he didn't even know what to say and fell silent.

Alexander seemed surprised by his reaction and said anxiously, "What, Shirou, you don't believe me? Then let's go find an S-rank dungeon right now, and I'll prove it to you with my strength!"