In outer space, near Earth's satellite orbit.
The figures of Aslan and Rama stood in the void.
Here, there was nothing but the planet beneath their feet.
Even the planet below, which seemed close enough, Rama knew was only an illusion of proximity.
But this was good. At least they didn't have to worry about accidentally destroying Earth due to excessive power.
"Let's just start."
Rama observed the spatial structure here and realized this place had been given an effect similar to Zeno's Paradox.
Approaching infinitely, reaching a point of infinitesimal positivity, yet always failing to close in.
However, he didn't know how much consumption the other side expended to maintain such a space. At least there was some cost.
Thinking this, Rama self-deprecatingly laughed. Was he now pinning his hopes on such an empty possibility?
"Though I don't know what you're worried about, I won't hold back because of it."
The corner of Aslan's mouth lifted slightly, and he joked.
Already fallen into despair? This is too unexciting, isn't it?
Rama opened his mouth, then laughed in understanding.
"Is that so? Then that's for the best."
The Divine Sword of Salvation in his hand stretched and transformed, becoming a Golden Longbow.
He drew the bowstring and body, speaking in a serious tone.
"Be careful. This is the bow given to me by Shiva. Though I've lost the bow and arrows bestowed by Hou Yi, with the power currently blessed by the Gods, even if it can't achieve the feat of shattering the Sun, it's enough to destroy a star."
At this point, Rama paused and said earnestly.
"Please don't die here."
"Starting with your strongest attack?"
Aslan raised an eyebrow, showing no other reaction. He was still wearing the light armor of Proto Arthur.
"I want to see if you can kill me."
Rama fell silent, then slowly drew the bowstring.
On the bowstring, black lightning gradually formed and gathered.
Terrifying, highly concentrated magical power continued to compress, condense, and accumulate destructive force on the arrow.
The hero of Indian mythology most skilled in archery, Rama was no exception.
He ignored the damage to the longbow and pulled the string to full draw.
Then Rama's fingers released the bowstring.
*SWOOSH!*
The golden arrow turned into a meteor, into light, charging at Aslan.
The arrow carried immense power, with terrifying force and speed, striking Aslan.
The next second, the arrow hit Aslan.
Then, the arrow was caught by him and thrown back at Rama with faster and fiercer force and speed than its original trajectory.
"What?"
Rama's eyes widened, shouting in shock.
He never expected the opponent to directly catch his strongest attack and throw it back.
He couldn't even confront it head-on.
"Divine Sword Mandala!"
Behind Rama, a massive magic formation suddenly appeared.
It was a square formation with sides about ten meters long.
The formation was divided into countless small squares by golden lines. Each square was a weapon bestowed by the Gods to Rama for exterminating Devil Kings.
Hundreds, even thousands of divine artifacts emerged, and golden lines spread.
At a glance, it was as if a golden mandala appeared behind Rama.
The divine swords stretched out, facing the divine arrow charging at him.
Rama roared.
"Go!"
The divine artifacts one by one turned into golden lightning, rushing toward the incoming arrow.
*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
An extremely violent explosion occurred. What the eyes saw was golden flames. What the ears heard was dense explosions and unending roars.
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
Explosions continued. The light and heat generated even overshadowed the Sun's glow.
At this moment, if viewed from Earth, it would seem as if an extra Sun had appeared in the sky.
In the midst of this evenly matched clash of power, Rama gritted his teeth. This also exerted no small pressure on him.
Instantly, he released the Divine Sword of Salvation, appeared to the side, and dodged the arrow.
Because this was meaningless beyond wasting magical power and mythological support.
After all, Aslan wasn't using any abilities. He purely threw the arrow back with his physique alone.
"Already reacted?"
Aslan showed a slight smile, then raised his Star Holy Sword and pointed it at Rama.
"It was your turn to attack earlier. Now it should be my turn, right?"
"Round Table Conference, Commence!!"
Behind him, twelve figures appeared.
"This is the Star Holy Sword, the Holy Sword that shines to save the planet. Forged to defeat foreign enemies attempting to destroy the planet. It is the Golden Blade that can repel everything!"
An extremely powerful setting!
Rama's eyes widened in shock.
(But actually, which is the World-Saving Sword—your holy sword or mine?)
For some reason, he felt his Divine Sword of Salvation was outclassed.
Though his Divine Sword of Salvation also bore titles like Devil King Annihilator Blade, Star-Felling Holy Sword, Platinum Blade, Blade of Certain Death that cuts all things in the world, and the End-Times Treasure Sword that can cleave heaven, earth, and planets.
"And it is too powerful to entrust the Holy Sword capable of slaying this planet's enemies to a single person as armament. Therefore, the King of the ancient kingdom, along with the twelve knights under him, imposed strict restrictions on the Holy Sword and enforced them."
An incantation from nowhere passionately chanted the legend of the Star Holy Sword.
"It is the second scabbard that conceals the true blade of the Holy Sword, the Thirteen Restraints."
As the incantation praised, the sword blade in Aslan's hand began to change. A shadow appeared on his sword.
"Only if multiplied honor and missions are fulfilled can the Holy Sword be released. And for full release, at least seven approvals are required. For the Holy Sword to reach maximum processing, all restraints must be released simultaneously."
"Though the King and Twelve Knights are no longer on Earth, the restraints will operate eternally. When the King needs to release the Holy Sword, the Round Table Conference will automatically commence."
Rama gripped the Divine Sword of Salvation, looking seriously at Aslan and the shadows gradually appearing behind him.
He must not let the opponent release the Holy Sword. Otherwise, there would be no chance of victory.
"Round Table Conference, Commence!"
With Aslan's call, the Round Table Knights led by Lancelot began stepping forward.
"Not fighting fairies, Reject!"
"Must fight to survive, Reject!"
"Must fight one stronger than oneself, Reject!"
"Must be one-on-one combat, Approve!"
"Do not act against humanity, Approve!"
"Must fight to seek truth, Approve!"
"Must fight against evil, Reject!"
"Do not fight for personal desires, Approve!"
"Must fight for honor, Approve!"
"Must fight bravely, Approve!"
"Do not fight the good, Reject!"
"Do not fight women and children, Approve!"
One by one, the Twelve Knights stated their restraints, then gave their answers.
The release conditions finally reached exactly seven, meeting the full release standard.
Rama listened to the entire voting process of the Knights. He also counted in his mind. Upon hearing seven approvals, his eyes widened, staring sharply at the sword in his opponent's hand.
At this moment, the sword had changed from a silver-white blade to a thick golden blade.
Danger.
An unimaginable sense of danger enveloped Rama's heart. No escape, no hiding.
At this moment, he was as if locked by the world, only able to await death calmly.
At that instant, the God protecting him, who substituted for Rama to bear the Heretic God's madness—Lakshmana, Rama's younger brother—emerged from the Divine Sword.
The brown-skinned Lakshmana appeared half-bodied from the Divine Sword. Seeing Aslan holding the Holy Sword, a trace of unavoidable madness appeared in his eyes.
"Forgive me, Brother! Let me help you one last time!"
"This battle is not in accordance with humanity."
Lakshmana shouted, then voluntarily charged at the sword blade, letting it pierce his body.
"You've already killed me. You can no longer kill my brother."
Lakshmana's thinking was simple. Since full release required seven restraints unlocked, he would prevent Aslan from releasing the Holy Sword.
For this, he was willing to sacrifice himself to disrupt the justice and humanity of this battle.
"Actually…"
"Forgive me, Brother. I can only help you this far."
Before Lakshmana's figure vanished, he turned toward Rama.
"Lakshmana!!"
Rama cried out in pain, somewhat unable to accept such reality.
The corner of Aslan's mouth twitched speechlessly.
(Am I the villain here? Even against Rama, they chain emotional bonds.)
(We're in outer space—still gathering emotional bonds?)
Unfortunately, this wasn't a shonen manga. Even if his brother died and emotional bonds were gathered, Rama couldn't possibly burst out again.
"Actually, I wanted to say, this is just a visual effect. And there's still one restraint left unlocked."
Aslan raised Excalibur and pointed it at Rama.
"This is a World-Saving Battle! Approve!"
"Divine Sword of Salvation, turn into lightning, destroy all evil!"
With Rama's chant, intense white light accompanied by plasma lightning transformed into a white star forty to fifty meters tall.
Mighty thunder crackled within the star. Even a small leak seemed like a lightning strike.
"Divine Sword of Salvation, unleash your lightning power, annihilate the Devil King!"
"Divine lightning of salvation, destroy all obstacles, attain ultimate glory!"
Pure white lightning and a flood of starlight collided.
Displaying a fragmented stalemate.
However, as Aslan swung the Golden Blade in his hand.
A massive golden slash far larger than the white star cleaved through.
Directly reducing Rama, along with the white star he summoned with the Divine Sword of Salvation, to ashes.
Even the temporary separate space Aslan created was not spared from the impact and shattered.