Chapter 94: Leonidas!
Just as Volumen Hydrargyrum was about to simulate the power of a Noble Phantasm, the surrounding scenery suddenly began to restore itself.
"What were you thinking? That was way too reckless!!!"
Ahead, Waver shouted at Reines with an expression full of anger.
Seeing that Reines was truly serious, at the last moment, Waver was forced to deactivate the Stone Sentinel Maze.
"Hehe, weren't you the one who trapped your angelic little sister inside a Noble Phantasm, brother dear?"
Reines flashed a wicked smile.
"A miscalculation… A truly unpredictable mistake."
Waver furrowed his brows deeply.
"Tactician-dono, please fall back! Leave this to us!"
A group of armored soldiers rushed forward, surrounding Ethan's group with their sharp spears.
"For your dear little sister, who traveled all this way, is this how you welcome me, brother dear?"
"Stand down immediately!!!"
Waver bellowed at the soldiers.
"Fools! Humans cannot defeat a Servant! Are you throwing your lives away?!"
"Tactician-dono once saved our lives when we were pushed to the brink! Our lives have long belonged to the tactician and the king! We must not falter—protect the tactician!!!"
Without hesitation, the soldiers pointed their spears at Ethan's group.
"Oh? It seems that no matter where you are, brother dear, you always have a group of loyal subordinates. But I suppose the El-Melloi Classroom isn't here, is it?"
"Like hell it is!!!"
Teased by his own sister, the wrinkles on Waver's forehead deepened.
Reines watched with great interest as a faint wave of mana emanated from the soldiers.
"Oh? Is this 'Tactician's Command'? It can cover such a wide area? Zhuge Liang truly is terrifying."
"Tactician-dono is right! To counter a Servant, of course, we must use a Servant!!!"
Suddenly, a powerful voice roared as a burly man wielding a spear stepped forward from behind.
"Intruders! I will stop you right here!!!"
The towering man completely blocked Ethan and his allies' path.
"Intruders! You have trespassed into my army's defensive perimeter! If you retreat now, you still have a chance to live!"
In one hand, he held a spear, and in the other, a massive shield. His helmet covered his entire face, making it impossible to see his true appearance.
"Sorry, but we have to save our comrades."
Mash stepped forward, raising her shield. She did not back down even an inch.
"Comrades… I do admire your courage, but unfortunately for you, I need to wiping out all intruders! Stronger than offense, more unbreakable than any defense! This is Sparta's point-defense strategy! Come and experience it firsthand!!!"
"Oh? Sparta, you say?"
Hearing that name, Reines smiled.
"Indeed! My True Name is Leonidas!!!"
He raised his head with pride.
"Brother dear, didn't you ever teach them that revealing their True Name so easily before the enemy is a bad idea?"
"Hmph… The situation inside is complicated, and it's not something I can interfere with so easily."
Waver turned his gaze forward, looking at Ethan.
"Young man, now that you know the True Name of this general, you should leave immediately. Your two comrades are already at a dead end. If you don't want to get caught up in this, then leave while you still can."
Faced with Waver's final warning, Reines simply tilted her head slightly and smiled at Ethan.
"Master, don't worry, leave this place to me."
"Umu, I'll leave it to you."
Immediately after, Reines swung her hand, and the mercury transformed into a refined maid standing beside her.
"Trimmau, switch to combat mode."
"Yes, Oujou-sama. Ready for battle."
With that, the maid charged straight at Leonidas.
"You dare face Sparta empty-handed?!"
Leonidas immediately thrust his spear forward, but his opponent swiftly dodged with remarkable agility.
The moment she closed the distance, the maid swung her left hand—her once delicate and slender arm suddenly transformed into a razor-sharp blade, slashing straight at him!
Clang——————————!!!
Leonidas raised his shield to block the attack, then instantly countered with his spear!
But to his surprise, his spear seemed to strike an impenetrable wall—his opponent had transformed part of her body into a solid defense, completely nullifying his strike.
Whoosh——————!
The maid, who had been standing still, suddenly vanished, morphing into a silver mercury sphere that rolled to the side.
"————————?!"
Sensing danger, Leonidas immediately raised his shield.
Clang, clang, clang——————!!!
From the silver sphere, countless sharp spikes shot out! Most were blocked by his shield, but some managed to pierce through, leaving minor wounds across Leonidas's body.
After just a few short exchanges, Leonidas had already suffered injuries.
"Oh oh oh!!!"
Leonidas let out a thunderous roar.
"I take back what I said—you are a worthy opponent!"
Leonidas quickly adjusted his stance.
"Brother dear, did you hear that? The one praised as the Guardian of the Hot Gates, Leonidas, just admitted that I'm a worthy opponent! When I return to the Clock Tower, those Lords will surely be shocked!"
Reines teased Waver, who was watching from afar.
At this moment, Waver only furrowed his brows in silence, continuing to observe the battle before him.
Trimmau transformed her hands into two massive war hammers, aiming a powerful blow directly at Leonidas. When he blocked it with his shield, she immediately reverted to her original form and launched a new attack from another angle.
Even when his spear pierced through her, she remained completely unharmed.
Before long, Leonidas realized that fighting this strange being was completely pointless, so he immediately changed targets—toward Reines, who stood not far away.
"Haaah!!!"
With a battle cry, he charged forward, using his shield to knock Trimmau away, then rushed straight toward Reines, who was completely exposed!!!
Ordinarily, Trimmau would have immediately returned to defend Reines from this attack. But for some unknown reason, she failed to react, instead reverting to her liquid mercury state.
"Open your eyes and witness—this is Sparta!!!"
Leonidas's spear tip shot toward Reines, who now had no way to defend herself.
The confidence on Reines's face vanished, replaced by an expression of sheer terror.
"Reines-san!!!"
Realizing that Reines was in danger in an instant, Mash quickly raised her shield and rushed toward her!
But Leonidas was faster!
At the very moment his deadly spear was about to pierce Reines's chest, a sudden flash of light shot out from behind Leonidas!
Sensing the threat, Leonidas abandoned his attack, swiftly turning around and raising his shield to block the incoming strike.
"——————?!"
He was shocked to discover that the one who had attacked him was none other than the tactician standing before him.
From beneath his helmet, Leonidas's voice grew heavy.
"Tactician-dono, are you betraying us?!"