Leonidas

"Lancer!"

"Yes, yes, I get it."

Lancer ultimately chose to intervene. The opponent was a Heroic Spirit, and a male one at that. Fighting him was preferable to drawing a weapon on a woman.

And so,

"My apologies, Archer, but I won't be holding back. If you feel you can't handle it, you're welcome to call your friends in; I don't mind."

Lancer donned a golden helmet, his entire face obscured except for his eyes.

He pushed Matou Shinji aside and stepped forward, a long spear appearing in his hand. His entire aura instantly became solemn.

"No need, I think I can handle it. After all, your Master is that guy."

Red Archer smiled, and Matou Shinji, standing behind Lancer, felt insulted.

"Hahahaha! Interesting! Then you'd better be careful!"

Lancer burst into laughter. It was unclear if he was laughing because Red Archer was right or for some other reason.

Since he'd already said as much, there was no need for further words. He moved his foot! He shot forward like a cannonball, his spear like a dragon!

*"Kill!!"*

Lancer thrust his spear! But the next second, it was blocked by a pair of black and white twin blades!

Red Archer smirked! He closed the distance, slashing!

They say an inch longer is an inch stronger, an inch shorter is an inch riskier. A longer weapon fears a shorter one. Once close-quarters, it's difficult for a long-weapon user to perform.

But just as Red Archer closed in, a round shield suddenly appeared and charged forward!

*"Clang!"*

Red Archer kicked the shield and backflipped away, looking at Lancer, who held a long spear in one hand and a shield in the other, with a thoughtful expression.

"Your attire reminds me of the one who held back an army of ten thousand with only 300 men. Are you a Spartan?"

With his identity revealed by Red Archer, Leonidas, the King of Sparta, no longer concealed it.

*"Clang!"*

Leonidas slammed his spear against his shield, saying proudly,

"Indeed! I am Leonidas, the King of Sparta! Nimble Archer, who are you?"

In Leonidas's view, since he had introduced himself, his opponent should do the same.

But unfortunately, Red Archer, holding his twin blades in an offensive stance, chuckled,

"My apologies, I am merely a nameless individual. No future, no past, just a lost soul, unsure where to go. Come, let us cherish the present. Let me see if a Spartan warrior is as good in a one-on-one fight as he is at facing many!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Red Archer attacked again! His blades flashed swiftly, instantly engaging Leonidas in a fierce battle!

As soon as the fight formally began, Leonidas inwardly groaned. Due to his Master's inadequate qualifications, Leonidas couldn't unleash his full power. Moreover, he wasn't a swift fighter. Facing Red Archer's tempestuous attacks, he found himself somewhat overwhelmed.

Fortunately, he still had a shield. Sparta's strength was also reflected in their use of shields; this shield was their strongest defense in battle!

*"Clang!"*

"Ha!"

Leonidas raised his shield to block Red Archer's tricky slash, then thrust his spear past the shield at Red Archer.

Red Archer flexibly retreated, throwing both blades simultaneously. They spun and flew towards Leonidas's left and right sides.

*"Clang! Clang!"*

Leonidas used his shield and spear to knock down Ganzhiang and Moye. His expression, however, wasn't good, as the weakening of his power left him with a deep sense of helplessness.

Just then,

"Hey, Archer, why don't we call it quits? You seem to be bullying him."

Astolfo couldn't bear to watch. As a handsome knight overflowing with a sense of justice (not rational evaporation), what was wrong with speaking up for a disadvantaged enemy?

Sympathy for the weak was also a knight's virtue.

But Leonidas glared at Astolfo, his gaze practically devouring!

"Hmph! Seeing as you're a little girl, I won't pursue your rudeness! Remember, you women are merely accessories. Just stick to your duties of weaving, farming, and bearing children. Don't interrupt when men are fighting!"

"…"

The sympathy on Astolfo's face slowly faded, replaced by a hint of anger!

"You bastard!!"

A knight's long spear appeared in Astolfo's hand, a D-rank Noble Phantasm, pointed at Leonidas, ready to collapse on impact! Then!!

*"Apologize to all the women in the world!!!"*

*"Screech!!"*

The Hippogriff charged forward with Astolfo, carrying a powerful momentum and slamming into Leonidas!

Red Archer's face darkened nearby. So Astolfo was angry because Leonidas insulted women, not because he mistook him for a woman! How very…

"*Boom!*"

The Hippogriff, carried by a powerful gust of wind, crashed into Leonidas's shield, the immense force sending the burly Leonidas stumbling backward!

"Hah!"

Astolfo immediately followed up with a flurry of spear thrusts. As a former undefeated champion in jousting, Astolfo's spear skills were exceptional!

Caught off guard, Leonidas felt a lance jab his left shoulder. Expecting at least a gaping wound, he was surprised to find his shoulder armor hadn't even been pierced! While he was still wondering about this, suddenly!

"What?!"

Leonidas suddenly found his legs were gone! His Heroic Spirit body had inexplicably dissolved into motes of light. Losing his legs so abruptly, Leonidas took a face-first tumble to the ground.

"Cough, cough! What's going on?!"

Before he could get back up, Leonidas was pinned down by the Hippogriff. As a mythical beast, the Hippogriff was powerful, and without his legs, Leonidas found himself unable to resist for a moment.

"This! How is this possible?!"

Matou Shinji's eyes widened in disbelief, seeing his Servant subdued by a few moves.

He suddenly gritted his teeth and shouted at the still struggling Leonidas.

"Useless! You're utterly useless! How can there be such a useless person as you?! Why don't you just die?! Command Seal! That's right! I still have Command Seals!"

Veins bulged on Matou Shinji's face. He abruptly raised his hand, revealing the Command Seals on the back of it, and shouted loudly!

"By my Command Seal, I order you, Lancer! Release—"

"*Bang!*"

Matou Shinji was cut off mid-sentence as Red Archer flashed behind him and slapped him unconscious.

Matou Shinji, eyes rolling, collapsed to the ground. Leonidas, nearby, had stopped resisting. After being called useless several times, Leonidas had completely lost his obedience towards Matou Shinji.

"How can there be such a Master? It's truly unlucky for you to have one like this."

Astolfo glanced at Matou Shinji, then patted the Hippogriff, signaling it to move its four legs.

At that moment, Leonidas found his legs had returned.

"This?"

Astolfo chuckled, offering no explanation. Just then, Red Archer walked over, dragging Matou Shinji.

"Still want to fight?"

Leonidas shook his head, feeling weary.

Red Archer didn't ask Leonidas anything further. Instead, he tossed Matou Shinji to Astolfo.

"Astolfo, take this guy back. And Lancer, you go with them too. This guy truly doesn't deserve to be a Master. Once you get there, find someone suitable and switch Masters."

The identity of a Master was not unchangeable; there were many ways. For Tohsaka Rin and her group, it was quite simple.

Leonidas didn't refuse. He glanced at Matou Shinji, then reached up and removed his helmet.

"Oh, what about you?"

Astolfo tossed Matou Shinji onto the Hippogriff's rump and looked at Red Archer, asking.

Red Archer turned his head and looked towards the Matou Family residence.

"I'll go check over there. You two head back first."

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