"Oh? You're back?"
In the forest of Einzbern, Iskandar sat atop his Gordius Wheel, holding a history book in his hands. He looked up just in ti to see Zuke descend from the sky, carrying Waver by the collar.
Judging by Waver's terrified expression, Iskandar imdiately understood that Zuke had truly taken Waver on a trip to London, England.
During his lifeti, Iskandar had no concept of a world map. However, after being summoned, one of his first actions was to seize a map and history books from a bookstore, gaining a thorough understanding of world history.
Because of this, he was well aware of the significant distance between Fuyuki City and London. Even his Gordius Wheel would need a long ti to traverse it.
Yet Zuke managed to make a round trip in less than an hour and even took care of arranging Matou Sakura during that ti, leaving Iskandar feeling sowhat unnerved.
"What a pity. If you were born in my era, I might have recruited you under my banner to conquer the world together."
"If I had been born in your era, your path of conquest would have ended long before it began."
Zuke casually tossed Waver onto the Gordius Wheel. The boy had at least served as a guide, so Zuke didn't intend to trouble him further.
"Hahaha! True enough. With your strength, you would undoubtedly be the mightiest hero of my ti!"
Though Zuke's words were provocative, Iskandar burst into hearty laughter, wholeheartedly agreeing with him.
Initially, Iskandar hadn't fully grasped the extent of Zuke's power. Now, he clearly understood that he had no chance of defeating Zuke.
No… perhaps not even a chance of leaving a whole corpse if Zuke fought seriously.
"Rider… maybe we should avoid fighting him."
Waver, observing Iskandar's eager expression, couldn't help but offer his advice.
Though he had only been with Iskandar for two days, the King of Conquerors had been extraordinarily kind to him, even attempting to reshape Waver's timid personality.
Though Iskandar's thods left Waver in constant distress, he could feel the sincerity behind them.
After the whirlwind trip between Fuyuki City and London, Waver realized that Zuke's strength was far beyond imagination, leaving Iskandar with no hope of victory.
"My young Master, since you've entered the Holy Grail War, this battle is unavoidable. Running away won't solve anything."
Hearing Waver's words, Iskandar dropped his smile and addressed him seriously.
"I am the King of Conquerors! Challenging insurmountable peaks is my destiny!"
With that, Iskandar grinned, tore off his cloak, and draped it over Waver:
"From here on, it's a battle between Heroic Spirits!"
…
"Have you finished your preparations?"
As Iskandar stepped off the Gordius Wheel after his conversation with Waver, Zuke asked calmly.
"If I don't make them now, I won't have the chance later."
"You're certainly blunt, Heroic Spirit boy."
Even the carefree Iskandar couldn't help but show a trace of embarrassnt at Zuke's remark.
Though he knew it was the truth—he himself didn't believe he could defeat Zuke—the blatant disdain from his opponent stung his pride as the King of Conquerors.
He drew his sword and pointed it at Zuke.
"By the way, I still don't know your na."
"Zuke."
Zuke glanced at Iskandar's drawn sword, then at the Gordius Wheel and the divine bull behind him.
"Aren't you going to use your Gordius Wheel? You are Rider, after all."
Though he said this, Zuke already had a hunch about what Iskandar was planning.
"There's no need. Against the strongest enemy, one must begin with their strongest army!"
Iskandar laughed heartily, raising his sword high.
"Co forth, my unparalleled army! Join in challenging the mightiest foe I have ever faced!"
In the next instant, Zuke noticed a sudden and dramatic change in his surroundings.
Previously, both he and Iskandar had been standing in the forest of Einzbern at night, surrounded by the scents of earth and vegetation.
Now, the soil beneath him turned to sand, the trees vanished, replaced by an expansive desert, and the air beca arid.
This was Iskandar's Noble Phantasm, Ionioi Hetairoi (Army of the King), one of the rare "Reality Marbles" in the Nasuverse.
By manifesting his strong personal ideals, Iskandar created a pocket dinsion—a miniature world where he wielded supre control.
The desert scene represented the battlefields Iskandar had once conquered. Thus, the inner landscape of his Reality Marble reflected this imagery.
Zuke looked toward the other side of the desert, where Iskandar now stood. Unlike before, he was no longer alone.
Iskandar was now surrounded by a massive army. Each soldier was a Heroic Spirit, and even the horses were ethereal in nature.
They were part of Ionioi Hetairoi. When Iskandar activated this Noble Phantasm, his loyal army manifested alongside him to fight his enemies.
"An impressive ability."
Zuke narrowed his eyes. This Noble Phantasm was one he definitely intended to claim.
Although the soldiers within Ionioi Hetairoi wouldn't be of much use to him, Zuke rembered that the essence of the army summoned was tied to its wielder.
If Zuke obtained Ionioi Hetairoi, the summoned army would no longer be Iskandar's.
Who they would be, Zuke wasn't sure. He'd have to devour Iskandar first to find out.
"Soldiers! The foe before us may be the strongest we've ever encountered!"
Iskandar mounted his loyal horse, Bucephalus, and rallied his troops.
"But we are the Army of Conquest! No wall can withstand our iron hooves!"
"Indeed!"
The soldiers shouted in unison, their voices reverberating across the desert.
Even Zuke couldn't deny that Iskandar had the charisma of a true king—though Zuke's nature made it impossible for him to beco soone like Iskandar.
"Charge!!!"
With Iskandar's roar, the army began its advance, thundering across the sands toward Zuke.
To be continued..
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