Ionian Hetairoi: Army of the King.
Among the 'Trio of Kings' who manifested in the Fourth Holy Grail War, this is the Noble Phantasm that serves as the very identity of the King of Conquerors.
The King of Knights, forged by fate and an honorable protector of her nation through that same destiny, wields Caliburn, the Sword of Selection, and Excalibur, the Sword of Promised Victory.
Gilgamesh, the first hero who prides himself as the sole sovereign of all heroism, possesses the Gate of Babylon—the vault containing every supreme treasure he ever collected.
And then there is Iskandar, who traversed the world following a single dream and goal alongside his equals. He possesses his army and that very dream—the Noble Phantasm, Ionian Hetairoi.
Thus, the form of the Noble Phantasms granted to these three differs entirely in essence.
The King of Conquerors' Army is, fundamentally, a Reality Marble.
By weaving together the mental landscapes of the tens of thousands... perhaps hundreds of thousands... of subordinates who followed him, he distributes the burden of the Mystery. He conducts a 'war of armies' in the literal sense, trampling his opponents with overwhelming military force.
The King himself is a peerless military strategist, and the subordinates summoned are all second or third-rate Servants. It is said that some even achieved feats rivaling Iskandar himself during their lifetimes. Of course, that is merely 'according to the setting,' as I never saw such a detailed depiction in my memories, but...
'This is reality. Which means such possibilities can be actualized at any moment.'
Of course, even this seemingly perfect Noble Phantasm possesses flaws.
Just as Gilgamesh, who prided himself as the supreme King of Heroes, fell to a track-jacket-loving high schooler due to his own arrogance, the Army of the King has two fatal weaknesses.
Specifically: the consumption of magical energy and the inherent nature of a Reality Marble.
Noble Phantasms are, by definition, consumers of prana. Once deployed, manifesting them a second time is nearly impossible. Particularly with a Reality Marble type like Ionian Hetairoi, Iskandar himself must provide the astronomical amount of magical energy required to initially tear open the Bounded Field. While the summoned subordinates eventually share the burden of maintaining the landscape, if it is once dismantled, a second summoning is essentially out of the question.
The second flaw is... the vulnerability inherent to a Reality Marble.
'In history, it was dismantled by Ea, an Anti-World Noble Phantasm. If I had the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, I could deal with this easily, but...'
Unfortunately, the power I possess is not those fraudulent Mystic Eyes, but the Rinnegan.
While the Preta Path—Seal Absorption—can dismantle mediocre Bounded Fields, it is helpless against a Reality Marble of this Noble Phantasm caliber. Even if I could absorb some prana, I wouldn't be able to keep up. The amount of magical energy being generated by the collective souls of the summoned army would far exceed my absorption rate.
[Hey there, Puppeteer! It seems you're finally ready on your end! Have you found a magnificent way to win?!]
"...Do you really think such a thing exists?"
[I see! But the battlefield does not wait for men to be ready!]
In that instant, the surrounding scenery began to shift slowly into a desert.
A scorching sandstorm began to howl. Beyond the swirling dust, the giant of a man sat atop his steed with the slender Waver in tow, smiling as he watched the other Servants manifest around him.
[Now, I couldn't give you a proper introduction before, so I shall show you now! Behold! This is the ultimate expression of the King's Way that I harbor! The friends who roamed the world with me! My greatest treasure and glory, Iskandar's pride!]
The heavens and earth trembled, and the biting sandstorm subsided. The Macedonian Phalanx infantry appeared, spears bristling like a forest. Behind them, the Athanatoi emerged, armed with sagaris axes, bows, and spears. Beside the armored warriors, the cavalry—positioned to perfectly cover the phalanx's flanks—began to calm their snorting horses as they fell into formation.
Furthermore, men with skin the color of burnished bronze appeared one after another. Egyptian divisions wielding khopesh blades and riding chariots stepped forward, seemingly unafraid of the pikes behind them.
With heavy thuds, a massive elephant corps also appeared. The Indian forces aiming bows from atop the great beasts were reminiscent of Hannibal of Carthage, who once struck terror into the heart of Rome...
And amazingly, this was merely the tip of the iceberg.
Spears, swords, arrows, scythes, pitchforks, axes... even bizarre weapons I had never heard of or seen in my life appeared. An ancient Macedonian mage corps with staves, Egyptian charioteers, troops seemingly from Greece, and those dressed in garb from the Far East.
Every soldier of the greatest Conqueror, his entire internal landscape.
Heroes who could have been etched into history in their own right but refused, choosing instead to follow the King's shadow and live as his 'subjects,' appeared to heed his command.
The culmination of an army that chased an ideal, all for the sake of an uncertain dream called 'Okeanos.'
This army, this collective... this Noble Phantasm is truly...
[Ionian Hetairoi—The Army of the King!!]
He burned his life, his country, and the hearts of his subordinates as kindling to forge a path toward his dream.
Some might have denounced him as a madman or a tyrant, but he himself pushed forward, dismissing such claims as he lived out the 'True King's Way.'
The world he conquered while exhausting his life... The 'Entire World' as it existed in that era was reproduced here and now.
[How is it, Puppeteer! I highly value your spirit! Indeed, you are so excellent that I truly wish to induct you into my ranks! However, if you cannot surpass me, then facing the 'True Danger' you spoke of would be an absurdity! Is that not so, Puppeteer!]
"...Yeah, you're right, Iskandar. Because your Army of the King is still weaker than that fake-ass bastard Angra Mainyu!"
[Hoh, it seems you've learned how to wag your tongue quite well!]
As Iskandar raised his sword, the spearmen standing behind him slammed their hafts against the earth.
It was a simple motion, yet the dust rose in clouds, and I could feel the vibration from where I stood in the distance.
[Now, my eternal friends who galloped across the earth to put the world in our grasp! The opponent we shall conquer is that Puppeteer who calls himself humanity's last hope! A brave warrior who did not flee from a Beast of Humanity, and who stood tall without wavering even when my bond with you was severed! He is an enemy we must face with our full strength, is he not?!]
[[[IT IS SO! IT IS SO! IT IS SO!!!]]]
[Now then, it is time to test that Puppeteer personally! It is time for us to conquer him and see if that man can truly advance until the final moment!]
With a thunderous roar from the mighty warriors, spears were leveled at me and the two Servants.
[First, a greeting. Surely you can handle this much, Puppeteer!]
With a hearty shout, a rain of javelins thick enough to blot out the sun began to plummet toward the sand.
Before Boudica or Spartacus even had to parry, I repelled them with Shinra Tensei. Seeing this, Iskandar stroked his beard and slowly drew his sword. Just as he was about to give the command to charge, I wove a hand seal and shouted.
"King Iskandar!"
[What is it! I'm just getting into the spirit of things!]
"You know my abilities well, don't you?!"
[Of course! How could I forget the skills of a comrade-in-arms—especially one I wanted to recruit!]
"...Fine. Then let me show you this as well."
When I faced Angra Mainyu, this was an ability I feared to use, lest he absorb it.
If I dropped Tengai Shinsei on the Reality Marble, I could cause some damage, much like I did with Fina-blood Svelten's Bounded Field... but the problem was what would happen if it didn't work.
Even if I dismantled the Reality Marble, two excellent Servants, Waver and Iskandar, would remain.
Compared to the King of Conquerors, Boudica is clearly a step behind, considering just the Gordius Wheel. And Spartacus and Waver share a sort of counter-compatibility... I don't believe Spartacus, who knows nothing but charging, can break through Waver's Stone Sentinel Maze. To shatter that Reality Marble, I'd have to drop at least three Shattering Stars, which would naturally leave me completely depleted.
"But I know... If the members of the army are sharing the burden of the Reality Marble, then I only need to dismantle the 'Army' itself!"
[Hoh, so you wish to engage in a war of attrition! Then we shall simply trample you. All units, prepare to charge!]
With a deafening roar, the massive army began to move.
And at that same moment, I began to slowly recite the incantation.
"The Six Paths of Reincarnation. Naraka, Asura, Preta, Animal, Human, Deva. Each shall circulate and supplement the other."
As I began my chant, the cavalry and chariot units initiated their charge following Iskandar's command.
Amidst the thunderous cries, the 'Army of the King' approached to overrun us. Boudica quickly manifested her chariot and prepared to evade alongside me and Spartacus.
"...Is this really the right way to do this? If it fails, we'll have no choice but to run until this Bounded Field collapses."
[Gahahaha! There is no such thing as retreat, O Queen of the Abandoned! Even if you flee, this body shall burn its soul to slay the Oppressor!]
Deliberately ignoring their conversation, I accelerated the tempo of my chant under the pressure of urgency.
"Each shall circulate and supplement the logic; the immature one who has yet to reach enlightenment shall now be made whole."
Just like when I first used Chibaku Tensei against Angra Mainyu in the Fourth Holy Grail War... large-scale magical operations require various preliminary steps.
As Alice-san taught me, the most important of these steps in a magical act is a single image.
Rin Tohsaka awakens her Magic Circuits by imaging the stabbing of her own heart. Shirou Emiya visualizes the firing of a pistol.
Even for the simple 'magical act' of awakening circuits, that visualization is crucial. How much more so for a large-scale ritual?
"Opening the Cycle, liberation from the endless repetition, the realization of the fool."
My image, then and now, is the opening of the eyes.
Both of my eyes shifted into the violet, ripple-patterned Rinnegan, and the magical energy constituting Ionian Hetairoi began to gradually saturate my Magic Circuits.
Originally, these were abilities impossible to activate. I had to apply various geases and restrictions to make them usable. Much like I saw in a certain manga, various incantations, injections, and mystic components are merely aids for a magical operation.
Techniques like Chibaku Tensei and Tengai Shinsei—Shattering Star—were impossible with my childhood output alone. Naturally, I required support for the groundwork and mana supply. The various incantations Alice-san and I crafted, the solid backup support from a True Magician...
Chibaku Tensei required various chants and special bounded fields, while Tengai Shinsei required an instant supply of prana from Aoko-姉. Through these methods, I supplemented my deficient abilities in the past, allowing me to stand firm against mighty enemies like the Clock Tower or the Evils of Humanity.
However, as I grew, those restrictions naturally vanished. Now, chants and injections had become nothing more than inconveniences. Just as I did against Fina-blood Svelten, I can now launch Tengai Shinsei or Chibaku Tensei without such burdens...
Except, not here. Not for this.
Magical energy flooded in like a river as I recited the chant, passing through my Magic Circuits before flowing back out like a receding tide.
The dust clouds raised by the chariots loomed closer. Finally, unable to bear the wait, Spartacus leaped from the chariot to counter-charge. In that split second, I slammed both palms into the ground and concluded the incantation.
"However, in this place, I shall return once more and repeat the cycle. What I summon is the seat of the beasts. The realization of the fool."
Six Paths of Reincarnation: Animal Path—Chimemouryou: Monsters of the Wilds.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
I shall answer numbers with numbers, O King of Conquerors.
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