Warrior's Tremor

The two warriors facing off again watched each other in silence. Lu Bu's wounds had already healed under Tohsaka Mina's healing magecraft, while Leonidas's thigh continued to drip blood, blooming into a crimson lotus on the ice and spreading a dark red domain around his feet.

"A Lancer with a short sword... Hmph, truly, you've opened my eyes."

Lu Bu glanced at the long spear stuck upside down in the ice behind him. As a Lancer, Leonidas had abandoned his spear, opting for a shield and sword combination to counter the Rider.

Lu Bu's halberd flowed, spinning rapidly between his hands like a swift silver butterfly, tracing terrifying and deadly arcs around him. As his emotions surged, the speed of his halberd increased, forming a protective barrier of shining silver light.

(This is truly... exhilarating!)

Lu Bu felt only joy.

Being summoned to this world by some ignorant girl with only second-rate magical energy was inherently uninteresting, but...

(It has meaning now!)

(To clash with such a hero, across time and space! So, this great Lu Fengxian, renowned as peerless in the Three Kingdoms in China, is not invincible on a global scale? If I am the strongest cavalry, then this guy! He is undoubtedly the strongest infantry! Heh, truly...)

In his heart, fervent battle intent mixed with the poison of mana, instantly transforming into a powerful, fatal shockwave that blasted through the Servant known as Lu Fengxian from his heart along his blood vessels.

He would annihilate this Lancer!

There could only be one holder of the title "strongest." The adjective "strongest" implied uniqueness.

Lu Bu spurred his warhorse, and the crimson lightning struck again. The beast-headed armor made a fine grinding sound, and his crimson silken robe fluttered in the wind.

"Lu Bu among men, Red Hare among horses." This is an ancient saying passed down in China. Anyone who understands a little Chinese will grasp its meaning: it speaks of the excellent compatibility between Lu Bu and Red Hare.

Just as beautiful features are complemented by a stylish hairstyle, or a magnificent blade by an elegant sheath, they are a pair that enhances and complements each other.

This was the secret of Lu Bu's Noble Phantasm.

It was not a weapon that required "true name release." As a cavalry Servant, Lu Fengxian's Noble Phantasm was naturally his warhorse.

A warhorse that was one with his soul.

As mentioned before, fame.

Lu Bu was arguably the most famous Heroic Spirit in China.

Red Hare was widely recognized as the warhorse with the best compatibility with Lu Bu.

Galloping across the vast lands of China, Rider Lu Bu, Lu Fengxian, possessed combat power data far exceeding that of other Servants.

[Permanent Noble Phantasm] Red Hare. Its true name is [Lu Bu among men, Red Hare among horses]. It does not require true name release because this Noble Phantasm has been active since Lu Bu manifested as a Servant.

As long as Lu Bu rides Red Hare, Rider Lu Fengxian's all-around stats receive considerable bonuses. This is the origin of Lu Bu's triple A+++ parameters.

The mana converted from the faith of 2.0 billion people across China was the bond that sustained this proud Heroic Spirit and his excellent warhorse. A compatible warhorse required no communication, no reins; Lu Bu's every movement, every glance, even a fleeting thought, would be understood and acted upon by Red Hare with unwavering loyalty!

This was Rider Lu Bu's most powerful Noble Phantasm: the perfect synergy between man and horse, and the combat experience known as the Flying General.

The crimson lightning charged across the vast icy plain. Lu Bu held his Fangtian Halberd in both hands, his arrogance gone, carefully adjusting the halberd's position and raising it high above his head.

However, Leonidas also moved. His golden greatshield was raised high on his shoulder, the rounded shield protecting his sturdy muscles. On the shield's surface, the three claw marks left by the Fangtian Halberd were shockingly visible on the inverted V symbol of Sparta.

A roar came from behind the shield as Leonidas, bearing his shield, charged headlong into Lu Bu's charge! The silver edge of his short sword silently rested against the side of the shield, exuding an unnoticeable threat.

(Heh... trying to run me over?)

Lu Bu immediately saw through his intention and couldn't help but find it amusing.

Indeed, with Leonidas's current strength combined with his greatshield, it was possible to halt his charging momentum. The effectiveness of a charge decreased with distance; the two were already close, and with the opponent charging as well, the acceleration distance was even shorter. Once he lost his charging momentum, a cavalryman would be no different from an infantryman. At that point, the agile short sword would have an advantage over a long spear...

However—mounted combat and infantry combat are different. Especially in battles between Heroic Spirits, the difference was even more profound.

(Then, I'll show you! The ultimate secret of mounted combat!)

Lu Bu made up his mind. The two charged at each other, closing the already short distance in an instant! On the silent ice, it felt as though even the sound of heartbeats would cease, only the sound of footsteps on the ice, crushing everything, echoed through the night sky.

(Now!)

Lu Bu was only a few centimeters away from Leonidas's greatshield, almost about to collide! The galloping warhorse and the charging human battering ram were about to crash!

No!

There was no collision!

As the two were about to clash, Red Hare suddenly vanished!

Was it Spirit Form?

No, Spirit Form leaves an opening during re-materialization. Moreover, Lu Bu's pride would not allow such a tactic.

Then, does Red Hare possess some kind of invisibility ability?!

How could that be! It's a horse, not a magical beast or a dragon, how could it possess such a ferocious ability?

Then... there was only one answer.

The "difference between infantry and cavalry" that Lu Bu mentioned lay precisely here.

Red Hare leaped!

Warhorses are tall.

Some warhorses can reach a height of two meters, and Red Hare, being a distinguished steed, stood as tall as Leonidas at the shoulder.

Such a tall creature, with its long, powerful limbs, could naturally generate considerable leaping power.

And in mid-air, the person riding upon it could move freely!

This was because the rider hadn't jumped; he was merely seated on his warhorse!

Yes! The biggest difference between cavalry and infantry is that cavalry is never fighting alone! Beneath them is their most trusted partner, their warhorse! This is both unity and separation between man and horse!

In mid-air, Lu Bu's crimson battle robe fluttered in the wind. His beast-headed armor twisted violently, and Lu Bu's body leaned back significantly as he thrust his Fangtian Halberd behind him—directly at Leonidas's back!

Cavalry Counter-Attack!

A move most commonly used by Chinese cavalry generals! This technique was originally used to feign retreat and launch a surprise counter-attack against pursuing enemy generals. But Lu Bu, as expected of the foremost fierce general of the Three Kingdoms, had forcefully modified this surprise attack move, the "Cavalry Counter-Attack," into a killing technique to bypass the enemy's shield and launch an attack from behind!

The halberd's three points of cold light danced in mid-air, forming three silvery bright streaks that fiercely lunged towards Leonidas's back!!

"Well done!"

Suddenly, a thunderous shout of approval rang out.

There were only two Servants on the battlefield. Lu Bu was fully focused on his attack, so he naturally had no reason to utter such a phrase. Therefore, it was already clear who had spoken.

It was Leonidas!

Lu Bu's halberd was not aimed at Leonidas's back! It was aimed at Leonidas's chest!!

Yes! Leonidas, behind his great shield, was charging forward with his shoulder braced against the shield, his body angled!

This posture was as if...

As if he had known all along that the enemy would attack from his back!

It turned out that the massive shield was not just for defense! The Spartans, who revered the great shield as a symbol, had long integrated shield combat techniques into their very blood – throwing, defense... and... as cover!

If not for this great shield, Lu Bu might have noticed the abnormality in Leonidas's posture and become suspicious.

But there were no "ifs." That great shield obstructed Lu Bu's vision, preventing him from judging the posture of the person behind it.

Thus... the decisive Cavalry Counter-Attack was foiled!

Leonidas released his great shield, freeing his left hand! Facing the flying halberd, Leonidas aimed his left foot at the inner lower section of the great shield and kicked. With a "bang," the great shield was pierced by his mighty strength. Its golden edge, like an axe, drove into the ice armor with immense force, embedding nearly half of the shield into it!

Immediately after, he raised his right foot, as if treating the great shield before him as an enemy and kicking it away!

Dong!

The great shield became his foothold, and Leonidas kicked off it with a powerful thrust! The immense force was transmitted through the great shield and rapidly into the ice armor, neutralizing the impact—the great shield quickly canceled out Leonidas's forward momentum!

Due to the excessive force, the gash on his thigh spurted blood, but Leonidas showed no fear. Beneath his helmet, the youth's wide grin was filled with a ferocious smile.

Having stopped his momentum, he unhesitatingly extended his right hand and, in a flash of lightning, grasped the Fangtian Halberd!

"What!"

To seize the halberd?!

Seeing Leonidas's posture, Lu Bu could only think of this one phrase!

The Fangtian Halberd was a long-handled polearm used in cavalry combat, its shaft nearly three meters long, perfectly suited for cavalry engagements.

However, he had never imagined that the weapon he used to slaughter enemies would one day become a fatal conduit for the enemy's attack! All polearms share a weakness: apart from the blade, the rest is just a long shaft with no offensive capability. The shaft grasped by Leonidas had become a connection between the two of them!

With one hand gripping the halberd and the other holding a short sword, the Spartan warrior used the great shield as leverage to leap. In mid-air, the resolute face beneath the golden helmet declared, "Come! Let's have a thrilling fight!"

Lu Bu was stunned, a tremor of excitement coursing through his very bones. This was the kind of excitement only peerless warriors felt when facing an opponent of equal caliber.

"Ah!! Then, as you wish!!"

[Rider Servant Card Updated]