Fate/Laoch Gan Finsceal

Chapter 18: Ascension

FATE/LAOCH GAN FINSCEAL

"Hero Without Legend"

Chapter 18: Ascension

Back outside, it was a complete madhouse of tinny voices and frenzied movement. Thousands of aliens swarmed towards either Spartacus who was relentlessly beating them down, or towards Leonidas who was valiantly guarding the front entrance. Granted, the creatures weren't very strong individually, but when working together as a single hive, they were virtually unstoppable.

"Gragh!" Leonidas roared as he skewered one of the larger monsters through the chest. "This is futile! No matter how much we tell ourselves to stay strong, it is impossible to win against such madness!"

"The hell you whining about now, Spartan!?" Spartacus exclaimed, still eager to brawl. Unfortunately, he too had to admit that they were fighting a suicidal battle. That didn't deter him though; he fought to the death in his legend, and it wouldn't be any different now. His body was covered with so many grotesque injuries that his inherent healing ability wouldn't be able to save him from certain doom. Spartacus maintained his inhuman smile as he added, "There's nothing saying we have to survive this!"

"It seems that absurd amount of blood loss has finally gone to your head, Thracian! If we were to fall here, there will be nothing stopping these abominations from chasing after the Little One!"

"I know that! That's why you and I must bring our powers together for one last stand!"

"How do you propose we do that!?"

"Heh hah hah hah! I can feel it! My Noble Phantasm is growing more rapidly than I can contain it! But if I unleash it now, I may only destroy half of this horde!"

Leonidas realized what Spartacus was suggesting. It was true that the gladiator's power was immense when he detonated it upon his enemies, but he didn't have much control over where that energy went. With the mob scattered about everywhere, it wasn't a guarantee that he would clean them up with his last attack. That was what Spartacus wanted Leonidas to do; to use his own Noble Phantasm to act as bait that would draw all of the monsters into one spot.

"I see!" the Spartan grinned. "For a meathead, you can be surprisingly calculating!"

Without hesitation, he leapt from his defending position and landed in an open spot. He stood tall and called out the True Name of his strongest move:

"Thermopylae Enomotia!"

The radiant golden light surrounded him, bathing him with ungodly defensive power. The aliens were drawn toward the brilliance and rushed toward Leonidas in a singular assault. He smiled, knowing this was the end for him. As thousands of small bodies swarmed over him and proceeded to devour him in a carnal tumult of teeth and claws, he thought of his comrades through this short journey. All of them left something special behind in his heart – Spartacus and his absurd yet valiant hardheadedness; Sanson and his cool-minded logic; Arash and his love for his county and people; finally, Connla and her courage to face such horrible trials despite her inexperience.

No matter how much time passed, or how many wars he would be summoned into, he wouldn't forget how each of them impacted him. That was why he was glad to die for them, the same way he perished for his beloved Sparta centuries ago – they too were part of his kingdom now.

Leonidas raised his spear high, breaking it and his hand through the top of a proverbial anthill of aliens, as he shouted his dying words:

"This is... SPARTAA~AA~AA!"