Seeing the chains flying toward them, Jeanne d'Arc gritted her teeth. The situation she feared most was now a reality.
The enemy was launching a large-scale attack on the rear, and even she couldn't protect everyone.
There was only one option left...
Though it would be difficult, she had to try to defeat the caster first!
Jeanne d'Arc narrowed her eyes, raised her banner, and prepared to charge at Enkidu.
But several chains suddenly shifted direction, blocking Jeanne's path.
"Oh no!"
Restrained by the chains, Jeanne d'Arc couldn't launch a second charge.
"Raise your shields and block it!"
Faced with the incoming chains, the Uruk commander gritted his teeth and gave the order.
However, even the commander himself doubted the effectiveness of their defense.
Although they had never seen Enkidu's prowess firsthand, they had heard tales of him matching the king, who alone could level cities.
The figure before them wasn't the Enkidu they revered, but the aura she exuded was just as intimidating.
Facing an attack from such a formidable being, the commander couldn't find comfort in the shields of the surrounding soldiers.
As the chains reached the sky above the Uruk army and prepared to strike, countless blue arrows of light suddenly shot from a distance, shattering the chains in an instant.
"Hmm?"
The figure resembling Enkidu raised an eyebrow and tried the same trick again, transforming the chains into countless weapons and sending them flying toward the Uruk soldiers.
But the second wave of light arrows still precisely intercepted each weapon.
Finally taking the situation seriously, Enkidu prepared to strike again. But just as she was about to act, she clicked her tongue and tilted her head slightly, as an arrow of light zipped past her ear.
"That's enough. If you want to continue, then I'll be your opponent."
At some point, Arjuna, clad in white, had joined Jeanne d'Arc, standing by her side and facing Enkidu.
"Oh?"
Enkidu smiled slyly.
"A great hero of India? While driving you away is an option, now isn't the time to get tangled up with you..."
As she spoke, Enkidu's body gradually dissolved into mud and flowed into the earth.
"Then, let's leave the final battle for next time... if you can survive until then."
Just as Enkidu disappeared into the ground, a wave of crazed monsters surged forward.
Arjuna frowned, nocked an arrow, and fired it. The arrow transformed into a rain of light, annihilating the monsters before they could reach the Uruk army. He then turned to Jeanne.
"It seems she's really gone... Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm unhurt, but why did Mr. Arjuna...?"
Jeanne asked, her curiosity piqued.
Though the three of them were fighting along the same defensive line, the defense was vast, so they naturally had to be spread out, and typically wouldn't interfere with the situation on another's side.
"You were making such a commotion... I imagine even Saber felt it. Since I arrived first, she hasn't made any moves yet."
"Is that so? In any case, thank you very much. Without Mr. Arjuna's help, the losses here would have been disastrous... By the way, it would be better to report what happened to the Master."
"Yes... Well, since you saw everything, I'll leave the reporting to you. Saber and I will hold the line."
Arjuna nodded and drew his bow again, clearing away another wave of minions.
"I see. I'll return as soon as possible."
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On the city wall, Ophis turned her gaze away from the battlefield and looked at the first messenger who had arrived.
"As I just mentioned, regarding the dense forest that suddenly appeared in the south, send scouts to explore it first. Don't venture too deep. Start from the outskirts and proceed cautiously."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The messenger took the order and quickly left. Ophis then took a step forward to depart as well.
"Wait, Your Majesty! Although it hasn't been fully confirmed, this is still very important information!"
Siduri, who had been at Ophis's side, spoke anxiously.
"What is it?"
Ophis paused, looking back.
"The scouts we sent to the north have reported spotting someone who they believe might be the enemy commander... However, I think this information needs further verification."
"Who is it?"
"...According to the scouts, it's... it's Lord Enkidu!"
"Understood."
"Your Majesty?"
Siduri looked at Ophis in confusion.
"There's no need for further confirmation. The scout did well."
"Huh?"
Siduri's eyes widened in surprise, but Ophis had already turned and was heading toward the temple without looking back.
"Wait a moment, Your Majesty, do you mean to say that the enemy commander is truly Lord Enkidu?"
[I didn't expect that. I thought even you would be slightly shaken.]
"Qi, you knew this already, didn't you?"
[Yes, I saw it from the beginning. But how did you see it too?]
"Why not?"
[Well... to be honest, it's likely you would make a wrong judgment. I wanted you to move from doubt to certainty and be mentally prepared... Also, for someone like us, there's always that mysterious aura of 'I know, but I won't tell you,' right? What's the fun in revealing everything right away?]
"…"
Ophis felt that the last reason was probably the real one.
We haven't spoken in so long that I almost forgot that he's a bit of a psychopath.
It wasn't until Ophis walked into the inner hall of the temple that Siduri finally snapped out of her confusion and hurried after her.
"Siduri, you're really stubborn."
"No way! The king is being too careless. This is a critical issue! If that really is Lord Enkidu, Uruk's morale could collapse!"
Siduri was nearly beside herself. It was truly difficult to keep up with the thoughts of a king whose mind was such a mystery.
"Oh, it seems I've walked in on some very interesting news."
At that moment, Merlin entered with a swagger, accompanied by Hercules.
"Good morning, everyone! Merlin, your trusted advisor, is here!"
"Master Merlin, please do not interrupt during an important conversation!"
Ophis gave Merlin a somewhat puzzled look.
To make Siduri, who is always polite to everyone, say something like that was, in a way, a pretty impressive feat, wasn't it?
However, Ophis also noticed that Merlin seemed even more ethereal than when he was first summoned... and weaker.
In short, he didn't seem to be slacking off.
"Yes, you're quite strict, but I'm also curious about Enkidu."
"Master, I have something important to report!"
Looking at Jeanne d'Arc rushing in, Ophis sighed.
Things were truly becoming more and more troublesome.