Chapter 570: The Historic Meeting of Two Neros
The Butterfly Effect.
This concept describes how even the smallest initial change in a dynamic system can trigger long-term and large-scale chain reactions. The term originates from a thought experiment by meteorologist Edward Lorenz, who proposed that a butterfly flapping its wings in the Amazon rainforest could theoretically cause a hurricane in North America weeks later.
The Mooncell could never have imagined what kind of tornado Sakatsuki and Draco—these two "little butterflies"—would stir up in the Holy Grail War. Regardless, this quarrelsome pair proved that when they made a move, they made it count. In their battle of love, fighting to pin each other down, they ultimately both "fell in battle."
Meanwhile, the original protagonist, Hakuno Kishinami, was struck down by an assassin, grievously wounded and on the verge of bleeding out.
She didn't understand.
She didn't understand why she had been killed.
She didn't understand why she was here—
Then, a voice—her own voice—echoed in her heart, quiet yet resolute, offering an answer. And so, amidst confusion and dull pain, the girl realized.
Ah.
The reason must be—just that.
Images surfaced: the lifeless bodies of her classmates, their eyes wide with unspoken horror, and the rambling yet eerily familiar words of a friend.
There had been so many sacrifices.
There had been so many questions.
Then—she couldn't let it end like this, without understanding.
As long as she still held will in this world, she absolutely could not accept such an end with resignation.
Because these hands had never once fought of their own volition, had they—?
In that instant, the girl's will ascended to a lofty throne. Such unwavering resolve, such pure conviction, resonated with countless souls of the past.
To survive—this was the most insignificant yet greatest wish engraved in human DNA.
And so, a miracle descended—
If only the butterfly hadn't flapped its wings.
———
Elsewhere, the Place of Awakening
"Ugh… my head hurts."
With a voice thick with irritation, Draco—clad in a red dress—sat up, shaking her head. Her stunning wine-red eyes swept her surroundings before her body stiffened slightly. Then, like a drowning person grasping for a lifeline, she looked down at herself.
A sigh of relief escaped her lips, its tail end tinged with joy. The tension in her body melted away as she pressed her lips together, eyes crinkling with suppressed mirth. But in the end, Draco couldn't hold back—her lips curled into a smirk, and she let out a triumphant laugh in the empty space.
"Heh… Hahahaha! I won! I am your Master now, Sakatsuki!"
Had anyone checked Draco's status at that moment, they would have clearly seen the word "Master" displayed in her information. In other words, this Draco was no longer just Sakatsuki's imaginary shadow—she had defeated him in their struggle, usurped his place, and gained the Mooncell's recognition as a qualified participant who had passed the preliminaries!
She now had the right to summon a Servant to fight for her!
And as for which Servant this rebellious lady would choose—well, that went without saying.
"Swallow the bitter fruit of defeat obediently, for that taste is the reward I bestow upon you!" The long-awaited victory sent a shiver down Draco's soul—she hadn't felt such exhilaration in ages. "From this moment onward, submit to my dominion. Come forth, my contractor—no, my slave (Servant), Sakatsuki! Emerge from the land of awakening and let me savor the look of frustration and helplessness on your face!"
The lunar crystal heeded the call of the last Master. The land of awakening activated on its own, endless crimson halos spreading like a vibrant theater, illuminating the sacred hall. Draco observed everything before her, nodding with immense satisfaction.
"Mmm, to think you'd choose a color resembling mine! Splendid, I adore it! It would be perfection if Sakatsuki were clad in red as well!"
Draco had spoken offhandedly, harboring no real expectation that Sakatsuki would ever don such a vivid hue. Yet as she lifted her gaze, within the radiance of the Heroic Spirit summoning, a figure as red as blazing flames truly appeared!
"It... it actually came true..." Draco murmured, her eyes sparkling with childlike delight. Just as she stared in awe, a voice all too familiar to her echoed through the land of awakening:
"Mmm, to cling to fear in the abyss of death, yet choose to fight regardless!"
"Magnificent! Well spoken, nameless stranger! That wish—even if the world turns a deaf ear, I have been genuinely moved by it!"
"Clench your fists, raise your head—your fate has yet to reach its end!"
"And why is that, you ask? Because your destiny, at this very moment, is only just beginning!"
There stood a girl blooming like fire. As her curvaceous figure stretched, golden epaulets swayed majestically, and the large ruffled cuffs at her sleeves exuded elegance. Her sunlit hair was tied up with a scarlet ribbon, coiled into a charming bun. Her emerald eyes reflected hues like laurel leaves, so that wherever her gaze fell, sweet affection seemed to follow.
But what truly captivated was her daring attire. Despite her delicate, doll-like face, she wore a bold, backless male-style outfit. The front of her red skirt was semi-transparent, teasingly revealing her undergarments, while the back lacked any fabric at all, allowing glimpses of her alluring form to accentuate her beauty.
A lively, adorable girl—a vision like Venus incarnate. Yet, faced with such a Servant, Draco showed not a trace of joy. Her pupils constricted, her body tensed, as if confronting a greater threat than even Sakatsuki's disappearance.
It's her... it's her!
Why is she here?!
Where is my Servant? Where is Sakatsuki?
—Why, of all people, must she appear before me?!
No one understood this girl's identity better than Draco. And precisely because of that, no one could grasp more keenly than Draco just how tragic this pitiable girl's end would be—until she became... herself!
Her name was Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, the fifth emperor of Rome—a tyrant infamous for a life adorned with conspiracy and poison!
She was also the theoretical prototype of Draco, the tragic figure who met a miserable end before even surpassing the sunset.
Staring blankly at her, watching the girl flutter down like rose petals and stand before her, Nero blinked after her own boast. The two Neros—one large, one small—locked eyes, their smiles gradually fading.
"Wait… you… you're not my Master?!"