"Report, Your Imperial Majesty! The small unit led by the self-proclaimed emperor Nero is advancing toward this position at an astonishing speed!"
A soldier of the allied army reported to Caesar.
"It must be that special enemy commander you mentioned, Your Majesty—only that would explain why they're breaking through so quickly!"
"I see…"
Caesar gazed into the distance.
In just that short time, Lu Bu and Spartacus had already charged far enough that he could easily see them.
Both stood over two meters tall, their massive builds towering above the thin allied soldiers around them—they were extremely eye-catching.
From afar, the two Berserkers looked like bulldozers plowing through an army.
Wherever they passed, limbs flew. Soldiers were slashed into the sky, and all that remained behind them was a blood-soaked "runway."
And with those "grenades" being thrown into the enemy formation from time to time…
Tsk tsk—no words but "brutal" could describe it.
"The destructive power of those two Berserkers is truly alarming. If we don't restrain them first, our plan might not unfold smoothly…"
Caesar muttered.
"In that case, send General Leonidas. With his abilities, he should be able to hold those two off."
Caesar ordered a soldier to inform Leonidas.
Upon receiving the message, Leonidas I simply replied, "I understand," before heading straight toward the two Berserkers.
But when he truly encountered the two, Leonidas fell silent.
Even if his actions had been constrained, his mind still worked—so they wanted him to deal with these two by himself…
Looking at the two figures towering over him—taller than him, twice as wide—
Leonidas's eyelid twitched almost imperceptibly.
But now he had no choice but to face them head-on.
Tightening his grip on his spear and shield, Leonidas charged with unwavering resolve.
The two Berserkers had long noticed his approach.
Like a fated collision, the three Servants clashed in battle.
"Yes, yes. Now all we must do is wait until they arrive before me."
Seeing that Leonidas had temporarily managed to hold back Lu Bu and Spartacus, Caesar nodded in satisfaction.
On the other side—
"Oh? And what Heroic Spirit is that, able to hold off my two generals?"
Amid the carnage, Nero looked with some surprise toward the clash.
A battle between Servants was terrifying for ordinary humans; in just moments, the area around them had become a circular no-man's land.
The sounds of combat boomed, and fragments of shattered stone flew through the air.
"Leonidas—a Heroic Spirit particularly skilled at defense. I don't think Spartacus and the others will be able to help us for a while," Lin Qi said, burning a dozen allied soldiers to ashes with runes, then glancing over.
At once he recognized the opponent from that signature flaming plume helmet.
"Mmm! Then the key to victory falls upon just the two of us!" Nero said cheerfully, not at all worried, but rather excited.
"That's about right… The one ahead must be Caesar. If we defeat him, taking Gaul will only be a matter of time."
Using a rune of farsight, Lin Qi clearly saw Caesar standing on a small hill with no intention of retreating.
"Excellent! Let us strike down the enemy leader in one breath! And let me see what kind of elegance the Caesar of the present age possesses!"
In historical records, Caesar was said to be a handsome man.
"Uh, Your Majesty might be in for a bit of a shock…"
"And why is that?"
"It's hard to explain—you'll understand once you see him."
Such was Type-Moon's wicked humor; many historically male figures had become female, and on top of that, many characters were heavily altered.
Caesar just happened to be one of them.
With Lin Qi and Nero working together, they pierced through the enemy army in no time and reached Caesar.
Battles between Servants were not something ordinary people could join.
Both sides silently commanded their soldiers to fall back, clearing a vast space—
For their battle.
Caesar stood upon a small hill, Nero and Lin Qi below. They eyed each other.
Neither attacked first.
So they really aren't affected…?
Seeing Nero's confident expression and blazing eyes, Caesar—though fond of her (in a mentor-like way)—felt puzzled and disappointed not to see what he expected.
And the one beside her is…
Caesar's gaze shifted to Lin Qi, lingering on the red Command Spells on the back of his right hand.
A Master, huh?
Lin Qi made no effort to hide his identity. The scarlet Command Spells were plain to see, and any Servant could discern what he was.
I see. I understand now. In that case, let's proceed this way.
Caesar curved his lips into a slight smile—in only a few seconds he had formed a strategy to handle the two.
"Hmph? Why doesn't this man speak?" Nero frowned, displeased. She had wanted to let the other side speak first.
She refused to admit that this fat man was Caesar the Great.
"Maybe he's thinking the same thing as Your Majesty…" Lin Qi whispered.
He didn't deny that the man was indeed Caesar—after all, this was exactly how Caesar appeared in the game.
"So, you have finally come before me."
Caesar paid no mind to their muttering and spoke normally.
His gaze remained on Nero.
"State your name, beautiful one—a treasure worthy of being called the world's jewel, shining alongside Rome, current emperor!"
"I am Nero! Nero Claudius! The one who will strike down you false emperors and reclaim Rome!" Nero declared boldly.
She showed not a hint of hesitation.
"Excellent!"
Caesar showed a satisfied smile.
"And the one beside you must be a Master from afar. I will permit you to state your name as well."
He looked at Lin Qi with interest.
He had already realized this was the same Master who had been circling above earlier on a wyvern.
"Lin Qi, an ordinary Master from Chaldea," Lin Qi said calmly.
"Ordinary? Someone who stands before me can hardly be called ordinary."
"And if I'm not mistaken, you are also one of the key reasons this war suddenly shifted in their favor, aren't you?"
—and also the one who allowed this emperor to now stand proudly here.
Caesar didn't say that last part.
Because saying it would spoil the fun.
He already understood Nero's party's Servant lineup—two Berserkers of overwhelming power, and someone likely an Assassin.
And only after Nero returned did her army suddenly begin using strange weapons.
With impressive destructive power.
Something that had never appeared before—clearly, Lin Qi was the creator of these weapons.
"Too much modesty comes across as pretentious. I think your capabilities go far beyond this, after all—
—You came here alone, Master!"
Caesar smiled and looked at Lin Qi—and suddenly, he raised his voice.
"Join us! That Great One's presence will sweep aside all opposition!"
"Even that Beast who caused all of this!"
"As long as you are in Rome—in this era that belongs to Rome—"
"You need not fear. You will never be alone again!"
"Rome will take you into its arms!"
"He will block out all sorrow!"
"And you, more than anyone, must understand the power of that Great One's existence—so—"
"Come! Come, join us—join Rome!"
Caesar spread his arms wide, eyes gleaming as he stared at Lin Qi.
His lips couldn't help but curl upward.
[Incitement (EX)!]
This was [Incitement]—used for one person alone.
...