"You still dare say I'm despicable? Aren't you people even worse in terms of lacking martial integrity..."
Caesar complained, barely hanging on by a thread of breath.
"Quit whining. Against fake emperors like you lot, of course we'll use every possible method."
"Besides, I have more subordinates than you. Am I not allowed to make full use of them?"
Nero did not feel like reasoning with Caesar at all.
Caesar had nothing to say.
Because if he had enough subordinates, he would absolutely, one hundred percent, use numbers to overwhelm the enemy.
So a loss is a loss. There was nothing more to say.
"It probably won't be this easy next time. Struggle as hard as you can, juniors..."
Caesar let out a small chuckle.
He turned into golden motes of light that drifted into the air.
Caesar—exit.
Lin Qi let out a slow breath and finally relaxed his body.
He had no idea what the others thought, but personally, he was under tremendous pressure during the fight with Caesar.
That wave of swordlight—so fast the trajectory couldn't even be seen—was truly hair-raising.
He felt that if he relaxed even a little, that golden sword would chop his head off.
If the opponent had been a normal Servant, Lin Qi felt that with his own stats and Noble Phantasm he could probably hold out for a while.
But once he encountered a Servant famous for martial skill, all he could do was put every bit of hope into [Dodge]—
—and then pray he wouldn't get cut down in a few blows.
Once the tension eased, the exhaustion from the recent fierce battle rushed over him all at once.
His head in particular felt dizzy and fuzzy.
Probably because he had used his abilities a little too much.
Jing Ke beside him, on the contrary, looked completely relaxed.
She was even playing around with her dagger, rather interested in it.
"Though I am an Assassin, I actually never succeeded in an assassination even once when I was alive. Never thought I'd finally succeed after dying—"
Heh! Can't lie, it really feels kind of great!
Jing Ke repeatedly mimic the assassination motions, as if imagining some First Emperor standing before her.
"We've only barely solved three Servants so far. There will still be plenty of chances for you to take action later, big sis."
Lin Qi said helplessly.
Caesar had only been an appetizer holding back his strength. There were definitely even more terrifying enemies waiting for them afterward.
"Big sis?"
Jing Ke froze for a moment, then tossed the thought aside.
This fellow countryman is pretty young. Being called big sis is not a loss.
Oh, that would be great if the enemies were all emperors like that.
I just love assassinating that kind!
Jing Ke looked thrilled.
Meanwhile—
The battle on the other side finally came to an end as well.
The originally flat ground had been plowed into a mess.
Pits and ditches everywhere.
Spartan Captain Leonidas fell to the ground, his face full of unwillingness.
Around him were broken, slowly fading Noble Phantasm soldiers.
Lu Bu stomped down hard on him with one foot, white steam surging from his whole body.
He threw his head back and howled toward the sky.
As if saying, The victor must humiliate the defeated, uwaaah!
Leonidas finally died in acceptance.
As for Spartacus?
After he and Lu Bu tore apart Flamehead's Noble Phantasm, he ran even farther away shouting "Oppressors!" as he went off to hack at more people.
"Mumu! Looks like the two generals had quite smooth battles as well!"
Nero looked from afar and nodded in satisfaction.
With Caesar and Flamehead dead, all of Nero's Servant-level combat power was now freed.
The allied army's soldiers collapsed at the first blow. In practically no time at all, they had scattered and fled until none remained.
Aside from the civilians within, Gaul could basically be considered an empty city now.
After briefly gathering her army,
And arranging some troops to stay behind and hold Gaul,
Nero once again led her army toward the allied capital.
"Excellent! Victory is at hand—let us drive these fake emperors out together! Take back our lost lands!"
Nero raised the Aestus Estus and shouted.
"Take back our lost lands!" ×N
Responding to Nero was a perfectly uniform roar.
——Dividing line——
———————
Allied Capital.
"Caesar and Leonidas have been defeated as well?"
"How interesting. I am starting to feel a little curious about this Chaldea Master who suddenly appeared from nowhere."
Lev, also known as Flauros, muttered by the window.
A grin that carried a bit of facial theatrics appeared unconsciously on his face.
"But in the end, he is just a Master with slightly more ability than usual. I imagine he cannot even summon a single ally who could be of use, can he?"
Lev laughed mockingly.
"Perfect timing. It seems about time to replenish our combat strength."
As he spoke, Leff turned and walked toward the summoning circle he had prepared.
"Hehe, compared to some human who understands nothing, I can summon Servants freely at will."
"After all, that is precisely what we are."
"In the realm of summoning, we undoubtedly stand at the very pinnacle of the world!"
As Lev moved, the summoning array before him began radiating a blinding light.
Before long—
A small red figure, about a meter and a half tall, appeared in the center of the circle.
"Servant Rider, I answer your summons."
"What do you require of me, Master?"
The young Alexander, newly materialized, asked with a smile.
At this point in time, he looked nothing like the muscular adult he would become—rather, he was a strikingly handsome youth.
"Very simple. Eliminate Nero Claudius. Destroy this era. Sever the foundation of human history from this point forward."
Lev said coldly.
At that moment, the tall figure who had been standing beside them finally spoke as well.
"I, Rome, can lend you my army. Use them as you wish."
His physique was strong and well-built, his garments colored in a mix of gold and red. There was a faint smile on his face.
This was none other than Romulus, the founding god of Rome, manifested in his ordinary form.
"Commanding an army in war, is it? I understand."
Alexander nodded with a smile.
As a ruler who conquered various nations in history and seized the largest territory in the world at the time,
Even though he was currently in his youthful state, as a natural-born military commander his current military prowess was still formidable.
Alexander obeyed and left, going to take command of the troops and face the enemy.
"My, my. Servants really are a poor-grade product. No matter who they are or what legends they created, once summoned by me they lose control of themselves—"
"Isn't that right?"
Watching the obediently submissive Alexander, Lev glanced toward Romulus.
And began taunting him to his face.
"..."
Romulus said nothing.
Seeing this, Lev's grin grew even wider.
In his eyes, no matter who it was, once they were degraded into a Servant they were nothing more than a familiar to be used—forced to obey his orders.
Even the divine founder standing before him was no exception.
Lev turned around, planning to find a high place to enjoy the sight of his own victory.
But he failed to notice, hidden beneath a cast of shadow, the faint trace of ridicule on Romulus's face.
Even if it originated from the summoning techniques of Demon God King Goetia—could it truly control these Heroic Spirits, each of whom possessed an overwhelmingly strong individuality?
It might not even measure up to Jeanne Alter's Mad Enhancement control method.
Now that would be truly laughable.
...