"Children of Hamelin, you too are Rome."
World (Rome)
"Here, my beloved child," Romulus, the Founder King, stood resolute on the palace throne.
"I've come, Romulus, who built Rome!" Nero Claudius, the current emperor, faced him.
"Need I call again, Emperor?" Romulus asked.
"No need! I am Nero, Fifth Emperor—past, present, future! I'll protect the Rome you made!" Nero declared.
"Good answer. Come, defile my love with yours," Romulus said, raising his crimson spear.
"Behold my spear—Rome itself."
"Ritsuka! Call that noisy me!" Nero urged.
"The other Nero?" Ritsuka asked.
"Yes! She's itching for the spotlight!"
"Haha, she's read you, Bride," Gilgamesh laughed.
"True, but you ruined my bouquet prep!" Bride Nero huffed.
Chaldea's Nero and this Nero. Perfect lineup for Rome's fate!
"Come, 'Nero Claudius'!"
Ritsuka's hand glowed, summoning the white-clad Saber in bridal attire.
"Sorry for the wait! The star arrives!"
Two Nero Claudii stood united!
"This is me… strange feeling," Nero mused.
"Master, Mash, Hero King! A decisive battle awaits, so watch and conserve!" Bride Nero commanded.
"Such confidence… emperors are intense," Mash marveled.
"Kings surpass. Don't lose," Gilgamesh challenged.
"Naturally! Watch!" Bride Nero retorted.
"Come, my beloved children," Romulus beckoned.
"Romulus! Our Rome stands here!"
"Here we—"
""Go!!""
"—Rome."
Two Romes clashed!!
"Haaa!!"
Red-passionate Nero struck, Romulus' spear and primal fire scattering star-like sparks.
"Fall, canopy!!"
White-pure Nero lunged, slashing straight.
"'Rosa Ictus'!!"
Her strike hit Romulus' Rome-embodying form!!
"Ngh—"
"Well done, me! I'm next!"
Primal fire flipped, unleashing a triple slash!
"'Gladiusanus Blauserum'—!!"
"Nuu," Romulus flinched—damage shallow!
"Good. Show all, Nero. Your Rome, to me," Romulus urged.
"Planned to! My turn!!"
Nero linked hands, spun, swapped places, and swung!
"'Paritinus Blauserum'!!"
White flames struck harder, brighter, damaging the Founder King!!
"Nghh!"
"Keep pressing! Match me!"
"Yes! We're unstoppable!!"
They danced, slashed, thrust, swept, struck!
"Good—Rome's brilliance, prosperity, backs you. Be stronger, fiercer, yield to passion," Romulus said.
Yet Romulus, Rome itself, stood unyielding despite blows.
"More, my children! Rage like Rome's great fire! Shine like gods!"
"I know! Watch—this is my resolve! Holy fountain!"
"I won't lose! Stars above, flowers below!"
Their stats surged, attacks intensifying!
"Heh…" Ritsuka smiled.
"Senpai?" Mash asked.
"Sorry… those three aren't fighting… more like…"
"Like an overprotective parent. A child's play with family," Gilgamesh said.
"Exactly! A tomboy daughter clinging to her dad!"
Lev's blind to pick such a foe.
"Rome accepts you. I, Rome, love you—come," Romulus said.
"I know! With gratitude, God-Ancestor—!!"
"See our splendor! The beauty of the Rome you shaped is us!!"
"Yes. Rome endures because my beloved children breathe," Romulus said.
To burden such a loving, vast figure with world destruction…
"…"
Romulus glanced at me, I think.
"You emerged in Rome," he said.
—?
"Rome!!!!"
A spear swing blasted both Neros back!
"Gahh!!"
"Kuhh!!"
Such power, even wounded…!
"No exaggeration—he's god-throned. True nation-building spirit. A top-tier Servant," Gilgamesh noted.
"Are they okay…?" Olga worried.
"Believe in them, Director. Rome lives, heroic Rome," Romani urged.
"Go, Nero—!!" Ritsuka cheered.
"Show me, my children, Rome's beauty," Romulus said.
"Ngh… beauty… I'm not enough for Romulus yet…"
"God-Ancestor's grandeur is stunning!"
"Not the time to admire!?"
"It's true! Alright, past me, watch!"
Nero stabbed her sword down!
"God-Ancestor Romulus—witness my life, future, Rome's eternal beauty!"
White roses bloomed, petals filling the palace!
"Spring's light, dancing flowers! May's breeze caresses, blessings reach the stars!"
Not a Reality Marble, but great magecraft—Nero's Noble Phantasm, manifesting her psyche, overwriting the world!
"This is—!!"
"Ohh…"
"Open!! 'Aestus Domus Aurea'!!"
The Golden Theater unfurled—Nero's lavish stage, sealed, where she performed for captives!!
"Wow…!"
"Beautiful…!"
"Hah, a grand stage, but consider the audience's plight! Rome's people suffered!" Gilgamesh scoffed.
"I can do this… I'm an all-purpose genius!" Nero gasped.
"No gawking! Strike Romulus with our mightiest blow!!"
"Good. Come, Nero. Show me all, Rome," Romulus said.
"Yes!! Behold, Founder King! This is my—"
Primal fire blazed!
"Our—!!"
White blade gleamed!
""Rome!!!!""
"Good…"
Two emperors, in the radiant theater, performed Rome's grandest act for the Founder King—!!
"'Laus Saint'—"
"'Fax'—"
"Splendid, my Romes,"
"'Claudius'—!!"
"'Caelestis'—!!"
Their strike pierced the God-Ancestor—!!
Romulus embraced both Neros in his vast arms.
"Splendid, my beloved children."
"—!"
"God-Ancestor, Romulus…"
"Crimson and gold, radiant Rome… I entrust it to you and those who follow," Romulus said.
"God-Ancestor…!"
"Even crossing blades, my reverence and gratitude remain," Nero said.
"Yes. Never forget—world, Rome, must be eternal."
His deep gaze turned to me.
"Pure, Nameless soul, face the world (Rome) as you will."
—!
"Advance, like a sky-bound bird. Your struggle to save the world is grand."
God-Ancestor Romulus…
"Magna Voluisse Magnum—greatness lies in desiring greatness. The world (Rome) awaits you—"
Gently, majestically, the great Founder King returned to his throne—
"He looked at you, Gil," Ritsuka said.
"Perhaps. Fellow demigods, we may share a sense," Gilgamesh replied.
Greatness in desiring greatness.
I felt the God-Ancestor's deep love.
Rome is eternal.
Advance—Rome awaits!
-----------------------------
The battle isn't over... and the truth has yet to be revealed. Read the next chapter now on Patreon! [patreon.com/Greyhounds]