ROMA DE ARU!

Disaster. All around the Servant was a disaster. Fallen trees, destroyed walls, scorched earth, and many more were the result of the battle between Alexander and Zhuge Liang against Nero and the Chaldeans.

"I think we did enough...don't you agree?" Rider, who had different types of wounds on his body, asked Caster with a hurried breath. Bucephalus, his steed, was lying on the ground, dead.

"I still don't know why we went all out in this." El-Melloi was in similar conditions, albeit a little better since he fought from a distance. He didn't like the state Alexander was in, the red that was usually reserved for his hair now painted his whole body.

"Sorry about that." He gave his teacher a wry smile before continuing. "I suddenly...got the desire to give it...my all." After saying that, his body began to release particles of light, meaning his return to the Throne Of Heroes was near.

"No need to apologize. If it is your wish, I will do anything in my power to make it happen." With trembling arms, he took a cigarette out of his pocket to smoke one last time as he, too, was beginning to fade.

"What are you two blabbering about there? I demand you tell me where Boudica is!" Nero demanded the two Servants. She didn't look okay, her dress shredded in some parts, and she had visible cut marks on her body.

"We already told you, she is in the fort safe and sound." Zhuge Liang said his last words before disappearing.

"How will you turn out...I would like to...see that." Same as Caster, he vanished soon after.

Nero gripped her sword tightly, "Shut up..." Her voice was so inaudible that even the Servants weren't able to hear her.

"Confirming enemy disappearance. Battle finished, good work, Senpai." Mash said after seeing the Servants no more.

"Damn. That kid was a madman; he is even wilder than some of the knights back in my place." Cu Chulainn complained. He wasn't hurt, but he, for sure, was annoyed.

"You all did an excellent job, nonetheless. Now you only need to get Boudica back and then follow after Kuro." Romani's hologram congratulated them before deciding the next plan of action.

'I can't get used to the way they call him. His problem for not telling his name, I guess.' Caster thought while slightly shaking his head.

"We need to get moving and catch up to him." Fujimaru agreed with Dr. Roman. Despite having consecutive battles, it was an effort they had to do.

"Are you okay?" Jeanne asked her counterpart. Their relationship was now at a stage where Jalter wouldn't insult Ruler for talking to her, "Worry about yourself, not me, wimp." almost.

"As the distant mage said, you did a good job. It seems the reward I have to give you is increasing." After a deep breath to regain her bearings, Nero directed her attention to them.

Seeing as her attitude was a bit strange, Fujimaru asked if everything was fine, to which she responded that indeed it was. Although he didn't push the matter further, he was still not convinced.

He was a human, the same as her, with a massive burden behind his back. It would be a lie to say he didn't understand what she was going through. But he also knew that everyone had their problems and he shouldn't pry on them.

With nothing else requiring their attention, they went inside the fortress. And as Rider said, Boudica was there, safe and sound, just sleeping.

Caster was the one that undid the spell that Zhuge Liang had cast, waking her up. As soon as she opened her eyes, Nero hugged her. After a bit of reluctance and conflicting emotions flashing through her eyes, Boudica hugged her back.

With the Queen safe, they could now finally go to the capital of the United Empire. Much to Nero's disappointment, Rider decided to return to the camp and rearrange their troops to fight the scattered enemy groups.

After a short rest inside the fortress, they departed. Seth left a while ago, so they needed to catch up fast.

―――――――――――――――――――

They had been running for quite some time now, Cu Chulainn carried Fujimaru and Jeanne carried Nero to get there as soon as possible.

The atmosphere was awkward. It was not because the group didn't have something to talk about; it was more like the world was urging everyone to keep silent.

The sound of birds or any other animal was simply non-existent. You couldn't even hear insects. It was as if they were the only people alive at the moment.

"Let's hurry. I have a bad feeling about this." Caster said, and Fujimaru, who was on his back, nodded, sharing his opinion.

After running for some more time, the Chaldeans plus Nero finally arrived at the capital of the United Empire, or its ruins, to be more precise.

"W-What in the name of Rome happened here?!" Nero practically shouted, seeing the state of the capital. She was not the only one who was surprised; everyone was.

"It's horrible...!" Mash eyes were wide open, especially because she could see some corpses in a not so 'complete' state. Fujimaru decided to avert his gaze from this. He had gained a type of immunity to seeing people die, but that didn't mean he was unfeeling.

They never, not in a million years, expected to see the sight in front of them at their moment of arrival.

"It looks like some type of catastrophe had struck it." Once he received visual data, Dr. Roman also got surprised. It was certainly not the ideal empire every enemy soldier talked about when they fought.

"You are not far from the truth, Mage from Chaldea." A voice interrupted their thoughts. Dropping the two humans off their backs, both Ruler and Caster put themselves on guard, together with the others.

"Who's there?!" Nero looked around, trying to identify where the voice came from, to no avail.

"So you are Nero? I have wanted to meet you, the successor of Rome." This time, the voice was louder, meaning he was closer to them than before.

With a swing of his brush-looking spear, Romulus blew away the rubble that hid his figure from them. The moment Nero saw him, she started trembling, not because of his strength, but because of his identity.

Instinctively, she knew who that man was, even if he hadn't introduced himself yet. "H-How could it be...? No, I knew it. Inside of me, I had the feeling you were the one behind the United Empire." Even in her 'fear,' the respect and awe in her voice couldn't be hidden.

"Rome awaited your arrival, although I would have preferred for it to be under different circumstances." His voice was slow and smooth, like he was talking to his daughter.

"Do you know his identity, Nero?" Mash asked the girl that hadn't taken her eyes off the big man since the first time she saw him.

"Rome is Rome. As simple as that." It was Lancer the one who answered Mash question, in his way, that is.

"You are...the Great Founder," Nero said, practically squeezing out her words. She may have had the feeling he was the one behind it all, but seeing him in person was shocking, nonetheless.

Her heart wavered, together with her convictions. Who could blame her? It was the Great Founder! He created the empire she was currently governing, his legend outshining even the Gods themselves!

When she compared herself to him, what was she? She couldn't help feeling inferior to such an outstanding figure.

'It seems your words didn't seek to deceive Rome, War God.' Lancer thought while looking at the struggling Nero. Now, what was left was giving her the last chance to prove she was fit to be the ideal Emperor.

Extending one hand forward, he spoke. "Come with me, Nero. I'm sure you realize that it is the best choice for you. There is no need to shed the blood of Rome's children anymore."

"I..." She didn't know what to do. She acted so sure of herself in front of Alexander, but in front of that man, she couldn't bring herself to do so.

"What are you even saying, old man? There is nothing left of your Rome, or do you not see the situation around you?" Cu Chulainn may have looked like he was joking, but he was dead serious.

The first Emperor fell silent while closing his eyes as if to find the appropriate words. "Rome is not a piece of stone, nor it is merely an Empire. Rome is humanity itself, as long as humans live and remember it, it will be eternal."

Those last words from him seemed to seal Nero's decision. "I'm an idiot, aren't I? I forgot why I was fighting; I forgot my motivation. However, that is not who I am. With all the admiration I have for you, Great Founder, I'm sorry, but I still have to tell you this, I don't care if it is you, the one who tells me to give up. If the people from Rome still love me, I will give my all for them."

"There is nothing to apologize. You can do whatever you want, and Roma will still forgive you. Why? Because I'm Roma itself!" He could tell there were still doubts in her heart, but it was okay for now. She only needed to be herself, and if the people accepted her like that, there was nothing wrong with it.

His declaration brought a smile on Nero's face. "Thank you, Great Founder. I'm going to give it my all not to disappoint you and to show you that Rome you created is greater than before!"

"Come, my child. Don't hold back in the slightest!" Lacer's Magical Energy spiked to incredible levels. Without a doubt, this was going to be one of the most challenging battles they have faced until now.

"You are facing Romulus, son of the God Mars! Although I don't sense any type of Divinity, you shouldn't underestimate him!" Romani gave a last piece of advice before ending the transmission. He didn't want to disturb them in battle, after all.

"Even if you don't tell us that, we can feel the power emanating from that guy." Cu Chulainn said to the now gone Romani.

Romulus knew he didn't have much time left, so he was the first to attack. Making use of his outstanding agility, he considerably cut the distance between them.

As always, Mash and Jeanne went to the frontline to meet the incoming Servant. Ruler was the first to clash with Lancer, opting to take the full brunt of the attack herself.

Jeanne took some steps back from the recoil with slight numbness on her arms, but otherwise, she was okay. Romulus didn't stop there, however, as he went for a swing once again.

This time, Mash was the one who took the attack. The lilac-haired girl raised her shield to meet the incoming spear, which impacted like a blunt weapon on it.

"Gh!" Gritting her teeth, she felt to one knee, still with her shield raised. The ground beneath her feet caved in, signaling the strength behind the blow.

"Hang in there, young lady!" Caster's voice came from above them, putting two fingers together, he drew a line, creating Runes that rained fire upon Romulus.

"Rome will not be destroyed by such tricks, Celtic Hero." Even in the middle of the battle, his deep, slow voice didn't change.

He stopped pressing his spear against Mash's shield. Instead, he kicked it, sending the girl rolling on the ground together with her weapon.

Quickly thrusting his spear on the ground, vines grew from the ground at an incredible speed, blocking Cu Chulainn's attack.

"Hey, hey. You can manipulate plants?! Isn't that unfair?!" The Celtic Hero complained, making his companions look at him weirdly since he could do that too.

"Rome is fair with all his children." After saying this, he lowered his spear horizontally to meet Nero's slash from below. The clash created gusts of winds in every direction. Like razor blades, they destroyed the already ruined landscape.

"I see you got help from that man to fight me. But that will not be enough, show me the power that belongs only to you!" With a powerful voice, accompanied by his eyes turning completely red, he threw her back with a swing of his spear. Aestus Estus didn't offer any resistance against it.

Luckily Nero could regain her balance before long. She didn't suffer any damage, meaning it was just a warning given by Lancer.

"Don't get cocky!" Jalter's dislike for Romulus' attitude was not small. She appeared at his side, ready to pierce him with the pointed tip of her flag.

Lancer caught the flagpole with his free hand, effectively stopping her attack. However, when he raised his spear to hit Avenger, he noticed the smirk on her face.

The Black Saint unsheathed her sword and met his spear, albeit with trouble. Her smile didn't disappear, though. It was then that Romulus realized her plan.

The already recovered Jeanne got in front of him, going for a thrust with her flag. The Divine Ancestor quickly let go of Jalter's flagpole and jumped back. Sadly for him, Ruler managed to wound his waist, although slightly.

It wasn't over for him, though. Caster once again attacked him with his Runes, taking advantage of the fact he couldn't use his spear to bring forth plants as he was in the air.

Romulus was aware of this, so he decided to use his arm and weapon to block Cu Chulainn's assault. Mini-explosions resounded on their little battlefield, creating a small smoke cloud from where lancer exited, sliding on the ground.

His tanned arm was slightly scorched and releasing wisps of smoke. His spear, however, didn't show any sign of damage.

"I congratulate you, warriors from the future." Romulus' said after checking the negligible damage he suffered. "However, it is time. It is time to teach you that this...IS ROME!"