A ring of light the size of North America served as an omnipresent observer of the battle about to happen below.
"Soldiers! My legionnaires! All who joined this expeditionary force! I, Emperor Nero Claudius hereby thank you for all the efforts you've made for the citizenry of Rome and Rome itself. So much so that you all shall have the honor of being directly led by me! Your Emperor shall lead you to battle. Give me your loudest applause! Praise me! Know that should you fall you will fall by the side of your Emperor!"
Separated by a windy hill, two armies prepared for battle. One was under the banner of Nero Claudius, and the other was under the United Roman Empire. The latter is led by ghosts of the past, and emperors who were long dead are now brought back to life, all centered around the founding king of Rome.
"Even if everything east of the Mare Superum (Adriatic Sea) has been lost to the enemy, with your Emperor here, victory will be given to the True Rome! We will never yield! We will never surrender! And most of all, WE WILL NEVER LOSE! Victory to me and your beloved Rome!"
The two armies charged. The sound of war filled the air as metal singed and wooden shields broke. Both armies used the phalanx model for their infantry, while the cavalry dueled to the sides of the infantry, flanking them like the bread to the fillings of a sandwich.
*VZZZZZZZZZ*
Until a single blindingly bright green beam of death flashed across the battlefield, incinerating everything that it touched while burning everything around it. Those cavalries of the United Roman Empire disappeared in explosions of gold particles in the midst of raging flames while Nero's own cavalry was temporarily spooked before the commander yelled:
"The Gods smiled upon us! Charge! Break their formation!"
Deep in the back lines, Kukulkan descended from her flight, reaching the tent where Nero lounged about drinking fine wine while Ritsuka stared at the battle. Mash was beside her Master. Zvezdnyy herself was eating some grapes out of a golden chalice.
"Are you sure you're not Victoria? The Goddess of Victory?" Nero asked as she had one of her servants refill her cup.
"I am Kukulkan."
"Hmm, again, using words I don't understand. I feel like I'm being completely left out~! In fact, I am being left out of the battle!" Nero grabbed her black and crimson curved sword and stabbed it into the ground in child-like frustration.
"You're critical to the future of the world," Ritsuka explained, "The risk of you dying in battle is something we cannot afford."
There was a flash of light in the distance. A fireball erupted in the middle of the enemy's infantry, it was as though a volcano was finally exploding underneath the enemy infantry.
"Hmph! How vexing!" Nero placed her cup down and stood up. "You keep going about this future, some super 'Servant', and 'Human Order'. Though it gladdens me to see future generations remembering me, let it be known that no mere soldier is going to slay the Emperor of Rome! I'll show you! I can't let my rival Boudica surpass me after all."
Grabbing her sword, Nero was just about to charge into the almost-finished battle before Kukulkan stepped in front of the short woman. Being over a head taller, Nero had to crank her neck up to meet the eyes of the Goddess who brought her much victory.
"Your safety is paramount. I can't let you do that. Besides, the battle is almost done anyway as the cavalry will swing back from behind and attack the enemy's undefended back."
"Umu, the words of the Goddess hold wisdom… However!! Being told again and again to stay in the back is unpleasant! I expected to draw first blood. Umu, if I had known I'd meet you 'Chaldeans' when I marched against the United Roman Empire I would've stayed back and held festivals!"
In the middle of a war? Ritsuka wondered. Emperor Nero would hold festivals, utilizing important resources, when half of her territory was gone. The teen had to admit that it felt wasteful.
"Wait, weren't you losing though?" Zvezdnyy suddenly asked, finishing all the grapes in the chalice. "I thought you should conserve your money if you're losing, like in Monopoly."
Several servants around her, collars apparent on their necks, moved to refill the chalice with more fruits.
Turning her body to fully face the ten-year-old girl, Nero proudly proclaimed, "Why festivals are never a waste! In fact, when I get back I plan on electing a statue in honor of Goddess Kukulkan."
Kukulkan's eyes twitched at the lecherous way Nero was gazing at her. Crossing her arms, she immediately said, "That's okay. I don't need a statue."
"Nonsense! You're getting a statue either way. I shall commission the finest artisans of Rome to capture your beauty in eternal form. When we return to Rome I shall start a festival in Chaldea's honor! Free bread and wine for all the citizens of Rome!"
"—!"
A sudden chill befell all the Servants and Demi-Servants.
"Senpai—"
"Enemy Servant, get—"
A plumb of dust divided Nero's army, slicing it right down the middle like a knife cutting bread.
A streak of light almost invisible against the daytime sky split the blueness in two. The streak landed in the middle of where the Chaldeans were situated and the frontlines.
*Kaboom*
A shockwave blew across Nero's tent, causing it to flutter and almost be picked up like leaves in a strong breeze. Everything that wasn't nailed to the ground was picked up or at least moved for the heavier items— from chalices full of food to chairs to wine cups.
"My troops! My finest legionnaires!"
From the dissipating fireball spewed out Berserker Caligula, his golden armor befitting of a Roman Emperor was damaged by Archer's arrow but not killed. His fist was ready for a grab, moving so fast that a vapor cone formed around his body.
Kukulkan stepped forward, standing between Caligula and his destination. There, she met his fist with her own.
*BOOOOM*
The resulting clash sent shockwaves that ripped Nero's tent right off its firm foundation. The hurricane-force wind spewed forth from the collision as the ground trembled and split as if an earthquake was happening.
Before another second could have passed, the dust cloud that came from the initial clash dissipated, revealing the combatants within.
Caligula's right arm up to his shoulder was torn clean off. The mad one-armed Emperor didn't bother slowing down to register how his arm was gone. He only cared for one thing; "My dear niece, Nero…"
His visage was truly befitting of a mad Berserker, a rabid animal.
"Get— OUT OF MY WAY!"
Using his other arm, Caligula thrust out a punch but broke his knuckles against the Goddess' unyielding right cheek.
A single, almost casual shove a lover might use to push the partner onto the bed was applied to Berserker's chest and Caligula was sent flying back from whence he came. Ritsuka, from his fallen position, would liken the enemy Servant to a cannonball after it's been shot out.
Before Caligula could hit the ground, a single bright beam cut through the air, pierced the Berserker mid-flight, skewering him like a huge spear, and turned the Servant into a fast cloud of evaporating gold particles.
"Enemy Servant terminated." Kukulkan coldly announced. She then began to brush the dust off her clothing, unbothered by the destruction she had wrought.
Ritsuka was in total shock. Of course, he's heard of how Kukulkan dispatched Fafnir when he read of the Orlean's report but to see that strength in action was another thing.
No wonder she's a Goddess. Ritsuka stared at Kukulkan as the Goddess approached him, lending a hand to help him up. Though she may not behave like a Goddess, she is a divine being no matter what.
With strength capable of moving mountains with ease. With speed easily surpassing a flying jet. With blasts of energy strong enough to one-shot a Servant.
Ritsuka stared at the Goddess' outreached hand, offering to help him up. Was this… fear? No, that doesn't make sense. Kukulkan would never use that kind of force against him, would she? Then perhaps awe?
Even if logically Ritsuka knew that would never come to be, fear needs no logic. Fear consumes logic. Slowly, with trembling hands, Ritsuka grabbed onto Kukulkan as the Goddess helped him up.
"Noooo! Behold, my precious grapes, the epitome of succulence and divine nectar! They were meant to be savored, not destroyed!"
Zvezdnyy was entirely unaffected by the shockwave. Her hat didn't even slide out of place and remained on her head at an impossible angle. She collapsed to the floor, in front of the girl was a tilted chalice that held a bunch of crushed grapes mixed with dirt.
"Uff, victory demands destruction. What a shame." Nero said as she coughed, swiping her arms to get rid of the cloud of dirt in front of her.
From the army's direction, a single cart pulled by horses came out.
"Nero! Be ye all right? I tried to halt Caligula—" Boudica stopped as she looked at the scene in front of her.
Nero's tent was entirely uprooted. The actual Emperor was untouched, though dirtied. Everyone else, even the 'servants with strange fashion choices on their necks' was fine, just knocked off their feet.
"We're fine, General Boudica. I dealt with Caligula." Kukulkan said as she walked over to Zvezdnyy. "Though the shockwaves from our clash may have inadvertently caused a lot of destruction."
"Come on, Zvezdnyy, get up, I'll find some more grapes."
"Umu, Boudica. Call our army back. We will return to Rome to celebrate that we now have a Goddess of Victory on our side! A festival will be held in the Chaldean's name."
Getting up, Zvezdnyy followed her Polkovodets to the supply carts that held all the fruits and wines.
"My Polkovodets, behold those servitors adorned with metal bands around their necks!"
Her Polkovodets paused a little before continuing walking, as though taking a long moment to think of a reply. "Um, well, that's to show they're a servant!"
"Servants in the past wear metal bands?"
"...Yes." Hurriedly, her Polkovodets moved to change the topic for some reason unknown to Zvezdnyy, "Now, why do you like grapes so much?"
Striking a dramatic pose, Zvezdnyy looked down at her hands and said, "Their deliciousness transcends mortal comprehension! Behold, no fruit dares to rival the sweetness of these grapes, their flavor a symphony of ecstasy upon the palate! Only ice cream, a concoction forged by the hands of mortals, dares to challenge their supremacy in the realm of taste!"
"Heh," Her Polkovodets chuckled at her antics, before placing a hand on Zvezdnyy's head, "Alright, alright, I can tell you love grapes."
Reaching the supply tent, the soldiers that guarded the tent didn't bother her Polkovodets or Zvezdnyy as both went in. Passing through the drapes, Zvezdnyy found boxes stacked on top of each other. Some of those boxes had open lids, revealing how they carried a dozen clay vessels.
Reaching in and taking out one of the clay vessels, Zvezdnyy found it to be the same as those that poured wine into Emperor Nero's cup.
"Is there a particular reason that I, the Zvezdnyy Rebenok, cannot drink this 'wine'?"
Her Polkovodets dropped whatever she was doing and placed her hand around Zvezdnyy's own. There, she moved them to return the vessel back to the wooden box that carried it.
"You can drink it when you get older, alright?" Her Polkovodets said, before muttering under her breath, "Wow that is a lot of wine. Three-quarters of all the boxes here are for bloody wine. Jeez."
Opening the lid of a stacked box that said 'Uvae', her Polkovodets took out a bundle of grapes freshly bought from nearby farms. "We should probably wash this."
A second later, a stream of cool water, seemingly from no source, poured down onto the grapes, chilling them compared to the hot Italian summer.
Handing it to the girl, Zvezdnyy started vacuuming the grapes, throwing multiple of them into her mouth before chewing. Occasionally, juices would spew out.
"Zvezdnyy, slow down, there's more grapes than the ones you're holding."
Zvezdnyy slowed down by a bit, this time eating it one by one instead of by the half dozen.
Satisfied, her Polkovodets then asked something peculiar, "By the way, Zvezdnyy, I've never seen you simply wishing into existence your favorite food. Why is that?"
The blonde girl blinked several times, her jaw frozen with the mushed-up remains of grapes yet to be swallowed. Zvezdnyy's mind returned to before being put under, when she was taught by SCP-343.
In the middle of a forest, there stood a pavilion.
Dramatically, Zvezdnyy swallowed the grapes and changed their surrounding into a pavilion in the middle of a large forest clearing. A copy of SCP-343 and a much younger SCP-239 sat around the table in the middle of the pavilion.
Gesturing at the unmoving copy, Zvezdnyy said, "Ah, 'ere my Arka Nemezida, my Arhivrag, my Nastavnik graced my path, he imparted unto me the wisdom of the Original World. In all its Untouched Beauty. He spoke of the essence of struggle, how it imbues meaning unto all things, and cautioned against the excesses of abundance. Thus, though I could effortlessly conjure forth a bounty of grapes, their flavor pales in comparison to those nurtured by nature's gentle hand."
Zvezdnyy continued eating the grapes, as the surroundings returned to the insides of a tent.
"I see." There was a thoughtful look on her Polkovodets' face.
"By the way, my Polkovodets why are you not fighting in the frontlines as you usually do? This Singularity has now dragged on to be over thrice as long as the last one."
Her Polkovodets was completely unprepared for Zvezdnyy's questioning. "Ah. That." Smacking her lips as the Goddess tried to think of a reason, she then said, "Well, given how the last one ended, I thought I'd take a less prominent role. I'll still act like a safety net, there in case of emergency."
Her Polkovodets then placed a hand on Zvezdnyy's back, motioning and prompting her to move out of the supply tents.
"Why don't you go find Ritsuka? I'll go and heal some of the soldiers who were wounded in battle."
Zvezdnyy frowned. It's been a while since she last had been able to stay around her Polkovodets, especially since after finishing the essay and receiving a 'satisfactory' grade, her schooling has restarted with Miss Cerejeira as her tutor. Now, she spends most of her time with Cerejeira during the day and only after her schooling does Zvezdnyy see her Polkovodets.
It was like the rebuilding period of her home universe all over again! She wants to spend more time with her Polkovodets!
Taking off her top hat, Zvezdnyy lowered it until it was right in front of her chest, there, she chanted: "In the depths of the arcane night, where shadows dance in mystic light, a melody of ancient might, unfurls its wings in starry flight."
As Zvezdnyy chanted, her Polkovodets were confused about what was happening, since from her perspective, she said that she was going to heal the soldiers and Zvezdnyy started chanting.
"Awaken, spirits, from your sleep, as sorrows wane and blessings creep. With voices raised, my power soars, a healing tide forevermore. I wish all the soldiers were returned to how they were before the battle."
Zvezdnyy then flung the hand that held the top hat outward in a theatric show.
Nothing appears to have happened.
"Behold, my Polkovodets, all have been restored to full vigor. There is no longer a need for your healing prowess." Zvezdnyy said as she returned her hat to her head.
Instead of looking glad, oddly enough, her Polkovodets looked peeved, "I should still see if you missed any."
Before Zvezdnyy could protest, a loud yell broke through the calmness of the tents.
Her Polkovodets flew toward the disturbance while Zvezdnyy merely wished that she was already there. In an instant, the girl teleported herself from outside of the supply tent to the edge of this commotion quicker than even her Polkovodets could fly.
Zvezdnyy looked particularly smug at how she beat her Polkovodets. Turning around to announce how she had won, instead a yell from a large-breasted woman of flame-colored beat her to it.
"How did this happen, then?!"
Annoyed, Zvezdnyy turned to face the women, seeing how everyone indeed changed back to how they were before the battle… including the dead. The perished returned, the dead and the living's armors unscathed, their swords' and spears' edges remained sharp— it was as though the battle never happened.
"Surely, all have been restored to their former selves, have they not? Before the tumult of battle befell upon us." Zvezdnyy spoke with a casualness found in someone describing how fine the weather was today.
"A kid? Nay mind that—did ye somehow cause this? Somehow resurrected everyone?"
"Hm, yes. I did." Zvezdnyy happily accepted with a bow. Then, spreading her arms to the sides as though to receive a hug, Zvezdnyy said, "Now praise me, give your thanks to me, for I have returned you all to how you were before the battle. You're all human again!"
_____
AN: if it ain't obvious: I had a really hard time writing Nero. I find I have a hard time writing these boisterous, confident people. Since she's already so difficult to write, I'm not gonna bother with an accent. Boudica though... she's free for the taking.