As a magus who lived in an era when humans and gods had not yet parted ways, and as a demigod descended from the fish goddess Derketo, Semiramis's prowess in magecraft far surpassed the imagination of modern humans.
Although her magecraft was restricted by her Assassin class, now that her first Noble Phantasm, "The Hanging Gardens of Babylon," was activated, Semiramis had fully regained her capabilities as a demigod magus, matching her peak power during her lifetime.
Previously, she had played the role of the leader of the Red faction, directing heroes with an imperial air, occasionally intervening out of interest. But now, she had been completely enraged by Spartacus—a mere rebel, a mere gladiator, daring to treat her, a lofty queen, in such a manner.
The gravity domain crushing the earth, the chains binding sinners, and the rain of molten lava pouring down—all revealed the Empress's wrath.
"Thou art guilty unto death!"
With the chilling declaration of the Assyrian Empress, the four grand magical formations unleashed their full power simultaneously.
Under the onslaught of these intricately structured, complementary grand spells, Spartacus, who lacked any magical resistance, suffered severe injuries all over his body.
Pierced by concentrated magical beams, burned by molten lava, crushed by gravity, and strangled to necrosis by chains, his body was utterly devastated. Even beneath his skin, his muscle tissue, blood vessels, nerves, and deeper parts were severely damaged.
Only such an outcome could quell Semiramis's fury.
"Lowly mad dog, this is the fate befitting thee."
If it were an ordinary Servant, they would undoubtedly die on the spot under such conditions. Even an exceptional Servant would likely be on the brink of death. Immediate recovery would be impossible, even if their Master were a top-tier magus.
However, Spartacus defied conventional understanding. Reduced to an unrecognizable mass of flesh, nearly a heap of rotten meat, he suddenly erupted with a terrifying torrent of magical energy, surpassing even Semiramis's four grand spells.
This terrifying magical energy didn't leak out but acted solely on Spartacus's body, turning it crimson before quickly shifting to a purplish-blue hue and beginning to wriggle.
And this was just the beginning. More grotesque phenomena followed. The bizarrely colored flesh began to sprout lumps of flesh, like bubbles. These new growths not only healed the damage caused by the grand spells but also made Spartacus's already enormous body even larger, exceeding human limits and reaching an alien-like state.
The sheer abnormality of the scene left everyone who witnessed it speechless.
This included Vlad III and Karna, who were fighting nearby, as well as Shakespeare and Semiramis in the Hanging Gardens.
The only exception was Priest Shirou, who at least managed to voice his amazement: "This is incredible. The more he's hurt, the more terrifying he becomes, ultimately surpassing human limits. So this is the 'Crying Warmonger,' huh?"
With his remark, Semiramis and Shakespeare also realized the true name and function of the Red Berserker's Noble Phantasm, which had long been revealed due to its unique nature.
Spartacus, summoned as a Berserker, had only one Noble Phantasm, "Crying Warmonger." It was a self-targeting Noble Phantasm that converted part of the damage he received into magical energy, enhancing his abilities.
While Semiramis's four grand spells had nearly destroyed Spartacus, they had also granted him immense magical energy. The abnormal scene unfolding was the result of Spartacus using his Noble Phantasm's power to convert damage into recovery, rapidly healing his wounds.
However—
"I didn't know even his appearance would turn alien-like..."
It's no wonder Semiramis sighed in such a manner, as Spartacus's condition was exceedingly abnormal. Originally a giant standing 221 cm tall and weighing 165 kg, he was already quite exaggerated. But compared to the monstrous figure over four meters tall before them, his original form seemed insignificant. Even more astonishing, this monster showed signs of continuing to expand.
Not only did his size change, but other parts of his body transformed as well. Spartacus no longer had two hands and two feet but had become a creature with four hands and four feet. The four feet gripping the ground resembled the double legs of an insect, while two of the four hands resembled tentacles, seemingly boneless and capable of shattering boulders with a single whip-like strike.
Neither Karna, with his "Mana Burst: Flame," nor Vlad III, who held the home-field advantage, were willing to confront this terrifying beast head-on. Unanimously, they chose to shift the battlefield, allowing the monstrous Spartacus to unleash his power without restraint.
With their retreat, Spartacus's attention fully locked onto Semiramis.
Two of his tentacle-like limbs shook the atmosphere, creating gusts powerful enough to split mountains and shatter stones, directly targeting the oppressor in mid-air. Naturally, such an attack could not harm Semiramis, who was heavily protected, but it symbolized Spartacus's conviction.
"Hahahaha, to defy oppression with rebellion, to strike back against suppression, to pursue true liberation!"
No matter the circumstances, his heart of resistance against oppression remained unchanged, his resolve to win unshaken.
This was why, in his lifetime, he could repeatedly lead a makeshift army of slaves to overcome despair and defeat the powerful Roman legions dominating Europe.
"Crying Warmonger" was the crystallization of this "inevitable reversal" belief and determination, which had been sublimated even after his death—the greater the harm and difficulty, the less likely he was to give up, and the stronger the power he would unleash.
While Crying Warmonger could transform damage into power, it did not lessen the damage. In other words, every bit of power Spartacus gained required him to endure equivalent or even greater harm. While the damage could be healed, the pain would not diminish. Enduring pain that would make even heroic spirits faint was the true source of Spartacus's strength.
If you couldn't defeat him swiftly, he would only grow stronger, eventually becoming so powerful that even top-tier Servants would struggle to face him directly.
Thus, Vlad III and Karna chose to shift the battlefield.
Semiramis gritted her teeth in response: "Daring to commit such blasphemous acts, next time I will ensure you are reduced to ashes!"
Instinctively, she began to gather her power, preparing to unleash even more potent spells. However, before she could act, a new warning signal came through the monitoring spell overseeing the entire battlefield.
With a casual gesture, Semiramis converted the warning into an image, revealing the sight of the saint, independent of both the Red and Black factions, galloping on horseback with a battle flag in hand, her target unmistakably being the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.