Chaldea Observation Room
In Chaldea, the observing Servants voiced their doubts aloud: "So, this is the famous Kaelar?"
"Those so-called achievements… the Round Table forcing Britain's people to memorize his words at sword-point?"
"Have the other tales we've heard about him only spread because of Britain's 'cultural invasion'?"
They began to suspect that Kaelar's supposed sanctity was nothing more than a lie he'd orchestrated to deify himself...
The higher their expectations had been, the deeper their disappointment now. Was this truly the "saintly" Kaelar they'd heard so much about?
Listening to the Servants' ridicule, Dr. Romani felt the urge to speak, yet held back. This scene… it felt eerily familiar.
Though Romani was certain Kaelar had been misunderstood, there was little he could do to sway them. After all, people tend to trust only what they see with their own eyes. And the reality they saw now was that Kaelar seemed a hypocritical saint, with the Round Table spreading his teachings through sheer force.
It was a disillusioning sight, akin to seeing an idol fall. Perhaps most of Kaelar's admirers were just following a trend. They didn't truly know him, nor did they care to.
Adulation in the sun, loyalists at twilight.
Dr. Romani sighed softly. Though he said nothing, he clung to one belief—Kaelar's character had been gravely misunderstood.
Perhaps, he thought, Kaelar would rather be remembered simply as an "ordinary person" than as some saint or false idol.
Ruins of the Roman Empire
Stepping onto what remained of Roman soil, Ritsuka Fujimaru took a deep breath, saying, "The Doctor said the Roman Empire was destroyed, right? Supposedly denied by Britain's king."
"Seems the Beast isn't fully manifested. We still have a good chance of victory!"
"Rome stands here!" Nero, clad in a refined, austere dress, regarded the Chaldea team with a chilling smile. "And Rome shall stand here for eternity!"
Falling upon them like a noxious, sinister fog, the corruptive magic washed over Ritsuka, her discomfort mounting. She frowned at Nero, "Emperor Nero? Weren't you torn apart by King Arthur?"
Ugh—Fujimaru, of all things to bring up!
Nero's smile faltered for just a second before she grit her teeth and sneered, "I am Rome! All of Rome! How could a mere barbarian queen kill the Empire of Rome?"
Yet Nero knew the truth—she'd indeed been torn to pieces by that barbarian king, her empire undone, and she, an immortal Beast, was exiled to human history with no way back...
But here she was, reborn in Rome once more.
There was only one possible explanation: that man, Kaelar.
Still, Nero was bewildered—Kaelar hadn't explained a thing.
But she'd never let her confusion show to Chaldea's motley crew. That would be far too shameful.
So she did what any emperor would: she pinned it all on Kaelar.
It was Kaelar's fault!
Certainly, it was Kaelar who had revived her and cast her out to wander Europe!
When she'd awakened, Nero hadn't understood Kaelar's motives—she'd merely roamed across Europe, haunting the ruins of her old empire.
She dared not venture near Britain. Artoria held the Holy Sword that had sundered her once; no doubt, she could do so again.
But as she stared down Chaldea's party now, her purpose suddenly became crystal clear. Anger flared in her eyes as she bellowed, "Fools! Lowly creatures, you truly think you can destroy Rome?"
That man who had crushed Rome, that odious man…
He had the gall, the sheer gall…
…to turn the mighty Roman Empire and her resplendent self into some mere stepping stone for a trial?
Fine. Then she would show them the wrath of the Roman Empire!
Without another word, Nero struck first, unleashing primordial fire that bore the brilliance of Rome's pantheon. The radiance was too dazzling, too overwhelming, and Ritsuka's expression shifted as the sheer power bore down on them.
Was this the Beast that once opposed Britain?
Was this the Roman Emperor torn to pieces by King Arthur?
Yet…she was terrifyingly strong.
"Thunder of Humanity's Myth!"
Tesla unleashed his EX-level Noble Phantasm, a thunderous fury on par with that of Zeus himself.
As an experienced Master, Ritsuka swiftly sacrificed a Command Seal to boost Tesla's power.
But it was all for naught…
Absolutely ineffective!
The thunderbolt rivaling Zeus's divine lightning struck Nero dead on, but she neither flinched nor dodged. Instead, she bore Tesla's wrath head-on, retaliating with a single sword strike infused with godly power, decimating both Tesla's Noble Phantasm and Tesla himself.
Tesla vanished, returning to Chaldea.
As a Servant, a few deaths didn't mean much. As long as Fujimaru remained unharmed, Tesla could be summoned again anytime.
Only then did Mash unleash her Noble Phantasm: "Sir Galahad… please lend me your strength!"
"Unseen Ideal Castle!"
Mash's defensive fortress formed before them, yet Nero merely smirked, slashing her sword with unrestrained force. The ferocious wave of power collided with the invincible ramparts of Camelot's white walls.
Nero laughed wildly, "You think you can best the Empire of Rome with such petty tricks?"
"Kaelar must've sent you here to die!"
Ritsuka called out, "Emperor Nero…what exactly do you mean by that?"
"Meaning?" Nero's laughter was tinged with disdain. "You really don't know, do you?"
The contemptuous timbre of her voice echoed, carrying an overwhelming pressure. The more she laughed, the harder it was for Ritsuka and her allies to stand—it was a force specifically designed to strike against humanity itself.
"Don't ask me. I'm nothing but Kaelar's 'puppet,' after all!" Nero sneered. "You all assume that my birth brought Kaelar back?"
"That's what King Arthur told us," Ritsuka said, gritting her teeth. "Are you saying that's wrong?"
"Absolutely laughable!" Nero sneered. "Kaelar is a man who crushed me to dust! Do you think I caused him to reappear?"
"No, it was his own emergence that brought me—the shattered, denied, and exiled 'me'—back into this world!"
Nero cackled at their ignorance. "You've been deceived by Artoria—the barbarian queen tricked you all…"
As one who prided herself on her eloquence, Nero had always believed her words could make the heavens themselves burn with envy.
And as a Beast, that talent was only amplified.
Her words wove a tapestry of truth and lies, entangling all who heard them. Even the wisest might falter, for to ponder her words was to sink into her snare.
Though kernels of truth lay within, Nero's most vital lies could cut as sharply as any sword.
Holmes's eyes glimmered as he pieced together the clues: the sealed "ring" encircling the world, every fragment snapping into place.
"I understand now!" he declared. "This was Kaelar's scheme all along!"
Holmes continued, "If you want the flock to behave, all you need is to warn them there's a wolf outside!"
"Kaelar sought sainthood. To gain such fame, he needed a disaster that could threaten all humanity—so he chose to foster the Beast!"
"To keep the 'lambs' in line, he used the Round Table knights as enforcers, spreading his doctrines at sword-point!"
"With both methods, he crafted his saintly, 'savior of the world' reputation!"
By common logic, Holmes's deductions seemed perfectly plausible, resonating with the cynical part of most people's minds. Even Charlemagne and many of the other Chaldean Servants found themselves nodding.
Or perhaps, deep down, they didn't want to believe in the concept of a flawless saint. They didn't want to believe anyone could act purely for love of humanity, without seeking fame or fortune.
Ritsuka's frown deepened. She couldn't accept this "truth" from Holmes. She had felt Kaelar's pure, gentle, radiant presence up close…a person with that kind of spirit couldn't be the depraved figure Holmes described.
Mash, also uncomfortable, spoke up, "But then why did King Arthur send us to kill the Beast?"
"If Holmes is correct, wouldn't she have done everything to keep us out of Rome?"
"Who said King Arthur and Kaelar were on the same side?" Holmes scoffed. "In politics, there's no loyalty or family ties. The Round Table might be loyal to Kaelar, but does the King of all Britain really want to rule within such constraints?"
"Would she not wish to hold complete authority, for her words to be absolute?"
Holmes's eyes narrowed. "As long as Kaelar exists, she will always be overshadowed by a 'saint.'"
"…"
Mash fell silent, unable to respond. She wasn't truly Galahad and didn't possess his memories. Though she wanted to argue, Holmes's logic seemed air-tight, and she couldn't find a way to refute him.
"Holmes, now's not the time for that!" Ritsuka interjected. "Let's focus on escaping from the Beast…"
With a strained smile, she added, "Tesla's gone. Charlemagne won't last long alone…"
Charlemagne, the fabled King of France and the "Father of Europe," wielded divine protection against evil, had the advantage over the monstrous emperor, and bore anti-king attributes.
But Nero held a litany of titles.
Nero held an overwhelming set of attributes—evil, divine, judge, emperor, patriot, beacon of civilization…even "deathless" was among them.
Note, Nero wasn't merely "undying"—the concept of death simply didn't apply to her.
Charlemagne may have been a Saint-King with an arsenal of noble powers and anti-emperor bonuses, but over time, Nero would inevitably overwhelm him.
To defeat her, they'd have to target each and every weakness, perfectly aligned to exploit her attributes.
And without an outside intervention, Chaldea's team was destined to be wiped out...
"Master, prepare your Command Seals…"
Charlemagne grinned, his eyes alight with reckless glee. "I'm about to do something cool! Truly epic…"
"Kaelar might've tricked us, but growing up, I'd always heard stories about him. And they were awesome!"
Eyes blazing, Charlemagne brandished his sword. "Taking down Rome's Beast…this is my moment, right?"
Known as Charlemagne in France and Karl der Große in Prussia, he was admired as the "Father of Europe." But those who knew him personally would tell you—he was a big-hearted idiot, hot-blooded and earnest to a fault.
In fact, he had a quirk where...
"Doing something uncool weakens me,"
"But if I do something awesome, my stats soar!"
Nero sneered. "Foolish…utterly foolish."
"Insignificant…pitifully so."
"You think your faint spark can outshine Rome's radiance?" She raised the Primordial Flame high, bringing forth the Judgment Ring, the very power that once erased Britain.
"Barbarian, feel Rome's fury!"
But—
Though imposing, this judgment ring was a far cry from the power that once spanned Britain, sapping all humanity's mana. It had shrunk significantly…
Yet the weight of it still pressed down like doom itself. If it descended, not a single member of Chaldea's team—Master or Servant—would survive.
"Damn it! I'm Charlemagne!" Charlemagne howled, "I am the Emperor acknowledged by the Pope, the ruler of all Europe! I am not a barbarian, Beast of Rome!"
"Can you not get hung up on that?" Holmes shouted, "Master, give Charlemagne every Command Seal we've got! He must stop that ring…"
A reminder wasn't needed. As a skilled Master, Ritsuka had already burned her last two Command Seals on Charlemagne before Holmes could finish.
"Yes! The power's flowing through me!"
A rush of energy surged through Charlemagne, and he cried out, "I am Charlemagne, the Paladin Emperor!"
"Unleash the Twelve Radiant Blades!"
The Durendal, "Sword of Joy," gleamed as twelve rings of light flared into being around Charlemagne, forming a dazzling array of thirteen colors.
This was Charlemagne's ultimate technique. An EX-level skill driven by an EX-level Noble Phantasm, with power beyond limit.
Charlemagne's Noble Phantasm could boost itself to impossible levels, the actual strength determined only by Charlemagne's sense of purpose.
"I ask you all—am I not cool right now?"
"I am Europe's King!"
As he reached the pinnacle of his strength, a subtle, cold fragrance permeated the battlefield, and a cascade of petals filled the air. The ethereal beauty of Avalon—a glimpse of the star's inner sea, a fantasy brought to life—shimmered between Charlemagne and Nero.
Even Nero paused, momentarily captivated. But the sight passed, and she quickly dismissed it as mere illusion, her sword raised to deliver Rome's might upon Chaldea's party.
Yet when she struck, her enemies had vanished like petals blown on the wind.
"Hmph, that flower magician…" Nero's primal instincts roared to track them down, but her human side hesitated, holding her back.
"Kaelar, you wish to see me play a role in your farce?" She let out a deranged chuckle. "Then witness Rome's magnificence!"
"I told you before, I'll haunt you until the end of time…"
"Kaelar, you may strike Rome down once, but you'll never hold Rome's (my) spirit forever!"
And with that, Nero turned, watching as Charlemagne and the Chaldeans slipped further and further away from her domain.
---
"AHHH! Where did this devil-woman even come from?! GAH! This is infuriating! Facing down a powerful foe only to be dragged away right at the climactic moment? That's as lame as it gets!"
Charlemagne was seething, practically barking in frustration. If he weren't so mindful of his reputation as the Father of Europe, he might have just thrown a full-blown tantrum right then and there.
Could anyone understand his pain? Just as he was about to pull off one of the coolest moves ever, one that would make his childhood hero proud—or former hero, but hey, a hero's a hero—this devilish magician appeared out of nowhere and yanked him out of the fight. He was robbed of his dramatic moment, his shining glory!
If Charlemagne didn't know he was in the presence of a friendly force, someone clearly risking themselves to save them, he might've lashed out right then and there.
Interrupting his grandest moment was unforgivable!
"The Flower Mage, at your service! I'm Merlin!"
The magician lowered her hood, revealing an exquisite face marked with pink, mischievous eyes brimming with innate charm and a hint of playful cunning. Merlin smiled at the Chaldea crew, looking positively innocent.
"I only stepped in because I sensed you all were in mortal danger, you know? Without Kaelar's blessing, you'd never be able to defeat that Roman Beast!"
Despite her wide-eyed innocence, Ritsuka Fujimaru couldn't shake the feeling that Merlin's "helpful" facade concealed an unmistakable streak of mischief.
But this was no time to dwell on suspicions. Merlin was right—Ritsuka had used up every Command Seal to support Charlemagne's Noble Phantasm, and if that last blow had failed… they'd have been goners.
This wasn't the time for personal heroics; they needed to secure humanity's future.
Ritsuka adjusted her stance and respectfully addressed the mage. "Thank you for saving us, Grand Magus Merlin."
"Infuriating! Absolutely infuriating!" Charlemagne's anger was barely contained. "You devilish woman… Merlin! Why couldn't you have shown up a little earlier? Or a little later?"
Had she come just a few minutes earlier, they could've fled before burning through two Command Seals, and while Charlemagne might not have gotten his moment of glory, at least he wouldn't have felt this bitter disappointment.
And had she come just a second later, he could've finished his attack, scored his cool points, and then strategically retreated without it seeming like cowardice.
But Merlin had jumped in at the most inconvenient moment, right when he was on the cusp, so close to looking cool, but now left thoroughly unsatisfied.
"Oh, Merlin didn't know!" Merlin put on a pained expression, placing a hand over her heart. "How could I have guessed what you all were up to? I saw you were in danger and, as Chaldea's honored guests and humanity's only hope, I simply had to help you."
Lies.
Holmes adjusted his collar, picking up on her deception immediately. His instincts told him that Merlin had been watching them for quite some time, only stepping in when Charlemagne's attack was about to peak, then plucking them away at the most inconvenient moment.
But he had no definitive proof, and without evidence, Holmes refrained from confrontation, choosing to observe Merlin's every word with heightened focus.
Meanwhile, Ritsuka scolded Charlemagne. "Charlemagne! Merlin saved us. You should be grateful instead of worrying about looking cool!"
"Even you, Master?" Charlemagne's confidence visibly deflated, and with it, his power ebbed. As he'd explained himself, his abilities waned the moment he lost his "cool."
"Hmph. Foolish and short-sighted," Merlin's eyes twinkled with amusement as she threw Charlemagne a sidelong glance. She then subtly flicked her gaze toward Holmes, her expression unreadable, and mused, You're next.
Suddenly, Holmes felt a chill run down his spine. He glanced around but found nothing amiss.
After polite thanks and small talk, Ritsuka moved to the heart of the matter.
"So, Merlin," she began carefully, "you mentioned earlier that to defeat Emperor Nero, we'd need 'Kaelar's blessing.' What exactly did you mean by that?"
She'd been holding onto that question ever since Merlin appeared. But of course, asking it right off the bat after being saved would've been a bit too blunt, so now she had her moment.
---
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