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In the Cafeteria, Chaldea
The lively chatter of the Chaldea cafeteria slowly faded into the background as Charles and Nero finished their last bites of breakfast.
Charles leaned back slightly in his chair, patting his stomach with a satisfied sigh.
"Hah, I'm full. What about you, Nero?"
He asked, glancing at her.
Nero, ever dramatic, leaned forward with a bright grin.
"Indeed, Charles! This meal has satisfied the Emperor! Umu!"
She tapped her fingers lightly on the table, her emerald eyes twinkling.
"Now that we are both energized, what shall we do next?"
Charles thought for a moment, his blue eyes narrowing in thought.
"Hmm, maybe we should head to the battle simulation. I kind of want to test out the abilities I've got."
Nero tilted her head, intrigued.
"Test your abilities? Umu? What do you mean by that?"
He straightened, confidence blooming on his face.
"Well, I want to see how I match up in real combat. You know, figure out my strengths, my weaknesses—what I can improve. And since you're with me, maybe we could... spar?"
Nero's eyes lit up as she clasped her hands together. "Spar, you say? How thrilling! Very well, Charles—I, Nero Claudius, accept your challenge! Umu!"
Charles groaned, running a hand through his white hair.
"No, no, no... It's not a challenge. It's just training. Training, Nero."
His tone was insistent, but there was a tinge of exasperation in his voice.
Nero waved off his protest with a flourish of her hand.
"Training, challenge—it matters not! A duel between Rulers is a duel nonetheless! Umu!"
Realizing there was no point arguing further, Charles sighed heavily. "Fine. Call it whatever you want... Let's just go."
After tidying up their trays and saying a quick goodbye to Emiya, who gave them a knowing look from the kitchen.
Emiya wiped his hands on a towel, shaking his head with a faint smirk.
"Finally... those two troublemakers have left. Huff, maybe now I can finally enjoy some peace."
He leaned back against the counter, letting out a deep sigh as he glanced around the now-quiet cafeteria. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to relish the stillness—a rare commodity whenever certain Servants decided to dine.
The two Servants left the cafeteria. The air between them was filled with playful tension as they walked through the corridor of Chaldea, their footsteps steady and their resolve growing.
"Well, Nero, let's see if your Emperor's resolve holds up in battle," Charles said, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"Prepare yourself, Charles! An Emperor's might knows no bounds! Umu!" Nero replied with a gleeful laugh, her spirit as radiant as ever.
And so, the two headed for the battle simulation room, ready to test their mettle against each other.
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In the Battle Simulation, Chaldea
Charles and Nero entered the battle simulation and found themselves standing in a serene, grassy field. The air felt fresh, and the sunlight beamed brightly overhead, as if they'd been transported to a peaceful countryside. They both paused, taking in their surroundings.
Charles squinted at the horizon, his white hair swaying slightly in the simulated breeze.
"Hmm, not bad," he murmured, stepping forward and kicking the soft grass under his boots.
"Looks pretty real... but it's missing something. Feels too calm."
Nero clasped her hands behind her back, spinning around with an elegant twirl as if inspecting the field for herself.
"Indeed! A fine choice for an arena—so green, so serene! Truly befitting for our sparring! Umu!"
She stopped, planting her hands on her hips and puffing out her chest proudly.
"But enough admiring the scenery! Shall we begin, Umu?"
Charles turned to her with a small smirk.
"Eager, aren't you? Don't get ahead of yourself, Nero. I want to see how the simulation reacts before we start."
He crouched and brushed his hand over the grass, watching the slight ripple of light as it reacted to his touch.
"Hmph. Guess this is where I'll put my skills to the test," he muttered to himself before standing up and raising his hand forward.
"The Valor of Conquest."
He said softly, his voice steady yet filled with resolve. In an instant, a radiant aura appeared around him, granting him additional strength, then a shimmering golden light formed in his grasp, coalescing into a magnificent sword.
Its blade gleamed with an ethereal glow, and its white hilt contrasted sharply with the polished steel. The design bore a faint resemblance to the legendary holy sword Excalibur, though it carried an air of individuality—a creation forged from determination and ingenuity.
Nero's green eyes sparkled with curiosity as she tilted her head, taking in the sight of the sword.
"Oh? Is this your Noble Phantasm? How fascinating. Umu!" she said, resting her chin in her hand.
"A king with a blade of their own making. How fitting."
Charles nodded, twirling the sword lightly before planting its tip into the ground.
"Indeed it is," he replied with a faint smile.
"This sword... It's something I created during my life. Back then, my kingdom was on the brink, and I faced the threat of two kingdoms at once. We had no weapons worthy of the battles ahead, so I took it upon myself to craft one—a blade that symbolized our resolve to conquer."
Nero's smile widened, her admiration masked by her playful tone.
"Crafting a weapon fit for battle? Truly a kingly deed! Umu. But tell me, Charles... That sword of yours—it bears some resemblance to Artoria's holy sword, does it not? Curious, curious... Umu."
Charles chuckled, shaking his head.
"You're not wrong. I always admired the legends of Excalibur, but unfortunately, I could never replicate its power. My sword is nothing more than a prototype, a pale shadow of the holy sword. Still, it served its purpose. It carried me through countless battles and helped me unite my territories."
Nero tapped her chin thoughtfully before nodding in approval.
"Prototype or not, it's clear that blade is a reflection of your spirit. To wield something of your own making... how very human of you, Charles. Umu! I like it."
Charles smirked, gripping the hilt tightly.
"I wouldn't call it human. I'd call it resourceful."
"The Valor of Conquest!"
He said, his voice tinged with a mix of pride and defiance.
As if to emphasize his point, the sword in his hand began to shimmer, the golden light that formed it twisting and reshaping into a new weapon—a spear.
Its design bore the unmistakable influence of legend, its long shaft gleaming with a silver hue and its pointed tip glowing faintly, as though charged with latent power.
Nero's eyes widened, her curiosity piqued further.
"Oh? So your Noble Phantasm can transform into other weapons? Fascinating! That spear... it reminds me of something from the old tales. Umu!"
Charles spun the spear in a quick flourish, the motion fluid and practiced. The weapon whistled sharply as it cut through the air, a testament to its craftsmanship.
"This is one of the weapons I devised during my campaigns. It's modeled after the legendary spears I read about as a boy. A weapon not only to pierce through my enemies but also their hearts."
He planted the butt of the spear into the ground, standing confidently as he met Nero's gaze.
"A king must adapt, after all. A sword, a spear, or even a shield—it matters not, as long as it gets the job done."
Nero clapped her hands together, a grin spreading across her face.
"Magnificent! A king with such versatility—it's almost as if you're a living armory! Umu! But tell me, Charles, do you think that spear will be enough to best me?"
Charles chuckled, adjusting his grip on the spear.
"Enough? Maybe. But why stop here?"
His weapon shimmered again, morphing into a bow this time. Its sleek design bore intricate carvings, and its string seemed to hum with restrained energy.
He notched an ethereal arrow onto it and pulled back the string.
"This is what makes The Valor of Conquest unique. Adaptability is the mark of a true ruler."
Nero's grin turned sly, her stance shifting as she prepared herself for whatever came next.
"Adaptability, you say? Impressive, but let us see how far it can take you against the Emperor's brilliance! Umu!"
The tension in the air grew as Charles readied his bow and Nero gripped her weapon tightly. The sparring session was just getting started, and the clash of their spirits promised an exhilarating contest.
Charles notched the arrow, its faint golden glow shimmering in the sunlight, and let it loose with precision.
The arrow sped through the air toward Nero, its speed cutting through the serene silence of the grassy field.
"Not bad!" Nero shouted as she dodged the arrow with an elegant sidestep. Her crimson dress flowed as she moved, her sword already in motion. With a quick lunge, she closed the distance between them, her blade aimed directly at Charles.
Charles swiftly transformed the bow back into a sword, parrying her strike just in time. The clash sent sparks flying, and Charles gritted his teeth as Nero pushed forward, her strength apparent.
"You're stronger than you look, Nero!" Charles muttered as
he adjusted his stance to block another of her attacks.
"Of course I am, Charles! I am the Emperor, after all! Umu!" Nero replied, laughing as her strikes grew more relentless.
The two clashed again and again, their weapons meeting in a flurry of sparks, each testing the other's resolve, each eager to prove who was the true master of battle.
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