"■■■■■——!!"
A beast-like roar seemed to resound through the entire battlefield.
Just from the roar alone, the surrounding soldiers could even see the dust on the ground being kicked up by it.
The soldiers were terrified and ran away from this big guy in a flash.
Experience told them that when encountering such an existence, it was best to leave them space to fight.
"Hiss! What a terrifying figure! The enemy actually has such a fierce general?"
Nero gasped.
The Servant in front of them had black skin covered with strange patterns.
Of course, this wasn't the key point. The more critical point was his immensely huge figure.
Estimated to be about 3.5 meters tall.
Just standing there, he could block a large patch of sunlight.
It was a height that even if Takumi and Nero were stacked on top of each other, they couldn't reach.
Not to mention the two large axes matching his size.
Takumi glanced at the flag in his hand.
He even doubted whether this flagstaff would snap on the spot if he blocked one axe strike head-on.
"Looks like a tough nut to crack. We have to deal with him carefully!"
Nero looked solemn, saying this as she prepared to drag Takumi along to fight the opponent.
Takumi hurriedly held Nero back.
Even if our stamina is sufficient now, we don't have to fight everyone we meet!
"Hey, hey, listen to me first. This Servant isn't from the opposing side. He's Darius III, summoned alongside Alexander. There's no need for us to fight him to the death."
Darius III was a figure from the same era as Alexander the Great. The ancient King of Persia, who stood against Alexander several times and was considered his "fated rival."
It was precisely because of this that he was chain-summoned along with Alexander.
As for what a Chain Summon is: roughly speaking, figures with great connections in life have a high probability of being summoned simultaneously.
Just like Siegfried and Fafnir.
Nero suddenly realized.
"Oh! So it is that Darius III? I didn't expect his physique to be so tall—Does that mean he is also a combat force we can win over?"
"...Huh?"
Listening to Nero's words, Takumi, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, didn't expect Nero to suddenly drop a bombshell on him.
I just thought about ignoring him and letting him run wild. I didn't have that intention at all!
"Your Majesty, are you sober?"
Are you sure this Berserker is someone we can win over?
Nero puffed out her chest and said with incomparable confidence:
"Hmph, as the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend!"
"My Guard! Watch my performance!"
After speaking, Nero walked straight toward Darius III.
Takumi didn't have time to stop her, so he could only look at Darius III warily.
Gripping the flagstaff tightly, he was ready to activate his Noble Phantasm at the slightest sign of trouble.
Nero stood in front of Darius III.
Who knows what Nero actually said, but Darius III suddenly quieted down.
Quiet like a hibernating bear.
He even nodded from time to time.
And when Nero pointed in the direction of the Allied Capital, he exhaled a puff of white steam.
Looking extremely excited.
[Incitement]!
Nero forcefully used this skill belonging to Caesar with her highest-rank [Imperial Privilege].
"Umu! See, this is the talent that even makes me afraid of myself!"
Nero's nose was about to tilt up to the sky.
"As expected of Your Majesty, easily achieving things we couldn't do!"
Takumi applauded frantically upon seeing this.
This wasn't just flattery; it was genuine excitement and admiration.
As someone who had read the script, he knew all too well what kind of monsters and freaks were waiting later.
Winning over a combat force at this time, even if it didn't achieve great results, could save a lot of time and stamina.
Moreover, Darius III wasn't weak. As a figure who could compete on the same stage as Alexander.
He was undoubtedly a top-tier Servant.
The youthful Alexander summoned by the opponent probably wouldn't be a match for this guy who was already in his complete form.
"This guy was really chain-summoned?"
Alexander rubbed his head with a headache.
He saw Darius III, who had been "persuaded" by Nero, spotting him from afar and charging straight towards him.
Soldiers along the way were sent flying by him.
Clearly, he wasn't someone who could be lured away like the other two Berserkers.
Because his goal was simple: just Alexander.
"So can I count on you, Teacher?"
Alexander looked at Lord El-Melloi II expectantly.
To be able to talk to Nero and see what kind of Emperor she is—sometimes necessary sacrifices must be made!
"...Sigh, I understand. I will try my best to stall Darius III."
Looking at Alexander's expectant eyes, El-Melloi II really couldn't say words of refusal.
It was just that after turning to look at the Berserker whose fist was bigger than his head...
The corner of his eye twitched involuntarily twice.
Letting a Caster like him face a rampaging Berserker alone?
"—I am not a Servant adept at combat. I'm afraid I can't last too long against him."
"It doesn't matter. As long as Teacher can stall him for a few minutes, leave the rest to me."
Alexander said with a smile.
He didn't think he would talk with Nero and the others for too long. Once the chat was over, whatever happened next didn't matter.
Did anyone really expect him to work for Lev?
Stop dreaming.
In just the time it took to say these few sentences, Darius III had almost rushed to the foot of the city wall.
The whole person was roaring incredibly excitedly at Alexander on the wall.
"■■■■■——!!"
Judging by that look, he wanted to smash the city wall down directly.
To force the people above to come down.
El-Melloi II naturally wouldn't let him have his wish, so he drifted down lightly from the city wall, standing on Darius III's path.
"Sorry, at least for now, you have to stay here obediently."
Then, with a wave of the feather fan in his hand.
[Stone Sentinel Maze]!
Dozens of huge stone pillars descended from the sky, inserting themselves around Darius III, completely locking his attack and retreat routes.
Thick fog dispersed, making everything inside the stone formation impossible to see clearly.
Only Darius's deafening roars could be heard.
There's actually a master here?
Takumi and Nero followed Darius III from a distance, using him to clear the way while avoiding accidental injury from him.
Seeing this scene, Nero couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled:
"I always feel that the Berserker Generals on my side are always stalled for various reasons..."
Berserkers are like that.
This made Takumi, who originally wanted to see Darius III display his divine might, somewhat disappointed.
He had to comfort himself:
"At least he stalled an enemy for us. That counts as pretty good, right?"
Seeing the usually bitter-faced Takumi actually learn to comfort himself, Nero couldn't help praising:
"Umu! That is how it should be. Under my command, you just need to believe in me!"
"Frowning all day affects the mood too much!"
"Do I frown all day..."
Takumi, who generally kept a straight face and didn't reveal his inner thoughts, couldn't help retorting.
"Of course! You just don't know it yourself."
Nero said affirmatively.
"Really..."
Seeing this, Takumi couldn't help doubting.
'Am I also like a certain Squirrel Carrier (Kancolle reference), where my face is a display screen?'
Thinking this, Takumi even rubbed his own face.
The corners of Nero's mouth rose slightly, looking at Takumi, who seemed to be doubting his life, with some amusement.
Of course, she didn't see Takumi frowning all day.
Just as Takumi said, he indeed kept a poker face most of the day, never showing it even if he was worried inside.
As for why Nero felt Takumi was frowning...
Allow her to keep us in suspense!
"Finally we meet, the Fifth Emperor of Rome, Nero Claudius."
At this time, Alexander, seeing Nero and Takumi from afar, also rode his mount over, delighted to see a worthy opponent.
"It wasn't in vain that I racked my brains to find an opportunity to chat with you on the battlefield."
Alexander said with a smile.
"Hah? You, as that Alexander the Great, created such a big formation just to chat with me?"
Nero couldn't help frowning.
Forgive her for being completely unable to understand this way of thinking from her perspective.
But Takumi, who had watched the Fourth Holy Grail War, knew.
This was probably Alexander getting addicted to asking other rulers about their Kingship again.
If Cao Cao could manifest, he would probably have a lot in common with him.
"That's right, because I am very interested in you."
"Although you are the only Emperor here who is truly in a living state, your army does not have the upper hand in this battle. So I want to ask—"
"—Why do you fight?"
Alexander asked seriously.
Yes, just as he said, Nero's army actually didn't have the advantage; otherwise, she wouldn't be leading the charge herself.
The reason they could fight here so quickly was mainly because the combat power of the Servants affected the balance of the war.
Plus the destructive power of the Rune Magecraft fragmentation grenade stock Takumi made earlier.
"If you submit to the United Empire..."
Alexander wanted to question further but was interrupted by Nero.
"You guys are all really strange. Am I just that kind of weak little girl in your eyes?"
Nero was both puzzled and angry.
"Why fight? How can you even say such things!"
"This is my era! This is my Empire! Any existence that wants to snatch the land from my hands is my enemy!"
"There is only one way to make me give up—defeat me thoroughly!"
"If you are still thinking of saying these boring things, don't blame my [Aestus Estus] for chopping your head first!"
Listening to Nero's somewhat irritable words, Alexander paused for a moment, then shook his head and laughed.
"It seems I was being sentimental."
Like Caesar, Alexander also underestimated Nero's will.
Seeing her like this, does she need our test?
Alexander rode his mount, which was also his Noble Phantasm [Bucephalus].
He drew the sword at his waist.
Violent electric arcs flickered around his body.
"Then let's find the truth under our hands."