"Alexander's Noble Phantasm is quite special. It is unleashed through his mount and can display destructive power capable of crushing everything in its path."
"He is currently riding his mount, so he might use his Noble Phantasm at any moment."
Takumi whispered to Nero, explaining the effect of Alexander's Noble Phantasm.
Nero nodded imperceptibly, looking at Alexander ahead, whose body was constantly flickering with electric arcs.
"Hoh? So you want to unleash your Noble Phantasm directly?"
Seeing his thoughts guessed, Alexander had no intention of hiding it:
"Of course. I am not a hero known for martial arts. Since I have a Noble Phantasm, naturally I must use it."
Looking at the smiling Alexander, Nero suddenly had a bold idea.
She grinned, her gaze burning as she said:
"Since that is the case—I will block your Noble Phantasm head-on for you to see!!"
Hearing Nero's shocking words, Takumi was completely dumbfounded.
Huh?
Are you sure?
Alexander was also stunned, revealing a somewhat dangerous smile only after reacting.
"Interesting. You actually want to block my conquest head-on?"
"Then let me see if you will be crushed by my domination and trampling!"
Alexander surged his magical energy. His red hair flew wildly, and the divine lightning derived from the Greek supreme god Zeus turned into electric snakes, constantly piercing the ground. Fragments of stone were kicked up and sent flying.
"Mmh! It seems this will be a tough battle with no tricks!"
Nero looked solemn, nodding repeatedly.
Who do you think caused this!
I felt like he was going to go easy on us, but after your provocation, where is there any intention of holding back?
"My Guard! The Noble Phantasm is coming!"
"Use your Noble Phantasm to block it head-on!"
Takumi couldn't hold it back anymore.
"Your Majesty, are you sober?"
"Are you sure my Noble Phantasm can block this?"
This time Takumi wasn't joking; he really felt Nero might have some serious illness.
His Noble Phantasm was just a semi-finished product inherited from a half-crippled Jeanne. It wasn't Mash's Round Table Shield. Blocking an Anti-Army Noble Phantasm head-on—was this something a normal person would do?
Anyway, Takumi felt he absolutely couldn't block it; it would be more convenient to dodge with [Escapist].
"Of course! I have never been so sober."
"You underestimate your own Noble Phantasm too much. You have not yet discovered the true power of this Noble Phantasm!"
Nero said seriously.
'I also have latent power?'
Takumi knew his Noble Phantasm was probably like Mash's shield, related to willpower.
But perhaps because Takumi knew this, he couldn't use this Noble Phantasm well.
Does knowing that my will affects the strength of the Noble Phantasm make my will stronger out of thin air?
Probably not, right?
Takumi even used the old method of self-suggestion, trying to strengthen his will.
But this Noble Phantasm was just like that. Normally, it could at most completely defend against C-rank attacks.
Depending on the state when activating the Noble Phantasm, it could rise to B-rank or drop to D-rank.
That was roughly the intensity.
Takumi felt it would be better to give him an offensive Noble Phantasm of the same rank, and then let him use the power of [Escapist] to sneak attack others.
That way, the chance of winning would be greater.
Seeing Takumi completely lacking confidence, Nero could only shake her head, putting her hands on her hips and saying with a high-spirited smile:
"If you don't believe in yourself, then believe in me! Believe in me to your heart's content!"
Unlike Takumi's dejection, just from Nero's voice, one could hear her confidence.
"Believe, huh..."
Takumi muttered to himself.
Compared to believing in himself, Takumi was more willing and better at believing in others.
Laughing self-deprecatingly, Takumi unfurled the flag and planted it heavily in front.
"It's all up to you, my Emperor."
Then he turned to look at Nero beside him.
"Umu!"
Nero nodded in satisfaction, holding the flagstaff together with Takumi.
"Finally ready?"
Alexander, who had stopped in front for a long time, fiddled slightly with the reins in his hand.
Bucephalus beneath him gathered strength under its hooves, assuming a charging posture.
"Don't blame me for not reminding you. This Noble Phantasm is at true full power this time. I won't hold back even half a bit."
Finished speaking, Alexander drove Bucephalus to charge.
With every step the warhorse took, the ground seemed to tremble. The blue electric arcs jumping around its body flickered and danced constantly, releasing blinding light.
Every jump of the electric arc was accompanied by a slight crackling sound.
The hair of the two standing on its attack path stood up slightly due to static electricity.
[The Unwavering Heart]!
Just like when resisting Caligula's Noble Phantasm together before, the light emitted from the flag turned golden-red.
Light far heavier than when Takumi used it alone turned into a wall blocking in front of the two.
In an instant, the two crashed together.
BOOM!
A deafening loud noise tore through the sky, as if even the air was ripped apart by this strike. A huge shockwave spread in all directions, rolling up dust and crushed stones, forming waves of rolling dust.
The scene could not be called grand, but—
Blocked!
Takumi's Noble Phantasm, the Noble Phantasm used by the two together, blocked this Anti-Army Noble Phantasm!
The two were pushed back a dozen steps by the huge impact force, leaving trails in the fresh soil under their feet.
"Umu... See! I told you we could block it!"
"As long as you believe in me!"
While resisting with all her might, Nero didn't forget to show off to Takumi.
Takumi was gritting his teeth to persist. Hearing this, he couldn't help smiling helplessly.
"Yeah..."
He didn't expect his Noble Phantasm to really block this terrifying strike...
Perhaps Heroic Spirits were existences capable of creating miracles?
Takumi, who already trusted Nero very much, now believed in Nero without a doubt.
"As expected of Your Majesty the Emperor!"
Hearing Takumi's heartfelt praise, Nero's smile became even brighter.
"Hey, hey, aren't you guys celebrating too early? This is just one shot of my Noble Phantasm. Even if you blocked it, what are you going to do next?"
Lightning illuminated Alexander's face, which showed a bit of speechlessness.
"Of course I anticipated this! Or rather, I was waiting for you to crash into my Guard's Noble Phantasm!"
Nero revealed her white, beautiful teeth.
[Aestus Estus] in her other hand stabbed into the ground.
"Build up, my skyscraper! Display the supreme radiance here!"
Bad! It's a Noble Phantasm!
Alexander already understood what Nero wanted to do.
He wanted to drive Bucephalus away, but found that this was exactly the moment when old force had faded and new force had not yet been generated.
Unable to quickly escape the range of Nero's Noble Phantasm.
Alexander finally knew why Nero provoked him just now. It turned out to be to prevent him from using Rider's mobility to escape.
'Looks like I was played by you...'
"Praise be!"
"[Aestus Domus Aurea (Invitation to the Golden Debauchery Theater)]!"
As the Noble Phantasm chant finished, golden and red light shone brightly.
In just the blink of an eye, the battlefield that was just a ruin turned into the resplendent Golden Theater.
This was the Noble Phantasm sublimated from the Golden Theater designed and built by Nero herself in life!
Similar to a Reality Marble, it could create a battlefield advantageous to oneself.
Underfoot was a red carpet, overhead was shrouded in golden light, red petals fell constantly from the air, and the entire space was a blend of extremely luxurious gold and red.
"Curtains! Fall!"
The terrifying suppression force exerted through the Noble Phantasm instantly pressed onto Alexander and his mount Bucephalus.
Both of their bodies bent unnaturally.
Completely cutting off the possibility of struggling for both.
"—Truly a beautiful and magnificent Noble Phantasm."
Alexander, suppressed and unable to move, couldn't help praising.
Nero didn't reply, gripping the longsword with both hands.
"[Fax Caelestis (Scattered Petals, Falling Sky)]!"
Amidst the red petals, Nero closed in. Wherever she passed turned into a sea of roses, followed by a slash.
Alexander—Retired!
...
...
Nero's Noble Phantasm dissipated, and the two returned to the ruined battlefield.
Takumi was excited, but also puzzled.
—Why can Nero use a Noble Phantasm?
The Nero here should definitely be alive.
Takumi could understand having physical fitness comparable to a Servant due to some special reasons.
But why could she summon the Golden Theater?
If Takumi remembered correctly, Nero hadn't built that famous Golden Theater yet at this time...