The sounds of shouting and killing on the battlefield were still rising and falling.
Takumi and Nero stood before the city gate, looking silently at this city being used as the Allied Capital.
There were no soldiers inside, nor any residents.
It was dead silent, an empty city.
As Romulus had just said, this was likely the battleground he had chosen.
Nero looked back at the chaotic battlefield, finding no trace of the two Berserkers at all.
She could only say with a headache:
"The two Generals have run off to who knows where. It seems we can only rely on ourselves for this battle."
"...Relying only on us, is there really a chance?"
Standing at the door of this boss stage, what Takumi had been worried about was now right before his eyes.
Even if Romulus went easy on them and let them defeat him, there was still that brat Flauros (Lev) afterward, and maybe even Altera could be summoned...
Relying only on them, could they really win?
(Original Author's Note: Actually, I feel FGO's combat power distribution is sometimes a bit weird. For example, Darius III, as a Servant with an A-rank Anti-Army Noble Phantasm—if you hadn't seen the story, who would know he was taken out directly by Ritsuka Fujimaru + Mash? At that time, Mash didn't even know her true Noble Phantasm.)
"I told you to believe in me! Even if the sky falls, I will hold it up for you!"
Hearing Takumi's dejected words, Nero glared at him unhappily.
Takumi lowered his gaze to look into Nero's eyes.
He asked skeptically:
"Uh, is Your Majesty sure you can hold it up for me?"
Takumi's height was about 1.7 meters, while Nero's height was only 1.5 meters!
Nero froze for a moment.
Then she understood the implication of Takumi's words.
"Height... Is height something I can decide?!"
Nero was both angry and annoyed. She compared her height with Takumi's back and forth, finding that even standing on tiptoes, there was a considerable gap.
Her small face flushed red.
"Besides, who said it won't work if the height isn't enough! As long as I raise my hands to prop it up, won't the height be about the same as yours?"
Nero got anxious as she spoke, stretching her hands upwards as much as possible. Together, she was exactly one palm higher than Takumi.
Seeing this, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Then Nero put her hands on her hips, emphasizing seriously:
"Even if the sky really falls, as long as you have a little discernment and lean your head to the side, it won't hit you after I hold it up!"
I just wanted to liven up the atmosphere by saying that...
Takumi didn't say this out loud but decisively gave Nero a thumbs up:
"As expected of Your Majesty!"
It seemed Nero really cared about her height, so it was better not to mention it again.
Interrupted by their banter, the atmosphere indeed became much more relaxed.
Although the reality of the problem still existed.
Nero's army actually didn't have the advantage. The troop difference with the Allied Forces was too great; they basically relied entirely on Servant-level combat power to hold the ground.
Looking at it this way, they might as well let Lu Bu and Spartacus charge into the enemy lines outside—
Anyway, even if they found them, they might not listen.
But in this way, the combat power they had for the decisive battle was too little...
"By the way, sorry about earlier. I actually knew the opponent's leader was the Divine Ancestor. Because I was worried about you... I never said it."
Takumi scratched his head, speaking a bit embarrassedly.
Nero blinked.
"Hmph, if you were a person of my era, I would definitely punish you for the crime of deception!"
"However, your guess wasn't wrong. The Divine Ancestor's appearance really gave me a fright. If you had said it in advance, I might really have retreated, and this battle wouldn't have gone so smoothly."
"I like your honesty! But it would be better if you were even more honest!"
"After all, you should have known all this all along, right? Keeping it bottled up inside isn't a good thing!"
Takumi: "It's just that the intensity of the upcoming battles will likely be ridiculously high. Saying it and affecting the mood wouldn't be good..."
"How bold! If you can accept it, can I, as the Emperor, not accept it?!"
...
Takumi still told Nero roughly everything he knew.
After getting all the information, Nero couldn't help but look crestfallen and fell silent for a few seconds.
But no matter what they thought or did, the enemy was right there.
They wouldn't disappear into thin air.
They would eventually have to face them.
The two walked into the city gate together, passing through the long street with not a single soul.
Footsteps echoed in the empty environment.
Finally, they stood before the massive palace gate.
As if standing at the fog gate of a Souls-like game.
"My Guard! Do you feel afraid?"
"A little..."
Actually, he had been afraid all along. From the moment he stood in front of this gate, Takumi's heart had been pounding non-stop.
However, based on Takumi's experience, as long as he bit the bullet and rushed in, he wouldn't be nervous once the fight started.
Takumi thought Nero would say some spirited pre-war mobilization words.
But unexpectedly—
"I am actually a little afraid too... That is the Divine Ancestor! Any Roman Emperor encountering my situation would feel uneasy, right?"
Thinking about going in to fight Romulus, even Nero couldn't help shivering all over.
Seeing this, Takumi smiled gently and said softly:
"But if Your Majesty is by my side, I won't be afraid."
Bullseye again!
If this were some kind of game, the affection bar above Nero's head would probably rise significantly.
"Umu!!"
"Just based on your words, I will show you what my true elegance is!"
Saying this, Nero was about to push open the door and drag Takumi in.
"Wait a moment!"
"Hm? Do you have anything else?"
"Wait for me to apply buffs first!"
Buffing at the door is also an indispensable part of Souls-like games.
Of course, the main reason was that Takumi feared that once the fight really started, he wouldn't have the chance to use Reinforcement.
Slowly pushing open the main door.
Sunlight passed through the door crack, and everything inside the palace gradually became bright.
The two cast their gazes inside, focusing simultaneously on Romulus standing in the center.
He leaned on that strange weapon. Only when the two entered did he open his closed eyes.
He looked at the entering Nero and Takumi with a gaze devoid of much emotion.
Like a boss in some game.
No one spoke. Takumi and Nero just exchanged a glance.
Then nodded imperceptibly.
The next moment, Nero held her sword with both hands, turning into a red shadow and dashing out.
The sword point aimed straight at Romulus's neck.
Takumi drew Rune characters in the air where he stood.
This was the most common and suitable tactic.
After all, Takumi's combat skills were too poor. His role in close combat on the front line was mostly inferior to providing ranged support from the rear.
Clang!
Unsurprisingly, Nero's attack was easily blocked by Romulus with one hand using that strange weapon.
Following closely behind Nero, several fireballs approached Romulus's body with the sound of whistling wind.
Romulus glimpsed the incoming fireballs from the corner of his eye but showed no intention of blocking.
BOOM!
The fireballs exploded, flames enveloping Romulus's body.
The attack hit; this should have been a happy thing.
But Takumi clearly saw that under the flames, Romulus's body didn't suffer a single bit of damage.
Romulus simply waved his free hand, and the flames on his body dissipated into sparks.
His other hand was even constantly parrying Nero's attacks.
Like playing with a child.
He even patted non-existent dust off his body.
Takumi was stunned.
He had long been mentally prepared for Romulus's strength, but he didn't expect Romulus to be this strong.
The Rune Magecraft he mastered couldn't hurt him at all!
In this short moment of Takumi being stunned.
Romulus repelled Nero with one strike, then appeared in front of Takumi in the blink of an eye.
The huge "wooden stick" in his hand cast a shadow.
Seeing it about to smash down.
Takumi hurriedly activated [Escapist].
Dodge!
The "wooden stick" passed through Takumi's body and smashed heavily on the ground. The high-quality floor tiles were smashed to powder by this strike.
"Oh?"