After tumbling on the ground several times, Takumi and Nero finally broke free from the whiteness.
Standing up dazed, their vision was incomparably empty.
The originally crowded buildings in front had been destroyed completely. They could only see the scorched black earth that looked as if several layers of its surface had been scraped off.
"General Spartacus's power is a bit terrifying!"
As a Servant who didn't stand out for destructive power, Nero looked at everything before her and sighed with emotion.
Spartacus probably still had a shred of reason left, concentrating the vast majority of his output directly in front of him.
So Takumi and Nero behind him didn't receive too many attacks.
It was fortunate that he still had a bit of reason; otherwise, with this kind of destructive power, even with the Noble Phantasm's protection, Takumi and Nero would have had to say goodbye to this world in advance.
The two hadn't recovered from Spartacus's terrifying self-destruct attack yet.
A piece of black "earth" in front suddenly squirmed twice, making the two vigilant again.
Nero and Takumi stared intently at the position that just squirmed.
They saw a humanoid piece of black charcoal unsteadily stand up from the ground of the same color.
A cluster of golden light was flashing on his chest.
"Played by you again. I didn't expect a mere Heroic Spirit to unleash such powerful destructive force..."
Lev raised his head; on his pitch-black face was a hideous smile.
If not for the Holy Grail, he would probably have returned to the Temple of Time on the spot just now.
However, this Holy Grail created by Goetia wasn't omnipotent either. having taken a direct hit from this terrifying attack in the face, even with the Holy Grail's protection, he had basically lost his combat capability.
He was forcefully dragged down to the same level as the currently half-crippled Takumi and Nero.
"What kind of monster are you! To still be alive under such a terrifying attack!"
Nero was shocked. Her [Thrice-Setting Sun] was just a Guts effect. If she took a beam attack to the face and turned into ash, there would be no chance of survival.
"Heh, do you think we are the same as you humans?"
Lev sneered.
As a Demon God Pillar, besides having a massive amount of magical energy, their robust bodies shouldn't be underestimated.
After all, generally large creatures tend to be tougher.
Other Heroic Spirits might die on the spot from a penetrating wound, but they could withstand at least a dozen or even dozens of attacks of the same power!
Uh, of course, there was also the possibility of taking full AOE damage due to excessive size.
So he had a flash of wit just now and turned back into his human form, reducing a large amount of excess damage that might have resulted from his huge size.
Takumi didn't know how Lev survived.
But Takumi knew that if he was given time to summon something else, they would really be finished!
"Kill him quickly! Don't give him a chance to do anything else!"
Takumi, having learned his lesson this time, roared immediately.
But since his stamina had bottomed out, his spirit was willing but his flesh was weak, so he could only ask Nero to unleash her power.
Nero also remembered the intelligence Takumi revealed before the battle. Knowing the consequences, she didn't hesitate at all. Sprinting at full speed, she raised [Aestus Estus] (The Original Flame) and slashed straight at Lev's head.
"Hahaha, too late!"
Although it was somewhat humiliating, Lev, who had prepared somewhat for failure, had the summoning ritual ready long ago.
All he needed to do was infuse magical energy into it.
The Heroic Spirit summoning circle unfolded beneath his feet, emitting dazzling brilliance under the infusion of magical energy.
"So, manifest!"
"Great Hero of Destruction, Altera!"
Lev opened his arms, looking at Nero, who was only one step away from him, with a mocking smile.
Too slow, Roman Emperor.
Even if you hack me to death right now, this Heroic Spirit summoning has no possibility of stopping!
Violent winds surged, and a blinding white light flashed.
The furious Nero was about to slash Lev's head with her sword; the blade of [Aestus Estus] was only a few centimeters away from Lev's head.
Nero's movement suddenly paused.
The hair all over her body stood up, sensing a great terror.
Like a certain blonde vampire testing Jotaro, Nero did a small cat-like backward jump, returning to Takumi's side.
She looked solemnly behind Lev, fine sweat appearing on her forehead.
Looking at the dark-skinned, white-haired girl appearing behind Lev.
Takumi rarely cursed:
"Damn, he still managed to summon her..."
His voice unconsciously lowered, and his heart, which had calmed down a lot, began to beat violently again.
In their current state, how were he and Nero supposed to fight a full-condition Altera? Would Lu Bu run over to save the day?
Altera, also known as Attila the Hun, was the ancient King of the Huns, a terrifying existence who once swept across the European continent, also known as the Scourge of God (Whip of God).
In the Type-Moon universe, she had even more outrageous settings and identity...
Admiring the two facing a formidable enemy, sweating profusely.
Lev grinned and laughed wildly:
"Hahahaha! This is the expression I wanted to see. This look of victory clearly being right before your eyes, yet—"
A rainbow sword light flashed.
Lev's voice stopped abruptly, and the smile on his face froze instantly.
'Eh?'
A trace of doubt flashed in his mind. Before he could figure out what happened, Lev's consciousness fell into darkness.
Without even a chance to say his last words, he was split in half by Altera.
Turning into two pieces of meat no different from rotten flesh, falling between the two sides.
I don't even know what you're being arrogant about!
Although Nero wanted to mock him severely, it was obviously not a suitable time.
The danger of the enemy in front clearly exceeded that of this guy who had turned into useless meat chunks. They didn't have the leeway to mock others right now.
Under the helpless gaze of the two.
The golden Holy Grail detached from Lev's body and fell into Altera's hand.
In the blink of an eye, it merged into Altera's body.
Facing the hostility of Nero and Takumi, Altera had no intention of chatting.
She just pointed the rainbow-colored lightsaber in her hand forward.
Although she didn't intend to obey Lev's orders, destroying civilization was her instinct and duty. All enemies blocking her had only one path: destruction.
So—
"[Photon Ray (Sword of the War God)]!"
Without any foreplay, Altera activated her Noble Phantasm right from the start.
With the enhancement of the Holy Grail, this Noble Phantasm had reached the level of an Anti-Fortress Noble Phantasm!
Rainbow brilliance was right before their eyes. The magical energy contained within could be clearly felt without even using eyes.
In this situation where they couldn't even dodge, what else could Takumi and Nero do?
They could only shrink behind the Holy Flag again.
Their vision was occupied by the colors of the rainbow, and sound disappeared from their ears.
In just less than half an hour, the two had lost count of how many Noble Phantasms they had taken.
Their weak bodies could no longer withstand the attacks. The two were sent flying backward by the rainbow torrent of magical energy. The golden-red light wrapping them was long gone from its initial brilliance.
Just as they were blown away, it was already covered in cracks.
Takumi, knowing the consequences of enduring head-on, gritted his teeth and shoved the flag into Nero's hands.
In the nick of time, he pushed her away with all his might.
He himself activated [Escapist], turning his body intangible.
This was the best method Takumi could think of.
As for what happened next... he could only rely on luck.
Everything happened very fast, just about a second after Altera's Noble Phantasm activated and hit them.
Rather than saying it was Takumi's careful consideration, it was more like his subconscious reaction.
The flag carried out its owner's will, the emitted light protecting Nero, who hadn't figured out the situation yet, as she broke away from the rainbow torrent of light of [Photon Ray].
But [Photon Ray] was a beam-type Anti-Fortress Noble Phantasm. Not only was it powerful, but its range was also huge.
Just like this, how could she escape?
Seeing the flag's defense about to completely shatter before escaping, a heroic voice suddenly sounded from afar.
"[Chariot of Boudica (Chariot of Unpromised Protection)]!"
A shield wrapped in golden light streaked across the sky, diving into the rainbow torrent of light at a tricky angle.
Blocking right in front of Nero!
The rainbow torrent of light was briefly separated, allowing Nero to safely escape the attack range of [Photon Ray].
Bang!
Bang!
Under the inertia brought by the impact force, Nero first hit the roof, then slammed onto the ground blocked by a wall.
Being hit twice like this, Nero certainly didn't feel good, but now there were more important things worth her concern.
Scrambling up in a panic, Nero shouted loudly to the surroundings:
"Performer!"
Nero's voice echoed continuously on the empty, ruin-like street.
No one responded.
Only the flag in her hand fluttered in the wind.
"Could it be... Impossible, impossible, Performer won't die so easily!"
Thinking about the possible outcomes, Nero selectively ignored the most serious possibility, muttering to herself.
"He promised to stay by my side always—"
Saying this, Nero was about to search everywhere possible to find traces of Takumi.
"Nero! What are you going to do?"
A voice came from Nero's upper right.
Nero even subconsciously ignored the difference in the voice, looking up in surprise.
Red hair, huge bosom, holding a long sword.
It was an acquaintance, but not Takumi.
Nero recognized the visitor's identity at a glance.
"...Boudica?"
The visitor was none other than Boudica, one of Nero's historical rivals, and she was also the one who used her Noble Phantasm to block the attack of [Photon Ray] for Nero just now.
"Why are you here?"
Boudica jumped down from the roof, picked up her shield that fell on the ground, and then replied:
"Don't misunderstand. I just heard that Master came here, so I came to lend him a hand."
Looking at Nero, who cared greatly about her image, standing before her disheveled and covered in dust, Boudica, who roughly knew how fierce the battle just now was, hesitated for a moment.
"I didn't expect you to be beaten into such a sorry state... By the way, where is Master? Did he not come here with you?"
Saying this, Boudica looked around in confusion.
As far as she knew, Takumi should have been following Nero all along.
"...Just now, in a critical situation, Performer pushed me away and shoved his Noble Phantasm into my hands. Plus your Noble Phantasm, that's how I can stand here safe and sound. But where Performer himself is... I don't know either..."
Nero fell silent for two seconds, her hand holding the flag tightening involuntarily.
"Hah? He gave the Noble Phantasm to you? Doesn't that mean his whole person was exposed to that terrifying attack just now?"
Boudica's shocked voice suddenly rose several pitches.
Taking an Anti-Fortress Noble Phantasm head-on, was there any way to survive?
"No, Performer should still have a chance of survival. He has an ability that can ignore any attack. Even with the attack just now, he should still be able to survive..."
Because of Boudica's arrival, Nero also calmed down.
But the problem was, where was Takumi washed away to?
Eager to find Takumi immediately, Nero, without another word, was about to go search for traces of Takumi in any possible place.
"Hey! You're not thinking of going to find Master, are you?"
Boudica hurriedly grabbed Nero, looking serious.
"Think clearly about what is most important right now! I didn't see the little Master's figure from afar just now. If you go searching like looking for a needle in a haystack now, how much time will it take until you find him?"
"And over there—"
Boudica pointed in the direction she just saw Altera leaving.
"That guy is already heading towards the capital of Rome. With her destructive power, it probably won't take much time to wipe the Roman capital off the map—Now tell me, what is the thing you truly must do?!"
Listening to Boudica's words, Nero was a bit dazed.
'...If the capital of Rome is completely destroyed, it will probably cause the Roman Empire to disappear directly from my generation...'
Then there would be no need to save the Human Order, because it would end prematurely.
"I understand—Intercept Altera. Absolutely cannot let her approach the Roman capital!"
Nero took a deep breath, tightly gripping the two weapons in her hands.
"It's just... you can see my current state too. So Boudica, can I ask you to intercept Altera together with me?"
Nero looked at Boudica with a gaze carrying a bit of pleading.
Boudica, who didn't expect Nero to soften like this, stiffly turned her head away, not looking into Nero's eyes.
"Otherwise, what do you think I came here for?"
Actually, even if you didn't say that, I would have helped you anyway!