Information Center, Terminated

...I see. So they obtain letters and compose phenomena.

Orias. Vapula. Zagan. Valac. Andras. Andrealphus. Cimeies. Amdusias.

Almost half of the 72 Demon Gods are in charge of wisdom...

The 59th through the 67th are specifically correlated with the theme of knowledge and the sciences.

A gathering of intellect. Any plans they come up with will certainly be troublesome, but they haven't been very effective against the voraciousness of the Roman army.

Raw power alone should be enough to push them back. If I could ask for more, I'd want something with a bit of extra flair, but...

I suppose we need to procure such things ourselves. Are we ready?

We're good, Professor. I'm ready anytime. I'll annihilate the nine pillars over there.

I guess it's not possible to completely take them out, but that's fun in and of itself. I get to keep fighting, right?

That gives me a chance to try out a bunch of things. Over a hundred different tactics come to mind.

...Too much is just as bad as not enough. But I don't think you'll understand.

One hundred is too many. Normally, I'd suggest you carefully select ten tactics and focus on improving them.

But this situation is the exception. If there's an infinite supply of enemies, there's nothing better than having as many tactics as possible.

You can go all-out this time. Don't worry about running out of magical energy.

It'd be virtually impossible to capture and analyze the entire Temple of Time, but I was able to study the mechanics of its throne.

It's an enormous solid magical summoning circle with planetary magecraft at its core. If I'm right about that, then we have a little something up our sleeve, too.

That's amazing, Professor. So are we, like, sucking up magical energy from the enemy?

I don't really like that. Their writhing magical energy gives me the creeps.

No, I'm not going to let you use that. We're just going to use its structure to our advantage.

I will create a path for the magical energy. I may not be a Master currently, but in principle, it should be possible.

I'll leave it to you. Professor, have at it.

That's my line... No matter. I'll do the best I can, my king.

Roger that, my future retainer! Now let's go wild on the battlefield again, Bucephalus!

...!!!

And another helper. Now, let's get going, my future rival!

...!!!

Are you managing to control him? Well, as long as he's not attacking us, I suppose he's under control...

Haha. Yes, he's holding back. Darius III, the man destined to become my greatest rival.

The final Persian King of the Achaemenid Empire. Though he doesn't quite feel real to me yet...

You know, I don't hate you. I probably even like you.

...I don't know how the future me will be, but I don't think he'd hate you. Yes, I'm sure of it.

...

Even now, I don't want to wait for my own future to have a chance to fight you. We couldn't do it back in Rome.

But I'm sorry. That just won't be possible right now.

...

I'm not sure if your words are getting through to him. He has a high-ranking Madness Enhancement on him, after all.

Sorry, but this exchange might be pointless.

You're right. It's really just to fulfill my selfish desires. So I want to say this one thing before we go on our endless assault.

King Darius. How can you stand your urges...

I'm sure you want to kill me with all of your being, so why are you fighting those nine pillars instead?

It'd make sense if it was because you couldn't fight me if the world ended, but that can't be it.

Right. Maybe...and this is just a maybe...

Through that Madness Enhancement of yours, you saw the possibility of us fighting side by side.

!!!!

Ascension!? Alexander, you've overstimulated him!

Haha. It wasn't really a joke. But see? He's still not attacking. Aw, you...

...No, pushing him further would be a bad idea...

Sorry to keep you waiting. Anyway, let's go!

Darius III and Lord El-Melloi II, my future rival and my future retainer! Let us go forth!

!!

Tyranny! Tyranny! Tyranny! Will you whip my flesh?! A never-ending sea of flesh is the symbol of tyranny!

Harm me. Strike me. I will hit you back with twice that strength!

Don't use your Noble Phantasm at close range, Spartacus! Lu Bu, you're up too far... Well, it doesn't matter anymore!

Tear them down! Break them and advance! Your destructive power is more than welcome right now!

...!!

I know. I know. I'm not trying to act like the king. I don't want to be the commander either, so there's no need to get angry with me!

I guess it's a sign that they're warming up to me...

When all of this is truly over, I'm downing all the liquor I can handle.

And what's Boudica doing, leaving me alone on babysitting duty... Oh, I see.

Great. She picks this moment for a heart-to-heart. ...I guess I'll leave her alone for now.

Don't falter! Push them back! If you can't keep your formation, call for your emperor!

I'll head over there and chop that pillar of flesh right up!

...Though this headache is getting to me.

Come on, take it a little easier. Nero Claudius!

You're taking part in battle when you're not really either human nor a Heroic Spirit, so don't push yourself too hard.

It's my job to put my life on the line. Your job is to be the emperor and command this army.

But... It looks like there's some reinforcements getting all worked up on the right flank there...

Anyway, pull yourself together and take your place.

...Thanks, Boudica. This magical energy overflowing from my body is working me up.

Sometimes it is difficult being so talented. Also, this headache is just driving me crazy.

Well, that's a rare thing indeed for Your Imperial Majesty to listen to orders without protest.

Umu. I am the great ruler who receives thunderous applause...

...No, I'm not truly a great ruler, I imagine.

I won't make any excuses. I remember what happened in Britannia. I had...

...You and your daughters, and your homeland... I conquered it through diabolic means.

Well, that's not something you did yourself. I'm sure it was just some magistrate acting alone. As a Heroic Spirit, I know that now.

The emperor is responsible for the immoral acts of their retainers.

Well, that's true.

...Yes, well let's be honest about it all. It's no secret that I will never forgive Rome for what it did.

I'm fine with being defiled, though I'd certainly rather not be. But you, Rome, defiled my daughters, my homeland.

You broke your agreement with my husband. You simply did whatever you wanted to us all.

...

But my revenge is long over. So, we're done talking about this, too.

Well, I suppose if my Spirit Origin gets messed with, I might not be so understanding.

But that's fine. I am who I am now. That's why I won't say any more.

Actually, I'm more curious about you, Nero. I killed plenty of Roman women and children.

In Londinium, with countless parents begging for their lives...

...Don't say it, Boudica. Please don't say any more than that.

I can't bear to hear more than that. I'm sorry. Our deep-seated resentment of each other will likely continue forever.

So... Don't say it, Boudica.

...Yes, that's true. You're absolutely right.

I died a long time ago. Heroic Spirits are shadows carved into human history, and they're not the actual individuals who lived in that past.

If that's the case, why not be the bigger man? Right, Lord Nero!?

U-umu?

I'm a Heroic Spirit who isn't the actual person, and I'm going to forgive the emperor who's unclear whether she's a Heroic Spirit or the actual person!

...!

How long are you two going to mess around!? How long are you going to leave me to deal with Spartacus and Lu Bu?

Don't you mean the Demon God Pil... Never mind, my apologies. I'll be right there!

Were you able to talk?

...Thank you. Now I can go all-out.

Don't mention it. There's no need to be fearful of the future.

Now, let's finish this final battle, once and for all. Brave warriors await us on the battlefield!

...People are fighting.

I've gotten used to this scene. The brave. The heroes. In the pursuit of glory, they spill their blood and lose their flesh.

It's valiant, but also gruesome. Like a meal accompanied by a tale of heroism.

It may look glorious, but it's actually cruel. Don't you agree, Altera?

...That's not a question I can answer. I don't feel anything.

You really think so? I see you as a person right now.

At the very least, you're different than you were 14,000 years ago. And I'm not just talking about the scale of your Spirit Origin.

We haven't forgotten about what happened 14,000 years ago. My sister Medusa might not remember, but we do.

The gods couldn't beat you in the ancient past. Not the great one who fell from the stars, the giant that smashed the earth.

You crossed an ocean of stars, right? In that sense, we're the same. Although, we ended up quite different.

You were destruction itself. The natural order of the heavens and earth, and even the conceptual gods themselves lost to you.

Your presence was deadly to the twelve gods of Olympus.

...What about this time? Which side will you be on?

I was brought here by my connection with Fujimaru.

I see. So you're going to be on the humans' side. I guess it would be problematic if they were collected before you destroyed them.

I don't understand. I don't understand half of what you say.

I don't really understand myself. I'm sure it's because I'm a Heroic Spirit that has been cut off from its original being.

I am incomplete. I only have the memories of when I ran through the plains as a great king of destruction.

The great one...? I... I don't get it.

That's fortunate for us. I wonder if your Spirit Origin's been damaged.

However, here is what I think now:

I might be destruction, a tool meant to destroy civilization...

But I don't want it to end here. I don't want things to end here, only knowing the sword.

I want to ride a horse and pass through a prairie like the wind.

I want to dress up like a bride, and someday make good food.

I don't want things to end yet.

...Oh my. I thought you were still no more than an avatar of destruction even after so many years had passed.

But for you to finally say that after you've died and become a Heroic Spirit... You really must have trouble with words.

I guess the only thing I can do is apologize.

I'm sorry, girl of the prairie who calls herself Altera.

You became human a long time ago.

Uncertain. Incomprehensible. We do not understand your reasoning for fighting even after going against us.

A ragtag group that doesn't know the true value of the Age of Gods. Ignorant militants. A hodgepodge of Heroic Spirits.

How can such a puny and poor group push us nine Demon Gods back!?

Our desires, wishes, and respect are what give Rome its light. We cannot lose to a lump of fear and despair.

It's laughable, really. And...

What is the matter, Holy Progenitor? Why are you looking over there...

This sound! From the sky... Something's falling on the Demon God Pillar!?

So much magical energy...!!

A pillar of light rammed into the Demon God...! It's so bright, I cannot see anything! What's going on!?

...Teardrop Photon Ray.

I guess it was a little too much to shoot that off with this Spirit Origin. But we have drawn first blood.

The people of Rome, I will destroy. But...

But this time it won't be your civilization. It will be those who bring destruction down on us.

...I can see it. That's Altera's sword!

It looks like she wanted to get a surprise attack off on the Demon God Pillar, but...

Umu! I guess I'm always late to the party! Yes... I mean...?

What was that? That was an amazing Noble Phantasm! I don't think we've seen that one before, have we?

...!!!

Tyranny!!!

There, there. Calm down, calm down. Don't just run off towards any magical energy you sense.

No, on second thought, the Demon God Pillars have the most magical energy around. Just follow your instincts.

...!!!

...Holy Progenitor. That looks like Mars' sword.

Yes, no doubt.

Mars... Yes, now that you mention it, Altera loved the God of War for some reason...

Nero, you wouldn't know, but that's the true sword of my father, the War God Mars.

What...? Holy Progenitor, what did you just say!?

It's a giant sword of light that the God of War, Mars, who is virtually manifested in satellite orbit, wields. The conceptualization of war itself.

It uses Altera's magical energy in itself, but its power output is compounded. Probably.

It's been a while since I've seen it. Looks like she wields it more skillfully than my father.

???

...A virtual manifestation of a Divine Spirit? You're kidding.

I don't really understand, but... Umu. Having the God of War around would be pretty helpful, Holy Progenitor!

Do you really think so, Nero?

Umu! I do!

At one time, I wasn't sure what to do when she came walking towards the Roman capital.

But Altera's on our side now. And that's like having the God of War on our side!

Rome will certainly win this battle!

Yeah...! Your Imperial Majesty, Nero, please give us your orders!

Umu. This will be the final battle! But before that...

The Roman army and I shall handle things here. You go ahead, Fujimaru.

The world will not end! All paths connect to our seven hills!

Forward! Conquer! Your advance will open up the path to tomorrow's world, to Rome!

？！

...Umu!