Location: Septem - The Eternal Empire (Ancient Rome)
Year: AD 60
Status: Humanity Foundation Value: D+
The Rayshift sensation faded. The smell of ash from Orleans was replaced by the scent of dry earth, olives, and dust.
They stood on a paved Roman road, surrounded by rolling hills.
Raiden sniffed the air.
"Oregano. Garlic. Garum sauce. And... sweat."
Ishtar looked around, disappointed. "Dirt? I was promised the glory of Rome! Where is the marble? Where are the golden statues?"
Melusine floated a few inches off the ground to avoid dirtying her boots. "The mana density is lower here. But the air tastes... historic."
Jalter, now wearing a casual outfit (black biker jacket and jeans provided by Raiden's "Imaginary Wardrobe" because her armor was conspicuous), kicked a pebble.
"It's too bright. I hate the sun. Can we burn something?"
Ritsuka checked his wrist comms. "Doctor? We've landed."
Dr. Romani (Hologram): "Coordinates confirmed. You are in the outskirts of Rome. But be careful, the history here is completely messed up. The 'United Roman Empire' has conquered almost everything. The current Emperor, Nero, is fighting a losing war."
"Nero," Raiden mused. "The tyrant who fiddled while Rome burned. Sounds like my kind of entertainment."
They heard clashing steel over the hill.
A small group of Roman soldiers (wearing red) was being overwhelmed by a massive army of soldiers (wearing purple/black).
In the center of the red group was a short young woman in a red dress, wielding a strangely shaped red sword.
"Umu! Do not falter! The glory of Rome is with us!"
She swung her sword, Aestus Estus, with grace, but she was outnumbered 50 to 1.
A massive golem - magic technology from the enemy - raised its stone fist to crush her.
"Imperial Privilege!" The woman shouted, trying to buff her defense, but she was exhausted.
BOOM.
The golem's fist came down.
But it didn't hit the girl.
It hit a hand.
Raiden stood there, holding the golem's massive fist with one hand. He looked bored.
"You're blocking the road," Raiden said to the golem.
He squeezed.
CRUNCH.
The stone fist shattered into dust.
Raiden swept his leg. The golem's legs crumbled, and the construct fell. Raiden stomped on its head, reducing it to gravel.
The enemy soldiers froze.
The girl in red blinked, her green eyes wide.
"W-What? A barbarian? No... a hero?"
Raiden turned to her.
He looked at her face. Then he looked at Jalter. Then he looked back at the girl.
"Another Saber-face," Raiden sighed. "Is there a factory that mass-produces you people?"
Jeanne (Ruler) walked up, squinting. "She looks like Artoria... but shorter. And... louder."
Jalter crossed her arms. "And more annoying. Look at that dress. It's transparent! Have some shame!"
(Says the woman who wears a corset made of hate).
The girl shook off her shock and puffed out her chest.
"Umu! Well done, stranger! You have saved the Emperor! I am Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus! But you may call me Nero!"
She struck a pose, sparkles seemingly appearing out of nowhere.
Melusine tilted her head. "She is... extremely confident for someone who was about to be squashed."
Ishtar narrowed her eyes. "I sense a rival diva. Raiden, don't look at her. She has zero divine aura. Just a human with an ego."
Raiden poked Nero's forehead.
"Hey, Shorty. We're looking for the capital. And a guy named Lev."
Nero rubbed her forehead, pouting. "Shorty?! How dare you! I am the Emperor! And Lev... that court mage traitor! He is with the United Empire! They have taken my capital!"
"Taken?" Raiden raised an eyebrow. "So you're homeless?"
Nero coughed. "I am merely... strategically displaced! We are regrouping!"
Ritsuka stepped in. "Emperor Nero, we are from Chaldea. We're here to help restore history."
Nero's eyes lit up. "Help? Excellent! I hereby appoint you as my Praetor! And you..." She looked at Raiden. "...you shall be my Imperial Chef! You look like you know food!"
Raiden smirked.
"I know how to eat food. If you want me to cook, the menu is usually the enemy."
Before they could discuss positions, a roar shook the ground.
From the enemy ranks, a massive man charged. His eyes were bulging, his skin grey.
Caligula (Berserker).
"NEROOOOOO! MY NIECE! I MUST... I MUST LOVE YOU... BY KILLING YOU!"
He was fast. A blur of madness and muscle.
Mash raised her shield. "Servant reaction! Berserker class!"
Nero gasped. "Uncle?!"
Raiden stepped forward.
"This family reunion is too loud."
Caligula swung his fist, enough force to shatter a chariot.
Raiden caught the fist.
The impact created a shockwave that blew the helmets off the nearby soldiers.
Raiden looked into Caligula's mad eyes.
[Lust: Sovereign's Domination]
"Quiet," Raiden commanded.
The red madness in Caligula's eyes flickered. The authority of a True King clashed with the Madness Enhancement.
Usually, Berserkers couldn't be reasoned with.
But Raiden wasn't reasoning. He was ordering.
Caligula froze. His mouth hung open.
"Diana...? No... Dragon...?"
Raiden slapped Caligula across the face.
SMACK.
The Berserker spun in the air and crashed face-first into the dirt.
"Take a nap," Raiden said.
He turned to Nero. "Your uncle has anger issues. He needs a Snickers."
Later, at Nero's makeshift camp.
Nero sat on a wooden crate (her "throne") and explained the situation. The United Empire was led by powerful Servants summoned by the Holy Grail. They had resurrected past Emperors like Caesar and Romulus.
"And Lev Lainur," Nero clenched her fist. "He summoned a monster. A pillar of flesh that eats mana."
Raiden's ears perked up.
"Pillar of flesh?"
"Yes," Nero nodded. "It appeared in the capital. It looks like... a giant stalk with eyes."
Raiden looked at Jalter.
"Grill Master. Prepare the fire."
Jalter twitched. "Stop calling me that! But... fine. If it's a monster, I'll burn it."
Raiden turned to Nero.
"Listen, Emperor. I'll win your war. I'll kill the fake emperors. I'll retake your city."
Nero's eyes sparkled. "Umu! Truly?! What do you desire in return? Gold? Titles? My hand in marriage?"
Melusine's arm-blades clicked out instantly. "No."
Ishtar summoned Maanna. "Absolutely not."
Jalter lit a fireball. "Try it, shortstack."
Mio sighed. "Here we go again."
Raiden ignored the jealousy storm.
"I want the Pillar. The squid thing. It's mine."
Nero tilted her head. "You... want the monster? To study?"
"To eat," Raiden said seriously. "I'm craving seafood."
Location: Gaul - United Empire Forward Base
The group marched toward the first stronghold.
Guarding it was a man in a red toga, sitting on a chair, eating grapes. He was rotund but radiated charisma.
Julius Caesar (Saber).
"Oh?" Caesar wiped grape juice from his chin. "Nero? And... who are these barbarians?"
He looked at Raiden.
"My, you look dangerous. But tell me... do you appreciate the fine arts? The art of words? The art of... seduction?"
Caesar winked at Mash. Mash hid behind her shield.
Raiden walked up to Caesar.
Caesar drew his sword, Crocea Mors.
"Violence is so crude. But if I must..."
Raiden looked at Caesar's stomach.
"You're fat."
Caesar froze. "I... beg your pardon? This is prosperity! This is the weight of Rome!"
"It's marbling," Raiden corrected. "High-quality fat content. You'd make a good bacon."
Caesar turned pale. "Cleopatra... help me..."
Raiden didn't eat Caesar (humanoid Servants were low on his menu preference unless they were Shadow Servants). Instead, he flicked Caesar's forehead.
THWACK.
Caesar flew backward, crashing through the gate of his own fort.
"Victory!" Nero cheered. "Umu! The Fat One has fallen!"
Inside the fort, they found a communication crystal connecting to the Capital.
A holographic image appeared.
A man in a green top hat and suit. Lev Lainur.
"So, the rats of Chaldea have arrived," Lev sneered. "And you brought... what is that? A Dragon?"
Raiden walked up to the hologram.
"Hey, Leprechaun."
Lev's eye twitched. "I am a Grand Mage of the 72 Demon Gods! I am Flauros!"
"Flauros," Raiden tasted the name. "Sounds like a brand of flour. Listen, Flauros. Stay right there. Keep yourself moist. I don't want my calamari dried out."
Lev laughed, a distorted sound. "Arrogant beast. Come to the Capital. I will feed you to the Grail!"
The hologram cut off.
Raiden turned to the group.
"Alright. We march to the Capital."
Ishtar: "Wait! What about the loot in this fort?!"
Raiden: "Take it all. But leave the kitchen supplies. We're going to need a lot of soy sauce for the boss battle."