Thanks for the invitation. I'm in Type-Moon, inheriting the legacy of Zi-O.

“I can observe two reactions here. You’re facing more than one Servant! Be careful.” Dr. Roman’s fingers were also tapping rapidly. After the fierce battle just now, he dared not underestimate Nian Zhuo and his group in any future battles.

-------Because who knows if another Servant might suddenly pull out an army out of thin air.

"Boudica, where is she!" Nero shouted anxiously, unable to control his emotions. "Answer me!"

All that responded to her was the ever-cold, indifferent city wall and a silent atmosphere.

"You're definitely not dead! I know, I know it. You won't die!"

Finally, there was a slight reaction from inside the fortress gates, and two Servants slowly walked out.

"...Hmm. Aren't these words a bit too self-centered?" Unfortunately, it wasn't Boudica. The two Servants who came out were a man with a cigarette still dangling from his lips and a boy with fiery red hair.

The boy smiled and reassured Nero, who was anxiously about to draw his sword, "But don't worry. She's fine." He then nudged the man beside him, adding, "She was just under his spell and is sleeping soundly right now."

“It’s a restraint magic trick.” The man, looking troubled, shook his head helplessly. “It’s not about sleeping soundly at all…”

“But she’s asleep? Sleeping soundly!” The boy argued with the man, completely forgetting that they were on a battlefield.

“…You all.” Someone always remembers them. Nero looked at them, who seemed oblivious to their presence, and raised the primordial fire in his hand. “I never expected you two to show yourselves so shamelessly. You two are the generals of this fortress, aren’t you? I allow you to state your names to me, Emperor Nero.”

"Are we supposed to introduce ourselves?" Pointing to himself, the boy looked troubled after Nero nodded in agreement. "Hmm, let me think. How should I say it?" Frustrated, he scratched his hair and said innocently, "I have many names. This is so difficult. Hmm."

Finally, just before Nero's patience reached its limit, the boy clapped his hands and decided, "Okay—we'll use this!"

"I am Alexander." Resting his chin on his left hand, the young man said with a friendly smile, "To be precise, Alexander III. Also, he is—" He pointed to the black-haired man silently smoking beside him.

“Lord El-Melloi II.” Interrupting the boy beside him, the man took a deep drag to finish his cigarette and exhaled a smoke ring. “For certain reasons, no, based on some kind of fate, I became his strategist.” As for whose strategist he was, that goes without saying.

“I am not a true Heroic Spirit.” He closed his eyes, took out another cigarette, and put it in his mouth. “If I were a Heroic Spirit, I would need to give a different name.” He waved his hand at the group, looking tired. “So you can forget my name.”

“Oh dear, that won’t do.” The boy pointed seriously at the “strategist” beside him, his face full of indignation. “To her, we are enemy generals.” As he spoke, he smiled and turned his gaze back to Nero.

"Right, the Roman Emperor?"

“Of course.” Upon hearing the word “Emperor,” Nero puffed out his chest confidently. “…What? Do you still want to say you don’t want to be our enemy now?”

"Yes," the boy readily admitted.

“Exactly… enemies should…” Nero was about to praise the boy’s bravery when she slowed down a beat and looked at him in surprise. “Wh…what?”

"Don't want to be enemies...?" Mashu had never seen such enemies before, and couldn't help but feel a little curious. "Aren't you enemy Servants?"

“I am unowned. I have no Master.” The man pointed to himself, indicating his innocence. He then gestured to the boy beside him, “Alexander is a different story.”

"I guess my personality clashes with my Master's. That's why I'm here based on my own will." The boy touched his chest, looking unwilling.

He then pointed to Nero, who was stunned by their astonishing remarks.

"That's why I'm waiting here. Waiting for you to arrive."

"Waiting for... my arrival?" Only now did Nero notice the boy's adorable face, and his words were somewhat hesitant.

"Hmm. I'm a little interested in you." Admitting his purpose quite readily, the boy continued, "The reason I used a little trick on you and harassed you a bit is because of this." He scratched his cheek slightly, a hint of shyness in his voice, "Just so I can have a proper chat with you."

“If possible—like this, let’s talk on the battlefield.” The boy thanked his teacher beside him with a tone of great satisfaction and joy. “Thank you very much, Lord El-Melloi II. You have perfectly fulfilled my willful wish.”

"Don't talk nonsense." The man spat out the still-burning cigarette butt from his mouth and retorted with an uncomfortable look, "It's mostly thanks to your command."

“…?” Nero was a little confused. Why were her enemies suddenly starting to flatter each other in front of her?

Fortunately, someone always manages to stop their mutual flattery.

The roar of an army could be heard in the distance, and at the same time, a large number of hostile reactions appeared on Dr. Roman's screen.

"...Senior, Your Majesty the Emperor!" Mashu rushed to the front and shouted frantically, "The enemy is attacking this way, and it seems they're coming for Your Majesty!"

"Hmm, is this a pincer attack?!" Nero quickly turned his head, aiming the Primal Flame in his hand at the two people in front of him once again.

"Ah. Don't worry. We won't do anything." The boy quickly waved his hand to distance himself from the enemy, staring at Nero's face as he spoke slowly, even bypassing Nero to observe the allied soldiers charging from behind.

"But—" the boy suddenly said regretfully, "I'm afraid it's too late to stop the Allied soldiers. They'll almost certainly attack as soon as they spot you."

"They're here!" Just as they were talking, the enemy's first wave of attack arrived.

"Attack!" Ritsuka shouted, simultaneously urging Nencho, who was inexplicably lost in thought, "Nencho-san! Remember to protect His Majesty Nero!"

"...Huh? Oh, I see!" Nencho only realized the enemy's attack after hearing Ritsuka's shout.

However, before engaging in battle, Nianzhuo glanced furtively at the boy who was smiling and retreating to show his innocence, and sighed.

"You know... how could such a cute child grow up to be like that..."

Without further thought, Nianzhuo threw himself into the battle.

Hmm, are you all awake yet, my little cuties?

Alexander kept his word, observing Nero's group's battle from a distance without intervening.

The closer they got to the Allied capital, the stronger the enemy seemed to become, at least according to Nian Zhuo's own perception.

At first, he was able to keep an eye on Alexander and El-Melloi II, but in the latter half of the battle, even he found it somewhat difficult.

"Won't that mean we'll have to use other knights' watches to deal with these soldiers later on?" Wiping non-existent sweat from his forehead, Nian Zhuo tapped his head helplessly through his mask.

The last enemy soldier fell to the ground, and before Nero could even rest, he heard footsteps approaching from behind.

“…!” Holding the primordial fire, he quickly turned around and realized that it was Alexander III.

"...Is it over?" Alexander asked with a hint of concern, walking around Nero to see the last enemy soldier lying behind her. The battle had temporarily come to an end.

“Come, let’s talk.” Pointing behind Nero, Alexander’s tone remained unhurried. “We need to hurry. Our soldiers are dying one by one. I don’t want that to happen, so—” The boy extended his hand to Nero, smiling as he spoke.

"Come on, let's talk."

“…I don’t understand. I simply don’t understand!” The primordial fire in his hand trembled, revealing the indignation in the emperor’s heart. “How many soldiers in my ranks have died fighting against your army! And the slaughter continues.” Behind him, the sounds of enemies falling were mixed with the deaths of his own Roman soldiers. Nero turned away, unable to bear it any longer. “Like this…”

"How dare you say all of this was just for the purpose of chatting?!" Unable to resist pointing the blade at the boy in front of him again, Nero's eyes were swollen as if they were spitting fire. "You bastard...!"

“Hmm.” The boy readily admitted that Nero’s words were true. “Human life is precious. I agree with that. But I believe this is the best course of action.” Then, Alexander’s words puzzled Nero. “Because I care about you. Nero Claudius, the fifth emperor of the Roman Empire. Why—why are you fighting?”

"Why don't you submit to the United Empire?" With the first question, the boy continued, his expression gradually becoming serious. "Why fight like that... no, like this? If I choose to become one of the United [Emperors], there will be no more pointless fighting."

“It’s pointless…” Nero said softly, tilting his head to one side.

But then, the primordial fire in his hand was engulfed in intense flames. Nero pointed his sword directly at Alexander's nose, his face contorted with rage as he shouted, "You bastard, how dare you say this war is pointless?!"

“So what if I said it?” Alexander also tilted his head back, his tone unwavering.

“…Unforgivable.” The flames of the primordial fire in his hand grew even hotter. This time, it was not the fire of a swordsman’s fighting passion, but the fire of rage that erupted from his heart, touched by his enemy.

“Whether it’s a blood relative who has been resurrected from the dead… or a wise ruler from the past…” Recalling the faces of all the enemies she had fought so far, Nero closed her eyes and remembered their appearances. “Whether it’s a fierce general from ancient times… or a famous king from legend…” The blade plunged into the earth, and flames scorched and dried up the land. The girl waved her hand and shouted loudly.

"Now! At this moment, the one who reigns over the land in the name of the Emperor is none other than Nero Claudius!"

"Blessed by Heaven and the people, loving and caring for his subjects, only one person possesses these qualifications! The one and only Holy King!"

"It is precisely because it is unique that it can become a shining star!"

"It is precisely because we are unique that we are allowed to have the arrogance to bear everything!"

"Even if all the gods of Rome descended upon the world and commanded me to submit to the allied forces, I would never back down!"

"How can we retreat...!" It was as if he were speaking to the enemy, and also to himself: "With this belief, overcoming difficulties is my life, my destiny!"

"Never back down, reign supreme, and bring prosperity and glory to the world! I am the one! I am the undisputed ruler of the world! [Rome]!"

"Beautiful!" Alexander gazed approvingly at Nero, whose fighting spirit had been rekindled. "This is the answer I've been waiting for. You've passed." He pointed a finger at Nero, the boy—no, 'The Conqueror' Alexander—and proclaimed loudly.

“You are worthy to be a tyrant, no, an emperor! You undoubtedly possess the qualifications!” Drawing the short sword that had always been at his waist, Alexander also pointed it at Nero. “The rose that brings glory and prosperity, hinting at the unique sin of mankind—the fallen number beast! [666]!”

[Here's a bit of background: 666 is considered to represent many things, including being a human number, or the number of the evil Trinity—Satan, the First Beast, and the False Prophet (16:13). If "seven" is considered a "perfect number" in the Bible, and three sevens represent complete perfection, then 666 would be an "imperfect number." Early readers might have applied this number to Emperor Nero, who symbolized the most wicked man in the Roman Empire! (The letters of Nero's Greek name represent the number 666). Whatever this number represents, it symbolizes the global rule of this evil Trinity, aimed at undermining the work of Christ and overthrowing him.]

“You…you’re even qualified to be the Demon King!” Gripping his short sword tightly, Alexander was also filled with high fighting spirit.

“Shut up…” Nero, who loathed the string of numbers, yelled to stop Alexander from continuing, “Shut up, shut up, shut up! I don’t want to hear any more! Therefore…!” Turning around, Nero called out to Nian Zhuo and his group who were resting.

"Nenju, Mashu, and Ritsuka! Give me a hand and crush this guy—" Unable to contain her rage any longer, Nero gripped the hilt of her sword and thrust it at Alexander.

However, the blow that should have severed Alexander's head was blown away by a sudden gust of wind, and Nero quickly retreated to avoid being sliced ​​to pieces by the wind blades.

“Hmph… If you want to ignore me, your ‘strategist,’ I’ll be quite troubled too.” The man who called himself El-Melloi II took a deep drag of his cigarette, watched himself exhale a smoke ring in the air, and then snapped his fingers.

Instantly, a massive magic array appeared beneath Nian Zhuo's feet.

"...?! What?" Before he could finish speaking, Nian Zhuo's figure was engulfed by the pillar of fire that rose into the air.

"Looks like you're the biggest threat among these people." The man closed his eyes, took a drag of his cigarette, raised one hand, and then let it fall.

Many huge rocks appeared out of nowhere in the sky and crashed down on the heads of the group.

It looks like this is going to be a really tough battle...

Yes, it's another beautiful day.

A strong wind swept across the soil.

Flames erupted.

A huge rock fell from the sky.

The dazzling magic tricks give you almost no chance to breathe.

"Ugh...?!" Struggling to deflect the oncoming emerald-green gale, Mashu's boots scraped another mark on the ground. "The attack... was too heavy..."

“Yes.” The flames on the Primordial Flame in his hand flickered slightly, and Nero was a little out of breath. “The enemy magician was really too troublesome; we couldn’t even get close…”

"Clang, clang---Hey!" The sound of metal clashing came from the pillar of fire. Nianzhuo waved his hand and slapped the ground to extinguish the flames.

"Hmph---?" A hint of doubt flashed in his eyes, and the man exhaled a smoke ring. "Interesting."

"Hiss----" The armor, still hot from the flames, made a sound as it rapidly cooled down upon contact with air.

"That was close..." Nian Zhuo shook his hand, the sound of bones cracking coming from his body. "But I didn't expect that I would be the one to be tricked first this time."

"Mr. Nianzhuo?" Mashu retreated while moving to Nianzhuo's side, quickly glancing over him and letting out a sigh of relief after confirming there were no obvious injuries. "It's good that you're alright."

"Yes, indeed." The palpitation he felt earlier still seemed to linger in his body. Nian Zhuo quietly let out a long sigh of relief. "Luckily, the system notified me in time."

"It's alright, host." A cold, emotionless voice echoed in Nian Zhuo's mind. The system, which had been offline for a long time, finally reminded him a second before Nian Zhuo was about to be engulfed by flames, "If you really want to thank the system, you can kneel down and lick [censored] when you go to sleep later, okay?"

"You must be joking..." Nian Zhuo, who hadn't been scared by the death threat earlier, now felt a little uneasy because of the system's few words. "If that [censored] is said, this book will definitely be banned."

"...Oh. Although I don't know why the host suddenly crossed the timeline, let's focus on the enemy in front of us for now." The system's voice grew softer and softer, disappearing from Nian Zhuo's mind.