Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

At the same time, the raised round shield, with the runes above it lighting up, formed a huge protective triangle, guarding the entire carriage.

The Valkyrie, dressed in a haori, gracefully steps on the magic circle that forms in mid-air, like a swan dancing, performing a solo war dance before heading to the battlefield!

hoohoo...

In an instant, a milky white beam of light shot into the sky, and a celestial horse with silver wings on its back burst out of the light curtain, joyfully raising its neck and neighing.

"Fire arrows! Fire arrows! Where are the magician and the priest? Quickly!"

The terrifying surge of magical energy caused the pampered commander to gasp for breath, his face to change drastically, and he hurriedly summoned the mysterious forces within his legion.

A dense rain of arrows struck again, and a dry, lengthy chanting rang out from the inside of the city wall. One spell bullet after another was launched, and magic arrays took shape one after another.

Brunhilde swiftly mounted her horse, her blue-purple spear igniting with a cold, chilling blue flame.

Magic Reload! Primal Runes!

Surrounded by ghostly blue flames and runes, a lone rider and his companion surged upstream against the overwhelming onslaught.

But the arrow barely got within three meters of Brunhilde before being burned and frozen by the surrounding eerie blue flames, turning into fragments inch by inch.

The dense barrage of spells was like stones thrown into a lake, barely creating ripples before being broken apart by the runes.

The Valkyrie charged forward with unstoppable momentum, reaching within ten meters of the city wall. The cold glint of her spear tip sent shivers down the commander's spine. He immediately gritted his teeth and frantically mobilized his troops to suppress the attack, summoning a shield formation to protect him.

"Ho!"

However, just as Brunhilde was preparing to seize the commander in one fell swoop, the priests following behind the phalanx solemnly raised their hands, and the four groups of Roman soldiers gathered together, their bodies glowing with a golden-red light. They immediately drew their javelins and, with a roar, hurled them.

Instantly, sharp whistling sounds filled the air, and Brunhilde felt a faint stinging pain between her brows, a warning sign rising within her. She immediately gripped her spear tightly, its blade flashing.

The Valkyrie paused momentarily upon contact with the falling javelin, her movements faltering slightly, her heart heavy with unease.

This power is comparable to that of elite Norse soldiers who have been enchanted by divine magic and gone berserk!

What's even more troublesome is that these javelins are not only powerful and heavy, but also orderly in their arrangement, forming a dense and impenetrable net that is difficult to break through in the short term.

The Roman legions atop the city walls immediately seized this fleeting opportunity, unleashing a barrage of suppression spells, ballistae, divine pronouncements, and magic upon the Valkyrie in mid-air, making it difficult for Brunhilde to advance an inch for the time being.

As the sweating priests chanted incantations, continuously reciting the name of the god of war, Mars, a golden-red glow flowed across the bodies of the Roman soldiers, making them resemble gilded statues. Dark red blood energy emanated from their pores, coalescing into a massive, almost tangible, blood-red wolf.

Bloody Domination... Roman Battlefields...

So that's how it was...

Gazing at the crimson city walls, Samael seemed lost in thought, a hint of regret appearing in his eyes.

Unfortunately, although the Roman legions manifested a trace of Ares' divine power through their battle formation, they still did not sense any sign of their old acquaintance appearing.

However, there were some gains.

Presumably, Rome, lacking heroes with divine blood, used this kind of human battle formation that embodied divine power to hold back the successive attacks of the Persians and Huns.

A herd of cooperative buffalo might make cheetahs and lions flee in terror, but what if you were facing a dragon?

Human beings have their limits.

Samael shook his head slightly, his gaze cold.

"Leg, runes, in the name of Odin, grant me power!"

Meanwhile, Brunhilde, who had suffered repeated setbacks, seized an opportunity to summon the Divine Iron Shield, which blocked several waves of arrows. She then awakened her Swan Attire, flapped her wings of light, raised her spear high, and roared with furrowed brows.

boom!

As the ether and emotions were frantically poured in, the blue-purple spear, amidst the flickering and dancing runes, extended a hundred meters and brutally slammed into the city wall.

With a single strike, the wall trembled violently, and spiderweb-like cracks appeared in large sections of the magically reinforced bricks. The magical barrier that covered the front of the city wall was instantly pierced with a horrifying hole, and hundreds of magicians coughed up blood, their spirits waned and their eyes filled with horror.

Where did that little brat find a demigod?

The commander's pupils shrank to pinpoints, and he couldn't help but gasp, a sense of fear rising within him.

Report to the Pantheon, and pray for divine intervention!

Just as the slightly overweight middle-aged man was about to turn around and flee towards the temple below the city, no matter how much he struggled, he could not take a single step forward.

"Why are you running?"

A gentle, low, playful voice echoed in the commander's ears, and a fair hand was already resting on the man's shoulder.

The commander's short, thick neck was drenched in cold sweat. His stiff, rolling eyes stared at the thousands of soldiers, priests, and magicians around him, all standing motionless like clay puppets, as if burdened by the weight of a mountain. The veins on their hands bulged, and sweat poured down their bodies, yet they could not move an inch. Each of them felt as if they were in hell, lambs to the slaughter, their eyes filled with terror.

Divine grace is as vast as the sea, divine power is as deep as a prison!

It was actually a... deity!

That's a foul! You can't play like that...

Knowing that these two powerful weapons were present, what was the point of fighting? I might as well just open the door and surrender. The commander was on the verge of tears.

Chapter Thirty-Four: Whoever Wins, We'll Listen to Them (1/2)

"This is a Roman fortress! Do you intend to oppose the Empire?! Guards, prepare for battle! If I die, the First Legion Commander will take over!"

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the commander's forehead was covered in sweat, but a flash of ferocity appeared in his eyes, and he roared angrily.

As a key fortress on the front line of Britain, guarding the gateway to Rome, it had to simultaneously face attacks from the Celts and Huns. Without a commander with courage and skill, the Pantheon would naturally not dare to place people on such an important battlefield.

"To be an enemy of Rome? Ha..."

At the same time, the silvery-white, shimmering swan wings fluttered as Brunhilde broke through the magical barrier, flew over the high wall, and carried her petite figure to the fortress.

The little girl, who was half a person's height, broke free from his arms and jumped down, stepping onto the crenellation. Facing a group of Roman soldiers, she took a deep breath, gestured wildly, and began to deliver a passionate speech.

"I am Nero Claudius, the emperor of the Claudius clan, one of the six great clans, the sole heir to the throne of my father Claudius I, the flower of Rome blessed by the gods! I have endured many hardships to expand Rome's territory and am now qualified to enter the Pantheon, receive investiture, and become the emperor to whom you serve!"

Rome is here! The future head of the Claudius family is here! The man you will serve is here!

Brave citizens, fearless warriors, when did the swords of the Romans turn against their own people in the struggle for dirty power?

Answer me with your free will: do you intend to stand in my way and prevent me from moving forward?!

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the Roman soldiers gradually softened. Their steely will to resist Samael's divine might crumbled, and their swords and shields fell limply, clearly indicating that they were now undecided.

What they were trying to stop was Claudius's successor, the future emperor.

It may not be successful, but what if it is?

"Rest assured, gentlemen, as citizens of Rome, we would never do anything to harm Rome. If we truly harbor hostility, you..."

Samael suppressed his imposing manner, patted the slightly overweight commander beside him in a "friendly" manner, looked around, and smiled at the group of Roman soldiers, the meaning of which was self-evident.

As everyone stretched their stiff bodies and looked at each other, they couldn't help but realize that this seemingly massive battle hadn't resulted in a single casualty.

Clearly, the other side was extremely restrained in their actions.

Therefore, many Roman soldiers did not immediately assume a fighting stance, but instead lowered their swords and shields and looked at each other in disbelief.

"Therefore, Commander, please do us the favor of accompanying Lady Nero to the Temple of Mars to activate the Great Altar and verify each other's identities."

The ancient serpent smiled slightly, embraced the commander who seemed to be crying and laughing at the same time, and bowed his head in submission. He then instructed Brunhilde to protect Nero, and together they walked down the city wall. Wherever they went, the Roman soldiers automatically parted to make way for them.

The soldier didn't want to die. He didn't want to die for his country. He had finally climbed to this position. He had food and drink, and his lover had only been with him for a few months. If he had a way to live, who would choose to die?

hum!

Moments later, a solemn tremor emanated from the Temple of Mars in the center of the fortress, the great altar lit up, and a stream of light bearing the mark of a rose shot into the sky.

Divine resonance! It's the Pantheon's response!

The Roman soldiers, who had been watching with bated breath, breathed a sigh of relief, their swords and shields drooping completely.

Even disregarding the future emperor's identity, the two top-tier hero units hidden within their ranks alone made them unwilling to become enemies with the other side.

It's important to understand that when a demigod-level being appears on the battlefield, it's nothing short of a one-sided massacre for ordinary soldiers.

Therefore, in legion battles, heroes of demigod rank and above will generally tacitly seek out opponents of the same level to fight, rather than focusing their attention on these lowly soldiers.

However, this rule is merely a convention and does not apply to all situations.

These two broke through the fortress's blockade with a single attack, their strength is unfathomable.

If we were to actually go to war with this group, I don't know how many lives would be lost.

Meanwhile, in the vast and solemn Temple of Mars, the commander stared at the rose mark that lit up on the high altar, his eyes flickering and his expression uncertain.

The news of this group of people entering the pass to report on their duties has been approved by the Pantheon. This is troublesome.

Now, even if he waits until they leave this area and tries to intercept them halfway, it will be too late, unless he is prepared to bear the wrath of the Pantheon.

Snapped!

A fair hand gently patted the commander's right shoulder. The slightly plump middle-aged man was startled, his body tensing up instantly. He glanced guiltily at the black-haired young man who sat down next to him with a smile.

Intercept? Unless he's got a death wish!

The walking gods are already the strongest beings on earth. Unless the God Ancestor intervenes, who can stop these guys from heading to Rome?

Moreover, the price offered by Agrippina Jr. was generous, but it wasn't enough to keep him working himself to the bone.

"I'm telling you, just let me pass, why make such a fuss?"

Samael sighed and glanced wistfully at the commander who seemed to have already sided with Nero's mother.

The simple, downward gaze made the slightly overweight middle-aged man tremble uncontrollably, like a frog being stared at by a venomous snake. Instinctively, the commander swallowed hard and gave a dry, honest response.

"There's no way around it, people always need to eat..."

"Tsk, the commander's salary isn't low."

"..."

Immediately, seeing the middle-aged man's troubled expression, Samael realized he had asked a foolish question.

Regardless of the era, almost no high-ranking official lives entirely on a fixed salary.

Moreover, judging from the equipment and training of the soldiers inside the city, this guy is quite clear-headed and didn't dare to touch the military funds.

Samael became interested and stroked his chin, asking casually.

"Isn't the entire jurisdiction enough for you to extort money from?"

"This is a military fortress, there's practically nothing to gain here. Even the nearby Celts have been ravaged twice by Caesar and Claudius, they're all penniless now. If they had connections, who would want to stay in this godforsaken place..."

Knowing he was at the mercy of others, the commander decided to be frank, his face filled with sorrow as he honestly revealed his suffering, and finally, dejectedly inquired about the outcome.

"Tell me, what do you intend to do with me?"

"Dispose of? You are loyal to Rome, to the Pantheon. Only the emperor who is appointed to control the Seventh Province has the authority to dispose of a legionary commander, understand?"

Samael patted the slightly overweight middle-aged man on the shoulder and spoke softly, his tone carrying a profound meaning.

The commander's body trembled, and a sudden realization dawned on his eyes. He immediately concealed the sorrow on his face and gave a solemn reply.

"Understood. I will immediately order people to prepare fodder and water, open the city gates, and welcome you all into the city to rest."

The ancient serpent nodded and waved, letting the commander leave without hesitation. It then wandered around the Temple of Mars, trying to find a clue to the disappearance of the gods.

As the slightly overweight middle-aged man returned to the command post and began to reassure the soldiers and send his trusted confidants to deliver orders, the last of his bodyguards hesitated for a moment before cautiously approaching the desk and whispering to the commander.

"Sir, are we really going to rely on a child?"

"Our loyalty is only to Rome, only to our ancestral gods. No matter how the City of Seven Hills changes, I will maintain the defense of the front and defend the territory of Rome. No matter who the emperor is, I am the commander, understand?"

The commander took a sip of tea to moisten his throat and glanced at the guards beside him.

However, the strong and powerful soldier shook his head, completely bewildered.

"idiot!"

After frowning and cursing, the commander threw a signed order at the face of his bodyguard, a cunning glint in his eyes, and spoke in a low voice.

"Whoever wins, we'll listen to them..."

Chapter Thirty-Five: Why Speak Such Blunt Truths? (2/2)

The next day, the rain stopped and the wind died down, the sky cleared, and the well-supplied convoy slowly drove out of the city fortress, accompanied by the commander and Roman soldiers.

On the gentle slope, Boudica glanced back at the slightly overweight middle-aged man on the towering city wall, who was all smiles and waving goodbye. She couldn't help but look at the composed man beside her.

"So, whoever wins, he listens to?"

"What else? Let the commander of the Seventh Legion change his allegiance in full view of everyone because he was captured? Then he will be held accountable by the Pantheon, and he will lose his position as commander. It's better for everyone to compromise."