[Unknown Location – Ancient ruins, hidden from all sight]
The air was thin.
The walls covered in arcane symbols pulsed with a sickly light, barely visible in the gloom. There was no sound, except for the faint whisper of wind brushing against columns corroded by time.
And there, between darkness and absolute solitude...
Lev Lainur Flauros watched.
An obsidian mirror floated before him, showing recent images of the battle. Nero, triumphant but exhausted.
Leonel, steadfast, surrounded by his allies. Caligula, fading away with dignity.
Lev clenched his teeth.
His habitual smile, forced and unpleasantly calm, trembled with contained fury.
—Tsk... pathetic... Caligula, even in his madness, found redemption.
—What kind of threat becomes a martyr...? —he clicked his tongue with disdain, walking slowly before the mirror.
—Leonel... you and your ridiculous concept of justice. Of hope.
—Do you really believe this is your hero's tale? A story where everyone is redeemed, everyone fights together, everyone wins?
The reflection in the mirror faded. Now, the only thing visible was a magical circle carved into black stone, fed by abyssal energy.
Inside, sealed behind multiple layers of runes and seals, slept an immense presence. Primordial. Silent.
Lev lowered his gaze to the circle. His eyes, now glowing with a supernatural red, filled with a dangerous calm.
—Not yet.
—I will not destroy Chaldea so easily. Not Leonel. Not the "heroes".
—First, I will break them.
—I will make them doubt themselves. I will make them think they are winning... that they are close to saving this history...
He placed his hand on the circle, and the entire ground trembled as if the earth itself remembered fear.
—And when they are at their highest point... when the world around them seems to shine...
—Then... I will release her.
—Her... the true executioner of the end...
—Altera.
The name was spoken with malevolent reverence, and in response, a single bright eye briefly opened from within the circle, bathed in cosmic light.
—The destroyer of civilizations.
—The sword of the end of times.
—The final blow to everything they believed possible...
Lev walked away, fading into the shadows, leaving the latent circle behind.
The war had only just begun.
And his deadliest piece... had not yet been played.
[Inside the allied camp – Rome, at nightfall]
The scent of incense and medicine filled the air.
Torches crackled softly as the allied soldiers and Servants rested as best they could. Some lay back on makeshift blankets, others simply sat in silence, watching the starry sky with a mix of weariness and relief.
There were no celebrations.
The victory over Caligula had been an arduous battle, too costly in energy and emotions.
Nero, the empress who guided them with a firm voice and a burning heart, lay in a tent, attended by field medics. Her face, serene despite the bandages and ointments, reflected more emotional pain than physical.
Leonel was sitting on the edge of a fountain, his feet barely touching the water.
Mash was nearby, cleaning her shield in silence, and Kiyohime was snoring softly beside a pile of blankets. Archer (EMIYA) was on guard, his gaze on the horizon, ever vigilant.
Leonel watched the reflection in the water, pensive.
—This isn't going like in the game... —he murmured to himself.
He knew Caligula was a late-game boss in the original story. In Fate/Grand Order, his madness kept him as a constant threat until the climax of the singularity... but now, he was gone.
Defeated, redeemed, and vanished.
Much earlier than expected.
And yet... history kept moving forward.
—What is changing? —he wondered, narrowing his eyes.
In the game, there were absurd parts he remembered clearly. Some funny, like when Nero got lost at sea trying to sail a simple boat.
Other moments, not so pleasant...
Exhausting battles, difficult decisions, and enemies that appeared at the most inopportune times.
Now, there was only one name left on his list of "known enemies."
Romulus.
The first King. The founder of Rome. The symbol of what Caligula and Nero both worshipped and feared.
And that worried him.
Because if Romulus had not yet manifested... what was he waiting for?
Leonel sighed, lifting his gaze to the stars.
—What if this world is making its own history...? What if it's not just a twisted version of the game... but something that should never have been?
Mash, having heard him, approached slowly.
—Master Leonel?
—Hmm?
—We did it, didn't we? At least today. Caligula was freed. And Nero... is alive. You saved her.
Leonel smiled a little.
—Yes... we did well.
—But I can't help feeling that... we are being pushed towards something bigger. Something that wasn't planned.
Mash looked at him with that pure, trusting expression.
—Then we will face that too. As we always do.
Leonel averted his gaze, not out of distrust... but because he felt something — something he couldn't yet name — was already watching them from the edge of the board.
A threat that remained hidden, waiting for the right moment to steal their victory.
And while in Rome the torchlight illuminated the warriors' rest...
Deep in the ruins, far away from there, Lev Lainur Flauros's summoning circle began to glow with a cosmic white radiance.
[Interior – War Room, Allied Camp – Rome]
Several days had passed since Caligula's fall.
The camp had stabilized, the allied forces were reorganized, and wounds, both physical and emotional, were beginning to heal.
And finally, that morning...
—Fufufu! I love all my subjects! I am alive! —Nero Claudius's melodious voice echoed through the strategy hall.
The empress entered radiant, wrapped in a ceremonial tunic adapted not to interfere with the bandages on her side. Her gait, though still a bit slow, maintained the usual imperial elegance.
Kiyohime almost jumped with excitement. Mash smiled with relief. Archer just nodded.
Leonel stood up, extending an arm with respect.
—Welcome back, Empress.
—Thank you, Leon... the Lion of Rome. —Nero winked at him with mischief, before turning serious.— Good. Enough rest. What news do we have?
[Strategy moment – around a map table]
Archer took the floor. On the map, he stuck a knife into a specific point northeast of their position.
—During my reconnaissance, I found a new stronghold. No doubt: it's a Roman fortress, massive, with golden banners and colossal magical presence. It's very well defended... but not as much as before.
Leonel crossed his arms.
—So it's what we expected... the last pillar of the United Roman Empire.
—Romulus —Mash whispered.— The founder.
Kiyohime shivered slightly, as if feeling the mythical weight of the name.
—That's right —Archer continued.— He hasn't shown himself in combat, but his presence is felt even from afar. It's as if the very spirit of Rome was gathered there.
Nero was silent for a moment, before nodding solemnly.
—Romulus... the origin of everything. If he falls, Rome will be free again.
And I, as the legitimate empress, must face that destiny.
Leonel looked at her, with a mix of respect and concern.
—You won't be alone.
—Of course not! —shouted Kiyohime, hugging her spear.— No one will lay a hand on our Lion while I'm present!
—Nor while I'm still standing —added Archer.
Mash, with a determined expression, said:
—Then... what's the plan, Master Leonel?
Leonel leaned over the map, his finger tracing the routes, pointing out the accesses, possible flanks, and bottlenecks.
—We'll move at dawn. We won't be subtle, but we won't be reckless either. We'll use the terrain to our advantage, advance in tight formation until we reach the central plaza.
There, Romulus will be waiting for us.
Nero nodded forcefully.
—So it shall be! This will be the final march! Rome will be reborn from the ashes of its madness! And our names will be carved in marble!
[Exterior – Roman camp, at dusk]
The rest of the day was preparation.
Soldiers cleaning weapons, Servants checking their Noble Phantasms, strategists going over routes again and again.
Nero oversaw everything with a proud gaze, while Leonel took care of the tactical details.
Mash polished her shield once more. Kiyohime sharpened her spear while talking to herself about how she would protect "her beloved." Archer was silent, sharpening energy arrows with magic.
And amidst it all, Leonel watched the reddish sky, his heart firm and his thoughts clear.
—The end is near. But it won't be easy.
—Romulus is a symbol. It won't just be a battle of strength... it will be a test of will.
And he did not intend to fail.
[Interior – Golden Fortress, Throne Hall]
The northeastern fortress, the last great structure of the United Roman Empire, was in reverent silence. Sunlight streamed through the stained glass, projecting glorious scenes of the imperial past onto the ancient columns.
In the center of the hall, standing before the throne —not seated, for he did not consider himself a ruler, but a symbol— stood Romulus.
Tall, imposing, wrapped in a crimson cape with the white wolf of Rome embroidered in gold. His spear leaned against the ground, his ceremonial helmet in his arms.
Before him, a young centurion read the report with a trembling voice:
—...Confirmed, my lord. Caligula has fallen. At the hands of Nero and the foreign group.
The silence that followed was long.
Romulus lowered his head slightly, closing his eyes. On his lips there was no fury, but sadness.
—Caligula... a wandering soul, distorted, yes... but Roman to the core. May his spirit find the peace that Rome could not give him.
The centurion swallowed, waiting for an order, perhaps even a punishment.
But Romulus lifted his head, his expression softened... and for the first time in a long while, a slight smile appeared.
—Nero Claudius... You have risen from pain and confusion, and have shown courage, tenacity... and inspiration.
You are worthy of the crown you wear.
The smile disappeared. His voice became firm, solemn, almost ceremonial again:
—But now... only I remain. The last pillar of this United Empire.
[Exterior – Fortress Walls]
From the great watchtower, the movements of the allied army could be seen in the distance. The enemy banners advanced, with slowness and precision.
The sky was beginning to turn red.
Romulus stood before his troops, all lined up in gleaming armor. His presence imposed absolute silence.
—Soldiers of Rome! Today we defend not just a city, not even an empire! Today we defend the spirit of our eternity!
He raised his spear to the sky, a sunbeam reflected off its blade with a majestic gleam.
—Fear not the end, nor death. For Rome lives in each one of us! And though fate may claim us, we shall meet it with honor, with glory... and with dignity!
A battle roar responded.
Romulus lowered his spear and walked towards the walls, in silence.
It wasn't hatred that moved him. It was purpose. It was legacy.
"Nero... my spiritual daughter. Prove that Rome's tomorrow is safe. And if I must fall for you to achieve it... then I shall fall with a smile."