"King of Rome, if your brain isn't working properly, you might as well hand over the Grand title to me. If I were in charge, this whole mess would have been settled already! I wouldn't be in such a sorry state otherwise." Gilgamesh was still refusing to admit defeat.
"Actually, I arrived later than him. By normal logic, something of my level shouldn't even exist here." The Beast casually explained on Romulus' behalf. "So fundamentally, he really did show up as a babysitter. The Counter Force dragged him in to prevent some reckless idiot from actually killing a certain someone and forcing an early reset with a glaring flaw."
"#UrukProfanity#." Gilgamesh cursed through gritted teeth.
"Enough chit-chat, let's continue the duel—Goldie, your effect is really clogging up the field. I activate [Gilgamesh]'s effect to summon one [Gate of Babylon] from my deck, then bring out three equip cards."
The three Original Noble Phantasms—[Dacian], [Dawn of Ruin], and [Durandal]—were equipped to Gilgamesh.
[Gilgamesh] ATK 3000 → 4500
"Next, I Normal Summon [Waver (Lord El-Melloi II)] and reveal three cards, picking one and discarding the other two!"
[Waver] ATK 500
"I have a bad feeling that my workload just increased," the older Waver muttered, the bags under his eyes growing darker. He glanced at the cards he had just sent to the graveyard and added a warning he hadn't had time to say earlier. "Be careful, that card that reflects direct damage—[Noble Phantasm Misfire]—got sent to the graveyard again!"
Gilgamesh's expression darkened. That card was precisely why he had lost the Shadow Game last time—because it had reflected his ace [Ea]'s damage straight back at him.
"You talk too much! Shut up already!" The Beast snapped in mock irritation. A newly spawned Gilgamesh copy wrapped Waver's head in the Chains of Heaven. "I'm adding this card—[Enkidu]! You should be familiar with [Gilgamesh]'s effect by now. I return three banished equip cards to the deck to Special Summon [Enkidu]!"
[Enkidu] ATK 2500
"I set one card facedown and end my turn. Your move, King of Rome~" The Beast had played out its hand, but the graveyard was now well-stocked.
"Then let Rome descend here! It's my turn—Draw!" Romulus declared.
"First, I activate the Continuous Spell [Throne of Quirinus]! This card can only be activated once per turn, with a countdown of 3! While it's face-up, all non-Roman Servants on the field have their effects negated, and all face-up allies are granted the Roman attribute! When the countdown reaches zero, this card is destroyed!"
A throne symbolizing divine authority materialized behind Romulus, adorned with gleaming gold and olive branches representing peace. The King of Kings had descended.
"You still have [Dawn of Ruin], don't you? I'll Tribute it to negate your [Throne of Quirinus]!" The Beast attempted to counter.
"It's useless! Rome is not so fragile! Quick-Play Spell [Imperial Privilege]! This card allows me to choose from multiple effects—I choose to negate your activation!"
[Gilgamesh] ATK 4500 → 4000Romulus LP 4000 → 3500
Though the effect was negated, since [Dawn of Ruin] was still Tributed, [Gate of Babylon]'s effect still activated.
"I am the founder of Rome. Naturally, my deck is built upon the history of Rome's past emperors." Romulus raised his card with fatherly affection. "My beloved child. The embodiment of Rome's glory and shadow, my sister-like emperor—blossom forth! I Normal Summon [Nero Claudius]!"
A petite red Servant descended amidst a flurry of rose petals, landing with a theatrical flourish like an opera singer.
[Nero] 4★ ATK 1800
"Servant, Saber. Nero Claudius, responding to your call! Umu, this isn't a normal summoning, is it?" Nero, who bore a striking resemblance to Artoria, curiously scanned the surroundings. "So, who had the insight to summon me?"
Then, her gaze landed on the golden-armored Romulus.
"Godfather!" To any inheritor of Rome, Romulus was an unquestionable divine figure. Nero excitedly called out the title and echoed his famous catchphrase. "Roma!"
"Roma! Nero, fight alongside me! Today, we Romans shall march together to vanquish the enemy of humanity!" Romulus acknowledged her with a proud nod and pointed toward the Beast.
"Leave it to me, My Lord!" Nero puffed out her chest, a size multiple times that of a certain blue Saber, causing quite the ripple. She had originally wanted to ask Romulus what he thought of her—whether he was disappointed—but his words had already answered everything. It didn't matter who the enemy was. All she needed to do was follow Romulus' lead and swing her sword.
"Nero's effect: When Normal or Special Summoned, I add one Continuous Spell [Golden Theater] from my deck to my hand!"
"I activate [Golden Theater]! This card can only be activated while [Nero] is on the field. While active, all Roman Servants cannot be destroyed by battle. Additionally, [Nero] gains 1000 ATK and DEF!"
A golden, illusory theater materialized over the ominous battlefield, drenching it in radiant light and cascading rose petals from above.
[Nero] ATK 1800 → 2800
"Next, I activate [Caligula]'s effect! If a Roman-related Servant is on the field, I can Special Summon him from my hand or Graveyard! Cursed by the moon, my brother-like Roman—stand beside me!"
[Caligula] 3★ ATK 2000
Emerging from the shadows untouched by moonlight, Caligula radiated a frenzied aura. The moment he saw his rose-like niece, his voice trembled.
"Nero... my heart... I never thought... I'd see you again..."
"Uncle... I'm just as happy to see you again." A part of Nero's love for the color red stemmed from the memory of witnessing Caligula felling enemies with a single punch. As a child, she had longed to don a crimson cloak like his.
Yet, her uncle's attention soon shifted to Romulus, the light of Rome blazing in his mad eyes. "The Quirinus Romulus...!"
Recognizing Romulus' divine nature at a glance—one of the three highest deities of Rome—Caligula's frenzied gaze welled with bloodied tears. "Ooooh...! Please, burn away my sins... my evil... completely..."
"You who could not blame Diana have already accepted your sins." Romulus placed a hand on Caligula's shoulder, his gaze fatherly. "But now is not the time for atonement. I need you to fight by my side!"
Though Caligula couldn't identify the Beast's true nature, his instincts detected its bottomless malice. Killing intent surged within him.
"...Godfather... my wretched body... is yours to command... Battle! Ooooh!"