Under normal circumstances, LĂŒ Bu Fengxian, the foremost of the Three Kingdomsâ heroes, was no match for the Divine Founder Romulus.
It wasnât due to martial skill, nor talent... but purely because of timing and geography.
This was Rome. This was the end of the Age of Gods. This was Romulusâs territory and the Absolute Emperor Domain.
Here, his "Imperial Privilege" could be used without restraint. The romantic winds of Rome swept over the Seven Hills, entwining and blessing this founding hero.
In contrast, a Chinese Servant from the ancient East, whose magical foundation was incompatible with the world itself, was naturally at a disadvantage here.
Especially as a "Servant"âa recreation of legend and historyâthis disadvantage was amplified a thousandfold.
Yet when the aftershocks of their Noble Phantasmsâ clash faded, the two Servants dispersed the excess smoke and dust, wiped the gunpowder and blood from their faces, and as their wounds rapidly healed, they clashed once more like tireless machines!
Like monstrous beings descended from either heaven or hell, they wielded spear and halberd, their clashes echoing with thunderclaps and the splintering of trees.
Seizing the moment when the enemyâs strike missed, LĂŒ Bu raised his halberd and swung it down toward Romulusâs head!
Sensing danger, the Divine Founder didnât even raise his head. He simply lifted his crimson spear, attempting to create distance.
In the next instantâlike a lightning strike.
The halberd had already fallen, ripping through the air like a cannon blast, nearly transforming into blazing light, booming as it split the air and struck the giant wooden spear.
Like a hammer.
Romulus bent his knees, barely stopping just short of the ground. Even though his arms were fracturing, he still glared and roared. Blinding light shone from his crimson spear as the privileges of Roman emperors past surged into him. He overcame the Berserkerâs monstrous strength, knocked aside the stance, and thrust toward LĂŒ Buâs exposed form.
The halberd drew a sharp arc through the air, reversed course, and exquisitely intercepted the Divine Founderâs strike. The two warriors roared, lost in the heat of battle, immersed in the thrill of facing a worthy foe.
Boom! Boom! BoomâBoom!
They were evenly matched!
Far away, a young man in formal attire but gently fanning himself observed the scene through magic. He sighed deeply, exhaustion etched between his brows.
At the entrance of the tent, seven life lamps flickered dimly like oil running out.
Steady footsteps sounded, the curtain lifted, and the newcomer glimpsed the extinguished seven-star lamp snuffed out by a passing gust. He froze in shock.
"Should I shout âThe forces are upon us!â now?"
"Life and death are fated, they cannot be warded off," Waver rolled his eyes, unceremoniously. "Besides, thereâs no Jiang Wei here to draw his sword on you."
"Then why..."
"Itâs dark in the tent. Whatâs wrong with lighting a lamp?" Waver would never admit that he was inspired by the legend of Zhuge Liang, and had whimsically tried to recreate it like a childâonly to be caught in the act. "Since youâre here, that means the Roman Empire has already fallen?"
"Yes." Sakatsuki nodded. Behind him came a chaotic stream of footsteps: Fujimaru, Tamamo Cat, Elizabeth, Stheno, Artoria Alter, Boudica... and finally even Draco strolled in casually, her beast tail naturally winding around Sakatsukiâs waist like a declaration of territory.
Did you conquer Rome, or pick up a whole harem?
Waver squinted at the "dramatic entrance" of the group, then turned away with a sigh, rubbing his brows. "Looks like Iâve lost."
"Oh no, not at all. I just took some shortcuts," Sakatsuki said, clearly eager from the sounds of battle in the distance. "The Roman Empireâs military strength was way stronger than my side."
Whether it was the Roman Divine Founder Romulus, the Beast Herc, or even the Demon Pillars that the Masters had slain in various ways, they were all formidable enemies not to be underestimated.
"Donât be modest. Servants with Masters are completely different from Masterless ones," said Waver. "Besides, theyâve lost their magical energy sources, while we... we still have infinite mana."
In the calm before the storm, Sakatsuki had not only recruited Boudica, but also managed to ally with the United Roman Empire, bringing the Holy Grail to Waver, who was on the brink of collapse.
Thanks to that, Zhuge Liang was able to deploy such a grand formation and encircle the Roman capital, and LĂŒ Bu could fight Romulus on enemy turf without defeat.
"With such momentum... thereâs no doubt!" On the other end of the bracelet, the Doctor had also completed his calculations and came to the same conclusion.
"This isnât the work of a single ServantâFujimaru, they have the Holy Grail!"
Like a bomb dropped, Fujimaru and the other Servants were visibly shaken. Their gazes involuntarily turned toward the white-haired general who remained calm and composed.
The Holy Grailâthe object of their pursuit, the core of the singularity.
Why was it in this manâs hands?!
Conspiracy theories, betrayal, puppet masters, the source of the singularity... countless thoughts flashed through Fujimaruâs mind. Though his fate wasnât in his hands, he clenched his teeth and stared hard at Sakatsuki, waiting for a response.
"Ah, it seems Iâve been found out." Waver remained calm.
"So what? Thereâs no need to hide it anymore," Sakatsuki said just as calmly. Draco, however, cast a contemptuous glance at everyone and said:
"Making a fuss over nothing. This brute broke into my palace and stole my collaboratorâs Holy Grail... Of course, the fact that he could stop my ambush was quite the surprise."
No one responded. The white-haired man smiled modestly, while Fujimaru and the others were too stunned to speak.
To infiltrate the United Empire alone, fight through countless enemies, and even retrieve the critical Holy Grail, escaping unscathedâ
A man who descended with the spirit origin of Bai Qi. Just how powerful was he?
Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached. Rosario barged in, panting, extinguishing the final life lamp.
The illumination magic lit up his panicked face.
"Governor! Master Zhuge! Bad news!"
Amid the increasing rumble, his voice was nearly drowned out:
"The Divine Founderâhe defeated General LĂŒ Bu and is charging at us!"
The ground trembled. The Berserkerâs death throes grew nearer. Before anyone could react, a raging gale tore through the tent. In the sudden burst of daylight, the golden-red Romulus howled, and the red giant spear in his hand flewâpiercing LĂŒ Buâs spirit core and pinning him to the ground!
After the glorious battle, the Berserker disappeared without complaint. Facing the wildly growing vines, the white-haired general only snorted coldly. The black phoenix banner of Qin rose, standing tall upon the earth.
In an instant, winds from Great Qin swept the Mediterranean. The chilling air of the art of war filled the land. A black phoenix raised its head and spread its wings, carving a bold stroke through the golden-red sky and halting the spreading radiance.
Crimson crystal formed into a long spear. Sakatsuki strode forward. Amid his bold laughter, blood and ink mingled, gold and red intertwinedâfour vivid colours clashed, blending into a soul-stirring hue that painted the entire sky.
Thus, he charged at the enemy before him.
Such boiling battle spirit wasnât for any ordinary Lancerâbut for a King who paved the road to tomorrow, who laid the foundation of Roman civilization, who ascended with thunder to godhoodâ
At the moment LĂŒ Bu fell, Sakatsuki sensed that divine aura that made him tremble. He realized a truth:
A Berserker who reached the peak with human skill was no match for a myth incarnate who had stepped into godhood in human form.
It wasnât merely the divine majesty of the Roman Founder descended in human aspectâ
But the Roman Supreme Deity who, though born human, ultimately reached the pinnacle of myth, who descended now with divine mightâ
That was the true Romulus.
That was the true trump card of the United Roman Empire.
That was the enemy worthy of igniting Sakatsukiâs fighting spirit!
Forget the concept of Human Evils, forget the singularityâat this moment, Sakatsukiâs heart held only the burning desire for battle. Only the arrogance and greed of duelling with a pinnacle Heroic Spirit remained.
"Come, fight meâDivine Founder of Rome, Grand Lancerâ!"
The crimson spear point thrust forward, blocked by golden-red divine light, yet it couldnât hide the excited expression on the manâs face.
"Romulus Quirinus!"
As if responding to Sakatsukiâs declaration, the red-eyed Romulus gently nodded and spoke.
"Then, as you wish!"
With the Divine Founderâs proclamation, countless bolts of lightning crashed down from the sky!
***
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