Chapter 124: Beast VI Appears!
[Wait, wait, there's something off about this Nero-chan.]
[She's not "Umu"-ing at all?]
[Her personality feels… off, doesn't it? She looks like Nero, sure.]
[Nope… something's definitely wrong… This Nero's nothing like the one in Extra CCC.]
[Could she be under someone's control? But this is Rome — who would dare?]
…
The viewers in the livestream chat also began expressing doubts about this Nero's true identity. Countless questions flooded in, accusing the scriptwriters of not understanding the original material — because she simply wasn't that Nero!
Only Ethan understood the truth deep in his heart.
This Nero — she was none other than the fifth Emperor of the Roman Empire, a genuine existence beyond all doubt!!!
Only now, her true nature had begun to surface.
From the sea of blood, a golden Holy Grail suddenly emerged.
"Senpai, that's the Holy Grail!!!"
Before Mash could even finish her sentence, the Grail had already sensed its true master and flew straight into Nero's hand.
"Ah, the Holy Grail — a treasure that originally belonged to me, yet it ended up in the hands of some avatar that doesn't even comprehend the beauty of 'Depravity'… What a waste."
"SHUUUUUUUUUUU————————!!!"
A flash of swordlight tore through the air — Iskandar's slash landed directly in front of Nero, before he swiftly pulled back to regroup with his allies.
"Oh?"
Riding atop Bucephalus, Iskandar let out a meaningful smile.
"She looks like a normal person… not even a Saint Graph to be found. And yet, her magical output far exceeds what any Servant could possibly handle."
"Ah… that's exactly right."
Waver pushed up his black-rimmed glasses, his gaze cutting through the lenses as he stared at Nero floating midair.
"We still can't determine her true form… but purely based on magical intensity—she far surpasses even the Demon God Pillar from earlier. What in the world is she?"
"Ugh…"
Suddenly, Reines collapsed to her knees, clutching her eyes with both hands, her breathing rapid and shallow.
Seeing this, Waver immediately moved to block her line of sight.
"Reines! Don't look! Your Mystic Eyes won't hold out!!!"
"Hehe… Onii-sama, always worrying too much… With Sima Yi's support, I'll be fine."
Reines forced a smile, but Waver knew better than anyone.
Reines had long since mastered control over her Mystic Eyes — and yet she was still being overwhelmed like this. That could only mean one thing: the magical energy radiating from the girl before them had already exceeded the bounds of reason itself.
"Honestly, I didn't want to wake up this early… but that avatar kept making such a racket, I figured I'd temporarily show up and see for myself."
She licked her lips.
"So many kings summoned into this flourishing era, forced to fight one another by their own desires. Rome — a place that should never have served as a stage for my manifestation — and yet it's become a gathering ground for all forms of 'Immorality'. So I came here… simply to enjoy a delightful supper."
Then she showed a trace of regret.
"Such a shame… This era is far too fragile, unable to endure my presence. After this great flood, there will be no rebirth. This age… is already dead. A death beyond salvation."
When Nero once again turned to look at Ethan and the others, she finally showed a faint smile.
"It seems you too wish to stop me… But if you fight for the Human Order, then I must offer a suitable show of sincerity in return."
A black moon rose behind her.
Below, the red-black sea of blood churned endlessly, and from within that blood tide, violent magical reactions began to surge!
A creature — dragon-headed, serpent-bodied — suddenly rose from the blood!!!
Its entire body was covered in shimmering scales of red, green, and blue — as if it were cloaked in countless staring eyes.
"Come, blessed one! Offer your hymn of praise to these defenders of the Human Order!!!"
"ROOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAARRRR————————————!!!"
At Nero's command, the unnamed dragon-headed Beast launched its attack!!!
Its jaws opened wide as it lunged straight for Iskandar.
Seeing the enemy attack, Iskandar immediately yanked the reins to dodge, while swinging the sword in his hand down hard onto the creature's tough scales.
"Haaa!!!"
The moment his sword struck the beast's body, sparks burst forth from the blade's tip, accompanied by an earsplitting screech!
"Even my founding sword can't cut through it? Hmph, how interesting!"
Right after Iskandar's strike, Waver's voice rang out from afar.
"Now! This is the moment—GO!!!"
The two Flying Thunder Bulls roared as they surged forward! The chariot hurtled directly toward the unknown dragon-like Beast!
At the same time, atop the chariot, Mordred and Jeanne Alter simultaneously ignited with blazing red mana!
"Burn to ashes!!!"
Before Jeanne Alter, countless black spears appeared. She locked them all onto the creature's head and launched them in a volley!
Meanwhile, Mordred condensed her mana into her sword, Clarent.
"Crimson Lightning!!"
The instant the chariot flew past the beast, Mordred let out a thunderous roar and slashed down fiercely into its body!
"BOOOOOOOOOOOOM————————!!!"
A tremendous mana explosion erupted upon the dragon-beast's body!
The chariot, pulled by the Thunder Bulls, barely escaped the blast zone and sped toward a safe distance.
"ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRR——————!!!"
The Beast howled in fury, opening its mouth wide toward the floating chariot. Red mana began to concentrate inside its jaws!
"This is bad! It's going to fire!!!"
The Emperor immediately urged Bucephalus into a charge toward the Beast, hoping to intercept the attack—
But it was already too late.
"BOOOOOOOOOOOOM————————!!!"
A massive torrent of magical energy surged out from the Beast's mouth!
The Divine Bulls tried to evade, but without Iskandar at the helm, their reaction was a beat too slow. The rear wheels of the Gordius Wheel were left exposed within the blast radius.
"Deploy Noble Phantasm!!!"
Just as the chariot was about to be struck, a protective barrier spread across it, barely managing to withstand the attack.
"Ugh…"
The chariot veered violently midair. With no stable footing due to deploying her Noble Phantasm, Mash was thrown off the platform entirely.
"Mash!!!"
Ethan quickly reached out, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back with all his strength.
"I'm sorry… Senpai…"
Climbing back onto the chariot, Mash bowed her head apologetically to Ethan.
"No—without you, the chariot would've been destroyed."
Ethan knew well: in this kind of aerial battle, their side was already at a disadvantage.
Let alone the fact that the opponent was a being far beyond what they could handle easily.
If they didn't come up with a counter-strategy soon, their team would inevitably fall into a severe disadvantage.
"Well, this is looking rather pathetic."
Suddenly, Reines spoke up, her voice now low and steady.
"You're only slightly pushed back, and yet already like this? Let me give you a hand."
Her irises had turned completely crimson, all signs of fatigue now gone without a trace.
"You're… Sima Yi!?"
Waver's eyes widened as he stared at her.
"That Zhuge Kongming still hiding from me, huh?"
Reines glanced coldly at Waver as she spoke indifferently.
"Hmph, whatever. I'll face him myself when the time comes."
Then she extended her hand forward.
"My soldiers, fight with everything you've got!!!"