Although she thought this, Nero did not show it outwardly. After all, having just received these memories, she was undoubtedly at a disadvantage in this war.
Then, during her battle with her uncle, she encountered Lin Qi.
Perhaps their innate compatibility was just good, or perhaps Nero's state as a Demi-Servant was somewhat strange.
Nero had taken a great liking to Lin Qi the moment they met.
'If he had been in my era, he would surely have stayed with me until the very end!'
Somehow able to sense Lin Qi's trust in her, Nero thought this.
Enjoying Lin Qi's trust, it took Nero almost no time at all to come to terms with things.
Since her own future was already fixed, why not help her most beloved subject carve out his own future?
Being naturally optimistic, Nero just like that regained her bearing as an emperor.
Simultaneously, during the brief time that followed, she gradually came to understand a power that even Lin Qi himself was unaware of.
'My apologies, Maestro. The truth is, I have deceived you.'
Nero's gaze held a slight apology towards Lin Qi.
'All this time, I've emphasized so many times for you to believe in me, but the truth is, I don't actually possess that much power myself. The reason for doing this was precisely for a situation like the present one—'
'I need to borrow the trust you have in me, to borrow the true power that you yourself are probably unaware of!'
'As for saying your Noble Phantasm is mysterious, that was also just a story to fool you...'
'There's just one thing I didn't anticipate... You're just too trusting of me!'
From the very first moment she met Lin Qi, Nero could feel that his trust in her had always been at an extremely high threshold.
From beginning to end, it was practically complete trust.
But they had only just met!
'Mmm, you're far too easy to deceive like this!'
Although she felt a little bit of dissatisfaction in her heart, Nero's expression was one of pure contentment.
Nero thought about many things, yet only a second or two had passed in reality.
Romulus's attack was still ongoing.
Like stubborn stones in a turbulent river, the trees formed by the Noble Phantasm continuously surged against the barrier ahead.
The trees, like flowing water, spread out to both sides after impacting the barrier.
If someone could look down from the sky at this moment, they would discover that the lush green trees were occupying the entire city at a terrifying speed.
The situation was dire; the cracks on the barrier ahead were growing more and more numerous.
The shockwaves from the clashing Noble Phantasms blew away the ribbon tying up Nero's hair. The golden strands of the young girl cascaded down, dancing wildly in the wind.
Yet, the smile on the young girl's face was exceptionally brilliant.
"Umu! My guard! Behold, for I shall now display my true power! Do not blink!"
The young girl declared.
"Mm, I'll be watching all the while."
Infected by the young girl's spirit, Lin Qi nodded affirmatively.
The next moment, both of their expressions turned serious simultaneously.
"I am the Fifth Emperor of Rome, the Holy Emperor who alone reigns over this era's Rome!"
"If the form shown by your Noble Phantasm, Divine Ancestor, encompasses all aspects of Rome's past, present, and future—then my era should rightfully be included within it as well!"
A faint glimmer of light flashed over Lin Qi's body and vanished, and red flames subsequently ignited in Nero's hand.
In the blink of an eye, they enveloped both Lin Qi's banner and Nero's Aestus Estus.
Nero continued to speak.
"As long as I stand here, as long as this is still my era, then my Rome should rightfully be under my control!!"
Nero's voice seemed to transcend space and time. Ahead, Romulus, who was maintaining his Noble Phantasm output, was surprised to discover that a patch of vivid red within his own Noble Phantasm suddenly blazed with intense light.
It looked ready to break free at any moment.
Without any visible action from Nero to release her Noble Phantasm, an illusory Golden Theatre suddenly unfolded behind her.
Then it shattered with a roar, erupting into raging—flames.
"—Even with the Divine Ancestor present, without my permission, you cannot arbitrarily control my era!"
The vivid red within Romulus's Noble Phantasm abruptly broke free, transforming into a stream of light that attached itself to the weapons of Lin Qi and Nero.
The impact of the "trees" consequently weakened slightly.
Borrowing Lin Qi's power, along with her own [Imperial Privilege], Nero successfully stripped her [Rome] from Romulus's Noble Phantasm.
Now, this power was for her to wield, imbued upon their weapons.
Combined with Nero's own Noble Phantasm...
"Therefore, Divine Ancestor, bear witness, to my [Rome]—"
"[Fax Caelestis: Star-Rushing Rose of Closure]!"
All preparations were complete. The barrier ahead crumbled with a roar, and Nero's ultimate Noble Phantasm was now unleashed on a super-scale.
Red flames enveloped the two of them. In the instant before the impact of the "trees" could reach them—
Their figures vanished from the spot.
"Haa—!" x2
With a battle cry born of unconscious instinct, Aestus Estus and the banner pressed tightly together, as if merging into a single Noble Phantasm.
Their figures also seemed to become one.
Under this truly combined Noble Phantasm, the "trees" were torn apart by the red flaming blade, like a hot knife through butter.
Leaving behind smooth, clean-cut surfaces.
The sea of trees was split. In a mere moment, the red blade crossed the hundreds of meters that had just been created by the advancing "trees".
It thrust directly towards Romulus, who had promptly ceased his Noble Phantasm output.
"Clang—!"
The red flaming blade collided with the Foundation of the Nation spear.
The resulting shockwave made the already ravaged palace tremble precariously.
Under this remarkably ingenious and immensely powerful Noble Phantasm, even Romulus could not completely block it.
He was pushed back, sliding continuously.
Leaving two deep furrows in the ground.
Nero and Lin Qi roared, pouring all their strength into intensifying the Noble Phantasm's attack.
Yet, the expression on Romulus's face seemed never to have changed, still wearing a faint smile.
Nero wasn't overly surprised by the current deadlock.
This was also within her expectations.
Therefore—
"Now!"
Nero suddenly shouted into the air.
"Been waiting for you to say that—"
A white figure suddenly appeared behind Romulus, her gaze full of cold intent.
[Only For Killing: Nonreturnable Dagger]!
Without hesitation, Jing Ke unleashed her Noble Phantasm to the absolute limit of her mastery, accurately stabbing into Romulus's back, piercing his heart.
One strike, then retreat.
Jing Ke swiftly disengaged from behind Romulus.
Faced with this sudden strike, Romulus's Foundation of the Nation spear faltered for a moment, its force diminishing immeasurably.
"Haa—!" x2
Neither of them missed this once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity.
Their "merged" weapon knocked Romulus's Foundation of the Nation spear aside and struck his body squarely, running him through.
Romulus's body was sent flying, crashing into the wall behind him.
After that, there was no movement, only specks of golden light could be seen scattering with the wind.
The two of them stared intently at the spot where Romulus fell.
Gasping for breath heavily.
After more than ten seconds, Romulus's figure still did not reappear.
"Is this... over?"
Lin Qi, clutching his chest, looked at everything somewhat incredulously.
"It should be over, without a doubt. My strike definitely pierced his heart. Combined with your Noble Phantasm attack, there's no possibility he survived."
Recalling the sensation from moments before, Jing Ke stated with certainty.
"Hmph! Under my stratagem, even the Divine Ancestor is not an insurmountable obstacle!"
Nero placed her hands on her hips, her face full of pride.
If she weren't as dust-covered and disheveled as Lin Qi, her words would have been quite convincing.
"I suppose you could put it that way... How should I say this? Should I say, as expected of the Divine Ancestor of Rome, one of the three supreme gods of Rome?"
"He was absurdly strong!"
"During the fight just now, I was sweating bullets for you several times, and almost intervened prematurely on multiple occasions."
Recalling the battle moments ago, Jing Ke spoke with a hint of lingering fear.
"Umu! As long as my guard and I are together, victory is inevitable! General Jing Ke, you just focus on being our trump card!"
Nero patted Lin Qi's back, nearly knocking him over.
"Trump card? That's an interesting way to put it..."
Remembering her comrades from her previous life, and looking at her capable comrades now, Jing Ke even felt a sense of having no regrets in this life.
Suddenly, a black-red beam shot out from a corner.
It flashed past in everyone's field of vision.
Jing Ke, who had just relaxed, felt a sharp pain in her chest.
Looking down, she saw a large hole in her chest, through which the wall behind was visible.
To think that an assassin like me would be ambushed by someone else!
Everyone had been immersed in the joy of defeating Romulus, and had actually forgotten there were other enemies.
Especially Lin Qi and Nero. Although they had considered the possibility, the life-and-death battle with Romulus had drained them completely.
So much so that they, too, due to exhaustion, had briefly overlooked this issue.
Lev, standing in the corner of the second floor, looked down at his finger with a gloomy expression.
—He had actually been aiming for Lin Qi!
He was this close, and he still missed?!
...