"You insolent brat... you dare... you DARE? I'll have your head mounted on the walls of my palace once I'm done with all the other insects. I'll spit on it and defile it every single day. I'll make sure your soul shall never meet those of your ancestors."
As Remus raised his spear right over Nero's neck, he felt the slightest breath of air tickling his neck. A person would probably pay it no mind, but for a great warrior, even the faintest hint of movement is perceived as something to be wary of. In a split second, the Roman King turned around and swatted at the invisible presence. Although his weapon carved through nothing solid, this swing made him even more certain that something or someone was there.
"Come forward, my cowardly foe."
"Cowardly? Ah yes, even back in my days, I knew of people who called being wise in the way you overcome an obstacle 'cowardly'. I was hoping I could stab your throat without you making a fuss, but I must be rusty."
"To think you could take me by surprise was a foolish mistake. I have no respect for backstabbers, but if you really wanted to attempt such a frivolous endeavour, you should have waited for a less obvious moment to strike."
"Oh dear, you're even lecturing me... well, I'm afraid that while I can mimic the skills of an assassin, I can't replicate his mind nor his heart of ice. My heart blazes like the brightest of stars, for I am the First Hero and the Chainbreaker."
"First Hero? So you must be King Gilgamesh."
"Well, it's nice to see that at least where you come from, my name is so well known and respected."
"I have no respect for a fool who failed the quest he wasted his whole life on-"
A powerful blast of energy interrupted the disrespectful remark.
"Listen here, you little shit. I was already legend long before your ancestor ran from the burning Troy. You think the power granted to you through no achievement of your own will make you King. But you're no King. You're just a child throwing a tantrum. An eternal second. But you should accept that no one remembers the second and just fade away, wouldn't you say?"
"I'll make you wish you had remained legend."
Remus tried advancing, but found his feet bound to the ground by strangely designed traps. A diversion. Just as expected from a "cowardly" fighter. A bright red light blinded him momentarily. Turning around, he could barely make out the figure of a knight about to swing her sword down at him.
"EXCALIBUR MORGAN!"
A clash of unparalleled strength happened, shaking the ground for miles.
"Took you long enough."
"Well, not all of us have a helicopter going at hyperelativistic speeds."
"I don't have such a helicopter either. I have like 57-"
"Be serious, damn it."
"Yeah, sorry. I like cracking jokes when I'm nervous."
"Are you nervous right now?"
"Not at all... I'm terrified."
From the smoke, an unharmed Remus emerged.
"Just by swinging his spear down, he was able to match one of the most powerful Noble Phantasms ever. What a monster."
"I didn't have time to charge up. Plus, I'm still a bit spent from earlier."
"Already out of gas? I expected you to have more stamina."
"Really? Then I shall test your own endurance in the future..."
"Well, I'm afraid now we have to test his endurance. If he weren't wounded by Nero, I would even doubt we could kill him. King Louis made stopping his Noble Phantasm look possible, but alas, that task may prove pretty arduous."
"How the hell did he even do that? What kind of building can withstand an Anti-World Noble Phantasm?"
"We'll talk while fighting. If this keeps going, Nero will bleed out. Let's hurry."
"Ay, ay, captain."
Salter charged up a Mana Burst as Galter summoned flying discs that flew towards their target. Remus blocked the first attack and proceeded to dodge his assailants, who turned back as if they were locked on him. The Roman was ready to strike them down as soon as within range, but they suddenly rotated of 90° and unleashed a barrage of lasers.
The Grand Lancer weaved through all projectiles, launching his own rain of spears, but before he could land, Galter had already thrown towards him a dozen bouncy balls that, once they reached a certain height, exploded. Jumping up in the air, Salter attempted another slash, but Remus had already regained his balance and shot a plain spear to stop the attack.
Touching the ground once more, he was quick enough to block Galter's electrically charged sword. Salter tried another energy swing, but to no avail. A surprise attack from Galter's combat suit only earned him a swing to the head that he was barely fast enough to dodge, falling into his portal and reappearing behind him with a railgun. The subsequent blast left a deep scar on the ground and bruises on Remus's right arm.
"So... are we actually going to talk?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, you might have missed the Grand Servant right in front of me."
"Why the hell are you approaching him directly?"
"I'm keeping him and his right arm busy for you!"
"Good think this device can pick out thoughts."
"Pretty nifty, isn't it? Oh Gods, he almost hit me... where the hell are you anyway?"
"Charging up?"
"CHARGING UP?! The plan was that I would take care of his right and you of his left!"
"Didn't you see how he was shrugging off my attacks? I can't hurt him unless I use an Excalibur Morgan at 100%?"
"So what am I supposed to do?"
"Keep him busy."
"Keep him busy?! Are you serious?"
"Come on, I heard you talking shit, now you're going to back down?"
"Ok, ok, fine, I'll see what I can do. One last thing. It's likely that the Sun King drew part of his power from the Counterforce."
"The Counterforce? But those are the asshole we're fighting!"
"Well, yes, but since technically we are fighting on a portion of the Real Earth, he was able to channel the power of the planet. Willingly or not, the World will defend itself reflexively if attacked. I've been analysing his parameters for a while. I think that King Louis placed a spell, a sort of failsafe for maintaining reality. It's reversing the effects of the distortion. Right now there are three realities canceling each other out."
"In Old English, please."
"His power is slowly diminishing. We might have a shot."
"Couldn't you start with that?"
"You're always so impatient."
"And you're always a smartass. Now let me concentrate."
"Yeah sure, let the great Queen concentrate while I'm off fighting a Grand Servant all alone..."
"Alone? Perish the thought. As if you could accomplish anything alone..."
Galter turned around in time to see Fafnir torching the Roman King as Jalter descended on the ground.
"Jeanne! Thank goodness! I was done for-"
"Stop being an idiot and cover me!"
Jalter charged up her flames and ran towards Remus as Galter unleashed the Minigun Laser Blaster 3000. Remus avoided the laser blasts, blocking some with his spear and jumping away from the mines he stepped on, while using his other hand and weapon to parry Jalter's attacks.
Galter teleported behind him and shot him with a freezing ray, blocking his movements for a second, enough time for Jalter to envelop him with her fire. From the smoke, a barrage of spears was unleashed, and she could barely dodge all safe for one who lodged itself into her shoulder.
"Damn it!"
"You don't belong to this battle, weakling. Disappear."
Before Remus could manifest more weapons, Galter came in, swinging a meteor hammer at him while hitting bombs in midair to both hit him and create a smokescreen. Remus cut through his weapon and tried to stab him, but Galter used his suit to blast him repeatedly. Taking out a bracelet, he quickly summoned a drone who shot out several Noble Phantasms before lunging itself in a suicide attack.
Remus emerged unscathed, and as his attacks became more insistent, Galter began backing done more and more.
"Hey, Artoria, I'd usually tell you to take your time, but we're kind of getting our ass beat out here! How are preparations coming along?"
Galter asked as he threw a shuriken and then summoned a chain with a blade at its end. Remus deflected both the projectile and the blade, but the chains encircled him before wrapping around him, as the shuriken came back, increasing its size.
"I need just a bit more time."
"More time? Can't you see he's killing us out here!"
As Remus broke out of his restraints, Galter summoned above his enemy an automatic solar-powered laser shooter the size of a great building, which did as intended and unleashed a column of energy below.
"Just hold out a bit more!"
From the dust, Jalter sprang back in action, trying to pincer her enemy with Fafnir, but Remus injured the dragon with several spears and swung his main weapon hard, creating a powerful wind slash that knocked Jalter back.
"I already told you, you don't belong to this battle, weakling."
Wielding a bazooka and a blast launcher in each hand and charging his chest ray, Galter hit him with great force. He opened a portal beside him and Jalter appeared, breathing heavily just like him.
"Thanks..."
"Don't talk, just take a breather-"
The atmosphere suddenly changed and became much heavier. Space all around them became devoid of people, and a slight glow emanated from the crimson spear of the Grand Lancer. It was coming. His most powerful attack.
"ROMA INVERSA!"
"Artoria!"
"Just a few more seconds!"
"Jalter, use your Noble Phantasm! Even if you can't deflect it, I'll soften the blow!"
"Ok!"
Knowing he had no time to charge Enuma Elish, Galter summoned a sling and converted his other three most powerful Noble Phantasms into projectiles, quickly rotating it above his head and unleashing the blow.
The treasures clashed against each other, battling for an instant, before the red spear carrying the power of a whole reality pushed past all opposition. Readying herself, Jalter waved her flagpole towards it, attempting to send back the attack.
"LA GRONDEMENT DU HAINE!"
Despite her best efforts, the spear didn't budge and, although held back, was slowly advancing. Supercharging his armour, Galter unleashed one more powerful blast to assist her.
"Artoria!"
"I'm ready!"
Salter lifted her sword, ground her teeth, squeezed her hands until they bled, and tensed every muscle in her body as she let loose her most powerful slash until that point.
"EXCALIBUR MORGAN!"
The red light blinded everyone, enduring for many seconds before slowly waning, leaving a deep gash in the ground for several kilometres.
"Did... did we get him?"
"An attack like that should be able to injure even someone like h-"
Before he could finish, Galter sighed as he was stabbed from behind.
"Gil!"
"Gilgamesh!"
"So what if that attack could injure me? If it's too slow to reach me, then it's trash."
Remus commented drily as he pulled back his red spear.
Salter tried intervening, but her legs gave out. She was at her limit.
Jalter stood still, still shocked.
"No... Gilgamesh..."
"I should at least commend you, First Hero. At least you and that swordwoman tried and could contend with me for a bit. But all resistance is futile before my absolute power."
"He... if your power was so absolute... you wouldn't have dodged... bastard..."
"You can still talk? I suppose not ending you immediately was discourteous by my part. Allow me to correct my mistake."
Remus raised his weapon, ready to finish off Galter. Suddenly...
Of her three Noble Phantasms, Jalter felt that none of them represented her anymore. One was based on a fake story, one was the sublimation of her useless fight for fake ideals she never believed in, and one... turned her into the monster she never wanted to be.
Plunging her flag post into the ground behind her, Jalter quietly recited:
"O' hateful fire, burn my soul."
The fabrics began disassembling and reforming into restraints that bound her to the pole, as from the ground a column of pitch black fire erupted, reaching to the sky.
"LE MONSTRE EN FEU!"