Known in the West as Attila the Hun. True to the name, she was a warrior and king of the Huns, though quite unfortunately, in this TYPE-MOON world-line, she failed to preserve her male identity. Instead, she manifested under the name 'Altera,' saddled with the grandiose title of a terminal for an outer god that once invaded the Earth.
Yet, precisely because of that nature, in this deranged world-line, she is classified as a true monster among Servants. She possesses specifications that far outstrip most Heroic Spirits, bolstered by the legend of having utterly devastated the Europe of her era.
A mere glance at her parameters reveals: Strength B, Endurance A, Agility A, Magical Energy B, Luck A, Noble Phantasm A+.
Considering that the EX rank is reserved for things outside the standard and is not merely a rank above A, her basic specifications are already at an insurmountable level.
"...What is this... Such a power was never observed by the King's vision!!! You, how can you step outside the 'sight' of the King?!"
...As expected, keeping the hidden card of Impure World Resurrection until the very last moment was the right move.
Disguising the King of Magic, Solomon, as the human 'Romani Archaman' and masking it as a mere incomplete Servant summoning was a bit of a gamble... but even so, it was a bet I was bound to win. If Goetia had been wary of my Impure World Resurrection, he would have long ago unregistered Altera from the summoning circle through Flauros.
Furthermore... this was no ordinary summoning.
Although her Noble Phantasm, 'Photon Ray'—the symbol of her legend—was sealed, her true value lay not in the Noble Phantasm but in the insane parameters she possessed as a Servant.
"...I ask of you. Are you my Master?"
"Yes, of course."
"Confirmed. The contract is established... Henceforth, I am your Servant. I shall fight by your side."
Altera, lifting her sword, grabbed Caligula by the throat as he stood beside Leif Lainur, before I could even issue an order.
"...Good grief."
Pulling Caligula toward her, she didn't bother with a blade at first; instead, she simply tore Caligula's arm clean off his torso with her bare hands.
Immediately after, she swung her sword horizontally. Though Caligula wasn't within the physical reach of the three-colored blade, the blade—resembling the colors of a multi-colored ballpoint pen—extended like a whip, instantly cleaving the target before her in two.
"Again."
A second flash.
Having bisected Caligula's waist with a horizontal strike, she transformed the sword's path into a vertical descent, crushing the head of the falling Caligula into the earth.
It was a clean cross-cut, reminiscent of the movements once shown by the King of Knights... though the difference was that the target being pulverized was a Servant.
"...I really pulled an incredible card."
The pillars collapsed, and the workshop prepared by Leif Lainur was smashed to pieces. The sword, which had morphed into a long whip, snapped back instantly, crushing everything in its trajectory as if turning it into dust.
Boudica stared at Altera with her mouth agape, but Altera paid her no mind, shifting her gaze toward Darius III.
"I think I understand what you meant by saying we'd definitely win if this succeeded... with her, she could probably sweep away the King of Conquerors' insane army single-handedly."
"In a one-on-one duel, there are very few Servants who could defeat Altera."
Moreover, if she were to manifest in her Giant Altera mode... well, wouldn't it be difficult even for a Grand Servant? Of course, if we consider the Impure World Resurrection state of Solo-mani, who pulverized the Crimson Moon alone, that's another story...
"Damn it, damn it... Why won't you die!"
Glancing aside, I saw that while Darius III and Leonidas were desperately tanking, Leif—who had narrowly survived Altera's destruction at the edge of the workshop—was pouring every curse and magical beam he had at her. Whether he had used a Command Spell or not, the undead soldiers and Leonidas's Three Hundred Spartans were surrounding Altera in a formation designed to block her from making reckless attacks.
However, she had no regard for defense. Instead, she chose to endure their attacks point-blank while she began smashing the soldiers with her bare fists.
With superhuman grip, she crushed the skulls of the undead. She kicked a Spartan of Leonidas, who was desperately thrusting a spear, and the force of the strike separated his upper and lower body instantly.
Magic bullets, curses, throwing spears, arrows, stones, blades... occasionally, attacks hit home, piercing vital points like her eyes or heart. Yet, she thoroughly ignored them, focusing entirely on the utter annihilation of her enemies.
"Damn it, if it's come to this..."
"Ah, that would be problematic."
Floating boulders began to stick to Leif Lainur's body before he realized it. Recognizing the situation, Flauros began to shriek like a wailing ghost.
[Karma Kirigayaaaaa!!! You bastard!!! What on earth have you done!!!]
"...Don't be stupid. I'm capturing you. I'm not an idiot; did you think I'd just let a useful source of materials and information say 'Goodbye' and walk away?"
[Don't mock me... Leonidas!! Darius III!!! Buy me time! Save me first!!!]
"Altera, Prana Burst."
It was unfortunate for Leif Lainur, who was immobilized by Planetary Devastation, but the Impure World Resurrection Altera seemed stronger than two Servants who had unleashed their Noble Phantasms with Command Spell buffs. No, it was inevitable.
'What do you expect when a Servant with incredible raw strength and base specs gets an unlimited Magical Energy buff?'
To summarize Altera's current state: think of her as a Saber who had Excalibur's true name activation taken away but received Avalon in exchange.
Infinite regeneration, infinite Magical Energy, and infinite stamina. Against such a monster Servant, facing two army-type Noble Phantasms? You could call it a very innovative form of suicide.
"You're going to feel the pain of your entire body being crushed... You didn't think a Demon God Pillar wouldn't feel pain, did you? I'm sorry, but I didn't win my seat as a Third Magician through a game of poker... You're going to suffer a bit."
[Don't mock me... Do you think I would return this time as well, having accomplished nothing!!!]
"Yep."
At that moment, with a squelch of rending flesh, the shouts and moans that had been echoing from all directions vanished.
As the two Servants were extinguished, the armies that had naturally manifested from their Noble Phantasms vanished along with them.
"Master, all are destroyed. Is that thing also an enemy to be destroyed?"
"Yes. But it would be troublesome to destroy him right now. He knows the location of the enemy who truly needs to be destroyed... Once he is interrogated and put into a state where he can experience 'pain,' you may destroy him as much as you like."
"Understood. Then shall I remain on standby?"
"There's that, and if he tries anything funny, crush him immediately."
"Command confirmed. If I detect any suspicious movement, I shall sever all limbs and gouge out his eyes."
Leaving behind Altera, who uttered such ruthless words without skipping a breath, I looked at Leif Lainur, who was bound tight by Planetary Devastation and growling.
[No matter what torture I undergo, I will not utter a single word of information! I am a servant of the Great King, an vanguard! I will not yield to inferior humans and their dregs!]
"...Right. I hope you keep that spirit until the very end."
Immediately after, I gripped his throat and utilized the Human Path to begin extracting his soul.
"Tch, damn it!!! It hurts like hell. Why the hell is this guy stronger than Beowulf or any other Servant...!"
[How dare you touch my soul!!! The King's curse!!! The King's, the King's... the wise, omniscient, and omnipotent curse of my King shall be with youaaaa!!!]
"If I added up all the curses I've taken from you lot, I'd probably live forever, you piece of shit!!"
[Aaaaargh!!! I will never, never be defeated!!! The command given by the King, the King's foresight, will never!! Be broken by mere commoners like youuuuu!!!!]
Leif struggled with all his might to hold on, but once the Human Path took hold, protecting one's soul became impossible. Finally, I stared down at the soul of Flauros, extracted from Leif Lainur's body.
"Hmm..."
"What is it?"
"I feel an attraction. Perhaps because the physical body has 'died,' he seems to be trying to manifest back in the Temple of Time... I'm holding him for now, but as time passes, it'll be hard to keep him even with the Grail."
Therefore, I must investigate his memories before that.
Of course, since he was a Demon God King, there was a possibility he had taken precautions even with Flauros... fortunately, I had prepared in advance.
The Rinnegan, which could forcibly 'analyze' and bypass various defensive magecrafts, including illusions.
Seal Absorption, which could absorb and deactivate physical defenses used through magecraft.
If I could properly confirm the memories of other Singularities held by Leif Lainur, it would surely be of immense help in conquering future Singularities.
"...Oh, boy."
"?"
"It seems Leif Lainur only has memories of Septem... You really are thorough in these matters, Demon God King."
And the curse was certain as well.
I suspect it's the curse of the Prison Tower that sent Ritsuka away in the original story... but well, that doesn't apply to me.
"I'll just absorb it and be done with it."
"So, you couldn't find any other information?"
"Well... no? I did confirm a few things. First, the claim that Emperor Nero is a Beast was a lie."
"So what I saw... was indeed a hallucination."
I nodded quietly.
"Neither Spartacus nor you have much Magic Resistance. In the case of Emperor Nero, she has a temperament that is easily shaken in that regard, so they probably exploited that. Of course, your distrust toward her also played a part."
"That goes both ways..."
"...If you still intend to fight Nero..."
"I won't! For now, I'm also in the position of protecting the Human Order where my family is etched into history... I have no intention of becoming an enemy of humanity."
And at that moment, with a static sound in the air, a hologram manifested.
[I-It's finally connected!]
"...It seems Leif Lainur was indeed jamming us. You've been watching everything, right, Roman?"
[Yeah, I saw it all... By the way, to think you'd reveal both Impure World Resurrection and Altera in one go... Weren't those your hidden cards?]
"Using them like this is the way to win. It's a bit of a loss that I couldn't get info on the next Singularity... but considering we repelled Romulus, the Founder, without a single casualty, I'd say it's a net zero."
Just then, Boudica spoke up as if remembering something.
"Wait a minute, what about the Holy Grail?"
[Ah, that's right! The Holy Grail! I should have mentioned that first!!!]
Waking up at Romani's words, I spoke.
"Romani, I'm sorry, but you need to scan immediately. If another stray Servant were to accidentally possess a Holy Grail with lingering prana..."
[N-No... it's not that...]
To reiterate, Leif Lainur's plan was perfect.
He would use the Servants, including Romulus the Founder, to repel the ignorant masses charging toward him. If they broke through and tried to seize the summoning circle to call Altera, he would use the Grail to control the circle and block them, while Romulus crushed them... And if they moved toward a decapitation strike to kill him, even if he had to sacrifice himself, he would summon Altera and destroy 'Rome' as a conceptual foundation entirely...
And at the final moment, if all those means failed.
[That foresight that gazes into both the past and the future is more magnificent than any other. My King, my Lord's stratagem is flawless!]
Ultimately, the goal of the Singularity was to eliminate Karma Kirigaya and Ritsuka Fujimaru.
Since the Second Singularity was to be 'discarded' anyway, as long as those two were taken out...
'I might as well hand it over.'
The greatest reason why the Second Singularity was chosen as a Singularity.
The original of the 'Princess of the Origin' who also resided in Chaldea, the goddess who devours the world, Potonia Theron.
Not long ago, the omniscient Demon God King himself issued the command.
'However, the existence of the Master of Chaldea, Karma Kirigaya, is a variable. To be safe, I authorize the use of "that." '
The King had authorized the use of 'that.' At first glance, it might have seemed like the Heroic Spirit registered in the summoning circle... but the reality was a variable far more dangerous and certain—one of the 'Evils of Humanity' who could be called their kin.
Originally, they intended to summon only Tiamat, whom they could surely control, but now that the variable of Karma Kirigaya had arisen, this level of risk was worth taking.
...Therefore, even if this soul endures the pain of burning, it shall be accomplished. The turbid magical energy unique to Demon Gods contained within the Holy Grail... If one is an Emperor of Rome, they will surely take the Grail and attempt to use it.
Though the Evils of Humanity loathe and seek to kill each other, there exists an instinct that conversely stimulates one another.
As a final resort... Leif Lainur's goal was to awaken Potonia Theron and shatter the entirety of the Second Singularity.
Even though it would block the coordinates to the Temple of Time or make the aftermath incredibly troublesome, it was better than carrying the risk factor of 'Chaldea' forward.
"..."
Thus, the current situation was... yet another miscalculation by Leif Lainur, whose soul had been utterly crushed and returned to the Temple of Time.
"Ooh, are you the other personnel from the observatory! I am Nero Claudius, the rightful Emperor of Rome! Welcome to the capital of the Empire!"
"...Ritsuka, the Holy Grail?"
When I asked with a trembling voice, Mash, whose lips were similarly trembling in confusion, replied.
"That is... Her Majesty the Emperor, I mean, Miss Nero..."
"She gave it to me as a gift! She said since we had fun for three days, it's a parting gift! By the way, Old Man, what do you think? Don't you think the design is pretty decent?"
...As expected of someone with maxed-out sociability. She truly is a Grand Berserker.