[Afternoon – Chaldea Command Room]
The sun was beginning to set behind the snow-capped mountains surrounding the Chaldea facility. The atmosphere, though silent, was saturated with a growing tension.
Da Vinci was reviewing the temporal line observation systems, adjusting coordinates and going over the reports she had gathered since the partial recovery of the magical network.
Beep. Beep. BEEP-BEEP.
A loud audible alert erupted in the room. The lights around the central screen flashed red. Da Vinci raised an eyebrow with interest, leaned toward the console, and observed the report projected in front of her carefully.
"Hmm... this is not an error," she murmured, both curious and concerned. "Coordinates detected... Rome, 60 AD? This... this falls right during the early years of Empress Nero's reign."
Her eyes lit up with excitement, but also with gravity.
"Romani, I need you to come to the command center immediately. And bring the director with you. We're going to need her for this."
[Minutes Later – Command Room Entrance]
Romani arrived with quick steps, pushing a wheelchair. Olga Marie, still recovering but visibly stubborn, sat with her arms crossed and a furrowed brow.
"I told you I don't need this!" Olga grumbled. "I can walk, Romani, I'm fine!"
"And I told you that if you faint again, I'm not carrying you," he replied with an innocent smile as he pushed the chair without stopping.
The door opened with a soft sound, revealing Da Vinci in front of the large monitor.
"Welcome. And just in time," she said with a gesture. "We've just identified the Second Singularity."
Romani's eyes opened in surprise. Olga furrowed her brow even more.
"Where? What happened this time?"
Da Vinci pointed to the projected image: a magically reconstructed view of the city of Rome... but distorted. Ancient ruins, anachronistic structures, and an atmosphere charged with unstable magical energy.
"Rome, 60 AD. But something is wrong. Very wrong. According to our records, there should be no anomalies at that point in history. And yet, this Rome... has been altered. A Singularity has formed with worrying levels of temporal corruption."
"The time of Nero...?" Olga murmured. "Is it related to her?"
"That's most likely," Da Vinci replied in a grave tone. "Judging by the present magical energy, there are multiple Servants materialized in that time, some acting outside their historical roles. It could be an alternate version of the Roman Empire. One dominated by a distorted figure... or perhaps by Nero herself."
Romani turned toward Da Vinci, clearly worried.
"Are you already preparing the Rayshift?"
"Of course. This time we'll make sure to send Leonel with a more prepared team. Although..." she smiled and lowered her voice a bit, "...we know he's been keeping rather loyal company lately."
Olga sighed, closing her eyes for a moment.
"So it's official. We face a global threat, distortion by distortion..."
Romani nodded with regret.
"And with Leonel as our only Master, the responsibility remains on his shoulders."
Da Vinci looked at the screen firmly.
"Prepare the team. Rome awaits us."
[Hallway to the Command Room – Afternoon]
The echoes of footsteps resonated through Chaldea's cold hallways. At the front walked Leonel, serious but relaxed. Beside him, Mash Kyrielight, always attentive and ready. Closing the formation were Emiya, with arms crossed and a sharp gaze, Kiyohime, walking glued to Leonel like a love-struck shadow, and Nero Claudius, who was spinning around with excitement like a flower in full bloom.
"Ufufu! Did you hear, Leon-kun? Rome! My beloved Rome!! The glory of the Empire calls to me once more!" exclaimed Nero, glowing with enthusiasm. "This must be the work of fate! As empress, it is my duty to answer!"
"I just hope there are no hot springs involved this time..." murmured Emiya, not stopping his observation of their surroundings.
Mash laughed nervously. "I'm glad to see you in good spirits before an important mission."
The command room door opened and they were greeted by Da Vinci's intense gaze, Romani's worried face, and Olga Marie's raised eyebrow, who was still in the wheelchair.
"Perfect! Just the ones we were missing," announced Da Vinci. "Come in, we have a lot to discuss."
[Inside the Command Room]
The screens showed reconstructed images of ancient Rome, deformed by structures foreign to its time and figures enveloped in magical energy.
Romani explained seriously:
"This is the Second Singularity, located in Rome in 60 AD, within the early years of the reign of the emperor... or in this case, Empress Nero Claudius."
Nero jumped for joy.
"I knew it! The universe cries out for me! Allow me to restore the beauty of my city and correct any temporal heresy!"
But Da Vinci raised a hand, interrupting her enthusiasm.
"Not so fast, my dear empress. There's a problem. If you, a summoned version of Nero, encounter your original self from that era... you could cause a devastating temporal paradox."
Romani nodded gravely. "The clash of egos, identities, and timelines could destroy the singularity... or worse, distort human history even further."
Olga, recovered but firm, crossed her arms. "You cannot go. We cannot risk the two Neros meeting. However much it hurts, you'll have to stay here."
Nero opened her eyes in disbelief, then furrowed her brow. "What?! You dare deny me my role in history?! I am the empress of Rome! I—I must...!"
Her voice broke and she began to pout, pacing and muttering tragedies worthy of a theatrical play.
"My soul has been wounded! My imperial pride, lacerated! My beloved husband abandons me...! Cruel world!"
Leonel, sighing with a smile, approached her.
"Nero."
The empress turned, her eyes watery.
"Yes...?"
Leonel gently leaned in, took her chin tenderly, and kissed her directly on the lips. A collective sigh filled the room. Nero's eyes widened like saucers, her cheeks glowing like a Roman sunset.
"I promise you," Leonel said softly as he pulled away. "In the next singularity, you will come with me for sure. But for now, I need you to help me from here. I trust you, my empress."
Nero trembled, visibly moved, before covering her face with both hands.
"Leon-kun...! So passionate...! Of course! I shall wait here like a proper wife! With all my faith placed in you!"
From the side, Kiyohime began to emit a disturbing aura.
"Ara... ara... Leonel-sama... how unfair... Don't you think equality is important in a relationship...?"
Leonel swallowed. The berserker heat behind her was almost visible. Before the situation could spiral out of control, he turned and carefully took Kiyohime's face... and kissed her too.
The magical sensors in the room registered a sudden drop in dangerous spiritual pressure... that disappeared immediately.
Kiyohime was paralyzed for a moment. Then, her expression turned to one of absolute peace.
"Haaa... I'm so happy. My inner fire... burns only with love now...♡"
Emiya simply snorted, looking away.
Romani massaged his temples.
"I'm going to need more coffee to deal with this team."
Da Vinci laughed softly. "And we haven't even started yet..."
[Cut to: The screens flicker, focusing on the temporal anomaly in Rome. The mission approaches.]
[Rayshift Hangar – Preparation Area]
The room vibrated slightly from the activity of the command center, lights blinked, and technical staff ran back and forth making final adjustments to the Rayshift system. In front of the large summoning circle, Emiya checked his projected knives while Mash adjusted her shield with a determined expression. Kiyohime was fine-tuning the last details of her naginata, visibly excited.
To one side, Nero Claudius watched everything with her classic imperial pose, one hand on her hip and the other waving a handkerchief in farewell.
"Ufufu! Ah, the heroism of my husband marching to war! Kiyohime, my dear," she said with a charming smile. "I leave you in charge of taking care of my Leon! See that he lacks for nothing, yes?"
Kiyohime, who had just been kissed by Leonel and still had a slight blush on her cheeks, nodded with an almost dangerous smile.
"Of course, Nero-sama. I won't allow even the slightest harm to touch Leonel-sama. I will care for him as if he were... my beloved husband."
Nero nodded, satisfied. "Very well! I shall stay here like a good empress... but let it be known that I will go to the next one."
Both girls looked toward where Leonel was talking with Romani and Da Vinci, and then looked at each other with a strange feminine complicity. A sort of silent truce was signed at that moment.
[A little further away, Mash adjusts her shield]
Mash was preparing with efficiency. She adjusted her gloves, checked her shield's anchor, and inspected her combat suit. Everything was in order.
However, her mind wandered. She clearly remembered the moment in the command room... when Leonel, with firmness and sweetness, had kissed Nero first and then Kiyohime. Her chest tightened involuntarily.
"It's not the time to get distracted..." she told herself quietly.
She pressed her lips together and took a deep breath, dispelling the slight heat in her cheeks. This was a mission. The safety of the world was at stake, and that was what mattered.
[Leonel's Room – Shortly Before the Rayshift]
Leonel was alone, already dressed in his operations uniform. The silence of the room was only interrupted by the faint hum of the machinery on standby. Sitting on his bed, he looked at the ring Nero had conjured to symbolize their "imperial engagement."
"Well..." he sighed. "I kissed two waifus in less than five minutes."
He rested his face against the palm of his hand, somewhere between resigned and amused.
"And that's how one gets condemned... to having a harem. It's not like I didn't see it coming... but still..."
He laughed to himself. He didn't regret it. It had been necessary in the moment, and both girls seemed happier and more focused after his gesture. But he also understood things would be more complicated from here on out.
"I'm going to have to think carefully about my words and my actions. With these women, anything can escalate... very quickly."
[Meanwhile, in the repair wing]
Jeanne d'Arc was not present in the command center. She had insisted on helping Chaldea's technicians with the reconstruction of several zones damaged after the first singularity. She wore simple overalls and carried a toolbox in her hand.
"I cannot go with them this time... but I will do my part here," she said with a serene smile, watching the screens from a corner.
[Back in the hangar]
Everything was ready. Da Vinci gave the final coordinates and Romani activated the countdown.
"Team, prepare for Rayshift!" announced Romani. "Destination: Rome, 60 AD. Good luck!"
Mash, Emiya, and Kiyohime positioned themselves next to Leonel in the magical circle. The glow began to envelop them.
And with a flash, the team departed for their next adventure.
[Command Center – Rayshift Platform]
An immense circular platform glowed with bluish light, powered by Chaldea's magical systems. The air was charged with energy and the tension was palpable. Mash, Emiya, Kiyohime, and Leonel were already on the Rayshift circle, ready, each with their own expression.
Mash held her shield firmly, focused. Emiya had his arms crossed, his eyes fixed ahead with professional calm. Kiyohime, though excited, was surprisingly serene... at least for now. Leonel, at the center, took a deep breath, adjusting the gloves of his uniform.
[Control Podium]
High up in the command center, Romani, Da Vinci, and Olga Marie worked tirelessly.
"All anchor point calculations are ready!" announced Da Vinci with a proud smile. "Magical rhythm stabilized. No signs of distortion!"
"Temporal coordinates have been locked!" added Romani, as the screens in front of him lit up one after another.
"Very well," said Olga in a firm voice. "Make sure everything is within safety parameters. This singularity is denser than the last one; any error could be fatal."
Romani nodded.
"Leonel, guys... this time we're sending you into the heart of the Roman Empire. Be careful with the alterations. And please, try not to kiss anyone in the middle of history!"
Leonel couldn't help but let out a low laugh.
"No promises, doc. But I'll try."
Kiyohime blushed slightly, and Mash rolled her eyes with a concealed smile.
[Intense lights begin to surround the platform]
The Rayshift system roared with intensity. A magical circle unfolded beneath the feet of the four, beginning to lift them in spiritual energy.
"Energy at 120%! Rayshift in 5... 4...!" counted Da Vinci.
Mash clenched her teeth, Emiya closed his eyes. Leonel looked ahead with determination.
"3... 2... 1... Launch!"
[Explosion of Light]
An explosion of ethereal particles burst from the magical circle. In the blink of an eye, the bodies of Leonel, Mash, Emiya, and Kiyohime began to dematerialize into beams of bright blue light.
From the control room, Romani and the others watched them fade away, headed towards the past. Towards a new distortion in history.