[Exterior – Road to Romulus's Fortress – Dawn]
The sun was just beginning to rise over the hills, tinting the sky a pale gold-orange. The ground trembled faintly beneath the synchronized footsteps of the army marching towards its final destination.
At the front, leading the vanguard, walked five prominent figures.
Leonel, with a red cape fluttering in the wind, kept his gaze fixed on the horizon. Beside him, Kiyohime, clinging sweetly—and with barely concealed possessiveness—to his arm, looked around with a mixture of calm and determination, ready to reduce any threat to ashes if it approached her beloved.
A few steps behind, Mash Kyrielight watched that scene with an expression... difficult to hide. Her lips pressed tight, her gaze drifting occasionally towards Leonel and Kiyohime. But she said nothing. She just gripped her shield more tightly.
Farther back, Archer, with his bow slung over his back and his dark blue cloak, walked with his arms crossed, watching the interaction with a wry smile.
"Ugh... This is going to explode at some point..." he murmured to himself, though not without a touch of humor. Then, he looked up at the sky. "Just not during the battle, please..."
[A few minutes later, Nero approaches Leonel]
The empress walks with elegance and a firm step, her imperial toga adapted for war, and a bright smile on her lips. She positions herself next to Leonel, greeting Kiyohime with a kind look before focusing on him.
"Leonel, do you remember what we discussed last night?" she asks in a serious tone, though her eyes shone with a strange emotion. "The strategy, the timing... is everything still the same?"
He nods decisively.
"Yes. Everything is proceeding as we planned. Kiyohime will protect me from any ambush or surprise attack," he says, casting a quick glance at the Berserker, who smiles broadly upon hearing her name. "Mash will be with you when you face Romulus. Together you are the best defense and offense against someone like him."
Mash nods silently, her expression softening a little.
"Archer will handle weakening the enemy army, attacking the flanks, and keeping them on the move. His mobility is key to prevent them from surrounding us."
"Perfect," says Archer from behind, winking at Leonel. "As always, trusting me to save your skin."
Leonel smiles sideways.
"And I will stay with the bulk of the army. I will direct the movements from the rear with the commanders, and Tezcatlipoca will help us identify weaknesses in the enemy lines. We'll share that information with everyone via messengers and magical signals."
[Tezcatlipoca – in spiritual form – briefly appears beside him]
"Hehe... Your orders will be like divine fire upon their minds, little strategist. May the false eternity tremble!" he says in a powerful voice before fading away.
Nero listens to everything attentively, then places a hand on her chest and nods solemnly.
"Then so be it. May this day be etched in history... as the rebirth of a new Rome."
Leonel looks at her and nods.
"And the end of a Singularity."
[Panoramic shot – Nero's Army]
Behind them, thousands of soldiers formed orderly columns. Although some faces showed fear, many others were resolute. The banners of Rome fluttered in the wind. The sound of armor and the voices of commanders mingled with the distant song of the dawn birds.
Destiny lay before them.
[Interior – United Roman Empire Fortress – Morning]
The air inside the fortress was thick, laden with tension and the muffled murmur of soldiers arming catapults, reinforcing barricades, polishing their gladii as if sharpening their courage with them.
Romulus, eternal emperor and founder, stood tall on a stone terrace, his holy spear in hand and the imperial red cloak over his shoulders. He silently watched as his army, though fearful, followed his orders.
Two defeats weighed like invisible shackles on his men's morale. The fall of Caligula... the defeat of the legions in the capital...
But he showed not a single crack.
"Rome has fallen many times... and always risen again. Today... will be no exception!" his voice thundered with almost divine power.
The soldiers stopped their tasks, looking up at him. Some with trembling eyes, others gritting their teeth. But his words began to sink in like warm fire.
"What are we, if not the eternal echo of Rome? We are not alone. We carry in our chests the will of our ancestors. Let the traitors tremble! Let those who renounce the legacy doubt! For as long as I stand firm, Rome will stand."
A roar was born, first timid, but then growing stronger among the troops.
"Hail Rome!"
"Hail Romulus!"
"For the United Empire!"
The atmosphere changed. The tension remained, but it had transformed. Now it was a rope taut with desire for glory, not fear.
[Moments later – Strategy Room]
Romulus was reviewing the final details on the unfolded map. His gaze swept with precision over the approach roads, the ballista positions, and the blind spots of his fortress.
Lev Lainur Flauros had been missing for over a day since their heated argument. Romulus had noticed his absence... but there were more important things to attend to.
"Fleeing is not for true Romans..." he murmured. "But I no longer have time for traitors disguised as allies."
[Urgent knocking at the door]
A centurion bursts in, panting and with dust on his armor.
"My emperor! Forces approaching from the east! Nero's banners, and a considerable force with her!"
Romulus straightens up completely. The spear in his hand seems to react to the news, glowing faintly.
"So the time has come..."
He walks with a slow but sure step towards the exit.
"Inform all commanders. Every squad must be in position! Archers to the walls, reserves at the ready. And bring the Crimson Lion..." he orders, his tone firm as marble. "The enemy is at our gates... And Rome never surrenders without baring its fangs."
The soldier nods and runs out.
Romulus, alone for a moment, looks at the sky again. The wind moves his cloak, and his voice resonates for himself:
"Nero... You have grown. You have proven your worth. But only one can bear the name of Rome. If you have come for my legacy... then come and take it."
[Exterior – Plains before Romulus's Fortress – Afternoon]
The sky was covered in gray clouds, as if the gods themselves were holding their breath for what was about to happen. The sound of war drums and horse hooves filled the air.
Nero's army deployed over the hill, banners waving proudly in the wind. Soldiers stood firm, though tense, forming lines behind their leaders.
In the vanguard, Nero Claudius, the reborn empress, rode a majestic white horse, her golden armor gleaming even under the overcast sky. Beside her, Leonel, Mash, Kiyohime, and Archer watched the enemy bastion.
Before them, across the field, rose the fortress walls. Atop, like a god gazing from Olympus, stood Romulus, on the rampart. Wrapped in his crimson cloak, his spear planted firmly on the stone floor, and his gaze directed solely at her.
A heavy silence fell for a moment. Only the wind dared to move between the two armies.
Nero raised her voice, clear and powerful.
"Romulus!" she called, without fear, her voice traveling like an imperial chant over everyone's heads. "Founder, eternal protector of Rome... I ask you once more! Lower your banner! End this bloodshed! Rome does not need gods to subjugate it, but leaders who fight for its people!"
Romulus did not respond immediately. His eyes rested on Nero... and for a brief instant, a shadow of pride and melancholy crossed his face.
Then he spoke.
"Oh, Nero..." his voice, deep and resonant, echoed across the field. "You have grown. You have proven your worth. The Empire... acknowledges you. But what you call freedom... is chaos disguised. Rome must not surrender. Rome is held together by spear and faith."
Nero narrowed her eyes.
"Faith in what, Romulus? In chains? In pain disguised as order? Enough! Rome is not just stone and conquest! It is its people, their passion, their fire!"
Romulus raised his spear to the sky, and his cloak billowed forcefully.
"Then... let our ideas clash, Nero Claudius. If your fire is stronger than my spear, the field will decide Rome's fate!"
An instant of tension.
Leonel raised his hand. Tezcatlipoca appeared beside him, projecting his voice with a magical thunder that vibrated across the entire terrain.
"To arms! Formations ready! Today an Empire falls... or a new one is born!"
And so, the first war horn sounded.
From both lines, soldiers began to shout, running towards the inevitable clash. Dust rose like a fog of war.
From above, Romulus lowered his spear with force.
From the front, Nero unsheathed her sword and pointed it towards the fortress.
The final battle had begun.
[Interior – Romulus's Fortress – Bloody Sunset]
The roar of battle raged around them, but for Nero Claudius, every swing of her sword was music, a martial symphony composed by the burning spirit of Rome.
Her red cape fluttered behind her like a flag in flames as she ran through the stone corridors of the enemy fortress. Beside her, firm and determined, Mash Kyrielight kept pace, her shield stopping arrows and swords alike.
"Mash! Romulus must not escape!" exclaimed Nero, cutting down a soldier who dared to stand in her way.
"Understood, Lady Nero!! We will reach him!" replied the young shielder, charging and knocking down two enemies blocking a spiral staircase.
The interior of the fortress was a labyrinth of stone and steel, with red and golden banners hanging from the walls, and soldiers who, though trembling, fought desperately for their homeland.
"For Emperor Romulus!" shouted one of them, lunging with spear in hand.
But it was not enough.
"Out of my way! The Empress advances!" roared Nero, her imperial sword tracing a fiery arc that felled the enemy in a single blow.
Soldier after soldier, resistance after resistance, they fell like grain under the sickle. Mash, with her impenetrable shield, protected the flanks, while Nero advanced like a flaming star, her fury wrapped in elegance and determination.
"At this rate, we'll reach him soon," said Mash, panting from the effort but not yielding ground.
"Yes... I can sense his presence ahead. That aura of divinity..." Nero's green eyes shone with a mixture of respect and resolve. "Romulus... it's time for Rome to decide its future!"
A larger group appeared at the end of the corridor. Archers, spearmen, and even a couple of centurions in heavy armor.
Nero smiled.
"I must confess I'm a little excited... Mash, let's give them a spectacle worthy of the imperial theaters!"
"Of course, Lady Nero!"
With a battle cry, they both charged towards Romulus's last defense, like the fire and shield of the new Rome fighting to be reborn.
And at the end of the corridor... a door slowly opened.
Beyond it, Romulus's footsteps, moving away towards the summit of the fortress.
The pursuit continued.
[Battlefield – In front of Romulus's Fortress – Sunset]
The air was heavy with ash and tension, the sound of steel and war cries thundered on the horizon like ancient drums calling to history. From a hill near the heart of the combat, Leonel watched the flow of battle with sharp eyes, his cloak fluttering in the chaos wind.
Beside him, wrapped in an aura of black smoke and golden glows, Tezcatlipoca remained silent, his eyes like burning embers as he watched the enemy's movements.
"The spearmen are forming a fan... they're trying to surround Archer," murmured Leonel, touching his communicator.
"Archer here. Understood. I'll clear a path," his voice replied with a confident, almost amused tone.
An instant later, from atop a hill, Archer fired a rain of golden arrows that exploded on impact, reducing the enemy formation to a cloud of dust and debris. The area rumbled with the force of his attack, and Nero's soldiers cheered with renewed courage.
Leonel nodded, then switched channels.
"Mash, Nero, fortified enemies in the west tower. Probably an artillery point. If you can reach it before they activate, the entrance will be secured."
"Understood!" Mash's firm voice replied.
"The crown of Rome shines brighter than its defenses!" added Nero, her passion ignited.
Kiyohime, meanwhile, didn't stray an inch from Leonel. Around them, the bodies of several enemies lay lifeless, faces distorted by terror. Her spear was stained red, but her sweet expression didn't change, except when someone dared to approach her beloved.
A warning cry.
A desperate enemy soldier had managed to scale the hill and lunged at Leonel.
"My lord!" exclaimed Kiyohime.
A flash, a subtle roar, and the attacker fell before even touching Leonel's shadow. Kiyohime slowly spun her weapon, then looked at Leonel with absolute devotion.
"No one will touch you while I am here."
Leonel only gave her a calm smile, grateful.
"Thank you, Kiyo. I trust you."
Tezcatlipoca smiled, crossing his arms.
"You have a good hand for warrior women, kid. But keep a cool head. Romulus is no ordinary emperor... he is a symbol. And if he falls, he will fall fighting like a god."
Leonel nodded, turning his gaze back to the battlefield. Everyone was moving like pieces on a board he himself had prepared. For now, everything was going as planned.
But he knew that calm... was only the prelude to the final storm.
"Let's end this war," he whispered to himself. "Not just for Nero... but for all who dream of a tomorrow."
[Romulus's Fortress – Summit – Bloody Sunset]
The sky burned with scarlet hues as the sun descended on the horizon, dyeing the stone walls red. There, on the summit of the fortress, where the world seemed to stop, Romulus waited for them.
Standing on the edge of the central terrace, his spear planted in the ground and his cloak billowing in the wind, the founder of Rome watched the two figures who burst onto his sacred battlefield.
Nero Claudius, majestic even with her armor stained with blood, advanced with a firm step, her imperial sword sparkling with energy. Beside her, Mash Kyrielight, with her shield raised and her gaze determined, stood ready to protect.
Romulus smiled, not with arrogance, but with genuine pride.
"So you have come this far... the Empress of Tomorrow and her unbreakable shield. Bellum Romanum... has begun."
Nero raised her sword, the flame of imperial pride shining in her eyes.
"Romulus! Surrender now! Rome does not need another tyrant who insists on living in the past. I will forge a new empire, one where the people's heart guides the crown!"
Romulus slowly raised his spear with a solemn gesture.
"I do not wish to destroy... only to preserve. But if I must fight to protect my vision, then I will fight with the soul of all kings who came before me."
The ground shook.
The battle began.
Mash raised her shield just in time to deflect a thrust as fast as lightning. Romulus spun, his spear tracing an arc of pure force, forcing them both to separate. Nero counterattacked, her sword dancing like living fire, but Romulus was more agile, faster. A true Lancer.
"Mash, defensive formation three! Surround him!" ordered Nero.
"Understood!"
Mash blocked firmly, withstanding Romulus's onslaughts, which grew faster and faster. The Lancer moved with the precision of a war god, gliding across the field as if predicting every step of his opponents.
In an instant, he jumped high, spinning in the air and descending with a spear that resonated against Mash's shield like thunder. The impact pushed her back, and Nero seized the moment to attack... but Romulus deflected her blow with an elegant spin, then struck her with the shaft of his spear, making her stagger backward.
From the hill, Leonel watched, his eyes glowing with the spiritual vision lent by Tezcatlipoca.
"They won't be able to defeat him like this," he murmured.
"He's using his agility. It's a dance, an ancient dance... and they're fighting with strength, but not with the rhythm he sets," said Tezcatlipoca in a raspy voice.
Leonel closed his eyes for a moment and, with the shared energy of his bond, sent a mental message to Nero and Mash.
"Don't try to match him! You can't beat him with speed... use the terrain. Mash, make him focus on you. Nero, break his pattern. Fight as one."
On the summit, Nero stopped. She closed her eyes for a moment, then smiled.
"Received, Leonel... now we're talking." She raised her sword with fervor. "Mash! Time to compose a symphony of victory!"
Mash nodded forcefully, planting her shield with a shockwave that raised a cloud of dust. Romulus blinked, assessing the sudden change... just as Nero attacked from a blind angle, and Mash blocked his escape route.
For the first time in the battle, Romulus retreated.
And the real battle... had just begun.
[Inner Fields of the Fortress – Command Zone]
The sounds of battle resonated powerfully: clashing swords, war cries, and the rumble of hurried footsteps on stone. Leonel remained at his command post, supported by Tezcatlipoca's mental maps, sending coordinates and suggestions to the others as the combat intensified.
"Archer, to the west flank, reinforcements approaching! Mash needs aerial support from the lower towers," he said firmly, one hand on his communicator and the other on his still-sheathed sword.
Kiyohime, nearby, stood as his guardian. Her spear spun in lethal flashes, cutting down enemy soldiers who tried to approach. Each one that fell was replaced by two more.
"Do not touch Leonel-sama!" she roared with passion, her gaze frenzied with devotion and protective instinct.
But there were too many.
"Tch... I can't use fire here," she grumbled, seeing Leonel just a few meters away. If she unleashed her magic, she would endanger him.
So she changed tactics: she threw her spear to the ground and began to fight with her bare hands, taking down enemies with brute force, using her agility to dodge and block.
Meanwhile, a group of soldiers managed to slip through gaps in the defensive line and surrounded Leonel.
"Shit!" he exclaimed, drawing his small ceremonial dagger. He wasn't made for physical combat. He stepped back, hitting a wall. Several enemies raised their weapons.
"Leonel-sama!" Kiyohime shouted, but she couldn't reach him in time.
Leonel's heart pounded fiercely, a mix of fear and rage. He closed his eyes. And then... he remembered.
[Distant echo – The Velvet Room]
"Despite the world's distortion, we have managed to recover fragments of the compendium. Not only Tezcatlipoca walks with you... though the spirits are weak, they will answer if you call them with your heart."
—Igor.
Leonel gritted his teeth, raised a trembling hand, and shouted:
"Persona... Pixie!"
A celestial glow enveloped him. Out of nowhere, a small, winged figure emerged. A fairy girl, with pointed ears, shining wings, and a playful smile.
"Heehee~!! Did you call me, new master?"
"Paralyze them all!" ordered Leonel, still amazed to see her.
Pixie flew in circles, and with an electrical flicker, unleashed a Zio that crackled through the air. The discharge paralyzed the nearest soldiers, their bodies briefly convulsing before falling to the ground, twitching.
"Now, Kiyohime!"
Without waiting further, Kiyohime roared with renewed fury, picked up her spear, and finished off all the paralyzed enemies, spinning in a lethal whirlwind.
When the last one fell, silence reigned for a second.
Leonel, panting, looked at his own hand. Still sparking.
"I did it... I summoned another Persona..."
Pixie did a somersault in the air, giggling.
"Well done! Even though I'm little, I'm electrifying, right?"
Kiyohime lunged towards him, taking him in her arms with an almost suffocating strength.
"Don't scare me like that again, Leonel-sama! I was about to turn into a furnace just for you!"
Leonel, between coughs and a nervous smile, replied:
"Thank you... Kiyo. And thank you, Pixie... this is just beginning."
Pixie flew onto his shoulder with a determined expression.
"Let's keep fighting, master! Even little heroes have their sparkle!"
From above, Tezcatlipoca watched the scene with a deep laugh.
"And so begins the true journey of the summoner..."
[Summit of the Fortress – Under the Crimson Sky]
The combat roared like a storm. Romulus, majestic in his gleaming armor, moved with the precision of a war god. His spear cut the air with every spin, dodging Mash's shields and deflecting Nero's slashes with movements that seemed choreographed by history itself.
"You have good spirit, young shield! And you... Empress! Your flame still burns strong," said Romulus, breathless but firm.
"Rome may burn, but my soul will not fall!" shouted Nero, panting, her dress torn, covered in wounds and sweat. Her sword still blazed with imperial fire, but her body no longer responded as it had at the start.
Mash, still holding on, interposed her shield again and again.
"Nero, his style... it's a circular pattern! He's forcing us to follow his rhythm. If we break it, we'll expose him!"
"Then let's do it! One more time, together!"
But just at that moment, interference shook their communicator. Leonel's voice cut out.
"Mash, Nero! Listen, Romulus is—!" zzzzzt—
The signal disappeared.
"It can't be...!" murmured Mash, barely dodging a lunge.
Romulus smiled.
"Do not expect external help here. I chose you personally for this combat. This summit... will be our final arena."
And with a roar, he charged with his spear. Mash intercepted, trembling from the impact. Nero tried to attack from the flank, but was repelled by a swift sweep.
"Gkh!" she fell to her knees, panting.
The red empress gritted her teeth. She felt the heat of blood on her cheek, her body begging for rest... but she could not yield.
"I'm... not finished yet...! Rome... does not fall twice!"
At that instant, her communicator vibrated weakly, a signal restored. Leonel's voice returned, urgent, along with the fleeting image of Tezcatlipoca.
"Nero, Mash! Romulus is charging divine energy in his legs! That's his weakness! Aim at his low movements, break his balance!"
Mash opened her eyes wide.
"Now I understand! His speed isn't innate, he propels it with blessings in his limbs!"
"Then let's aim at the colossus's foundation!" Nero shouted with a radiant smile. Her sword sparkled with renewed fury.
"Mash, protect me until I find the opening!"
"Yes, my Empress!"
The combat entered its climax. Romulus attacked like a hurricane, but Mash redoubled her defenses, withstanding charge after charge. Nero, circling around him, watched, patient... until she saw the glow in Romulus's right leg falter for a second.
"Got it!"
She jumped, her sword descended with all the fury of Rome.
"Laus Stultorum... Gladius!" Nero shouted, and her strike landed with a thunderous crash that echoed across the summit.
The divine armor of Romulus cracked at its base, and the colossus, for the first time, lost his balance...
[Summit of the Fortress – The Twilight of an Empire]
The air grew heavy.
Romulus prepared a descending thrust, imbued with the strength of a thousand legions. But just as his right foot stepped on the ground to propel himself... pain stopped him.
"Now!" shouted Mash, bringing her shield down forcefully on the Lancer's knee.
"Romaaaaaaa!" roared Nero, channeling all her strength into a final thrust.
Her sword pierced the space between them like a crimson lightning bolt, wrapping itself in golden fire, straight into Romulus's exposed chest. The impact was so fierce that his spear trembled and his body staggered back a few steps, letting out a deep sigh.
"Gkkh...!" Romulus fell to his knees. The spear slipped from his fingers. His eyes, fierce to the last, looked at Nero, not with hatred... but with pride.
"Your fire... never wavered." He coughed, blood on his lips, while a smile formed beneath his helmet. "Your determination, your passion... are the eternal embers of Rome."
Nero looked at him, still breathing heavily, sword still in hand. But her face showed no triumph. It showed respect.
"Romulus... I did not desire this. But I could not surrender either. Rome... needs to move forward."
"You did well, Nero Claudius... Accept... my blessing." His voice trembled as his body began to fade into golden particles. "From today, you shall be... the Empress Rome deserves. The flame... will continue with you..."
Mash approached slowly, lowering her shield. Her eyes were full of admiration.
"He disappears like a hero..." she murmured.
Romulus raised his face towards the sky, where the sun was beginning to rise among red clouds.
"So it shall be... To the Throne of Heroes... I return satisfied..."
And with those words, Romulus's body slowly dissipated into magical motes of light, which rose like stars towards the firmament.
Nero bowed her head solemnly, while her sword returned to its normal form, extinguished but firm.
"Hail, Romulus... and thank you."
Mash approached her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"You did well, Nero. Very well."
The Empress smiled weakly, her legs wobbling.
"Yes... but now... I think I need... an imperial rest..."
And with that, she fell backward. Mash caught her in her arms before she hit the ground.
"Nero! Don't worry, I have you!" said Mash, smiling sweetly. "Even if the battle is over... Rome still lies ahead."
[Ruins of the Fortress – Bloody Sunset]
The wind blew among the fallen columns and shattered statues. The Roman troops, once fervent and violent, began to drop their weapons. One by one, they fell to their knees, defeated not only in body, but in spirit.
Leonel, leaning on his half-summoned sword, breathed with difficulty. Kiyohime, her armor in tatters, stood beside him, covering him with a fierce though weary gaze. Archer watched from a distance with his arms crossed, still alert, though he knew it was all over.
"They... surrendered..." murmured Leonel, with disbelief.
"It seems so..." Archer replied with a crooked smile. "Seems your strategy with Pixie and Kiyohime worked. Well done, kid."
Suddenly, hurried footsteps alerted them.
Mash and Nero arrived from the fortress summit. The Empress's armor was cracked and her cape in tatters, but her smile shone with pride. Mash followed, equally exhausted but full of determination.
"We did it, Leo!" Nero shouted with enthusiasm, opening her arms. "The lion has fallen, but Rome lives!"
"It was an intense battle..." added Mash, looking at Kiyohime with gratitude. "Without her help, we wouldn't have made it."
Leonel gave them a genuine smile. For a moment, everything seemed calm. The first real victory. The hope that perhaps, just perhaps, they could restore humanity.
But that hope didn't last long.
A mocking laugh echoed through the ruins.
"Bravo, bravo! A true masterpiece of drama and cheap heroism!"
Black flames erupted behind a broken column. A figure emerged from the shadows with elegant steps, as if not walking, but floating upon despair itself.
Lev Lainur Flauros.
He wore his usual white robe, and in his hand, he held aloft a shining, corrupt object, pulsing with energy.
"The Holy Grail...!" murmured Mash, stepping back with her shield raised.
"You again!" spat Leonel, gritting his teeth. "Didn't you die in Fuyuki?"
Lev laughed, shaking the Grail as if it were a trophy.
"Die? Ha! That was just an act. A convenient sacrifice to give you a false victory. Did you really think defeating a local Servant would be enough to stop the ruin?"
Nero frowned, slowly lowering her sword.
"What are you planning, vermin?"
"Oh, nothing too original. I just thought it would be fun... to see you face something truly impossible."
Lev raised the Holy Grail.
The sky roared.
A dark shockwave shook the terrain. The air grew dense, as if reality itself were tearing.
From the heart of an inverted magic circle, wrapped in crimson and black light... emerged a slender figure, clad in alien armor. Her eyes shone like cold suns. Her sword, gigantic, was almost a conceptual aberration.
Altera.
The destroyer of civilizations.
Mash immediately stepped back.
"It can't be... a Servant of the Saber class... but... her power...!"
Nero stepped forward, eyes wide.
"That presence... that aura..."
Lev smiled with madness.
"I present to you Altera, the living sword. Let's see how long that ridiculous hope of yours lasts!"
Altera stood still, as if evaluating each of those present. Her voice, soft and distant, cut the air like a lament:
"Fight...? Again...? What a useless fate..."
And without further ado, the ground beneath her feet cracked as a magical wave ravaged the front.
The second phase of the Singularity... had begun.