Fate: Hero of Justice Takeover

Why did the outer walls reinforced with divine spells collapse so easily?

Why did the Roman garrison in the capital remain unmoved?

Why did the great general merely watch as the decisive battle unfolded?

Is this a distortion of human nature or the collapse of mora—cough, wrong script.

"By now, you should all understand, right?" Sakatsuki grinned and nudged Boudica with his chin. Boudica snorted but didn't refute him.

Days earlier, she had already struck a deal with Sakatsuki—to assist him in toppling the Roman Empire.

"Is it because of the past?" The voice from the wrist communicator belonged to the Doctor. "Is it because of the atrocities Rome committed against Britannia?"

Under everyone's gaze, the queen who once raised a rebellion against Rome instinctively shook her head. After a moment of contemplation, she blushed faintly and nodded slightly, as if struggling to admit it.

"Well... maybe a little. But more than that, it's because Sakatsuki was right. There's something... wrong with His Majesty Nero right now."

Hearing this, everyone couldn't help but glance toward the throne, where the red-robed emperor remained seated, her smile unwavering even as she was called out.

They couldn't help but recall her silence since the retreat from Gaul, her unfamiliar demeanour and tone.

If before they could still delude themselves into thinking it was just a drastic change in personality due to trauma, now, after Boudica pointed it out, Fujimaru could no longer ignore the issue:

"Your Majesty Nero..."

On the throne, Nero had closed her eyes at some point, her breathing slow and steady, as if she had fallen asleep.

Snap!

A crisp sound broke the silence as the white-haired man clapped his hands cheerfully, cutting off Fujimaru's question.

"Now, now, aren't you all technically prisoners of war? Isn't it a bit too much to just talk among yourselves right in front of me?"

With a wave of his hand, he summoned terracotta soldiers to carry Nero away from the throne, while another group dragged the heavily injured Servants before him.

Seeing the teasing smile on the man's face, Stheno shuddered, her expression resembling Medusa's whenever she was pranked by her sisters.

"You... what are you planning?"

"Come!" Sakatsuki boomed. "Let me see if you've been growing properly!"

"P-Pervert!!!"

***

That said, Sakatsuki merely bound their Spirit Origins with blood-red energy to secure his "prisoners."

Not following the Qin tradition of collecting heads as military merits was already something to be grateful for.

However, Sakatsuki didn't spare even the unconscious, blackened superior officer. Even Fujimaru wasn't exempt—choking on a blood-energy-infused "Six-Flavored Rehmannia Pill," coughing violently and barely catching his breath.

"And thus, it is done." The man, now fully revealing his true nature, plopped onto the throne and crossed his legs. "The Roman Empire has fallen, and you're all my prisoners. Hmm... let's call it a day. Do whatever you want; we'll deal with the rest tomorrow."

His tone was so casual, as if he were just a tourist visiting for fun.

There was no sense of defeat at all. In fact, with him around, it almost felt like this Singularity was doomed from the start...

Fujimaru stared blankly at Sakatsuki on the throne before finally speaking up.

"I still don't understand. How did you evade Saber's Noble Phantasm and defeat her?"

"That's a secret, Fujimaru. It won't work if I say it out loud." Sakatsuki chuckled and stood up, walking toward him.

The method was actually simple—he used the Holy Grail's power to instantly spiritize, dodging the attack before materializing behind Alter Saber to knock her out with a sneak attack.

Alter Saber probably never expected him to fight so dirty. A surge of blood-energy later, she was out cold.

...And by the time she woke up, it'd be too late for retribution—after all, she'd already be his prisoner.

With that in mind, Sakatsuki stopped in front of Fujimaru and handed him a prepared card case.

"What's this?"

"Consider it compensation, Master of Chaldea." Sakatsuki waved a hand dismissively and turned away. "It's true—I've hidden many things in this Singularity and obstructed your mission to restore humanity. But I have no intention of stopping now."

"All I can promise is that once my task is complete, this Singularity will be saved."

"Until then—"

Just before stepping out the door, the man glanced back, locking eyes with Fujimaru Ritsuka, his gaze brimming with unshakable confidence.

"The star of this show must be me."

Just as Fujimaru was stunned by Sakatsuki's overwhelming presence, a figure came barreling down the hallway and crashed straight into him.

BAM!

The next moment, the man who had been oozing coolness just seconds ago was sent flying, slamming into the wall before crumpling to the ground, unable to get up.

"M-Master, it's terrible!" Tamamo Cat, completely unaware of who she'd just KO'd, slid over and clung to Fujimaru's leg, tears in her eyes.

"Nero, Nero shrank, meow!"

***

In the dimly lit corridor, sparse torches flickered.

Outside the emperor's bedchamber, several figures peeked inside like nosy onlookers.

"So? See anything?"

"Too far! It's all grayscale—can't make out anything clearly!"

"That's just you being useless, piglet. Move, let me try!"

"Meow! You stepped on my tail, woof!"

"So are you a cat, a dog, or a fox...?"

Elisabeth, Tamamo Cat, Fujimaru Ritsuka, and Boudica crowded by the door. Meanwhile, Stheno lazily yawned and glanced at Saber, who had removed her helmet at some point, revealing golden eyes and an indifferent expression.

"Not joining the fun?"

"Unnecessary."

"Oh? I thought you'd be interested in that man. After all, he's currently sharing a bed with an emperor who looks just like you."

"...It has nothing to do with me." After a sullen reply, Saber turned and strode away. The white-robed goddess leaned against the wall, covering her mouth with a sly smile.

"Is that so? If you weren't interested from the start, why did you answer Fujimaru's summons in the first place?"

Meanwhile, inside the bedchamber that had piqued the Servants' curiosity, nothing particularly scandalous was happening.

At most, it was just Sakatsuki lying on the bed, pinned beneath a petite figure...

That's all.

"Thou art quite bold, daring to intrude upon Our chambers."

A golden crown adorned her head, her blood-red dress draped over her body as a scaled tail slithered freely, coiling around the man's ankle and creeping upward, upward...

Stopping just shy of his thigh.

The small-faced girl clung to the man like a lover, tilting her head to blow softly against his brow. Her intoxicating, wine-like eyes gleamed with mischief.

The crimson patterns etched across her arms, face, back, and chest exuded a mystique that tempted one to fall.

"To leave thyself so vulnerable before Us... does this mean thou hast prepared to be devoured whole?"

Pressed against the man, the girl brought her lips to his ear, whispering like a lover's murmur.

"Master (Servant)"

***

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