Andrew sat on the bed in his assigned bedroom, while he heard Hassan give a report of what he had discovered about the United Empire since he had sent him off after the death of Caesar that morning.

"I met up with the other two Servant Generals under Nero's command on the western front, the two of them are Chinese an Assassin by the name of Jing Ke, who specializes in assassinating Emperors, and another Berserker this one is Lu Bu, a general from the Three Kingdoms period. They have already defeated two enemy Servants though none that Caesar knew about. As for the enemies forces, I have found the capital, but I'm unable to enter at the moment. But three new Servant's have left the Capital. A Caster, Rider, and Berserker. The Caster and Rider are working together and seems to have a plan. But the Berserker is advancing slowly towards the frontline, he is riding on top of an elephant, and at his current speed, he will hit Lu Bu's and Jing Ke's position in about twelve hours. What should my actions be now Contractor?" Hassan asked.

Andrew thought over the new information. "...Which direction do you think the Rider & Caster duo is heading?"

"They are heading forward to, but they are working with converted troops, and from the information, I managed to gather, the Rider wants to have a confrontation with Nero. Also, the Caster refers to the Rider as his King."

"Mhm." Andrew filed that away for later. "Assassin, regroup with the Generals. We'll be heading to your location to face the enemy head-on as soon as we arrive."

"Right, now Contractor, it is getting late and should you not rest properly, I do not want a sleep deprived commander," Hassan said.

"Don't worry. I'll be awake and alert by the time we meet up." Andrew said. He and his Servants would wake at dawn and head out on Hurricane Ride at top speed so they could annihilate the enemy before they even had the chance to attack.

There was a knock at the door.

"Who is it?"

"It is I Lord Andrew, may I come in I wish to speak with you?" Came the voice of Nero from the other side.

"Of course, this is your palace after all," Andrew said.

"Umu, but I did not wish to be rude," Nero said as she entered.

"So, what did you wish to speak about?"

"I had a talk with Boudica, and I managed to squeeze the truth out of her. So, you're truly from the future?" Nero asked.

"...Yes. From the twenty-first century, to be precise." Andrew said, figuring honesty to be the best policy.

"Umu, so far into the future, tell me how is my reign over Rome remembered, is written in the annals of history as its much glorious time?" Nero asked as she placed herself on the bed.

Andrew kept his expression as neutral as possible. "Your reign is…"

"Andrew, there is no harm in telling her, it's not like she is going to remember after the Singularity is completed." Said, the holographic form of Dr. Roman as it appeared in front of the two.

"Ah, GHOST!" Nero screamed as she flipped backward, went behind the side of the bed her, head popping over the edge, glaring at Roman's slightly see-through form.

Andrew suppressed a laugh. "No, Emperor this is merely a form of communication Magecraft from the future. Dr. Roman here is the acting director of Chaldea and my boss."

"Umu, of course, I knew, I am the great Nero I know everything, I was merely shocked, by the man whose name is that of glorious Rome," Nero said confidently as she got back up on the bed crawling like a child.

"Your Majesty my name is Romani, Roman is just a nickname." The good doctor told the short-stacked woman.

"Close enough for me, now let's back to how my name is remembered."

Andrew sighed. "Okay, I guess beating around the bush on this one isn't going to help. In my time, I'm sorry to say that the record of your rule is overwhelmingly negative. I think there were a few things that said otherwise from this time period, first-hand accounts that managed to survive, but those are entirely in the minority compared to the rest of what history says."

"So, my name become despised like that of Uncle, do I lose my sanity like him, is my blood cursed with insanity. Though if that is true, makes me feel better about killing my mother." Nero admitted.

"Well...it's less that you go insane, and more like in a few years you start some really, really heavy prosecution of Christians, who ended up being the world's 'main' religion for a while and were the ones in charge, so their view of you was likely shaped from that part," Andrew said.

"Well, that certainly sounds like that Karma thing from over east," Nero said.

"Ehh," Andrew gave a verbal shrug. "Basically, yeah."

"Why did, start prosecuting them, they have so far just been annoyances so far, just preaching about that 'Kind God' of theirs."

"Its...you kind of...use them as a scapegoat after a truly massive fire, and then it just kinda became the thing for Rome to do once your reign ended."

"That sounds reasonable if the people, demanded perpetrators for such a thing happening, they would be an easy target. With their desire to denounce the great Roman Gods, and try to nip that weed at the roots, before it grew too wild." Nero said.

"...The fire was... your fault, due to negligence, though."

"How? I love Rome and Rome loves me, how could I ever be neglectful of it?" Nero asked, in shock as she looked at Andrew, not believing what she was hearing.

"Most sources say that either you ignored the start of the fire, ignored warnings about the fire starting, or…" He paused. "That you started it yourself. But from your, rather obvious love of Rome, I figured it was one of the first two."

"I do not, want to hear anymore Andrew, I should never have asked in the first place, I will be, auch!" Nero said as she grabbed her head in pain.

"Heal." Andrew intoned, activating Tenfold Shields. He was happy he was still wearing the gauntlet with the communicator.

His hand flared with the familiar green light, and Nero let out of a sound of relief. "Thank you for lessening my migraine Lord Andrew, my head feels better now." Nero thanked him.

"No problem. I know I would have loved to have a healing spell last time I had one." Andrew said sympathetically.

"Yes, my court mage was able to use his magic to lessen the effects of my mother's poison that still lingers in my body, that gives me these migraines. Unfortunately, it's proven incurable as my mother took that secret to her grave."

"Was it a magical poison?" Andrew asked, confused how it was able to still affect her after what seemed to be a good period of time.

"Yes, Simon identified it a such, made from a now extinct beast, its shame, but I'm able to deal with it."

Andrew suddenly had an idea. "So, you're certain the poison was magical in nature and came from a Phantasmal Species?"

"Andrew, I know what you're thinking, but it will be a temporary fix at best, as history will correct itself to what it should be. So don't try to waste breath on it." Dr. Roman said.

Andrew glared at Dr. Roman's holographic form. "If we can help her out, even for a little bit, while we're still here, I'm going to at least try. She's our ally, and if we're shit to allies, our alliances go to shit."

"Suit yourself." He said and vanished.

Andrew turned his attention back to Nero. "Do you know where the new Caster decided to set up her workshop?" He asked.

"Yes, I gave the one Simon had in the palace," Nero answered.

"Then let's head over there right now. I think she might be able to remove the effects of the poison from your body." Andrew said.

"I hope so, even if it is temporary."

The two of them removed themselves from the bed and room, Nero leading Andrew to where Medea was at.

It took a little bit of walking through the palace, but they got to the room and entered it, where Medea was waving her hand over a magic circle saying words in Greek.

"Form." She chanted, and Andrew saw a Dragon Tooth Warrior form. Where it soon walked over to a mass of there ones.

The Caster turned her head towards the two. "Good evening your Majesty and Master, shouldn't you be in bed sleeping?"

"Ah, sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you could Sever a magical ailment afflicting her Majesty?" Andrew asked, getting straight to the point.

"If I had been summoned as my younger-self, it would have taken but a wave of a hand. But as my current role as Witch. It is… Significantly harder to heal, but doable. I can whip up a potion ready in the morning. But first, what is it that ails the leader of Rome?" Medea asked.

"I was poisoned by my mother at a young age, and it gives me in frequent migraines that make it difficult for me to think," Nero told Medea.

"I see, that is rather cruel, now give a drop of your blood, so I can figure out what poison it is," Medea said, holding out a metal bowl and a knife.

Nero took the knife and cut her finger a few drops of blood flowing into the metallic bowl. Andrew quickly healed the wound up.

"If that was all, I shall then return to my quarters, and get some rest. Unless do you wish to join me, Andrew?" Nero asked with a certain smirk on her mouth her, eyebrows going up and down.

Andrew made an X with his arms, though his face did redden at the suggestion. "No offense your Majesty, but no."

"Most, men would kill to get to sleep with me Andrew, but if you wish not to, then I shall leave," Nero said, leaving the workshop.

He turned his attention back to Medea. "Sorry for not asking sooner, I didn't want to interrupt, but could you not just use your Noble Phantasm and Cut off the magical part of the poison from affecting her Majesty?" He said, trying to get his mind off of Nero's suggestion.

"Doesn't work like that, the poison might be magical in nature but it's not Magecraft, it's not a spell. And Rule Breaker doesn't cut through magic Master, it returns spells to their basic components. Namely magical energy." Medea answered.

"Ah, so the semantics specify Magecraft specifically, I see," Andrew said. "Sorry for burdening you with this project then, if it is as antithetical to your current form as you implied."

"Your so overly polite Master, more so than that boy, it is no problem. I just do healing via potions, and the Fleece, when I get it to work that is."

"'That boy'?" Andrew asked, curious if she meant Shirou or someone else.

"The Master of Saber, from a Holy Grail War I participated in, nothing of importance now, just a distant memory for this version of me," Medea answered.

"Ah, I understand. I believe my Lancer is from the same Holy Grail War." Andrew said.

"Yes, I recognized him, summoned as both a Lancer and a Caster. The Hound was a troublesome individual for my Assassin to fight, but he retreated, and I didn't get to some him again for the duration of the War. Now is there something else you need Master?" Medea asked.

"Well, this might sound like an...odd question, but your familiars, the Dragon Teeth Warriors, if I remember correctly, are they replicable? As in, can anyone other than you make them with the right materials and knowledge?" Andrew asked.

"Yes, it is a spell first created by Cadmus, other with materials can make them like, Circe and I believe that poisoner can too," Medea answered.

"I see. Well, once we get back to Chaldea, if things follow the same pattern as before, there could be quite the gap between Singularities, and...I'm trying to get every advantage I can get, so, if I might be so bold as to ask, but once we do return to Chaldea, could you teach me?" Andrew asked.

"That I can not, Magecraft from the Age of Gods and Age of Man are incompatible, they rely upon very different Foundations," Medea explained.

Andrew blinked owlishly. "Forgive my ignorance, but I don't quite know what that means."

"Ah, a first generation then? A Foundation is where one draws their magical power from. Mine is, of course, the Gods, using Divine Words, making requests to them to enact Mystical Phenomena."

"Oh. So Magecraft from your time is just completely incompatible with humans from mine?"

"Somewhat, I can not teach you Divine Words, but if Hecate descended from the Throne of Gods, she could teach you properly. Maybe? I don't actually know. A thought for later, anything else Master?" Medea asked.

"Sorry for keeping you up for so long, but I do have one last question if that's alright?"

"Yes, it is. I find it rather nice somebody is coming to me for knowledge, despite my incomplete education and not my body." She said the last bit, with disgust on her tongue.

Andrew was a bit taken aback by that. "Oh. Um, well, I had been wondering, if we managed to capture an enemy Servant if you could use your Noble Phantasm and make them ours, or at least not Levs?"

"Yes, but that wouldn't change their allegiance unless they were forced to obey."

"Well, from our current understanding, they are currently being controlled by the enemy Lancer, so could you cut that if its a form of Magecraft?"

"I could un-hypnotize them, yes," Medea answered.

"That's good to hear. I have a feeling at least some of the enemy would be happy to join us if we did. And sorry for keeping you up so late."

"It is nothing, see you in the morning Master."

"Goodnight."

Xxx

The morning sun shined as Andrew and Mash rode of Hurricane Ride towards where Hassan was waiting with the other two Generals of Nero. His Servants ran beside with Nero and Spartacus riding with Boudica on her Chariot. And Medea being on Medusa's mount which turned out to be the fucking Pegasus. The summoning of which had been rather morbid as she had stabbed her own neck with her nails to make a circle of her blood where the Pegasus had been summoned from.

They were nearing the mountain area that would become the French Spanish border.

And speaking of Medea, she had managed to make that the cure for Nero's migraines, so that was taken care of. Making Andrew feel a little good about himself for helping her, even if it was a temporary fix. But the smile of relief on her face after she drunk the potion was definitely worth it.

"Andrew, I'm able to detect the presence of Assassin and two unknown Servants now, probably Nero's Generals. They should be on the side of the pass you're going through." Dr. Roman informed Andrew.

"Got it, Boss," Andrew replied. He had no real idea who either of these Servants were, but he was still going over in his head what would be the best way to talk to them so as to not anger them, which basically amounted to 'being nice like normal' given how little he knew.

A minute passed, and they finally got through the mountains and came right into a camp looking like the one in Mesilla.

"We are here everyone, now let us find my Generals," Nero said as they all dismounted their respective mounts.

The blond woman moving fast as to announce her and their presence to the troops.

Andrew went off in the direction that he felt Cursed Arm to be to join him and the Generals quicker after quickly confirming via telepathy he was with them.

They were in the center of the camp, and they were easy to spot, like the one he assumed was Lu Bu towered over most being at least from eye measuring, eight feet tall.

Next to him was Hassan and the other Assassin, at least he presumed so.

"Salutations," He greeted the two Chinese Servants. "I have come with the Emperor to assist you in this fight; my crew and I intend to cut off the advancing Elephant-Rider before they can even get close unless you have a different plan," Andrew said, cutting straight to the chase. He wanted to make a good impression sure, but he wanted to actually be proactive in this fight even more and wanted to go off to fight the Berserker asap.

The Assassin spoke up. "Would you quit with the formal speak its grating and annoying to our ears."

"Jink Ke, Contractor is just trying to be polite he has never met the two of you before," Hassan said.

"Hmm, yeah makes sense. Don't do it again, it makes me think of the people used to be towards the nobles. Pure ass kissing, isn't that right Lu Bu?"

"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅." The Berserker spoke with incomprehensible speech.

"He agrees, makes him want to stab you in the back. Yeah, good idea to go and fight the dude head on Lu Bu is getting antsy, and I don't want him running off again. Honestly, that Mad Enhancement makes behave like an untrained dog." Jing Ke said.

Andrew decided to use his Stat-o-Vision on the two, with the Berserker being first to see just how high Lu Bu's Mad Enhancement was that he couldn't speak.

True Name: Lu bu Fengxian

Class: Berserker

Master: -

Parameters:

Strength: A+

Endurance: A+

Agility: B+

Mana: C+

Luck: C+

Noble Phantasm: A

Class Skills:

Mad Enhancement: A

Personal Skills:

Bravery: B

Nature of a Rebellious Spirit: B

Ruthless Warrior of the Turbulent Times: A

Noble Phantasm:

God Force: The Five Soldiers of the War God(Anti-Unit/Anti-Army/Anti-Fortress): A

True Name: Jing Ke

Class: Assassin

Master: -

Parameters:

Strength: D

Endurance: E

Agility: A

Mana: E

Luck: D

Noble Phantasm: B+

Class Skills:

Presence Concealment: B

Personal Skills:

Suppression: A

Planning: B

Like There's No One Watching: A

Noble Phantasm:

Only For Killing: Non-returnable Dagger(Anti-Unit): B+

Andrew filed away the information for later before realizing he had just been staring at them while they were talking. "Um, sorry? I kinda just default to more formal language when I meet someone new." He then realized he hadn't introduced himself. "Oh, I almost forgot, I'm Andrew Murphy, Master of Chaldea. It's nice to meet you."

"Yes, yes. It's just that such words do not truly come from the heart. Now from what I'm able to hear Nero have rallied the troops and is planning to have them advance towards the capital avoiding the Berserker. Shall we go join them? You shall have your fight this time Lu Bu the other two weren't much of a fight." Jing Ke said.

"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅." Groaned the Berserker and he began to walk away from towards where Nero probably was.

"Other two?" Andrew asked as he followed the two towards Nero.

"Yes, we killed two other Servants, while stationed here." She answered.

"Those didn't happen to be the Rider and Caster my Assassin told me about?"

"No it was another Assassin and an Archer, never found out what their true names were, but the Assassin was a woman." Jing Ke said.

"Oh, okay," Andrew said simply. "You didn't happen to pick up a small crystal from where they died did you?"

"You mean these?" Jing Ke said as she pulled two Saint Quartz out from her sash.

"Yes, those. Could you please give them to me?" Andrew asked. Any and every Saint Quartz was incredibly valuable to their future.

"Eh, why do you need them for something, are they valuable? I was going to use them as jewelry." The Assassin asked.

"Yes, they are incredibly valuable to my group, we use them to Summon Servants. Can I please have them?" Andrew asked again.

"Ah, sure. I can get some different rocks later." She said as she handed them to Andrew, who quickly stored the valuable objects in his Hammerspace.

"Thank you," Andrew said as sincerely as possible.

"Hmm, well you certainly have a large group of Servants at your command." Jing Ke said as the three approached Andrews group of waiting Servants and Nero.

"Ah, I see you found my Generals and your Assassin Andrew. Come let us head towards the Berserker so that my army can advance without difficulty." Nero said.

"Actually, Emperor, my plan was that my Servants and I would go on ahead to take out the Berserker first and then you all could follow once it was dead," Andrew said.

"But you're faster than my walking army you would have long since defeated him before the troops, and I manage to catch up," Nero explained.

"Exactly. It'll be dead, and unable to threaten your army so you can focus on the important part of the entire rest of the enemy forces." Andrew said.

"Then what are you waiting for go and attack the False Emperor of The United Empire," Nero said, planting her sword into the ground.

Andrew noticed that there was likely a communication error here, but she had given her blessing to go out and kill the Berserker, so he decided to let it slide. "Alright, you heard her, we're moving out! Lu Bu, would you like to join us?"

"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅!" Lu Bu roared, and with a single step, he ran forward.

"And there he goes, as expected of him too. Let's pursue Lu Bu shall we?" Jing Ke suggested.

"Right. Ride, On!" Andrew said, deploying Hurricane Ride, where he was quickly joined by Mash before they sped off, the rest of the Chaldean Servants plus Jing Ke following behind.

Even going at max speed Lu Bu was still faster than them, and at the time they caught with him he was already fighting, swinging around a massive spear.

Not against the Berserker but seemingly against the massive army of skeletal soldiers that was in front of them.

Andrew could see the Elephant riding Berserker in the back of the army, easy to see due to how absolutely fucking massive the animal and the man sitting on top was.

And the worst was that when Andrew saw Lu Bu break a skeleton, it reformed a few seconds later.

"Hey, Master I recognize that Servant." Caster Cu spoke coming up beside him.

Andrew turned to the Caster. "Please tell me you know his weakness, or at least his name."

Before Cu answered a massive roar coming from the Berserker was heard, saying only a single word, it being a name. "ISKANDER!"

"He is Darius the Third. The King of Persia and the rival to the King of Conquerors." Caster Cu answered. "That Army of his is his Noble Phantasm along with the Elephant they are Undead and Immortal, they won't die until he dies."

"Ah." Andrew quickly used his Stat-o-Vision on the Berserker to gather as much information as possible.

True Name: Darius III

Class: Berserker

Master: Lev Lainur

Parameters:

Strength: A

Endurance: A+

Agility: B

Mana: E

Luck: D

Noble Phantasm: A+

Class Skills:

Mad Enhancement: B

Riding: A

Personal Skills:

Golden Rule: B

Disengage: A

Battle Continuation: A

Noble Phantasm:

Athanaton Ten Thousand: Immortal Ten Thousand Soldiers(Anti-Army): A+

Andrew decided the best way to go about this was to just throw everything at once. "Dogs, clear a path through the skeletons for Alter! Alter, use your Noble Phantasm as soon as you have a clear shot! Medea, Arash, pour out as much covering fire as you can! Rider, distract him from above! Everyone, ATTACK!" Andrew shouted, launching a Runestone-Ice- into the army of skeletons as he did.

"Yes, Master!"

xxx

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