Ch. 90 - Confrontation
"Where are we at?" Ren asked as he gently lowered a soldier to the floor, a knife wound clear on its chest.
"A couple blocks out," Jing Ke replied casually as she glanced out a window. Across the street on a roof was a sentry that could easily spot them if they crossed to another building – and was quickly killed by Loki, who vanished as soon as they had appeared. They were dressed in their dark blue and black Phantom Thief regalia, which aided them greatly in blending in with the pre-dawn darkness. The skies were slowly growing brighter, however, as the sun approached the horizon. "We're making good time."
Morgana chuckled as he hopped back on Ren's shoulder in preparation. "We're old hats at this sort of thing," he boasted lightly. "Honestly, I've almost mistaken this for a Palace heist once or twice while we've been here."
Mash blinked in surprise. "Most of your heists were like this?" she asked out of curiosity, firing her grappling hook with the others and swinging to another ledge, out of sight of the windows and any sentries. She was thankful the mechanism had been easy to learn and incredibly reliable despite their seemingly frail design. She would need to compliment Da Vinci once she arrived back at Chaldea.
"Not precisely," Ren admitted as he slipped in through the window, making sure to check the corners for any sentries as well as listening to any footsteps. "But taking more obscure routes while dealing with any enemies in our way, as well as getting creative? That's basically heists in a nutshell." With the coast clear, he waved in the others to enter as Jing Ke moved to scout the path ahead.
Joan scowled but otherwise didn't say anything. She didn't have any experience with such heists personally, merely as the target of one. It wasn't a pleasant realization or thought in the slightest. That was one among the many things she would have to speak to Ren about once they were done with this singularity. While she wasn't exactly looking forward to hearing what her own Palace was like, she at least wanted a complete picture of precisely what he dealt with before making her own judgement.
Footsteps behind her immediately drew her attention. Moving before anyone else could react or say anything, she summoned her sword to her hand, charged, and impaled a soldier right through the chest just as it appeared at a doorway. She didn't move, listening for anyone else coming up the stairs in their direction, her own heartbeat almost muffling any other sound. To her relief, there was none.
At the commotion, the others turned toward her in surprise. Nero grinned. "Excellent work, auxiliary Joan!" she chirped.
The Lancer merely scowled as she lowered the body to the floor, making sure the mass and the armor didn't make a sound. "We should pick up the pace," she growled. "The longer we're here, the more likely someone's gonna discover the bodies and sound the alarm." As much as they tried to hide the bodies, their disposal hadn't always been possible. Tamamo could've burned the bodies cleanly, but it would still take a minute or two – time enough for another soldier or a patrol to come across them. In the end, all they could do was hide the bodies as best they could – including dumping them out the window into an alley if the circumstances allowed – and continuing on.
"We're moving as fast as we can," Ren explained patiently. "We can't rush it or we're gonna run straight into soldiers. I get your concern, Joan, but we'll get through this."
Morgana's ears suddenly perked up as he whirled around. "Everybody down!" he hissed. Immediately, everyone dropped flat on the floor as he perched on a windowsill, acting as innocuously as possible. None of them dared to even so much as breathe as they waited. Ren meanwhile pressed his ear to the floor, listening for any sounds of movements or anything amiss. Seconds passed like years as they all stayed there, restraining themselves from even twitching. Finally, Morgana called out, "They're gone!"
Everyone quietly got back up with a sigh. Ren glanced over to Morgana. "Soldiers?"
The catlike being nodded grimly. "Yep," he confirmed. "I heard them coming up from the building behind us. They passed without stopping though. I don't think they noticed the bodies. Joan's right – we should probably pick up the pace. Though again, we shouldn't rush it – we can't afford to be reckless."
"'I have heard of clumsy haste, but never has slowness been associated with skill,'" Jing Ke recited as she reappeared next to them with a grin. This time, her reappearance barely stirred the group despite their high nerves. "If it helps any, we're almost there. The next few buildings are deserted, thankfully, so we should be able to make our way through quickly."
Ren nodded in acknowledgement, then turned to the others. "Keep low and out of sight lines," he murmured. "Let's move." Everyone nodded, readied their grappling hooks, and continued with their mission. Daylight would soon break. They didn't have much time left.
A block or two later, they were overlooking the Imperial Palace. Situated on a hill, it was surrounded by a wall that encircled the grounds, with soldiers patrolling the main street. It was difficult to see within, though there was no doubt that there would be guards there as well. With all they could see, it was clear the trouble was simply entering the grounds to begin with. "And here's the hard part," Jing Ke grumbled.
Ren frowned slightly. Already, multiple plans were forming in his head when suddenly, Nero spoke up. "As I recall, there is a back tunnel," she murmured, her eyes closed in recollection. "I had used it once or twice during times when I did not wish for undue attention or adulation. It opened into an empty storehouse located in a deserted alleyway. It is only known to the emperor – even our Praetorian guard are not privy to it."
Everyone simply blinked in surprise and looked at each other before turning back to Nero. "Well in that case, mind leading the way, Nero?" Ren asked with a wry grin.
Nero grinned back in turn. "Umu, naturally," she agreed. "Do follow closely."
Following the emperor's lead, they circled around the hill, grappling across streets and leaping between buildings. As they moved, the buildings became more and more compact, with narrower streets and smaller rooms. Ren glanced out the window to check their surroundings. There weren't as many patrols in the area, and any that were present had their sightlines heavily limited thanks to the sheer number of buildings in the way. They wouldn't be spotted easily so long as they were vigilant.
Finally, they reached a particular building in the area and began descending, moving carefully to not alert any soldiers within if there were any. Stopping at the bottom floor, Nero peeked out of the doorway to look out for incoming patrols. Seeing none, they stepped out into a narrow alleyway among a labyrinth of alleyways. Walking a door or two down, she stopped at an innocuous looking building and tried to open the door – only for it to remain shut. The emperor frowned in consternation. "Locked," she growled. "And I did not think to bear the key with me during this campaign. A foolish oversight of mine."
Suddenly, the door opened from within, revealing Loki who simply smirked. "We do have our advantages," they simply said to their unasked question before bowing aside.
They stepped into the building as Loki closed the door behind them. It looked to be a storeroom of sorts, filled to the brim with crates and barrels. Nero scanned the room as navigated past them to the back. With her guidance and the help of Mash, they moved aside the containers until one short box remained, sitting innocuously against the wall. They opened the lid, only to reveal nothing but an empty interior
"Now, if I recall correctly…" Nero murmured to herself as she felt around the box. Suddenly, her thumbs sank as they pressed against a pair of hidden buttons in the front. There was a click, and the wooden floor of the box came loose. With a push, it slid aside, revealing a staircase down into a narrow underground passageway.
Everyone's eyes widened. As Nero had said, there was indeed a secret passage into the imperial palace, one that only an emperor of Rome would know. Ren grinned. "Nice!" he commended. "With this we can definitely get in without being spotted. But for now…" He turned to the others. "We'll stop here for a bit," he declared. "We could use the break."
Joan frowned. "You sure we have enough time for that?" she asked skeptically.
"Resting and catching our breath is just as necessary as making progress," Morgana piped up. "Besides, it's not like we won't make productive use of it."
The Lancer stared at them once more before letting out a quiet huff. She leaned up against a crate without further argument, took out a book, and began reading despite the low lighting.
Nero meanwhile sat down heavily on a crate with a sigh. She took off her helmet, revealing her disheveled golden hair thanks to the headgear. As she brushed the stray strands back into place, Mash took out water bottles from behind her shield and passed one to the group. "Thanks Mash," Ren said as she handed him one.
"You're welcome, senpai," Mash replied, beaming as she sat down beside Ren while Morgana sat down on the other side of him. As they quietly sat and collected their thoughts, the Phantom Thief glanced at the emperor. "Something up?"
The emperor glanced up in surprise. "What was that, legate?" she asked, blinking.
"You have something on your mind," Ren replied as everyone tuned in to the conversation. "Is it something we should be concerned about?"
Nero blinked for a second, then chuckled quietly. "You are perceptive as always, legate," she murmured. She glanced at the passageway. "The imperial palace is within reach, and within we shall reach the commanders behind this entire war. I have no doubt this is the fault of the mage, Lev Lainur, for summoning these figures of antiquity to fight and erode my empire, threatening its safety and prosperity. I will gladly put him to the sword. However, the Holy Progenitor shall also be present as our enemy."
"And you're worried about that?" Morgana asked in curiosity.
The emperor sighed in response. "I will not lie and say the thought does not intimidate me," she admitted. "However, that merely means more than ever that I cannot afford to waver. As the Rose of Olympia, I must stand before him and receive his judgement – and defy it if need be. It is my prerogative as the emperor, and I will not yield that privilege and responsibility to anyone."
"You sound pretty sure of yourself," Joan commented with a frown.
The emperor grinned. "That, too, is the prerogative of an emperor," she simply responded. The Lancer could only scoff at the answer and went back down to reading while Mash simply observed the emperor with widened eyes. "Now, I believe that is enough of a reprieve. The passageway opens into a storeroom that is close to the main building. Let us proceed."
Ren blinked in surprise at Nero's quick recovery and simply smiled with a small shake of his head. "Good point," he agreed as he stood up, followed by the others. "I think we took a long enough of a break. Nero, this is your home – lead on."
With a nod, Nero proudly stepped forward and descended into the passageway, followed by Ren, Morgana, Mash, and finally Joan, who carefully closed the lid of the box and slid the panel shut behind them. There was a faint click, and the entrance was sealed from any inquiring eyes outside once more.
They shuffled in silence. The passageway was cramped – wide enough for them to barely move through single-file, and musty. Low burning candles were hung in wide intervals, barely casting enough light. They were more akin to markers for the passageway as opposed to any actual decent lighting. Their footsteps echoed despite their best efforts, each sound sparking worries of discovery on either end.
After what seemed like eternity, they finally stopped at what seemed to be a dead end, blocked off by a wooden wall. With the help of a flashlight, Nero pressed two buttons on the sides of the wall, and the wall slid open into another, albeit bigger, storehouse. They stepped through with Joan once more closing the exit behind her – revealed to be a shelf lined with pots on a sliding panel.
Nero looked around and nodded. "Yes, I do believe this is it," she murmured before turning to the others with a smile. "Welcome, my friends, to the imperial palace," she announced quietly. "Though it is not mine, as emperor, it is my duty to welcome you regardless. Though this storehouse isn't connected directly to the main compound, it is close enough that we should be able to head directly there without issue."
"Not without issue," Jing Ke interjected as she appeared once more, her face grim. "There's soldiers here too. Not as many as the inner city, but there's not much cover. Dawn's quickly approaching as well."
Morgana groaned. "Of course it wouldn't be that easy," he grumbled. "Any way we can head to the main building then?"
"I wonder."
Everyone turned to see Loki once more sitting on top of a window high above, smirking. "Wha – you're going to get us caught, dumbass!" Joan snarled with eyes wide in anxiousness.
The trickster god rolled their eyes. "Did you really think I would be up here if there was a chance I would be caught?" they snarked. "There aren't any soldiers on the rooftops here. There's only patrols on the ground, but there's enough cover and shade in case any get the bright idea of looking up. You can get up to the roof from here, so hurry up." To emphasize their point, they stood on the windowsill, reached up, and pulled themselves out of view.
Everyone looked at each other skeptically before their attention was drawn by a chuckling Ren who was shaking his head. "If that's what they're telling us at this point of time, then we can trust them," he decided before turning to the others. "I'll head up first and help keep watch. Mona, can you help out the others get up here, just in case?"
Morgana blinked, then nodded. "Leave it to me, Joker," he answered.
Ren grinned, then fired his grappling hook to the window. Allowing it to reel him in, he perched on the sill and with a smooth motion pulled himself up onto the roof with ease. It wasn't like the Metaverse where he could easily do so with a flip, but his physical condition and experience at least made sure it posed no problems for him. On the roof was Loki crouching down, who simply flashed him a smirk before returning to his watch, but otherwise it was unoccupied.
Turning away, the Phantom Thief's eyes turned red as he activated his Third Eye once more. His surroundings darkened as they filtered out needless information while highlighting what was needed. Crawling to the edge of the building, he scanned the area, quickly seeing the patrols and sentries on the ground, all highlighted in red. None of them had noticed their presence on the roof, though he wasn't sure how long that would hold. Behind him, he could hear the quiet sounds of grappling hooks and grunts as the others got up to the rooftop.
As he turned to the main building to check for any sentries within or without, something caught his peripheral vision. Homing in, he saw a blue dot high above, though the darkness of the night as well as the Third Eye combined with distance made it next to impossible to properly tell what it was. Deactivating his Third Eye, he blinked as everything came back into focus. On the main building were various towers, many of them flying the purple flags or banners of the United Roman Empire.
However, on the tallest tower where Ren had seen the blue dot was a singular red Roman banner, fluttering proudly in the breeze.
"How's it look, Joker?"
The Phantom Thief glanced down at Morgana in slight surprise, then continued scanning the area as he memorized patrol routes and sentry positions. "It's as Loki said," he replied quietly. "No sentries on the rooftops and none of the soldiers are looking up. The main building isn't too far away either - we should be able to grapple to it from here."
The catlike being nodded. Ren turned around to face Joan, Nero, and Mash who had moved up behind him, crouching like he was. "I need to take care of something," he explained to the others. "Nero, can you lead the others into the palace to where they need to go?"
The announcement caught everyone by surprise. "Where are you going at this late juncture, legate?" the emperor inquired.
Ren smirked. "I have to run a quick errand," he replied. Not a lie though not the whole truth either. He still was debating on whether to inform Chaldea the existence of the Velvet Room, and who to. At the very least, there certainly wasn't enough time to tell anybody about it now. "I'll catch up with you guys in a bit. Don't worry, it's nothing dangerous – at least, not more dangerous than what we're doing now – but it has to be done."
There was silence from everyone as they digested the news, with Joan looking particularly annoyed by Ren's antics yet not voicing any disagreement. Mash opened her mouth to ask once more if he needed her assistance, then the words caught in her throat.
She remembered the times when her senpai placed his full faith in her, whether it was weather Caster Cu Chulainn's Noble Phantasm or dueling against Leonidas. Each and every time, he had fully trusted her and her capabilities, never even questioning them or her intentions. And he always trusted she would see all of them through, no matter what. It was a burden to bear, but he believed she could carry it, yet still would assist her when she could. Perhaps it was the same here.
Finally, Mash made up her mind. "Then we'll go on ahead, senpai," she declared. "If you are in trouble, however, please do call out for us." Just as he had placed his trust in her, yet ready to assist if necessary, she would do the same for him.
The Phantom Thief blinked in surprise at her initiative but grinned in turn. "Of course," he agreed easily. "Be back in a jiffy." With that, he grappled toward the main building, flipped onto the roof, and soon disappeared behind a roof and from view.
"Alright, we better not dally," Morgana spoke up. "Let's secure a route to the throne room. Emperor, lead the way!"
Nero nodded as Mash once more readied her grappling hook. If senpai needed to 'run an errand' and didn't request her help, then she would trust him just as he trusted her. For now, she would follow her majesty and Morgana.
She would make sure to greet Ren-senpai with success.
Ren stood at the base of the tower, staring up at it as he contemplated how best to approach this. He had already hopped up multiple stories and reached the top of the palace. However, the tower was taller still as it jutted up towards the sky. It was certainly too tall for just the grappling hook to reach. Like the rest of the imperial palace, the walls were paved smooth and carved with various images and reliefs, making for awkward handholds and footholds. While there were windows, they were far too narrow for him to fit through - wide enough only to poke a head through at best.
He took a deep breath as he flexed his fingers slowly. If he wasn't careful and deliberate about this, he would end up a lot more hurt than he needed to be – or, worst case scenario, falling to his death. Still, he had done this enough times in the Metaverse. So long as he wasn't foolish about it, he should be fine.
With that, he scanned the tower with his Third Eye for eligible footholds, then fired his grappling hook. It shot up a considerable distance before attaching itself to a relief, and began reeling Ren in. Once he reached the apex, he slowly and carefully lowered himself down on the small ledge he had spotted before detaching the hook, carefully grabbing onto the carvings.
Moving carefully, he shuffled along the ledge, making sure to keep his center of gravity directly above. Finding some better handholds above, he hopped up and grabbed on, scaling his way up cautiously yet swiftly. It reminded him of the times he climbed those artificial mountain walls back in the gym. It had been less challenging than he expected, though he had slipped once or twice. Thankfully, the wall was only about a meter off the padded ground, so there was no harm done.
Come to think of it, Akechi suggested bouldering to his friends in the past at one point as a form of exercise. They never took him up on it, but Ren had to wonder how he would've handled scaling this tower. Probably better than he currently was doing. They would've probably made it even a competition between themselves, as always. Glancing up, he could even envision Akechi climbing up ahead of him before stopping and flashing his false smile, telling him not to push himself too hard.
Ren could only chuckle as he continued climbing. The Detective Prince had been equally annoying and motivating in that manner whenever they competed. It had been rather fun, all things considered.
Taking a deep breath, he paused as he considered his next move. There was a ledge higher above, but there weren't any apparent handholds he could use to easily reach it. Glancing on either side, there weren't any easily accessible footholds or handholds he could use either. The angle wasn't conducive to the grappling hook either. His fingers were aching from holding up his weight, but they should be able to hold on a bit longer-
"Need a hand?"
Blinking in surprise, the Phantom Thief looked up at the voice and saw Jing Ke lying down on the ledge with a smirk, her hand outstretched. He grinned back up at her. "Appreciate it," he called up to her. Lunging up, he grabbed hold of the Assassin's hand, who easily pulled him up to the ledge in turn. Ren sat as much as he could on it, catching his breath. "Thought you'd be with the others," he remarked between pants.
Jing Ke shrugged. "They seemed to be doing fine," she remarked. "The emperor knows where the least guarded areas would be and the layout of the palace, and they have that Avenger of yours with them. No, I'm more curious as to what you're up to. You don't strike me as the type to start climbing towers for fun."
"I don't?" Ren asked in surprise.
There was a pause, then both of them started laughing. "Okay, fair enough," the Assassin admitted. "But you're not the type to get distracted when there's a mission at hand. So what are you doing here?"
Ren considered for a second whether to tell her. "I'm looking to grab the banner on top of the tower," he answered, pointing up for emphasis.
Jing Ke blinked in surprise. "That's it?" she asked in disbelief. "You could've simply asked one of us to retrieve for you, you know. Far less risk than climbing up this tower by yourself."
The Phantom Thief chuckled in response. "True," he agreed. "But it's something I have to do myself."
"Got your reasons?" Jing Ke asked.
"Yep," Ren replied simply.
The Assassin stared at Ren, trying to discern any intention behind his expression, yet she couldn't find or read anything – neither truth nor lie, nor any further information. Finally, she simply shrugged. "Well, if you have to get it yourself, then that's that," she accepted. "So, did me helping you out like that ruin everything for you?"
"Not at all," Ren denied. "In fact, having you help out makes things a lot easier, so thanks for coming along." With that, he slowly and carefully stood up, once more flexing his fingers to work out the soreness before grinning down at her. "Still, you have a point – I can't take too long here. Time to get going."
Jing Ke merely smirked as she brought out yet another jug of wine. "I'll stay here for a bit and enjoy the scenery," she replied. "Not often I get to see Rome like this. I'll see you up ahead." Raising a toast to Ren, she happily quaffed it down as the Phantom Thief merely shook his head with a smile and began shuffling along the ledge once more.
Grunting, he pulled himself up another handhold, making sure his footing was solid as he clambered up. Despite the break he took earlier, his muscles burned with each and every movement. While he wasn't unfit in the slightest, this was an intense workout for him, more than simply doing pullups or his various exercises in the gym. It had been a while since he had been pushed so hard.
He grinned to himself. Maybe he should have the simulator run some mountaineering exercises. It would definitely be a great way to develop his muscles. He wondered if the others would join in – he knew Mash and Ritsu would. Roman would probably collapse after perhaps a meter or two. He could only chuckle to himself at the image.
"You're the only one I can think of that would laugh while scaling a tower like this," Jing Ke remarked as she glanced down from a higher ledge. She reached down and helped him up once more. "Something on your mind?"
Ren sat on the ledge once more and stretched, massaging his aching arms and flexing his sore fingers. "I was just thinking about setting up a simulation for tower climbs like this," he replied honestly. "Honestly, this is kinda fun – risk of falling to my death notwithstanding."
Jing Ke blinked several times, then burst out laughing. "You are perhaps the only one I know who would want to climb another tower whilst in the middle of climbing one!" she cried. "Cheers for your insanity, Ren Amamiya! I drink to your health and wish you many tower climbs to come!" With that, she took a large gulp of her wine as Ren simply chuckled, shaking his head.
"Well, not all the time," Ren admitted. "I also do things such as illegal ivory smuggling and underage driving. I have a lot of hobbies."
The Assassin laughed again. "I guess Phantom Thieves and assassins have something in common then," she chirped. "I have some hobbies as well – some poetry, swordsmanship, herbology, and various other things."
"Huh," Ren mused. "Never heard about those things about you."
"Why would you?" Jing Ke countered with a shrug. "I was nothing more than a failed assassin in life. History rarely remembers those who failed, only those who succeeded. There's probably no small number of records about Qin Shi Huangdi, probably down to what kind of underwear he preferred wearing."
The Assassin's crass wording got Ren chuckling. "I don't know about that," he replied. Still, she had a point. Jing Ke was at best a historical footnote compared to the First Emperor of China while there was a profound wealth of info about the emperor in turn. He had to wonder – just how many 'losers' in history never had anything recorded about them simply because any records of them were expunged or simply not worth writing down?
He thought back to Nero. Many records of her had shown her/him to be a tyrant, yet everything he had seen so far had been the complete opposite. How many of them had been altered by people who had better access to public records? How many figures had their names and reputations completely smeared either by misunderstood public opinion or powerful enemies who could rewrite history with a single order?
And then there was him and his friends, the Phantom Thieves. Despite how much popular support they had gained, the government had been and still was doing everything to either demonize them or at least erase their existence. In the grand scheme of things, it seemed things hadn't changed. That was no reason not to fight, of course, but it was a sobering, grim thought.
Finally, Ren continued. Finding a small bit of masonry sticking out, he fired his grappling hook and sped upward, expediting his progress considerably. From there, it was a small climb up to the top of the tower, finally pulling himself up onto the roof with a huff. For a moment, he could only lie down on the roof, panting as he felt the sweat drip down his forehead and face, his clothes sticking to his body as all his muscles cried out in agony.
Hobbling up, he walked over to the apex of the roof, where the red banner of Rome fluttered proudly in the morning breeze. With the oncoming sunrise, it held a certain dignity he didn't think a banner or flag could have. He gently untied the banner from the pole, gripping it tightly so it wouldn't fly off. Once done, he had to consider for a second: Where was he going to put this?
Then a blue glow caught his attention. Looking over, he saw what appeared to be a modern delivery chute on the rooftop. Well, they did say the collection method would be in the vicinity and he'd know it when he saw it. He just didn't think it would be quite so obvious. With a shrug, he carefully stepped over and opened it, seeing nothing but a pitch-dark void. For a moment, he wondered what would happen if he went down there himself…
Then he shook his head. Not the time. Instead, he slid the banner into the chute, which soundlessly fluttered into the void. Closing the chute, it vanished from existence, as if it had never been there in the first place. Somehow, that felt both anticlimactic yet incredibly satisfying at the same time.
"All done?"
Ren glanced over at Jing Ke, who was sitting on the edge of the roof as she took another swig of her jug. "Yep," he confirmed. "Thanks a lot for the help. It definitely made things a lot easier."
The Assassin raised her jug in acknowledgement. "It's no big deal," she replied simply. "I was just curious as to what you were up to."
Suddenly, her eyes narrowed. "Are my eyes playing tricks on me or is there a dark fog moving across the battlefield?" she muttered.
Ren blinked, then looked over to where the Assassin was pointing. It was hard to see – he really needed to bring his own binoculars – but with the oncoming morning light, he could also faintly see some black haze moving over the plains. "Local weather conditions?" he suggested.
The Assassin shook her head. "There is much I do not know," she replied. "But unless there is an unseasonable plague of locusts, there is not much that can create a black fog."
The Phantom Thief frowned as his instincts started prickling at his mind. His eyes turned red once more as he looked over to the haze – except now instead of dark, it was a bright red. All of it. He blinked in shock as his vision returned to normal. "Whatever they are, they aren't good news," he growled to Jing Ke's shock as he reached out with his mind. 'Archer, to your north,' he reported. 'You've got incoming.'
There was a pause, then Archer replied grimly, 'I see them. Skeleton army, headed by a large man on an undead elephant. I think I know who this might be. I'll relay the information to Ritsuka. However, I suggest you hurry – it seems we're going to be more pressed for time.'
Ren nodded as he cut off the connection and stood up. "We'll need to get moving," Ren stated. "Jing Ke, can you help lead me back to the others?"
The Assassin nodded without saying a word. As one, they both leaped off the tower. Firing his grappling hook, Ren slowed his fall and landed cleanly back onto the roof right behind Jing Ke as she began scouting out for patrols for him and guiding him back towards his group.
They were out of time.
The siege at the camp had been ongoing. The United Roman Empire soldiers flung themselves at the palisades with nigh-feral ferocity, hacking and clambering over them like wild beasts. The defenders were doing all they could to slow them down: Constantly raining down arrows, scorpion bolts, and fire pots, utilizing shield walls and stabbing through the gaps, and dumping loads of oil on the palisades to slow their feral climbing. While it bought them some reprieve, even more continued to pour out of the capital and reinforcing the front line.
And yet, despite the endless horde of URE soldiers, it had all around been surprisingly manageable. Archer had been cutting down large swatches out of the large, continuous line of soldiers with explosive arrows and a non-stop hail. Lu Bu and Spartacus had absolutely no problems sweeping away patches at a time with their halberd and sword respectively. Both Astolfo and Boudica frequently sallied forth from their positions, gouging out long furrows in the line before retreating, or moving to contain the soldiers so they wouldn't flank the camp.
All in all, it had been going surprisingly well. While the situation was desperate, casualties were currently surprisingly low. Ritsu watched the siege impassively as Asisculus barked orders around her. She didn't know frankly how close she sounded compared to Nero so at this point, it was better to be safe than sorry and not speak – or shout - unless she had to do so. There was some grumbling and confusion as to why Nero wasn't taking to the front as she always did, but no one outright questioned it.
So far, the plan had been working. The URE soldiers showed no sign of slowing down or alarm. There was no indication from the capital whatsoever that the infiltration team had been caught or something went amiss. And while the battle was strenuous, they would be able to hold out for a long time. All things considered, they should be able to buy enough time for them to-
'Master, we have a problem.'
Ritsu bit back a curse. And there it was. 'Of course there is,' she growled. 'What's going on, Archer?'
'We have incoming to the north of us,' Archer reported. 'About five kilometers away but approaching fast. It's another Servant – Darius III. And he's bringing an army – undead. Infantry, cavalry, archers, you name it. He himself is on a massive war elephant. They're numbering around ten thousand.'
The Master felt her jaw almost physically drop in pure shock and horror at the report. 'S-Servant? Darius?! Ten thousand?!' she spluttered. Her mind shifted into overdrive as she immediately started thinking about the scenario. An army of ten thousand – it would be just like the pass. No, worse. They, combined with the might of a Servant and the United Roman Empire forces, meant their own forces were about to be washed away like a sandcastle in an oncoming tide.
Her earlier panic began gripping at her again, holding her heart and gut in an icy grip – and she almost shrieked as an arrow clanged against a shield as one of 'her' bodyguards immediately stepped forward with his scutum to block it. "Imperator, are you alright?" the bodyguard asked, glancing back at her. Ritsu could only stare back in wide eyes, whatever words she had completely stuck in a dry throat. She felt ill, like she wanted to vomit. She was dizzy. She needed to-
'Focus, Master!' Archer barked through their connection, piercing right through her panic. 'We never expected the plan to go swimmingly, but that is no reason to lose your senses over it. Right now, we need you focused so we can deal with this threat! The enemy Servant and his army are now three kilometers out! How do you want us to handle this?'
Ritsu took a raspy breath as she focused on Archer's words. Damnit, he was right. She had almost lost her nerve all over again, and it had almost cost them. Terror still gripped her but right now, it wasn't the time to succumb to it. There was too much to do, and too much at stake here. She swallowed back down the nausea clawing up her throat and blinked away the dizziness as she stood back up properly. 'Find Lu Bu and have him move to the northern front to intercept,' she ordered. 'Back him up. Meet up with Boudica and Astolfo and have them run interference on both fronts as best they can. Do not let them reach the camp – the Roman soldiers won't be able to fight them off.'
'I will have to focus more on stopping the undead army than the United Roman Empire soldiers,' Archer warned.
'The Romans have a better chance with them than with the undead,' Ritsu countered. 'Do what you have to, Archer. I'm counting on you.'
'Hmph, a rather demanding Master I have,' Archer remarked with some amusement before withdrawing the connection. Soon, the sounds of explosions echoed out from the north like distant thunder.
Ritsu turned back to 'her' bodyguard, who was staring at her in confusion. "Find legate Asisculus," she ordered. "We have an incoming enemy force from the north. I'm routing the Servants to hold them off – it's an enemy Servant with an army of their own. Tell him to redouble the efforts on defense here and withdraw for a better position if necessary – the battle is going to get far more difficult from here on out."
The bodyguard stared at Ritsu in shock. Normally, he would never take orders from a body double, but the cold blaze in her eyes combined with the news stilled his tongue. Instead, he simply nodded, saluted, and dashed off to relay the information and orders. Meanwhile, Ritsu took one last look at the United Roman Empire front before descending from her position, moving towards the north.
It seems their own battle was just beginning.
It wasn't long before Ren and Jing Ke were back on the palace rooftops. Wasting no time, they both swooped in from an open window and dove right behind a column – just in time to avoid a soldier marching by on patrol. The Assassin wasted no time – sliding out from her position, she glided up to the soldier and dispatched it with one quick thrust. Ren silently followed, their footsteps making minimal sound against the marble floor.
They both moved with practiced, almost inhuman swiftness, avoiding or dispatching any soldiers along the way. Soon, they reached a set of doors where Jing Ke beckoned Ren in. It was another small storeroom, where the others were apparently resting and waiting for them.
Morgana glanced over as he approached and grinned. "Got what you needed?" he asked cheekily. Then his face fell when he saw the seriousness of both Ren and Jing Ke. "What happened?"
Ren frowned. "We need to hurry," he stated before explaining to them the situation – the new Servant and his army barreling down on their camp. The news had everyone's eyes widen in shock as the rest of the Servants appeared. "We need to deal with Lev and Romulus quickly before they get overrun," he concluded. "Anybody need to make any preparations before we head in?"
The catlike being shook his head. "The throne room's right there, Joker," he said, pointing outside the door. "We've only been waiting for you to come back and your command."
"I'm ready, senpai," Mash whispered, her determination clear in her voice. "I'll protect you until the very end."
"This promises to be interesting," Loki replied with a sardonic grin. "I'll have to thank you for being merciful enough to allow me here. I suppose I should return the favor." Meanwhile, all the other Servants nodded in assent. They were all ready for what came next.
Ren nodded. "Alright then," he said. "Then here we go!" With that, they charged forward, rushed down the hall, and pushed open the door to the throne room.
The throne room was a large, spacious chamber, with sunlight slowly filtering in through the upper windows as dawn broke outside. Lining the walls were pedestals, each with some treasure displayed, be it a vase, a gladius, a helmet, or some other valuable. A length of red carpet stretched down the middle, crossing from the entrance all the way to the throne, flanked by marble columns that held up the entire structure.
And on the throne sat a man. He was bronze-skinned and clothed in a green ensemble that revealed his powerful, muscular body. Draped over his shoulders was a cloak of red while adorning his head was a large golden headpiece. His eyes glowed red, staring impassively. As they approached, he slowly stood up, revealing himself to be a giant of a man as he grinned. "My children, welcome!" he boomed warmly. "Know that my love and the warmth of Roma embraces you all!"
The Phantom Thief blinked in surprise, then he forced a grin back. "Well, didn't expect such a friendly greeting," he quipped. "Don't tell me you were expecting us! Didn't see much in terms of company around here though – I'm guessing you're short-staffed?"
The man began laughing, the sound loud and echoing throughout the hall. "They are not necessary! For I am the heart of Roma! Still, there were a few soldiers here posted with some insistence, but that cannot be helped. And as for expecting you…" He tossed something at them that Ren dexterously caught – and his eyes widened. It was a calling card. And written on it…
'To the Holy Progenitor of Rome, Romulus.
Your soldiers and generals have taken my empire from me – its lands, its people, its resources, its men. This offense to the empire cannot be allowed to stand, not while I hold the office of emperor. Therefore, I challenge you! I shall be the victor, and I will reclaim my empire! Ready yourself, Romulus!"
Signed,
Emperor Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus'
"The heart of Roma?"
At the question, Ren turned to see Nero slowly walking up as took off her helmet, her blonde hair gleaming in the morning light. "Then you are the holy progenitor?" she asked quietly.
His eyes narrowed for a second, then widened in recognition. "Yes indeed, my daughter," he declared. "It is from me that Roma came to be, and it shall be that everything is Roma. I see you have donned the guise of a common soldier to come meet with me as opposed to the finery of an emperor! But that even that too is Roma! You have truly come a long way!"
The emperor nodded. "Yes, I have come a long way," she murmured. "I have come through countless battles, fighting off despair as I watched my empire crumble around me, constantly striving to make sure my people are fed, clothed, and as happy as they can be while also lifting the spirits of my men and officers, many of whom were despondent that the holy progenitor stood as our foe!"
She looked up and glared at the man. "Caesar and Leonidas have said that they did not wish to fight this war," she growled. "And I believe you are the same, holy progenitor. However, I cannot forgive any who would try to take my greatest treasures away. I may not be adorned as an emperor, but in my imperfection, I shall shine even more gloriously as the Rose of Olympia!"
Nero unsheathed her gladius and held up her scutum. "Therefore I, Nero Claudius, Caesar Augustus Germanicus, challenge you, holy progenitor! For the glory of the Roman Empire!"
There was a pause, then the man began laughing – the sound beginning at low chuckles before his voice rose into full bodied, booming laughter. A sound that seemed to reverberate against the very walls of the imperial palace in mirth. "Yes!" he roared. "Well done, my daughter! You truly do embrace the spirit of the empire! And allow me to answer in kind: I, Romulus, shall gladly accept your challenge! Whoever is the victor today shall truly be Roma!"
He held out his hand and summoned his weapon: A dual-ended lance with a blade made of great red wood almost the size of the man himself. Whirling it as if twirling a twig, he brought the point down on the ground, the impact shaking the ground underneath them. "Come!" he boomed.
Ren and Nero glanced at each other, shared a quick, determined nod, and with everyone else, charged the Holy Progenitor of Rome itself.
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