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"W-What?!" Naoya stammered. The sudden voice stunned everyone, then hit them like a nightmare from legend, faces paling in terror.
The Tyrant!?
The one who'd killed Zenin Naobito and wiped out the other two families is here?
After days of bloody slaughter, no one dared underestimate that name. Fear gripped them.
They scanned around, desperate to spot the mysterious figure.
Naoya's face turned ashen. His body shook and his wide eyes locked in dread, torn between wanting to see his father's killer and fearing the tyrant's infamy.
"L-Lord Head… what do we do?" a subordinate stuttered.
A name carries weight.
Yuto's fearsome reputation shook even the seasoned Kukuru Unit and Hei members, leaving them pale and rattled.
They genuinely feared him showing up in person. Even Zenin Naobito, the family's strongest, had fallen to him with ease. Could they really stand against this man?
"Don't panic!" Naoya snapped.
Even at his worst, he knew he couldn't lose control. If the so-called "head" showed fear, how could his men find the guts to fight back?
"Tyrant, I know you're watching me," he called out, forcing calm into his voice. "But let me tell you, our family has a powerful ally now."
He took a deep breath. Shouting to the air, he pressed on.
"You've surely heard of Lady Hagoromo Gitsune. A thousand-year-old fox demon, her strength matches yours. Spare us, and I'll set up a chance for you two to work together."
"One more friend means one more option."
"My father was a fool to cross you, he got what he deserved."
"But as the new Zenin head, I'm not shortsighted like him. Lord Tyrant, let us off this once, and I swear the Zenin family will be your most loyal support."
His long speech practically begged to serve Yuto.
Naoya thought he'd nailed it. It pleaded for mercy while hinting at a strong backer. Unless this young tyrant was an idiot, why wouldn't he take the deal?
Silence followed his words.
The unseen voice seemed to weigh the offer.
"Phew…" Naoya exhaled.
A faint smirk crept onto his face as he mocked inwardly. 'See? Even you can't resist the bait. Tyrant, no matter how strong you are, you're just a piece in my game.'
As he dreamed, Yuto's scoff broke the quiet.
"Do you think a failure like you can bargain with me?" His tone dripped with disdain.
"Nero, take everyone and help Maki clean out the Zenin family."
"Yes, Master," Nero replied.
"Leave it to us!" the others echoed.
Naoya's mind was still stuck on "failure" when several figures; petite, tall, curvy leaped from the sky.
Like a meteor shower, they landed swiftly in the courtyard.
"Ladies, you heard Master, right?" Nero called. "Let's help Miss Maki take back the Zenin family."
Clad in golden armor that hugged her graceful form, Nero thrust out her proud chest. Gripping her Noble Phantasm, she flashed a bold, confident smile.
"I, the Empress of Rome, want to be a stunning, shining bride."
"My Spirit Origin, take the shape I desire~~"
Her cheerful voice rang out, and under stunned gazes, her petite yet full figure began to change visibly.
White lilies floated down elegantly from the air.
Before their eyes, she transformed.
Now wrapped in pure white, she was the Emperor of Roses. After the change, Nero's mood shifted, altering her usual fighting style.
Even her cherished sword matched her, its crimson blade turning silver.
The Roman empress now wore something like a wedding dress. The light, white gown clung to her shapely body, highlighting every curve. A closer look revealed locks and chains binding her, yet they didn't slow her down.
"Huh?" Misaki Mei, at the front, stared wide-eyed at Nero's bridal form, surprised.
"This EX-rank Emperor Privilege is insane… changing on a whim, like some game's wild power…"
"Damn, I'm jealous! I've got Kiyohime's Noble Phantasm, so why can't I switch like Nero?"
"Wow, Sister Nero's a gorgeous bride now… Sora wants to wear a pretty dress and be Master's bride too," the little fox girl said, her eyes gleaming with envy.
"Hey, don't get sidetracked!" Kotoko yelled from the Vimana, the only one without powers. "Focus on the job!"
Her words snapped the girls out of their dreamy thoughts, a bit embarrassed.
Yuto's usual doting left them short on battle experience. Luckily, most Zenin sorcerers were weaklings. Even with little practice, they could handle this.
"Hehe, Maki, can you still fight?" Nero asked, stepping up to the dazed Maki with a gentle tone.
"I can keep going," Maki replied, snapping back. "Miss, please help my sister"
She looked at Mai, pale and lifeless in her arms, pleading in her eyes. Since these were the tyrant's friend's, maybe they had a way to save her sister?
Maki's weak cursed energy came from her body's limits, but her sorcerer's instincts were sharp. She knew why Mai was out cold.
To give her a shot at escape, Mai had burned her life force to craft that bomb, pushing her organs to fail and her vitality to plummet. She was half-dead already.
Desperate, Maki clung to a thin hope and turned to Nero.
"No problem," Nero said simply.
Maki's eyes lit up. With a small smile, Nero waved a hand, gathering magical ether around her like a rushing tide.
"Bestow Love!" she called brightly.
Under Maki's stunned stare, Mai began to recover at an astonishing pace.
Maki didn't grasp magic or Servants, but the color returning to Mai's face told her everything; her sister's life was surging back.
Sure enough, Mai's long lashes fluttered soon after. Her lips quivered, and her eyes opened again.
"Huh, sister, I…?" Mai mumbled, confused by her unharmed body. She'd thought she was done for.
Her energy felt stronger than ever, deepening her bewilderment.
"What… what happened?"
"…Idiot, you're alive. So am I," Maki said, her voice breaking.
Even the usually tough, stoic Maki choked up, hugging her sister's frail form and crying openly. From the brink of death to life again. She'd thought she'd leave this world bitter and unfulfilled. But luck, which never favored her, finally glanced her way, giving her a fresh start.
"M-Maki… no, sister?" Mai stammered.
Seeing her sister weep, Mai' felt emotional. But her inner tsundere kicked in. She tilted her head with a huff, hiding the tears spilling from her eyes.
"Maki, look at you, crying like that at your age. Still a little kid or what?"
"You little brat!" Maki laughed through her frustration, ruffling Mai's soft hair hard.
"You're me, and I'm you… we've always been the same."
"Hmph, fine, you're right," Mai conceded.
She almost tossed her head again, but her sister's tearful smile broke her. Sobbing, she hugged Maki's battered body and whispered, "Sister, this time, I won't hold you back."
"Such a moving sisterly bond. I almost want to sing for it. UMU~~" Nero said, rubbing her teary eyes.
She suddenly felt like belting out a tune.
Legs together, hand on her chest, she sang gracefully, "Oh, Rome's glory~~ My name's Nero~~"
"?"
"Ah?"
The off-key notes hit, and the sisters' faces froze.
"Sister, what do we do?" Mai blinked, distressed.
She wanted to stop Nero's "EX-rank singing Noble Phantasm" but hesitated, she was her savior, after all.
"…" Maki paused, then raised a hand solemnly. "Miss Nero, please heal my wounds. I can still fight!"
"Oh, worth the pick Master made! That spirit and courage deserve praise," Nero said, halting her song with a hint of reluctance.
She waved again, lips parting softly. "Stars to the sky, flowers to the earth—give Zenin Maki her fight back."
"Eh…?" Maki's eyes widened. Magic surged around her, pouring into her torn body like a flood. She felt an unseen force rapidly mend her.
In a blink, her countless wounds vanished. Even her exhaustion lifted, energy flooding back.
Bride Nero's support skills could boost anyone on the team with all kinds of effects—a "Blessing Hymn" unique to her that lit up the world.
Alone, all those skills poured into her, making her a cheat-level Servant.
A true super bride!
FGO's history had others like her with wild powers.
"Mai, I'm heading back to fight. Rest here," Maki said, brimming with strength, ready to grab her naginata and charge.
But as her hand brushed it, she froze—her trusty blade, battered from the fight, was too broken to use.
"Take this weapon. It's called Yuyun," a calm male voice said behind her.
She turned to see a handsome young man smiling, offering her an odd pair of nunchucks.
"Thanks, Mr. Tyrant," she said, guessing his identity instantly.
She took the nunchucks and swung them lightly. They felt perfect, like they were made for her.
The only special-grade cursed tool without a technique, Yuyun's raw physical power suited her weak cursed energy perfectly.
With nunchucks in her hand, Maki charged back into the fray.
She had vengeance to claim, grudges to settle.
Meanwhile, Nero cleared her throat and beamed at Yuto and the others.
"Master, Miss Zenin, perfect timing—how about I treat you to my lovely voice?"
"Rome~~~" she began.
Whoosh
Yuto blinked sympathetically at the oblivious Maki and vanished in an instant.
Mai, who'd hoped to chat with him, realized too late she couldn't escape.
"Sister, I messed up! I want to fight too…let me join!" she cried.
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