Chapter 32: The Heart-Throbbing Golden Theater
"Mm, now that is my Praetor."
Nero nodded with a smile and then spoke in a loud voice.
"In this chaotic theater where heroes of different eras descend, I shall surely be the most dazzling protagonist. Just watch, my subject! That cup which others covet shall naturally be possessed by the greatest of Emperors!"
Declaring this, Nero puffed out her ample chest and looked forward.
"Now then... let the play begin!"
At this moment, a massive amount of magical energy was extracted. Sakura could feel it clearly, indicating that Rider was about to release her Noble Phantasm.
"Admire my talent, listen to the thunderous applause! And then praise—praise this Golden Theater! Laures Sedulitatis (The Glory of the Young Maiden's Imperial Government)!"
Due to her rising excitement, the deep red greatsword in Nero's hand ignited with flames.
Simultaneously, the red demonic spear in the hands of Scáthach, standing beside Rin, began to dance, leaving trails of spear shadows as the tip sliced through the air.
Power was compressed to the extreme, causing the ground to suddenly crack. Scáthach's purple silhouette lunged toward Nero like an arrow released from a bowstring.
Swoosh—!
Neither Sakura nor Rin could observe with their naked eyes exactly when the two Servants clashed. They only heard the continuous clanging of clashing weapons, vibrating against their eardrums.
Clang, clang, clang—!!!
Sparks flew, and every collision between the Noble Phantasms erupted with intense, brilliant magical colors.
"Such incredible martial arts...!" Sakura exclaimed in surprise as she watched the two Heroic Spirits fight.
Ching—!
Sword and spear met, bursting into bright sparks, and Nero and Scáthach each retreated a few steps. However, judging from Nero's somewhat strained appearance, it was clear that Scáthach held the upper hand.
In the moment they backed away from each other, a vividly blooming rose manifested in Nero's hand. She then held it to her chest and chanted:
"Regnum Caelorum Et Gehenna!"
The blooming bright red rose was tossed into the air by Nero.
"Build up, my skyscraper! Show forth the supreme light here!"
During the chant, Nero slammed her deep red greatsword into the ground below.
"Behold my talent! Hear the thunderous applause! Harbor the glory of the ruler! Bloom like a flower in full fury! Open! Aestus Domus Aurea (Invitation to the Heart-Throbbing Golden Theater)!!"
Vivid red and dazzling gold expanded outward, surrounding Scáthach and the two young girls within.
—Aestus Domus Aurea (Invitation to the Heart-Throbbing Golden Theater).
Using magical energy to form and reproduce the theater she built in Rome during her life. It is said that after this theater opened, many audience members left during the first performance. Indignant at this, she blocked all exits during the second performance until the curtain fell, ensuring not a single person could leave.
Before being an Emperor, she firmly believed herself to be an "artist rivaling the Music God Apollo" and a "charioteer rivaling the Sun God." This is a Great Magecraft—similar to but different from a Reality Marble—that only she, holding such thoughts, could achieve: the absolute Imperial Domain to fulfill her own wishes.
There appear to be subspecies such as the "Silver Workshop" used for crafting and the "Scorching Kitchen" used for cooking competitions.
It is a Great Magecraft that is distinct from a Reality Marble; it temporarily substitutes a customized space into the world to materialize her mental scenery. It reproduces the theater and buildings she designed in life using magical energy, creating a battlefield advantageous to her. Unlike a Reality Marble which rewrites the world, this is built "on top" of the world from the start, allowing it to be deployed and maintained for a long time.
When deployed, it weakens enemies trapped inside. If the building is customized, its shape and skills can be changed. To put it simply, it ignores the construction process to project a building directly; while inside, she can invoke rules she has set herself.
The moment she was pulled into this space, Scáthach felt a terrifying suppressive force, as if the gravity here had suddenly increased dozens of times, placing a huge burden on her body.
"Ugh... a bit heavy... this is...!?"
Her body became heavy, as if moving through water; every movement became sluggish.
"Oh? You can still stand and face me within my Golden Theater... you are unexpectedly formidable, Lancer."
Nero maintained a confident smile, then raised her right hand, which tightly gripped the deep red greatsword Aestus Estus (The Embryonic Flame), above her head.
"Heavens, fall!"
Enveloped in a vivid red light that seemed to swirl like rose petals, Nero's red greatsword sent out an arc of fiery flames.
"The Canopy of Falling Flowers!"
As if completing a charge, Nero's body accelerated abruptly, approaching Scáthach with a red afterimage. The deep red greatsword, gripped in both hands, tore through the air in a diagonal slash toward Scáthach!
Facing the attacking Nero, even with a body as sluggish as if pressed by mountain rocks, Scáthach did not panic at all. Her blood-red eyes remained fixed on Nero's every movement from start to finish. In Scáthach's eyes, the opponent's body appeared as if in slow motion.
As a God-Slayer, Scáthach possesses Wisdom of the Abyss. This is the profound wisdom obtained from transcending humanity, killing gods, and placing oneself outside the world. Aside from skills inherent to specific heroes, almost all skills can be displayed at a proficiency of Rank A to A+. Furthermore, she can impart these skills to those she recognizes as heroes.
In battle, her most frequently used skill is "Clairvoyance" to predict the flow of combat. In Ulster legends, she often used this foresight to prophesy the future, including the end of her disciple, Cú Chulainn.
"I see, so this is your power..."
The light of wisdom flickered in Scáthach's magnificent ruby-like eyes. Even with her body slowed, she avoided Nero's attack with prophetic foresight.
"How can this be!?"
Seeing Scáthach avoid her strike, Nero was also somewhat surprised.
"To be able to display such strength even within my Golden Theater... I am becoming more and more curious about your identity, Lancer!"
Excitement appeared in Nero's eyes, and the flames burning on her deep red greatsword became even more violent. At this time, the crimson demonic spear in Scáthach's hand also began to be entwined with bands of red magical light.
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