"Bow before the Queen!"
The woman walked slowly toward us, holding a staff with a glowing blue light at its tip.
"Who are you?!" Sylvia demanded, pointing her sword at the woman.
"...Hmmm… and why should I answer your question?"
Sylvia drove her sword into the ground and stood tall. In a flash, a blue flame engulfed her body—and now, Jeanne D'Arc had appeared.
"A Saint!? Very well, I shall entertain you both."
The woman raised her glowing staff and declared,
"I am the strongest and most beautiful queen in human history! Witness my rebirth and worship me—I am CLEOPATRA!!!"
Her staff glowed brighter than before. Wait—did she just say Cleopatra!?
A fierce wind blew at us, followed by an onslaught of bandages attacking from all directions.
Sylvia leapt up, slashing down every bandage that tried to strike us. She cut through them effortlessly.
"Hmm… impressive!"
Cleopatra slammed her staff onto the ground, and the bandages around us multiplied and thickened.
"Damn it! This is endless—Andri! Help me out!!"
"Alright—"
"Ahahahaha!!! So you're here, Cleopatra!!"
BOOM!!!
What was that!? Someone had just struck Cleopatra with brutal force… could it be!?
"Sorry, you two. I had something to deal with earlier… hehe."
"Nico!—wait, no… Lu Bu?"
A muscular, bold man appeared, clad in shiny red armor, with a strange antenna on his head and some cloth wrapped around his waist.
"Worry not—I, Lu Bu, have arrived!" he said, spinning his staff.
"Lu Bu… So cool!!!"
My eyes sparkled with excitement as I saw Lu Bu arrive. He was seriously awesome!
"Hey, wait! Where have you been, you weirdo!"
"Oh… so you're Jeanne D'Arc—sorry, I just wanted to make a cool entrance, hehe."
"'Hehe' my foot! You just used us so you could show up like a main character!"
"Busted—oh well, it doesn't matter. Our enemy is right in front of us now."
"Two against one… not bad. Let's call this a warm-up." Cleopatra tilted her head slightly as she spoke.
"No!" I interrupted.
I stepped forward, standing beside Lu Bu and Jeanne D'Arc.
A bright light surrounded my body—it felt warm and refreshing. I took a step ahead, locking eyes with Cleopatra.
"Now it's three against one, hehe." I said with a wide smile.
Cleopatra fell silent for a moment, then suddenly raised her glowing blue staff again.
She slammed it into the ground, and immediately, a horde of bloodstained bandages charged at us like mad.
"Let's go!!!" shouted Lu Bu as he jumped into the fray.
– –
The three of them worked together to eliminate all the bandages that attacked them. Jeanne d'Arc used her long sword to cut through them, Lu Bu wielded his spear—called the Feng Xian Spear—with expert precision, while Adam dodged and tried to approach Cleopatra, who stood calmly holding her still-glowing staff.
"Damn it, this never ends!" Jeanne d'Arc snapped.
Lu Bu moved a little closer to Jeanne d'Arc.
"You're right, but that doesn't mean this isn't working."
"Shut up! I didn't ask for your opinion."
"How rude…"
With agility and speed, Adam finally managed to get close to Cleopatra.
As they faced each other, Cleopatra's staff glowed even brighter, forcing Adam to cover his eyes.
In that moment of blindness, a swarm of black bandages surged toward him and struck his abdomen.
Adam was thrown backward, crashing into a building that shattered into pieces.
"Adam!!!" Jeanne d'Arc shouted.
"I'm fine... I'm okay."
'Damn! It's so hard to get close to her.'
Adam got up and leapt forward slightly.
"We need a plan."
Lu Bu spun his Feng Xian Spear, clearing out the surrounding bandages.
"I have a plan," Lu Bu said as he jumped back.
"Huh?"
"Those bandages are paper. We can weaken them all at once with fire—great idea, right?"
Adam stood up and stepped forward beside Jeanne d'Arc and Lu Bu.
"But I can't use fire."
"Me neither," Jeanne d'Arc added.
Lu Bu grinned as he put down his spear.
"Then I guess I'm the only reliable one here—truly, I must be the main character!"
"Don't be so cocky, you idiot!" Jeanne snapped.
"Lu Bu… can you really!?" Adam asked.
"No—not me... but him."
Lu Bu raised both hands and twisted his wrists.
A fiery portal appeared behind him. Suddenly, a flaming horse emerged elegantly from within.
"Prepare to be amazed."
Adam looked at Lu Bu with shining eyes.
"Come forth! TERWELU!!"
A large horse, engulfed in blazing fire, stepped out of the portal created by Lu Bu. Now the horse was ready to join the battle.
Cleopatra still stared silently at the three of them. She didn't do anything, except occasionally raise her staff—then slam it back into the ground.
Lu Bu looked at his horse with pride. The horse responded with a deep gaze, and the flames around its body flared even brighter.
"Will you fight by my side, my friend?" Lu Bu asked.
The horse responded with a small nod, then lowered its body as if inviting Lu Bu to mount it.
"Excellent! I love that spirit, my friend… Now, let's start the war!"
Lu Bu was now riding Terwelu.
"Alright—Lu Bu, clear all the bandages blocking our path. Then Adam and I will attack that woman in one strike!"
"Hey, hey—didn't you just say you disagreed with my plan? Are you starting to like me now? Ahahaha!"
"Shut up, you idiot! I never said that, damn it!!"
"Sorry, Lu Bu, but now we need your help to clear these annoying bandages," Adam chimed in.
"I understand… that was my plan all along anyway—Let's go, Terwelu! Burn all those foolish bandages!!"
Terwelu dashed like a bird slicing through the wind in the sky. In a flash, Lu Bu was right in front of Cleopatra along with his flaming steed. With incredible speed, Lu Bu raised his spear high and aimed it straight at Cleopatra.
Caught slightly off guard—Cleopatra quickly leaped backward, retreating from Lu Bu and his horse.
"Ahahahaha—what's the matter? Why are you backing away now, huh?"
"..."
Cleopatra remained silent and motionless.
".....At least answer my question, you damned woman!!!"
Lu Bu and Terwelu leapt into the air, now hovering directly above Cleopatra.
Lu Bu swung his spear once more—but this time from the opposite direction.
"Take this, you arrogant woman!! HAAAA!"
Lu Bu's Feng Xian spear aimed directly at Cleopatra's head, but for a moment, Cleopatra only smiled as she took the attack.
BOOOOM!
"Impressive!" thought Sylvia.
A strong and violent wind swept through the area, the ground trembled like an earthquake, and Adam and Jeanne d'Arc's vision was now clouded by dust filling the air.
"Did he get her?" Adam asked in confusion.
As the shaking and destruction caused by Lu Bu's attack began to settle, Adam and Jeanne d'Arc could finally see what was happening between Lu Bu and Cleopatra.
"...."
Not a single word came from Lu Bu. He simply smiled atop his horse.
But then, his eyes widened. He was shocked by what appeared before him.
"A decent attack… but still not enough to touch this sacred body of mine," said Cleopatra.
Lu Bu was stunned by the presence of a giant rhinoceros beetle that had blocked his attack.
The beetle was golden-brown, with large wings and sharp horns surrounding its head.
Lu Bu and his horse jumped back, preparing for another strike...
"What's happening?" Jeanne d'Arc asked.
The ground beneath the three of them began to shake violently.
A massive scorpion, nearly the same color as the beetle, leapt behind Adam and Jeanne d'Arc.
"W-what... what is that!?"
As the scorpion almost stomped on them, Adam and Jeanne d'Arc quickly split apart to dodge the beast's attack.
The scorpion walked over to Cleopatra, now standing by her left side.
The beetle flew next to her right—Cleopatra raised her staff again and looked down arrogantly at the three.
"...Now—what will you three do to fight me?"
Adam, Jeanne d'Arc, and Lu Bu could only stare at Cleopatra as they slowly walked toward each other.
"What do you think?" Lu Bu asked.
"There's only one way—of course," Jeanne replied.
"Right! And that way is for the three of us to combine our powers, isn't it!?" Adam said.
"Hmph—I hate to admit it, but for now, I'll allow you into my alliance," Jeanne sneered at Lu Bu.
"Ahahaha—alright, I get it. Things are getting really interesting now."
"Working together won't make any difference for you three—in fact, maybe if you each fought me one by one, I might actually lose."
"What is she talking about?" Lu Bu asked.
"Maybe she's challenging us to a one-on-one match—this could be interesting."
"...Or maybe she's trying to trick us?"
The beetle began to hover low, and suddenly, Cleopatra leapt onto its back.
"We haven't sealed our combat contract yet, have we? I'll be waiting for you in the western part of the city—there's an abandoned Colosseum that's been empty for thousands of years."
The beetle slowly ascended while the scorpion turned around.
"The day after tomorrow, 8 PM. I'll be waiting for the three of you to face me in a one-on-one battle—that is, if you're brave enough."
"Damn it! That woman!!!"
"Wait, Jeanne!" Adam stopped her.
"Why? She's running away!!"
"..."
Adam stood still and stepped forward.
"Fight me!" Adam shouted, pointing at Cleopatra.
"...Hmm, interesting. In that case, I'll wait for you at the Colosseum, just as I said."
"Awaken."
A glowing mark appeared on Cleopatra's left thigh.
"Awaken!"
Another mark glowed on Adam's chest.
"Now our battle contract is sealed. I'll be waiting for you….!"
"And that's enough for now—these people are truly impatient."
Cleopatra pulled out her phone as the beetle rose higher into the sky.
"You're… Adam, aren't you!? Interesting! I'll make you fall in love with me. See you soon."
Cleopatra flew off with her beetle, while the giant scorpion followed, swaying its tail.
"She ran away!?" Lu Bu shouted.
Nico returned to normal.
"She caused all this chaos—then left like nothing happened. Damn that woman!!!" Sylvia shouted, biting her nails, returning to normal as well.
"Well, we did secure one more soul to return to the universe, isn't that a good thing?"
Andri too, had returned to his normal self.
– –
A hard punch hit my stomach, and I collapsed weakly to the ground.
"Good? What part of that was good, idiot! Don't you realize how dangerous she is!? Not to mention, she has two strange beasts that can protect her—while you? You can't even control your own powers yet!"
"...Ouch... Sorry, I said that reflexively, hehe."
Another punch landed straight on my face.
"Reflexively!? At least think before you speak, moron! What if you became Cleopatra's prey, huh? What if she took the soul inside you?"
Was she always this naggy?
Nico held Sylvia back as she tried to lash out again.
"Come on now—besides, we can train him to control his power, right? And it's not good for a couple to fight like this."
"Ha!? W-who are you calling a couple?" Sylvia responded, her face turning slightly red.
"Eh? You're not—"
A punch hit Nico's face.
"...You're always saying whatever you want."
I started hearing urgent voices from all directions—it sounded like police officers were arriving and beginning to surround the area we were in.
"Who's that?"
"We need to get out of here—maybe the authorities are here to evacuate the place."
The three of us ran away and vanished into the mist covering the scene of chaos.
The next day, which happened to be a school holiday, I visited Sylvia and Nico who had offered to help me train in preparation to fight Cleopatra.
We agreed to meet in the middle of the forest—the place where I had obtained Adam's soul. Honestly, it felt a bit nostalgic.
"You're late! Ugh—didn't your parents teach you discipline?" Sylvia yelled.
Well, truthfully, I'm not the most disciplined person.
"Ahahaha, my friend Andri. You better be ready because this is going to be one tough training!" said Nico.
Honestly, I just wanted to go home and play video games.
In a flash, both of them transformed into their respective Servants.
I gathered all the courage I had and prepared to train as hard as I could today. After all, I had made a combat pact with Cleopatra—and tomorrow, I'd be facing her.
But... who really is Cleopatra? Her face feels so familiar.
I shook my head forcefully, trying to forget everything.
No! That doesn't matter. Right now, I need to focus on training.
"Hey! Why are you spacing out—this isn't the time to relax!" Jeanne d'Arc shouted while pointing her sword at me.
"That's right, Adam. I'll use Terwelu to assist with the training."
That fiery horse appeared once more as soon as Lu Bu said it.
"Thanks—alright, let's begin training!"
I spent over 5 hours without rest battling the two of them.
They showed no mercy.
I was sprawled out, weak, my stomach growling from hunger.
"Here!" Sylvia said, handing me a large box-shaped package.
"What's this?" I asked.
"Think of it as a reward for working so hard," she said, turning her face away.
I opened the package. It was a lunch box, filled with meat and some vegetables.
"This is for me?" I asked Sylvia.
"Yeah... so eat it while it's still warm."
I took a piece of meat and devoured it eagerly.
"This is delicious—thank you," I said with a slight smile.
"I see..."
Her cheeks turned red again.
Why? Did I say something weird?
"What's with this atmosphere!?"
"Nico!"
"You're so loud!"
A punch landed in Nico's stomach.
"Why—"
"Hmp..."
Wait... has Nico officially joined our alliance?
"Nico, there's something I want to ask."
"What is it?"
"Have you officially joined our alliance?"
Nico scratched his head, thinking.
"Well, honestly, I'm a bit interested in the plan you two have, but alliance huh..."
"Did the girl beside you even give me permission to join?"
"What do you say, Sylvia? He could be a big asset to us."
"...Alright, I get it. But if you try anything funny or betray us—I'll kill you and take your soul!"
"Ahahaha—okay, I understand! But I want to ask you both one thing."
"...?"
"...?"
"When I fight, Lu Bu's soul actually controls half of me. So sometimes I might go rogue and not follow your commands. So I ask—just to avoid greater damage—if I ever lose control, don't try to stop me."
"Can a holy soul really control our bodies entirely?" I asked, confused.
"Yes—and it can happen under pressure or intense emotions. But of course, every Servant is different."
"What about you?"
"When I'm deeply engaged in battle, I can lose control—Lu Bu loves to fight."
"I see... When I saw Andri get stabbed by Elizabeth and killed—I lost control in an instant."
"Eh? Killed?"
"Yeah... a lot happened."
"Ahahaha—is that so? Seems like you lose control when someone you care about gets hurt—"
Another punch landed directly on Nico's head.
"No, I don't!" Sylvia shouted.
"Haha… alright then, let's get back to training!"
"Hmmm? I like that spirit, my friend!"
The three of us transformed again and continued training like usual.
– –
Under the quiet night sky, the moon shone a little brighter than usual.
Was it just my imagination, or were there more stars in the sky tonight?
I stared deeply at the horizon while exhaling slowly.
"If you wear clothes like that, you'll get sick," said Sylvia, walking beside me.
"Isn't it a bit colder tonight?"
"Well, it's already nearing the end of the year, just a few months left…"
"Why?"
"Nothing—are you sure you're going to fight her?"
"Well… we've already signed the battle contract, so I will fight her… whether I win or lose. Honestly, I'm feeling a little anxious."
Sylvia's face flattened, and she stared at me intensely.
"Why are you only feeling that now?"
Yeah, good question...
"Don't worry, I've got an ace up my sleeve that could give me a better chance of winning."
"What is it?"
"...Secret."
Sylvia walked a little faster, positioning herself right in front of me and suddenly turned around to face me.
"No matter what happens to you, I'll protect you."
Was her face glowing a bit more than usual? Or was it just my imagination?
"Thanks—don't worry! Everything will be alright tomorrow," I said with a slight smile.
The next day, just as promised, the three of us arrived in front of the Colosseum Cleopatra had mentioned.
It felt strangely quiet.
We sneaked into the Colosseum. Next to the fence that stretched across the area was a sign that read "NO ENTRY WITHOUT PERMISSION." I figured we were committing a crime—eventually, we reached a long, stretching corridor.
This place was like a labyrinth.
"Where to next?" asked Nico while munching on a piece of bread.
"To the right is the way to the Colosseum," Sylvia replied.
"Have you been here before?"
"...My father often took me to various historical sites around the world, and one of my favorites was an ancient royal building located in a Southeast Asian country."
We walked through the dim corridor.
"A kingdom?"
"Yes, more like an abandoned kingdom. The locals there called it a temple… It was a bit spooky at night too."
"Just like this place, huh?" said Nico, unwrapping another piece of bread.
"How long are you going to keep eating?"
Nico clicked his tongue and glared at Sylvia.
"Kids these days… haven't you ever been taught how to prepare for emergencies?"
"Hmph… I hope you choke and die in the weirdest way possible."
"That's cruel, you devil woman!!!"
Their eyes burned with mutual hatred—they'd never get along. I just hoped everything went smoothly.
We stopped in our tracks when suddenly the ground shook violently.
"What was that?" Nico asked.
In the dim light of torches inside the Colosseum, I saw something moving quickly.
What was that?
It rushed toward us, and before I realized it, a massive stone boulder was rolling in our direction.
"Watch out!"
Sylvia swiftly drew her sword and smashed the boulder into pieces.
Was this a trap set in the area? If so, we might have just walked straight into it.
"That woman must've set us up…"
"We have to run and get out of here!"
More large stones rolled toward us. Sylvia slashed through them again, but something different happened—the shattered stones reassembled into a giant golem chasing us down the Colosseum corridors.
"..eh??"
"Damn! What the hell is this!!! She's just toying with us!?"
"Nico, use your horse to get us out of here," Sylvia ordered.
"...hehhh, now you're asking me for help? How about begging first?"
Sylvia gritted her teeth and swung her sword at Nico.
"Damn it!!! I'll kill you!!!"
"Hey, you two, get serious! The golems are multiplying!"
"Tch, we have no other choice—come forth, Terwelu!"
A horse engulfed in flames appeared and charged through the golems chasing us.
"Good job, buddy! You're so smart!"
Nico mounted Terwelu and extended his hand toward us.
"Hop on! We're leaving now!"
Sylvia and I stared at him, bewildered.
"Do you want to burn us alive?" Sylvia shot.
"I don't want my butt roasted… Nico, carry me."
"What!? Calm down. Terwelu's flames won't burn anyone who's a good person."
I confidently mounted the horse and hugged Nico's waist, bracing for heat on my backside.
Eh?… it's not hot!?
"Come on, Sylvia! It's not hot!"
"....."
"Ehh… what's wrong, devil lady? Scared you're not a good person?"
Nico stared at Sylvia smugly, his lips curled in a smirk.
"Tch…."
The golems reassembled and began chasing us again.
"Hurry, Sylvia!"
She jumped toward Terwelu, and I caught her hand, accidentally pulling her into a hug.
"S-sorry… I didn't mean to—"
"Just ride, horse man!"
"Hahaha—I admire your bravery, devil lady."
The horse dashed forward at lightning speed. I didn't even have time to see where we were headed.
It felt like the horse was tearing through space and time. In an instant, we arrived at the Colosseum arena.
"Where is she?"
"Maybe she's scared?" Nico said.
"Then who created all those golems? At least try to use your brain, horse boy."
"Who are you calling horse boy, hell woman!!!"
The two glared at each other.
I slightly regretted being here.
"Hey, both of you, stop it—"
Suddenly, the torches around the Colosseum turned blue.
A silhouette—like that of a woman—stood tall in the shadows atop the terrace where kings once watched battles.
"You three really came to fight me head-on… I'm impressed you managed to get past my golems."
Marya Cash!?
"You… the model!?"
"We meet again… are you starting to admire me, kid?"
Kid? Me? We're only one year apart, you know.
"Ahahaha, you've got some nerve showing your face in front of us!" shouted Nico.
Marya glared at us, then suddenly snapped her fingers.
A blinding spotlight shone on the arena, illuminating the three of us.
"What is this!?"
"Hey, look! Isn't that…"
A group of film crew members were pointing cameras at us—they looked hypnotized, eyes wide open but not fully aware.
Was she planning to broadcast this battle live? Or maybe make a movie? What a cunning woman!
Marya Cash stretched out her arms, and a giant beetle and scorpion appeared right in front of us.
"Now—let the party begin."