Rome is eternal. Therefore, the world must always be eternal.
— Romulus
Full title: "Second Singularity - Eternal Madness Empire: Septem [Emperor of Rose]". Written by Hikaru Sakurai.
After solving the First Singularity, the Protagonist and Servant Mash Kyrielight head to the third Singularity, taking place in within the Roman Empire during the early years of Nero Claudius of the year 0060 AD.
Rayshifting into the Appia Road, they soon meeting the living version of Emperor Nero, helping her fight back against an army lead by the Servant Caligula, they soon learn that Rome is being taken over by madness as a new contender, the United Roman Empire, made up of Servants mostly made of past kings, have conquered most of Rome's land.
Teaming up with the living emperor Claudius and her summoned Servants, the protagonists must defeat the URE for the sake of the Roman Empire and end the war. Little do they know, a familiar face manipulates the scenes from the background...
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Prelude
The Protagonist is woken from sleep and greeted by Mash Kyrielight and Fou. Having been told by Da Vinci that Master and Servant sometimes share dreams, Mash asks the protagonist about their dreams, but is told that they saw nothing.Heading to the Command Room, Dr. Roman and Da Vinci brief them on their next mission - entering and correcting the Second Singularity, located in 1st Century Europe, into the heart of the ancient Roman Empire, with the help of any allied Servants they can meet. Wishing to avoid unnecessary battles, Mash asks Roman if Chaldea has methods of distinguishing allied Servants from hostile Servants, but is told they must determine that status themselves.
With no remaining requests, the mission begins, and the protagonist and Mash Rayshift into the next Singularity, aiming to arrive at the Imperial Capital, Rome, 0060 AD.
Windy Hill
The heroes arrive in the Singularity, once again joined by a stowaway Fou, in the hills of the Roman landscape. They discover that the ring of light seen in Orleans is also present in the sky of the current Singularity. Roman notes that their location is unexpectedly not in Rome, but an apparent outlying suburb of the capital, despite setting their arrival coordinates for Rome as found in the current time period, the prosperous reign of Emperor Nero Claudius.The team hear a battle raging over the hill, their next historical anomaly, incongruous with the apparent era of peace in proper history. They rush over to find two Roman armies clashing, one overwhelmingly larger than the other attempting to push towards the capital, and the smaller being led by a young swordswoman, who seems to be holding the larger army on her own. Mash hypothesises that the woman is a Servant, but Roman notes that he detects no Servant signatures from the woman, indicating she is a living human of the era.
The protagonist and Mash aid the young woman's forces to protect the capital, successfully pushing back the enemy army. The young woman commends them for their help, believing them to be foreigner reinforcements sent from the capital, and allows them to join her army to be rewarded on their return to Rome.
All Roads Lead to Rome
The woman inquires the Chaldeans as to their origins, but is skeptical of their truthful answer. The enemy Roman army, named the United Empire, attacks again in a second wave. After defeating the second wave, the group is confronted and attacked by a single enemy Servant - a Berserker, who the woman identifies as her uncle, Caligula.Caligula is fought off, and he retreats from the battle in spirit form. The battle won, the woman properly introduces herself as Nero Claudius, fifth Emperor of the Roman Empire - surprising the heroes with her true identity.
Eternal City
The Eternal Madness Empire
The group follow Nero and her army back to the vibrant city of Rome, where Nero tells them of the beginnings of Rome from the Septem Montes - the original Seven Hills of Rome - as they walk in the bustling markets. With Nero believing Roman and the heroes to be an (invisible) Mage and his two pupils sent to aid her, Mash explains to Nero their mission to retrieve the Holy Grail, the cause of the disturbances done to Rome. Nero finds the Grail strangely unnerving in particular (having seen it in a nightmare), and asks to continue their conversation in her palace, after they deal with an enemy attack in the market. Inside her palace, Nero speaks with the protagonist and Mash about the current status of Rome. She reveals that an alliance consisting of multiple "emperors" - calling themselves the United Roman Empire - has taken over half of the Roman Empire. She continues that any information about them, including the location of their capital, is scarce as scouts sent into the opposing Empire never return. However, Nero is now aware that Caligula is one of the "emperors" of the United Empire, returned from the dead, and further reveals he had previously killed her Court Mage. From this, Mash and Roman deduce that one of the "emperors" possesses the Grail causing the Singularity.
Nero admits the United Empire's power is beyond her ability to defeat alone, with an enemy expeditionary force having recently nearly taken the capital. She implores the Protagonist and Mash to help her defeat the United Empire as her generals, promising to help them obtain the Grail in exchange. After they agree to help, the group ask Nero if she has ever heard of Lev Lainur, explaining to her that he is a Mage of their era who had betrayed them and humanity. The name is unfamiliar to Nero, but she notes that a powerful Mage is rumoured to be fighting for the United Empire, having been seen on the front lines. At Roman's request, Nero allows the protagonist and Mash to be deployed as close to the front lines as possible to find the enemy Mage.
Suddenly, a soldier reports the city's eastern gate is under attack by a mid-sized United Empire battalion, remnants of the earlier expeditionary force. The protagonist and Mash set out to fight, protecting the gate until nightfall.
Burning Mountain
The next morning, the protagonist and Mash travel to Mount Etna at Roman's request to set up a summoning circle there using the mountain's leyline, fighting off the natural ghosts surrounding it. With the circle set up (Da Vinci being too busy maintaining Sheba to give them a lecture), they return to Rome, speculating about the mastermind behind the Singularity.Upon returning, Nero has the group join her in an expedition to Gaul, a front line in the war with the United Empire, in order to rendezvous with her forces there. Roman implores the group to join the expeditionary force, on the chance that the Servant holding the Grail or Lev may be there.
Onward to Gaul
The expeditionary force ride to Gaul (the protagonist opting to walk instead), fending off roving bands of enemy soldiers along the way. Further impressed by their skills, Nero offers each of the Chaldeans positions of prestige by her side and even entire territories after the war's conclusion, unaware the Singularity will vanish after the Grail is retrieved.Wild Camp
The force arrives at the Gaul expedition troop camp, where Nero gives the troops a rousing speech for their upcoming victory, promising aid from herself and her newly-recruited generals. The protagonist and Mash are then greeted by Boudica, the now-former queen of Britannia, and the rebel gladiator Spartacus, both Servants and generals of the Gaul expedition. Spartacus is apparently nigh incomprehensible as a Berserker, with only Boudica able to reliably understand him. Roman speculates that they are stray Servants as in Orleans, and finds it encouraging they can find allies in the Singularities.Nero tasks Boudica with briefing the heroes, resting after being struck with a sudden headache. A soldier arrives, reporting an enemy scouting party has been discovered, fleeing with intel on the expeditionary force. After pursuing and killing the scouts, they share their circumstances with Boudica as the sun sets.
Noticing they find her presence odd, her being a Roman general under her historical worst enemy, Boudica tells the protagonist and Mash of how she materialized as a Rider Servant in the Singularity - the era only shortly after her death in life. She continues, explaining how she had believed her summoning to be a chance for revenge against Nero and the Roman people.
However, upon seeing Rome being overrun by the United Empire, Boudica fought to save the people of Rome instead due to her innate protective nature, While maintaining that she cannot forgive Nero or Rome, she fights on the side of Rome solely for the sake of its innocent people, and not for Nero's. She reveals that Nero is unaware of her being a Servant (noting that Nero is somehow more dangerous than before), and accepted her aid believing her to merely be a "worthy living opponent".
Boudica tells the pair she and Spartacus joined Nero due to hating the United Empire more than Nero - Spartacus seeing the United Empire as a legion of oppressors - and do not explicitly consider themselves allies of Nero. Boudica, with Spartacus, then decide to test Mash and the protagonist's abilities in a duel, an invitation to them to prove they can beat the "emperor" that rules Gaul. The pair best the two generals, gaining Boudica's approval and unexpectedly, motherly care.
Take Back Gaul!
The following day, the Gaul expeditionary force launch their attack on the "emperor" occupying Gaul - Saber, Gaius Julius Caesar. Learning of Emperor Nero and the heroes' presence, he orders his forces to fight in moderation and allow them to approach, knowing only Servants can combat Servants. Caesar chafes at his superior's whims for a perfect nation, believing it would result in a population without will.Boudica and Spartacus lead the main charge against the enemy army bulk, while the protagonist and Mash push forward with Nero into the enemy's main camp. They fight their way to the enemy camp, noting the presence of magically-created golems in the United Empire's forces, and eventually confront Caesar. Having awaited their arrival, Caesar taunts Nero while invasively complimenting her beauty, and invites them to battle him, offering information on the Holy Grail they seek as a reward.
The team manage to beat back Caesar, who laments the tactical blunder of his superiors, placing a general like him on the front lines. He reveals his identity as Caesar, the ruler of Rome from before the title of Emperor even existed, astonishing Nero. Impressed by his opponents' beauty and courage, he reveals that the Holy Grail is being held by the United Empire's Court Mage within its capital city, but refuses to reveal the Mage's name.
Admitting he has his own desires for the Grail, Caesar challenges them again, and reveals he has been holding back. Releasing his full power, he ascends to a stronger form, and fights them seriously. Despite this, he is defeated for good by the heroes, and further laments the tactical blunder in his placement on the battlefield. He gives them a final cryptic warning of his superior, the "true Emperor" of the era, who awaits Nero's arrival in the United Empire capital, before disappearing, wondering how Nero will react. Nero is shocked at his disappearance, and the heroes explain to her the concept of Servants. Regardless, she congratulates them on their victory.
Meanwhile, in the United Empire capital, the "true Emperor" and the Court Mage learn of Caesar's defeat. The Court Mage, revealed to be Lev, brushes the news off, able to summon as many new Servants as necessary. However, he takes issue with the returned Berserker, Caligula, who had defied his orders by sparing Nero. He forcibly tasks Caligula with killing Nero, before destroying the rest of the era in his own regret. Lev taunts the Servants under his command, seeing them as nothing but powerful familiars to achieve the goal of humanity's annihilation set by his King, even the "true Emperor" who rules the United Empire. With an improved summoning ritual powered by the Grail, Lev summons a Lancer, King Leonidas of Thermopylae, tasking him with killing Nero.
The Trip Back Home
While returning from the front, the group overhears rumors from the local populace that an ancient god has appeared on an island in the Mediterranean. Roman ponders the improbable possibility of the figure being a true god from the Age of the Gods, the materialization of a Divine Spirit - a difficult, nigh-impossible feat, with Divine Spirits being distinct from Heroic Spirits, and already gone from the face of the Earth.Nero decides they should verify the rumors, with the Mediterranean Sea being close by. After killing a group of undead spirits naturally spawned by the Grail attacking the rear guard, Nero voices her intent to find and verify the god's existence before the United Empire can, not wishing to lose a potential ally to the United Empire.
However, Nero suddenly spaces out in the middle of their conversation. The others recall a conversation with Boudica, telling them Nero has been doing the same since the appearance of the United Empire, while completely unaware of it herself. Curiously, she shows slight traces of magical energy while spaced out, despite seemingly being a living human of the era, and not a Mage. Wiping out a stray attacking remnant of the United Empire's army, they prepare to set out to sea, Nero wishing to personally sail herself.
Secret of the Ancient God
After a turbulent voyage, partially owing to Nero's subpar sailing skills, the crew finally arrive at the rumoured island, the "Shaped" Isle. There, they are greeted by the "ancient god" - the goddess Stheno of the three Gorgon Sisters, who has been awaiting the appearance of heroes to find her island. She is found to be a genuine Divine Spirit as a Servant, a fact that greatly surprises Mash and Roman. Roman posits that her powers and Authority must have been diminished in order to become a Servant, upon which an insulted Stheno passive-aggressively threatens him.After slaying some marauding ghosts, Nero invites Stheno to return with them to Rome to fight the United Empire. Stheno declines, stating her combat abilities are subpar, but instead offers the group a special "treasure" that she claims lies in a cave at the end of the coast.
Inside the cave though, the group find it filled with undead skeletons. Fighting their way to the back of the cave, they find Stheno's so called "treasure" - a Chimera, a powerful Phantasmal from mythology. Realising Stheno had tricked them, they defeat the chimera and leave the cave empty-handed and exhausted, much to Stheno's amusement. Outside, they encounter the young Elizabeth Báthory (again) and Tamamo Cat of the Tamamo Nine, two Servants chain-summoned by Stheno when she materialised, using them as testers in the creation of her "Heroes' Cave".
However, before they can prepare to return to Rome, a Servant emerges from the water - Caligula, who attacks Nero in his crazed love and bloodlust on Lev's orders. The heroes defeat Caligula for good, with Stheno accepting Nero as a hero. As a gift, Stheno reveals to the group the location of the United Empire's capital.
Special note is made to the fact that Elisabeth and Tamamo Cat contributed nothing to the battle.
Triumph
On the return journey to Rome, having crossed the Mediterranean back to the mainland, the force is attacked by an enemy brigade, an entire battalion that had broken through unnoticed after killing Nero's scouts - consisting of strangely enhanced soldiers, each more akin to a Servant than a human. Roman theorises they are related to an enemy Noble Phantasm.As the battle continues, Mash detects an enemy force of several hundred Servant-like soldiers, with one true Servant among them - King Leonidas of Sparta, the soldiers being Spartans as opposed to regular Romans. Having marked the area as his "stronghold", Leonidas means to "defend" the area from Nero's "trespassing" forces as part of his strategy as a Spartan.
Leonidas is defeated, taking his Spartans with him, and Nero congratulates the heroes on their victory. The force finally returns to Rome, where the populace have gathered in a massive crowd, holding a festival to celebrate their forces' triumph, as they return to Nero's palace.
While celebrating in the palace, a soldier reports to Nero that her special expedition force is returning to Rome, but is under heavy attack by pursuing United Empire forces. Agreeing to help, the protagonist and Mash move out to reinforce the special expedition force, which is on the verge of defeat. The pair meet its two Servant generals - Assassin Jing Ke, and Berserker Lu Bu. With the pair's help, the enemy forces are routed with only minor casualties, Lu Bu running off to give chase.
Jing Ke properly introduces herself, having been drawn to Nero for the prospect of slaying multiple emperors, only to be made a general. After the pair tell her of Chaldea's mission, Jing Ke reveals that she and Lu Bu have already killed three enemy "emperor" Servants, wishing to compete with the pair in number of "emperors" slain come the war's conclusion. With the heroes having only slain two, Jing Ke notes that they can still catch up come Nero's final assault on the United Empire capital, soon to come.
In the United Empire capital, Lev Lainur expresses his dissatisfaction that Lu Bu in particular was not defeated. With the Grail, Lev summons a new, young red-haired Rider, lending him his troops for the purpose of eliminating Nero and destroying the era.
Attack the United Empire
The Rider, now joined by a tactician Caster, receives a report from the Caster on Nero's forces while in their camp, giving special mention to avoid the powerful Berserkers Lu Bu and Spartacus. The Rider expresses his intent to meet Nero face-to-face, curious about her, while the Caster, revealed as Lord El-Melloi II, integrated with Heroic Spirit Zhuge Liang, expresses annoyance at his current existence. Both, however, note the odd serendipity of Lord El-Melloi II becoming the Rider's teacher in this Singularity, both apparently already familiar with each other.Meanwhile, Nero's true Roman Empire Army marches on the United Empire for the final invasion, Jing Ke having previously scouted the capital's location and confirmed Stheno's information. The Imperial Army is joined by all five of her Servant generals, including Mash, who is keeping a journal of her experiences in the Singularity as they march at Roman's suggestion.
As they make their advance, the army encounters and defeats several skirmishes with scattered United Empire forces, leading the army to grow optimistic. Jing Ke suspects a plot, but it is too late - the army is attacked in a pincer manoeuvre by United Empire forces, to both the front and the rear, where Spartacus and Lu Bu were stationed to hold them back until the assault on the capital. Jing Ke suspects the rear was attacked in order to lure away Spartacus and Lu Bu, and Nero sends the protagonist and Mash to prevent them losing the two Berserkers.
The protagonist and Mash fight off the enemy forces attacking the rear guard, successfully saving Spartacus and Lu Bu. Jing Ke deduces that the enemy general behind the attack is highly proficient at commanding, and also knows the structure of their army. Boudica is moved to the rear guard to watch the two Berserkers. Suddenly, a new powerful Servant presence appears to the front, announcing himself with a beastly roar.
The protagonist, Mash and Nero return to the front line to find it under attack by magical undead creatures, suspecting a Caster. Meanwhile, in the United Empire Rider's camp, they note the new Servant's sudden appearance in the Imperial Army's vanguard - not summoned by Lev or intentionally by the Rider. The Rider hypothesises, based on rumours of Stheno and her companions, that he had inadvertently induced a Chained Summon, bringing in the new Servant - Darius III, the Rider's rival in life. Using this sudden diversion, they move to get ready, the Rider still intent on meeting Nero.
Darius III attacks the Imperial Army's vanguard, and is met by Mash and the protagonist. With Nero's help, they defeat the Berserker and his undead troops. However, the protagonist and Mash suddenly receive a message from a soldier sent by Nero. He reports that their army's rear had been ambushed in a two-front attack, with Spartacus and Lu Bu being lured away pursuing enemy remnants. With the protection of the Berserkers gone, a second enemy force launched a surprise pincer attack, capturing Boudica.
The pair return to Nero, who is once again in a trance. Upon snapping out of it, she immediately decides that they will save Boudica, trusting that Lu Bu and Spartacus will eventually return on their own. With Jing Ke having already tracked the enemy to their nearby fort. Despite knowing it is likely a trap, with an enemy Servant lying in wait, they resolve to detour to the fort to rescue Boudica.
Rescue Boudica
Arriving at the fortress, the group are confronted by the Rider and Lord El-Melloi II, who inform them that Boudica is safely sound asleep inside, thanks to El-Melloi's Restraint Spell. The enemy pair introduce themselves at Nero's demand, the Rider being revealed as the young Alexander III, future King of Conquerors.Alexander admits he had come out of his own will to see Nero, and does not wish to fight, surprising the heroes. The United Empire soldiers continue to attack the heroes, while the two enemy Servants stand by, simply wishing to talk. As their armies continue to clash, Alexander interrogates Nero as to why she fights, demanding to know why she did not join the United Empire to spare her people unnecessary bloodshed.
Nero is insulted at Alexander's insinuation that her fight is unnecessary. Standing her ground, Nero proudly shows her resolve, maintaining that she is the only one fit to be Roman Emperor, and will never back down to any of the "emperors" who claim different, even the Gods of Rome themselves. Satisfied with her answer, Alexander congratulates her, and beckons her to go forth and become a ruler - with cryptic references to her being a rose, a sin and a Beast, he claims she can even "become the Devil".
Having heard enough, Nero requests the protagonist and Mash's aid in defeating the enemy pair. With their help, the heroes defeat Alexander and Lord El-Melloi II in battle. Alexander warns Nero that her pride, though worthy of reverence, is also dangerous, before they disappear, leaving Nero still assuring herself that she is the only Emperor.
Signal of the Final Battle
With Boudica rescued, Nero rouses her troops for the final showdown, and the Imperial Army march on, and begin storming the United Empire capital. The protagonist and Mash are to take part in a raid on the capital's palace, discussing the possibility of encountering Lev as the Court Mage. Suddenly, a Lancer Servant appears from the palace entrance, commending the heroes and Nero for their bravery, his voice carrying across the battlefield. Nero is shocked, recognising the Servant as the Holy Progenitor, Romulus, the first founder of Rome, and the leader of the United Empire.Romulus compliments Nero for her rule, and beckons her to join the United Empire, as he himself represents Rome, and will forgive her, and the beast within her. With Nero still in shock, the protagonist and Mash protect her from United Empire forces. Spartacus and Lu Bu return to the Imperial Army and join the assault, turning the tide. The other generals and Mash note that Nero's confidence has fallen since Romulus revealed himself, with the founder's charisma emboldening even regular civilians to fight for the United Empire. Jing Ke leaves to search for a route to infiltrate the palace while Boudica protects Nero and the soldiers.
After defeating a contingent of enemy monsters with Mash, the protagonist reaches a shaken Nero. Nero confides in the protagonist that Romulus' appearance had made her doubt her path as Emperor, and in a moment of weakness, she had wished to accept Romulus' offer to join the United Empire - a nation with a perfect leadership. However, with the protagonist's presence and encouragement, Nero manages to refuse, and chooses to stay true to her path, seeing that none of Romulus' citizens and soldiers are smiling under his "perfect" reign. Mash returns to find a reinvigorated Nero, who prepares to assault the palace with her elites, Mash and the protagonist, through the opening discovered by Jing Ke.
The Emperor
Nero's team breaches the palace, with Jing Ke leading them through the palace to the throne room, fighting their way through the monsters guarding it. Inside the throne room, the team confront Romulus. Nero challenges Romulus to a final battle, and he accepts, wishing to learn if her love can overpower his own for Rome. They clash, and in an intense fight, Romulus and his chimeras are defeated, putting an end to the United Empire. Impressed by Nero's conviction, Romulus entrusts his empire to her as he disappears, maintaining that the world is eternal as Rome is eternal.Despite the United Empire's decisive defeat, Roman reminds the group that the Holy Grail has not yet been found. At that moment, Jing Ke detects a new presence arriving - Lev Lainur, the "Court Mage" of Romulus, carrying the Holy Grail, having left Romulus to his defeat. Lev reveals that Chaldea's victory in the Singularity in France caused Lev to be admonished by his King, and sent back out of their Temple to the Rome Singularity to clean up.
Lev had planned to hand the Grail over to an individual willing to destroy the current era to cause chaos as in France. However, the heroes deduce that Romulus, his intended recipient, had no wish to destroy mankind as the Holy Progenitor of Rome, which forced Lev to interfere himself as the Court Mage. Lev derides Chaldea, claiming their efforts are meaningless, with humanity already destroyed. Using the power of the Grail, Lev transforms into his true form: a enormous eye-covered Pillar of flesh, an immensely powerful being above even Servants and Phantasmals - a Demon God. Lev reveals his true name as Lev Lainur "Flauros", one of the Seventy-Two Demon Gods.
The heroes battle and eventually defeat the Demon God Pillar, reverting it to Lev. He cites his defeat as merely due to being away from his King's Temple for too long, and prepares his contingency plan - summoning a final Servant with the Grail, a hero fit to bring the destruction of Rome. Lev summons a Saber, Altera, a great hero of destruction. He orders Altera to burn Rome to the ground, and gloats about his now inevitable victory.
However, Altera suddenly bisects and kills Lev, and absorbs the Grail into her body. Altera reveals herself to be the great Attila the Hun of history, the King of Destruction, Divine Punishment and the Scourge of God who ravaged the western world in her rampage. Altera unleashes her Anti-Fortress Noble Phantasm at the heroes, with Mash deploying Lord Chaldeas to protect them.
God's Whip
The palace is completely destroyed by Altera's Noble Phantasm, with Boudica, who had raided the palace through the main entrance, using her Chariot of Boudica in tandem with Mash's Lord Chaldeas to save the heroes in the throne room. Boudica reveals that Spartacus and Lu Bu, who were both rampaging near the palace entrance, were both destroyed by Altera's Noble Phantasm. Gathering themselves, Roman informs them that Altera has already left the United Empire capital, heading for Rome on Lev's last orders.Nero rouses the remaining heroes to pursue Altera to prevent Rome's destruction - echoing Romulus' words that Rome is eternal as the world is eternal, with humanity's continuation being an innate truth of the world. Even should Rome fade from memory, the seeds it will leave behind will continue to grow with future generations. Deciding that she hates destruction and Altera more than Nero, Boudica resolves to continue fighting alongside her, and Jing Ke reappears, having been observing Altera.
Encouraged by Nero's words, the group chase Altera as she walks to Rome, fighting through swarms of wyverns and Phantasmals attracted by Altera and the Grail's power. Boudica and Jing Ke eventually remain behind to hold off the wyvern swarms. Boudica angrily implores Nero to go forth and protect her world, and Nero reluctantly obliges, considering Boudica a worthy rival.
As the sun falls, the heroes finally catch up to Altera, standing in her path. Nero confronts Altera, refusing to allow her to destroy a world filled with beauty that she loves, and finding Altera's single-minded fixation on destruction pitiable. Roman determines that Altera is slowly going out of control as she fuses with the Grail, and cannot be reasoned with. He implores the group to defeat her before she can unleash her Noble Phantasm again. As the sun sets, Nero, the protagonist and Mash fight and defeat Altera in the final Grand Battle to save Rome.
Altera disappears, happy with the knowledge that her sword could not destroy everything. Mash and the protagonist retrieve her Holy Grail and thank the Emperor Nero, having completed their mission and resolved the Singularity. Nero realises that the Chaldeans will vanish along with her Servant allies, which Mash confirms, further explaining that her memories of fighting the United Empire will also vanish when the era is restored. Though saddened by Mash's words, Nero gives her heartfelt thanks to her, Fou and the protagonist before they return to Chaldea, believing they will find themselves in Rome again - as all roads lead to Rome.
Back at Chaldea, Dr. Roman congratulates them on another successful mission, and Da Vinci explains that she had modified Mash's shield to store the Singularity's Holy Grail for retrieval. However, they briefly regret being unable to learn Lev's true motivations before his death at Altera's hands, only that other "Gods" exist like him. Despite this, Roman commends them, and tells them to rest, and perhaps get a massage.
Returning to their rooms, Mash laments their sudden parting with Nero, who had been alone at the Singularity's end. However, despite remaining afraid of fighting, she still considers the journey a fun and valuable experience. At Roman's suggestion, Mash offers the protagonist a massage, who quickly absconds after her accounts reveal her to be less than proficient in the art.
Tropes:
- Cavalry Betrayal: Lev summons Altera as a last resort... and is instantly bisected by her.
- Debut Queue: Nero Claudius becomes available to summon after this story's completion.
- Final Boss: Not the Demon Pillar Flauros, but Altera, who Lev summons after being defeated.
- Foreshadowing: Nero is alive in this era, and yet already has the powers she will have as a Servant—notably, in the next chapter, Francis Drake will also appear as a "living Servant", but she will possess the local Holy Grail, while Nero doesn't. Nero's power is noted as strange but never explained. The word "beast" is also used a few times, metaphorically. These references will eventually pay off in Grand Order Arcade.Nero has the potential to transform into Beast VI/S, the Whore of Babylon, upon her death. This Singularity's Nero is from before that point, but seems to be well on her way to beasthood, considering her already-developing powers.
- Marshmallow Hell: After the player proves themselves capable to Boudica, she declares Mash her little sister and embraces her, causing Mash to complain that she can't breathe around Boudica's breasts.Player: "Boudica's bust is mashing Mash!"
- Wacky Wayside Tribe: Nero hears a rumor about a goddess on a desolate isle and decides to take a look. Ultimately the only thing this detour accomplishes is dispatching Caligula who followed the protagonists there and Stheno informing them of the United Empire's HQ location despite there being no apparent reason why she would know this.
- Wake-Up Call Boss: Flauros is the first Demon Pillar you face and you'll learn right away that Demon Pillars can really bring on the hurt.
- Wham Episode: When you finally confront Lev, he turns into the Demon God Flauros, leading to the first battle against a Demon Pillar and a preview of what's to come in future Singularities.
