"Wow, Goldie, look at them over there—bringing their whole family along. They look so happy with their lives. What about the rest of the people of Uruk?" Beast leaned in close to Gilgamesh, whispering in a tone of fake intimacy. "Don't tell me none of them ever responded to you? Was Enkidu the only one willing to play with you~?"
"Hmph, a king needs only one true friend. A king's friendship is not so cheap." Gilgamesh remained completely indifferent to the remark, his casual demeanor prompting Beast to click their tongue in disappointment.
Meanwhile, Romulus continued his move: "I activate the Spell Card [Roman Imperial Succession]! This allows me to Special Summon a Roman king Servant from my Deck with 4 stars or lower. Come forth, one of Rome's greatest heroes—my pride, [Gaius Julius Caesar]!"
[Caesar] – 4★ – ATK 1600
"Saber…? To appear in such a form, what a surprise." The portly Servant emerged from a wreath of olive leaves, his plump and somewhat comical figure making it difficult to associate him with the famed Roman hero.
"Nero! Oh, and Caligula too! You're both here—how have you been?" Caesar greeted his fellow Roman rulers with a warm smile. "To think that we'd all be gathered at the same time… This Servant's Noble Phantasm is truly something remarkable! I'd love to meet them. If it were my Deck, would Cleopatra perhaps—"
As he turned to see who was responsible for this grand assembly of Roman rulers, he was immediately overwhelmed by an overwhelming surge of Roman (?) energy.
"Lord Romulus… no, could this be another aspect of you as Quirinus?!" Caesar hurriedly bowed before Romulus, his voice bursting with fanatic devotion. "Oooohhh! Our divine ancestor! The founder-king of Rome! ROMA!"
Romulus, unperturbed, addressed him in a commanding tone: "I heard you mention Cleopatra. Are you still troubled over the matter of your child?" Without hesitation, he lectured Caesar, "Acknowledging a child is but a trivial task! Rather, you should have properly and publicly established a marriage! That is the way of Rome!"
"While… what you say is true… still, at that time… please, I beg you—"
"Hmph, just as the Divine Ancestor says! If I had a marriage partner, I wouldn't care about their status! Even if gods or Buddhas tried to stop me, I would seize them for myself!" Nero nodded enthusiastically, fully endorsing Romulus's philosophy.
Seeing Caesar's hesitation, Romulus sighed. "If the opportunity arises, you should meet the Caster here. That female Pharaoh played a major role in your history. You will undoubtedly see her again. But for now, fight alongside me! ROMA!"
"ROMA!" Caesar, an exceptional Heroic Spirit, quickly regained his composure.
"I activate [Caesar]'s effect! When this card is Summoned, I can destroy one Servant card on the opponent's field! Caesar targets Gilgamesh!"
"I came! I saw! The only step left is conquest!" A surge of fierce battle energy erupted from Caesar as he revealed his true might as a Roman ruler. His keen blade slashed toward Gilgamesh, who—unable to activate his abilities—was cut down with an expression of pure humiliation, sent straight to the Graveyard.
"Enkidu, when you head down there, could you ask Gilgamesh if he's ever considered getting himself a Grave Effect?" Beast mused, watching as Gilgamesh disappeared. It felt like the King of Heroes had yet to achieve any significant victories. They blinked playfully at Enkidu.
"Wouldn't it be better if you asked him yourself?" Enkidu chuckled, declining the offer. They had no desire to witness Gilgamesh's inevitable rage firsthand.
"I activate the Spell Card [Glorious Imperial Song of the Maiden]! I draw one card for each uniquely named Roman Servant on my field!"
"Hmph, this is but a song of praise for me!" Nero, eager to impress the Divine Ancestor, practically beamed with pride.
"Too many draws! I activate the Trap Card [Beast IV's Tail]! While this card exists in the Spell/Trap Zone, I can target and destroy one Servant. And you, large-chested Red Saber—you're up!"
A spectral white arm lashed out, striking Nero. With a tragic cry of "Must I exit the stage so soon?!", she was banished to the Graveyard.
"[Golden Theater] is fundamentally tied to Nero's Noble Phantasm, so it gets destroyed too."
"Eh? Lord Divine Ancestor, you're not even going to try BS-ing your way out of it? You might've been able to keep it if you just talked your way through! You're actually following the rules so obediently?!" Beast stared at Romulus with genuine shock.
"Rome does not stoop to such dishonor." As the founder of the empire, Romulus understood the importance of adhering to the rules.
Caesar, on the other hand, looked intrigued. "Wait, you can do that?!"
"Of course not, I was just messing with you~" Beast stuck out their tongue in a teasing manner, a stark contrast to their otherworldly appearance. "Now, my Tail's effect activates! When it's sent to the Graveyard, I can copy the stats of any Servant destroyed this turn. And once again—it's you, overworked Goldie!"
[Beast IV's Tail] – ATK 3000
A spectral Gilgamesh, formed from the Tail, emerged onto the battlefield once more. His vacant expression somehow exuded an air of noble elegance.
"With two Roman Servants on my field, I draw two cards." As Romulus looked at his new hand, a flicker of sorrow crossed his eyes. He gently ran his fingers over one of the cards before declaring his attack phase.
"[Caligula], unleash your fury! Attack Enkidu!" Under Romulus's command, Caligula roared and charged straight at Enkidu.
"You're attacking the Pillar of the Chains of Heaven with a 2000 ATK Servant?"
"Do you think Rome's successors would be so easily bested? [Caligula]'s effect activates! When attacking, his ATK increases by 1000 until the end of the Damage Step, and the target cannot activate effects!" Romulus would never make a move without purpose. In a contest of raw physical might, Caligula feared no Heroic Spirit.
"My sins shall never be forgiven… Devour my heart, O Moonlight! Flucticulus Diana!" As Caligula bellowed his war cry, the maddening light of a full moon bathed the battlefield.
[Caligula] – ATK 2000 → 3000
"What an impressive presence." Enkidu offered genuine praise, facing the incoming attack. "If only you were a bit calmer."
□□ LP 4000 → 3500