Fate/Laoch Gan Finsceal

Chapter 14: End of an Empire

FATE/LAOCH GAN FINSCEAL

"Hero Without Legend"

Chapter 14: End of an Empire

Spartacus and Leonidas ran alongside the scar in the land, knowing that Area 51 would just be ahead along with the enemy forces. Spartacus was especially excited to get this battle underway, and the ones who greeted him with violence didn't disappoint. A flurry of knives shot down at him, which he made no attempt to dodge. He either batted them aside with his gladius or simply absorbed some in his adamant flesh.

"Oh hoh hoh! The oppressors have finally arrived!" he declared.

Waiting for the two warriors were Xerxes and Agrippina, with a small group of aliens at the ready behind them. However, the roles of commander and follower had clearly been reversed by this point. Agrippina was the one who stood tall as the dominator, while Xerxes had lost himself to madness from her poisons and was little more than a rabid dog who followed her commands.

"Xerxes!" Leonidas shouted. "We meet upon the field of battle once again! I was denied the opportunity of showing you the folly of your conquest, but now you shall know the grudge I have carried for centuries!"

"Gah... L-Leo... Leoni... daa~aas...!" the insane Persian king raved.

"What is this?" the Spartan wondered, baffled by his eternal rival's nonsensical behavior. "Are you truly the same Xerxes who besieged my nation?"

"My... empire... Persia will return... Stay out... of my way...!"

Agrippina smiled and said, "It is pointless to talk to him. He has become my faithful hound."

Leonidas demanded darkly, "What in evil hell have you done to him, woman?"

"Not much. A little something extra in his beverage, an additional pinch of 'spices' to his meal, and before I knew it, his position was mine for the taking. Unlike Nero, Xerxes remained oblivious to the bitter end."

He scowled, remembering what Sanson said about Agrippina's identity and history. He bellowed angrily, "Have you no code of honor, vixen!? 'Tis as if you are not human!"

"Please, spare me the morality tirade. The only things that matter in this world are money and power. Everything and everyone else should be seen as a stepping stone towards that goal."

The Spartan growled like a livid animal. Then Spartacus got in front of him and said with his typical smile, "Don't bother trying to reason with a false queen who spouts delusions of grandeur. Your battle is with that fallen king, for however of a tyrant he may have been, he did not deserve to be walked upon as this shrew's doormat. I know you will set him free of her puppet strings so he does not besmirch his name any further. I shall drag our self-righteous empress off her throne and execute her for intoxicating all those around her."

"... You have my gratitude," Leonidas murmured, then ran off to confront Xerxes. Although he was concerned about stopping the king's schemes today, he also felt a need to confront his past and bring closure to the battle that he did not survive. He wished he could tell Xerxes how he felt about trying to take over the Greek city-states and the needless suffering it caused, but he realized that it was impossible to convey anything when the king had succumbed to insanity against his will.

"L-L-LEO...!" Xerxes snarled. "Gaaah! The eclipse! I see it again! My empire... denied to me... AGAIN!"

Leonidas shook his head in dismay. "You poor creature... You are no longer in your right mind anymore, are you? Such a shame that my opportunity to rationally speak with you has been lost. Then the least I can do-"