As much as she wanted to deny, her body couldn’t keep going anymore. She fell to one knee, drained and beaten. Every bone was between fractured to outright broken. Her heavy armor set was the only reason she was still alive to feel the pain. Completely dry of magicka, no spell would be of use. Blood flew down her helmet, gauntlets and chest plate. She could not die. She would not allow herself to die. Using her spear as balance, she got back in her feet.

The few soldiers still left by her side watched on. If they saw their leader fall, there would be no hope left. The Lupus horde counted near ten thousand, but the same was true regarding them and Iraminus. If Minerva could take him down, if only she accomplished as much, there was a chance. She would stand and fight, no matter the cost.

“I…” she said, pointing her spear to the Alpha Lupus, “… I will do my duty.”

Iraminus grinned with a spiteful smirk, “Such is the fanatical loyalty of the tyrant’s leftover abominations…” He looked to the Roman soldiers, “I will send you all back to the demonic dimension of your demon god and will make sure every inch of this blasted city burns for all eternity.”

It was hard to quantify if it was pain or anger the most dominant of Minerva’s feelings then. Reflecting on it, it was a disappointment of herself. Being too weak for defending Rome, one of her sacred tasks, she was a complete failure as a Divine Legionnaire. It could be the Princeps saw this disappointing weakness within her, and that’s why he left. She had waited for all these years, but he never did return. She was responsible for it. She couldn’t do what her position demanded of her. She lowered the spear with her head down.

“And the girl…” Iraminus said, “She will get the death her kind deserves.”

Minerva snapped. She would rather die than let a filthy barbarian like that dog say such things. Charging him, she thrust the spear on him. He dodged, jumping up and landing behind her. She bashed her shield against him, but the shock of impact hurt her arm far more than the enemy. Fighting at the required level was impossible.

Iraminus, who blocked the bash with one arm used the other to punch her away. She slid back, dizzy and almost losing herself. If only she knew there was an Alpha Lupus among them. If only there weren’t some many of the monsters to contend with. If only her brothers and sisters were still around, it wouldn’t have to end like this. As she looked back on what laid to her front, Iraminus had disappeared. His thousands of Lupus barbarians were still watching, but he had vanished.

Five sharp fangs cut through her back and out her abdomen. The surprise attack caught her completely exposed. The pain itself wasn’t the problem, but they had hit vital organs. She coffed blood, hitting her helmet and dropping off on her neck. As it happened, Iraminus had once again gotten behind her and exploited the weaknesses on her fractured armor. He pulled them off, and Minerva fell. The soldiers shouted for their officers to assist their leader, but they ordered them back. To interfere would only force the battle to restart, and so accelerating all their deaths. They had to buy as much time as possible for reinforcements, even if they would never arrive in time. They had to endure watching one of the last remnants of the Empire’s golden age to die.

“You’re a resilient one.” Iraminus said, “After everything, and even this, you are still not only alive, but you haven’t lost conscience either.”

Minerva did not reply. She could barely hear, feel or see much of anything anymore. Moving a single finger was a monumental task, let alone getting back up. At the edge of death, she couldn’t but imagine if she would see him them. All her siblings, superiors, and of course, the Princeps himself. She smiled slightly, her dreadful failure now sprinkled with a bit of consolation. It was short-lived, as the consequences of her defeat swarmed her mind back again.

This was the end. The end of her life, her duty, and her home. The end of the empire, and all that went with it. She wasn’t strong enough to fight against the tides of time, which she cursed herself endlessly for. By then, it was sheer force of will why she was still awake, but soon it wouldn’t be enough. She wanted to give apologies for it all, but the man who deserved to hear them wasn’t there to do so. It was a terrible end, for what was once such a great thing.

“Romans.” Iraminus walked toward them, “Hand over the little bitch, and you will all be spared.”

The soldiers dared not say a word. Those who had stood by to the very end were endlessly loyal to her leader, state and home. At the face of clear death, much like Minerva, they would do their duty.

“… Very Well.” Iraminus smiled, “All Lupus, charge the…”

The Imperial Palace’s doors were burst open, cutting onto Iraminus’ orders with the loud sound they made clashing on the walls. Everyone’s attention, even of the front lines Romans was stolen by it.

A single man walked away from them, descending the steps. In the silence that had formed, each of his footsteps was heard from afar. He stared Iraminus directly in the eye, a thing few people in all his life had ever dared to do.

“Who in the hell is…” asked Iraminus.

*****

Gaius glanced over his burning city. While the enormous Lupus horde blocked most of the view he could get from the streets, the corpses of civilians, breached doors and slain soldiers were all too evident. At the distance, the Imperial Walls were breached and more of the barbarians came through them by the minute. It was much like his history books depicted. The sack of Rome and fall of the Empire. It was a tough pill to swallow, but there was no choice not to. At that very moment, even if Gaius could go back to his real world, no matter if this was all just an elaborate scheme to provoke a reaction from him, his resolution was unmovable, unchangeable, unwavering. Augustus had the luxury not to see the city he poured his life into violated to such extent, and he imagined his reaction would be similar. Contrary to him, Gaius was in fact there, and he would act on it.

While he climbed down the stairs, one of the remaining soldiers shouted, “Get back in you idiot!” The other officers followed suit, “Have you forgotten Lady Minerva’s orders!?”

At the mention of her name, it was confirmed she was indeed the fallen one. For an enemy to take her down he would have to be extremally powerful. An experienced Alpha Lupus would fit the role, and that was exactly what laid in front of the hoard. He could not do anything before checking if she was still alive.

Gaius reached the backline of the improvised roman formation defending the Imperial Palace, “Open way.” He commanded. The legionnaires hesitated to obey, but Gaius did not stop. At the sight of this imperative, blood littered armored man, the youngest and most inexperienced faltered. Gaius bore the Imperial Eagle in his chest, a detail he made sure the blood didn’t cover. He had to make himself known as an ally, and it worked.

The ranks let him pass, getting back in position once get got through. Gaius stood in front of Iraminus, who was beside Minerva’s body.

“Well, well…” Iraminus put his foot over Minerva’s back, clenching his fangs on the open wounds. Minerva wailed in pain while Iraminus examined the newcomer, “And who are you supposed to be?”

Gaius did not answer but wondered how long Minerva could withstand her current state. She was still alive but bleeding out and not moving at all. In a sea of doubts, uncertainties and changes, she was the only person he recognized, and even then, she had gone through so much. Whatever happened, she would be the one to inform him. And of course, for someone to damage one of his Divine Legionnaires by such extent was deserving of a very specific form of suffering.

“Hey!” Iraminus barked, “I asked who you are, roman.” He pressed onto her body with his foot.

Gaius glanced back at him, still silent.

“Are you here to negotiate for your lives?” Iraminus asked, “If that’s the case, then you must only give us the little bitch, and I will consider if…”

Gaius punched Iraminus away with such force he collided against hundreds of his fellow Lupus. After a long journey, his body finally collided with a pillaged house, collapsing it on top of him. The building’s destruction echoed on the streets, and once again all eyes were on Gaius. His fist bloody, and one of Iraminus’ teeth on the ground.

“Disgusting dog,” Gaius said, putting his arm down, "Don't touch my NPCs."

Both Lupus Barbarians and Roman Legionnaires were stunned. After a long silence, the Romans cheered as if winning a great victory, while the monsters stepped back in awe.

Gaius knelt to Minerva, examining her wounds. Had he taken any longer, she would have already been dead. Casting a healing spell, her body recovered, but she did not wake up. She must have become unconscious by then and would need to rest a bit before recovering. He got her in his arms and delivered her to a nearby Roman Officer.

“She will be fine.” Gaius said, “Take hold of her for now, I’ll need some space.”

The officer took her in his hold, “Will she really…?”

“Yes.” Gaius affirmed.

“Oh… By Sol Invictus, thank you!”

The sentiment was unanimous among the Roman soldiers. They all gave Gaius their thanks for saving Minerva and tearing the Alpha Lupus a new one. He claimed their attention with his hand, “Don’t celebrate.” He said, turning back to the enemies, “It’s not over yet.”

A furious howl came from afar. The fragments of the house Iraminus landed on were thrown away. He got out of there, rushing back to the frontlines. With astounding speed for most spectators, he reached Gaius and punched his back. Gaius blocked it with his left palm. Iraminus, already filled with rage tried again and was once again blocked. He threw a quick succession of strikes on Gaius all of which failed to reach the target. With it, Gaius now knew exactly how strong and fast the monster was.

The Lupus cheered Iraminus on, while the Romans did the same for Gaius. What was supposed to be a battle for the fate of Julia became a duel for the life and death of all present.

After one of such attacks, he did not let Iraminus fist go. He crushed it, breaking his fist along with several fingers. Iraminus cried in pain but kept on the offensive. He kicked Gaius in his legs, likely expecting to knock his base of support. Gaius took the opportunity to break his knee as well, therefore making the monster fall.

Iraminus got up, standing on one leg. He looked at Gaius’ neck, his eyes fixed on it. Gaius, however, was tired of getting bitten in the same spot. He pulled out his gladius and stabbed Iraminus in the groin once he charged. Taken by surprise with the steed he reacted, Iraminus fell again, not to get up.

“Dammit… You…” he said, holding onto his wounds.

“I have a question for you.” Gaius said, stepping on Iraminus’ broken leg, “If you answer it quickly…”

Iraminus’ wrathful grin gave way to a bitter smile, “You lie…” he said, “Romans have no mercy.”

Gaius got his gladius to the Lupus’ neck, “If you answer it quickly, I will spare you from seeing the storm.”

“… The storm?” Iraminus asked, “What the hell are you talking about?”

Gaius expected a different response. This Alpha Lupus looked quite old, so he should be knowledgeable in things regarding his race. His campaign in the north had only been recently finished. Had they already forgotten what happened, or was he pretending not to know anything? Whatever the case, Gaius decided not to offer any clemency to him. He would, as originally planned, ask Minerva what he needed to know. Sheaving his sword, Gaius let go of Iraminus’ leg, stepping back a few paces.

Looking around, he saw everyone was confused by his action. They murmured to each other, asking what he meant with the storm. He would give a hint with his following command. He looked at the men behind him, “Soldiers, stand back.”

He gestured, pointing away. They took some time to react, but Gaius, as the one now in effective charge of the city’s defense was taken seriously. They got to the stairs of the palace, a good distance away. It wasn’t at all in an organized fashion as he desired. It would seem a lot of them took it as a threat and ran for their lives to the assigned position. At another instance, Gaius did not recognize his organized legions at all. Thankfully, the one carrying Minerva at least did not drop her.

“What is the meaning of this?” asked Iraminus, still very much alive.

Gaius glanced at him, “This is your punishment.” He lifted his arm, pointing his palm to the night sky, “You will know what it is to have your people killed.”

“My people… Killed?” he asked with wide pupils.

A green light emanated from his fingertips. It seemed harmless, having no effect on anything noticeable. Iraminus processed Gaius’ words, and the expression on his face changed.

“… Ridiculous.” He grinned, “You can’t possibly expect to defeat all of us!? Do you?”

Gaius remained obstinate about what he said., the light in his palm increasing in illuminance.

“What nonsense…” Iraminus laughed in mockery, his comrades doing the same. Soon the entire horde mocked Gaius for his absurd claim, “Minerva thought she could do it, and even with an entire legion and the Imperial Walls at her side she couldn’t.” Iraminus got up, resting on one leg and avoiding his stab wound from bleeding out, “It doesn’t matter how much stronger than me you are, our numbers are our strength, you cannot…”

Iraminus’ eyes went up, looking at the skies. Clouds were gathering at great speeds and thunders began to roar. The weather had been clean until now, but the Moon’s light was being progressively hidden.

“… What’s happening to the sky?” he asked, not to be replied to.

As Gaius had warned, a storm gathered in the city. Rain began to pour, putting down the fires. Beyond the fact it appeared so quickly there was nothing particularly special about it, nevertheless, those who watched him do it couldn’t believe it.

“… Is that it?” Iraminus asked, “You put out the fires for now, but all it will take are more torches to lit up again, your efforts are…”

A lightning strike hit Gaius’ hand. The flash of light and explosion of thunder shut Iraminus on the spot. Electrical currents flew through Gaius’ body and armor. Another one landed, followed by several others. The clouds were charged up, and the size of the storm, already covering all the city got far more intense. There was no way for Iraminus, the Lupus or even the Romans to know, but the lightning bolts were going up from Gaius, rather than down from the clouds. It was taking a lot of Magicka, but the spell was almost ready.

The members of the Lupus started to become audibly worried. Their race already had a mistrust of storms, who scarred them all when young. This one, who looked to be cast into being by Gaius sent shivers through their collective spines. Those who looted the houses stopped. The ones pouring through the gates began to retreat. Those standing beside Iraminus got as far away as they could. One of them got so desperate he ran away. It kicked a chain reaction of other Lupus also fleeing. They were a minority, but if kept up the entire horde might rout.

“Get back here!” shouted Iraminus, “What are you scared of? Some petty thunders?” His taunt was mostly successful, most of the ones fleeing stopping, “We have waited far enough.” He said, facing his people, “All Lupus, charge the Imperial Palace, now! Bring me bitches head!”

Gaius never understood a word of what he said whenever he addressed his people. Even when he finally meets a Lupus fluent in Latin, he still must address the others in that northern gibberish. It would have been more interesting to know what their final words were. The Alpha Lupus authority in rallying the morale of troops was admirable, but It played directly into Gaius’ hands. Throwing them out of the city was nowhere near enough. They would get what all those who defy Rome deserve.

The rain ceased. The city’s fires were already extinguished, so it wasn’t any problem. Gaius lowered his arm and looked at the horde going at him.

A lightning strike hit their vanguard, killing tens of Lupus. The suddenness of the event looked to be enough to halt their momentum. Another one hit, and then a third, and fourth. A new rain began, but this time one of lightning. The storm had truly begun. Across the city, every Lupus on the streets was hit by a bolt from above. Their deaths were instant, and hope of escape short-lived. The same carnage repeated itself, killing thousands at every minute. It didn’t matter how many there were, and in fact, their numbers made it easier to hit the targets. Their toasted corpses turned to dust, and Iraminus seemed to be the only one being sparred.

“This is… Oh no, what have you done…” he asked Gaius.

“Hurts, doesn’t it?” Gaius asked, “Seeing your people die at the hands of the enemy.”

“You …” Iraminus eyed Gaius with the purest of killer intents, jumping on him. Gaius drew his gladius, cut off his head and sheaved the blade swiftly. It wasn’t a weapon made for slashing, but decapitation felt like the only execution someone with such a dim head deserved. He had given him a taste of his own venom, and the aftermath was all there was left.

The streets of Rome, a few moments ago overwhelmed by a foreign army were empty. The few survivors were seriously wounded, and those who still could walk did their best to get away from Rome.

“They are trying to escape!” Yelled the roman officer, one of the few not completely overtaken by the spectacle, “Kill the all!” he ordered his men. The ran, passing by Gaius and falling onto the Lupus, who were now the ones in a serious numerical disadvantage and leaderless. The city was saved, and the cost of victory was high. The empire would live on, and the message had been given it would not be erased.

Gaius’ right hand burned and trembled. The lightning bolts he shot to throw it seemed to have affected him quite a lot more than anticipated. Although he already knew Obliterations spells harmed the caster as much as the target, he didn’t expect for it to hurt so much. In fact, it wasn’t supposed to hurt at all. In the game, players were not allowed to feel pain, but here he was doing just that. It didn’t make sense, it was as if the game had changed so much it was barely recognizable anymore. The world was still Impera, and yet so much differed from what he knew. He pondered if the same was true to the other Magical Schools and if this inconsistency with his knowledge and what was true now conflicted that much more. There was yet too much he needs to know.

The soldiers from the Imperial Palace joined the fray, assisting in cleaning the city of any stragglers. It would still take a while to effectively clean up the place, but there were still enough men to see it done.

“Gaius! Sir!” shouted Julia. She ran down the steps of the Imperial Palace, followed by the Legionnaires he had met inside.

“Yes?” asked Gaius, facing them and trying to keep control of his arm’s convulsions.

“Where is Lady Minerva?” she asked, “Is she okay?”

“She is fine.” Said the officer, still carrying her in his arms, laying her against a nearby house’s wall, “She’s unconscious, but still alive.”

“Lady Minerva…” Julia rushed to her side. Her armor was still severely damaged and filthy of blood. No matter what anyone said, one could not hide that she looked terrible. Julia took off her helmet, carefully making sure it didn’t tangle with Minerva’s blond ponytail. Her pointy ears and pale skin, typical of elven beings was devoid of any damage, which meant Gaius’ healing had worked fully. He was having some doubts regarding magic, but it seems the medical ones work as intended. Her closed eyes moved. She was waking up, far earlier than Gaius expected.

“Lady Minerva, can you hear me?” asked Julia, “Are you alright?”

Minerva slowly opened her eyes, their green pupils becoming visible. Julia, who was knelt beside her claimed her immediate attention.

“J-Julia..?” she asked faintly, “… Julia? What are you doing here?” she grabbed her by the shoulders, “I told you to stay inside!”

“I’m sorry!” Julia replied, “But… Everything is fine now! The city is saved!”

“Saved?” she asked. Looking around, she saw the decapitated corpse of Iraminus on the ground, the thousands of his dead men and the Romans patrolling the streets. The fires had been put off, and the sky was dark due to the storm.

“… What happened here?” she asked.

“That’s what I want you to tell me,” Gaius replied.

Minerva gasped as she heard his voice, “… Who said that?”

“I did.”

She turned to Gaius, who was standing beside her and opposite to Julia, “There’s a lot I wish to ask you.”

Minerva couldn’t muster a response. Her stupefied face stared Gaius, her eyes wide, eyebrows lifted and mouth open. She was greatly surprised, but by what Gaius did not know.

“… What’s the matter?” he asked.

“… Princeps is that… Really you?”

“Of course.” He said, “Who else would I be?”

After his confirmation, Minerva stood up. Out of the blue, she hugged Gaius dearly, “You are back… You really are here…”

“Uhh… Yes, I am…” Gaius said awkwardly. To add to the list of things he didn’t understand, Minerva’s emotional state was now at the very top three. He had never seen her act like this, and even if he won’t an important victory for the safety of Rome, it was still weird. The personality he wrote should not have allowed her to do this. Had she changed for some reason?

As she hugged Gaius, she cried many tears, hugging Gaius ever more tightly, “I’ve waited for so long, and you really did come back…” Despite not liking to do so, he hugged back but did not press it. She was too into it to simply ask her to get back.

“… What the… Lady Minerva is crying!?” asked Julia in disbelief. Her reaction was shared by the surrounding roman legionnaires, who looked just as stunned.

As Minerva ignored Julia’s remark, her purple eyes changed to Gaius for an answer that he could not give. The moment didn’t look to be ending anytime soon until Minerva let go.

“… I apologize, Princeps…” she cleaned her tears, “I have forgotten you do not like to be hugged.”

“It’s fine…” He said, “I just wasn’t expecting it.”

“Oh… Where’s my…” She looked around, her eyes landing on Julia, who carried her helmet. She gave it back, and Minerva re-equipped it, “Now then, I’m ready to serve.” She saluted Gaius, straightened her back, “I await your orders, Princeps.”

“Princeps?” asked Julia, “Is that his real name?”

“It’s not a name, but his title.” Said Minerva, “Also, you must salute him whenever he is present.”

“What? Salute him?” she asked, “But isn’t he a soldier of lower rank than you, Lady Minerva?”

“No.” she stated, “He is no soldier, but Princeps Gaius, the Founder of the Empire, Strongest Being in History, Eldest Son of Sol Invictus and Conqueror of the World.”

There was a long silence after she said that.

“…”

“…”

“… What?”