The spear and the dagger exchanged each other, and the sound of gold and iron clashing echoed throughout the battlefield in an instant.
Then the battlefield was filled with deafening shouts of killing.
Although the Roman legions after Marius' military reform undoubtedly had higher combat effectiveness than the previous era of conscripts.
But Caesar's soldiers, who abandoned all equipment and only held short swords, were at an undoubted disadvantage when facing the First Army of Romagna, whose entire army had adopted the [senior] levy and held spears and square shields. .
Under the plains of Pisa, the spear phalanx can exert 100% combat effectiveness.
Even if Alexander the Great's companions, the cavalry (hetairoi), are here, facing the fully prepared spear phalanx, they have to first consider whether they will be stabbed through by both men and horses after charging.
Although most of the soldiers of the First Army of Romagna were slaves and old people, the soldiers who Caesar ran around for a day without stopping for even a moment were not much better.
This is the biggest advantage that Animusfia has gained through all her efforts and a little foresight.
Despite this, soldiers who pierced the enemy's body with their spears had their weapons stuck in the bones of the corpses due to lack of training and were unable to pull out their spears for a while.
The legionnaires who seized the opportunity cooperated with each other, pierced his lower abdomen with the dagger in their hands, and pulled it out skillfully.
Blood spilled on the trampled grass.
The soil and sparse vegetation were stained with a hint of dark red.
Bodies kept appearing, and the number of casualties continued to increase.
Broken limbs and broken arms fell like rain, and it was no longer clear whose limbs belonged to them.
Those who just lost their arms or fingers were considered lucky, and more people lost their lives directly in the battle.
Although she had long been prepared to lose her life, Animusfiya still found it difficult to understand how those who were fighting on the battlefield were thinking.
If it had not been for the loss of [life], Animusfia would definitely not give up her life.
There must be something more precious than life itself, and there must be something more memorable than life itself.
Only those who find that kind of thing can Animusfia realize the rationality of their sacrifice.
Maybe that thing does not exist at all, or maybe that thing cannot be pursued in a lifetime, but for those who are willing to devote themselves, whether it is their own children or illusory ideals...or the promises of "God" In the afterlife, things are indeed more precious than life.
In short, whether it is true or false, whether it is discovered by oneself or learned by others, they all believe that certain things and things are more precious than life.
Otherwise, people like Animusfia who are close to walking out of the grave cannot be said to be completely non-existent, it can only be said to be rare.
But have the slaves and old men under his command, or the young soldiers under Caesar, really found something more precious than life?
Although no specific investigation has been conducted, which is somewhat less rigorous and scientific, I am afraid that Animusfia's arrogant and decisive judgment cannot find too many mistakes.
No.
They were coerced into going to war.
They were forced to give their lives and became "heroes".
So sometimes people rebel, they desert, they refuse to serve in the military.
But Animusfia does not think they are shameful, and some even think that they are the truly "free" people.
However, "free" people cannot be exploited.
What Animusfia needs is soldiers, swords, and weapons.
It is a tool that can defend the throne for Nero and continue history smoothly for two thousand years.
Rather than a "free man" who would run away or even say "no" for his own wishes and life.
"Freedom" can be violated, but it cannot be eliminated. No matter how much Animusfia uses intimidation to control people's hearts, no matter how much she uses coercive means to plan behavior, she can never truly suppress the last bit of people's hearts. disobey.
As long as you are forced, you will get angry.
But freedom can be distorted.
Since the soldiers are unwilling to sacrifice their lives and have not found anything more precious than life, then give them something more precious than life.
Even if it is false and illusory, it doesn't matter.
So Animusphia moved out of the gods, moved out of Rome, moved out of Nero.
He clumsily imitated the posture of the priest in the church school when he was a boy, and he clumsily imitated the madman who wanted to start a war two thousand years later.
Did those work? Animusfia had no way of knowing. Fortunately, with the help of Zhou Yulingji, Animusfia at least achieved her goal.
[Strategic Command A+] allows every soldier under his command to be prepared to die.
It is more powerful than the French army that was packaged by military glory and Frenchism in the Napoleonic era.
Based on this alone, Zhou Yu's spirit base can be regarded as the ultimate weapon.
If it's in Red Alert, it won't be a problem with Yuri.
A legion that cannot mutiny, a whole Guard that cannot mutiny.
It’s time for all the emperors who died at the hands of the Guards to laugh out loud.
Only Animusfiya, who manipulated and drove all this, knew the truth of the matter.
Everything he said was irrelevant.
No matter how great the glory of our ancestors is, it cannot shine into the present moment. Blindly clinging to the glory of the past will only sink to the bottom of the sea along with the dilapidated ship.
With the guilt of turning a brilliant young man whose dream was to get into a high school and become a politician into a sailor who only knows his way around every day, Animusfia felt guilty for all the soldiers who died on the battlefield.
No matter what the reason is, killing is killing and violence is violence. This cannot be beautified no matter what.
There should be no profession whose purpose is to kill.
But Animusfia still had to do it because he needed to.
Knowingly and deliberately, he is the most hateful person.
"What are you thinking about?"
Cutting through the noisy sounds of fighting, Caesar's voice was particularly obvious.
Without giving Animusfia much time to react, the golden sword blade had already been swung towards his front.
"There is no room for daze on the battlefield!"
In a hurry, Animusfia raised the dagger in her hand to block, but the ordinary iron sword was cut off as easily as soft cloth in front of "Yellow Death".
"Keng——————!"
In the end, the attack of the golden sword was blocked, and the prosthetic limb that looked like brass could not make any further progress.
How could the products made by Leonardo da Vinci be made of ordinary brass?
"Hey, is it me this time..."
It was completely different from the feeling of Caesar's slashing when he was on the banks of the Arno River. There was no doubt that this time it was Animusfia.
But now Caesar preferred that someone other than himself was present.
That way his chances of winning would be higher.
"Governor!"
The long sword burning with flames struck straight down, and Caesar was forced to sheath his sword and jump back.
"is that OK?"
Nero asked Animusfia with concern.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I have no problem."
Animusfia shook her head and said to Nero, and the lightning condensed in his palm again.
Different from ordinary wars, the suspense of this battle does not lie in the performance of the soldiers on the local battlefield, but more in this "Duel of Heroes."
Only the victorious side can finally reverse the situation on the battlefield.
Lightning struck the ground beside Caesar continuously from Animusfia's hand, and with every rumble of thunder, large swaths of soil were shattered and lifted up.
At the same time, dark magic beams continued to emerge from the ground, trying to restrain Caesar's fat figure.
Such a magic might be effective against Caligula, who only reacted instinctively and without reason, but it would be difficult to hit accurately against a being with an excellent tactical mind like Caesar.
The magic of Animusfia can only block the space where Caesar can move.
The real threat to Caesar on the main battlefield was Nero, who wielded the primordial fire in her hands. Due to the [Emperor's Privilege], she was similar to a heroic spirit. At this time, she was also one of the few mortals who could truly threaten the servants.
"To compare the many against the few, there really is no Roman tradition (Mos Maiorum)."
Caesar pouted and said.
"That kind of thing has become obsolete!"
Nero continued to attack Caesar regardless.
For Nero, who devoted his life to spreading Greek culture, the so-called [Roman tradition] may indeed be too classical.
However, Nero would never have imagined that a trend of thought that would influence later generations for thousands of years was born from this.
Roman tradition (Mos Maiorum) can also be called "the law of the ancestors".
Fides, which has become the root of the English word Fidelity, is not just simple loyalty, but also reliability, honesty, and loyalty to one's position.
Pietas, which became the root of the word piety in English, is also not just simple piety, but justice under the gods, obligations to the country and to parents and blood relatives.
Religio, which became the root of the word religion in English, refers to the observance and practice of religious rituals. The Romans were similar to the Zhou Dynasty people in the East, and regarded religious rituals as a kind of etiquette that must be performed.
The oracle (Cultus), which became the root of the English word Cult, means the connection between the Romans and the gods. The Romans believed that they had an eternal connection with the gods. Civilization, peace, morality, and truth were all controlled by the Romans. hand.
Disciplina, which became the root of the word "discipline" in English, is not only self-discipline, but also a manifestation of obeying rules and laws. The military success of the Romans was also inseparable from this.
Gravitas, which directly becomes the word Gravitas in English, represents responsibility and commitment.
And the courage and perseverance (Constantia) of Constantine, the name of the emperor of the Roman Empire for several generations.
Then there is Virtus, which Caesar now mentions, which became the root of the English word Virtue, which includes several qualities that are called virtues in later generations, such as industry, temperance, gentleness, and justice. in it.
For the Romans during the Republic, excellence was both a Roman badge and a symbol of Roman identity.
Apparently Nero would not have become a tyrant if he had listened to this.
Finally, Dignitas and Auctoritas (Dignitas and Auctoritas), which were the most highly regarded by the Senate during the Republic and became the roots of the two words Dignity and Authority in English, are the results of practicing all the above Roman traditions.
Dignitas is similar to prestige, while Auctoritas represents the influence that a person with high reputation can bring.
The system of the Senate and the republican system of ancient Rome were built on such a set of values and had to endure.
Every elder did not reserve his appreciation and praise for him.
Caesar, who was still a member of the Senate despite being a dictator, was naturally a believer and executor of this system.
This system finally reached its peak in the hands of Charlemagne, who established the Frankish Empire and was crowned "Emperor of the Romans" by the Pope, and his twelve warriors.
It became an important program that led medieval Europe - chivalry.
What is also regrettable is that just as the Roman Empire swept away the republican tradition, in the Renaissance after the Middle Ages, a group of people headed by Leonardo da Vinci and Shakespeare also began to vigorously pursue the Greek tradition like Nero.
Although it greatly influenced the establishment of later democratic systems, the Roman aristocratic republic was ultimately different from the Greek democratic republic.
What's ridiculous is that Caesar has been adhering to the Roman tradition his whole life and thinks he has done everything for Rome.
The man who deserved the most praise from the Senate was considered the greatest enemy of the Republic, and eventually fell under the siege of the Senate himself.
It can be described as "the death of Huang".
Every senator had Caesar's blood on his hands.
"What are you talking about, Lord Caesar? Isn't it extremely normal behavior to surround your opponent with superior forces? You who took down Gaul with overwhelming force and want to take down Rome in the same way know best, right?" .”
But obviously Caesar would not do this in a war. War is war, it is the most despicable and vicious competition to see who is worse.
Animusfia gained its current advantage precisely by being inferior to Caesar.
This gave Nero a chance to fight Caesar head-on.
But I don't know if it was Animusfia's illusion, but he always felt that the magic power in Nero was fluctuating...or maybe it was because his status was getting lower and lower.
At first he thought it was because he was too sensitive, but now it has gradually developed to the point where he can no longer ignore it.
Nero, who had previously been able to confront Caligula as a Berserker, now had difficulty facing Caesar, who was not good at fighting.
This phenomenon became more and more obvious during the confrontation with Caesar.
The fluctuations in Caesar’s [Emperor’s Privilege], which had the same origin as Nero, continued to grow over time.
This is Rome. As a world-famous Caesar in Roman history who left his own page in human history, it is natural and reasonable for Caesar to receive a slight bonus and [Rome]'s preference.
Like Joan of Arc in France.
But the ebb and flow of [emperor's privileges] between Nero and Caesar was obviously unreasonable.
This may involve the entire second singularity—the secret of Rome.
No matter what, Animusphia must help Nero defeat Caesar and squeeze some information out of Caesar's fat body.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh”
Caesar, who was constantly dodging, was finally caught by Nero. The strange-looking alien long sword——Primal Fire firmly pinned Caesar's "Yellow Death" to the ground.
"Now! Governor!"
"Saturn!"
Animusfia, who was no longer thinking, decisively cooperated with Nero, and several dark magic beams rose from the ground, tightly binding Caesar's limbs.
"You lose!...Caesar."
Picking up the "Yellow Death" in Caesar's hand, Nero said slowly with a complicated expression.
The long sword made of gold spun a few times in the air and then plunged straight into the ground.
"——That's not necessarily the case."
Seeing that he was completely subdued, Caesar's face still showed no expression of surrender.
"If my name is correct, Animusfia, you should know——"
"Um?"
There was a look of confusion on Nero's face. You must know that Animusfia was a magician named [Black Sun Sethun], her uncle who could knock down city walls with one punch and destroy the palace with his own hands. It's hard to break free.
"There's no way something like this can stop me!"
Caesar's fat, restrained body suddenly lit up with the same light that lit up before and on the sword's blade.
"Swords are just tools. The one who truly conquered Gaul was not the sword, but me, Caesar!"
Although "Yellow Death" was still embedded in the soil, the Saturn magic that Animusfia wrapped around Caesar turned into fragments and dissipated as if it had been attacked by Caesar's Noble Phantasm before.
"I come, I see, I conquer. (VENI VIDI VICI)"
Caesar opened his arms, and golden light illuminated the surroundings of the battlefield like the sun.
"This is Crocea Mors!"
