Seeing his intentions being revealed, Mikhail VIII's eyes quickly turned cold.
The many intricate spider threads connected to the throne beneath him were finally fully revealed.
Not only the surroundings of Matthew, but also the surroundings of Boudica and Elizabeth who had already arrived were already covered with a carefully woven network.
Michael VIII did not expect Elizabeth's arrival. Even if he had expected it, he would not regard Elizabeth as a serious enemy.
Therefore, Elizabeth's ability to destroy all the Chimeras in an instant really caught Mikhail VIII off guard, which made him lose control of the battle situation as he was already confident about this battle.
However, what really surprised him was that his true identity had been seen by everyone in Chaldea.
After understanding what Mikhail VIII did in history, no one can trust him anymore.
Judging from the performance of the governor, it is impossible that he would not make a counterattack plan after knowing his real name. Thinking of this, Mikhail VIII was relieved by the appearance of Elizabeth.
From beginning to end, Mikhail VIII was always careful to hide himself.
Even when it was possible to be exposed, Michael VIII took the initiative to give up the "net" he had laid, and let Animusfia take the initiative to destroy them.
In fact, Michael VIII was very cautious even when contacting the senators in Rome. He wanted Nero to be impeached by the Senate without his knowledge.
It would be impossible for the self-doubting Nero to use his "emperor's prerogative" at that time.
"Saber."
Without any other words from her master, Artoria, who broke free from the spider web, understood Fujimaru Ritsuka's order with just a call.
"Vortigern!"
The violent magic power gathered on the reversed Sword of Victory, and under Arturia's swing, it hit Mikhail VIII like a hammer.
Following closely behind Artoria were Boudica and Elizabeth.
Mashu, who had just escaped from the influence of Mikhail VIII's Noble Phantasm, was guarding Fujimaru Ritsuka in case Mikhail VIII had any unexpected back-up plans against just ordinary people. Human girl.
However, neither Elizabeth's spear stab nor Artoria's hammer could do any real effective damage to Mikhail VIII.
Each attack could only barely pass by Mikhail VIII. At most, it could only wipe away a few mottled gray hairs hanging down from Mikhail VIII's face.
Matthew didn't know how Mikhail VIII did all this, but in her opinion, it was not Mikhail VIII who escaped Elizabeth's gun and Artoria's gun. sword.
Instead, Elizabeth's gun and Artoria's sword actively avoided Mikhail VIII.
Whether it was Elizabeth or Artoria, they seemed to be pulled away by something for a moment when attacking Michael VIII, and therefore missed the opportunity.
If this situation continues, let alone three servants besieging Mikhail VIII.
Even if Mashu comes forward together, even dozens of followers may not be able to cause any substantial difficulties to Mikhail VIII.
Only Boudica was not affected by Michael VIII and attacked him normally.
But Boudica, who is better at defensive warfare, has a restraining effect on Roman enemies, but she was also restrained by Rome as she was overwhelmed by Rome.
Not to mention that she is not good at fighting with a sword herself.
Therefore, she and Michael VIII, two servants who were not good at fighting, could only remain in a stalemate with each other.
When the previous Michael VIII infiltrated the city of Rome, in order to maintain secrecy, he even observed every senator for several days in advance.
Originally relying on his Noble Phantasm, no matter how loyal a person was, he would choose to betray Nero————
During his lifetime, Michael VIII could not incite all Sicilians to resist French rule.
But Michael VIII, who became a heroic spirit after his death, could easily manipulate anyone to follow his will.
Like a puppet on strings.
"I Vespri siciliani"
This is the Noble Phantasm of Michael VIII, who single-handedly planned the Sicilian Vespers and indirectly ignited the resentment of the Sicilians against the French.
But out of caution, Michael VIII did not infiltrate everyone in the Senate with great fanfare. He would only contact those who he thought would help him even without using the Noble Phantasm.
When it was time to abandon the "cobweb", Mikhail VIII carefully and decisively concealed all traces of himself.
Even Animusfia struggled to grasp the clues left by Michael VIII.
When was he exposed?
Mikhail VIII actually already had the answer in his mind.
In the process of infiltrating Rome, Michael VIII successfully included all the people he listed as targets into his web.
Except Seneca.
Only Seneca, only the man who Michael VIII felt would definitely betray Nero, exceeded his expectations.
Even Michael VIII, who lived thousands of years later, knew the name of his teacher, the sage Seneca, who was murdered by the tyrant Nero.
So he made a proposal to Seneca that no other senator could refuse, and easily painted a wonderful picture with the "spider silk" spit out of his mouth.
As a traditional Roman, Seneca would definitely choose this beautiful illusion of recreating the republic - Seneca indeed showed his interest in his proposal as Michael VIII expected.
But to Michael VIII's surprise, Seneca ultimately rejected his proposal.
"I do want to restore the Republic of Rome... However, such a conspiracy is definitely not what I hope to change the way of Rome."
The dictator Caesar used authority and violence to complete his control of the Senate and his tyranny over Rome.
That seemed absurd and wrong to Seneca.
However, was it right to swarm the many senators who stabbed Caesar to death?
Seneca privately thought he was wrong.
That was nothing more than the control and tyranny exercised by the senators against Caesar with the same authority and violence.
At that time, the Senate had mostly deviated from the original intention of establishing the Senate by the ancestor of God Romulus, and became "noble people" who only knew how to restrain their power to ensure their own privileges.
Caesar, the dictator is dead.
But every one of them who succeeded Caesar was a dictator indistinguishable from Caesar.
A Caesar dies and a host of Caesars appear.
Although Seneca is now old, the Rome when he was born was already the era of "Augustus" and "First Citizen".
However, this did not affect Seneca's admiration for the spirit of the Senate and the Centuria (Hundred) Assembly that had emerged since the city was founded.
"I don't know you, I don't know your name - I've never met you."
However, he could not turn his back on the student he regarded as his daughter.
After leaving these words, Seneca stood up and prepared to leave the "puppet" controlled by Michael VIII.
"It's really noble, but it's also really unimaginable that you, a noble person, would actually meet that ending, Lord Seneca."
Seneca did not look back, but stopped leaving.
"I didn't expect that you would be ordered to commit suicide by your beloved disciple, Nero himself."
What Seneca didn't notice was that several invisible threads had wrapped around his body.
Just listening to the words of the other party who claimed to be the Eight-clawed Spider, Seneca seemed to see him slowly walking into the hot springs, fully dressed, under the gaze of the guards beside Nero, and then slashing with his own hands with a short knife. Opened his own vein.
The blood was simmering in the warm spring water, but the light in his eyes was getting weaker and weaker.
Seneca's wrist seemed to have been cut open, and life continued to flow from his wound.
Although there was warm spring water all around his body, Seneca felt the heat in his body dissipating along his skin bit by bit.
After confirming his death, the Praetorian Guards brought the news of his death to Nero in the Golden Palace.
Ice cold.
That was Seneca's last feeling.
"Ha ha…."
Seneca stumbled as if he had woken up from a dream and almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, he was physically and relatively strong and did not fall directly.
But the heavy breathing in his mouth showed that his condition was not as good as it seemed.
"What on earth did you do?"
Seneca turned his head and stared hard at the mysterious man in front of him.
However, the mysterious man in front of Seneca did not give him an answer.
"I didn't do anything - except inform you of your future."
Mikhail VIII controlled the miserable puppet for a moment, and then said:
"After knowing this outcome, will you still be loyal to Nero and to the student who personally ordered your death? Lord Seneca."
The invisible spider threads wrapped around Seneca also tightened in an instant.
The face of Mikhail VIII, lurking in the distance, already showed a smile that his plan had succeeded.
Seneca's rejection was indeed beyond Mikhail VIII's expectations, but Mikhail VIII, who had become a Servant, was weak, but he was not weak in the complete sense.
No matter from the perspective of Noble Phantasm or job skills, Mikhail VIII, who has almost no "mystery" at all, can be regarded as "weak" to the fullest.
I'm afraid they are only slightly better than those followers who were simple musicians or writers during their lifetime.
But Mikhail VIII's incitement of people's hearts, his weaving of conspiracies, and his control over others are beyond the reach of ordinary people and heroic spirits.
But Seneca didn't know what the influence was. Maybe it was because the wish he had hoped for since he was a child really had a chance to be realized.
Or maybe he learned that he would be killed by Nero in the future——————
Seneca almost agreed to the request of the mysterious man in front of him and just proposed a motion in the Senate. That was not a difficult task.
Even Seneca couldn't think of any other reason for the senators in the Senate to object. This is something that will succeed as long as it is spoken.
I am afraid that even if I reject such a rich proposal, the other elders will agree.
Even after he refused here, he still faced the risk of being silenced and kept secret by this mysterious man from the [United Empire].
It wasn't wise for the mysterious man, but it was possible.
Seneca should not place his wealth and life on the wisdom of others, so the best way for him now is undoubtedly to agree to this mysterious man who calls himself "Eight-clawed Spider", and then go to Report to Nero.
But Seneca had a hunch that if he gave in here, he might really betray the girl who had lost everything except her position as Augustus.
The spider threads continued to tighten on Seneca's body, and finally stretched, connecting with the invisible web of conspiracy in the city of Rome.
Seneca's expression changed.
He seemed to have been able to foresee the beautiful situation when the Republic would return to Rome.
...But before Seneca's eyes came the image of the girl who was watching the empty theater alone at the end of the opera.
Nero's singing skills can only be described as terrible.
Before meeting Nero, Seneca had never seen or dared to imagine that anyone could sing so poorly.
Even the babbling of a newborn baby has more tone and rhythm than Nero's singing.
But as a teacher, Seneca always encouraged Nero to continue singing.
Seneca's original intention was to give Nero the virtue of persevering no matter how difficult it was, but during this process, he accidentally led Nero to the terrifying and unconscious self-knowledge that she was a genius.
The people in the theater naturally fled after the torture was over, and even the general Vespasian fell into a coma while singing and was angrily dismissed by Nero.
In the end, all those who came because of Augustus' identity left, and Nero was the only one left in the huge theater.
Nero always wanted to be a perfect singer, and he also always wanted to be a qualified Augustus.
This is what Seneca taught, and this is what Nero did.
Although she failed to become a perfect singer or a qualified Augustus in the end, that was not Nero's "sin".
It is not a sin for a person with crippled legs to be unable to run.
The one who really deserves the blame is the little Agrippina who pushed Nero to the throne... and himself.
To betray Nero for such a reason is simply the most ridiculous thing in the world.
However, it is an indisputable fact that Seneca wanted to restore the Roman Republic——————
So that's it.
Why would he choose to commit suicide in the future? Seneca understood everything then.
That was not an old-fashioned thing like Socrates who was willing to die in order to maintain authority, but Seneca's own choice.
On one side is the call of ideals, on the other side is Nero. Seneca cannot betray either side.
It couldn't have been more reasonable for him to choose to commit suicide at that time.
No matter how loyal a person is, they cannot remain loyal to Nero under the Noble Phantasm of Michael VIII, but Seneca was not completely loyal to Nero.
There is also the love between being a teacher and being a father.
The Noble Phantasm of Mikhail VIII is not a powerful magic, nor is it a magic weapon forged from a planet.
These strands of spider silk are just the embodiment of his words and conspiracy.
Therefore, he could not twist the patriarch who would rather be removed than excommunicate himself, nor could he twist Seneca who would rather choose death than betray any party.
As a result, the spider threads on Seneca's body that had been connected to the giant web broke one by one, and Seneca's expression returned to normal.
"I'm not interested in my future... If you want to take action, please do it yourself."
Without any further hesitation, Seneca stepped out of the shadows.
In order not to expose his plan, Michael VIII could only let Seneca leave. After all, if Seneca, Nero's teacher, died at that time, all the foreshadowing he had made would be invalid.
At that time, Michael VIII did not expect Animusfiya's appearance.
Thinking about it now, he must have revealed his identity since then.
but------
"You can't defeat me just by grabbing my thread!"
As Mikhail VIII finished speaking, Artoria and Elizabeth's movements froze again.
Although they cannot completely control the two dragons, they can at least interfere with Mikhail VIII in the short term.
