Patto d'Acciaio
Deal with the Devil
Type: Anti-Unit (Self), Anti-Army
Rank: C-
Range: 10~30
Max. Target: 40 people
This Noble Phantasm is the representation of the alliance between Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy during WWII. In it's nature, this Noble Phantasm is a higher form of the skill Affections of the Devil due to having formed an actual political alliance with Adolf Hitler in life and receiving his protection, essentially making the deal with the Devil. At this level, the presence of Adolf Hitler at Benito Mussolini's side is almost always present. He and only he will hear the voice of the ''Devil'' whispering into his ear from a faraway place and Mussolini himself will have a feeling in the back of his head as if a truly malicious spirit is standing behind him and watching closely his every move, ready to sink it's claws into his throat at the first slip-up.
Rather than being a pure crystallization of events during Mussolini's life, the dominant nature of this Noble Phantasm within Mussolini's arsenal has been made possible due to his constant paranoia and inferiority complex towards his greater ally, Adolf Hitler. Mussolini possesses this Noble Phantasm because in life, he quite often required the assistance of his German allies in order to complete many of his military goals due to Italy's inability and lack of firepower to stand on it's own, something that would establish Adolf Hitler as the top dog that would over-shadow Benito Mussolini's story in history books greatly, further fueling the man's inferiority complex towards Hitler. This Noble Phantasm is a constantly active one and the benefits Mussolini is granted from it depends on Adolf Hitler's mood and Mussolini's ability to convince or even desire to ask for assistance. The possible benefits are as listed:
1. During a fight, if Mussolini finds himself on the losing side due to a lack of firepower, he is allowed to ask for Hitler's assistance. If accepted, Mussolini will temporarily be allowed to manifest one of the many rumoured Nazi War-Machines which Nazi Germany developed in secret in one of it's many labs. It is an Anti-Army Noble Phantasm that possesses tremendous power, but due to not being Hitler himself he is only able to call forth a watered-down version of any war-machine he calls upon. Said war-machines range from powerful tanks to war planes and such.
2. If it fancies Hitler's plans, as a man known for his extreme luck in life, he is able to forcefully raise Mussolini's LCK stat to A rank. Something that can be realized through the forceful decrease and thievery of his enemy's own LCK stat that could then be applied to Mussolini's own LCK stat. A benefit skill that is only natural to be possessed by the two Dictators who's life is composed of nothing but taking from others. A fortune granted to oneself by being built on the misfortune of others. Under conditions, it is this benefit that can save Mussolini when facing Noble Phantasms that require a LCK roll such as Gae Bolg.
3. When he finds himself in enclosure or particularly in enemy territory, he is able to inquire Hitler for his assistance. As such when making his escape, the AGI rank is raised by one stat and his battle capabilities are boosted. Additionally, he is guided by the Devil himself to the escape points placed in enemy territory. A beneficial skill that allows for Mussolini to escape when he finds himself in unfavourable battle grounds and return to allied territory. It is the crystallization of the episode in Mussolini's life in which he was saved by German soldiers from capture.
On the other hand... There are, of course, important conditions and demerits to this Noble Phantasm. First it is important to note that Adolf Hitler is a massive liar since just like in life, he is likely prone to lying to Mussolini in order to manipulate him to follow Hitler's own desires. As such, it can be said this Noble Phantasm is primarily a curse rather than a blessing. Mussolini will without a doubt have to do Hitler a favour every time his assistance is required unless their goal is in common to begin with. Secondly, due to Mussolini's growing fear and sense of inferiority towards Adolf Hitler, it is no exaggeration to state that Mussolini possesses a quite clear inferiority complex. That coupled with his rebellious nature means that the man will likely use his personal skill
Cult of Personality to shut out as much of Hitler's voice from reaching him as possible which would result in rash decisions from Mussolini.
Decisions that could later force him to ask for larger amounts of assistance from the ''Devil'' and in turn, have to do him a bigger favour. Even convincing Mussolini to inquire Hitler for his assistance will be difficult for the Master. Because of this, the Noble Phantasm in question is granted a '-' modifier despite it's effectiveness. Lastly, the more Mussolini converses with Hitler, the harsher his Mad Enhancement will become to control and his eventual doom will become clearer and clearer. Additionally, his Charisma will decrease in rank the more favours he is forced to do for Hitler. On a side note, the favours Mussolini is forced to do depends on the story situation, but to give a rather simplistic example: if Mussolini finds himself in a war where another individual is someone of Jewish, Slavic, etc. descent, there is no doubt that Hitler will ask for their extermination. An example similar to the episode in Mussolini's life where he was forced to start passing anti-Semitic laws in order to appeal to Hitler more.
Camicie Nere
The Duce's Terror Troops
Type: Anti-Team, Anti-Unit
Rank: D
Range: 1~10
Max. Target: 20 people
The paramilitary wing of the National Fascist Party. They are Mussolini's self-styled personal soldiers meant to strike fear into his enemies and solidify the Duce's power. As a Noble Phantasm, it manifests as a group of two rows of soldiers wearing black-shirts - summoned by Mussolini for a single 1 turn strike. The first row is composed of blackshirts carrying large, heavy spears meant to crush and pierce the enemy lines - styled after Roman armies - while the second row is more modern and composed of soldiers carrying submachine guns meant to rain fire on the enemy from behind. As they are styled after the Royal Italian Army
Arditi during the WWI, they function as a shock troop meant to initially breach the enemy defenses and send enemy lines into turmoil so they make for Mussolini's further attacks. More simple, it is the Noble Phantasm Mussolini is likely to activate at start of battle which would function by (if survived) will decrease the effectiveness of enemy response and defense.
Furthermore, as they are a symbol of the Duce's violence meant to send his enemy into turmoil, when faced with an attack from the Blackshirts the enemy is forced to undergo a LCK roll. If their LCK stat is particularly low, they will be inflicted with a type of mental curse that would make their battle composition shaky and seal away the full capability of their Noble Phantasm as well as skills due to their user being unable to utilize them properly at the moment's notice - essentially minus modifiers are granted across the sheet. Although, if the enemy in question possess particular resistance to mental attack and control of their mental state, being able to shake of this effect is entirely possible even if they fail at the LCK roll.
The power of this Noble Phantasm raises when faced against Servants like Joseph Stalin or Mao Zedong, due to the Blackshirts being an anti-socialist group in life. Alas, there is a weak, anti-unit (self) side of this Noble Phantasm. Due to the fact that in life, Mussolini granted Hitler the control of his Blackshirts as the second corporal alongside himself, even if Mussolini shuts out Hitler's voice from his head through the usage of
Cult of Personality Hitler will still be able to involve himself with Mussolini rather easily by taking control of this Noble Phantasm whenever he wishes. As such, it is not a particularly smart idea for Mussolini to ignore his ally for longer periods of time. Much like in life, Hitler will get his way one way or another.
Marcia su Roma
Rise of Fascism
Type: Bounded Field, Anti-Leadership
Rank: B
Range: 1~99
Max. Target: 1000 people
By far the most famous event of Benito Mussolini's life. It is the long seven day March on Rome that solidified Mussolini's position as the 27th Prime Minister of Italy and marked the rise of Fascist Italy. As such, this Noble Phantasm is the crystallization of Mussolini's ideology and nature as a man who heeds no orders and takes whatever he desires. It is a powerful bounded field that requires a clear condition to be completed for it's activation. Upon his summoning, Mussolini will erect a large bounded field across a ~99 radius. It will possess no effects during it's activation and will have to thrive during the next seven days, selecting seven points across the area in which the Holy Grail War is taking place. Mussolini has to march onto one of those areas per day and only on the seventh day, will the Bounded Field take it's full effect. Though the erection of the bounded field does not reveal Mussolini's True Name, due to his constant need to travel each night to a different area - he might be forced to travel into enemy territory depending on where each of the seven points is located at - making it a dangerous gamble for him to survive the first week.
On the other hand, once activated, any skills related to leading such as
Charisma,
Incitement,
Military Tactics, etc. are negated inside of this Bounded Field except for Mussolini's own. Furthermore, the establishment and commanding of enemy armies is no longer possible as long as the target is within Mussolini's radius. Army-summoning or similar NPs such as Darius'
Athanaton Ten Thousand will be thrown into turmoil and unsuccessfully commanded when their activation is made. Though army members of Iskandar's Ionai Hetaroi could still function due to their individual possession of
Independent Action, their battle morale will be greatly decreased due to Iskandar's inability to command his troops.
Within this bounded field, there is only one commander who's word is absolute - that is Benito Mussolini himself. While he is inside, the dreams he once held become easier to realize for short periods of time. His aspirations are no longer fiction within this domain. Essentially his Cult of Personality is so boosted that he becomes quite literally capable of altering things as he sees fit. For an example, if he were to desire himself to become a powerful force of muscle, he could forcefully raise the rank of his STR to A+ or if he desired to be swift as the wind, he could instead raise his AGI to A+ rank. Though it is impossible to raise all of his parameters at once, he is still capable of altering every parameter individually depending on the situation barring the LCK stat which Hitler is in control of. Another example of what could be achieved is the control of the environment. He could command the environment in such a way that it would seem as if the World around him itself has been granted life. Unmovable objects such as stone or trees can be manipulated and shaped as a weapons reaching out to pierce the enemy. But because it is a difficult act to control, Mussolini can only do it in a certain radius within his sight.
Furthermore, all fluctation of valuables such as gold is in one way or another directed towards Mussolini in the end. But because of his horrible spending habits, it is only a matter of time before he depletes it all. Though he is unable to cut off Hitler's presence even inside of this Noble Phantasm, if he were to get a powerful source of mana such as one of the Grails granted to each owner of the singularities in the
Grand Order scenario, it is possible that Mussolini could cut off Hitler's presence entirely. On the other hand, should he be summoned in a Grail War where Adolf Hitler is present, there is no doubt that Benito Mussolini will once again be reduced to a mere side villain... A type of mid-boss before the main boss - which is Adolf Hitler.