The decision not to return immediately to the Wandering Sea, but instead remain on the surface of the Bleached Earth, had been Shiomi's proposal.
There were several reasons for it.
First, returning to the Wandering Sea would require temporarily lifting its inherited defenses and exposing its coordinates, which could easily draw danger to it.
Second, Storm Border had not suffered serious damage during the Atlantic Lostbelt campaign. The only true loss was the large number of automatons Touko had prepared, which were completely expended during several battles in the Atlantis sea region.
Supplies and energy reserves remained more than sufficient.
Additionally, Shiomi intended to assign the Lostbelts of China and India to the former Team A Crypters, allowing them to demonstrate their stance in a clear and unmistakable way.
Third, this was also a test—of the 'Alien God' and the Alien Apostles. To see whether they would launch an attack under such conditions, and if so, to what extent.
Clearly, Shiomi's expectations had been correct.
Among the Alien Apostles, Nameless had launched an assault on Storm Border.
After swiftly defeating Barghest, he had entered a one-on-one duel with Melusine.
"A single Servant dares to attack Storm Border?" Olga Marie frowned, feeling that something about this attack seemed off.
From the deck, the bleached expanse of the planet stretched endlessly below. On that white wasteland, Nameless and Melusine were locked in combat. It just so happened that Melusine had been stationed on deck.
By sheer force alone, Melusine was suppressing him.
But she couldn't finish him.
"It could be a feint," Shiomi said, resting a hand on Olga Marie's shoulder. "Return inside and order heightened alert throughout the ship. There are two possibilities. Either they're targeting you, or they're targeting Kirschtaria and the others."
Olga Marie nodded obediently and, under Scáthach's escort, returned inside to resume her duties.
The 'Alien God' had manifested in that form. Perhaps Olga Marie herself was a key factor.
But so far, there had been no direct confrontation, and the 'Alien God' had not mentioned her by name. It was only Shiomi's speculation.
For now, reinforcing Storm Border's barriers while swiftly resolving Nameless was the correct course of action.
"At this rate, Melusine can probably win," Morgan observed calmly as she watched the battlefield. "But it will cost her dearly."
"Hmm?" Shiomi glanced sideways at her.
"In short, she won't be able to take him alive," Morgan said. "An Alterego is a composite Saint Graph formed from multiple Divine Spirits. We already confirmed that through Meltryllis and Passionlip."
"That's true." Shiomi nodded. "If we could capture him alive, we'd get valuable intelligence. So, what's your suggestion?"
"He's not in perfect condition. But he would make a suitable whetstone for that form."
Shiomi smiled faintly.
"As you wish."
…
Melusine, unable to secure a decisive victory, was growing impatient. She hesitated over whether to enter her half-dragon form.
The Servant before her, expression hard as iron, was just as sturdy.
Close combat, ranged bombardment, defense—he constantly projected various Noble Phantasms to counter her attacks. Among them were multiple holy and demonic swords specialized in anti-dragon effects.
That was the crux of the problem.
She could suppress him.
But she couldn't kill him.
Entering her half-dragon form would enhance her overall capabilities, but it would also amplify the effectiveness of anti-dragon Noble Phantasms against her.
"Good work. Fall back, Melusine."
Shiomi's voice carried across the battlefield.
Having just disengaged from Nameless, Melusine looked up in surprise as Shiomi and Morgan descended beside her.
"My deepest apologies. I failed to defeat him, and I couldn't even avenge Barghest—"
"You've done more than enough," Shiomi said, giving her shoulder a light pat. "This is simply a matter of poor compatibility. Leave the rest to us. Fall back and watch the surroundings."
"Yes!"
Melusine withdrew without hesitation.
"Well now," Nameless said, raising his black and white twin blades, an amused smile on his face. "The commander of Chaldea makes a personal appearance? I thought I'd need more effort to carry out this assassination."
"Assassination?" Shiomi arched a brow. "Are you here for me, for my wife, or for the Crypters?"
"You, of course." Nameless smiled calmly. "I am the 'Atlas Killer' among the Alien Apostles. Originally, the 'Alien God' foresaw Kirschtaria's plan and prepared this Alterego specifically for it. But unfortunately, what this body was granted was not merely the means to deal with the giant god Atlas."
"It was granted the power to slay gods."
"So you were sent to assassinate my husband before Storm Border could return?" Morgan's tone held mild surprise. "Even if you possess god-slaying power, coming alone is no different from suicide, Nameless Guardian."
"Is it?" Nameless pointed one blade at Shiomi. "My employer only told me to eliminate this man. How I accomplish it is my choice."
"A Guardian, no matter how far he falls, still ends up doing the same dirty work."
"True enough," Shiomi said evenly. "As comrades who once fought side by side—and now as enemies—allow my wife and me to show you the proper respect."
The moment his words fell, Nameless' eyes flared as he prepared to strike—
Only to see Shiomi and Morgan shift at the same time, stepping back-to-back against each other.
A violent gale erupted across the white expanse. An overwhelming surge of Mana blasted outward in all directions. Nameless was forced to cross his twin swords in defense, bracing himself just to keep his Spirit Origin from being shattered by the storm alone.
The cost was immense. His target stood before him.
Yet he had no intention of retreating.
If anything, everything was unfolding exactly as he had hoped.
With Shiomi and Morgan as his opponents, then—
The Mana storm raged on, the earth trembling beneath it.
It did not last long. Nameless knew what was happening.
They had already displayed it once before, within the Outer Palace of the Grand Temple of Orbit—that forbidden form, a state that even surpassed the domain of gods.
The storm's breath faded.
The land returned to silence.
Shiomi and Morgan's figures vanished from where they had stood.
Nameless did not relax. Instead, he spread both arms wide, extending them outward.
The projected blades of Kanshō and Bakuya rapidly expanded, their forms shifting into something sharper, heavier, more lethal.
He lifted his gaze.
Morgan hovered in the air.
Nameless said nothing. He drew his body taut, like a bowstring pulled to its limit.
And then—
He lunged toward the overwhelming enemy before him.
...
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