Atlantis – Heracles Island
A choking smell of burning drifted on the sea breeze.
Steve had countless ways to save the island and the generous female captain, but at this moment, he chose silence.
He stood on the deck of the New Argonaut, gazing at the distant island that was gradually collapsing under the dazzling light of the Shooting Star Ortygia.
Francis Drake, the woman who had once broken through the storm of the Third Singularity, now sat in a tavern full of treasures, raising her glass and flashing her final smile toward the sky.
She had not died from the enemy's attack, but from a predetermined fate.
Long before Chaldea's arrival, in human form, she had single-handedly challenged the sea god Poseidon in the gods' sea and successfully seized his divine core.
The price was a shattered soul core and a curse that prevented her from ever setting foot on a deck again.
She handed over her beloved ship, the Golden Hind, to Jason—who appeared the most unreliable and incompetent—and entrusted him with the flame of hope. Then she chose to depart together with the island where she spent her final moments.
"Don't look back, Ritsuka."
Steve gently pressed down on the shoulder of the girl who was about to rush back and spoke in a low, calm voice. "This is the captain's decision."
"For a pirate, there is no more magnificent funeral than this."
"But… Captain Drake, she…"
Ritsuka bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes.
In the end, she did not turn back. She simply gripped the railing tightly, her knuckles turning white.
Boom—!!!
A massive beam pierced heaven and earth, completely erasing Heracles Island from the map.
All that remained on the sea were raging waves and the New Argonaut, a ship that had inherited the legacy of the Golden Hind and been modified with nanomachines.
Full speed ahead!
Jason stood at the bow, his back to the flames of the explosion.
His voice was as arrogant and irritable as ever, but if one listened carefully, a faint tremor could be detected within it.
"Don't let that woman's sacrifice be in vain! We'll kill that trident bastard!"
...
Nemesis Island Near the Waters
The sorrow did not last long; even more brutal battles continued.
Caenis.
The god's servant blessed by the sea god, nearly invincible at sea, blocked their path like golden lightning.
"Hah! A pack of stray dogs actually wandering around here!"
Caenis brandished his spear with a cruel and arrogant laugh. "If you want to die so badly, I'll grant your wish!"
"Especially you, Jason! I'll smash that disgusting face of yours to pieces!"
Facing this terrifying enemy with immortal power at sea, the Chaldea group was drawn into a fierce battle.
Whether it was Mash's shield strikes or Super Orion's arrows, they felt like mere tickles to Caenis.
However, just as Caenis was certain of victory and began mocking hercules' incompetence and death in this Lostbelt…
The always cowardly-looking Jason, who had been commanding from the rear, suddenly changed.
His gaze became as cold and sharp as a newly drawn blade.
The comical character who always talked about escape disappeared.
In his place stood the true captain of the Argonauts, who had once led Greece's strongest hero group.
"…Hey, Caenis."
Jason pushed up nonexistent glasses and flashed a cold smile. "Just now, you were talking about what happened to Hercules, right?"
"Huh? I said that big guy was a loser, but…"
"Shut up."
Jason cut her off.
He suddenly raised his right hand. From his palm emerged the sea god's core inherited from Drake, emitting a faint blue light.
"Thanks to Poseidon's blessing, you are invincible."
"But now, this sacred core is in my hands."
"In other words… in these seas, I am Poseidon's proxy!"
Buzz—!
As the sacred core shone brilliantly, the golden glow dwelling in Caenis's body shattered instantly.
Her body, originally invincible against blades and spears, became as fragile as an ordinary Servant.
"W-What?!"
Caenis's eyes widened in terror.
"Everyone, attack! Beat the crap out of the woman who insulted Hercules!!!"
With Jason's roar, the Chaldea Servants—who had been holding back their anger—rushed forward all at once.
Having lost her invincible defense, Caenis was instantly gravely wounded by the group assault.
The deck was stained with blood. She was attacked en masse, sent flying through the air like a kite with its string cut, and slammed violently into the sea surface.
"We won!"
Ritsuka excitedly thrust her fist into the air.
But before her cheers could fade, an unprecedented terrifying oppressive feeling suddenly descended from the sky.
The sky darkened.
Not because of dark clouds, but because something far larger and taller blocked the sun's brilliance.
The once raging sea instantly fell silent, as if forcibly suppressed by an invisible hand.
The air grew thick and heavy, making it extremely difficult to breathe.
"…Well done, everyone from Chaldea."
The elegant and calm voice, carrying overwhelming dignity, resonated directly in people's hearts.
Everyone looked up, faces twisted in fear.
Above the New Argonaut, a golden ray of light slowly descended.
From within the pillar of light, a blond youth in white robes holding a magical staff looked down at them.
Kirschtaria Wodime.
The captain of Team A and the strongest among the Crypters.
He was also the true leader of this Lostbelt.
He was not as unreal as he had appeared in previous lostbelt.
This time, he manifested on the battlefield in physical form.
"Caenis, withdraw. Your mission is complete."
Wodime did not even glance at the gravely wounded, near-death Caenis. He simply waved his hand, and a gentle force lifted her and carried her to the rear.
His gaze passed over the wary Mash and the vigilant Jason, finally stopping on the man in red standing behind Ritsuka. The man was slowly taking a lollipop on a stick from his pocket and about to put it in his mouth.
"It's been a while, Archer."
Wodime smiled as if reuniting with an old friend he hadn't seen in a long time. "Or rather… the savior from another world, Steve."
"Ah, it really has been a while, Wodime."
Steve had the lollipop in his mouth. His expression remained relaxed as always, but his usual lazy demeanor had vanished in this moment.
It was an aura as unshakable as a mountain and as unfathomable as an abyss.
"It's been months since we parted in the Indian Lostbelt, right? How do you like the Greek scenery?"
"It's wonderful. The sacred magical energy concentrated here is the perfect foundation for rebuilding the world."
Wodime nodded and lightly tapped the ground with his staff.
Even in the void, it produced a sharp impact sound.
"Steve, I remember the promise we made in India."
"You said you would personally go to the battlefield in the final battle at Olympus and fight me."
"To prove that promise and show you the blueprint of the new world I described…"
Rumble—
As he spoke, the clouds in the sky began to swirl violently.
Countless golden magic circles faintly appeared above the clouds, as if he could turn the entire sea into a sea of flames with a single thought.
It was the power of a god-level magus, celestial magic capable of reshaping the stars.
"I'm coming now."
Wodime spread both arms. The golden light behind him expanded like a divine halo, making him look like a true god.
"Come, fulfill the promise, Steve."
"In this world where the Age of Gods has not yet ended, show me what kind of brilliance the one who pushed Earth into the sea of stars can display!"
Facing this overwhelming divine power, Ritsuka felt her legs tremble.
It was a terror based on biological instinct, awe toward absolute power.
But at that moment, a warm, large hand pressed against her head.
"Don't be afraid, Ritsuka."
He stepped forward and stood between Ritsuka and Wodime.
"Now that the guests have already prepared the stage, it would be very rude for us to develop stage fright."
He looked up and stared intently at Wodime in the air. A battle-ready smile appeared on his lips.
"However, Wodime, before we begin, I must make one correction."
Steve extended a finger and gently waved it.
"I did not come here just to fight you."
"I came to teach you a lesson."
"Even the gods are nothing more than slightly larger obstacles in the face of human courage."
"So… let's begin!"
…
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