Far out on the horizon, the Future sailed toward the disturbance unfolding across the sea.
Within the captain's cabin, Cattleya stood beside an open window, watching the distant storm through her thick glasses. Outside, her crew hurried across the deck, adjusting the sails and preparing the ship for whatever awaited them.
The Queen of Stars had already attempted divination several times.
She had employed her Clairvoyance, sought revelations through visions, and tried various methods to uncover even the smallest clue about the disturbance ahead. Every attempt had ended in failure.
Cattleya raised a hand to her temple and furrowed her brows as another unsuccessful attempt left her momentarily dazed.
For an experienced Clairvoyant, however, the absence of an answer was itself an answer. Something was interfering with her attempts to peer into the situation, and the resistance was far beyond what an ordinary demigod should have been capable of producing.
Higher-level existences are involved...
She couldn't dismiss the possibility that an Angel was present. Given the nature of the interference, she even suspected that one might belong to her own pathway.
Another shockwave erupted from the direction of the distant battlefield.
The sea shuddered as the disturbance spread outward, causing the Future to tremble slightly. Cattleya steadied herself against the windowsill, her gaze remaining fixed upon the horizon.
Although her attempts at divination had yielded nothing, the intuition she had cultivated over years as a pirate admiral continued warning her.
The vision she had witnessed several days earlier was connected to what lay ahead. And danger was everywhere.
Cattleya pressed her palm against the windowsill. At once, the symbols and mystical markings covering the Future's walls, deck, and masts began to glow. Points of light spread across the enormous vessel, joining together until it resembled a resplendent sea of stars beneath a moonless sky.
The ship accelerated. Its sails billowed as its momentum increased, carrying it rapidly toward the distant battlefield.
Then two urgent shouts rang out from the deck.
"Stop!"
"Captain! Stop the ship!"
Nina, the boatswain, and Ottolov, the navigator, had both noticed something ahead, making Cattleya immediately halt the Future's advance.
The brilliant starlight covering the ship dimmed and disappeared. As its speed decreased, Cattleya looked toward the sea directly ahead of them.
The water was rising. At first, the disturbance appeared to be another enormous wave, but the shape emerging beneath it quickly proved otherwise. Rocky outcroppings broke through the surface, sending seawater cascading down their jagged sides. Moss-covered cliffs followed, rising higher and higher as enormous trees emerged from beneath the waves. Their branches spread outward while torrents of water poured from their leaves and trunks.
An island was rising from the sea.
Cattleya and the crew watched in astonishment as the immense landmass continued ascending. Within moments, the cliffs had settled into place, the trees stood upright, and the surrounding waters flowed naturally along its shores.
The transformation was so complete that the island looked as though it had always been there, as if it had never been submerged at all.
Cattleya adjusted her glasses, studying the newly emerged landmass.
Two powerful figures suddenly descended from the sky and disappeared into the island.
At almost the same moment, another shockwave erupted from its northwestern side, sending a violent ripple across the surrounding waters.
Cattleya's attention, however, remained fixed upon the two figures.
For a fleeting instant before they vanished, she had caught sight of a woman being carried by one of them.
The Ace of Swords! The Minor Arcana of the Tarot Club, serving under Madam Judgement.
Cattleya's expression grew solemn.
She had previously learned a little about Madam Judgement's operation. After receiving her own ominous vision several days earlier, she had contacted her out of caution, hoping to determine whether the two matters might be connected.
Consequently, she understood why the Ace of Swords would be present in these waters, and seeing her unconscious in the arms of an unknown figure gave Cattleya a reasonable idea of what had happened.
She's been captured...
Cattleya turned away from the window and immediately left her cabin.
Upon stepping onto the deck, she addressed the crew without delay.
"Circle the island from the right! Avoid the battle taking place on the other side, and maintain a safe distance from the shore."
Nina and Ottolov turned toward her as she continued.
"Keep watch over the entire island. If anyone emerges, I want to know immediately. Do not engage without assessing the situation."
She glanced toward the place where the two figures had disappeared. "I'll enter first."
"Aye, Captain!" the crew answered in unison.
The sailors immediately returned to their stations. Nina began directing the crew while Ottolov adjusted their course, preparing to guide the Future around the island's right side.
Cattleya watched them for a moment before turning toward the railing.
Starlight appeared around her once more. Countless brilliant points gathered beneath her feet and around her body, forming a resplendent sea of stars that lifted her into the air.
She stepped onto the railing and leaped. The starlight carried her away from the Future, propelling her toward the mysterious island while the ship began circling around its shore.
As the wind rushed past her, Cattleya fixed her gaze upon the place where the two figures had disappeared.
I hope I'm not too late.
…
The Storm Dew shuddered violently as another shockwave swept across the sea. Lars planted his armored feet against the deck, maintaining his balance while the vessel rocked beneath him. Beyond the railing, an enormous island was rising from the water, its cliffs and trees emerging amid cascading torrents.
The sight momentarily astonished him, but his attention soon returned to Halsey.
He had reached the upper deck shortly after Babayaga and the fleeing man. Remaining concealed near the corridor entrance, he had witnessed Halsey being thrown into the air and caught by a winged demon. He had also watched the confrontation between the two monsters, choosing not to reveal himself while they were occupied with each other. Babayaga had subsequently disappeared, leaving Lars with two fewer immediate threats to worry about.
Now, with the island standing between him and his target, there was no reason to remain aboard.
Lars hurried toward the railing, intending to leap across the water and continue his pursuit. As he passed a section of the deck damaged earlier, however, something caught his attention.
He slowed and glanced into the wreckage, and found a man laying unconscious among the broken planks.
Ace Snake. The Spellsinger of God had apparently remained there since being hurled back onto the ship. His black robes were disheveled, and his body lay motionless within the damaged section of the deck.
Lars stopped. His Hunter's instincts immediately recognized the opportunity.
An unconscious demigod, isolated and vulnerable, with no one nearby to interfere. Under ordinary circumstances, prey like this would never have presented itself so conveniently.
His grip tightened around the iron-black broadsword.
For a brief moment, he considered it.
Then he clicked his tongue.
The courage flowing from the sword had stripped away his fear, but it hadn't deprived him of his judgment. Attacking Ace Snake now would waste precious time, and there was no guarantee that the Spellsinger of God lacked some means of protecting himself even while unconscious.
More importantly, Halsey was still in danger.
Lars looked down at the fallen captain with open contempt.
"So this is the great Spellsinger of God? Fast asleep to the tune of your own egotistical lullaby."
He gave a derisive snort.
"It seems not every demigod deserves the position they've reached."
Without another glance, Lars turned away from the wreckage and resumed walking toward the railing.
"I'll reach that position by my own right. One way or another."
He accelerated into a sprint.
The orange-brass armor responded immediately, amplifying his movements as he crossed the remaining distance in a few strides. Upon reaching the edge of the deck, Lars planted one foot against the railing and launched himself forward.
His armored figure shot across the gap toward the newly emerged island.
He landed heavily upon the rocky shore, scattering loose stones beneath his feet. Examining his surroundings with a glance, Lars steadied himself, located the direction in which the winged demon had disappeared, and broke into another sprint.
Halsey was somewhere ahead.
And he intended to find her.
…
Within a luxurious suite aboard the Storm Dew, a man sat comfortably in a leather armchair, a brilliant golden mantle draped over his shoulders. He possessed the face and appearance of Alain Rouge.
The mantle was a product of the Mystical Reenactment: Golden Fleece! As long as it remained draped over its wearer, it could heal wounds and ailments while replenishing spirituality at an astonishing rate. Its restorative properties were extraordinary, but the fleece itself was exceedingly fragile, making it unsuitable for direct combat.
Right beside him, another figure silently occupied the luxurious suite. It was an elderly gentleman seated in a dark wheelchair. It was the projection of Pauli Derlau, as a marionette.
Jack Layne rested one arm against the chair, seemingly unconcerned by the violent disturbances outside. Through his marionettes and historical projections, he observed the unfolding events and directed their movements, much like a director coordinating the performers of an elaborate play.
Despite having two High Sequence marionettes whose own spirituality helped share the burden, his expenditure remained higher than he would have liked. Maintaining so many moving pieces simultaneously was no trivial matter. For the time being, he preferred to make use of the Golden Fleece to offset the drain.
Still, he had no intention of relying on it alone.
Jack reached into his suit and withdrew a small vial containing a pinkish-red liquid. It was a Potion of Spirituality, a concoction he had crafted with the assistance of his historical projections.
He uncorked the vial and drank its contents.
The potion's effects complemented the fleece's properties, providing him with other means of replenishing his spirituality. Although the mantle was already sufficient to ease much of the burden, Jack saw no reason to leave himself dependent on a single method.
The more options I have at my disposal, the better. He lampooned
He slipped the empty vial away and returned his attention to the unfolding battle. The ship trembled beneath him once more. Jack paid it little attention. Then faint murmurs reached his ears, one he knew was that of a prayer.
Recognizing its nature immediately, Jack separated a worm of spirit from his hand. The translucent worm twisted briefly before transforming into a corresponding prayer point of light, allowing him to see and hear the person praying to him.
The scene before his eyes changed.
Nivlek Sauron stood alone within a conspicuous forest, surrounded by densely packed trees. "His" long red hair fell over "His" shoulders, while "His" furrowed brows and displeased expression made "His" current mood abundantly clear.
After reciting Jack's honorific name, "He" finally voiced the wish Jack had advised "Him" to make several days earlier.
"I wish to descend upon the island near you. Now."
The final word carried unmistakable contempt. Jack's lips curved into a satisfied smile.
Drawing upon the abilities of a Planeswalker that he had previously grafted onto himself, he raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
…
Deep within the newly emerged island, Erynos flew above a flourishing forest with Halsey held securely in his arms.
Behind him, Abomination Suah pursued relentlessly.
The trees below swayed beneath the pressure of their passage, while the surrounding air remained heavy with the oppressive influence of the Abomination. Erynos continued forward without looking back, maintaining enough distance to avoid the grotesque limbs that occasionally stretched toward him.
Then the sky turned violet.
A brilliant azure radiance spread across the clouds. They abruptly parted, revealing an enormous firestorm of descending meteors, accompanied by a thick, dark-red fog that rapidly spilled across the heavens.
The blazing projectiles initially appeared to be falling indiscriminately, but their trajectories changed.
Every meteor turned toward Suah.
A burning rain descended upon the Abomination, striking "His" grotesque body in rapid succession. Explosions tore through the forest beneath "Him", incinerating trees and scattering burning debris across the ground.
Suah halted "His" pursuit. The smaller meteors continued to bombard "Him", followed by a much larger mass of flame that descended directly toward "His" position, striking "Him" clearly.
A violent explosion erupted, sending azure-tinged violet flames surging outward.
Yet Suah retaliated almost immediately.
Several distorted limbs lashed upward, striking the enormous burning mass with tremendous force and sending it flying back through the sky.
Instead of continuing along its trajectory, the mass abruptly slowed.
Its blazing exterior contracted, the flames gathering together as its shape changed, emerging a human figure from it.
Long red hair streamed behind him. In his hands rested an enormous broadsword wreathed in azure-tinged violet flames, its heat distorting the surrounding air.
Nivlek Sauron!
Erynos recognized his ally's arrival and immediately adjusted his course, taking advantage of the interruption to continue his escape.
However, Suah had no intention of allowing that.
The bloodshot eyes scattered across "His" grotesque body turned toward the fleeing demon in unison. A curse was directed at Erynos.
However, nothing happened to him.
Instead, a nearby tree abruptly withered. Its bark split apart, its branches twisted into grotesque shapes, and its trunk swelled with unnatural growths before expelling a cloud of filthy green gas.
The curse had been distorted!
Nivlek raised "His" broadsword.
Azure-tinged violet flames swept across the corrupted tree, reducing it to ashes before the filthy gas could spread any farther. The fire continued outward, consuming the surrounding vegetation and rising into an enormous barricade that enclosed the newly burned clearing.
Within moments, a towering wall of flames separated Suah and Nivlek from the surrounding forest.
Nivlek pointed "His" broadsword directly at the Abomination.
"Don't think I'll back down this time!"
His voice thundered across the clearing.
"And there's not even a dream of you leaving without a gash on that disgusting body of yours!"
His provocation spread through the surrounding area like a war cry, striking directly at Suah and disrupting "His" thoughts. The Abomination's movements faltered briefly as the challenge took effect.
Magnify!
At that moment, another figure appeared beside Nivlek.
He wore the formal attire of an emperor, his stern face adorned with a thin, old-fashioned mustache. His bearing was dignified, carrying the unmistakable authority of someone accustomed to ruling over others.
George Augustus III! The former king of the Loen Kingdom!
Without turning to look at Nivlek, George asked in a measured voice, "Have you made sufficient preparations, as you were supposed to?"
Nivlek clicked his tongue.
"Fuck off. Don't sell me short."
He tightened his grip around the flaming broadsword, his attention never leaving Suah.
By then, the Abomination had recovered from the momentary stupor induced by Nivlek's provocation. His numerous bloodshot eyes refocused upon the two Angels, and his malevolent influence spread outward with renewed intensity.
The ground beneath him began to decay. Scorched earth turned foul and muddy, while the remaining vegetation withered and twisted into grotesque shapes. Even the surrounding flames flickered unnaturally as Suah's curses permeated the clearing, threatening to corrupt everything within their reach.
However, neither Nivlek nor George retreated.
The azure-tinged violet flames surrounding Nivlek intensified, engulfing his body as it rapidly expanded. His flesh vanished, revealing an iron-black metallic skeleton that towered five to six meters above the ground. Majestic purple flames surged through, while mysterious symbols representing natural phenomena manifested across its enormous body.
The surrounding temperature soared, and the remnants of vegetation near him spontaneously ignited. Above the clearing, the clouds churned unnaturally as flashes of lightning and violent gusts of wind accompanied the unfathomable knowledge emanating from his form.
Beside him, George's dignified human figure swelled and distorted, transforming into a gigantic black baboon with nine powerful arms and a dark crown resting upon its head.
As he revealed his Mythical Creature form, the surrounding environment began to exhibit faint signs of disorder. The flames along the barricade flickered in conflicting directions, while several drifting embers abruptly changed course without any apparent cause.
Faced with Suah's expanding influence, both Angels had begun revealing their mythical creature forms.
…
Elsewhere within the island's forest, the crimson fog had already spread between the trees, covering the surroundings in a dense, unnatural haze.
Erynos continued flying through it with Halsey in his arms.
Following Nivlek's arrival, he had been incorporated into the latter's team through Chain of Command, alongside Jack's other marionettes and historical projections, with Cohinem as the sole exception.
Consequently, the crimson fog did not interfere with Erynos as he moved through the forest.
His wings carried him swiftly between the towering trees.
Then his senses detected something.Danger!
Erynos immediately attempted to twist his body aside, avoiding an attack directed at his head, but he was too slow.
A brilliant orange-yellow fist struck him squarely across the face.
The impact snapped his head sideways and sent his enormous demonic body through the air. His grip loosened, and Halsey slipped from his arms.
Before she could fall, the attacker caught her.
The figure immediately widened the distance between himself and Erynos, carrying Halsey away from the demon's reach. In the same motion, he raised a finger toward her forehead.
A brilliant point of light appeared at its tip, as he tapped her forehead.
Halsey's eyes snapped open. Her consciousness returned abruptly, and her first instinct was to examine her surroundings. The bluish-black book was in one hand, while the Moon Card of Blasphemy was in the other.
What...?
She raised her head, and her thoughts froze. Standing directly before her was a figure she recognized all too well.
Babayaga!
The same terrifying existence whose presence had previously left her unable to move.
Fear surged through her, but before it could completely overwhelm her thoughts, Babayaga spoke.
"Run."
His voice was deep and calm.
An inexplicable sense of composure accompanied the command, soothing her agitated mind and suppressing the fear that threatened to paralyze her.
Halsey recovered almost immediately.
With the bluish-black book in her grasp, her thoughts became extraordinarily clear. Her mind rapidly processed the situation: the demon had lost his hold on her, Babayaga had intervened, and she now possessed both the book and the Moon Card.
She didn't understand why he had rescued her, nor did she have the luxury of considering it.
Survive first. Think later!
Halsey scrambled to her feet, secured both artifacts, and sprinted into the forest as quickly as she could.
Babayaga made no attempt to stop her. His attention remained fixed upon the demon ahead.
Erynos had already steadied himself.
He rubbed his right cheek with one hand, examining the place where Babayaga's fist had struck him. The damaged flesh had completely recovered, leaving his face smooth and unblemished.
He chuckled unabashedly. "That was a clean hit."
His voice carried its usual tone, intermittently layered with a deeper, ancient tone.
Erynos lowered his hand and smiled. "So, what other tricks do you have up your sleeve?"
Babayaga offered no answer, as he merely adjusted his stance.
Then, from the darkness surrounding him, a pair of revolvers emerged into his hands.
The silver-gray weapon settled into one palm, its elongated frame catching the faint crimson light filtering through the fog. The matte-black revolver rested in the other, its featureless barrel pointed toward Erynos.
Babayaga tightened his grip.
His expression remained cold and serious.