After completing their preparations, the Storm Border, along with the two accompanying warships, began sailing toward Nemesis Island, preparing to break through Atlantis's final line of defense and enter the divine city of Olympus.
With some distance still to cover, Morgan did not immediately return to the bridge. Instead, she remained on deck.
It was then that Shiomi asked her a question.
"Is it just my imagination, or do the thunderclouds over the waters around Nemesis Island seem to be spreading in our direction?"
"It's not your imagination." Morgan's fairy eyes shifted into an observational state, shimmering with a beautiful azure light. "The thunderclouds have expanded considerably compared to before we set sail. In fact, even prior to our departure, the cloud cover over that sea region was already showing signs of expansion."
That was precisely why Morgan had not returned to the bridge right away.
It wasn't just to stay with Shiomi, but also to confirm the change she had happened to notice before departure.
Weather at sea was notoriously unpredictable, especially in waters already blanketed by dark clouds.
But this was a Lostbelt, a world ruled by the Olympian gods where the Age of Gods had never declined. Manipulating the weather was something that could be done in the blink of an eye.
"So I really wasn't seeing things."
Shiomi was simply seeking confirmation from Morgan, relying on someone he trusted to reassure himself that this wasn't just anxiety making him overly sensitive.
"The magical energy within the cloud layer is extremely dense," Morgan continued. "In the short time before and after our departure, the concentration has expanded by at least five times."
"No wonder the leylines in Atlantis were drained so quickly after they recovered," Shiomi sneered softly. "Looks like the other side is keeping a close watch as well."
"They're probably trying to prevent any more Servants from Proper Human History from being dispatched as reinforcements," Morgan said calmly, unsurprised. "So they deliberately set things up to divert leyline mana into the sky, expanding the thunderclouds and forming a special kind of defensive barrier."
As she spoke, she smiled with composure and asked him a question.
"What do you intend to do, my husband?"
"What else is there to do?" Shiomi summoned the Chosen Spear into his hand and gripped it firmly. "Do you remember those days when I shared the Primordial Runes with you, when we studied and researched Magecraft together?"
Morgan smiled at his words.
"How could I forget?"
Although she had established her own Magecraft system, she was thoroughly familiar with the Primordial Runes.
"Among the eighteen Primordial Runes," Shiomi said as he stepped forward, "there are runes meant for navigation. At their core, they manipulate elements and phenomena, forcing the environment itself to change in accordance with the caster's will."
Morgan, her smile unhurried, kept her eyes fixed on his back.
Runes began to coil around Longinus.
Shiomi took another half step forward and hurled the spear toward the sky.
The Chosen Spear turned into a white meteor, streaking over the azure sea as it shot straight toward the thundercloud-choked sky.
That white radiance pierced through much of the dark cloud cover like an otherworldly bolt of lightning, throwing the clouds into renewed turmoil.
"This isn't Magecraft, but the manipulation of phenomena through authority," Morgan said, folding her arms. "Those Olympian gods really do love their little tricks."
Soon, Longinus flew back into Shiomi's hand. The strike, infused with Primordial Runes, had failed to disperse the dense thunderclouds, but it did manage to temporarily halt their spreading momentum.
"This is bad! That attack just now seems to have triggered some kind of mechanism! A large number of magical beasts have appeared and are rapidly closing in on us from both the air and the sea!"
The communication line from the bridge connected, and Romani's voice rang out.
"I see it now." Shiomi lifted his spear. "Looks like they don't intend to wait until we reach the storm zone. They're launching their interception early."
"They're trying to stretch out the battlefield to increase our attrition, giving Poseidon a greater advantage," Morgan said calmly. "Since they've shown their hand first, I'll leave this to you, my husband. I'm heading back to the bridge to activate the Leylines Blocking Armament."
Shiomi nodded. "Have Artoria and Master get ready for combat. The three of us will—"
He didn't get to finish before the communication channel crackled to life again, this time from another source.
"...So this is how you do it, right... ah, it's connected, it's connected..."
Drake's voice came through, starting out uncertain before turning into the satisfaction of having figured something out.
"Captain Drake, what's going on?" Shiomi asked.
"Everyone from Chaldea, looks like Olympus has sent out a whole bunch of units as their vanguard." In the holographic display, Drake raised both pistols high. "You always let us sit back while you take the lead. That's no fun. How about letting me have the opening act this time?"
"Same here," Bartholomew cut into the channel, clearly sharing the sentiment. "How about leaving the tastiest part to us once in a while?"
Their ships themselves were part of their Noble Phantasms. By releasing their True Names, they could blanket the waters ahead in overwhelming firepower.
As they spoke, the other Servants stationed aboard both ships voiced similar requests, all volunteering to take the role of vanguard.
Shiomi glanced to either side at the warships escorting the Storm Border. At the same time, the Servants on deck turned their gazes toward him.
He then looked back at Morgan, who had yet to leave. She simply shrugged, wearing an easy smile that made it clear she had no need to push herself to the front.
"Since that's what you all want," Shiomi said, "then I'll entrust the opening engagement to you. Prepare to release your Noble Phantasms' True Names immediately. The Storm Border will provide mana support."
"Roger! Let's give those guys a big one!"
Drake answered with gusto. In an instant, the Golden Deer unfurled its sails to their fullest, surging ahead and briefly overtaking the Storm Border.
On the opposite side, Bartholomew matched her perfectly, hoisting his sails and accelerating as well.
As both sides closed the distance at high speed, even without binoculars, swarms of Magical Beasts could be seen, some flying through the sky, others cutting through the sea in dense formations.
Standing at the bow, Drake split into a wide grin, laughing with unrestrained bravado.
The battle at Hecate Island, her first real fight since returning to the sea, hadn't come close to satisfying her.
After that, her ship and Bartholomew's had served as advance scouts, investigating nearby waters and islands. All they'd encountered were wild Magical Beasts, without even a glimpse of Olympian troops.
"Hold tight, everyone! Don't let the waves toss you overboard!"
As the ship's speed reached its limit, the mana coursing through its hull surged violently.
"Become fertilizer for the sea right here, you Olympian Magical Beasts! All cannons, aim—『Night of the Golden Hind and the Storm: Golden Wild Hunt』!"
"We won't let you steal the show, but don't worry. My ship is far steadier than Captain Drake's," Bartholomew said, gripping the helm as he loudly invoked the True Name of his Noble Phantasm. "All guns, full broadside! 『Howl of the Noble Pirate Baron: Black Dirty Barti Howling』!"
The overwhelming firepower unleashed by the two captains' Noble Phantasms poured forth without restraint.
The barrage was so dense there was nowhere to evade, churning the sea into towering waves and walls of smoke that stretched across the horizon like an endless rampart.