The Bleached Earth, within what had once been Russian territory.
Storm Border veered off its original course, heading once more toward the land where the Russian Lostbelt had briefly taken root, the place where they had fought before.
This time, however, their destination was the central-western region of Siberia.
Sion, who remained at the Wandering Sea, had sent in an observation report on the Bleached World. According to her findings, a magical energy reaction resembling a pseudo-Lostbelt had appeared on the planet's surface near the Tunguska River basin.
Combined with the mark left on Koyanskaya by Orion's Noble Phantasm, Chaldea was able to pinpoint the Beast's hiding place after it escaped from Atlantis and concealed itself on this planet.
"This is far enough. We can already see what looks like a barrier over Tunguska with the naked eye," Shiomi said from the deck, communicating with the bridge. "Storm Border has other missions. There's no need to waste resources escorting us any further."
"Are you really going in alone, without bringing anything?" Olga Marie asked anxiously.
"This is better. We travel light," Shiomi replied calmly.
Her trust in Shiomi outweighed her unease. Olga Marie did not argue further. "Then please have Teacher, Ms. Morgan, Master, and Ms. Artoria disembark here."
After receiving confirmation, Shiomi ended the transmission and turned to Artoria.
"Are you sure you're not bringing the Holy Sword?"
"I'm going with you. The Holy Lance is enough," Artoria shook her head. "Besides, the Storm Border combat enhancement plan we drafted revolves around the Holy Sword of the Planet. Its power still needs to be analyzed."
Once this mission was complete, Storm Border would return to the Wandering Sea to further reinforce its mana reactor, allowing Servants to be summoned and placed on standby aboard the ship.
That preparation was essential for the final campaign against the South American Lostbelt.
In addition, there was Morgan's plan to expand the battleship's main cannon output. Using her leyline-sealing armament as a foundation, they would incorporate the Holy Sword of the Planet itself as the base model.
Ordinarily, Excalibur could be temporarily entrusted to another with the consent of its current wielder, Artoria Pendragon.
But if separated from its bearer for too long, its radiance would gradually fade, eventually leaving it unable to manifest its power as a Noble Phantasm.
"So that's why you temporarily entrusted the Holy Sword to Caster," Morgan said in understanding.
Like her, that girl was a fairy of paradise. Though not skilled in combat, she had been born for the sake of forging the Holy Sword. As Arthur's counterpart within the Lostbelt, she was currently the most suitable guardian for it.
"So we didn't forget anything, correct?" Scáthach said knowingly, the tip of her boot tapping lightly against the deck with a crisp sound.
Shiomi and the other three then descended from the deck of Storm Border one after another, landing on the ground below.
They watched as the warship rose back into the sky, turning toward the Indian Lostbelt and disappearing into the distance.
Only after it vanished did Shiomi turn his gaze forward.
Dozens of kilometers away stood a vast barrier.
Its boundary was formed from countless translucent golden hexagons. Even from the outside, one could vaguely glimpse what lay within.
It was clearly nothing like the storm wall that encircled a Lostbelt.
As they approached, Shiomi and Morgan activated their respective Mystic Eyes, scrutinizing the structure in greater detail.
"Just as I thought…" Morgan murmured, rubbing her brow.
The barrier looked simple at first glance, broad and clean in design. In reality, its structure was immensely complex. Simply analyzing its composition was enough to make Morgan's eyes ache with strain.
Fortunately, she had managed to discern the nature of the barrier.
"Similar to the Wall of Light you used to replace the storm wall," Shiomi said with his arms folded. "It's a special barrier that anchors a large-scale phenomenon in place, stabilizing it on the surface of the Bleached Earth.
Without the dimensional-boring vessel Storm Border, forcing your way in would normally be impossible. You'd have to wait for the ruler inside to open an entrance and allow you through.
Of course, that's the conventional approach."
"Hmph. If we wanted to break through by force, we'd probably need to release at least ten restraints on the Holy Lance," Morgan said lightly, casting a teasing glance at Artoria.
Shiomi gave a wry smile. "That would be more trouble than it's worth. At that point, we might as well have Storm Border send us in directly."
"…Mm."
Already used to this sort of exchange, Artoria narrowed her eyes and revealed a soft expression the Knights of the Round Table would never see, quietly waiting for what came next.
"Heh. If you two are joking around at a time like this, you must already have a plan," Scáthach said bluntly, smacking Shiomi on the backside. "Stop keeping us in suspense."
Shiomi rubbed the spot with an exaggerated wince. "In simple terms, we'll use Independent Manifestation. According to what Kirschtaria and the others said, the Crypters' ability to travel between Lostbelts relied on Koyanskaya's power."
At first, Shiomi had assumed Independent Manifestation only allowed its user to ignore the boundaries of time and space for their own movement.
But the fact that Koyanskaya could transport others as well, even turning it into a service she offered to the Alien God and the Crypters, proved that Independent Manifestation was not so limited.
Perhaps there were additional secrets behind how Koyanskaya freely moved between Lostbelts.
But that didn't matter.
Now that Morgan had grown increasingly proficient in wielding the power of the united god, both she and Shiomi were confident they could enter and exit this special region hiding Koyanskaya on their own.
"So—"
Morgan stepped to Shiomi's side and took his hand.
A brilliant radiance flared.
When the light faded, what stood there was Morgan in her united god form.
"Compared to before, the shockwave from your fusion is much weaker," Scáthach observed.
"It was never an unavoidable side effect," Morgan replied, shaking her head. "That shockwave was simply a surprise attack launched at the moment of fusion. You're not enemies. There's no need for that."
As she spoke, she placed a hand on Scáthach and Artoria.
"We're transferring," Shiomi's voice echoed directly in their minds. "We know nothing about what lies inside. We're using the coordinates of this region and referencing its original-world position, but with zero information about the interior, assume we'll face combat the moment we arrive."
"More than that," Morgan added, "Trismegistus II predicted the internal environment could be highly unusual."
"Understood."
Artoria readied herself to summon the Holy Lance at any moment.
"Then—"
As Morgan finished speaking, their figures vanished from the Bleached Earth.
A long wind swept across the barren ground, and white sand quickly buried their footprints, leaving no trace behind.