"Isn't that winter aura what we're looking for?"
Not the least bit embarrassed, Shiomi followed up naturally as the group set out again.
"No. It's just that our destination happens to lie beyond it," Taigong Wang replied. After a brief pause, he added, "We'll be passing through the stronghold of that extraordinary entity."
"An extraordinary entity?" Morgan arched a brow.
Taigong Wang remained as relaxed as ever. "There's no need to dwell on it. For Tenkei-dono and his party, guided here by the Flying Bear's Dream and choosing this location through astrology to meet me, the objective has already been achieved. Dealing with the Beast is the real task that must be completed."
In other words, although that extraordinary entity far surpassed the other hostile lifeforms in this domain in both scale and strength, to Shiomi and the others, it was merely a massive obstacle along the way.
"Of course, there are quite a few obstacles like that," Taigong Wang continued. "Ideally, we should clear out as many as possible before confronting the Beast. After all, when you're fighting a ferocious beast, having hyenas circling nearby would be… inconvenient, wouldn't it?"
"Personally, I'd rather assume the form of the Unity God and use Marduk's Axe to wipe out this entire domain in one go." Shiomi folded his arms. "But first, the mana cost would be enormous. Second, it might cause irreversible damage to the planet itself."
"Precisely." Taigong Wang nodded. "I know Tenkei-dono has the means to destroy an Anomaly Domain like this in a single stroke. But if it harms the planet—"
Then the planet's Counter Force would awaken and turn against Shiomi.
The Counter Force of primates and that of the planet stood on completely different sides.
"Let's go take a look first," Scáthach said, idly brushing back her long hair. "I've just finished warming up. I was starting to worry there wouldn't be a worthy opponent to test my spear on."
The Queen of the Land of Shadows radiated the heat of a battle-hungry warrior. It felt as if anything that approached her would be ignited and reduced to ash on the spot.
They passed through the forest, drawing closer to the source of the winter aura.
"The weather changed just like that? It's even colder than the Nordic lands." Shiomi squinted into the blizzard, trudging forward through the deep snow.
Scáthach slipped an arm around his, leaning in as though she needed his warmth. "This feels familiar. Rather than the Nordic lands—"
Before she could finish, lightning tore through the storm, followed by rolling thunder.
"I was already thinking about it on the way here. There are werewolves, giants, even lesser fae from Britain." Morgan tightened her cloak from the inside. "As for the extraordinary entity Taigong Wang mentioned… I should have anticipated it."
"Koyanskaya… Can that Beast even recreate a Lostbelt King?" Artoria's voice carried unmistakable shock.
Storm winds and thunder.
Though the battlefield they once faced had been brief, it was impossible to forget.
They pushed through the blizzard that stood like a barrier. When their vision finally cleared—
Above the frozen forests of Russia stood the colossal beast, towering like a mountain. A wandering glacial monster loomed nearby. And there, unmistakable, was the figure of Ivan the Thunderous Emperor, once more appearing before their eyes.
"It was only after hearing you describe the other Lostbelts that I could say that so confidently." Taigong Wang's robes whipped in the wind. "After all, this is an enemy you dealt with easily once before. It's nothing for you."
The Ivan the Thunderous Emperor before them was not the original, but a recreation reconstructed from the mana of this domain. At present, it stood here as a guard for the defensive outpost protecting the core region of the Anomaly Domain.
"Just as Taigong Wang-dono says." Shiomi fixed his gaze on the recreated Ivan the Thunderous Emperor. "Last time, the four of us had to work together to bring him down. But that was then. There's no need to go through that much trouble anymore."
Morgan let out a soft laugh and brushed the snow from Shiomi's hair. "So what my husband means is, we can send one or two people at most, and the rest of us stay here and wait for the good news?"
"My wife understands me." Shiomi reached out a hand to her.
Scáthach suddenly let go of Shiomi. "Don't solve everything with that one approach. You need to fight with your own hands, too. If you rely too much on overwhelming power, you'll forget how you used to fight. And if something ever happens and you can't fight as the Unity God, what will you do then?"
"You're not cold anymore?" Morgan teased lightly. "Artoria saw you shivering so badly she was ready to lend you her cloak."
Everyone knew this wind and snow meant nothing to them. Scáthach had only been putting on an act while looping her arm through Shiomi's.
"So?" Shiomi pressed his lips together.
The recreated Ivan the Thunderous Emperor had already noticed them, ready to attack at any moment.
If they didn't move now, everyone would end up joining in.
"I'll go." Scáthach lifted her crimson spear. "Nikitich-dono, come with me. My disciple will handle support and interference."
She assigned it that way because even if she hadn't said anything, Nikitich would have rushed in on her own.
That was simply what warriors did.
"And don't always make Tenkei-dono do all the work." Nikitich gave Sibuxiang a smack on the rump, urging it forward. "Taigong Wang, you should pitch in sometimes too, you know?"
"I can't help it." Taigong Wang sighed, sounding put-upon. "Tenkei-dono and the others are so capable that I assumed I could sit safely in the rear and direct things from there. Work really is never easy, is it?"
"So you're actually that lazy, Taigong Wang-dono?" Shiomi tilted his head, studying him. "Is that why you only came out at seventy, because you never found a master who'd let you stay comfortably in the back?"
Taigong Wang tapped the black fishing rod in his hand. "Of course not. I was only thinking that if Tenkei-dono had fierce generals like your group, why would I need to throw myself into the fray? Still, since we can't take it easy, I'll put in some effort. It's a good chance to show a bit of strength and put everyone at ease."
Scáthach held her crimson spear and looked between the two Servants.
"Then we'll adjust the plan. Taigong Wang and Nikitich will handle the restraining work. I'll wait for the right opening and take down that elephant." She brushed the snow from Shiomi's clothes. "As for my disciple, stay here with them and enjoy the show."
The moment she finished speaking, Nikitich shot straight up into the sky on her white dragon, aiming to strike from above.
Taigong Wang gave Sibuxiang a pat. The tapir instantly shifted back into a Qilin, stepping onto the air with all four hooves as it rose into flight.
"Even if you say we're just watching," Shiomi said, resting a hand at Scáthach's waist, "let me at least give Master a little support… Gift『Inflaming Divinity』."
The enhancement, just like in Atlantis, surged through Scáthach at once. She lowered her body slightly, then launched forward like an arrow.
Shiomi quietly began counting in his head.