Facing an encirclement of mythological warships that stretched beyond the horizon, Chaldea launched its breakout the instant it surfaced from the depths, just as its imaginary submersion came to an end.
"What's the situation on the forward deck?" Morgan asked from her designated seat, checking the reports without pause.
"Miss Artoria, leading the Valkyries alongside an Automata formation, has successfully held back the Magical Beasts released by Echidna. There's no immediate risk of boarding!" Sylvia reported crisply.
Morgan rapidly switched between Storm Border's surveillance feeds, taking in the state of the battle all around them.
Scáthach had suppressed Caenis even more decisively than during the Scandinavian campaign, and Artoria was displaying strength beyond anything she had shown before.
Guessing that Shiomi must have done something before charging deep into enemy territory and cutting his way through, Morgan finally felt a measure of relief.
"What about my husband?"
"He's gone far too deep!" Goredolf shouted, his voice sharp with tension. "What is Shiomi doing, charging in that far with two Fairy Knights? We can't send Automata support at all from here!"
His words were edged with anxiety, born of genuine concern for the safety of those fighting on the front lines.
After Shiomi returned to Chaldea, Olga Marie had lifted the personal restrictions placed on Goredolf, but she still did not restore him to the position of Deputy Director.
Until the crisis of human history was resolved, this deceived man had only two choices: fight on as a member of Chaldea, or live under protection as a survivor.
Out of pride in his family name, Goredolf chose the former. He took part in the operation against the Atlantis Anomaly Zone and now served as deputy helmsman, overseeing battlefield intelligence while constantly analyzing and reporting developments.
"It's fine," Morgan replied calmly, already understanding the situation. "Redirecting Storm Border's mana and activating the Leylines Blocking Armament purely for defense is meaningless. We need to rip open a breach in this fleet."
Storm Border was designed with mobility as its priority and lacked armaments suited for direct combat.
Against enemies that defied all norms, their existing weapons simply could not deal effective damage.
However, after Morgan's return to Chaldea, she proposed reinstalling the Leylines Blocking Armament that had once been deployed in the Fairy Kingdom, adapting it for use aboard this vessel.
The price was clear: only Morgan herself could operate the system. As a result, she remained on the bridge to command the ship's firepower rather than joining the front lines.
Even if its scale fell short of what she once commanded in the Fairy Kingdom, Morgan was fully confident it would be more than enough to deal with these warships of the Age of Gods.
"Wait!" Romani suddenly called out. "A high-energy reaction has appeared in satellite orbit!"
He immediately activated the super-telescope Sion had prepared for Storm Border. The display locked onto a mysterious mechanical structure, suspended beyond the atmosphere at an altitude of roughly five hundred thousand meters above the ground.
"What is that…?" The moment Olga Marie saw the image on the screen, the color drained from her face.
A spacecraft that looked as though it embodied the absolute pinnacle of scientific technology was hovering over the Lostbelt.
"It's… a Greek Machine God," Romani said with difficulty, forcing the grim truth out. "We don't know which god it is yet, but if this continues, we'll be hit!"
"Recall all combat units immediately! Prepare for Imaginary Dive to evade!" Olga Marie issued the order without hesitation.
"No!" Morgan cut her off. "Imaginary Dive may not make it in time. Captain, full speed ahead with Storm Border. Skadi, deploy a barrier that can cover the entire ship. Fire the Holy Lance as we charge through!"
Skadi tightened her grip on her staff. After silently nodding in agreement, she turned and headed toward the ship's midsection, where she could best deploy magecraft to shield the entire warship.
"Lady Morgan, what do you intend to do?" Olga Marie chose to trust her, but she still needed to ask.
"At this distance and altitude, any attack launched from the warship above us can't possibly be aimed at us alone," Morgan replied calmly. "That man who calls himself Odysseus has likely already decided to let the frontline allies be buried along with us."
"How cold-blooded," Da Vinci-chan muttered.
"So this really is the Odysseus of the Lostbelt?" Da Vinci added. "The Odysseus of Proper Human History was never described as this ruthless."
"Is this really the time to be worrying about that?" Romani couldn't help but interject.
The moment Morgan's orders were relayed, Storm Border's engines roared to life, pushing the ship straight ahead at full speed.
Skadi's Primordial Rune barrier spread around the hull, allowing the Imaginary Submersion vessel to crash into the enemy's front line almost without damage, tearing open a gap in the encirclement.
"All hands, brace for impact!"
Through the broadcast, Nemo warned Sakura and the others waiting inside the ship, ready to sortie at any moment.
Morgan's plan was simple. Since they had already been targeted, they would play along and turn the trap back on its maker.
If Odysseus was willing to sacrifice his own allies just to wipe out Chaldea, then she wanted to see just how much he was prepared to lose.
Including himself.
All gun ports of the Leylines Blocking Armament opened at once. A fan-shaped barrage erupted forward, mercilessly pounding the enemy warships that Shiomi and the others had already thrown into chaos, as Storm Border surged straight into the encirclement.
One mythological warship after another lost control, broke apart, and sank into the sea.
Leaking energy detonated again and again, some of it even burning across the surface of the ocean.
"Hah! How pathetic. You've been abandoned by your own allies!"
Locked in a fierce battle with Scáthach, Caenis noticed Storm Border accelerating at full speed. In the blink of an eye, it vanished into the mass of warships, leaving only distant, deepening explosions to mark the Chaldea vessel's path.
"Abandoned? Hardly," Scáthach replied, suddenly pressing forward. "It's just a reminder that I don't have time to keep playing with you."
Her crossed spears swept outward in a powerful motion, their cold gleam once again forcing Caenis back.
Unable to evade in time, Caenis took a horrific slash across the chest.
Even with the 'Neptune Blessing,' she couldn't avoid the blow. Caenis realized then that this ageless, undying woman was truly her natural enemy.
A woman who had slain countless gods and undead. The moment she swung her crimson spear, it was only natural that she could threaten Caenis.
After all, Caenis was no more than a Divine Spirit Servant, not a god with a divine core.
"Come!" Scáthach shouted. "If you are a true warrior, then survive beneath my spear!"
She stepped back half a pace as mana surged violently from her body.
"Don't look down on me! No one can reach my heights! Spread your wings and soar!"
With a furious roar, Caenis transformed into a massive golden bird and shot straight into the sky.
Scáthach's expression hardened, her gaze as sharp as the edge of her crimson spear.
"Pierce! Break through! Soaring Spear of Piercing Death - Gáe Bolg Alternative!"
"Soar, My Great Golden Wings - Lapithai Caeneus!
The giant bird screeched, its blazing wings beating as it dove downward.
Rising to meet those burning golden wings were crimson meteors, and not just one.