Unnamed Waters Near Atlantis.
In the end, no matter how advanced the technology, it still fails in the face of weapons based on causal relationships like plot-mandated death.
The Shadow Border had been modified by Steve and Sion with anti-gravity engines, an imaginary submarine navigation system, and high-strength shells capable of withstanding 20,000 meters of depth. Yet it was still somewhat overwhelmed by Odysseus, the famous wise general from Greek mythology.
This was not due to a lack of technology, but because the opponent completely lacked sportsmanship.
Who could have imagined that a great hero renowned in human history would lead the gods' fleet right at the start and blockade the entrance to the starting village!
Not only that. When the Shadow Border attempted a steep dive to evade, the moon in the sky—which was supposed to merely provide illumination—suddenly transformed into a massive railgun.
Boom—!!!
Guided by a pillar of light piercing heaven and earth, the Shadow Border barely survived thanks to its shields but was blown away by the enormous shockwave. Like a stone skipping across water, it tumbled dozens of kilometers across the sea and tragically washed ashore on a nameless island.
After a chaotic escape and reorganization, the Chaldea team survived but paid a heavy price. The Shadow Border's core engine was damaged and temporarily unable to submerge. Most supplies were lost in the collision, and worse, they found themselves in a desperate situation surrounded by sea and enemy forces.
The only thing to be grateful for was that the man who could always create miracles, Steve, was firmly by Ritsuka's side.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch…"
Fujimaru Ritsuka rubbed her bruised arm as she stood up from the beach.
She looked around and confirmed that both Mash and Da Vinci-chan were unharmed. The two looked a bit disheveled, but she let out a sigh of relief.
"Steve! Are you okay?"
She turned and saw the man sitting cross-legged under a palm tree, quietly inspecting his white pocket.
"Ah, I'm fine."
Steve looked up with an awkward smile, holding what looked like a scorched circuit board in his hand. "However… I have bad news for everyone."
"Bad… bad news?"
Ritsuka's heart skipped a beat.
"When we were hit by the Shooting Star Ortygia, I had no choice but to maximize the defensive capabilities of the Four-Dimensional Pocket to protect everyone."
"The result is…"
He sighed and flipped the white semicircular bag upside down to shake it. Only a few screws and a pile of black ash came out.
"It's broken… The internal space-folding system is completely paralyzed, and most of the causal components are trapped in dimensional rifts and cannot be retrieved."
"Eh!?"
Ritsuka cried out desperately. "You're joking, right?! Then what about the Anywhere Door? If we use the Anywhere Door, we can instantly teleport across the sea to the next island!"
"I'm sorry, but no."
Steve shook his head and spoke seriously. "The prerequisite for using the Anywhere Door is having map data."
"The terrain of this Lostbelt is completely different from that of all human history. My database has no map of this place, so using the door won't let me pinpoint any location at all."
"If I force it, we might end up falling into Poseidon's stomach."
"Then… what about the bamboo copter? Or the lamp that can shrink people?"
"That won't work either. The physical laws of this otherworld are heavily distorted by the magic of the Age of Gods. The bamboo copter's anti-gravity system is incompatible, so it would fly around like a headless fly."
"As for the shrinking light… that was an even more advanced device, but it reached the end of its lifespan long ago."
Steve shrugged with an expression that said "I'm desperate too."
This was a lie.
If he really took out the Anywhere Door and Bamboo Helicopter,"what kind of adventure would the trip to Atlantis become? It would turn into a mere Chaldea sightseeing tour!
For Ritsuka to receive thorough training in this cruel Lostbelt, he had to steel his heart and seal away his own immense abilities.
"Waaah—"
Ritsuka collapsed onto the sandy beach like a deflated balloon.
She knew she couldn't rely too much on cheats, but hearing that cheats were banned in such a desperate situation still filled her with despair.
However, there was always a solution.
Just as everyone was at a loss, they were fortunate enough to encounter Bartholomew Roberts, a Heroic Spirit of pan-human history who was also trapped in the Lostbelt.
This pirate gentleman with a strange fetish (preferring hairstyles that covered the eyes) invited the Chaldea group aboard his pirate ship, the Royal Fortune, after a friendly exchange (mostly persuaded by Mash's shield physics).
Thus began a grand ocean adventure filled with mythical elements.
...
Royal Fortune Deck.
They had a ship, but life at sea remained harsh.
Especially for Ritsuka, who was used to Chaldea's delicious cafeteria meals, eating dry hard bread and salted fish every day was pure torture.
"I'm hungry…"
Ritsuka leaned against the ship's railing, gazing at the endless sea, feeling as if her soul might drift away. "I want udon… I want curry rice… I want the hamburger patties made by EMIYA…"
"Gurgle…"
Mash maintained proper posture, but her stomach also let out dissatisfied sounds.
"Oh my, everyone seems to be starving."
Just then, that familiar voice rang out again.
Steve approached with a smile, holding a plain red-and-white checkered tablecloth.
"All combat equipment is broken, but fortunately… some daily necessities have simple structures and are still usable."
"This, this is…!"
Ritsuka's eyes instantly sparkled.
"Ta-da! Gourmet Table Cloth!"
Steve spread the tablecloth on the deck with magic and snapped his fingers. "Come on, tell me what you want to eat! Any dish that exists on Earth can be summoned!"
"Really?! Then… a super-sized beef bowl! With egg! With green onions!"
"Caesar salad and mushroom cream soup, please!"
"In that case, no need for formalities—give me authentic British fish and chips!"
Once everyone had placed their orders, steaming hot, exquisite dishes instantly appeared on the previously empty tablecloth.
The aroma instantly filled the entire deck.
"Waaah! It really appeared!"
Ritsuka cheered, grabbed chopsticks, and began eating.
Tears flowed as she tasted the long-awaited delicious food. "It's delicious! So delicious! Steve, banzai!"
"Eat slowly so you don't choke."
Steve sat beside her, holding a cold cola he had just magically created, watching the group devour their meal with a gentle expression. "I can't directly help defeat Poseidon, but I'm confident in rear support."
"Hmm…"
While chewing the beef, Ritsuka muttered incoherently. "I'm really grateful… but this development… it's turning into a movie like Doraemon: Nobita's Great Adventure in the South Seas!"
"We're clearly in a serious war to restore humanity, right? So why did it suddenly become such a childish plot?!"
"Haha, what's wrong with that?"
Steve shrugged. "Even a savior needs to eat."
"Besides, you need proper nutrition to gain the energy to fight, don't you?"
"That's true…"
Ritsuka swallowed the last of her rice and patted her satisfied belly.
She looked at Steve's still somewhat damaged four-dimensional pocket, determination in her eyes.
"When you think about it, our goal becomes even clearer!"
She stood up, pointed toward the distant sea, and declared proudly:
"First, defeat Odysseus! Next, cut down the Fantasy Tree! And then… the most important thing! Gather materials to repair Steve's four-dimensional pocket!"
"Once we solve that, we'll be invincible! Right?"
"Uh… theoretically correct."
Steve touched her nose with a slight sense of guilt.
In reality, the pocket wasn't broken at all. He had only made it look that way.
However, since Ritsuka was so enthusiastic, he might as well leave this wonderful misunderstanding as it was.
After all, watching a girl work hard to repair Doraemon's pocket was… a unique kind of enjoyment.
"Alright! Full speed ahead! Destination—the next island!"
Under Ritsuka's energetic command, the Royal Fortune advanced against wind and waves toward unknown waters.
The road ahead was still fraught with danger, but the atmosphere aboard the ship was filled with laughter and joy, like a truly surprising summer seaside adventure.
…
…
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