As Fujimaru Ritsuka, Mash, and Jeanne Alter headed toward the third faction's location, they encountered someone else.
A petite, purple-haired girl holding a book blocked their path, eyeing them with confusion.
"Servants? Two of them? Where are you from?"
Mash, wary of the sudden appearance, tensed. Jeanne Alter stood calmly, observing.
Fujimaru Ritsuka remained unfazed. They weren't just two Servants... there were three on their side!
Jack the Ripper, with her assassination skills, was already hidden, ready to strike at the critical moment.
As the group's usual diplomat, Mash asked, "You're a Servant too, right? Who are you?"
"Not answering me first? Fine, doesn't matter," the girl said. "I'm from the United Western States of America. My name's Helena Blavatsky, though Madame Blavatsky is more famous, I suppose. Ugh, changing surnames after marriage is such a hassle."
Her expression showed mild annoyance.
Romani's voice burst through the comms. "Helena Blavatsky?! The 19th-century's most iconic female occultist! She had little to do with the Mage's Association, compiling occult knowledge through her own power... a prodigy! But as a Servant here, is she an agent of the Mage's Association?"
Helena immediately protested. "No way! Let's be clear: in this world, every major nation except America has been destroyed!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka asked, "Then who do you serve?"
"Oh, you're the Master this time? Too bad, we already have a lord... a king. If he conquers the world, there's no issue. It'd become a lost continent, drifting forever like the Throne of Heroes. Isn't that a kind of salvation?"
Her words reminded Fujimaru Ritsuka of Morpheus's mention of Edison's dictatorship, prompting her to shake her head.
"A United States with a dictator king? That's ironic."
Another voice rejected the notion outright.
"Impossible," Romani said. "Your idea is flawed."
"Flawed?" Helena Blavatsky questioned the disembodied voice. "Prove it."
"The Incineration of Humanity will destroy human history. You, existing because of it, will be erased too, even if detached from the world. You haven't been destroyed yet because the time hasn't come. The explosives set to collapse the bridge will trigger self-destruction when needed."
Romani's words stunned Helena. She narrowed her eyes. "What do you know? How do you reach that conclusion?"
"The mastermind's goal isn't to destroy human history... that's a byproduct. Once their goal is achieved, the Throne of Heroes and everything else will be erased, including this drifting continent, due to the ripple effect."
"What's their goal?!"
"To return to the distant past and become the world's sole master!"
Romani's reply left Helena speechless. She and Edison had discussed surviving as a detached existence, like the Throne of Heroes, to preserve humanity here.
But according to this stranger, even the Throne would fall!
"If I'm not mistaken, this influence is already affecting things beyond the world. We just need someone to confirm it."
"I can confirm," a new voice said. Helena and the others turned to see a striking woman with a spear.
She landed before them, her eyes scanning the group before settling on Fujimaru Ritsuka. "You're Morpheus's allies, right?"
"Yes. And you are?"
"Scáthach." Her brief introduction drew another exclamation from Romani. "The Queen of the Land of Shadows? Cú Chulainn's mentor! Why's even she here?!"
"You're the Queen of the Land of Shadows. You said you can confirm... how?" Helena asked, unfazed, focusing on the legendary figure.
"I'm the proof. I shouldn't be summonable as a Servant. I'm not dead, nor did I choose to downgrade myself. So why am I here?" Scáthach posed.
Her question made Helena ponder. Fujimaru Ritsuka, recalling past events, asked, "So when Artemis appeared last time, it was because she chose to downgrade?"
"Artemis is a god. Gods can't be summoned unless they suppress themselves to Heroic Spirit level," Scáthach explained, glancing at Ritsuka with surprise. "Artemis came down in a previous crisis?"
"Yeah, a few times back. She seemed to be here to hang out with Morpheus," Ritsuka said honestly. It wasn't a secret.
Scáthach's eyes gleamed with interest. "Hanging out… In Greek Age of Gods rumors, Artemis and Morpheus were close. Seems those rumors were true."
Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash exchanged odd looks but said nothing.
Close? More like they were practically one!
Helena, however, stayed focused. "You're saying you, a living being akin to a god, were suddenly turned into a deceased Heroic Spirit and summoned?"
"Exactly. The Land of Shadows and I were rejected by the world, drifting outside it, similar to the Throne of Heroes. But due to issues with human history, the Land of Shadows fell, becoming a realm of the dead. I went from living to dead, hence my summoning."
Helena's expression darkened. If this was true, their plan was a farce.
Even as a drifting dimensional island, this world couldn't escape destruction!
Romani pressed on. "Destruction is just the start. Once the mastermind's goal is achieved, all traces of existence will be erased. Everything restarts from the planet's birth, shaped by their will.
"So, forget surviving... you won't even have the right to leave a tombstone or a single molecule!"
This wasn't fearmongering; it was fact. Since learning Goetia's goal, this possibility had been discussed. The lack of panic stemmed from their confidence in their trump cards.
The idea of a dictator king leading this era's humans as exiles was laughable. Helena's mind went blank, unsure how to process it.
She took a deep breath, turning to leave. "I need to tell the king!"
"No need," Scáthach stopped her. "It's unnecessary."
Helena turned, glaring. "What do you mean? That it doesn't matter if the world and humanity vanish?"
"No. I mean wait. The one who can resolve this is already on the move. Soon, all Servants will return to the Throne, and history will be restored."
Seeing Scáthach's confidence, Helena didn't understand its source, but Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others did.
Ritsuka asked urgently, "Morpheus is already there?!"
"Yes, he's gone."
Hearing this, Ritsuka pulled out her camera, addressing Helena. "Can I take your photo?!"
Helena froze. Shouldn't they focus on saving the world? Why photos?
…
"Helena Blavatsky, founder of Theosophy. Seriously? That old lady supporting a king? A dictator? If she's the Theosophy founder I know, in the Nasuverse, she'd be pushing everyone toward the Third Magic.
"What's with this Nasuverse Helena? Is the 'no-limit thinking' I know here? Or the idea that all gods are true but only facets of the divine?"
Through Jeanne Alter's perspective, Morpheus saw everything, exasperated by this loli Magus.
In occult history, Helena Blavatsky was pivotal, especially her no-limit thinking. In a place like the Marvel universe, it'd be called the Omniverse.
By that logic, humans could reach omniversal levels, everyone a god.
Yet this Nasuverse Helena supported Edison's dictatorship, obsessed with a king?!
Morpheus took a deep breath, suppressing his frustration.
"Right, Ritsuka's team hasn't finished photographing. I'll slow down, take a look around, see what's going on. Once they're done, I'll grab the Grail and fix the world."
With that, Morpheus continued forward.
But he slowed his pace, as if sightseeing.
Not far along, someone blocked his path!
A man with dark skin and a lean frame that seemed frail, his cold gaze fixed on Morpheus. His bow was drawn, an arrow ready to fire.
"Who are you?" the man asked.
Morpheus, unfazed, recognized him as a Servant. "And you are? Shouldn't you introduce yourself first?"
The man had sensed powerful mana fluctuations and found damaged terrain, leading him to this mysterious figure heading toward his camp.
He spoke gravely, "Arjuna."
"Arjuna?" Morpheus paused. He knew Arjuna... hero of Indian myth, protagonist of the Mahabharata, son of the storm god Indra, or even Indra's incarnation.
This Arjuna, a Servant, stood before him.
Morpheus was certain this was another Nasuverse alteration. Given the restrictions on summoning gods, Arjuna couldn't be here unless he'd chosen to downgrade.
Indian gods weren't weaklings!
"Arjuna, huh? I'm Morpheus. Are you here to stop me from reaching Cú Chulainn?" Morpheus asked.
"Morpheus?" Arjuna searched his memory but found no useful information. Frowning, he raised his bow. "Leave now, or die!"
"I haven't fought an Indian Servant yet. If you want a fight, let's go!" Morpheus stepped forward, lifting his chin. "Give it your all, or you'll lose in an instant!"
***
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