The morning Rhodes Island prepared to leave, I stood at the northern gate watching workers repair the wall. Three days had passed since the battle, three days of reconstruction and recovery. Sal Viento was healing, slowly but steadily.
Marcus found me there, his exhaustion from constant administrative work evident in the lines around his eyes.
"You're leaving with them."
Not a question. He had already figured it out.
"Yes."
"Can't say I'm surprised. Someone with your capabilities doesn't belong in a place like this."
He offered his hand.
"Thank you. For everything. Sal Viento owes you a debt we can never repay."
I shook his hand, feeling the genuine gratitude in his grip.
"Keep the walls strong. Reunion will return eventually."
"I know. But next time, we'll be ready."
I left him to his work and headed toward the medical station where Rhodes Island's transport vehicle waited. The operators were loading equipment efficiently, years of practice evident in their coordinated movements.
Sussurro spotted me and her face brightened immediately.
"You're coming with us! I was hoping you would but I wasn't sure if..."
She caught herself, embarrassed by her enthusiasm.
"I mean, it's good. For Rhodes Island. Having someone with your skills as part of the team."
"I haven't officially joined yet."
"But you're coming to the landship, which is basically the same thing."
She handed me a tablet.
"I took the liberty of starting your application paperwork. Basic information, medical history, skill assessment. You'll need to complete it during the trip."
I scanned the document, noting the questions I couldn't answer honestly. Place of birth, family background, previous employment. All things that didn't exist for someone who had arrived in this world four days ago.
"I'll fill out what I can."
Surtr emerged from the medical station carrying her staff, flames flickering along its length in idle display. She noticed me and something that might have been satisfaction crossed her features.
"So you made the smart choice after all."
"I'm going to Lungmen. That doesn't mean I've decided anything else yet."
"Keep telling yourself that."
She climbed into the transport vehicle and claimed a seat near the back, making it clear she had no interest in conversation during the trip.
Czerny approached, professional as always.
"Glad to have you with us, Shiki. Your performance during the battle was exemplary. Rhodes Island needs operators who can think tactically under pressure."
"I'm not an operator yet."
"You will be."
His confidence was absolute, no room for doubt.
"The Doctor will want to meet you once we reach the landship. They evaluate all potential recruits personally."
The Doctor. I had heard the title mentioned several times, always with respect bordering on reverence. Whoever they were, they commanded significant authority within Rhodes Island.
"What should I expect?"
"Questions mostly. The Doctor has an unusual way of assessing people, looks beyond just combat capability to understand character and motivation."
He smiled slightly.
"Just be honest. They appreciate honesty more than anything else."
Honesty. The one thing I couldn't fully provide without revealing truths that would raise impossible questions.
We finished loading and departed Sal Viento around mid morning, the repaired gates closing behind us as the settlement returned to its routine. I watched through the vehicle's window as the walls grew smaller, wondering if I would ever see this place again.
The transport was designed for comfort during long journeys, seats that absorbed vibration and climate control that kept the interior temperature stable. Bison drove while Shamare navigated, their coordination speaking to extensive experience working together.
Sussurro sat beside me, filling the silence with medical reports and administrative tasks. She worked constantly, even during travel, dedicated to her responsibilities in a way I found admirable.
"You never did get that health screening."
She said after an hour of comfortable silence.
"I should at least do a basic exam before we reach the landship."
"I'm fine."
"Everyone says that. Then they collapse from undiagnosed Oripathy and wonder why the medic didn't catch it earlier."
She pulled out a small diagnostic device.
"Just let me check for Originium exposure. Five minutes, completely non invasive."
I could refuse, but that would create suspicion. Better to comply and hope the results didn't reveal anything anomalous about my condition.
The device scanned me, analyzing bloodwork and tissue composition through some method I didn't fully understand. Sussurro watched the readout with professional focus, her expression shifting from routine assessment to confusion.
"That's... strange."
"What?"
"Your Originium exposure is zero. Completely zero. Most people have at least trace amounts from environmental contact, but you're showing nothing."
She ran the scan again, checking for equipment malfunction.
"And your cellular regeneration is abnormally high. Not infected levels, but significantly above baseline human standard. Have you always recovered quickly from injuries?"
"I heal efficiently."
"Efficiently is an understatement. According to this, you could sustain serious trauma and recover within days instead of weeks."
She set the device aside, studying me with new curiosity.
"You're physiologically unusual, Shiki. Not dangerously so, but enough to be noteworthy. I should document this for the medical team's records."
"Do you have to?"
"Technically yes. But I can be vague in my reporting if you prefer privacy."
Her willingness to bend protocol for my comfort spoke to growing trust between us. Or maybe just her kind nature showing through professional obligations.
"Appreciate it."
"Just don't make me regret covering for you."
She returned to her work, and I was left contemplating what the scan revealed. My body was different, fundamentally altered by receiving Shiki's template and removing my lifespan. The changes made me more capable but also more obviously abnormal to anyone looking closely.
I would need to be careful about future medical examinations.
Hours passed in relative quiet. The landscape outside shifted from forest to plains to rocky terrain, Terra's diverse geography displayed through the window. Occasionally we passed other travelers, merchant caravans and nomadic groups moving between settlements.
Around midday, Surtr broke her silence.
"You've been too quiet."
She said, addressing me directly.
"Most people can't shut up during long trips. They feel the need to fill silence with meaningless chatter."
"I'm comfortable with silence."
"Good. So am I."
But she continued talking anyway, contradicting her stated preference.
"Lungmen is different from places like Sal Viento. It's a mobile city state, one of the richest in Terra. Governed by the Lungmen Guard Department and controlled by powerful business interests."
She stared out the window, flames flickering along her staff.
"It's also corrupt, exploitative, built on the backs of infected workers who have no rights or protections. The kind of place that makes me want to burn it all down and start over."
"But you won't."
"No. Because Rhodes Island plays politics, maintains relationships with governments that oppress infected in exchange for permission to provide medical services."
Her tone carried bitterness.
"Necessary compromise, they call it. I call it cowardice."
Czerny spoke up from the front seat.
"We can't help anyone if we're banned from operating in major cities. The compromises are strategic, not moral."
"Keep telling yourself that."
The tension between them suggested this was an old argument, philosophical differences that had never been resolved.
"What does Rhodes Island want in Lungmen?"
I asked, steering the conversation toward practical matters.
"Information mostly."
Czerny answered.
"There are reports of unusual Reunion activity in the region. Not their typical raids and attacks, but something more coordinated. Possibly connected to a larger operation."
"And there's something else."
Sussurro added quietly.
"Rumors about Noble Phantasms appearing in Victoria. Powerful artifacts that match descriptions from ancient legends."
My attention sharpened immediately. Noble Phantasms in Victoria. The system had provided me with several, but the implication was that others existed independent of my gacha pulls.
"What kind of Noble Phantasms?"
"Unknown specifically. But Victoria's government has been making aggressive territorial moves lately, expanding influence in ways that suggest they have new military capabilities."
Surtr laughed, harsh and bitter.
"Let me guess. Some Victorian noble found a legendary weapon and decided they were destined to conquer Terra. Tale as old as time."
"The situation is concerning enough that Rhodes Island's leadership wants eyes on the ground."
Czerny said.
"We're supposed to gather intelligence in Lungmen and report back before taking any direct action."
Intelligence gathering. Reconnaissance work that would let me assess the situation without immediate combat pressure. Good opportunity to understand the larger political landscape.
The transport continued through the afternoon, stopping once for refueling and a brief meal. The sun was setting when the vehicle finally crested a hill and Lungmen came into view.
It was massive. Not a settlement like Sal Viento but a genuine mobile city, a construction of metal and stone that defied natural engineering. Towers reached toward the sky, lights already glowing against the darkening horizon. The entire structure rested on enormous treads and mechanical systems that allowed it to move across Terra's landscape.
I stared at it, processing the sheer scale. This was civilization at a level I hadn't seen yet, proof of Terra's technological sophistication despite its medieval social structures.
"Impressive, isn't it?"
Sussurro said, watching my reaction.
"Lungmen is one of the oldest mobile cities. They've been refining the design for generations."
The transport approached the city's edge, joining a queue of vehicles waiting for entry inspection. Guards in LGD uniforms moved between vehicles, checking documentation and cargo.
When they reached us, Czerny presented Rhodes Island credentials and explained our purpose. The guards examined the documents carefully, their expressions suggesting suspicion about any Rhodes Island presence in their city.
"Medical consultation services."
One guard read from the paperwork.
"You're authorized for three weeks, renewable pending review. Any deviation from stated purpose will result in immediate expulsion."
"Understood."
The guards waved us through, and the transport entered Lungmen proper. The interior was even more impressive than the exterior, streets illuminated by artificial lighting and buildings that demonstrated architectural sophistication. People moved with urban efficiency, the crowd density far exceeding anything I had seen before.
Sussurro noticed my attention to the crowds.
"Lungmen has a population over two million. Most are uninfected, though there's a significant infected population forced to live in designated districts."
"Segregation."
"Strictly enforced. Infected caught in uninfected districts face arrest or worse."
The systemic oppression Reunion claimed to fight against, made visible in urban planning.
The transport navigated through traffic toward a designated Rhodes Island facility, a converted warehouse that served as local headquarters. Operators were already present, coordinating with medical staff and preparing for whatever operations had brought us here.
We unloaded equipment and I finally stepped out of the vehicle, breathing Lungmen's air for the first time. It tasted metallic, processed through the city's ventilation systems. Different from Sal Viento's clean forest air, but not unpleasant.
"Shiki."
Czerny approached with another operator, a woman with long black hair and professional demeanor.
"This is Kal'tsit, Rhodes Island's senior medical officer and strategic advisor. She'll process your preliminary evaluation."
Kal'tsit studied me with eyes that seemed to see through surface appearance to something deeper. Her assessment was clinical, measuring capability and threat level with practiced ease.
"The contractor who fought alongside Surtr against Talulah."
She said, her voice carrying absolute authority.
"Your combat performance was documented in the after action reports. Impressive, though the details raise questions about your background and capabilities."
"I'm skilled. That's all that matters."
"On the contrary. Background matters significantly when determining trustworthiness and operational reliability."
She pulled out a tablet.
"You'll need to complete a full evaluation before formal acceptance. Combat assessment, psychological screening, background verification. Standard procedure for all potential operators."
"When?"
"Tomorrow morning. For tonight, you're assigned temporary quarters in the facility. Sussurro will show you."
She walked away before I could respond, her presence commanding despite her clinical detachment.
Sussurro led me through the facility to a small room with basic amenities. Bed, desk, washroom. Functional but impersonal, designed for temporary occupation.
"Get some rest. Tomorrow's evaluation will be thorough."
She hesitated at the door.
"And Shiki? Try to be patient with Kal'tsit. She's difficult but she genuinely cares about Rhodes Island and everyone in it. The suspicion is protective, not personal."
I nodded, and she left me alone with my thoughts.
The room was quiet, isolated from the city's noise by thick walls. I sat on the bed and pulled up the system interface, checking for new missions now that I had arrived in Lungmen.
[New Mission Available: Shadows in Lungmen]
[Investigate Reunion activity in the city and identify their objectives]
[Reward: 3 Gacha Tickets]
[Time Limit: 14 Days]
Three more pulls for intelligence work. Straightforward enough.
But before I could close the interface, another notification appeared.
[WARNING: Anomaly Detected]
[Another entity with Noble Phantasm access is present in Terra]
[Source location: Victoria]
[Threat Level: Catastrophic]
[Recommendation: Avoid direct confrontation until power differential is assessed]
The system had never issued warnings before. Whatever was in Victoria was dangerous enough to trigger automated threat assessment.
I dismissed the interface and lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Tomorrow would bring evaluations and questions I couldn't fully answer. Beyond that, Reunion activity to investigate and mysteries in Victoria to understand.
The god wanted entertainment. They were certainly getting it.
But as I drifted toward sleep, my thoughts turned to that warning. Another entity with Noble Phantasm access. Someone else who had either been given power by divine intervention or had found it through other means.
Someone potentially dangerous enough to threaten everything.
Victoria, Royal Palace
The throne room was silent save for the sound of Artoria Pendragon's boots against marble floor. She walked with absolute confidence, the Lion King returned in power and purpose, Rhongomyniad held loosely at her side.
The lance had transformed her completely. Where once she was merely a king, now she was something more. Divine authority crystallized into physical form, the goddess of the lance made manifest through Noble Phantasm's full activation.
Victoria had fallen within three days of her arrival. Not through conquest but through divine right recognized by those who witnessed her power. The previous government had collapsed without significant resistance, their armies unable to comprehend what they faced.
She was beyond them. Beyond mortality, beyond human limitation, beyond anything Terra had ever known.
And she was bored.
Terra offered challenges, certainly. Reunion's fanaticism, the various nations' political machinations, the infected crisis that defined this world's social structure. All interesting problems that required attention and solution.
But none of it challenged her personally. None of it pushed her to the limits that made existence meaningful.
She needed worthy opponents. Needed someone or something that could force her to fight with genuine effort.
Her attendants had reported something interesting. An incident in a remote settlement where Reunion was repelled by a fighter using what appeared to be Noble Phantasms. Gáe Bolg specifically, the cursed spear thrown with perfect accuracy.
A fighter who knew weapons from her world. Who possessed artifacts that shouldn't exist in this place.
Someone like her.
Artoria smiled, the expression carrying anticipation rather than warmth.
"Locate this fighter."
She commanded, her voice echoing through the throne room.
"Learn everything about them. I wish to meet this person who wields Cú Chulainn's spear."
Her attendants bowed and departed to execute her orders.
Artoria returned her attention to the map of Terra spread across a table, studying Lungmen's position. The mobile city was strategically valuable, a gateway to eastern territories and a center of commerce that could fund her ambitions.
And according to reports, Rhodes Island was there. The pharmaceutical company that dared challenge Victorian expansion, that positioned themselves as defenders of the infected despite lacking military power to back those claims.
Rhodes Island had interfered with her plans multiple times now. Provided medical aid to populations she intended to conquer, rallied resistance against Victorian influence, maintained neutrality that was effectively opposition.
They would need to be dealt with eventually. Subjugated or destroyed, depending on their willingness to bend knee to divine authority.
And if the fighter with Noble Phantasms was connected to Rhodes Island, as reports suggested, then meeting them would serve dual purpose. Assess their threat level and demonstrate Victorian power in a way that would break Rhodes Island's spirit.
"Siege."
She called out, summoning her former opponent and current subordinate.
The Vouivre woman entered the throne room, her posture carrying defeat despite maintaining physical strength. Siege had fought well, admirably even, using her formidable combat capabilities against Artoria's divine authority.
But mortal strength meant nothing against a goddess.
Siege had retreated, gathered the remnants of Victorian resistance, and fled to Rhodes Island seeking sanctuary. A predictable pattern that Artoria had observed many times across her existence.
The strong protect the weak until they encounter something stronger. Then they flee, abandoning principles in favor of survival.
"You called, Your Majesty."
Siege's tone was carefully neutral, showing neither defiance nor submission.
"Rhodes Island is in Lungmen."
Artoria said simply.
"I want you to go there. Observe them. Report on their activities and any unusual personnel."
Siege's expression remained controlled, but Artoria saw the calculation in her eyes. Being sent away from Victoria, given freedom of movement even temporarily.
"You're wondering if this is opportunity to escape permanently."
Artoria said, reading the unspoken thought.
"If I should attempt to vanish into Rhodes Island's protection and never return."
Siege didn't deny it.
"The thought crossed my mind."
"Then let me be clear. You may not be bound by chains, but you are bound by something stronger. Your people, the citizens of Victoria who survived my arrival, live under my authority. Their fate depends on your cooperation."
Hostages. Simple and effective.
"I understand."
"Good. You leave tomorrow. Report back within two weeks, or I start making examples of your friends and family."
Siege bowed and departed, her shoulders tight with suppressed anger.
Artoria watched her leave, knowing the Vouivre would return. They always did when the people they cared about were at stake.
She turned back to the map, tracing the path between Victoria and Lungmen with one finger.
Soon. Soon she would meet this mystery fighter who wielded Noble Phantasms. Would test their strength and measure their worth.
And if they proved interesting enough, perhaps Terra would finally provide the challenge she craved.
The Lion King smiled in anticipation.