Kal'tsit sat across from Siege in a private briefing room, her clinical demeanor masking the concern that drove this conversation. The Vouivre woman looked exhausted, trapped between loyalty and survival, the weight of impossible choices visible in every line of her posture.
"Your people are hostages."
Kal'tsit stated, not a question but acknowledgment of the situation's gravity.
"The Lion King holds them as leverage to ensure your cooperation. That's the reality we're working with."
"I know."
Siege's voice was rough, strained.
"Which is why I can't stay here. I need to return to Victoria with intelligence or she'll start executing them. My friends, my teammates, civilians who trusted me to protect them. All of them at her mercy."
"And what happens after you deliver that intelligence?"
Kal'tsit pulled up files on her tablet.
"She'll demand more. Always more. One report becomes ongoing surveillance becomes active participation in operations against Rhodes Island. The leverage never disappears, it only intensifies."
"So what do you suggest? That I abandon them?"
"No. I suggest you recognize that your current approach guarantees their eventual death regardless of your compliance."
Kal'tsit set the tablet between them, showing strategic analyses and projected timelines.
"The Lion King is preparing for war against Laterano. Our intelligence suggests a three month timeline before full mobilization and invasion. She's consolidating Victorian forces, establishing supply lines, positioning assets for continental warfare."
Siege leaned forward, studying the documents with professional focus despite her emotional turmoil.
"Three months. That's sooner than expected."
"Artoria Pendragon operates on divine timescales. Human logistics and diplomatic processes are irrelevant to her. She decides on conquest and executes with overwhelming force."
Kal'tsit pulled up additional files.
"Here's what happens in three months. Victorian forces invade Laterano in a coordinated assault. The Sakota nation resists but their military capabilities, while exceptional, cannot match divine authority wielding Rhongomyniad. Laterano falls within weeks, maybe days."
She highlighted population centers on the map.
"Casualties will be catastrophic. Hundreds of thousands dead, cities burned, entire regions subjugated. And the Lion King won't stop there. After Laterano falls, she'll turn toward the next target. Possibly Yan, possibly Columbia, possibly everywhere simultaneously."
"What does this have to do with my people?"
"Everything. Because in three months, Victoria will be mobilized for total war. Resources diverted to military operations, civilian populations conscripted or impressed for support roles. Your people, the ones the Lion King holds hostage, will be used."
Kal'tsit met Siege's gaze directly.
"They'll be forced to fight in her armies, used as cannon fodder in assaults against fortified positions, sacrificed in operations where Victorian casualties are acceptable losses. The Lion King doesn't value individual lives. She values obedience and utility."
The implication settled heavy between them.
"So they die either way."
Siege said quietly.
"Either she executes them for my defiance or she uses them as expendable assets in her conquest."
"Yes. Unless we create a third option."
Kal'tsit pulled up different files, these showing Rhodes Island's operational capabilities and strategic resources.
"Rhodes Island is preparing for large scale conflict. We're establishing alliances with nations threatened by Victorian expansion, coordinating with resistance movements within conquered territories, developing countermeasures against divine authority."
She looked at Siege meaningfully.
"We're also planning extraction operations. Targeted rescues of key personnel and vulnerable populations from Victorian territory. High risk, high difficulty, but feasible with proper preparation."
"You want to extract my people."
"Eventually. Not immediately, the Lion King's attention is too focused right now. But once the war with Laterano begins, her forces will be deployed elsewhere. Victorian security will have gaps we can exploit."
Kal'tsit set the tablet aside.
"But that only works if you're here, coordinating with us, providing intelligence about Victorian deployments and security protocols. If you return to Victoria and become her asset, you lose the ability to help when the extraction window opens."
Siege was quiet for a long moment, processing the strategic calculus.
"You're asking me to trust that Rhodes Island can pull off a rescue operation against a goddess who conquered an entire nation in three days."
"I'm asking you to recognize that trust is the only option that offers hope. Compliance guarantees death. Defiance without preparation guarantees death. But coordinated resistance with proper planning creates possibility."
"Possibility isn't certainty."
"Nothing is certain when opposing divine authority. But we have advantages the Lion King doesn't expect. Resources, capabilities, and allies she hasn't accounted for."
Kal'tsit stood.
"Stay with Rhodes Island. Help us prepare. Provide intelligence about Victorian operations from your memory and experience. When the extraction window opens, you'll be positioned to guide the operation rather than hoping someone else succeeds."
Siege remained seated, her internal struggle visible.
"What if we fail? What if the operation goes wrong and they die because I wasn't there to protect them?"
"Then at least you tried. At least you gave them a chance beyond waiting for inevitable execution or battlefield death."
Kal'tsit moved toward the door.
"I'll give you time to decide. But understand that time is limited. The clock is already running, and every day we lose makes the eventual extraction more difficult."
She paused at the exit.
"Your people trusted you to lead them. To make hard decisions that balance idealism with reality. This is one of those decisions. Choose based on what gives them the best chance of survival, not what makes you feel better about your loyalty."
Kal'tsit left, and Siege sat alone with documents showing timelines and casualty projections and possible futures.
Finally, she pulled out a communication device and began typing a message to Rhodes Island command.
She was staying. For her people, for the slim hope of extraction, for the chance to fight back against the goddess who had destroyed everything she'd built.
The Lion King would view this as betrayal.
Let her.
Siege had made her choice.
Rhodes Island Facility, Doctor's Office
I returned to the Doctor's office the following morning, finding them already prepared with extensive documentation and what looked like enough tea to sustain a small army.
"We're starting with Arknights fundamentals."
They announced, gesturing to a seat.
"Origins of Originium, the formation of mobile cities, political structure of major nations, and the infected crisis that defines social dynamics across Terra."
"That's a lot of ground to cover."
"We have all day. Possibly multiple days depending on how many questions you have."
They pulled up a presentation on their tablet.
"Originium is a crystalline mineral discovered approximately two hundred years ago. It possesses unique properties that allow it to store and release energy efficiently, making it the foundation of modern Terran technology."
Images showed Originium crystals in various forms, from small shards to massive deposits.
"However, exposure to Originium causes a disease called Oripathy. The mineral integrates into organic tissue, gradually crystallizing the body from within. It's progressive, incurable by conventional medicine, and eventually fatal."
"How long from infection to death?"
"Varies based on exposure levels and individual physiology. Anywhere from months to decades. Some infected learn to manage symptoms and live relatively normal lives. Others deteriorate rapidly."
The Doctor highlighted infection rates on a graph.
"Approximately thirty percent of Terra's population is infected. They face systematic discrimination, legal restrictions, employment barriers, and social stigmatization. Most governments treat Oripathy as both medical crisis and security threat."
"Which creates the conditions for organizations like Reunion."
"Exactly. Reunion started as a civil rights movement advocating for infected equality. Over time, it radicalized into a militant organization using terrorism and violence to force change."
They switched to different files showing Reunion's organizational structure.
"Led by Talulah, who you've already encountered. Under her command are various divisions including military operations, intelligence gathering, recruitment, and propaganda. They operate across multiple nations, attacking settlements, destroying infrastructure, and attempting to destabilize governments they view as oppressive."
"And Rhodes Island positions itself between these factions."
"Yes. We're a pharmaceutical company focused on Oripathy research and treatment, but we also operate as a paramilitary organization. We provide medical services to infected populations, mediate conflicts between nations and Reunion, and rescue operators from dangerous situations."
The Doctor pulled up Rhodes Island's organizational chart.
"Leadership includes myself as tactical commander, Kal'tsit as senior medical officer and strategic advisor, and Amiya as the public face of the organization. We employ operators from across Terra, both infected and uninfected, all working toward the goal of finding a cure for Oripathy while preventing large scale violence."
They continued explaining for hours, covering the major nations in detail. Ursus and its oppressive government. Yan and its complex political structure. Columbia's technological advancement and corporate culture. Kazimierz's martial traditions. Victoria's aristocratic system that had now been completely upended by the Lion King's arrival.
I absorbed it all, asking clarifying questions and making connections to the fragments of knowledge I had picked up during my brief time in Terra.
"What about the timeline of events?"
I asked during a brief break.
"You mentioned Chernobog should be happening soon. What does that involve?"
"Reunion takes over the mobile city of Chernobog in a coordinated assault. They use it as a base of operations and as a weapon, planning to crash it into Lungmen to cause massive casualties."
The Doctor pulled up maps showing the projected collision course.
"Rhodes Island intervenes, rescues key personnel including Amiya who gets trapped in the chaos, and eventually stops the collision. That operation establishes Rhodes Island's reputation as a serious military force and kicks off the main conflict with Reunion."
"But the Lion King's presence has changed things."
"Significantly. Reunion is more aggressive, better equipped, operating with confidence born from seeing Victoria fall so quickly. The Chernobog operation might happen earlier or later, might be more or less destructive depending on how resources are allocated."
They showed me alternate scenarios they had been modeling.
"I'm trying to preserve the core elements. Amiya's character development, key operator recruitments, critical intelligence gathering. But the details are fluid, constantly adapting to new variables."
We broke for lunch, eating simple food while continuing discussion in more casual tones.
"Now for Fate Grand Order."
The Doctor said once we resumed.
"You finished the singularities, so you know about the Incineration of Humanity and defeating Solomon. The Lostbelts are what comes after."
They explained the concept of pruned timelines and Crypters, alternate histories that had been eliminated from the proper human timeline but were now being restored by mysterious benefactors. Each Lostbelt represented a different "what if" scenario where human development took drastically different paths.
"The Russian Lostbelt features an eternal winter ruled by Ivan the Terrible transformed into a mammoth beast. The Norse Lostbelt has Ragnarok stuck in an endless loop with Skadi, the god, ruling over what remains. The Chinese Lostbelt involves the Qin Emperor achieving immortality through extreme measures."
They continued through all seven Lostbelts, explaining the threats and the Servants encountered in each.
"The important thing is that any of these Servants or Noble Phantasms could theoretically appear through your gacha system. You might pull Anastasia's ice powers, or Sigurd's dragon-slaying sword, or Ivan's mammoth transformation."
"Or something from Artoria's Lostbelt."
"The British Lostbelt, yes. That one is particularly relevant given our situation. It features the artoria, or a version of her, ruling over a stagnant fairy kingdom. She became caster along with muramasa and others as they go against morgan."
The Doctor pulled up information about that storyline.
"In FGO, she's defeated through combined efforts of multiple Servants and the protagonist's unique abilities. But that was in a game with specific mechanics and plot armor. Here, in Terra, she's fully powered with no game balance restrictions."
"So we can't rely on FGO's solutions working the same way."
"Correct. We need to develop our own strategies based on Terra's rules and the resources available to us."
The afternoon passed in continued discussion, covering Noble Phantasm mechanics, Servant classifications, and strategic implications of different FGO abilities appearing in Terra.
Eventually, we shifted away from pure information transfer to more relaxed conversation. The Doctor prepared more tea and we settled into comfortable chairs.
"Favorite anime?"
I asked, curious about their tastes.
"Besides the obvious ones we've both played as games."
"Steins;Gate."
They answered without hesitation.
"The way it handles time travel paradoxes and consequences for changing the past. Felt more realistic than most science fiction."
"Good choice. Mine's probably Kara no Kyoukai."
"The Garden of Sinners series? Makes sense given your current situation."
"Yeah, watching Shiki deal with her Mystic Eyes and personality felt relevant when I inherited the same abilities."
We discussed various anime, comparing notes on what we'd watched and what we'd missed. The conversation was comfortable, familiar, the kind of casual exchange that made the alienness of Terra feel temporarily distant.
"What about favorite game besides gacha?"
The Doctor asked.
"I was into strategy games mostly. Civilization, XCOM, that sort of thing. Games where planning and resource management mattered more than reflexes."
"Same. Which is why I ended up playing Arknights. Tower defense strategy appealed to that mindset."
"Did you spend money on it?"
"More than I'd like to admit. Monthly cards, some occasional top ups for limited banners. Nothing crazy but definitely not free to play."
"I was a dolphin in FGO. Not whale territory but not innocent either."
We laughed about our gacha spending, the absurdity of discussing mobile game economics while possessing actual Noble Phantasms and Holy Grails.
The Doctor's tablet chimed, interrupting our conversation. They checked the notification, their posture shifting to alert attention.
"Incoming call from Ch'en."
They explained, accepting the connection.
A holographic image appeared above the tablet, showing a woman with dark hair and dragon horns, dressed in what looked like Lungmen Guard Department uniform. Behind her stood another woman, taller and more muscular, with oni features.
"Doctor."
Ch'en's voice was professional but carried urgency.
"We have a situation that requires Rhodes Island consultation. There's an intruder in Lungmen, someone who's been appearing and disappearing across the city. LGD has been tracking them for hours but we can't predict their movements or contain them."
"What kind of abilities are they displaying?"
The Doctor asked, already pulling up city maps.
"Reality manipulation of some kind. They vanish from one location and reappear elsewhere instantly. No Arts signatures we can detect, no conventional teleportation. It's like they're editing reality itself."
Ch'en pulled up footage and sent it to the Doctor's tablet.
"Hoshiguma and I have been pursuing them personally. We've confirmed they're gathering intelligence, accessing secure systems, and leaving no physical trace. Whatever their goal is, it's sophisticated."
The Doctor opened the video file, and I moved closer to see the footage.
It showed a figure moving through Lungmen's streets with unnatural fluidity. Young, small build, distinctive gray and pink hair in a ponytail. They wore a dark jacket and carried what looked like advanced technology that didn't match Terra's aesthetic. As LGD officers closed in, the figure simply glitched out of existence, pixels distorting reality before they vanished completely.
I felt my blood run cold.
The Doctor stared at the screen, their body going rigid.
We both recognized that hair, that jacket, that reality warping ability.
We turned to look at each other, speaking in perfect unison.
"Silver Wolf!"
Ch'en looked confused on the holographic display.
"Silver Wolf? You know this intruder?"
But neither of us answered immediately, too busy processing the implications.
The Doctor recovered first, their mind clearly racing through scenarios.
"Is this after Amphoreus?"
They asked me, urgency clear in their voice.
The question referred to Honkai Star Rail's storyline, specifically whether Silver Wolf's appearance meant events had progressed past the Amphoreus arc or if this was happening during an earlier timeline.
"I don't know."
I admitted.
"I haven't kept up with Star Rail's updates. Lost track after the Xianzhou storyline."
"Shit."
The Doctor turned back to the holographic call.
"Ch'en, this is more complicated than a simple intruder. The person you're tracking is from... elsewhere. Someone with capabilities that exceed anything Terra has encountered."
"Can you provide intelligence about their abilities or objectives?"
Ch'en asked, professional despite the vague explanation.
"Their abilities include reality hacking, digital manipulation, and what amounts to creative mode access to existence itself. As for objectives..."
The Doctor looked at me.
"If Silver Wolf is here, she's either following the Stellaron Hunters' agenda or she's investigating on her own. Either way, her presence means the situation just escalated significantly."
"Should we continue pursuit?"
Hoshiguma asked from behind Ch'en.
"Negative. You won't be able to contain her through conventional means. Focus on damage control and tracking her movements. We'll handle direct contact."
The Doctor ended the call and immediately began pulling up files.
"Silver Wolf in Terra. That's not a coincidence. The god who sent us here is collecting entities from multiple universes, not just Fate."
"Honkai Star Rail, Fate, Arknights, all converging in the same world."
I said, the pattern becoming clear.
"They're creating a crossover event. Pulling characters from different games and watching them interact."
"Which means there could be others. More Servants beyond the Lion King, more Star Rail characters beyond Silver Wolf, more variables we haven't accounted for."
The Doctor stood and moved to their wall of maps, adding new markers for potential threats.
"We need to make contact with Silver Wolf. Determine if she's working with or against the Stellaron Hunters, understand what she knows about the situation, and potentially recruit her as an ally."
"Or at least prevent her from causing catastrophic damage to Terra's infrastructure."
"That too."
They turned back to me.
"You've played Star Rail too. What do you know about Silver Wolf's personality and motivations?"
"She's a hacker, both digital and reality based. Treats everything like a game, literally keeps score of her exploits. She works with the Stellaron Hunters but has her own agenda focused on breaking systems and proving she's the best hacker in existence."
I thought about the character's story.
"She's not evil exactly, more chaotic neutral. Will help or hinder based on what's most interesting or challenging. If she's here investigating Terra, it's because something caught her attention as a puzzle worth solving."
"So we offer her a bigger puzzle. Something that appeals to her hacker mindset."
The Doctor was already formulating a plan.
"We find her, explain the situation with the Lion King and the divine entities, and present opposing a goddess as the ultimate challenge. Breaking divine authority through exploiting reality's code."
"That might actually work."
"It has to. Because if Silver Wolf is here, and the Stellaron Hunters are involved, then Terra's situation is even more complex than we thought."
They pulled out the Holy Grail, its presence filling the room with power.
"We're going to need every advantage we can get. Every ally we can recruit. Every resource we can leverage."
The Doctor looked at me directly.
"This just became a multi-universal crisis. Are you ready for that?"
I thought about everything I had learned today. The complexity of Terra's conflicts, the scope of FGO's threats, and now the addition of Star Rail's reality warping capabilities.
It was overwhelming. Impossible. The kind of situation that should have made me want to run and hide.
Instead, I felt excitement. The challenge of it, the sheer absurdity of fighting alongside characters from multiple franchises against threats that spanned universes.
The god wanted entertainment.
They were about to get the crossover event of the century.
"I'm ready."
"Good. Because tomorrow we're hunting a hacker, and I have a feeling that's just the beginning."
The Doctor set the Grail aside and began making preparations.
Outside, Lungmen continued its routines, unaware that another reality warper now walked its streets.
Above Terra, the Astral Express maintained its orbit, observers growing more concerned about the converging anomalies.
And somewhere in Victoria, the Lion King prepared for war, unaware that forces beyond even her comprehension were beginning to gather.