Otherwise, you can find another savior.

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They saw him point straight ahead and say, "There's a new magical reaction approaching, it doesn't seem like a Servant."

As they spoke, a series of intense tremors shook the earth.

That was the vibration transmitted through the earth by the feet of a giant creature as it ran.

Soon, the source of this earth-shaking force emerged from the depths of the forest, surprising them all.

"The giant race of Jotunheim?" Shiomi frowned.

After all, before Chaldea officially came into contact with the Lostbelts, the seven Lostbelts had been operating for more than three months, giving Koyanskaya ample time to take something from them during that period.

“It seems that Koyanskaya has chosen suitable creatures from these Lostbelts to serve as her servants in maintaining the operation of this world?” Scáthach looked at the three hostile giants. “Skadi isn’t here, so let’s clean up her house for her.”

“No, Master, you’ve just finished fighting. Let’s rest here for a bit. I’ll take care of things,” tide Jian said.

Morgan's lips curled slightly: "My husband, could it be—"

“Regardless of whether Koyanskaya has noticed our entry here, or whether Taikoubou has already manifested here, I must take this opportunity to reveal my identity.” Shiomi slowly rose into the air and stretched out her hand to the charging giants. “Let’s make a little show of things. Please be prepared for the impact.”

A sudden gust of wind arose, preventing the three Jotun giants from getting any closer and abruptly halting their advance.

"No need to worry, just get started."

Scáthach laughed and loudly agreed, then tucked her sideburns behind her ears.

Under the watchful eyes of the three, Shiomi launched a counterattack.

Chapter 1 Willing to Take the Bait (1)

Although she said she wanted to fight in a flashy way so that she could get the attention of Koyanskaya, the owner of this special area, Shiomi did not blindly use fire attacks.

Even though it was just a fleeting fantasy, it was still a lush and vibrant forest. He didn't use any means to start a fire; he destroyed the three Jotun giants solely through wind pressure and manipulating plants.

However, during the battle against the titans, he realized that these Jotun titans were even stronger than the native species of the Norse Lostbelt, which made the battle take a little longer than he had expected.

Because when he landed and met up with Morgan and the others, they were already sharing the snacks they had brought for the journey before setting off from Storm Border.

"How do you feel, my husband?" Morgan held out the paper bag containing the snacks, gesturing for Shio to take it.

Shio didn't have an appetite right now, so he didn't take any snacks. He shook his head and turned to look at the giant's corpse that hadn't disappeared yet.

"It looks like the Jotun giants were forcibly brought here and became guards to fight any enemies who enter this place by becoming their familiars." He said thoughtfully, "They are very tough. I controlled my strength at first based on my experience with the Norse Lostbelts, but I still couldn't kill them easily."

“Even for a familiar, this is a bit too much of a boost,” Scáthach chuckled. “Looks like there’s no way to cut corners by relying on experience.”

"With all that commotion, I could feel the whole forest stirring," Artoria said, partially covering her mouth as she chewed on a snack. "Should we start moving now? Or should we leave the rune traps behind before we leave?"

Shiomi thought for a moment: "We could set up a few magic traps so that if Koyanskaya appears here, we can detect it immediately... But would she easily show herself here instead of staying at her base?"

Morgan suddenly clenched the paper bag in his hand, biting the unfinished snack into his mouth, freeing his other hand to face another direction, ready to unleash a magical attack.

"Show yourself, or do you want to start fighting without even meeting me?" Scáthach gripped her red spear and pointed it in the direction Morgan was aiming.

Shiomi crossed her arms and said, “You’ve gotten this close before the intense magic from my battle has dissipated, but you haven’t made a move yet. You don’t seem like an enemy.”

Echoing his guess, a silver-haired woman emerged from behind a dense bush taller than a person, raising her hands in a gesture that was not hostile.

"Please don't be so wary, I am not your enemy." The woman introduced herself with a smile, "I am also a Servant who was summoned to this place. My class is Rider, the Dragon Slayer of Kiev, Dobreneia Nikitich."

Nikitich's raised left hand was holding a long-handled hammer that was more than half the length of a person.

"Rider?"

Shiomi reached out and patted Morgan on the shoulder, causing Morgan to stop preparing his magic and continue eating the snacks in his hand, allowing him to communicate with the Servant who had suddenly appeared.

"A Servant summoned by the Counter Force?" Scáthach sheathed her gun. "Did it sense the magical reactions from our battle and track us down?"

Seeing that they had put aside their hostility, Nikitich smiled kindly and said, "No, I just happened to be traveling with someone. After sensing the magical reactions of your battle, that person asked me to come and meet you."

"A backup?" Shio raised an eyebrow. "Is she also a Servant? What's her real name?"

“I can tell you his real name here, of course, but he prefers to be formally introduced after we meet.” Nikitich gestured invitingly. “If you trust me, please come with me. He’s fishing on the banks of the Tunguska River right now.”

This special area of ​​strange occurrences happens to cover the Tunguska River region, so the reappearance of a river that had disappeared within it is not an unusual environment.

"So, do you want to go with them?"

In this situation, Artoria, as always, prioritized Shiomi's opinion.

"Fishing by the river?" Shio was pretty sure, so she didn't hesitate any longer. "Then I'll trouble you to lead the way, Ms. Dobrenia Nikitich."

“Hmm! You’re all quick-witted people. Does that person know you?” Nikitich reacted with a mixture of pleasure and surprise. “Then, follow me. I’ll lead the way. There are no proper roads here, so please be careful not to fall behind.”

As he spoke, Nikitich swung his hammer, clearing a path through the bushes and foliage so that Shio and the others could follow behind.

The two walked with a distance of about ten meters between them.

It wasn't that we were on guard, but rather that we wanted to discuss matters concerning Nikitich.

“Dobryn Nikitich, I remember he’s a hero from the Russian epic poem ‘The Song of the Warriors.’” Shiomi said, glancing at Artoria. “Of course, in the epic poem, Nikitich, like King Arthur, is also male.”

"Like me, you also appeared as a male in your previous life, which is why you left behind this kind of legacy?" Artoria wasn't too surprised.

Having my own example, it's not surprising that I encounter the same type again.

"It's hard to say. We can ask him when we have time later." tide Jian didn't really want to delve into these details. "I just mentioned it casually, since you all don't seem to know much about this Servant's background."

"Even if he's a hero whose name will be remembered for generations, at least on this level, he's still trustworthy," Scáthach said. "What I'm more interested in now is who sent Rider to greet us?"

Morgan casually stuffed the unfinished snacks aside and disappeared.

That's a technique that uses imaginary space as a four-dimensional pocket for storage.

“Who else could it be? If my husband’s dream was not a misjudgment, then there is only one possibility for who is waiting for us now.” Morgan crossed his arms. “He specifically sent us on a detour here. I hope we won’t disappoint my husband.”

"For now, let's prepare for battle." Shiomi shrugged. "If the other side is also the type who likes to test strength before communicating, there's nothing I can do."

"I don't think we need to worry about that."

Nikitich could actually hear them talking, but he didn't interrupt; he only helped explain things now.

The group walked quickly and soon passed through the forest, avoiding their families, and arrived at the riverbank.

The man who, as Nikitich had described, was sitting by the river fishing, turned around and nodded to Shiomi after Nikitich greeted him.

“I have been waiting here for a long time, Your Excellency Tianxi.”

Chapter Two: Willing to Take the Bait (2)

The man who greeted Shioji Tenkei in a very polite tone was a young man who looked to be no more than twenty-five years old.

She wore a black crane cloak with red trim, and a cape decorated with fur draped over her shoulders.

When he greeted us, he was smiling with his eyes narrowed, exuding an air of otherworldly elegance.

“Fishing with a straight hook…” tide Jian glanced at the river where the man was fishing.

The fishing line that fell into the river had no proper hook; it was only attached to a steel needle with a tiny barb.

"Those who are willing will take the bait." The man laughed heartily, quite pleased, not at all afraid of disturbing the river fish that might be there.

“Although I can be fairly certain of your real name, please introduce yourself.” tide Jian shook her head helplessly and gestured for her to continue. “After all, you already know me.”

“Yes, indeed. It’s more proper to introduce yourself. Besides, I specifically waited for you to come here.” The man put down his fishing rod and remained seated. He crossed his arms and bowed to Shiomi. “My real name is Taigong Wang, and my Taoist name is Fei Xiong. I am a Servant manifested in the world as a Rider.”

"As expected." tide Jian scratched her head. "It seems that the flying bear entering my dream was really a prophecy. Luckily, I had someone do a divination before I set off, otherwise I would have really missed it."

"Hahaha, Flying Bear enters my dream." Taigong Wang revealed a nostalgic expression. "Back then, His Highness King Wen was like this, which is why we met when I was fishing on the banks of the Wei River. I never expected that Lord Tianxi would be like this too."

"You flatter me, Lord Taigong Wang. How could I possibly compare to King Wen of the past?" tide Jian gestured for Morgan and the others to find a place to sit, and then sat down near Taigong Wang herself. "For me now, that dream wasn't just a simple premonition; it was probably some kind of way of informing me."

“Truly perceptive.” Taigong Wang’s narrowed eyes opened slightly, as if scrutinizing Xi Jian, before closing them again. “I am here to wait for Lord Tianxi on the orders of the Goddess Nuwa.”

"Who did you say?" tide Jian thought she had misheard.

"Although I couldn't easily witness the previous battles, the fact that you were able to easily annihilate the heretical beings here shows that Lord Tianxi's growth has indeed been rapid." Taigong Wang gripped his fishing rod again, gazing at the water. "Your Excellency has successfully ascended to the throne of a god. As a god-human, fighting for humanity is truly a cause for celebration."

"Well……"

Shio-mi vaguely understood the meaning of that dream, and the meaning of his coming here.

It wasn't simply about defeating Koyanskaya, the candidate for Beast IV, but also about some things we absolutely had to know.

"So, Your Excellency Taigong Wang came here not to subdue the Beast that has not yet completed its ascension, but to convey something to my husband?" Morgan asked at this moment.

Taigong Wang shook his head: "Madam Fairy is wrong. I have many things to do here, and the Beast is just one of them. Originally, I planned to find a way to defeat it myself, but Goddess Nuwa personally entrusted me with these tasks, and I cannot disregard my responsibilities and act arbitrarily."

“It seems we have a lot to discuss here, but I just caused such a commotion. Aren’t you worried that Koyanskaya or her men might come looking for us and interrupt our conversation?” Shiomi asked.

Taiko-no-Wang calmly responded to Shio-mi's concerns: "Although these are just a few strange relatives that Lord Tianxi can handle by himself, if they all come at once, it would indeed be impossible to have a proper conversation. But there is no need to worry. They are deployed in this area and will automatically take action to attack any entity they perceive as an enemy."

At this point, Taigong Wang raised his index finger in a gesture:

"Besides, the fighting was so intense before. Even though it was an automatic action and attack, those strange relatives could still judge the level of danger. At least for the time being, no one will disturb this place. This is all thanks to Lord Tianxi."

"Where is Koyanskaya?" Shiomi continued to press for information.

“These creatures have no direct connection to their master; the Beast will only sense the immense magical reaction here. It will take time to respond effectively,” Taikomochi said.

This largely matched tide Jian's previous guess, so she stopped questioning it, slightly adjusted her posture, and looked at Taigong Wang:

"Now that I can rest easy for the time being, I would like to trouble you, Lord Taigong Wang, to explain to me the significance of your visit. If it was entrusted to me personally by Goddess Nuwa, it must be something of great importance to me."

"Hmm... Lord Tianxi's guess is basically correct." Taigong Wang smiled happily. "Before that, I would like to confirm one thing. Lord Tianxi, have you had any contact with Mooncell?"

"There was no direct contact. We only received assistance from a superior AI sent by Mooncell during the battle against BeastⅢ/R. However, that event has been classified as an imaginary event, and apart from a few of us who experienced it firsthand, only Mooncell has a record of it."

When faced with Taigong Wang's question, Xijian did not shy away from it.

“As expected. No wonder I found the whole story unclear.” Taigong Wang understood the situation. “Since it’s Mooncell’s calculation result, let’s agree.”

“Unfortunately, Mooncell didn’t reveal much about me,” Shiomi said. “The AI ​​that assisted us at the time…BB, due to the level of secrecy, only released a small portion of the information.”

“At least for Lord Tianxi, he has already accepted that the whole picture could not be known at that time.” Taigong Wang expressed his deep understanding. “What I am about to say is ultimately just the way we came. How you choose to walk the road ahead is entirely up to you.”

"Why do you say that?" Shiomi asked. "Is it because I've already attained godhood, or is it—"

"On the contrary." Taigong Wang shook his head with a faint smile. "It's just because it should be this way. As long as you have a clear conscience and are true to the people you love, your choice is enough."

"Is this... advice to me?" Shiomi asked, somewhat confused.

"No, it's just Nuwa's expectation of you." Taigong looked at the motionless fishhook.

tide Jian was slightly surprised: "...Expectations for me?"

And it's even the goddess Nuwa! Just how could this be—

“After all, from the source, you are an existence created by the goddess Nuwa based on something for the people of this era.” Taigong Wang recounted something in a gentle tone, “The name ‘Tianxi’ was originally decided by the goddess Nuwa after she created you. It was only in order for you to act in the world as a relatively appropriate magician that Mooncell calculated and decided on your current name.”

"What exactly is this 'foundation' you're talking about—"

"The remaining core of the Great Demon King Lucifer."

When Shio-mi continued to press for answers, Tai-gong Wang gave a shocking response.

Chapter Three: Destiny (1)

Shio almost jumped up from her seat and took a few steps back.

Although he had some vague premonitions about his origins, the answer revealed by Taigong Wang at this moment was still too astonishing.

"Lucifer? That...fallen angel?"

As if asking a question he already knew the answer to, Shio asked again, his eyes turning to Morgan at that moment.

Morgan shook his head at him, silently telling Shiomi that Taiko-no-Wang had not fabricated a lie.

“It’s not surprising that you’re so surprised.” Taigongwang beckoned for Xijian to sit down again. “But can you honestly say that you didn’t have the slightest premonition before this?”

"..." tide Jian remained silent.

Premonitions and similar things do exist.

In the process of preventing the burning of humanity, he had several revelatory dreams.

Sometimes it was a simple rebuke, and sometimes it was like a request for forgiveness that demanded his repentance.

They are all related to a certain god.

"According to you, my beloved disciple was not created solely by the goddess Nuwa, but rather arranged in this way based on certain causal relationships?" Scáthach inquired on his behalf. "Answer me, Lord Taigong Wang, what burdens did my beloved disciple bear that propelled him all the way to this point, even allowing him to ascend to the throne of a god?"

“Your Excellency Scáthach, there’s no need to rush me. Allow me to explain the whole story.” Taigong Wang shook his head. “Then, let’s rewind to the burning of humanity. Your Excellency Tianxi should already know that it was not the work of the Demon King Goetia alone. Behind the whole incident, there is also the shadow of the god he worships.”

“I noticed it to some extent,” Shiomi said. “When I was reading the contents of the Destiny Tablets at the Uruk Singularity, I saw what appeared to be Goetia listening to a revelation.”