Section 2: Collision

At any rate, this is good news!

Having even a single additional Servant on our side vastly improves our options!

Furthermore, memory issues aside, the fact that she is a Divine Spirit is significant.

We've confirmed that the Storm Border has escaped, yes?

Then that leaves us with two choices: go forward, or go back.

It need hardly be said that we will be choosing the former.

We should assume that the enemy already knows we're here...

...so we need to reach Koyanskaya and take her down as soon as possible. Sooner, even!

Remember, we aren't infiltrating a Lostbelt this time. We are here to eliminate a specific threat.

The longer we take, the more time we give Koyanskaya to mature as a Beast.

So we're just going to have to do the best we can with the resources we have. There may not be many of us, but that will help us be stealthy.

I think, anyway. Wh-what do you say, Technical Advisor?

Sounds good to me!

That we all survived the crash intact AND we still have Ibuki-Douji with us...

...are both incredible strokes of luck.

If we find ourselves needing to retreat, we can do that after we've scouted the place and figured out some things.

So I say we stick to the basics and keep to our usual strategy: explore and analyze.

Isn't that right, Master Fujimaru?

？！

Heh.

I'm glad you understand.

As for you, Meuni-Meuni, I trust you have no objections? Though I'm sure you're not exactly eager to get going, coward that you are.

At least I'm not as bad as you, Chubs. Besides, it's probably better to play things safe here.

So, what're we doing, Da Vinci? Do we just stick to our original plan?

Damn, somebody's raring to go! Hell, I think your motivation's even rubbing off on me!

Oh. Yeah.

The original plan was to overwhelm the magical energy signal we think is Koyanskaya with sheer Servant firepower.

？！

Yeah, we're definitely going to have to make some course corrections.

Our initial strategy was to throw a bunch of fast and heavy-hitting Heroic Spirits at Koyanskaya blitzkrieg-style, regardless of the situation.

But as things stand, we're about a hundred and fifty kilometers from her signal.

We're sitting at the Special Region's southern edge...

...so it's going to take us some time to reach Koyanskaya in the center.

...Hmm.

We could simply make a run for her in the Border, but we'll need to do more than just reach her to secure our victory.

First, I'd like to understand the environment we're in here.

It would be one thing if we were surrounded, but luckily, it seems like we don't have any hostiles in the area right now.

Right, Technical Advisor?

Yup. There're definitely no hostiles nearby. I'm constantly scanning, so if there were, I'd know.

But I don't have any insights to offer about anything beyond the Border's scanning range.

That, we're going to have to investigate with the field ops team.

So, that would mean

Exactly.

It'd also be great if we could find a Rogue Servant or two to help us. I have no idea if there are any out here, though...

Yup. We need to gather information, and we need to add to our fighting force. Same thing we always do, really.

？！

While we were hoping to test our new Servant blitzkrieg tactics here as a trial run for the Seventh Lostbelt...

...we were also doing it to reduce the burden on you guys.

I'm really sorry we can't do that for this mission anymore.

In the end, all we can do now is count on you, Mash, and Ibuki-Douji to investigate this area on your own, like we always do...

？！

Right!

It's a shame the Storm Border won't be able to provide us with electricity anymore, but I can still use the Black Barrel independently if I have to.

And in terms of instantaneous firepower, a single round should be as strong as several Servants combined.

Oh. That's me, right?

Ibuki-Douji, Ibuki-Douji... Got it. And yeah, I'll be a big help! I'm at least as strong as a hundred spirits!

A hundred spirits...?

Oh, you mean as in a hundred soldiers! Why didn't you just say that instead of making it about spirits!?

Gah! You startled me.

Hey! Stop infusing your gaze with magical energy! You're giving me flashbacks to my hellish Mystic Eyes endurance training!

Is... Can you actually endure that? And if so, how the hell do you train for something like that...?

？！

Okay then, let's get this new operation underway.

Field ops, your mission is to gather information on this Special Region, and to find us some more fighters.

Of course, I doubt there are many Rogue Servants that can maintain their existence out here.

Plus, since we're not yet sure if we can use summoning circles, I don't think we'll be able to summon many other Heroic Spirits...

But if you do find an opportunity to expand our ranks, please take it.

Also, you should still be able to perform simple Servant summons for at least a few minutes.

So watch your stamina, investigate as much as you can, and fight when necessary.

See you later! Be careful out there!

Right, Master!

？！

Wooo!

Unfortunately, it seems our communications can't go through the barrier, but they're working fine inside it.

So don't forget to make regular reports to the Shadow Border.

All right then...let the Koyanskaya Hunt begin!

Ahaha!

？！

Y-yeah! I should have known Ibuki-Douji would have some impressive aerial ability!

I can't believe how fast she is, especially since she's three meters tall, carrying us, and still flying!

Crossing such a dense forest would have taken us so long without her!

Fooou!

It's still not clear if there are any hostiles nearby or not...

...but we should be able to avoid detection thanks to the tree coverage.

Hmm. I'm not so sure, Mash.

I'm kind of glowing, right? I mean, not physically, but like, in terms of aura, you know?

That will make it pretty obvious I'm not just any ordinary foe. So we ought to keep our guard up!

Y-yes, that's a good point.

Still, I can't help but think this is a perfect way to scout ahead.

Even if we're spotted, you should be able to outrun almost anything that comes after us!

？！

...!

Ibuki-Douji?

There's something big up ahead. I think it's part of the natural environment, but...

Something about it is making me really uneasy. I wonder what it could be...

Ah!

？！

Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to shout.

Anyway, both of you, stay alert!

I know this isn't really my first time doing something like this, but it kind of feels like it, so...

There! Enemies!

I'm detecting multiple heat signatures up ahead... We've got hostiles, Master!

I could try to fly around them...but I feel like that's a bad idea.

Every one of my instincts is screaming at me that they've already got us in their sights. You two know what that means, right?

Right!

Activating Ortinax now!

Preparing to engage the enemy!

Fo...

It's not safe out here, Fou! Please get inside the shield!

Fou!

Here they come! It really does feel like my first time doing this, but...let's go!

Ibuki-Douji!

I'm on it!

...There we go, back to normal size. That should do it, right?

？！

Right. Some of them looked just like the Yaga, and the others were just like the kali we saw in the Indian Lostbelt...

Although, it's strange... I couldn't sense any sort of life force in them whatsoever.

Same. They were definitely coming after us, but there was nothing else to them.

No anger. No fear. Not even a desire to hunt to survive.

Ugh, that was so weird!

I know I'm having trouble with my memories right now, but I can still tell there was something off about those things.

... ...

Senpai, do you think

More hostiles incoming!

These rumblings are a lot bigger than before... Be careful, you two. These things must be really huge.

!

Those are Scandinavian giants...and elite warriors, at that!

？！

Advanced giants!

I remember a little bit now. Even a single giant is really, reeeally strong...

...and special ones like these guys are super-duper rare!

So the fact that we're running into them here must mean we're dealing with something strange!

!!!

That roar shook the very ground! Now THAT'S what I'm talking about!

We'll just have to think of them as big, walking, roaring fortresses! Get ready, Master! Mash!

These giant generals are really tough!

Finally, I can cut loose!

I'm sure that'll use up a lot of magical energy, so I apologize now if they kill me!

？！

You guys are in trouble already, huh!? You shoulda just let me know I was up, then!

Whoa, those guys are huge! I can't believe you're not scared of them, Fujimaru!

Yeah? I'm impressed! Guess I'd better hold it together too, then!

I can do short bursts! It's pretty rough, but sometimes work is just like that, yeah?

？！

All right then, let's hit them with a round from the Black Barrel to kick things off!

You ready, Mash? I'll let you handle the timing.

Right! Setting Black Barrel to Blaster Mode! Just let me know when to activate it, Master!

Thanks for the help! All right...let's do this, nameless giant generals!