Jin-Woo gave only a single nod in silent approval.
Suddenly, the air rippled. Multiple slipspace gates opened across the platform.
First to emerge was Kadoc Zemlupus, dressed in his winter-layered coat, standing tall despite the pressure. Behind him walked his Servant—Anastasia, her caster robes glowing with frost.
Then came the Russian Lostbelt King—Ivan the Terrible. No longer in mammoth form in more calmer state due to kadoc explanation , Ivan's physique was twisted by his fusion with primordial lifeforms—ancient, alien. Two massive black horns protruded from his shoulders, curling slightly toward his back like the tusks of an old god. He radiated power.
Beside him walked a calm figure in priest's robes, wearing the face of Kirei Kotomine.
Rasputin opened his mouth and smiled politely. "Greetings. I am the priest of—"
Without hesitation, a shadow portal opened beneath his feet and swallowed him whole, banished him from the platform in an instant.
Jin-Woo exhaled faintly. "I don't need traitors and scumbags."
Ivan narrowed his eyes, the earth beneath his hooves cracking slightly. "Why have you banished my priest, Shadow Monarch?"
Jin-Woo's gaze didn't shift. "Because I don't need a third-rate pseudo-Servant inside a discarded body obsessed with mapo tofu."
Tension mounted—but before it could escalate further, a ripple of light tore through space. Another slipspace portal expanded, and from it stepped a new arrival.
Ophelia Phamrsolone emerged first, graceful and unshaken, the air around her tinged with cold serenity. Behind her walked her Servant—Sigurd, Saber-class. His legendary blade Gram rested effortlessly in his right hand. Glasses framed his sharp features, masking the deeper truth beneath his skin—Surtr, the King of Giants, coiled like a slumbering volcano waiting to awaken.
Following them came three more: the Valkyrie trio—Ortlinde, Hildr, and Thrúd—their synchronized footsteps resonating like divine drums. their white cloak and serene expressions concealing millennia of warlike precision.
And finally, the cold followed her.
Scáthach-Skadi, Queen of the Norse Lostbelt, stepped through.
The moment she arrived, Morgan's eyes narrowed . Her arms folded across her chest Her chest is bigger than mine, Morgan thought, mildly annoyed.
Jin-Woo didn't look, but he tilted his head ever so slightly, his voice low and dry.
"Don't worry," he said, "You're still one of the person I love ."
Morgan's lips twitched upward—but she said nothing.
Jin-Woo's gaze locked onto Sigurd for a moment. Then he moved.
It wasn't teleportation—it was Speed compressed into a single move . In less than a seconds , he appeared in front of Sigurd and a single, sharp punch into the Saber's chest—not with intent to wound, but to separate.
And from that strike, a sphere of darkness spiraled out—containing within it the boiling red essence of Surtr, the King of Giants.
Before anyone could even register the moment, Skadi's eyes widened in alarm. A blast of freezing mana erupted from her wand , but—
Morgan was already there.
Her demonic spear hovered at Skadi's throat, stopping her cold. The ice-magic fizzled into mist.
Skadi's voice turned low and bitter. "You follow this man… Lostbelt Queen Morgan le Fay? This man is a coward."
Morgan didn't even flinch. "He is my husband," she replied, voice razor sharp. "The only man I would ever follow. The only one I would ever love—until the end of time itself."
From behind them, Ophelia stepped forward. Her eyes were calm, resolute. "Skadi-sama… wait. Jin-Woo—he knows about me. About my burden, my Lostbelt, my choices. Since I arrived there."
Jin-Woo casually tossed the sphere—Surtr's sealed soul—to Ophelia, not even looking.
"You're welcome," he said. "I expect Daybit was right. If he fails, you all go back—one-way trip to your Lostbelts."
Skadi's eyes narrowed. "He's a rude man," she muttered. Then turned sharply. "And you… what are you hiding, Ophelia?"
Ophelia's answer was steady. "Jin-Woo just saved our Lostbelt here. That's all you need to know."
Sigurd, still steadying his breath, straightened his back and stepped forward slightly.
"Uhh… thank you for freeing me," he said, brushing dust off his armor . "Let me introduce myself properly. I am Sigurd, Saber cla—"
Jin-Woo was already walking away. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever."
Anastasia leaned in beside Kadoc, a teasing smile curling on her lips. "Kadoc, I know you can be cool like him someday."
Kadoc huffed, scratching the back of his head. "No way. That guy walks like he's lived a thousand wars. I'm just... me."
Before Anastasia could prod further, a third slipspace portal shimmered open—this one laced with golden strands of circuitry and ancient Chinese glyphs.
From the gleaming rift, Hinako Akuta stepped forward first, dressed in a subdued modern dress, her expression unreadable as ever. At her side was her loyal Saber-class Servant—Prince Lanling, whose porcelain mask and royal bearing gave him a quiet, noble presence.
Next came the thunderous sound of metallic hoofbeats—Xiang Yu emerged, towering and awe-inspiring in his mechanized centaur form, a being of multiple mechanical arms each carrying a blade. Cold red optics glowed faintly in his mask-like face, revealing neither emotion nor hesitation.
And finally—Qin Shi Huang, the King of the Chinese Lostbelt himself. His artificial human body glided forward like a deity clothed in fluttering wings and ceremonial cloaks. Lights shimmered off his translucent circuits as he raised both arms grandly.
"I declare this place," Qin proclaimed in perfect, formal cadence, "as another glorious territory of the Great Empire! Ha. Ha. Ha!"
Hinako covered her face with one hand and muttered under her breath, "Ignore him. Please."
Jin-Woo exhaled, expression flat. "Understandable."
Then he turned slightly. "Offensive Bias. I know where his real body is. Don't close the portal. His avatar might collapse like a puppet if we cut the tether."
Offensive Bias's sentinel form blinked. "Acknowledged. Portal stabilization maintained."
Qin, still hovering proudly, turned to look over the others. "You are all now citizens of the Eternal Empire! Rejoice."
Morgan whispered toward Jin-Woo, "That one might be worse than Skadi …"
Jin-Woo didn't disagree.
Morgan straightened and declared aloud, "This Zeta Halo is under the jurisdiction of the World of Eternal Slumber. Jin-Woo rules here."
Qin tilted his head and smirked with royal amusement. "Hohhh… so even a proud Lostbelt Queen can cast away her crown for love. How… human. But I suppose love does change people."
Morgan's smile twitched. A vein visibly pulsed on her temple, her grip tightening slightly on her spear. She looked two seconds from beheading the emperor's avatar.
But before anything could escalate, a fourth slipspace portal split open in a gentle shimmer of colors and perfume.
Scandinavia Peperoncino stepped through with a signature flourish, elegantly adjusting his tie of an Italian . Behind him, a towering figure emerged—Ashwatthama, Archer-class servant. His dark skin radiated heat, and behind him floated a giant ring-like chakram , humming with destructive potential. His wild hair and fierce gaze gave the air around him a permanent sense of tension.
Ashwatthama cracked his neck and glanced around. "Where's Bellion? I heard he's the strong one among the shadows."
Pepe giggled. "Can't blame him. My boy here is blood-pumping warrior through and through—but I'm sure Bellion would oblige later, right, Jin-Woo?"
Jin-Woo gave a small nod. "Later. After the mission's done. And no Arjuna Alter, ? Not Expected."
Pepe fanned himself once. "That man has zero tolerance for evil. If I brought him here? He'd try to purify everything, including you, Jin-Woo. The moment he senses your Shadow Monarch aura? He'd probably go full meltdown and get himself killed."
Jin-Woo raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Ashwatthama grinned wide, almost thrilled by the idea. "Maybe I'll take his place when that time come ."
Jin-Woo simply crossed his arms, silent and waiting for the last arrivals.
The fifth slipspace portal shimmered open in a cascade of dignified white light, like the curtain of a celestial stage. Through it stepped Kirschtaria Wodime, regal and composed, adorned in his pristine white coat lined with gold trim and feathered ornaments . In one hand, he held a uniquely-crafted cane that shimmered with faint constellations along its shaft—equal parts staff and symbol of authority.
Behind him followed three Servants:
Lancer-class Caenis, imposing and sharp-eyed, her toned figure carried the weight of past glory and wrath. A woman in form, but her aura spoke of a Man .
To her side, the Dioscuri twins, Saber-class—Castor and Pollux, divine twins of contrast. Castor, refined and poised in his gold sandals, and Pollux, radiant and severe in her golden heels. Both were wrapped in white fabric robes over dark bodysuits, their gold jewelry catching the light like starlight carved into metal.
Kirschtaria surveyed the open structure of Zeta Halo—the curving sky, the distant ringed horizon. His expression was controlled, but his eyes gleamed with awe.
"This… is the Zeta Halo," he said softly, as if reciting from prophecy. "Offensive Bias's domain. A miracle of design… and war. Even I am Impressed ."
From across the assembled group, Ophelia stepped forward with visible relief. "Welcome, Kirschtaria-sama," she said, her voice warm.
Kadoc gave a quiet nod. "I guess this is the first time outside the lostbelt we've seen each other face to face, Team Leader."
Peperoncino smiled gently, arms spread. "Even if just for a moment… I'm glad we could come back together."
From the same slipspace gate that brought the Dioscuri twins and Caenis, a thunderclap rolled, and the air shimmered with divine electricity.
Descending like a god , the Avatar of Zeus appeared—tall, impossibly broad-shouldered, draped in an Olympian battle cloak. His pale, metallic skin shimmered faintly with embedded circuitry; white hair and beard flowed like wild lightning itself. His presence alone sent a ripple through the fabric of Zeta Halo's artificial atmosphere.
"I see it now…" he said, voice deep and resonant. "A world beyond the Fantasy Tree. Another galaxy—real. You weren't lying after all, my only rival… Kirschtaria."
Kirschtaria didn't flinch. "I only heard of it from Daybit, actually."
Zeus's attention then turned, narrowing in on Jin-Woo—analyzing him with sharp, mechanical eyes. He stepped forward, each movement causing thunder to hum in his wake.
"I am the Chief of the Machine Gods, Zeus," he said with regal pride, extending his hand—not as a greeting, but as a declaration.
Jin-Woo stepped forward calmly. No words. No theatrics.
He met Zeus's grip. And surged his mana—dark, ancient, vast. It crawled across their clasped hands like a shadow made real, pressing into Zeus's divine skin and inner frame.
Zeus's wild grin widened, eyes flaring like storm-forged suns. He didn't step back. He enjoyed it.
"I want to fight you," Zeus said. "Not now. But after this mission is done—fight me with everything you've got, Shadow Monarch. I've only lost once, and that was to Kirschtaria… though, he cheated. But I didn't mind."
He released Jin-Woo's hand slowly, electricity still crackling along his wrist. "You, though… you'll give me the real thing."
Jin-Woo's response was cold, almost amused.
"Sure," he said. "After you prove that overhyped Noble Phantasm of yours—the one that's supposed to destroy a star ."
"Because last I checked… no one's even destroyed a planet yet. Just a lot of talk."
The final slipspace portal tore open, a jagged burst of multicolored distortion rippling across the edge of Zeta Halo like a wound in reality.
Out stepped Daybit Sem Void, calm as ever, hands in his coat pockets. Beside him materialized his servant—Tezcatlipoca, the chaotic Mayan deity draped in a jaguar-pelt cloak, gold ornaments clinking against his modern war-god frame. His aura flickered erratically between Ruler and Assassin—a dangerous duality condensed in flesh.
Daybit gave Jin-Woo a nod. "Sorry in advance."
Jin-Woo didn't move. Just slid a hand into his coat pocket.
Tezcatlipoca cracked a grin. "Consider it tradition, yeah? A junior's gotta respect his senior—"