A Villain's Journey Begins in the Type-Moon World

Nero waved his hand and said.

Then, as always, Ritsuka rowed the boat while Archer scouted ahead. The small boat slowly sailed on the sea and once again entered the wall of black mist.

At the destination of their journey: a mysterious island that was never shrouded in black mist and was filled with sunlight and sea breeze, a purple-haired girl sat quietly on a giant rock by the sea.

Her flowing hair cascaded like a galaxy, shimmering with a faint purple glow in the sunlight; beneath her long eyelashes, her beautiful eyes suddenly opened with a slight tremor, like newly blooming violets touched by morning dew.

When the corners of her lips slightly turned up, her smile held both the playfulness unique to young girls and a hint of anticipation. Her fair cheeks flushed with a delicate blush of expectation, and even the curve of the sea breeze through her hair seemed exceptionally pure.

“They’re here. Euryale (me), are you ready?” she said softly.

"Don't worry, Steno (me), everything is normal except that the two outsiders have been lured away by that stupid cat and the clumsy lizard."

Behind the boulder, a purple-haired girl, who looked exactly like the girl on the boulder, smiled mischievously and spoke.

"Ah...you mean those two who barged in? They're exactly like those crude heroes we've all seen before. Hasn't your foolish sister dealt with them yet?"

Stheno jumped off the boulder and then said.

“I’ve already gone. I should be able to take care of them before those people arrive… Ah, it seems I don’t need to. I can smell Master’s scent.”

Euryale smiled and said.

"Hmph~ How enviable, putting on such a show just for that red-haired girl. But this isn't the first time we've done something like this, is it?"

Stheno touched his face with one hand, then said with a smile.

Chapter 127: Encounter with the Goddess Stheno

"Phew~ We've finally made it through the wall of black mist again. It feels like we've been passing through this wall all day." Ritsuka wiped the sweat from her brow as she looked at the wall of black mist receding into the distance behind her.

"Now I understand what you mean by the supernatural place you're talking about. There are no countries here, yet the sky isn't obscured by the black mist; it's still sunny and bright. A place completely unaffected... But what kind of truth might be hidden here?"

Nero looked at the small island in front of him and couldn't help but say something.

"Doctor, how's the surveillance on the island?" Mashu asked. (The remaining text appears to be gibberish and unrelated to the question.)

"Hiss..." To everyone's surprise, Dr. Roman let out a gasp.

"Huh? Doctor?" Mashu asked curiously.

"No...it's nothing, Mashu. I was just a little startled by the high-energy red dots above." Dr. Roman said involuntarily, "Listen carefully, there are already seven Servant reactions on that island that I've detected so far."

"Seven? Could this be Wang Chong and his group's headquarters?" Mashu exclaimed in surprise.

"That possibility cannot be ruled out. Although I haven't detected a reaction like Mordred's, there's no doubt that this island is quite dangerous, and you need to be prepared. We might run into other acquaintances soon."

"Dr. Roman couldn't help but say."

Upon hearing Dr. Roman's reminder, everyone nodded cautiously. Nero, upon learning that this might be the headquarters of the divine messenger, held his breath and gripped his sword tightly.

After a while, the group finally arrived at the beach. The four walked slowly and cautiously, asking, "Doctor, where is the nearest Servant?"

"The nearest Servant... Ah!! A Servant is rapidly approaching you! Be careful! This reaction—there's actually a god-level Servant among them!" Dr. Roman warned in a panic.

"What!?"

Upon discovering that a powerful enemy had spotted them, everyone immediately prepared for battle. Sure enough, unusual sounds came from the bushes ahead, and the archer had already nocked his bow, ready to fire at the slightest sign of trouble.

"Oh dear, how can warriors, on other people's territory, draw their swords and spears against the landowners? Are all the warriors of this era such uncouth and rude people?"

A silvery voice rang out from deep within the bushes, causing the previously wary group to exchange glances.

A light footstep came from the grass, accompanied by a silvery laugh, and a girl as graceful as an elf appeared.

Her skin was as clear and translucent as snow, and her cherry lips parted slightly to reveal pearly white teeth. Her purple eyes seemed to hold shimmering starlight. Her silky purple twin ponytails swayed gently with her steps, the ends gleaming like honey in the sunlight.

A long, white chiffon dress fluttered in the wind, and the divine light behind her added a touch of holiness and inviolability to the girl's beauty.

However, the two Chaldea members were quite familiar with the girl in front of them.

"Huh? Miss Steno, you're here?" Ritsuka couldn't help but ask.

"Hmm? You actually recognize me? It seems you're a warrior I've encountered before," Stheno said slowly.

"Huh? Miss Steno doesn't recognize us?" Mash immediately noticed something was wrong and quickly asked.

"Hmm, I've met many warriors, there's no need to remember every single one of them, is there?" A fleeting look of annoyance crossed Stheno's face, clearly indicating that he didn't want to discuss this topic.

"Perhaps Stheno, the eldest of the three Gorgon sisters, is not the Servant that Wang Chong contracted. Leonardo da Vinci has already explained the matter of Servants to you in detail, hasn't he?"

"Dr. Roman said slowly."

"Doctor, do you mean that the Stheno in front of us is not the Stheno we know, but another Servant summoned from the Throne of Heroes?" Ritsuka couldn't help but ask.

"Well, it's not uncommon for the same Servant to appear in the same world at the same time. It's just strange that Miss Stheno was summoned here..."

Dr. Roman said, "You know, there's no black mist here. Logically speaking, it's highly likely that it's related to Mr. Wang Chong. This follower named Stheno shouldn't be someone else's follower."

"What kind of nonsense are you all whispering about that I can't understand? But if you mention the name Wang Chong, I remember him very well. He's been here quite a few times lately."

"Shut up!" However, Stheno's face hardened, and an indescribable aura pressed down on everyone.

"Hmm... Is this the pressure of a god? It's exactly the same as that divine messenger." Nero also felt a heaviness in his shoulders and couldn't help but recall the scene when Wang Chong first appeared before him, and said involuntarily.

"Whether you're a god or some other being... are you planning to make a move?" At that moment, a person calmly drew back the bowstring and aimed the arrow at Stheno's forehead. It was Archer, who had been on high alert.

"...Use my fists? As a goddess, I don't have such a crude habit. Besides, Euryale and I are quite delicate."

However, Stheno quickly withdrew his somewhat terrifying aura and put on a smiling face again.

"She's clearly a goddess, yet she claims to be delicate? But the pressure she exuded just now was terrifying," Archer said noncommittally.

"That's just the status a goddess should have. Just like small animals like kittens and puppies will instinctively feel afraid of large animals like elephants because of their size."

"But even gods have their strengths and weaknesses. And the world isn't just home to goddesses of war. For example, take you."

Stheno pointed at Mash and said.

"Me...?" Mash asked, puzzled.

“Yes, you are the same way, aren’t you? Your power is not for slaughter, but for protection,” Stheno said with a smile.

"This..." Mash was speechless, which indirectly confirmed Stheno's words.

“Hehehe, I really like frank girls. Like my little sister, I can’t help but want to tease her a bit. Oh, sorry, I should say I cherish her,” Stheno said with a laugh.

"Ugh..." Mashu couldn't help but shudder; just thinking about it made her feel a little scared. Even Ritsuka and Nero, who were standing nearby, couldn't help but exchange a glance, both seeing the worry in each other's eyes.

"Alright, enough teasing. Now, let me reintroduce myself. I am the goddess Stheno, one of the three Gorgon sisters. Welcome, warriors, to my temporary abode in this era, the Island of Form."

Stheno smiled and said, "I know that girl, yes... you, the red-haired one. You're eagerly searching for someone, aren't you? It's not impossible for me to tell you, but you'll have to pass a test first."

"A test?" Ritsuka asked in confusion.

"That's right, it's a test. Isn't there a classic story like this that's always been passed down? A warrior, guided by the gods, comes to a deserted island to meet the goddess's test and thus gain power and treasure. It's a theme that will never go out of style."

As Stheno spoke, his expression suddenly turned cold. He said, "Or are you trying to get something for nothing? If that were the case, I would have had my sister do it long ago."

"Make a move?" Ritsuka and Mash both knew that Stheno's sister was none other than the infamous Medusa.

"What a ruthless and quick-tempered person... Ritsuka, just agree to her request. If we want to find any clues about that person now, we can only play along with her." Archer released the bowstring, shook his head, and then advised.

"Okay...okay, what kind of test do I need to pass?" Ritsuka asked immediately.

“It’s very simple. Not far to the north, there’s a cave. When you reach the deepest part of the cave, the test will naturally come,” Steno said with a wicked grin.

Chapter 128: The Test

"Senior, should we really believe this goddess's words and explore that cave? I have a feeling there's something bad buried inside."

At this moment, everyone followed Stheno toward the so-called cave. Along the way, Mash lowered her voice and asked Ritsuka beside her.

"Even if you lower your voice, I can still hear you. Daring to speak ill of the goddess behind her back, you silly child, if this were our time, you could easily be remembered by a petty goddess and cursed!"

A rather petty goddess remarked, "Of course, this goddess is very magnanimous, so you've been spared from death~"

"No... I'm extremely grateful," Mashu said, sweating profusely and feeling very embarrassed.

"Hey, don't ignore me and chat away! You've been saying a lot of things that I can't fully understand since the beginning."

At this moment, Nero, who had been following them, loudly proclaimed:

"However, I've come to understand a few things. First of all, this goddess isn't our enemy, right?"

“Yes, that’s how it seems for now,” Mashu nodded and said.

"Hmm! That makes things simpler. Actually, you don't necessarily have to pass a test to get information. For example..."

Nero strode closer to Stheno and then spoke:

“O ancient goddess Stheno, come to my Rome! I am Rome. I am Nero Claudius, the fifth emperor of the Roman Empire. I will make you my new god, and you will enjoy the respect and faith of my people.”

"Why not join me in defeating that mysterious divine messenger? Why hide his whereabouts?"

"I see. So you plan to use your personal charm to win over that goddess? That way, you'll not only add a sufficiently formidable fighter to our side, but you also won't need to put her through any tests."

Archer said slowly, "However, while the idea is good, it's a bit of an oversimplification of the goddess."

"Oh my, you are dazzling, almost comparable to Apollo. But I'm sorry, Your Majesty. First of all, I really don't have any combat power~ Although I have gained some skills and basic performance after transforming into a Servant, unlike my sister, I don't have such strong combat power."

Stheno said slowly:

"Secondly, I don't want to get into trouble. Although that guy who claims to be a divine messenger is a fake, his divinity and formidable strength are such that even ordinary gods wouldn't dare to confront him. Besides, he's been very kind to me, so naturally I won't become his enemy for your sake."

“Archer was right, it won’t be that easy to succeed,” Mash said, shaking her head.

"Alright, as warriors, why are you always thinking about opportunistic things? You should honestly pass the test I set in the cave... and when you come out alive, I will naturally reward you with this information."

A sinister smile flashed across Stheno's face as he spoke.

"She was just trying to say it was a trap, wasn't she?" Dr. Roman muttered.

"Don't be so tactless, or you might get stabbed in the back one day," Stheno's words carried a chill, making Dr. Roman feel a cold shiver down his spine even while he was in Chaldea.

"Yes, yes, yes... I'm really sorry." Dr. Roman rubbed his forehead, never expecting to be threatened twice by Servants residing in the Singularity.

"Alright, we've arrived. This is the place. Once you go inside, you'll understand the trial programs."

At this moment, Stheno pointed to the dark cave ahead and said. Everyone looked into the cave, finding it dark, narrow, and seemingly endless.

……

Inside the cave

"Ugh... It's so dark and damp. If I hadn't gotten used to the dim environment under the black fog..." Nero groaned, looking quite unhappy.

“This is hardly a pleasant place. The visibility is also very poor, almost no different from the ground during the Black Mist period,” Mash said involuntarily.

"Ah!" Just then, a very surprised voice came from the doctor's communication device.

"Doctor, what's wrong? Your complexion... no, your tone doesn't sound good," Mashu asked.

"That goddess is indeed full of evil schemes... Also, I was wondering why there were only Servant reactions on the island, not even a single monster. It turns out they've all gathered here! Everyone, prepare for battle immediately! A large number of monster reactions have appeared ahead!"

"Dr. Roman said quickly."

"Giggle-"

Some unsettling sounds rang out, and in the distance, a group of skeletons carrying bone blades approached.

Everyone immediately went into battle mode. Mash and Nero were responsible for guarding the front, while Archer was responsible for providing ranged support. Because they were in a narrow cave, Archer could not use powerful moves like the Phantasmal Collapse to clear out the mobs directly, lest the cave collapse.

Fortunately, with the three of them working together, dealing with these skeletal soldiers wasn't a problem; it was just that walking on the piles of bones underfoot was extremely uncomfortable.

"What on earth is going on? Is this cave full of bones?!" Nero exclaimed.

“If it’s just ordinary bones, that’s fine… but I’m afraid it might be some tough opponent,” Mash said.

"Another large reaction detected. Here we go again! There are probably many more bones surging this way," Dr. Roman warned. "Also, be careful; there seems to be an even larger magical reaction in the cave ahead. It's probably either a powerful monster or one of the Servants we explored before. Don't let your guard down!"

"Ah... I knew it, I jinxed it again," Mashu said in a low voice.

"Ughhhhhh—! What kind of test is it to hit a skeleton wielding a sword?!" Nero said with a very ugly expression as he listened to the loud clanging of bones.

Despite the complaints, they still had to get on with it. After another round of hard work, they continued forward, clearing away the bones in their path. Before they knew it, they had ventured quite deep into the cave, and could no longer see the light at the entrance.

Ritsuka was responsible for using illumination magic to restore everyone's vision, making it easier for them to fight in this dark and narrow cave.

"...Ha, I'm a little tired and want to go back to rest."

Nero's face was slightly flushed, clearly from the intense physical exertion. Wiping away her sweat, she said, "Just fighting skeletons was one thing, but there were actually traps! Pitfalls, flying arrows, and rolling stones! This goddess clearly didn't intend for us to pass the test at all!"

"Ugh, my arm hurts so much." Mashu shook her trembling hand. She had been unable to avoid the rolling stone trap in time and had to defend herself. Fortunately, the four of them worked together to hold up the shield for Mashu, which gradually resolved the crisis.

"While I'd love to tell you all that you did a great job and can finally get some rest, I regret to inform you of some very bad news. You've now reached the deepest part of the cave, where there are four very obvious magical reactions!"

"Three of them are Servants, and although the last one is somewhat weaker, it is clearly a very powerful magical beast reaction, undoubtedly reaching the level of a fantasy species!"