"..."
Boudica stared at Ian for a long time. Only after confirming that he wasn't joking with her did she reluctantly answer:
"Seneca, are you sure you want to do this... We still don't know what the black shadows are. If we stay here, there might be unexpected risks."
Ian knew Boudica was not afraid of death—after all, she truly would lead the charge as the Queen of Britannia.
The reason she spoke this way now was simply to avoid unnecessary sacrifice.
However, Ian's attitude was very decisive. He took the hand of his "fiancée," Boudica.
"Yes, Boudica, I know it's dangerous—but we have to face them sooner or later."
"You should know that perpetually defending Hadrian's Wall is an impractical notion."
"..."
Boudica remained silent.
Of course, she knew how tormenting it was to maintain a defense of this intensity for the long term.
Perhaps wanting to stand on the same side as her beloved, or perhaps out of a sense of responsibility for Britannia, the Queen finally nodded.
"I understand—in that case, I'll go with you!"
Ian knew how much courage it took for Boudica to say those words—this was an enemy she had resisted for a full year, and now she was finally determined to explore its source.
The man knew he absolutely could not betray this trust.
His gaze fell upon Jing Ke on the side.
"What do you want?"
The girl, feeling a little uneasy under his stare, instinctively retreated a bit.
"Why are you looking at me like that—it's a little scary, you know?"
"Alright, if you feel that way, I apologize."
"But—"
Ian's eyes grew even more serious; this was the reaction he had when he was determined to accomplish something.
"I need your help now, Jing Ke."
"Need my help?"
Looking at the man exuding determination, Jing Ke's throat subtly shifted.
"What... what do you mean? You should know I'm not as formidable as you—are you sure you want someone like me to help you?"
Although she had spoken mercilessly earlier, Jing Ke actually admired anyone who could defeat her in a duel.
After all—
If someone could defeat her, it meant she was far from her limit and still had room for improvement.
And the more formidable the person who defeated her, the greater that upward potential!
"I know." Ian nodded. "But in this current situation, only someone like you can help me."
Over the next few minutes, Ian told Jing Ke the information about the black shadows in a relatively indirect manner.
Upon hearing all this, the girl in white's expression gradually changed from initial unease to astonishment.
"Are you saying... those black shadows last night are actually the calamity plaguing this era, and I'm associated with them?"
"That's certainly how it could be interpreted initially." Ian expressed his view very directly. "But if you can help us, then you won't be associated with them, and naturally, you won't be a part of the calamity."
"..."
Jing Ke's face was taut. It was clear that this information caused a significant psychological shock to her.
It wasn't surprising when you thought about it.
The female assassin who originally intended to rid the people of this era of their scourge suddenly discovered she was associated with the calamity. It would be somewhat difficult to accept.
"You're not lying to me, are you?" Jing Ke gripped the dagger a little tighter. "I hate being lied to by others the most."
"If that's truly the case, I will make you pay the price for it, even if it costs me my life."
"We have no need to lie to you about something like this." Boudica said sincerely. "In fact, I have led the people of Britannia to resist the black shadows for over a year."
"Jing Ke, if you can, please help the people of Britannia."
"..."
Looking at Boudica, who had just unbound her, Jing Ke was visibly moved.
After a long silence, she nodded, indicating that she had decided to lend the two her strength.
"I understand—in that case, please allow me to assist you."
"That's wonderful!" Boudica was overjoyed to hear this.
However, this emotion didn't last long, as she thought of something else.
"Speaking of which—"
The Queen of Britannia looked at her "fiancé" beside her.
"What exactly should we do next?"
"Let's wait until nightfall first."
Ian's gaze fell upon the chariot on the side.
Despite knowing more information than the two beside him, at this moment, he could only take things one step at a time.
With a long time until nightfall, Jing Ke, feeling restless from sitting, proactively initiated a topic.
"Speaking of which, were you two also summoned to this world like me?"
"No," Boudica shook her head. "I was originally from here."
"And him..."
The Queen of Britannia cautiously looked at the man beside her, afraid her words would cause him dissatisfaction.
However, he did not, and Ian quickly followed up with an answer:
"Mhm... you can consider me someone who was summoned here."
"Oh... I see." Jing Ke nodded thoughtfully. "Then what is your reason for coming to this world? Is it also to kill that Emperor named Nero, like me?"
"Apologies, I have absolutely no such intention—and contrary to you, what I want is to protect her."
Hearing this, Boudica's expression became somewhat complicated, but she quickly became relieved.
There was no need to dwell on it... he belonged to her.
And she had said that day that she would silently protect their relationship.
Being able to receive his promise to have children with her was already quite good. To press for more would be going too far.
"Is she... really that good?" Jing Ke folded her arms, her expression very confused. "I feel like the two of you are collaborating to deceive me."
"Heh..." Ian chuckled. "Whether we're deceiving you or not, won't you know if you come with us to meet Nero?"
"Eh, this..."
Jing Ke realized this was an invitation and smiled.
"That seems right."
Time slowly passed in conversation.
Before the sun completely set, Ian first contacted BB in Chaldea, hoping she could inform Tamamo-no-Mae and Mash that he was safe.
Although BB was a little confused as to why the three had suddenly split up, she still agreed to do this.
After all, she had promised to help him while they were in bed. As a Super AI, she certainly couldn't go back on her word.
"Don't worry, Piggy. BB will contact them."
The communication ended. Jing Ke looked at Ian, who had contacted another era out of thin air, with a surprised expression.
However, the part that surprised her seemed to be a little off.
"Do you also have creations like this?"
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing." Jing Ke took a sip from her wine gourd. "Just assume I said something boring."
"Now, let's get some good rest and prepare for tonight's battle."
"Mhm."
Night descended upon the land once more, and the three, prepared, began to move.
Boudica looked back into the distance—the location of Hadrian's Wall, the most solid forward defense line against the black shadows.
The Queen of Britannia knew that even without her command on the wall, there would certainly be brave warriors actively resisting the black shadows.
If they could truly eliminate the black shadows, everyone wouldn't have to live that kind of life anymore!
Thinking of this, Boudica felt a new surge of courage.
She held the chariot's reins and said to her two companions.
"Let's go! Let's eliminate them! That way, the people in Britannia won't have to suffer like this anymore!"
The chariot, blessed by the Goddess, moved again, and this time, its target was the source of the black shadows!
Just like last night, as the night descended upon this land, the black shadows, which could not be called living creatures, appeared once more.
It was an extremely horrifying sight:
Countless things, more-or-less human-shaped, continuously emerged from the ground, slowly advancing with extremely twisted movements.
Occasionally, a few eyes would pop out, staring at everything around them without any emotion.
This was a scene that made even a man like Ian uncomfortable, let alone Jing Ke and Boudica beside him.
The man patted the two girls on their shoulders, one on the left and one on the right, and comforted them:
"It's alright. Once we solve the source, we won't have to see things like this anymore."
"Right. / Good point!" Jing Ke and Boudica replied almost simultaneously.
The chariot continued to move forward.
Because of Jing Ke's presence, the black shadows that should have been attacking the chariot now seemed to have lost their sight, ignoring its existence.
Ian further confirmed his previous idea—Jing Ke and the "master" of these black shadows must be the same person.
And this person was very likely Agrippina.
"You two, keep your weapons ready. We could be engaging in combat at any moment."
After saying this, Ian also prepared his Memory Projection ability.
He was mentally prepared that if absolutely necessary, he would not hesitate to project the Faux Holy Lance—even if it might cost him dearly.
After all... if they couldn't eliminate the black shadows within this Singularity, its restoration would be absolutely impossible.
After traveling for an unknown amount of time, the scene the group saw finally changed.
The black shadows were no longer emerging randomly from the ground, but were continuously appearing from a deeper location, like ripples blooming on a lake surface.
Such intense magical energy...
No, it wasn't just magical energy; there was also an incredibly strong grudge!
Something dangerous was nearby!
"Wait for me on the chariot!"
After saying this, Ian got off the chariot alone.
This action quickly attracted the attention of the black shadows, but the man completely ignored them.
As someone who had personally clashed with Agrippina, he was incredibly familiar with the wicked woman's magical energy.
At this moment, the magical energy lingering over this land was not an exact match for hers, but it was at least very similar.
The black shadows continuously lunged, but they were quickly flung away by the man using his projected Excalibur (Sword of Promised Victory).
The concentration of magical energy grew higher and clearer.
Finally, after Ian had ventured forward alone for an unknown duration, he finally saw the familiar figure.
The woman who publicly adorned herself with nobility but secretly resorted to all kinds of wicked methods was standing right there.
This was Agrippina, Nero's biological mother.
"Seneca!"
Seeing the man appear before her, Agrippina let out a hysterical shriek.
Evidently, this vicious woman utterly hated this man who had blocked her countless times.
"It's you again!"
"That's what I should be saying to you, isn't it?" Ian tightened his grip on the Excalibur he held.
"How much more evil do you intend to do before you stop?"
"Hahaha!" Agrippina laughed maniacally. "Evil, you say what I'm doing is evil?"
"All I want is to reclaim the Rome that should have been mine! What's wrong with that?!"
"Look, Seneca!"
Agrippina waved her hand, and the surrounding black shadows moved in correspondence.
"These are all the people who support me—they are so fanatical, so devout."
"As long as I can cross Hadrian's Wall, they will support me to become the Emperor of Rome!"
"You've gone mad, Agrippina."
Ian sighed.
"No one in this world supports you."
"Even you yourself are no longer a follower of yourself."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Agrippina roared.
"I'm not talking nonsense."
The Excalibur in Ian's hand disappeared.
In its place was a uniquely shaped weapon—the Aestus Estus (Original Fire of the Meteorite Forge).
This was a counterfeit created by Ian using Memory Projection, but under the enhancement of his own magical energy, it possessed abilities extremely similar to the genuine article.
"Take a good look around you, Agrippina!"
Boom.
Flames traveled up the blade, lighting up the endless night like a torch.
Agrippina's appearance was completely exposed.
It was a form that had completely lost its face. It would not be an exaggeration to say that only the shell of a body remained!
I