Disclaimer: I don't own Highschool DxD and any of the other franchises mentioned/hinted in this story. This is a work of fantasy, and thus it's propriety of no one but my imagination.
Harem Summoner: Prologue
What defines the meaning of the word 'Hero'?
The term 'Hero' comes from the Greek word 'hḗrōs', which means 'protector' or 'defender'. Great Greek men like Heracles, Perseus and Achilles were considered heroes, as they fought in the name of their countries and families. However, Heracles murdered his own sons; Perseus changed his own stepfather and those contrary to him into stone before taking the throne; Achilles refused to fight after being scorned by Agamemnon, leading to many soldiers dying in vain.
Is thus a 'Hero' someone who protects someone or something from harm, but is also entitled to acts of extreme selfishness?
In the Arthurian legends, Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table repelled the barbarians that were invading the country, followed the code of Chivalry and later went on adventures to save innocents threatened by evil and slay dangerous creatures like dragons. What happen then when their emotions conflict with their code, like the case of Lancelot and Guinevere that started the end of Camelot?
Is thus a 'Hero' who follow a rigid moral code and do feats that are impossible for normal men, but run the risk of losing everything when he has to choose between two things most important to him?
Great political leaders like Napoleon, Cao Cao and Nobunaga are portrayed as 'villains', yet their actions were instrumental for the development of their nations, promoting progress and change.
Is thus a 'Hero' someone that does what is best for the people as a whole, even if he were to end up hated?
In modern media, the 'Hero' is often simply an ordinary person in extraordinary circumstances, who, despite the odds being stacked against him or her, typically prevails in the end.
Is thus a 'Hero' someone chosen by Fate as the victor, no matter how small the probabilities of success are?
Every moment doctors, policemen and firefighters all over the world save lives or just give a helping hand to anyone who needs it. What about the fathers that struggle everyday to make meets end, just to provide a roof and warm food to their family? What about the mothers who watch over their newborn sons and daughters, the wellbeing of the latter their only reward?
Is thus a 'Hero' anyone who is capable of facing hardships with the will to keep going?
Many different definitions, followed by as many different answers and opinions. What is the right one? What are the wrong ones? Are all of them wrong? Or they all right in their own way?
Nobody knows for certain. But, what most agree on one way or another, is that…
Sometimes, a 'Hero' is defined as such by others.
Sometimes, a person doesn't choose to be a 'Hero', but is forced into the role.
And finally…
That everyone has the potential to be a Hero if given the chance.
Tokyo.
Capital of Japan. Crown jewel of what was once a mighty empire, and is now one of the world's most advanced countries. With a population exceeding 13 million inhabitants, it's one of the largest cities in the world. It isn't incorrect to say that you can find almost everything Japan has to offer by going to Tokyo.
Today, this great capital appears dead. The descending sun was just reaching the horizon, and yet people were hurrying home, casting fretful glances around them as if expecting some horrible beast to suddenly attack them. The more the light of the day lowered in intensity, the stronger an unexplainable sense of 'foreboding' permeated their minds.
At the top of one of Tokyo's highest skyscraper, leaning against the wall next to the stair, a young man was quietly snoring, his head covered by a hoodie.
A pale, slender hand reached out and gently shook his shoulder. "Who..oh, Hello Yuu-chan." Waking up the young man greeted with affection the figure of a young girl with long silver hair and clear blue eyes, wearing plate armor over a purple dress. "I guess it's time?"
The girl nodded. Both of them looked up, abilities that normal humans don't possess allowing the duo to see what was hidden from view: a gargantuan wormhole in the sky made of pure darkness, dwarfing even Tokyo in girth.
"It's getting worse." The young man commented. The girl remained silent. "I rested enough. Let's reach the others."
The hoodied individual took a step forward, but stopped when he felt the girl's hand latching on his sleeve.
"You…" The girl finally spoke. "Will die."
He offered a crooked smile. "It's very probable."
Yuu stood on the tip of her feet and hugged him. "Don't go!" She said between sobs.
The young man's features morphed into a loving smile as he returned the hug, savoring the warm of the girl that, once an enemy, he came to understand and eventually love. "If I don't fight, the entire world will be swallowed by the Void. I can't run away."
With a forlorn gaze he raised in front of his eyes his right hand, on which was a mark in the form of a black crescent moon with its horns pointing upward. It was both his blessing and a curse, the proof of a legacy that spawned from the very beginning of Creation.
He was a Spirit Summoner, and like it or not he was the only one with the ability to stop the current danger. The young man wasn't going to shrink away from his duties.
Even if it meant sacrificing his life.
The girl tightened her hug, tears spilling from her eyes at the cruelty of destiny. "Not...fair."
The young man began to fondly caressing her head. "Ehi Yuu-chan. Will you look for me?" She looked up in confusion. "When my soul leaves the Wheel of reincarnation, and I am reborn, will you look for me? Even if it may take centuries, I promise this: I will never forget about you."
The girl could only bury her head on his chest and nod. "I promise." She said softly.
The two enjoyed each other's company for a little while before they reach the other side of the rooftop, where their allies were waiting for them. The young man looked with a slight smile at the four people assembled. Like Yuu they once were his enemies, but through tribulations and shared experiences they became their trusted friends and comrades.
"...*coff* Took you long enough." Murasame pointed out for a disapproving tone. The soul of the famous demon sword has never been a pleasant person, his bloodthirsty personality often clashing with the young man's. Yet his skills with the blade were legendary, managing many times to save his summoner's life when all hope seemed lost. Standing on his feet was his dog, a Shiba Inu fiercely loyal to his owner.
"I hope you weren't thinking of running away. To sacrifice one to save many, it's only logical." With a disturbing happy tone the mad scientist Victor Frankenstein raised his left mechanical arm, his hand holding a device of unknown functions. Like Murasame he had a 'questionable' personality, and yet his scientific genius was fully devoted to the ideals of his summoner.
"He was not. And for that, I am proud of you boy." Kuroda Yoshitaka said with pride. The formidable strategist from the Sengoku period wasn't shy of manipulating his summoner through his silver tongue, yet it was always for the young man's own good. In a sense, he was his most loyal follower.
"Don't run. Fight." Red Eye commanded with a tone that didn't allow for refusal. The young man still wasn't sure if the strange bunny-eared woman was truly a member of an intergalactic army stranded on Earth as she said, but her leadership abilities proved to be invaluable in the summoner's early days.
"Thanks everyone." He replies to all of them with a proud smile. His hand gave a last squeeze at Yuu's one. "For everything until today. One last time?"
"One last time." They replied at the same time. Together the six people stood on the edge of the rooftop, watching at the sun finally disappear behind the horizon.
The instant the last rays of light are no more the black wormhole shook. On its center a red line appeared, slowly opening to reveal a gigantic, reptilian red eye. The impossible organ glared hatefully at everything and nothing, as if existence itself was its enemy.
The young man raised his right hand towards the sky, the crescent moon on his hand glowing with a dark violet light. Immense power flowed out of the young man's body, an incredible quantity of energy that was unheard of even for the highest ranking Gods, let alone a mortal.
"Hear my call! I'm the one that balance Light and Darkness! I'm the one that exorcize Evil and purify the Heavens! Submit to my will and answer my summoning! Oh otherworldly spirits!"
Thousands of magic circles formed in the sky between the city and the wormhole. And from them they came:
Beings of myth.
Legends given form.
Spirits born from mankind's prayers.
Gods and Monsters. Angels and Demons. Saints and Sinners. Each of them was different from the other, but they all share a simple characteristic.
They were a single young man's, a single Hero's strength. And they were ready to follow him to Hell and back.
"LET'S GO!"
The battle, despite leaving the capital untouched, was so fierce that the very walls of reality crumbled around the participants.
In the final moments the Void was vanquished forever from the world at the cost of the young man's life.
However, instead of entering the Wheel of Reincarnation the young man's soul fell into the Void between Dimensions, wandering for a while before landing into a different plane of existence.
In the Dimensional Gap a giant red dragon glanced at the drifting soul with curiosity before dismissing it as irrelevant.
"WAAAAHH!"
"Congratulations Mrs. Hyodo!" The medic beamed at the sweating brunette. "You're given birth to a healthy, baby boy."
With tears of joy in her eyes the woman shakily brought her arms up and carefully took
the baby within her own hold. She brought it close to her chest and gently rubbed its soft cheek with her hand while smiling down at it lovingly. Her husband kneeled next to her side and gently laid his hand on her shoulder while also staring at the baby with a smile on his face.
"He's beautiful. Just like his mother. You did wonderful tonight honey."
"Our son." Mrs. Hyoudou said in a quiet, fatigued voice. She then noticed a strange mark on the baby's right hand. "What's this on his hand?"
"Let me see." The medic leaned closer, examining the odd mark in the form of a crescent moon. "It appears to be just a birthmark. Nothing to worry about."
"I see." The woman relaxed. She then turned to her husband. "What are we going to name him?" he asked her with curiosity.
"Issei" The man leaned down and planted a soft kiss on the baby's forehead. "We'll call him Issei."
For the idea that sparked this fic, read the summary. For what convinced me to write it:
-I have a group of great friends that support me. They appeared in the prologue, and they know when ^^
-My other DxD story, "Hereditas Daemonica", is going to be filled with drama and tragedy very soon, so I decided to create a counterpart that goes in the opposite direction.
What else? Oh yes: reviews are appreciated, they provide another point of view and tell me if my ideas are popular or not. Flames however will be laughed at and used to fuel the flames of my inspiration.