/N: Highschool DxD belongs to Ichihei Isibumi and Illustrated by Miyama-Zero. Fate/Apocrypha belongs to Yuichiro Higashide and Illustrated by Ototsugu Konoe
Heracles and Atlanta
Atalanta currently is walking in an open grassland by herself. Her face is showing confusion. Not long after, a woman suddenly appears in front of her. Her features including round blue eyes, long white hair, and sweet facial features. Her outfit consists of a long white dress and she carries a bow. This woman was Artemis, the Goddess of the hunt in Greek Mythology and Atalanta's divine protector.
"Artemis-sama..." Said Atalanta in disbelief.
"It's been a long time isn't it, my daughter?" Artemis replied. She later hugs the Chaste Huntress. The Goddess later realized that Atalanta is sobbing. "My dear, what causes you to cry like this? The Atalanta that I know never cry."
"Artemis-sama, do you think... my wish is fruitless?" She asks the Goddess.
"Why did you ask like that?" Ask Artemis, releasing the hug. Due she exists in the Throne of Heroes, she knows about her wish.
"I met a group of humans. They said that I only saw the children by their outer skin. They also said that my wish is impossible. Do you think that what they said is true?" Ask Atlanta.
Artemis is chuckling hearing it. "So, at last, you had some doubt about your wish?" She said.
"It just...now I don't know what's right or wrong anymore." Said Atlanta.
"Well, if I must be honest, then yes. That wish of your is impossible." Said Artemis. "The word of children isn't always about not sinful and innocent. You said that you want all children to be saved. That's is impossible. As they said, you only see it by their skin."
"I see...Even you had the same opinion as them..." Atlanta mumbled. "Then...What should I wish for? For what reason that I fighting? All my reason is now lost..."
"That's the thing you must discover by yourself." Said Artemis. "Though, I want you to just let go of your desire for the Holy Grail. As a hero of the past that were already dead, you should leave that wish of yours to the new generations. I'm pretty sure that today, many people also tried the same thing, but with their own hands and not rely on the wish-granting thing." She said. "Now, I think you should awake. They now taking care of your wounds."
"Wh-"
Atlanta suddenly snapped her eyes open and sit up. She currently in a bed in a room that looks like a bedroom. She then shocked to see something on her body. Her right arm, who should be cut off, now is back to her body and like nothing happens. 'Where is this? She thought. 'What happened? Why's my arm is attached to my body again?
"Ah, you're already awake I see." A young woman voice said beside Atlanta. It was DxD Jeanne, and it looks like she currently watching her. She currently wearing her full battle outfit.
"You...the young girl that with Ruler..." Said Atlanta. After seeing a towel beside her, she sighed. "So... you're the one that tends for my wounds..."
"Not me only. Cao Cao-kun is waiting for you to awake. You already unconscious from the previous noon." Said DxD Jeanne. "What actually happens with you and Cao Cao-kun? When you arrive, your right arm is completely cut off from your body. It took George-kun and Fay-chan Healing Magic to stitch it back."
Hearing the name of the man that defeat her twice, bring fear to Atlanta's spine even though she's a Servant, and the man with the body armor maybe stronger than him since he able to break her arm in Berserk Mode with little effort. "Where's that man?" She asked DxD Jeanne with some fear to her tone.
"Currently he's in the lobby of this villa. Since we stay in this dimension a little longer, we decide to use this building as our temporary base." Said DxD Jeanne. "By the way, I must go to the outside to train my friends. If you want anything, just ring the bell on the table beside you. Goodbye." Said DxD Jeanne, she then walks to the door, as she promises to train Anastasia and Mata Hari with the assistance of Chevalier d'Eon.
"Wait." Said Atlanta, making DxD Jeanne stopped from opening the door. "Tell me. Do you hate me for almost... killing you?"
DxD Jeanne then looks toward her with a smile on her face and shook her head. "No. I don't bear any grudge or hate against you Atlanta-san. My mother always told me, that revenge produces nothing but temporary satisfaction." She said. "If you had nothing more to talk, I'll call Cao Cao-kun to go up here." After that, DxD Jeanne is out from the room.
After DxD Jeanne is leaving the room, Atlanta chuckling to herself while having some tear in her eyes. "The one almost being killed by me...is tending of my wounds..." She then started sobbing. "Due I... really deserve this?" She asks herself.
Not long after, the door is opened, and it revealed that Cao Cao is the one that comes. Vali is accompanying him as well. Atlanta then stops her sobbing, cleaning her tears.
"I see you already awake, Atlanta-dono." Said Cao Cao to her, now using honorifics, since that time is only his scheme. "For the previous noon, I'm sorry, but the child was only an illusion create by my comrades to make you expose your Calydonian Boar Pelt."
Atlanta gasped. Her hatred toward him is lessened due to knowing it was an illusion. She then looks toward Cao Cao with a glare. She can't believe she already drowns to Cao Cao plan in the first place. How could he be so cunning without endangering any of his comrades? "Why'd you go that far?" She asked.
"Let see. If you are in rage in our conversation because of that stupid wish and using that pelt, the situation will become...unpleasant." Cao Cao explained, as he already deduced what could happen during the negotiation if the pelt is not destroyed. "And besides, the one that really wants to talk to you is not me. What I want from you is information about the Red Faction."
"I see," Atlanta replied. "I bet you read my mind when I'm unconscious? considering your friend can bypass my Magic Resistance." She asks.
"That's true. Although I only extracting a general information." Cao Cao replied. "Your faction is surely full of monstrous heroes..." He continued.
"Then, who's the one who wants to talk to me in private?" Atlanta asked. "If you must know, I must go back to my faction."
"You came come in, Heracles." Cao Cao ordered. Not long after, the large man is entering the room. Atlanta already expecting that he's the one that wants to talk to her. She also had many things to ask Heracles.
"Now then, since Heracles is already arriving. I think the two of us shall take our leave." Said Cao Cao. He then leaves the room along with Vali. Before leaving, Vali gives a glance to the Chaste Huntress, like telling that he wants to talk to her eye to eye.
I'll leave it to you, Heracles.' Cao Cao thought when leaving the room.
After the two of them is leaving the room, now only Atalanta and Heracles is inside. Silence filled the room.
Heracles then break the silence. "The first part, I'm terribly sorry for my actions yesterday. I must be making you really angry." He said apologizing.
Atlanta just sighed. "That Cao Cao person already told me that the children is just an illusion. But...to see that you able to make a fake sinister face when you blew him up..."
"I had trained to be the fake villain after all." Said Heracles. "So, for the first-"
"Before you ask me, I should be asking first." Said Atlanta, cutting off his words. "First of all, what do you mean about different dimension and this Sacred Gear thing? Don't worry, I not asking this for my faction, but for myself."
Heracles sighed. "Are you sure you want to know? It will take a long time to be explained."
Atalanta nodded.
"Very well then. It begins..."
On the garden that was located outside the villa, DxD Jeanne currently training Mata Hari in rapier swordplay. To avoid the detection of both Black Faction and Red Faction, Georg covered the place around the villa with Dimension Lost Balance Breaker, Dimension Create.
"Your stance is still wrong Matahari-chan. In rapier, the leg must steady to create a powerful thrust." Said, DxD Jeanne, while trying to fix Mata Hari stance.
"I can't believe that to learn swordsmanship would be this difficult." Mata Hari replied while panting. She now wearing Hero Faction trademark gakuran, with the modification of a dancing fabric in each of her arms.
Due to being alive again, all the Servants of the Hero Faction suffers from human needs like hunger, thirst, tired, pain, and the other.
"It's alright. No one can do a perfect thing when they learn." Said DxD Jeanne. "From what I saw, you already mastered the basic enough. Just a little more and you're ready to learn the advanced moves." She praised Mata Hari to encourage her.
"Is that true? I mean, this is still the first day." Ask Mata Hari.
DxD Jeanne nodded. "I think maybe is the Servant nature to quickly learn something." She theorized. "Now, let's continue."
Meanwhile, Anastasia is currently being trained by Chevalier d'Eon. She wears the same gakuran as DxD Jeanne, with her trademark cape and a gold headband is still worn by her. Different than DxD Jeanne that trained from basics, d'Eon already pushes Anastasia in a rapier battle already. Since she not trained enough in rapier, she had some stab wound in her body due to d'Eon's rapier, Gift of the Queen, a rapier that is said give to him by Marie Antoinette herself.
"I think that's enough for now." Said d'Eon. He then sheathed his rapier. "For a beginner who had no experience on rapier swordplay, I think you already good. You should polish your techniques more."
"Thank you, Chevalier-san." Said Anastasia. "By the way, why don't you train me the same way as Jeanne-chan?"
"I believe it'll be much faster if you engaged in continuous rapier battle. The more you faced an enemy, you will become much stronger." Said d'Eon. "Lady Jean should focus on teaching both of you the basic of rapier swordsmanship where I trained the basic battle. Lady Mata Hari will also learn like this."
Anastasia nodded. "Chevalier-san, may I ask you something?" Her face turns serious.
"Sure. What do you want to ask me?" Ask d'Eon.
"When I learn about you, it is said that your life turns into misery because of the French Revolution until the day you passed away. I also swallow by the turbulence of the Russian Revolution, but unlike you, who died in old age, I was murdered along with my family." Anastasia replied. "Tell me. Do you hate the people that made you lost all of your titles?"
d'Eon thinking for a moment. "If I must say, I don't hate them. When I learn about the French Revolution cause once more, it was our noble fault from the start. We create a stratification of class, making high taxes for people and make them suffer while we nobles enjoy our life. So, I think I get what I deserve since I also not lending hand to the people during the Revolution." Said d'Eon. "If I not wrong, I hear that your age is only 17 when your died am I correct?"
Anastasia nodded. "I just don't understand. Why those people are killing the one that understands nothing of what her father doing? It's because I don't understand their suffering during World War One?"
"If I voiced my opinion, I thought that people want a revolution in politics, not the one that rule by the monarchy of nobility, but one that where they can play part in the government as well," d'Eon replied.
"I see...then, I was born as a naive young princess who doesn't understand anything about my people suffering which later make them hate my family." Said Anastasia in a somber tone.
d'Eon sighed. He then walks toward Anastasia and pinching her cheek. "Don't make such sad face, rejoice! we now not a Servant, but a living being. Maybe we had a fault for what we did in the past, but for now, we can only move forward and accept the past that's already happened." d'Eon advise her. "After all, that's what Jean said to you isn't it?"
Back in the bedroom, Atalanta swallowing every explanation that Heracles gives her. "So, all of you from a different dimension where the Age of Gods still continues?"
Heracles nodded.
"Then, it means Artemis-sama on there still lives on?" She asked.
"Yes. Although she maybe doesn't know you." He replied. "Once again, I said it, I'm sorry for the event in the forest. I pull back my words. You are worthy of being called a hero."
"It's alright, now that I know you really didn't mean it. After all, you show me that you already fitted to inherit the soul of my friends." Said Atlanta with an acknowledged smile. "I wish our circumstances will be different since I prefer you as a friend rather than enemies."
"I also wish like that," Heracles replied. "Atlanta, I currently want to offer you something. Although you maybe think that this offer is stupid."
"Let me hear it."
"Have you had any thought of betraying your faction and joining us?" Ask Heracles.
Atlanta is silent for a moment. "Can you repeat again?"
"Will you join us?"
Atlanta then chuckling, then turn into a laugh. "My my, how funny and to the point." She commented. She realizes that Heracles is an easy person to talk to. "But, although my heart maybe wants it, I already bound as a Servant with my Master. If only you on the same side as me, it will be fun had someone you know in the same faction." She continued with a sad tone. "However, I promise that I will not tell my faction anything about your group and about the Servants of your group that was now alive." She promised.
"Can you keep that words?" Ask Heracles.
Atlanta nodded. "I promise on my pride as a hero and my respect to the sole inheritor of my dear friend."
Heracles smiled. "I'm glad then. Although I sad you reject my offer."
"Before we go to the other conversation, I must ask you something." Said Atalanta. "What do you think of my wish? Did it impossible to achieve?"
Heracles thinking for a moment then spoke. "Well, I must honestly say that your wish in nature is good. But, the world that you want can never happen."
"But, there's a Holy Grail. It can grant any wish. If I make my wish using it, maybe that world can happen." Said Atlanta.
"Maybe it can, but who knows about two hundred years from now. Do you think children in that time can be happy?" Ask Heracles.
Atlanta was taken aback. Even the sole inheritor of his friend disagrees with it. "So... Even you had the same opinion as Artemis-sama..."
"At least tried to be more realistic when you make a wish." Said Heracles. "If I may ask, what because you want such wish?"
"You know about my legend, right? When I was a baby, I was cast aside by my father, King Iasus, because I was a woman, not a boy that he always wanted to become the heir of the throne. If I not found by Artemis-sama in that forest, maybe I was dead by the moment I was cast aside. From that moment, I promise myself to make a world where all children can be loved, so no children will experience the same thing as me." She explained.
"I see. So, it based on your past." Acknowledge Heracles. "In other words, you want to create a utopia for children?"
"Yes," Atlanta replied.
"Then, what about the adults? Where they belong to when your wish is granted?" Ask Heracles.
"The adults..." Atlanta gasped. "Wait a minute. I never thought about it..."
"Haah. So, you only care for children? Are you really forgot that children must rely on an adult as well? That's what happened to you as well." Ask Heracles.
"But, isn't many children in this world is like me? Being abandoned by their parents and society?" Ask Atlanta.
"That's not true. In fact, there are laws today about children right that govern a country in this time. Many kind people also built an orphanage to keep the children that were thrown away by society or lost their parents." Heracles replied.
"So, that means..."
"That's right. Although not a utopia that you want, many kind-heart people want a safety for all children they can help. So, you can say that you wish is slowly become come true at a slow pace." Said Heracles. "In fact, my comrade that you almost killed built one for the Sacred Gear user."
Atlanta later makes a sad frown. "It seems I owe her an apology..."
"Don't worry, Jeanne is a forgiving person. Her past is more sad than you. Her entire village being massacred by Fallen Angels and she accidentally killed her best friend because of her Sacred Gear is lost control. If she not found by Cao Cao, maybe she wants to die by now. You still lucky, you had no sin in your hand for killing your own best friend." Said Heracles.
Atlanta gasped. She can't believe a sweet girl like DxD Jeanne had such a sad past. "I-I can't believe it..."
"You can't? She's proof that you should watch your wish once more. For us, who had a troubled past, your wish is an insult." Said Heracles.
The talk with Heracles later left Atlanta in her thought. Now, not only her savior but a bunch of Hero descendants, with one of them is her friend soul inheritor, thinks that she wishes is impossible. After thinking once again, she finally reaches conclusion. 'My wish...If I think of it...Maybe it's impossible from the start. I already know that. But why I keep telling myself that my wish had value for those children? What the people that built this orphanage thing will say to me?' she thought. "I can't believe I was egoist from the start. What I truly want is only to make sure that no children suffer the same way as I did. Now that I think of it, I only want to make myself the sole savior, ignoring those kind-heart people. I care for children, that's what I accept. But I use my fruitless wish as a door to close my heart, and not looking at the others..." She said. "what should I be fighting for?"
Heracles sighed, then walk forward and whack her on the head.
"What did you that for!?" Atlanta yelled while grabbing her head.
"To make sure that what I hear is not wrong." Said Heracles with a smile, glad that she finally see the error in her wish.
Atlanta chuckling. "Khu khu khu. I finally realized the truth but as a Servant. Talk about ironic." She mumbled. A single tear rolls down her cheek.
Heracles who seeing her expression, stand up from his seat. "I will go out. I'll give you some time to be alone." He then walks out from the room. Seeing Atlanta again making him remember his past.
(Flashback - 10 Years before the DxD Storyline)
"Colonel Heracles, the beast is seen around two kilometers from here." Said a soldier to a muscular young man with tanned skin and wearing a Navy outfit. It was twenty-two years old Heracles, who works as a Greek Navy Colonel.
"Are you sure?" Ask Heracles.
"I'm pretty sure. I hope this is the rumored Morgawr we always search." Said the soldier.
"Make sure it was that monster. It destroyed a dozen of small ships in this bay and killed some of our countrymen. It's natural we give it the taste of his own medicine." Said Heracles in a commanding tone.
"Yes sir!" Said the soldier, then he returns to the barrack of the ship.
Heracles then look at the sea with a grin. "At last, this pointless pursuit is over. After all, who the heck believes in such a thing?"
A few minutes later, the scout from the ship watch tower yelled to Heracles. "Colonel! I see some movements in the water!"
"Where it is!?" Yelled Heracles.
"Wait for Colonel!" Said the scout. "Oh no, it is closing into the vacation boat. The distance between them is 700 meters!"
"What!?" Said Heracles in disbelief, he then walks to the cannon that planted on the funnel of the ship. "Scout! Give me the direct coordinate! I'll shot that beast before it reaches the boat!"
"Okay Co-" Before he can finish his words, the scout is smacked to the water by a large tail.
"WHAT THE!?" Yelled Heracles in disbelief after seeing the tail. Not long after that, the head of the creatures is out of the water.
It was a serpentine creature with six snake-like heads. Below it, six heads of wolves are growling. This creature is Scylla, the mythical sea monster of Greek Mythology.
"That's impossible!" Said, one soldier.
"That's Scylla! The legendary Greek sea monster!" Said another soldier. "It this creature is the one that attacked the ships in the last two months ago!?"
Heracles unsheathed his rapier. "All of you that still alive! Prepare for battle! If we die! We die in honor!" He yelled.
"RIGHT!" Shouted his soldiers in unison.
Heracles shoots the cannon at one of the Scylla head. The shoot making the beast growling in pain. It then turned three of its heads snatching the soldiers in Heracles warship, while the dog like head is attacking the small vacation boat.
"My Men! Damn You!" Heracles shouted while shooting the cannon again. Can't hold it anymore, Scylla retaliates by the winging its giant tail to Heracles, making him throw to the bow of the ship. One of its snake-head destroying the cannon by crunching it with its jaws. After that, all of the head focused on the vacation boat. Heracles later is constricted by Scylla tail. He punches the tail to let go of him but to no avail. Meanwhile, the snake and dog heads are constricting the small boat and one of them looks like snatching a person and swallowed it whole.
"You damn monster...DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME!" He yelled while punching the Scylla's tail with all energy he had. Then, something amazing happens, The Scylla's tail is glowing in an orange aura, then explode to bits, freeing Heracles from the constriction. He then falls back to the ship.
"What...just happen?" He said in disbelief when looking at his palm. "I never thought I had a bad-ass power like that!" He said with a grin.
Feeling pain in its tail, Scylla turn to Heracles. All head of snake and dog show an anger of being injured.
"At last you see me huh!? Good. Cause, it's time for EXPLOSION!" Heracles yelled while in martial arts stance for a soldier.
One of the Scylla snakes' lunges forward with mouth open, trying to devour him.
"EAT THIS!" Heracles yelled while punching the face of the attacking Scylla face. Soon, the head is glowing in orange aura along with the rest of the body, then explode to bits, ending the story of Scylla.
Heracles later fall to his knees because of his wounds and exhaustion from using the unknown power. "Hn. Amazing power." He said. He then realizes due to Scylla is exploding while its body is constricting the vacation boat, the boat is exploding as well.
"Help! I can't swim!" Yelled a voice that sounds like a young woman.
Heracles gasped. 'I'm glad. There's a survivor.' Instinctively, he jumped to the water to save the woman. After picking the woman up, he swims back to his ship. The woman is revealed to be a young child around seven years old with pale skin and green hair. She currently unconscious due to swallowing too much water.
"At last..." Heracles mumbled. "Don't worry young child. You save with me." Said Heracles while gently touching her hair. Due all of his subordinates have died, Heracles force to drive the warship back to the base alone.
(Two Days Later)
"So, you want to resign from the Navy?" Ask a bearded man with admiral clothing. He was Miltiades, the descendant of the original Miltiades who brings Athens to victory in the Battle of Marathon. "Why? I know you are felt guilty because of your subordinate's loss, but that's the risk of being a soldier."
"You know the child that I saved right? I accidentally blow her vacation boat with my warship cannon when I shoot that monster." Said Heracles, lied that he awakened a strange power inside him. "If I don't take care of her after she lost both of her family because of that monster, I would lose my pride as a soldier."
Miltiades just out a heavy sigh. "I can't stop you from doing this, am I? Very well then. But remember this, if you had any thought of coming back, we will always accept you."
Heracles nodded.
After finishing his resignation from the Greek Navy, Heracles then went to the Agios Andreas Hospital in Patras to check the young girl that he saved from Scylla. Due to being unconscious even after return to land, he decides to take her to the hospital for treatment. Luckily, the girl is waking up after 24 hours, but Heracles haven't talked to her yet. Although he knows that the girl is crying after knowing both of her parents is eaten by Scylla.
The door to the patient room is opened when Heracles is entering the room. He then looks at the young girl, who currently is eating the food for a patient.
The girl, aware of his presence, stops eating and look at him with a smile. "So, you're the Navy soldier that save me..."
"Yes. Colonel Heracles, no, Former-Colonel Heracles at your service." Said Heracles with a polite bow.
"Can you come closer?" Ask the girl.
Heracles nodded, then walk to her and sit on her bed. Then, the girl hugs him while out a soft sob.
"Thank you for saving me." The child said. She then releasing the hug.
"Don't think too much of it. I only do my job as a soldier." Said Heracles while cleaning her tears. "By the way, are your body is fine?"
The girl nodded. "Yes. Although it still not the same as usual. By the way, my name is Acacia. Nice to meet you, Heracles-san."
Heracles smiled then nodded. "By the way Acacia, are you still sad about the fate of your family?"
Acacia shook her head. "I can't be sad all the time. They will definitely be sad in there if I can move forward." She said. Her face then turns to sad look. "It just...I don't know where I must stay..."
"You can stay with me." Said Heracles. "It is my fault because I cannot act quickly which causes the death of your family. I will at least take care of you to repay my sins for not being able to save your family."
"You don't need to feel guilty. You saved me, that's enough." Said Acacia. "For your offer, I accept it, since you the one who save me after all."
After Acacia is healed, Heracles then adopted her and resign from the Greek Navy. Both of them now live in mountain estate that owned by Heracles during his work as a Navy Colonel. They live a normal happy family life and not disturb by anything, until...
(2 Years Later - 8 Years before the start of DxD Storyline)
Heracles is busy cleaning the cornfield with Acacia because it will be winter two months from now. They are taking the corn that already matures when Acacia suddenly stands up and starting to walk to the forest. that was located on the edge of the field.
"What's the matter, Acacia?" Ask Heracles.
Acacia didn't respond to his calling and continue to walk to the forest.
"Hey! don't run by yourself!" Yelled Heracles while pursuing her.
Heracles continue to follow Acacia while also calling her, but she not responding at all. He follows her until finally, Acacia stopped in front of a cave. From inside the cave, came out an ugly looking creature. His features including a big nose, large red eyes with black pupil, blue warty skin, long claws on hand and feet, and sharp teeth. It wears a black fabric. This creature is Bogeyman, a child-eating monster that usually popular in North America and Scotland. He hypnotizes Acacia with the intention to devouring her.
"Acacia, keep your distance!" Warn Heracles to her adopted daughter, but to no avail. Since she didn't respond, Heracles ran forward to strike the Bogeyman.
Seeing Heracles ran toward him, the Bogeyman smirk, showing his sharp teeth. "Well, well. A human with a Sacred Gear inside him."
Heracles is shocked knowing the creature can talk. "Keep your hands off her you freak!" He yelled hiding his shock.
"Hmph. With only half-awakened Sacred Gear? You can beat Scylla only because it underestimates you." The Bogeyman said. "The same miracles can't happen twice." Bogeyman suddenly appear in front of Heracles with amazing speed and slashing his torso with his long claws, making the former Navy is down to the ground. "Now then, time to eat this little girl." The Bogeyman then pick up Acacia by her waist and his mouth later open wide, intending to eat her. Only inches before Acacia is eaten alive, he felt something punching his stomach. It was Heracles, and despite the terrible injury, he managed to stand up. The Bogeyman drop Acacia and Heracles quickly grab her and jump backward.
"Damn You! Just a mere human!" The Bogeyman spat.
"Don't underestimate the soldier, damn aberration!" Mock Heracles, although he felt weaker due to blood loss.
Acacia is still in a hypnotic trance.
"Die Then!" The Bogeyman then preparing a blue Magic Energy to shot it at Heracles. After some charge, He then releases it.
Heracles can only turn and use his back to protect Acacia, preparing for the worst.
"Dainsleif!" Shouted a voice of a young man who suddenly appears in front of them. His features are short silver hair, red eyes, and wearing a Priest Clothing. He was Siegfried, who at this time is fourteen years old. He now grabbing Dainsleif in his hand, which releasing a wall of ice that protects Heracles and Acacia from the blast. "I'm glad to arrive in time."
"Who're you?" Ask Heracles.
"Just an exorcist," Siegfried replied.
"Grrh. Who are-! Impossible, what a Demonic Sword User doing here!?" Ask the Bogeyman in fear after seeing Dainsleif.
"I'm sorry Bogeyman-san. But your brutal devouring of children already alerts the Church, which is why I as a representative of the Hero Faction come. The others will come here shortly." Siegfried explained to the Bogeyman.
"Hero Faction!? The one that the True Longinus user lead!?"
"Hoo seems you know enough to know that. Well yes, time for the job to be done." Said, Siegfried, while casually walk forward to the Bogeyman.
"Grr...DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME! SHITTY CHILD!" The Bogeyman yelled. He then lunges forward with his claw cover in dark energy.
"Moving forward to the unknown opponent can cost your life." Said Siegfried. He ducks from the Bogeyman Energy Claw Slash, and cut the Bogeyman vertically in half, killing him. Not long after, his body is turned into ice and break into pieces.
"Hmph. A weak Supernatural being after all." Siegfried commented. A yelling of children grabs his attention.
"Father! Father! Please wake up!" Said Acacia who shaking Heracles body, already awakened from her trance. He unconscious due to blood loss. She then looks at Siegfried. "Mister, Please help my father! He doesn't wake up!" She pleaded.
Siegfried nodded. "Show me the direction of your home. We take care of him after that." With that said, A pair of silver arms emerges from his back.
Acacia is terrified seeing it. "Y-Y-You monster as well!?"
Siegfried quickly tried to calm her down. "No no. I assure you I bring no harm to you and your father. Think of this arm like some experiment." He said.
Acacia, although still terrified, nodded. "Okay then. But, don't try to eat me and my father."
Siegfried chuckling hearing it. "I'm not the demon you know." Using his silver arms, he picks up Heracles body and runs to the directions of his home with Acacia.
In the morning, Heracles open his eyes and found that he is inside his bedroom. "Why I'm in my bedroom?' He thought. He also felt that his torso wound from Bogeyman slash is already healed, which shocked him.
"Father..." Said a voice beside him. It was Acacia, and she currently is sleeping.
Heracles then stroked her hair, glad that there no injuries on her body. 'I'm glad that she's alright. By the way, where's the priest from the previous night?'
Suddenly the door is opened, and Siegfried is coming in along with a young man with dark blue hair and blue eyes. His outfit is clothing kind of looks like Japanese academies with Chinese attire. This man is Cao Cao, who currently is fourteen years old. "I see that you already awake, Navy-san."
"Who're you?" Ask Heracles.
"Oh my, sorry for being rude. My name is Cao Cao, the descendant of Cao Cao from Three Kingdoms Era." He introduced himself. "It's nice to finally meet the descendant of Heracles."
"Hmph. I can careless about your ancestor. The one that I want to know is how do I get here while I was unconscious in the forest?" Ask Heracles.
"I was the one that takes you here." Said Siegfried. "Your daughter is the one that asks for my help."
"Acacia..." Heracles mumbled, looking at her sleeping form. He then looks at Cao Cao. "Why do you know about my ancestry!? That information is a private one. Even I myself don't believe it. He just a mythological hero."
"It's simple. We the Hero Faction after all. We studied the hero and their descendant." Said Cao Cao. "By the way, I heard the news about you defeating Scylla. It was an incredible feat for Sacred Gear: Variant Detonation. The previous user can't even defeat such monster when the first time awakens it."
"Then can you explain to me what this Sacred Gear and the other thing? Because that's the ogre being blabbering about during our fight." Ask Heracles.
"That's what I going to do." Cao Cao replied. "So..."
After the explanation about Sacred Gear, Supernatural World, and Longinus, Heracles just out a heavy sigh. "For a normal people, maybe that's hard to believe. But since I encounter the Supernatural Being twice, there's no reason I don't believe it."
Cao Cao nodded.
"Then let me guess, you want me to join your band of legendary figures?" Ask Heracles.
"So, you already know. Although I will not force you to join my faction. At this time, we are still a small band after all." Said Cao Cao.
"In fact, I'll gladly join your faction."
"What?" Said Cao Cao confused.
"After hearing from you about many Supernatural Being is attacking innocent people. That was the thing that I, as a soldier, can't ignore. After all, soldier job is to protect people am I right?" Said Heracles. "And, if Acacia is saved even if I joined yours, that's enough."
"I can promise you that she will save." Cao Cao promised. "After all, she's the descendant of Atalanta, the Chaste Huntress." He said referring to Acacia.
"Wait a minute!? You said that Acacia also the descendant of heroes!?" Ask Heracles in disbelief. Of course, he knows Atalanta legend. And, for all this time, he was taking care of her descendant!?
"Yes. I'm surprised you didn't realize it until now." Cao Cao commented.
"Then, it means like it or not, she must know about the Supernatural World?" Ask Heracles.
"Yes." Cao Cao replied.
Heracles sighed. "Very well then. But she must not join in any of our battles. That is my condition."
After Acacia is awake, Heracles, with the help of Cao Cao and Siegfried, explain to her about the Supernatural World and her ancestor. At first, she didn't believe it, but after another explanation, she starts to believe it and agreed to join the Hero Faction, since Heracles also join. After joining the Hero Faction, Heracles keep training his Sacred Gear until able to reach its Balance Breaker and appointed as one of the Hero Faction top executives. While Acacia, as Cao Cao promise to him, works as a healer and rarely go into battles.
(Flashback End)
Back to Trifas, more accurately in the villa that owned by Cao Cao and the others, the time already show is around 2.00 pm. Atlanta is currently walking outside in the garden. After Heracles came out, Vali comes again and ask her to talk in the garden.
'What's that man going to talk to me for? If I remember, he's the one that enrages the most when hearing my wish, no...my former wish...' She thought. A few minutes later, he found Vali who currently is sitting on a tree.
Vali recognizing her presence. "I see that you came. I thought you ran away back to your faction." He said.
"I only show my gratitude to Heracles group for taking care of my wounds." Atlanta countered. "What do you want to talk about?"
"I only want to hear your answer for my question from yesterday." Said Vali. "If you wish is truly like that, why I must suffer during my childhood?"
Atlanta sighed. "I don't need to answer your question, because I already realize that my wish is impossible to happen. I realize that I was too egoist from the start since I want me and only me alone to protect those children." She explained. "If I had a wish right now, maybe my wish is that there is a good man who can pass on my wish to bring salvation to those children."
Vali is silent for a second, then laughing. "Bahahaha. So, you finally realizing your errors?" He asks.
Atlanta just glares at him. "Yes. I do realize how stupid I was from the beginning."
"Don't make a face like that. At least I'm glad that you now had a wish that is worth fighting for." Said Vali with an acknowledged smirk. "By the way, I heard that you are going back to your faction this afternoon."
Atlanta nodded. "I really grateful to you and Heracles group for taking care of me. But I already swear my loyalty to my Master in the Red Faction. However, I will not tell my faction anything about your group, especially the info about your Servants that truly alive." She said. "If I don't mind, what's your past-"
"You don't need to know," Vali replied while walking away.
Atlanta, instead glaring, had a sympathetic look at Vali. 'What your past really likes for making a glimpse of a aired face like that?'
"I see. Too bad, we can have a powerful hero in our side if you join us." Said Cao Cao. He, DxD Jeanne, and Heracles is currently is bid Atlanta farewell since she going to return to her faction. The time is already sunset. They currently on the edge of pine forest that located not far from the villa.
"As a Servant, I can't betray my faction. However, I promise to not tell about you and your groups." Said Atlanta.
"Can you keep your words?" Ask Cao Cao.
Atlanta nodded. She then looks toward DxD Jeanne. "I owe you an apology for almost killing you."
"Don't think too much about it. Like I said before, I hold no grudge against you." Said DxD Jeanne.
Atlanta smiled hearing it.
"But, before you leave, can I ask you a favor Atlanta-dono?" Ask Cao Cao.
"What favor?" Ask Atlanta.
"I had a suspicion about your faction. Zelretch-dono said that a rogue Servant is existed in this Holy Grail War and plan to make a stagnant world where all humans are immortal to make a salvation for the human. The suspicion came from your faction since the Black Faction is the cause of this Holy Grail War and I doubt they had a rogue Servant." Cao Cao explained. "Can I ask to observe the internal of your faction if you can?"
'I see. He already had a suspicion although not met my faction leader face to face. He already a genius person from the start.' Atlanta thought. "If I must say, there is something suspicious about my faction from the start. I and the others Servant from the Red Faction, sans Saber and Assassin, never met our Masters. All order is taken over by a priest that was the Master of Assassin."
Cao Cao just smiled. 'I see. Maybe this priest is the rogue Servant that Zelretch-dono explained.' He thought. "And, what about the Master of Saber?"
"The Master of Saber was a Necromancer. From what I heard from the priest, he said that he will assist our faction, but he will walk a different path from us." Said Atlanta. "It seems, that Necromancer already sense something wrong about my faction from the start."
"I see. In general, the one that closes your faction weakness is the powerful heroes that your faction Magus is summoned. The Master of Saber of Red must be a smart guy after all." Cao Cao put the pieces together. "Give my hello to Karna-dono."
"If you had nothing to talk. I will take my leave." Said Atlanta. She then turns to leave. "I will do as best as I can to do your favor."
"Wait a minute." Said Heracles, stopping her from leaving.
Atalanta turned to him, only for Heracles to hug her.
"Take care." Said Heracles while releasing the hug.
"If you must know, I am a Servant. After this war is over, I will..." Atlanta unable to continue her words. 'Why I can't say I will disappear after this war?'
"I know that you will disappear. But, just take care until then." Said Heracles.
"If I somehow had a chance, I want to see my descendant and Artemis-sama of your dimension." She tried to change the topic of conversation. "Farewell." She then changes to her Astral Form, disappearing from the scene.
"Cao Cao." Said Heracles.
"Hm?" Ask Cao Cao.
"Thank you for not killing her." Said Heracles.
Cao Cao sighed. "I only realize if I kill her, It will only gain me temporary satisfaction. Jeanne also tells me about that."
"I'm glad that she finally found a wish that was fit for her." DxD Jeanne commented. "By the way, where Sieg-kun, George-kun, and Jelly-chan? I don't see them from the noon in the villa."
"Jeanne-dono said that she wants to get close to the Black Faction fortress because of something. At first, she wants to go by herself. But I ask Siegfried and Georg to guard her. Because we didn't any Black Faction members, we can't fully trust them." Said Cao Cao. "Now, I think we must go back, Vali and his team currently choosing the relics for the summoning of their Servant."
On Fate Jeanne side, he currently walking along with Siegfried and Georg on an open plain.
"Why must you go to the Black Faction exactly?" Ask Georg.
"After I hear Zelretch-sama explanation, I think that this rogue Servant is from the Red Faction. At least I must warn the Black Faction about this." Fate Jeanne replied.
"That's a risky move on this war. We don't know if the Black Faction will listen to you or not. Worse one is they tried to take you to their side or kill you." Siegfried commented.
"I don't think the Black Faction want to kill me. During the day you caught me, I sense that the Saber of Black is nearby. It seems he and his Master intended to take care of Lancer of Red but stopped due to your faction." Said Fate Jeanne.
"If I don't mind, you had the skills to know the true name of the Servant by just sense them am I right?" Ask Siegfried. "If that so, who's the true name of Saber of Black?"
"Your ancestor, Siegfried-san." Fate Jeanne replied.
In the forest, Atlanta currently on her way back to the church of Red Faction when she is sensing a familiar energy.
'This Mana, Rider is nearby.' She thought. She then jumps from tree to tree, to find that both he and Karna is standing on a tree branch.
"Sis, is that really you?" Ask Achilles, realizing her presence.
"I'm back," Atlanta replied.
Achilles can't hide his joy and hug her. "I'm glad. I thought this Cao Cao person kill you."
"Don't worry. His faction is the one that tends for my wounds." Said Atlanta. 'And the one who open my eyes.'
"What the? I don't expect it." Said Achilles. Why's the one that captured her tend for her wounds.
"How's Cao Cao been?" Ask Karna. 'I see, your faction can change her view about her wish. I don't expect that at all.' He thought after reading Atlanta mind with Discernment of Poor.
"He's giving you his regard," Atlanta replied. "By the way Rider, Lancer, do you still remember our conversation when we first met?"
"It's about our Masters?" Ask Achilles.
Atlanta nodded. "It seems, our suspicion to the priest is true after all." She said.