I'll be honest, I didn't think much about the introduction of the First Trinity to the story. This one is done just to finish the First Trinity's introduction. Next chapter will have more of Haruka and his group. Anyway, please also read my new story 'Trinity DxD gaiden: Flash, Blizzard, and Vampires'. It took place during Haruka's disappearance where he infiltrates Youkai Academy and dealt with Fairy Tale together with Tsukune and friends. It features Anna and also Valerie in later chapters. It's in the crossover section with Rosario + Vampire. Plus I've put up a poll in my profile to decide whether I should add more girls for Haruka. RtV's Mizore and Kurumu will be in his list of girls. Khaos Brigade Hero Faction's Jeanne MIGHT enter his harem if it comes to that but no other girls will. There is one other who will be paired with Haruka even if the poll decides that he should be with Xenovia only. This one is very important to the plot and Xenovia's development. I'll be looking forward to when she bags Haruka.

Chapter 28: Dangerous Encounter

-3rd person pov-

99% of the time, a Trinity arriving unannounced means chaos and not often planets and even a whole dimension could be at risk of being destroyed. Momoka could say that the immense destruction caused to the landscape from Sakura's short skirmish is them getting off lucky. When a Trinity do battle, the destruction of a mountain or three is considered very minor collateral damage. Seeing the damages even smaller than that brought relief to Momoka. Then again, Sakura is the least destructive amongst the current Trinity. But perhaps the real reason is because she is weaker than she actually is. Momoka could notice that little detail as she knows Sakura really well.

"Yo, Sakura."

"The readings are exactly the same, you are truly Shijou Momoka! You became a ghost?"

"No, it's much more complicated than that."

"…I see, a sacred gear. Sera's worls truly is interesting."

"Wait, before that, why is Sakura-san here?"

"Melia… you've grown. Last I saw you're just a little squirt."

"That was sixteen years ago! And no, we last met five years ago."

"Sorry, I'm rather forgetfull."

"That's the worst reason you could ever give. You're Akasha's main operator, there's no way you could forget anything."

"Hey, my physical brain could only process so much at one time."

Sakura then caught sight of the young man behind Momoka. Using her connection to Akasha, she's surprised that the male's information is not complete in the sense that it's like someone yet to be fully registered. Sakura knew that this can only happen if the subject in question is…

"So you're Momoka and Kazuya's son."

It can only happen if the subject is the child of a Trinity and will need to be manually registered in Akasha with a different process than any normal soul.

"Correct. I have seen you a few times from memories shared by kaa-san. So you're the First Trinity."

"Yoshino Sakura, at your service. What's your name?"

"Shidou Haruka. I also accept Shijou but I prefer using the name of my adopted family."

"I see. Then I will consider you Shidou Haruka. I'm currently in a clone body since my main body will need to stay in Akasha. Let's get along, Haruka-kun."

Haruka shook Sakura's hand. He had to admit that it's not what he expected when meeting a Trinity. It feels… normal.

"And the young lady here must be… Xenovia Quarta."

"How did you-"

"I'm the First Trinity. One of our basic power is to pull information from Akasha with only a single glance. The only exception is when it concerns someone like Haruka, a Trinity child. They need to be manually registered first. Hmm, I see… it seems that your information is protected due to your close relation with… what the hell!"

Sakura suddenly widened her eyes while Xenovia had a look of confusion.

"I see… something is indeed up and the player is not just us and the Witch."

"What do you mean? What is it? Is there something wrong with me?"

Xenovia asked, slightly worried since the blonde Trinity seems to saw something in her that surprised her.

"Nothing really important or dangerous, just something very powerful and useful should you manage to utilize it. Very interesting indeed."

Only Momoka realized that Sakura is piecing together something in her mind. Momoka is sure that what Sakura saw inside Xenvoia is that 'something' that she decided to leave in her. And a player apart from them and the Witch, Momoka realize that it can only be that woman the blue-haired girl Xenovia fought refered to as mother. Sakura seems to know something more but she won't tell.

"Just tell me this, Sakura. Is this new player a friend or an enemy?"

"I can't really tell right now but I think this one is leaning on being a potential ally."

That at least alleviates some of Momoka's worry. Sakura has always been a good judge of character and her insight is always useful.

"Anyway, let's take this converstation some-"

"No… I'm here on another important mission. Don't worry, it's nothing destructive. I'll be looking around for a while. We'll talk the next time we meet."

She didn't even let anyone say something before disappearing in particles of gold.

Unlike the complete presence concealment of Momoka's version of Kaleidoscope combined with her unique connection with spatial magic which allows the unique kaleidoscope to be created in the first place and is also inherited by Haruka, Reika has no such advantage and can be found using a bit of effort and some concentration.

"Glad I can find you here, Reika."

Reika and Tatenashi who are panting after escaping the First Trinity began to tense and entered battle stance when the familiar voice of said Trinity came to their ears again.

"How did you track us?!"

Reika demanded, now reaching to his back as if he's about to pull out something which Sakura belive is his weapon. Seems like the young man will not hide his true capability this time. Sakura almost entertain the thought of fighting Reika again but she refrains since she didn't look for him to pick a fight. No, it is to find the missing piece of the puzzle and Reika knows the final piece, or at least, she think he knows. Reika is definitely a part of this third player's faction and if what she saw inside Xenovia is of any indication, the new player is incredibly powerful, maybe a master of all True Magic and even something close to the Trinity. Sakura doesn't mind the existence of someone who can match the Trinity. What she is concerned of is "what this person is planning. She want to know the third player's intent and she will learn it through Reika.

"You do know that I am the First Trinity. There's not many who I couldn't track. I am connected to the world. The only thing that could prevent me from tracking someone is probably only Momoka's magic and the other Trinity's power. You're not registered in the world and there will be discrepancy wherever you go. I just need to find it. But it really is impressive to be able to avoid the world's detection. Then again, the whole Akasha is frantically searching for the Golden Witch. We didn't pay much attention to other things. no wonder you could stay under the radar."

"Tch, I forgot about that. No wonder kaa-san explicitly warns us not to meet the Trinity."

"It couldn't be helped. Reika, stand back, I know how Sakura-san thinks. Let me have a talk with her. At least she's the most trustworthy of the Trinity. The other two are much too emotional in this matter."

When she heard that voice, Sakura's body instinctively tensed up. The ghostly voice contains power, great power and authority. The one who spoke is someone who is equal to her, to a Trinity. It can't be another Trinity since everyone is accounted for. It's not the Golden Witch's minion as the power it contains has a certain feel to it that is just… different and she might even say that it is friendly and she wants to welcome the owner of the ghostly voice as a friend.

"Please have patience, Sakura-san. For a few reasons that we will discuss later, I cannot come personally as I am prevented from doing so. Though you yourself are currently using a clone body so I think it's fair for me to use my own though sadly more limited due to my circumstances."

"It doesn't matter. I appreciate that you are even willing to talk peacefully."

"Very well, I thank you for your kindness. You're truly the best out of the Trinity."

"You're flattering me."

"I will have only around thirty minutes before my power disipitates there. Let's use the limited time we have wisely. Reika, if you will."

"Yes, kaa-san

Reika took out a small crystal ball from inside his coat pocket. It is small enough to fit his palm perfectly and not the kind that is usually used for divination. It is probably something along the line of communication crystal and could also summon the person at the other end of the connection. Sakura had seen some of that before. The difference is the amount of hidden power it contains. It is so powerful that it reached the level of A-rank phantasm. For a communication device, that's definitely too much. Reika then proceeds to throw the crystal ball to the air and as it stops a few meters above them, a beam of pure white light shot out and enveloped the area in a barier. Sakura had analyzed the barrier. It's deployment and presence prevents detection even from Akasha. It is an impossibly high level barrier that separate reality. After the barrier was fully deployed, the crystal floated down gently and flashes. When the light died down, an adult woman whose face and body are covered in a black hooded cloak stood, tall and regal like a Queen. Sakura felt like she is truly standing in the presence of an equal. She's a Trinity and feeling something like that tells much of the woman's power. Using her sharp eyes, Sakura managed to see the face behind the hood and her eyes widened in shock. The gears of her brain immediately turn and it doesn't take long for her to come up with the most probable answer. The First Trinity then laughed, she laughed so hard that her stomach hurt. Fate is truly screwing with everything today.

"As expected, you recognize me."

"Ahahaha! Of course. But I never would've thought that this is possible. Let's see if you're the real deal though."

In a blast of extreme speed Sakura slashed at the woman with Kotonoha. It is so sudden and so fast that neither Reika nor Tatenashi could follow the Trinity's movement.

CLANG

But the woman could. Kotonoha, the sword of the First Trinity, a sword that could cleave a star easily should Sakura will it was blocked by a brilliant silver and blue sword with translucent crystallite edge. The woman didn't even move an inch and she certainly didn't flinch. She just casually blocked the sudden light speed attack. True that Sakura is still in her copy body but the same goes for the woman. Such feat in a similar copy body just meant that the woman is at least equal to her in their real body unless she unleash her Trinity form.

"You're really something else…"

"So does that satisfy you? If we were to fight here, it could destroy the whole island."

"True. Plus we're here to talk anyway. I get the gist of what you're trying to do and I approve of it. Anyway, just to alleviate the last worry of an old woman, tell me your name."

The woman smiled kindly at the Trinity before she threw back her hood and let her shoulder-length hair flow. The two of them put away their respective sword and the woman introduced herself with an all too familiar name.

"My name is…"

Aaaaaaaannnnnnnnnndddddddddd there we have it. Sakura meets the mysterious leader of Reika's group and Sakura seems to recognize the woman. It's not the time to reveal her name yet and I won't even tell which series she came from or if she's an OC. It's more fun that way. Now Sakura is in the loop and it will be fun time for Reika and his girls. Of course, Sakura is still looking for a successor. Let's just see who will be the candidate.