Chapter 27


The plan had been simple. Oh so very simple. Go to the docks, hook the containers to the Bullheads, then leave with it. Bam! Another mass amount of Dust in their greedy little hands. That's how it should have been.

"What the hell is this!?" Instead, Roman and the White Fang are hiding behind a building while a raging battle went on in the docks.

Atalanta shooting all sorts of arrows from ice, fire, explosions, and electricity.

Hercules lifting concrete and throwing them at random. Sometimes at the White Fang.

The girl that came with red shooting freaking lasers of all things from her flying swords.

Monkey boy and his revealing friend beating the crap of the White Fang mutts to slow to escape.

That guy in the mask, easily beating his guard Hundred Persona.

Overall, the docks became a battle of hell itself. 'This is crazy! Ridiculous!' Roman thought as he saw the raging battle happening. The masked man now taking on Hercules and easily keeping up and handling the man and even hurting him when Hercules himself handled the toughest of Dust bullets somehow. The giant man trying to crush him with his axe only for it to be dislodged but then making a mini earthquake.

'I know Huntsmen can be tough.' Hundred Persona then divided herself all charging at Red and her friend. The two cut them down while still capable of shooting down any attempts of their lives on them by the Fang. Then the lady that may as well be wearing underwear with the weird hat slammed her staff into the ground killing a bunch of the body doubles.

'Some even dangerous.' Hercules roared and then threw a punch that sent Sigurd flying away. The man then landed perfectly while he then reached behind his back, pulling out a glowing red dagger. He then threw it which actually cut into Hercules skin even though it shouldn't have worked. The beast screaming at the attack, piercing his skin, with Atalanta retaliating by shooting six successful attacks on the masked man. He was able to dodge the first two, the third hitting his right leg freezing it. The fourth hitting his chest shocking him. The fifth and six, explosive Dust that blew him up sky high.

'But these guys are on another level!' Roman was far from being the only one either. While they fought against the Fang and super weak duplicates of Hundred Persona, both Ruby, Penny, and Blake with Sun were impressed with how strong these guys were. Though it made sense overall. Servants. Take away their power, and one might assume they were now a bunch of weaklings. WRONG!

While it's true if their status as Servants-their magical power-is taken away, they would indeed become no different from regular people, with a few exceptions like Hercules and Divine Spirits. Yes they lose access to their unique skills, inherit knowledge, and even their Noble Phantasm. But that was far from the truth.

All these Servants were people from another world that made their mark in history. Did things that made people remember them by years after. Becoming living legends not because all of them summoned lighting or whatever. Because they showed their skills to the world what they did in life. In which case, many-aside from a few like a certain lion head man, a blonde fool sleeping on concrete, and a girl with a magic talking wand-are grand fighters.

That didn't mean they were invincible of course. Now that they are somewhat near the line of mortal and Servant, they can be beaten if someone in this world has the necessary skill that outdoes them. But here in this dock, they may as well be unstoppable.

"The Buddha will knock some sense into you!" Sanzang declared as she had her staff meet with Atalanta's bow. The cat girl hissed as she had to hold her ground. Now that she no longer wielded the power of a Servant, she was back to having the usual strength she had in life. Though Sanzang wasn't exactly weak herself as she definitely had muscle despite those slim arms of hers.

"Hercules!" Atalanta called out with the mad Berserker hearing his friend in trouble and running to her. Hercules raised his axe which he brought down, Sanzang jumped back and a good thing too. The place she had been in a moment ago turning to cracked dust and rubble.

Shing!

Hercules, his own instincts having warned him of something, then held his axe quickly blocking a glowing red dagger. The same one that pierced his near invulnerable skin. The dagger then flying back to the hands of the masked man.

"Interesting. Even with the Mad Enchantment, you still noticed my attack." The masked man, Sigurd, praised the great Berserker. He heard tales of how this Class was considered Hercules weakest form. Yet despite the mental obscuration, this man still held a keen battle mind. Maybe not as precise as a clear mind, but good enough to use.

Hercules just roared as he rushed at the puny man. His axe ready to squash him.

"Watch our Mr. Sigurd!" Then a green laser coming from Penny slammed into Hercules. While it didn't hurt him much, it did knock him down into the ground. Sigurd then turned to see Penny, giving a nod. The secret android smiling in response.

"Wow!" Ruby says as she uses Crescent Rose to shoot the head of an assassin which then vanished. "That's your bodyguard Penny?"

"Indeed friend Ruby." Penny says. "He protects me."

"Hey, that's cool and all." Sun joined in crushing the leg of an assassin before it also vanished away. "But uh, we still have a problem."

"And what would that be?" Blake shot at a few copies. Noting how they vanished eerily like Grimm. Realizing that woman's semblance was like hers only far more advanced.

"That!" Sun then pointed where the three girls then saw Roman and the White Fang tying a few crates of Dust and putting them inside the Bullhead. Seems they've chosen to give up on containers and just get the crates. Seemed safer too.

"I have them." Penny declared as the swords held above her then floated above her head. With a wave of her arm, they all shot towards the Bullhead.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Only for the weapons to be knocked off course. Small daggers having stopped them in their place. "Thanks Hundred Persona!" Roman called out to his ally. The very one who smirked at the girls as she taunted them by spinning a dagger on her finger.

"Now then," Roman lifted his cane. Checking to see that Atalanta was busy, then smiled. "Go to bed Red." Then shot a small unstable Dust bullet that hit Ruby in the gut, having been distracted by Hundred Persona's taunt.

"Ruby!" Penny cried out before she also got hit. Her body slammed into the nearest container. Roman laughed at the sight.

"You!" Too bad it got Sigurd's attention. He then quickly ran at Roman with the thief instantly showing fear. He saw this guy hurt Hercules, so he was certain this guy would bring just as much pain.

"Shit!" Roman shot many shots, not aimed at the man though, but at the ground. Hoping that it would get Sigurd to back off, the dust blocked his vision of Sigurd. Then something red came out and hit his shoulder. "Ah!" It was one of Gram's dagger forms. Sigurd then came up close, ready to slice the thief's hands off.

A roar was heard as suddenly a container rammed into Sigurd which then hit the wall of a building crumbling. Hercules having seen the trouble Roman was in and pushed the container at the swordsman. While Sigurd would have indeed survived that, he was pinned down at the moment.

"Man, things are getting weird." Roman hissed as he took out the dagger painfully from his shoulder. His aura working at healing his wound. "Ah whatever. I'm out of here." He then got on with the other White Fang members and had the pilot start up the engine.

"Looks like he's leaving." Atalanta called out to the others.

"In that case, we should leave to!" Hundred Persona dodged a strike palm from Sanzang before getting hit by her staff across the face. "Gah!"

"Those who stray must be punished!" Sanzang says where she then binds both the Assassin and Archer Class Servants with a gold ring. The two incapable of moving their arms and unable to move as they tightened around them.

Hercules of course proved to be impossible of being trapped by such a thing. Jason's efforts in fueling his power made him stronger than any of the Servants here. Except for one.

"Hah!" With impossible strength Sigurd moved the container with his bare hands. Using his dragon heart to his advantage, then jumping up on the container.

"See ya losers later." Only to see Roman and the White Fang ditching them all with Sigurd realizing that he had a Gram Dagger. Oh ...Damn! Worst part was, they were too far away for him to call the dagger back. There goes the second one. The theif closing the hatch with the Bullhead leaving with a decent amount of Dust, leaving them to their fate.

"You have got to be kidding me." Atalanta says. "He actually ditched us." She expected a response, only to hear nothing. She then turned to see that Hundred Persona had actually escaped the bind.

"Sorry. Nothing personal." Then saw the purple haired Hassan running away with bags of Dust in her hand. Having been told by Roman earlier to escape if things get dicey. In other words, Jason's words in double crossing came true. It was just Roman doing it first leaving them behind.

"..." Atalanta could only deadpan at what had just happened.

"Looks like we'll win this." Ruby, who had got back up looking more confident despite being blasted away earlier.

"But friend Ruby, Torchwick got away." Penny reminded the young Huntress-in-Training. Also looking rather fine.

"Oh yeah, that." Ruby says looking sheepish. "But, uh, we have his allies!" Atalanta, Hercules...wasn't there another person with them? Eh, probably nobody important. Now they had that cat girl trapped with only Hercules remaining.

A loud roar that was more beast than man however told them that he may be a bit above their league however. Ruby takes a few steps back with Penny doing the same. The secret android's eyes dilating.

"Detecting unknown energy signature from wanted criminal Hercules." Penny stated like a machine. "Energy is...rising?"

"Children, stand back." Sigurd told the girls with everyone doing the same. Even Sanzang took a step back knowing she was no match for the great Hero of Greece, even with these kids. She could tell that he has more power than even her. Which left only one person. "This won't be easy." Sigurd.

Thanks to his heart, he could give himself magical energy and temporarily give himself enough power to go against Hercules. It should give him the necessary strength to break through his powerful skin, and he had three-wait, that thief took one-two Gram daggers. If he did this right, then he can defeat Hercules.

"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅!" Hercules of course wouldn't allow that. It would waste a bit of his magical energy, but the mad hero subconsciously knew it would be worth it. He held his axe high above his head, the earth Dust laced on the edges glowing.

"Oh boy." Sigurd then turned around. "Everyone protect yourself!" Sanzang grabbed Sun and made an energy barrier for the both of them. Penny grabbed Ruby and Blake ran to get on higher ground.

"▄▅▅▂▃...S▂▃" Sigurd's eyes then widened at what he just heard. Something that shouldn't even be possible. For a moment, he thought he misheard. Hercules then slammed the axe into the ground. A shock wave then spread out everywhere as if mother nature was rebelling against man. Everyone having a difficult time even standing, when suddenly thanks to the Dust Berserker had on him, caused and created numerous earth pillars to burst from the ground. Those nearby either dodged or got hit and was sent away into the nearest hard ground or wall. Atalanta also felt the shock wave and ended up hitting a container right on the head. Effectively knocking her out with her eyes rolling in the back of the head.

"Hyah!" Sigurd of course wasn't one to give up. Instantly he struck and threw two daggers of Gram with great precision. Each one hitting both the Berserker's right and left shoulder. Even better, they hit the bone joints making it so Hercules couldn't move his arms.

"▂▃!" Berserker roared.

Sigurd then drew out his new sword and filled it with his own magical energy. Even high-quality Dust can't pierce Hercules skin, despite being weakened. As such, infusing his own magical energy would have to do. Sigurd then held his sword firmly and used it to stab the great hero in the stomach. The mad hero howling at being harmed.

"No way!" Ruby looks in shock. "I thought he was supposed to have tough skin?" She had seen news reports, and knew Hercules could resist bullets and other things. Yet this man somehow did the impossible.

"Mr. Sigurd is very strong." Penny tells her friend, knowing that Sigurd is highly strong in both mind and body. While the threat that is Hercules is dangerous, Sigurd has shown himself to be much more powerful. What he lacked in raw strength, he made up for in strategy and attacking with precise strikes. Something sadly Hercules lacked.

"I apologize my fellow Servant." Sigurd says as he took out the blade, the wound Hercules had already regeneration-slowly though. "But I cannot have you rampaging any further."

"..▂▃…Hercules then mutters. Yet it felt different somehow. More than just grunts. Sigurd tilted his head a bit. "▃...▂▃▃..s" Again. Sigurd leaned a little closer. Wondering if he was just hearing things. When he did so, Hercules held up his head. Looking at each other face-to face. Then, Hercules opened his mouth.

"...St▂▃d." Then, before Sigurd knew it, Hercules-despite the pain-lifted his own arms even though a sick snap could be heard from his shoulders. The mad hero lifting both arms above his head, then throwing them onto the ground with Sigurd then being lifted off the ground as he jumped to avoid the second shock wave.

"!" Though by jumping, he left himself unable to move. As Hercules then lifted his arm and then threw a mean punch into Sigurds chest. The armor cracked just a bit as he was launched away hitting Sanzang. The two crashing into a container full of Dust in which they were lucky it didn't even explode considering the man-woman shaped hole they made in it.

"...Oh boy." Ruby said as all the remaining teens then turned to see Hercules getting back up. Removing the Gram daggers from him and dropping them like toothpicks. He then growled in the teens direction which frightened them, and for good reason. He just took out two powerful opponents, and while they had some confidence in their skill, they weren't foolish to believe they could win.

Still, Ruby held her ground and lifted her scythe. Her friend Penny and Sun alongside Blake doing the same with their own. It looked as if it would be a showdown between them all.

Wee-oh! Wee-oh! Wee-oh!

Hercules then heard it, the sirens. A part of his mind then remembering how they knocked him out with those tiny darts. While his skin was much tougher compared to before, the small rational part of his mind told him he should go. So he then moved to where Atalanta is and grabbed her, carrying her like a princess between his manly arms.

He then turned to see Jason who was still knocked out, and contributed to nothing.

With his left arm, he grabbed his friends leg and just dragged him as if he were garbage. Leaving the docks by jumping as if he were some super hero. None of the young Huntsmen-in-Training following as they felt it would be ill-advised. It would seem the battle of the docks is over.


"Ah man. That was insane." Looks like Roman has met a true bunch of crazy people. A girl with laser swords, a man with a demon mask, seeing how that cat girl and hulkling man fought. Not to mention the woman with the curvy figure with monkey boy.

The Huntsmen of this generation were looking like they are taking an upgrade. Heck, he was lucky to escape with one container and numerous crates. Although at the moment, he had a problem to deal with.

"Mr. Roman, where's Jason?" It was none other than Medea (Lily), who is with Neo, Abigail, Cursed Arm and Serenity. All with him in the warehouse. Now wondering where Jason is.

'Oh man, this will be difficult.' How to fool this young girl without revealing his treachery. Roman quickly tried finding a solution, when inspiration hit him. He then looked down at the young girl and told him his lie. "He tried betraying me and failed." Now the question is, will it work?

"Oh Jason. Not again." Medea (Lily) wiped away a small fake tear hearing the news and accepting the bull spewed out of Roman's mouth.

"That makes sense." Abigail nodded knowing of Jason's treachery.

"I'm not even surprised." Serenity joined in. Of course Cursed Arm didn't seem to believe it, but didn't really care either.

"Hold on then." Hundred Persona then joined in. "What do we do with her." The thumb she jabbed at was at Medea (Lily), who's now stuck with them. Until she found her friends again who have escaped already.

"Oh!" Medea (Lily) squealed. Hugging Abigail. "Sleepover!"

"Sleepover!" Abigail agreed.

"Sleepover." Roman moaned. Looks like he's watching her again. But hey, better than waking up only to open the restroom and see Hercule staking a shower. Boy did he scream at that sight.

"In any case, I think it's time to call this a night." He told everyone who agreed. It's night, they finished the job, may as well go home instead of staying inside an old warehouse. The Hassans quickly vanish with Neo grabbing the girls hands and taking them home. Roman then grabbing a suitcase he had near him and putting it on the table, everyone else leaving. Sighing, Roman decided to just finish the last part of the job and then head on to bed.

"How very disappointing Roman." Then he heard the lady herself. His mood going down hearing that voice.

"Woah!" He says turning around. "Wasn't expecting to see you so soon." There wearing a small dress with a lot of leg showing, black hair and beautiful amber eyes is the lady that strong armed him into this position. Cinder Fall. With her two stooges as well. Shit. And he's on his own as well.

"We were expecting more from you." She then told Roman walking in. The thief felt irked by her words.

"Hey. You were the ones who suggested working with those mutts from the White Fang. Not to mention I had to deal with an actual Huntsman and lots of brats." He tells her raising his cane and pointing it at her.

"I wouldn't think of doing that bub." Then felt cold sharp hands grab his neck and lift him up, forcing Roman to drop his cane. Roman flinching as he then saw what was a terrifying man with lots of spikes and a tail on him. Oh crap! This was the guy he knew and learned of. Looks like he returned from his trip at Atlas which meant...they got the machines.

"Oh Roman." Cinder said with a small flame coming from her hands despite a lack of Dust which she then raised to meet his eyes. "You will continue to work with them." Her stooges then came out each looking dead serious while their big friend then dropped him onto the ground. "We have plans for you, big ones." She then held out a photo of...Abigail!? "Otherwise, things may happen." The photo then slowly burned up which she dropped, turning to ash.

"We just need a little cooperation."


And we just finished Volume 1. Don't be mistaken, Act 2 is still ongoing for a little while longer. But it'll end when it ends. But don't worry, Chaldea will get involved before the end of Act 2 where we'll see some newcomers to shine. Plus before you ask, yes Blake and Weiss will be getting along again, with Beacon now having a new ally with Sanzang. That will be explored later on. Until Next Time.


"Alright then. Coordinates are set and locked." Da vinci was ready to start the sending process and have the king Of Jer-Heroes. Heroes. Be sent to where supposedly the fragments of the many Servants had been sent to because of Jason's blunder. Gilgamesh inside the pod ready to be sent looking quite bored though. He didn't even care for this, and was only doing this after much begging, negotiating, and defeat by the two Masters who were on their knees when this was done.

"Can't wait to be rid of that asshole." One of the workers on the station said with a murmur of agreement. While Davinci didn't say anything, she was also happy to. Honestly, it's amazing that Gilgamesh even made a friend back when he was alive. A miracle really.

'And if something goes wrong, then whoopsies.' Davinci thought with a smile. She wasn't going to cry if something went wrong.

"Hey Davinci." Then one of the Masters spoke , her cute ponytail moving as she walked to her. "How come we can't have one of the other Servants go. Like say, the guys who's fragments were sent."

"I agree with senpai." Mash herself agrees. "Wouldn't it be better to send one of the Servants who lost their fragment."

"Maybe." Davinci tells them. "However, these coordinates are very unstable, fluctuating in fact. It's like the computers are unable to process what human history it even is." Which was strange really. The systems in Chaldea were top grade, yet whatever timeline they were trying to enter, just seemed difficult to pinpoint. "As such, we shouldn't send in anybody important there."

In other words, they would use the King Of Heroes as a guinea pig without him knowing. Mash understood this and nodded.

"Lets just hope this works." Fujimaru says with Gudako giving a curt nod. After all, they had to help the other Servants missing their fragments. Since...since...actually, they were doing just fine. Suddenly, Ritsuka wondered why they were even doing this. He then saw Davinci writing something down.

"Let's see here. Maybe they'll be resources never seen. Or unknown tech. Oh! Maybe even beautiful woman!"

"..." This...this was about helping them, right? Not to fulfill her own agenda...Right?

"Hurry up you mongrels." Gilgamesh then said. "Do this or I will kill you all for wasting my precious time."

"All he does is walk and belittle people." Gudako mutters having never liked this guy.

"Don't worry you're majesty." Davinci says. "Just putting in the final adjustments and..now!" The great scientist then activated the systems ready to send Gilgamesh away. All lights were green, the pod glowing as it scanned Gilgamesh and ready to transport him away.

Then...it happened.

"Gah!" From another pod, at long last Jason came out. Looking tired, bruised, and his hair on fire. "That-" He then lifted his sword. "Sucked!" Then threw it...Where it hit a critical part of Gilgamesh's pod.

ZAP!

Sparks went flying with the King looking irritated at what had happened. Then grew mad as he turned to see Jason who didn't even seem to realize what he had done. Angering Gilgamesh further. "You mongrel!" He then released his magic power, wanting to kill Jason even though it was an accident.

"Gilgamesh! Wait!" Davinci tried stopping him as the release of energy caused errors all over. But it was too late. Suddenly in an instant a bright light came, engulfing everybody. Then in a second, it went away just as soon as it came. There, they saw Jason who looked fine. But as for Gilgamesh, all they saw was a ruined pod with no Servant inside.

Everyone stayed silent.

"Waho!" Then began cheering like there was no tomorrow.


"Huh? Where am I? Who dares!?" Gilgamesh then got up from where he was. Pissed at what had happened. Then, he noticed something was off. Particularly, he was missing his golden divine armor which revealed his sturdy body and red markings. He then felt irritation as something hit his eyes.

Sand.

"Sand?" Gilgamesh then tried to see where he was. Only to find himself in what may as well be the middle of nowhere. For all around him was just sand. And only sand. With no hint of life in sight.

This...may be problematic.


Would the king even know where to go with no map?