Chapter 5: The Forbidden Projects
Project FATE. It is a project that the infamous Genocide Archbishop Valper Galilei had back when he was still in Vatican together with the Holy Sword Project. The Holy Sword Project aimed to develop an artificial mean to wield a holy sword. For this project, many orphans were gathered and experimented on which ultimately resulted in the extraction and crystallization of their holy sword element.
But Project Fate is far different and in a way, much more vile than imagined.
There was once a very powerful holy sword wielder belonging to the Pendragon family. She was acknowledged as the strongest Pendragon next only to the original Arthur Pendragon. Even until now, no other Pendragon could measure up to her power and even then she had not reached her full potential before she was killed. So far, the only other Pendragon who has her level of potential is Arthur Pendragon, the current wielder of Colbrande who inherits his ancestor's name.
Her name was Alicia Pendragon. She was killed in a 5-way battle between herself, the wielder of True Longinus, the Two Heavenly Dragons, and an Apostle of the Godslayer. She slew the True Longinus wielder, drove away the Apostle, and survived the Two Heavenly Dragons in Juggernaut Drive. Unfortunately she succumbed to her wounds at the end of the fight despite being the last one standing.
Nevertheless, her feat of fighting such enemies is unmatched in the Pendragon family. Not many could say they fight a five-way battle with the True Longinus, the Heavenly Dragons, and an Apostle of the Godslayer without support and came out on top even if she died soon after, and that was when she was only twenty one.
Project FATE's aim is to create someone with such potential through artificial means. In order to do this, Valper desecrate her tomb to steal a DNA sample. Not even his fellow scientists believe he could do it.
But he did.
Project FATE is a project aimed to clone Alicia Pendragon. After a hundred and thirty seven failures, Valper Galilei succeeded in cloning Alicia. The first and the most successful of the clones and the last remaining one is now known as Fate Testarossa.
"Fate, is it okay to disregard our superior's orders?"
Irina questioned the red eyed young woman while trying to keep up with her pace. They have left Kuoh Academy and is currently strolling around town aimlessly. This action is not done without a purpose though. Fate is studying the town's layout so they can move more easily.
"There is no problem. As long as we complete our objective then they should have no complain."
Fate replied. Irina sighs. She had expected that kind of reply. Fate doesn't like their superior much. She only respected a few of them and she made it clear that she doesn't care at all about those she doesn't acknowledge. Knowing her origin though, Irina cannot exactly blame her. She was made to become a tool that can replicate the power of one of the greatest Pendragon. Irina can't begin to fathom what kind of life she has. It couldn't have been easy.
Fate's main priority is the completion of the mission. In order to do that, sometimes she doesn't pick her method and totally disregard mission parameter given by their superior just to complete her objective much more efficiently. She had worked with her a few times and even now Irina still can't believe that Fate is still being kept around. She's the furthest you can get from a devout believer and exorcist.
"So what is our plan now?"
Fate does not answer but instead cross her arm and close her eyes. This is what she does when she's thinking of a plan. Irina let Fate think for a while. When Fate open her eyes, she turn to her fellow exorcist and explain what they will do.
"Scouting… is what I want to say but covering the whole town with just the two of us will be difficult. We should make a trap. Something enticing to Kokabiel and whoever he's working with."
"Wait, working with?"
"I doubt Kokabiel could sneak into any of the church unnoticed. His power is too great to be kept hidden and based on our information, Kokabiel is not the most subtle cadre alive so he wouldn't bother learning stealth tricks. He probably sent one of his subordinates."
That… made sense. Fate is intelligent despite her upbringing. She works unlike any other church agent which is why she's so effective. Regular exorcists are just swords used to cut down the Church's enemies. Most of them just follow orders without question and obey their superior. Some of the more fanatic exorcists are also bloodthirsty and nearly, or completely, insane. But Fate is different in that she doesn't follow orders and use her own methods. Griselda once said that her disobedience is what made her even more effective and ironically, much more normal than most exorcists since she thinks like a normal human investigator who happens to know much about supernatural.
"Hmm… how should we go about this?"
Fate wondered. To lure out Kokabiel, or his follower, she need a bait as enticing as Rias or Sona Sitri. And then she will also need a location. And then prepare some traps. And then an idea came to her. Yes, that could work. She just need some time to prepare.
While Fate is forming her plan, she did not notice someone watching her from atop a building; a certain white haired apostle of the godslayer together with the archdemon partner of her lord.
"It can't be… that's Alicia Pendragon!"
Lacrille won't forget that woman. Alicia Pendragon, the only human who managed to drove her away in a fight when she interfered in the battle between the two Heavenly Dragons and the True Longinus several centuries ago. But she can't be alive. Alicia died long ago. But the girl bears too much resemblance with Alicia except for her red eyes. And not only that but the girl together with her is…
"Hoo, this is interesting. It seems that this will be massive reunion. If only the other apostles are here."
Lacrille and Haishella arrived in Kuoh with Lacrille following Haishella's lead. She's the only one who could locate her lord thanks to their connection. But along the way, Haishella was distracted by a presence that Lacrille also recognize. That presence called out to Lacrille and now here they are.
"The pieces are coming into place. So it seems a long forgotten legend will return with a blast."
The smile on Haishella's face is mischievous and Lacrille doesn't know what to think about it.
Issei would've liked to follow Irina and perhaps catch up but the moment the meeting ended and the exorcists left, Kiba also left without saying anything and he is worried. Kiba's action this past days is concerning, especially what he saw during the meeting. To understand what is happening, Issei decided to ask Rias about Kiba since she should know what's bothering him. Rias is also concerned but unlike him, Issei saw understanding from her. She knew what's bothering Kiba.
"Buchou, what is Kiba's relation to holy swords?"
Rias is surprised by the sudden question from Issei. She managed to compose herself though. Although she had come to term with it, she still find it hard to handle the current Issei. The old Issei wouldn't be able to connect the dots without explicit clues but Rias had noticed that Issei had been observing Kiba, especially since the ball game tournament. She had expected the question to come sooner or later. Despite his different attitude, Issei still care for his friends.
"I suppose you have the right to know. Kiba's story started from something called the Holy Sword Project."
"The Holy Sword Project?"
Issei repeated the project name. From the name itself Issei can tell that it is something not good and is part of the Christian Church's dark history.
"Yes. Yuuto is a survivor of that project. There was a project several years ago inside the Christian Church that aimed to make those who can wield the holy-sword Excalibur."
"…This is my first time hearing this."
Asia didn't know about this project. Well a secret project like this won't reach the ears of the girl who was praised as the holy-maiden. That kind of project is strictly military and has no place in the ears of a healer.
"Holy-swords are the ultimate weapons against devils. If we, the devils, touch the holy sword then we will burn ourselves. If we get cut by it, then we will be terminated without a trace. It could be called the ultimate weapon for those who believe in God and see devils as an enemy."
That is an apt description of holy swords though Issei could name some other weapons worse than a holy sword to devils but those weapons are very exclusive. Astrea's Librascale is one of those. The Reaper's Scythe is another, and he means the original Grim Reaper.
"Even though there are numerous holy-swords originating from all over the world, I still think the most famous one would be Excalibur. Even in Japan, it comes up in many books. It's a holy weapon that is created through means of magic and alchemy by those who reach the territory of God. But holy-swords choose their wielders. I hear that only one person in a decade or so gets chosen."
Rias is completely wrong in that regard. Legendary swords are not forged by alchemical means and the most powerful of them are forged by master smiths with their blood, sweat and soul. Sometimes it's very literal as in the case of the Chinese smith who forged a pair of married blade from the body of his wife who threw herself into his forge. But what Rias described is what the current Excalibur is like. Their vessel is created through magic and alchemy which resulted in their current form which Issei find… extremely lacking.
"Kiba-san is a Sacred Gear possessor that can create demonic-swords, right? So isn't there a Sacred Gear that can create holy-swords instead?"
It was Asia's question. She made a simple conclusion that a Sacred Gear that can create holy-swords exists because a Sacred Gear that creates demonic-sword does. Issei knew there is a sacred gear like that called Blade Blacksmith but…
"It's not like there aren't. But if you compare it to the holy-swords that already exist, it is kind of lacking. Of course I'm not saying it's weak. Among them there is a sacred utensil included in the 'Longinus', just like 'Boosted Gear'. The most famous is the Sacred Gear that was wielded by the person who killed Jesus Christ, the 'True Longinus'. It's also said that the name 'Longinus' was derived from it."
Longinus. It is a Sacred Gear that has the power to kill God. There are many mysteries surrounding their existence like why they even exists in the first place. The concept of godslaying itself exists even before the existence of sacred gear but to create a tool to do just that, what was God thinking? Issei will never knew.
"Except, at this point there isn't a Holy Sacred Gear that can compete with Excalibur, Durandal or Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi because these holy-swords are too powerful. It's the same with the demonic-swords. And so we came back toYuuto's matter. Yuuto received artificial treatment to adapt to the holy-sword, particularly the Excalibur."
"So Kiba is able to use the holy-swords?"
Buchou shook her head at Issei's question.
"Yuuto couldn't adapt to the holy-swords. Not only Yuuto, but it seems like everyone who received a treatment similar to Yuuto's couldn't either. The people of the Church decided to view the ones who couldn't adapt to the holy-swords as 'defective products' and disposed of them. Most of the people experimented on were killed including Yuuto. Only because they couldn't adapt to the holy-swords."
"…It can't be. It's not an acceptable act by those who serve God."
It seems like this was a big shock for Asia. Her eyes were covered with tears. It is normal to cry when something you believe in continues to betray you. Issei not has a good idea of the situation. Yuuto was a victim of this project and based on Yuuto's action, he had been thinking about it ever since Issei showed him the photo of Irina with a holy sword in the background.
Then Issei's eyes widened as all pieces came together. The look in Kiba's eyes that he find familiar was similar to his look after Astrea replaced him during his supposed execution. Kiba had never forgotten that pain. That loss filled him with anger at the unfairness of life and he likely had sworn vengeance on those involved. The difference between him and Kiba though is that he managed to let go of his grudge thanks to Hestia but Kiba is likely still holding his grudge and it is now starting to control his action.
"Buchou… if what you're saying is right then… Yuuto is still keeping his grudge and he is barely holding himself back during the meeting so… Ohh no!"
The moment Issei said 'ohh no' Rias also came to the same conclusion. If Kiba is still holding his grudge then he is prone to act upon his emotion and she had not addressed it with him. Issei and Rias immediately got up and rush outside to find Yuuto just as night fell.
-Two days later, church-
Fate is kneeling in front of the cross in the abandoned church with her Excalibur fragment on display right beside her. She is wearing her full priestess outfit. Her plan to draw out Kokabiel's subordinates is simple. Use herself and her Excalibur as bait to lure out their target. She's confident that Kokabiel wouldn't appear himself, not yet anyway. Kokabiel is too proud and arrogant to handle a lone human exorcist by himself when he has subordinates to do that for him. That's what she gets after hearing about the cadred from Vasco Strada anyway.
Fate is not disappointed when she felt the bloodlust coming closer. She stood up from her kneeling position and pick up her Excalibur Destruction. The door was suddenly blown from its hinges as a grayish white blur charged straight at Fate. The blonde exorcist saw it though and block the sword aimed at her with the thick blade of Excalibur Destruction. Once she halted her attacker, she finally got a good look at his face.
"Freed Selzeen, I should've known that you would work together with the likes of Kokabiel."
"…! That voice, is it you Fate-chan? Heeee. Well isn't this a weird reunion!? I've missed you, little doll!"
Fate scowled. She had known Freed when he was still an exorcist of the Catholic Church and he's still as crazy as back then and loves to call her little doll. He's irritating but this is a good turn of event. Now she can personally end the bastard's life with her own hand.
Fate kicked Freed away. The stray exorcist was knocked away but got back on his feet quickly and began to move at a speed that shouldn't be possible for humans. This is the power of Excalibur Rapidly, one of the stolen Excalibur. So Freed is in possession of one of the Excaliburs. It grants him the power to move faster than the human eye could follow and even devils will have trouble following his speed.
"Hahaha! Do you see this? This is the power of my Excalibur-chan! Let's see how you've grown, Fate-chan!"
Freed circle around Fate, waiting for her to attack. If she attack him, he will evade and counter with his speed. But speed is not everything and Fate is not an ordinary exorcist. She stab Excalibur Destruction to the ground and once Freed saw her open for attack, he strike. Fate smirked. She had expected that. She knew how Freed fights after all.
"So predictable, Freed."
"What?"
Suddenly the ground around Fate explode in a burst of holy power coming from Excalibur Destruction that knocked Freed backward. He had not seen that attack coming. Fate followed up with an uppercut which Freed try to block but his position is bad and Fate capitalize on Excalibur Destruction's pure strength and her higher mastery of the sword. With a single slash, Excalibur Destruction cracked Excalibur Rapidly and broke Freed's defense. Fate then kicked the stray exorcist in the abdomen and sent him flying towards the altar. Freed crashed hard into the altar and dropped Excalibur Rapidly. Fate slowly walked towards Freed with Excalibur Destruction pointed at the former exorcist.
Then she suddenly felt another bloodlust aimed at her and footsteps rushing from behind.
"Excalibur!"
And angry cry followed by the slashing of a sword alerted Fate of the identity of her attacker. She turn back and block the demonic sword attacking her with Excalibur Destruction. The red eyed exorcist internally cursed. She doesn't want to fight him but as she had expected Kiba Yuuto, Isaiah could not forget his grudge. But she doesn't want to fight him of all people, especially not when she had cornered Freed.
And that's the newest chapter. Holy Sword Project and Project FATE, I must be either smoking opium or drunk as hell with vodka when I wrote that. So here we see Fate planning something. Of course we won't see the extent of what she had planned in this chapter. Next chapter will continue from where we left off.
So a short explanation of Fate's past (in this story at least) and again, she is the clone of Alicia. Poor girl just can't escape that fate... that's a good pun, Fate's fate... okay, that's not a good pun. Anyway Fate's presence makes things different. After all, Fate is smarter than to let Irina handle their money which she will use buy a fake painting. She's also a rebellious exorcist who is frankly still one because of Vasco Strada keeping her. She has nowhere else to go and being an exorcist is all she has... for now.
And so more player gathers. Haishella and Lacrille had entered the stage although they won't be main players in this arc. This arc is for Yuuto, Fate, and Irina. Look forward to the next chapter when Fate is locked in a three-way duel with Freed and Yuuto... and where Irina is.