"...". Lakshmibai could only listen in horror as the explanation of what was going on was given to her, a world under threat by aliens, heroes who were nothing more then puppets, manipulative organizations in the shadows, and the only hope for survival was a man who willingly admitted he was evil.
"I'm sure this is a lot to take, so I'm willing to give you some time to think". Aleister offered, left unsaid was the fact Okita would be keeping an eye on the Saber in case she turned against them.
"No, my choice is simple... I'll join you, but whatever cruelties you perform, I want no part in". Lakshmibai spoke coldly, well that was simple to agree with.
"Of course, I'm not so idiotic as to ask a hero to do evil".
Aleister shuddered as a change went through his body, he had been expecting Gaia's latest Blessing to kick in any time now and... It was different.
It felt as if he was more connected to the world, the fire seemed to roar more brightly, his home felt warmer, the Hestia Charm on his chest seemed to burn-
"Owch owch owch!". He hissed, quickly ripping the necklace off and holding it away, what the fuck?!
Poof!
A piece of paper popped into existence nearby, and already having a rough idea who it was from, he quickly grabbed and read it... And then read it again.
Greetings my Champion, you've been doing rather well for yourself lately. You even discovered the existence of Shards! I'm pleased, so much so in fact I decided to... Improve this specific Blessing, and even ensured you had no biological relation to Medea or any future Greek Servants-
Aleister shuddered, he... He hadn't thought of that to be honest, and could only be thankful to Gaia here.
- Congratulations, your currently the first and only son of the Eternal Virgin Goddess, Hestia.
PS: I couldn't acquire the DNA of a version of Arceus for the DNA samples, but I managed to get the rest and put them in the suitcase thats now on your bed.
Aleister paused for a few moments, that... Hadn't been what he'd been expecting. He'd been hoping for Ares or Athena to be honest, any of the Big Three Greeks would've worked as well, but Hestia? He'd never expected that. Reaching out for the Hestia Charm again, he winced as it burned against his skin, but slowly it started to shift into flames that were absorbed into his arm.
Breathing heavily, he stared at his hand as flames sparked from it. This... This was strange, but useful... He just didn't need to think about how the hell he technically had a second mother now, and hoped he'd never encounter any version of Hestia.
Perk gained.
Child of Hestia - You are a child of the Eternal Virgin Goddess, Hestia. Granting immunity to any sort of supernatural or technological based charms or mind control, along with an immunity to ordinary flames and most supernatural flames (With the exception of divine, dragon, or demonic fire).
Spell gained.
- Flames of the Hearth (Calls upon the blistering flames of the goddess Hestia, burning away intruders and those who'd dare harm the home).
Item acquired.
- DNA Suitcase. A suitcase containing vials filled with the DNA of every Legendary and Mythical Pokemon, with the exception of Arceus.
Well there goes the risk of Aleister facing Euryale... Not the most combat focused power, but very, very useful. Also, Arceus is WAY to powerful for me to even consider letting you guys get even the DNA of, but with the rest of the Legends/Mythicals... Well its not that bad of a loss.
Aleister grinned as he held an orb of pure mana, shaping it and taking aim, ready to unleash it and devastate his target-
"What in the name of Hades are you doing!?". The furious voice of Medea asked, causing him to lose concentration and the mana to fall apart and fade. Turning around to face his lover, the Magician flinched at the uncharacteristic rage on her face. "Well? I'm waiting for an answer!".
"I'm just trying to use Heaven's Feel more, I figured I'd copy what the Fifth Magician did and create energy beams-". Aleister was cut off as Caster flicked him, flinching and rubbing his poor nose. "Why the hell are you so angry?! Its just-".
"Using magic as if it was a brute force club! Do you have any idea how that reflects on you as a magic user?! Its basically telling the entire world your a fool with no idea how magecraft actually works!". Medea took a few seconds to gather her breath. "ANYONE could shape mana into beams of energy! Even a child could! True expertise is having that mana actually do something and not bounce around recklessly destroying everything around you!".
Aleister rubbed the back of his head, he hadn't expected Medea to be so angry with this... Then again, he was attempting to copy Aoko, who was known for causing wide scale destruction...
Maybe he should've went for something smaller scale.
Spell created.
- Mana Beam (A beam of pure destructive mana, based upon the same style used by the Fifth Magician Aoko. A technique with no finesse or skill, just pure destruction and chaos).
Let it be said that Medea has standards for her spells, and just recklessly destroying things is not something she approves of.
"I've noticed you seem uncomfortable with your size, any specific reason why?". Aleister asked Ana, the fallen goddess looking up from the book she was reading. She was wearing more ordinary looking clothes... But even a mundane outfit was stunning on the divine beauty.
"...I'm to big". The suddenly flustered Avenger spoke quietly, looking ashamed.
The Magician blinked, that... That was it? What the hell!?
"And whats wrong being big? Your still one of the most beautiful woman in the world". He spoke honestly, but Gorgon only shook her head.
"I'm to big and clunky, a brute who's only good for breaking things. If you want real beauty, look at my sisters". The subtle hiss at that last part made him sure if he looked at her sisters, Ana would tear him apart.
Aleister could only shake his head, how the hell did Ana not realize she was beautiful no matter how big she was? He tried recalling what he knew from Fate/Stay Night and other series...
His eyes widened as he remembered, Medusa had an odd view on the world, viewing small and cute things as beautiful, likely a result of her sisters being eternal maidens and staying young looking forever, while Medusa grew to be a monster. How the hell was he meant to help with that?
He could try modifying her Spirit Origin to revert her to a smaller form, but he was sure if he did that she wouldn't let him stop until he ended up with a Medusa Lily instead of a Gorgon... And he was nowhere near being a therapist who could actually deal with her mental issues and inhuman mindset.
Great, another thing he may have to worry about.
Bond up.
Gorgon: 3.
"Gah!".
"Hiya!".
Aleister grunted as he was knocked to the ground once again, Zanpakuto fallen to the side, while Okita stood above him victorious. Fighting her with swords only was a herculean task, the Assassin was to fast and every blow was designed to take him down.
"Dammit...". Again his blade refused to respond to him, and he had no idea what he was doing wrong. "What the hell will it take to get it to respond?".
"It can't be energy, and your not THAT bad of a swordsman... Maybe...". Okita frowned, and then unsheathed her blade-
Aleister's eyes widened, panic coursing through him as the blade of Assassin aimed for his throat, he'd survive thanks to his soul form but it was still an experience of fear and-
"PATHETIC!".
"Steel yourself!".
The Magician gasped, falling to his knees, rain beginning to soak his about, he found himself once again in his rainy Inner World with dragons flying about in the sky.
But this time... There was something new. A pair of titanic white eyes stared down from a cloudy sky, most of its form hidden by clouds and only slightly revealed by flashes of lightning.
"You return to me yet again, Crowley!". The booming voice of what could only be his Zanpakuto Spirit spoke, its voice echoing with a static noise. "And this time you are not satisfied with bringing infections to the physical plane, but even here!?".
Infections? Physical plane? What the hell was his Zanpakuto on about? Aleister was about to open his mouth-
"Thou are to quick to deny others". A calmer, but still powerful voice spoke behind the Magician. With wide eyes he turned around to meet the gaze of hell-fire.
Despite its terrifying appearance, the second dragon was remarkably more calm. In fact he'd dare say its presence was calming, its flames reminding him of Hestia's fire...
"Who... What are you? What are both of you?". Aleister asked, where both of these his Zanpakuto Spirits or something else?
"Fool! I am your Zanpakuto... Or at least I was!". The Lightning Dragon roared, glaring at the Fire Dragon who only sighed.
"We are thy Zanpakuto Spirits, he represents thou self, the power of your mortal half". The flaming beast let out a puff of smoke. "I am thou divine half, born from the power of thy new mother".
Aleister's eyes narrowed, so that was what was going on. Was this going to happen any time he acquired some great power or-
"No, any further powers shall be absorbed into myself or thou other". The Fire Dragon (Or perhaps Divine Dragon would be more accurate) spoke.
"Alright, got it... And why the hell are you so pissed? Shouting at me doesn't tell me anything". The Magician turned to face the Lightning Dragon, there was a massive space between them and yet he felt as if it was mere inches from him.
"You rely to much on the aid of that cosmic parasite! I alone am more then enough to deal with Scion and those who'd dare hurt our pack!". The Lightning Dragon roared, its wrath causing dozens of lightning bolts in the sky, many striking far to close for Aleister's comfort. "WE SHOULD'VE CRUSHED ALL THOSE WHO DARED STAND AGAINST US A LONG TIME AGO IF YOU DIDN'T HESITATE!".
"Hesitate!? I'm planning things out! I'm not going to rush in and get my allies hurt!". Aleister glared right back at the furious dragon, looking ready to come to blows-
"CALM YOURSELVES!". A burst of flame appeared between the two, the Flaming Dragon standing between themselves. "If thou will not talk calmly, then thy are not ready to talk... Ether of you!".
In a burst of flames, Aleister-
"Owch!". The Magician groaned as he was slammed into a wall by the blunt side of Okita's blade, falling over and groaning as blood leaked from his nose. "Fucking prideful dragon...".
Well, we got to meet Aleister's Zanpakuto, originally I only planned for him to have one spirit, but with the addition of all the powers he's gained and now literally being a Demi-God/Shinigami/Human hybrid, I figured all this change was big enough for a second, more calm Zanpakuto spirit. There won't be any further spirits however, the second spirit is here to migrate the aggressiveness of the first.
Aleister looked at the fruit in front of him, it looked like an apple... If apples were blue. Apparently having improved the creation of SAD and SMILE Fruits made them blue, which wasn't the strangest thing to be honest.
He took hold of a pre-prepared syringe, and stabbed it into the apple, injecting the DNA he'd prepared he smiled as the blue apple gained swirling patterns across it. He'd done it, he'd created a perfect SMILE Fruit...
Although he wasn't sure what he'd do with the newly created Cat Cat: Model Tiger fruit. Eh, he'd give it to Nibelcole to study... Especially as he couldn't reveal anything new to his Demi-Servants without hacking their Shards first.
SMILE Farm created! With this we're one step closer to getting an army of whatever monsters we want for SMILE Fruits.
"No! Kuma-Kun!". Tomoe cried as her character died against the boss. "HE WAS JUST AN INNOCENT BEAR YOU MONSTERS!".
"I don't think anything related to Heihachi can be called innocent...". Aleister muttered, twitching. What sort of cosmic mistake had he made...?
"I will avenge Kuma-Kun! Aleister! Gather the soldiers and-... O-oh, I got to into it". The Archer blushed as she noticed just how exhausted her master looked, checking the time- "03:00!? O-oh my master! We should get you to sleep!".
The oni-blooded woman picked her slumping master up, quickly rushing him to his bedroom and tossing him onto his bed (Ignoring his grunt of pain), and quickly ran back downstairs to play more video games.
Aleister could only groan, how did one person get addicted to gaming so quickly!?
Bond formed.
Tomoe Gozen: 1.
"Nobody is happy". Okita spoke to Aleister, the two quickly moving out of the way of an angry man walking past. "I thought they'd be...".
"Free medical attention, food on the table every day, and their homes cleaned and repaired... None of that can make up for the isolation I suppose". The Magician frowned, he had expected some level of negativity from the extreme level of isolation he'd taken with Brockton Bay.
Nobody could leave, nobody could enter. They had internet connection, with many civilians constantly sending out SOS and begging for help from the PRT. There were some groups in the streets with signs and shouting for freedom, to be allowed to leave Brockton Bay.
"It will take time to get used to, if we let people in we'd risk PRT spies or dangerous criminals. But I think maybe showing we are willing to let people in and out could do a lot for your reputation". Okita suggested, Aleister frowned but nodded. It was something he needed to consider after all...
Perhaps he could ask Lakshmibai for advice? She had been the leader of her people for a time, he had no idea how much of a strategist she was but she may have an idea to help.
"We can focus on that tomorrow, for now I want to enjoy a day of peace". Aleister smiled, taking Okita's hand and leading her towards an arcade he'd often visit when he was younger. Heh, even under tyranny arcades still worked...
The fact the two were mistaken as a couple by an employ just made him smile wider.
Bond up.
Okita Souji: 8.
Irisviel hummed as she placed another dish down, smiling as the customer flirted with her and quickly moving back to the kitchen to get the next set of dishes. Running around the restaurant were various humans she'd hired, each of them clueless they were actually working under a machine, simply happy to accept the above average pay for their jobs.
Ring!
Hearing the entrance bell ring, she paused for a few nano-seconds to activate her inbuilt scanner and run it across the restaurant. Yet again nothing was found, no Demi-Servants yet. She'd only had her restaurant open for a few days, even Demi-Servants needed to eat and this place was cheap and filling.
Illya and Chloe had no luck at their schools finding any Demi-Servants, but Miyu had detected mana at her school, but was still in the process of investigating. In a few days they should have at least one Demi-Servant to report to their master-
Ring!
PING! PING! PING!
Irisviel froze, quickly putting a smile on her face as she exited the kitchen with another meal ready, but her gaze was taking in something else, a group of teenagers had entered the restaurant.
And three of them were positively drenched in mana, giving it off in waves.
Demi-Servants.
As she quickly placed her current order down, she went to get their orders, all the while she recorded the faces of the three Demi-Servants, quickly bringing up their files.
Adam Brown, eighteen years old, Fallout. A member of the Wards with the ability to rapidly adapt to anything dangerous, but the adaptions fade once the danger fully passes. Identity was revealed along with the rest of the Wards by Faust, but was accepted by the people and is enjoying the fame. Recently seen using water based powers as a 'Second Trigger', theorizing most likely Demi-Servant... Caster.
Jess Rightwell, sixteen years old, Protector. A member of the Wards with the ability to create barriers in front of her or around her body that absorb energy based abilities, can also absorb power from Tinker-Tech. Identity was revealed along with the rest of the Wards, she isn't comfortable with the attention. No signs of Demi-Servant powers so far, but high mana levels confirm status as a Demi-Servant, possibly another Caster.
Lily, seventeen years old. Flechette of the Wards. Identity was one of the few not revealed, but it was quickly guessed she was Flechette by how much she hang around with the other Wards. No hints towards Demi-Servant identity found, likely an Archer with her existing fighting style.
(Couldn't get an image I liked for Lily/Flechette, so yea).
A quick scan of the rest of the group confirmed them as members of the Wards, as they ordered their food she smiled. Three Demi-Servants at once, it was Irisviel's lucky day. She quickly began to go through ideas in how to get her daughters close to the three, Nibelcole had mentioned the creation of another infiltrator unit for the PRT, but the white-haired android doubted they'd let an adult hang around teenagers.
Irisviel frowned, she'd have to send the information to Master Aleister and see what he decided. For all she knew he could just target the Wards directly to get what he wanted, but they were a lot more protected then in Brockton Bay, so he may go for a waiting strategy.
It was all her master's will in the end.
Well look at that luck! Three Demi-Servants at once, I only revealed one of them (And its not that hard to figure out its Yamato Takeru from the water based powers bit), although whether Flechette is actually an Archer or Jess is a Caster, you'll have to wait and find out.