Some of these reviews make me laugh at how they're saying how much of a Mary Sue Hakuno is. I'm deliberately hiding details of why Hakuno is so strong in magic for a reason and I'm not going to say anything without spoilers. But you can guess, that's fun to speculate on things and then see whose right and wrong.
And to that one guy that wants me to be nicer to Loki, listen. I don't hate her; in fact, I like her personality because she reminds me a bit of Taiga-sensei at times (minus the pervy old man antics). Remember she runs one of the most powerful Familia in Orario, so she has powerful influence and is used to having things go her way. So does Freya, remember that. Don't worry so much, I'm gonna be nicer to her in future chapters. But she didn't give me a good first impression in the anime until I read Sword Oratoria and decided to write my first Danmachi crossover.
Just to remind you guys about stats in Danmachi. [I] 0-99 Rank is the weakest, followed by [H] 100-199, [G] 200-299, [F] 300-399, [E] 400-499, [D] 500-599, [C] 600-699, [B] 700-799, [A] 800-899, and [S] 900-999 being the strongest in that order. My EX stat rank is right after SSS at 1300 cap after taking notes of Bell's stats between his S, SS, and SSS (which had a number of 1337 for Agility one time) ranked ones. Ugh, I HATE anything involving numbers.
*I accidently made an error regarding where the numbers for EX stat is when I went back to compare with Bell's stats, will correct on a later date. But it should be 1500 at the max limit.
"Awaken, Tempest." Ais chanted as the wind danced around her while Hakuno's eyes focused solely on her. Ais knew her gaze well, it was analyzing her for weaknesses to exploit in her movements. Her fighting style with a spear was jabs at her flaws (okay that was a good pun Ais decided) so she had to be cautious with how to fight Hakuno with a sword.
She was a veteran in telling experience one has with a weapon, for when Hakuno was using a spear, it was self-taught. Movements weren't in synch with the long weapon, and she exhausted herself a few times when they trained together on the wall. But with a katana? Ais instantly knew this was the preferred weapon Hakuno specialized in. Breathing pace, body stance, the focused eyes…all point to one who studied the blade her whole life. She felt the warrior spirit within Hakuno as that katana seemed to radiate a heat of its own in her hand.
Hakuno hasn't casted any spells yet, and that unnerved her as Ais decided to end it quickly.
It was in a flash, and Hakuno had that quick split second to move as she felt her cheek bleed from the gash by Ais' attack before unsheathing her blade. The blade met flesh but did not cut deep, in fact, the cut was as thin as a papercut in terms of damage. The difference in levels and the stats from each one layering over each other made it a mountain of a challenge that Hakuno had to face.
"Compared to dealing with BB and Saver with my Servants, this is just another day in the Arena." Hakuno had thought. She leapt away from the girl surrounded by wind, gauging the force protecting its summoner and clicked her teeth. The wind's pressure was too strong for her blade to land any accurate blows and her weakest magic spell would kill Ais if she isn't careful. Then there's the fact that wind barrier erases any air friction for Ais and allow her to move at insane speeds…like she is right now!
"Oh, I can't look." Hestia muttered, putting her face in her hands and tried to ignore the cheers for Ais. A solid blow with the flat of her blade in Hakuno's stomach sent the young witch flying before quickly staggering up and holding her belly at the future bruise already starting to form.
"Relax Chibi, I'll take good care of your girl. Get her some nice dresses, eat some good sweets, parade her in front of you whenever I get the chance~." Loki giggled as she imagined herself snuggling the little baby squirrel down there after Ais wins the match.
"Just be thankful Hakuno isn't using her magic. It specializes in causing pain and suffering on levels I don't even dare dream off." Hestia warned as the Braver took that information in.
"A curse type mage?" He noted as those in that specialty were exceedingly rare. Witches were known for spells and curses of great and terrible power with risky costs if used carelessly. It didn't matter if you have the Falna or not, curses were supernatural and required someone of Dea Saint's level of healing to cure one of. Perhaps that was what killed Phryne that one time, being reminded of her horrified, agonized corpse. A potent curse of suffering that she didn't have time to be saved as it ate at her.
Part of Finn was relieved that Hakuno was holding back from using her magic on Ais, showing her compassionate heart even if it meant fighting with a sword. The other is rather pleased that having someone specializing in curses would be helpful in several tactical ways against certain monsters and enemies of the Loki Familia. But still, his thumb was feeling slightly irritated, and caution took over. Something was going to happen, and Finn needed to know what it was as Hakuno was sent flying into a wall. Even he had to wince at that, since Ais has a problem of not knowing her own strength.
Hakuno spat out blood as she pulled herself out of the wall, hearing the cheers for Ais and mockery for herself because she isn't using her magic. She didn't want to use her witchcraft on someone she considered a friend in a loose term. But now she was seeing a pattern in Ais' movements with that wind and the fact she's holding back from outright killing her.
Ais Wallenstein specialized in killing monsters, not people. So, she doesn't have it in her to harm Hakuno with life threatening injuries, just bruises and light cuts. The fact Ais can't go all out was a major advantage Hakuno can use and was already formulating a plan. Of course, taking some damage was the price to study Ais' current attack behavior and she can tactically increase odds of success.
Time to show them this witch isn't all about fancy curses and potions. Let them see what the magus and final Master of the Moon Holy Grail War can do. The ring on her finger began to shine in response to its mistress' mental commands.
[Code Cast: heal (16);]
Ais blinked in surprise as Hakuno was showered in green light and injuries were healed up before aiming her blade at Ais.
[Code Cast: vanish_add (b);]
Then her Tempest was negated and Ais instantly realized Hakuno had another ace up her sleeve and dashed towards her, intent on knocking the girl out. Then she noticed the ring on the girl's finger was glowing faintly and felt the magic inside of it.
[Code Cast: move_speed ();]
Suddenly, Hakuno was twice as fast as she swerved underneath Ais and let her katana lightly cut Ais' leg. "You've hidden an ace like that the whole time?" the Sword Princess inquired. Hakuno merely smirked despite her pain after healing.
"Don't you?" the girl countered as Ais had to admit the girl had a point there. "Ais, why do you support Loki in having me in your Familia?" she asked as Ais blinked at the question.
"…Because you'll be a powerful ally in our Familia." Ais answered but inwardly flinched at the look in Hakuno's starry eyes. She didn't have to be a god to see that she was lying, and that stare was making her very, very uncomfortable. "Because I feel better with you at my side. No one else." She admitted.
Silence reigned the stadium at the answer as Hakuno's cheeks were dusted red at the answer. Loki's jaw dropped in disbelief, Riveria's mind shut down at the answer, Finn and Gareth looked amused at the high elf's reaction, while another elf named Lefiya was biting her handkerchief in despair. Bell and Haruhime's cheeks were bright red while Hestia looked amused by her daughter's reaction. Suddenly all the males were making cat calls and spouting the beauty of lilies (yuris).
"…Ais, you do know that sounds like a romantic confession…right?" Hakuno asked warily as Ais widen her eyes and felt her cheeks warm up as well. With the men in the stadium (and few girls) telling them to hurry up and kiss made it even more awkward. But Hakuno was partially used to this; given the fact a certain dragon girl's romantic fantasy during her first Secret Garden was laid bare to her during one happenstance.
"-you some sort of pickup king specializing exclusively in dangerous women?"
Oh no.
She does not want to relive that moment here with all of these hotblooded males in heat. She needed them to snap out of this weird atmosphere quick before it escalates into something both girls will feel uncomfortable with. So, she rushed at, Ais instantly drawing her combat instincts in as she deflected the attack, only to see Hakuno pull her head back in response since they were so close.
[Code Cast: gain_str (16);]
[Code Cast: gain_con (16);]
…and headbutted her right in the forehead. Ais flinched in response as Hakuno slammed her palm into her stomach and activated her magic circuits at the same time to reinforce the power of the palm strike. Even if the Falna protects one from outside attacks when facing lower leveled enemies, internal damage can still be applied if one is smart with their tactics. This technique she learned from observing Assassin should cause Ais some minor discomfort in her stomach, which she will apologize for later.
A kick to the stomach and Hakuno was pushed back as Ais clutched her stomach in bewildered confusion before looking at Hakuno…Right high durability. Time for plan b then. With that, Hakuno sheathed her katana and got into an Iaidō stance, one that got a certain Far East Familia's attention. "Hiken…" she began as Ais had a sudden vision of her own body bleeding with numerous cuts.
"Awaken, Tempest!" Ais called out as the winds picked up around her.
"─Slash Dimension." Hakuno finished.
"I won't make it!" Ais thought.
In that moment, time slowed, and numerous blades manifested the second Hakuno drew her blade. The Sword Princess couldn't count them as she twisted her body to dodge them. She didn't escape without a scratch as her armor and right leg had several deep cuts. But what she and everyone saw made the stadium go quiet.
"She's done it…" Takemikazuchi muttered with awe and pride, tears swelling in his eyes as his Familia looked at him in confusion. "She's reached the ideal pinnacle of swordsmanship. The ability to cut through anything through sheer technique, thought to be impossible yet there it is…a miracle." He explained as he cried manly tears of joy at the honor to see such a technique in person.
"Not bad, I was holding back from accidently killing you with that attack. You are the first person here that I used the techniques of the Dark Slayer Style my sensei taught me since I came to Orario." Hakuno admitted as Ais stared at the girl in shock. If that was holding back, then Ais underestimated Hakuno's abilities by a long shot. She didn't sense any mana in that attack, it was pure skill and that unnerved her with how sharp the attack was. It ignored everything she knew about swordsmanship as the level one girl continued to defy expectations.
"I guess…I have to do things a bit more seriously now." Hakuno muttered as her magic circuits flared to life, becoming visible green circuit patterns on her body as Ais widen her eyes in surprise as she felt the mana in the girl.
Freya, watching this from her seat smiled, marveling at the girl's beautiful soul with exquisite patterns shining brightly in combat. It resembled starlight at its purest in the dark, a radiant beacon that promised victory to those that prayed to it. If Loki wins then she'll make her own War Game with her, it would be fun to play with her old friend again and win a treasured soul like Hakuno's.
"The crimson lotus is in full bloom." Hakuno recited to herself, a mantra that Ais has no understanding of as Hakuno's eyes were more focused. The Sword Princess dashed, already cutting the distance as she brought down Desperate on Hakuno as her sheathed sword barely deflected the Durandal weapon.
"She's even stronger now. Almost Level 2." Ais mentally noted as she compared to when they first started and then now with the glowing circuit patterns on Hakuno's body. A special skill?
Hakuno unsheathed her blade and began her counterattack. Ais blocking and deflecting, hoping to catch a soft spot in Hakuno's offence and make a counter. When she did, Hakuno made her own counter to Ais' counter. Sparks flashed from their blades as they danced in swordplay, Ais' overwhelming brute strength against Hakuno's refined technique that deflected each other. Each were focused solely on defeating the other as their blades cried out with each clash.
They had broken off from their parries of blows and slowly took a moment of respite as Hakuno was sweating quite a bit, her body overheating from her magic circuits being constantly active as her blade spoke to her. The golden empress' soul hungered to taste Ais' flesh from within and desired to awaken. Her owner and wielder provided the mana into the blade as the Golden Fire Wyvern awakened. The blade glowed and surged with red-blue hellfire. Ais felt the change in the air as she saw a massive wyvern with a golden shell glaring at her as it hovered over Hakuno protectively, maw opened as the hellfire in its body made it look like a ghastly nightmare.
Hakuno held that blade in one hand and Ais saw mana visibly gather in the other to produce a ghostly image of the same blade that was surging with black mana. "Here I come Ais, derived from my sensei's style. You shall witness the Black Lotus bloom in bloodshed." She warned as she charged. Ais immediately went on the defense and her eyes widen when the blazing katana struck Desperate. The ghostly wyvern's head overlapped the blade as she felt as if the beast itself hit it as she was pushed back before the black sword made of mana drew close.
She instinctively pulled back as it nicked her torso and felt a piece of her stamina deplete. Then Ais realized that was the same spell that drained energy to replenish Hakuno's own reserves. A tactic to weaken her opponent with the sword made of magic while dealing explosive damage with a sword of blazing fury. Had Hakuno been a higher level Ais would have met her match, but here, Hakuno was desperate in trying to win. She was sweating, her breathing was beginning to become irregular, and her form was starting to falter.
She'll end it with this next blow.
"Lil Rafaga."
The girl lunged at Hakuno as she widened her eyes at the lunge, bending back to avoid the sword's tip as the wind tore at her body and clothes as she plunged the phantom sword into Ais' exposed belly and siphoned her reserves of magical energy, forcing the wind to die before Ais pushed Hakuno away.
Her face and clothes were torn, blood was dripping out and she dismissed the ghostly sword replica as she gripped her katana with both hands.
"You can do it Hakuno-san!" a voice called out. Both girls blinked and turned to see Bell Cranel from his seat shouting out to the arena. "You can't lose to Ais-san, even if there is a difference in levels. You are the strongest in the world. You won't lose to anyone!" Hakuno's eyes widened at the words.
"Berserker is the strongest in the world! They won't lose to anyone!" Hakuno cried out as her Berserker, a strange claylike being roared in response to their Master's words and retaliated against Assassin's fists.
"Bell…" Hakuno thought, recalling the second Servant she had contracted with from his words, the one who aided her in her times of need when Saber was crippled by Assassin's attack. That amount of faith invigorated something within her as she looked at the katana in her hands. The wyvern's soul within roared in agreement.
*****!
"Let me tell you of the Amnesiac Princess and Queen of the Land." Hakuno began, her magic circuits burning as she feed her reserves into her katana as the red-blue flames merged into a purple-colored fire. Ais was instantly alarmed as the heat picked up as it pushed against her wind barrier.
"A royal princess robbed of memory armed herself against the queen, a great and mighty wyvern." Hakuno continued as she was engulfed in the flames like a mighty aura as the golden wyvern towered tall and strong like a living phantom as everyone stared in awe of this feat. "When the queen was felled, the princess wept for her, and the queen was moved by her kindness. She became a blade for the young maiden."
The story caught interest in Hephaistos and Goibniu, both smithing gods as they noticed the way the sword felt different, as if alive and had a wonderful craftsmanship to it. Who was its maker? How was this tale connected to that blade?
"Trial after trial in life and death, the blade feasted on the princess's assassins and grew. First turning from the wonderous greens of the land to a fiery cherry blossom. As they drew close to the Moon's Heart, did its scales turn gold from the light." Hakuno continued as Ais shielded herself from the intense light and heat the sword was giving off as it glowed with the light of the moon on its edge.
"The newly crowned empress sang praise as the princess became Sovereign," Hakuno held the radiant sword to her side as she prepared her next attack. "Bathe in the moon's radiance with this Gekkō Ryūjin Muramasa!" she cried out as she swung it. Moonlight wreathed in purple flamed sprung forth as the phantom wyvern charged at her, cutting down the remains of Ais' wind barrier as the golden wyvern rammed right into her and the world turned white.
Her body was feeling numb as she struggled to sit up while Hakuno sheathed her sword and frowned in some sort of realization, but they were both exhausted from that last attack the Holy Witch used. "I see…my sword's venom is too potent for your Abnormal Resistance. Hang on…I'll cure you." Hakuno breathed as she slowly limped her way towards Ais who held her hand up to stop her.
"…How?" Ais began, causing Hakuno to blink in confusion. "How are you so strong?" Ais asked her as she looked at her, eyes narrowed and focused on her. "Despite the Falna giving me an advantage over you in terms of stats, you are the stronger of the two of us in skills and utility. So, tell me, what drives you to be strong in your own way?" she pleaded, a desperate look in her eyes, a desire to know as Hakuno began to reach her and cured her of the poison.
"…I wasn't strong at first." Hakuno admitted, both hands holding Ais' face so that they looked at each other eye to eye.
"I was a half-baked magus at first. Always scrambling around helplessly as I struggled every day to survive. But then my acts of defiance even as I was close to death allowed me to meet her, my sword and shield that fateful day under the moon's light. Despite my mediocracy, she never left my side and did her best to help guide me as I tried to improve myself." The people of Orario were silent, listening to the Holy Witch's tale of her rise to power.
"Soon, others began to take matters in their own hands and help me in their own ways, teaching me lessons of life and how to live. I understood the meaning of what it was to be human and what makes me Hakuno Kishinami. Of my new life, my lost inheritance, and the legacy I carry today. I promised Saber," an image of a woman in red wielding a sword boldly.
"Sensei." A white-haired man in a blue coat, carrying a katana looking over his shoulder to her.
"My Ancestor." A pale blonde woman of beauty in black robes and black face veil looked at her, and those icy blue eyes held a small warmth in her gaze.
"My Guides." A blond man and white eyed woman smiled proudly at her as they walked off to the light.
"My Kohai." A certain Kohai AI, and her counterparts smiling at her, calling out to her as she waved back.
"-and my friends that I will continue to live, and fight for all that is beautiful in the world." She finished as the images of fellow Masters she remembered fondly smiling at her and cheering her on as she moved forward.
Ais never lost focus on those starlit eyes as she spoke to her, they were shining as she explained her past, of her suffering and yet she carried on, ever moving forward to tomorrow with a smile. Her inner child self within could only look on in awe as another figure overlapping her but with Hakuno's image shining brighter than his.
I hope that, someday, you find a hero-your hero.
That epiphany struck her of why she was drawn to Hakuno when they met on that wall three months ago. The girl carried the hopes and dreams of others as she moved forward to her path. A hero.
Desperate, partially melted had dropped from her hands as Ais closed her eyes. While she can beat Hakuno now that she's aware of her capabilities as a fellow swordswoman and could counter that special attack with her own ace Avenger-Tempest, she still had much to learn…preferably at Hakuno's side.
"…eat…"
"Huh?" Hakuno tilted her head in confusion as everyone in the stadium stared at Hakuno, drawn in on her innocent cuteness when she did that.
"I admit defeat." Ais spoke louder as that snapped everyone out of their charmed stupor as Loki dropped from her seat in shock.
"I see, so you've made your decision Ais." Riveria noted with a small, knowing smile of approval.
"Well, it is a shame we can't have Hakuno in our Familia, but this is good for Ais as well." Finn admitted with an amused expression aimed at Loki's dismayed expression as their goddess was asking them why Ais gave up the match like that.
"That little girl has a way with words I'll have to admit. It must have resonated with something Ais can relate to. Perhaps this is a proper way for her to grow." Gareth admitted with a proud and amused smile on his bearded face.
"Hah…Fine. You win this time Chibi." Loki sighed as she admitted defeat as she looked at Hestia that was stunned by Hakuno's words to Ais before being snapped out of it and looking at her. "Per our agreement, since you won, my most precious child Ais Wallenstein will convert to the Hestia Familia."
Hestia nodded, calming down and looking at Loki with a serious expression. "I will treat her as my own. Make sure she is properly cared for and a place to call home."
Loki could tell Hestia was serious about it, she was a Goddess of the Hearth, of Home and Family so even if Ais is just a stranger, she will be welcomed home as if family. That alone put some ease in the trickster goddess's mind. "I'll be sure ta help ya during Denatus then." She smiled as she held out a hand to shake. One that Hestia smiled at as she shook it.
The audience were baffled by a defeat not of combat but with words before a single clap echoed out. They saw her, Freya herself clapping with a delighted smile on her face that stirred the hearts of those in sight of her beauty and began clapping along, supporting her like the simpletons they were to vie for her attention. Some even adding words of support to Hakuno as this was relayed not just to Orario, but everywhere else across the continent.
In one bar several days' worth of travel away, a traveling warrior saw Hakuno in the divine mirror projected there and smiled, his red hair and purple eyes giving off an exotic but powerful presence. "I see you are here to, my Flora." The man noted with delighted as he knew his next destination: Orario, City of Adventures.