To Reach the Lights Beyond the Heavens (High School DxD - Essence CYOA SI - FGO Reincarnation Chapter 4)

"You aren't tired of all the walking yet, are you, sport?" Michael's father, Henry Chaser smiled as he saw his son trying to act tough and unbothered, by the bit of walking they were on at the Mount Tamalpais State Park.

"I'm fine." Michael grumbled tightening his grip on his backpack.

"Come on, Henry. Give the poor boy a break. We walked far enough, I think we can camp here." Michael's mother, Helen Chaser said with a scolding tone yet there was no heat in it.

It had taken a while for Michael had managed to convince his parents to go on camping at the Mount Tamalpais State Park for a day or two. It mostly consisted of finding a free day on both their schedules, and then guilt tripping them on how they don't spend time enough as a family, and do stuff together, like go to a theme park or the like.

"Hey, I finally figured out how to use that reinforcement spell. Let's apply it to all of you so you can reach the spaceship quicker." Nobunaga's voice spoke in the earpiece Michael had that was enchanted to not be noticed by normal people.

"Do not!" Michael hissed, as he canceled Nobunaga's access to the spell casting apparatus.

Michael had made for in the modified CPU, that only worked when filled by his own magical signature. A.I. Nobu can still create spell formulas by they can only be cast when approved by Michael. The ten year old mage shuddered to think on what would happen if Nobunaga was given free reign, to just cast whatever she came up with on a whim. One of her first ideas was making a flight spell, via rapid flames launching out of one's feet.

It had taken a while, and a lot of input and talk back and forth with the A.I. but Michael managed to detach the CPU the A.I. is in, have it run on ambient magic, and be given access to some custom home-made sensory equipment.

"Did you say something, Michael? Speak up, dear." Helen called back.

"I said I can keep going!" Michael shouted back.

"See, the kid is tough as nails, honey. Stop babying him." Henry added, which prompted his mom to start arguing with Michael's dad, which after a while turned into flirting, and Michael at the point, just tuned them out.

Michael originally wanted to dismiss his A.I.'s ramblings about "Mysterious Heroine X", but Nobunaga had been insistent. Michael though that if he could prove that there was no spaceship, or this 'MHX' person then the A.I. would start some self-reflection process and, allow the diagnostics to run in full.

Yet, a part of Michael wondered what if the A.I...if Nobunaga was right. That means that the whole Heroic Spirit thing was real, and dimensional travel (beyond just a theory) was possible, and...that Nobunaga and this MHX knew him from a past life. Maybe.

Nobunaga stopped talking about it, when it was obvious Michael didn't know her, saying 'it wasn't important', that his current life is what's important, not dwelling on the past. But...should he bring it up with that MHX person. Would they recognize him like Nobunaga did on sight?

These questions stayed at the back of Michael's mind, as he tried to enjoy his camping trip with his parents.

x=

As night fell, Michael went into action.

First was to finish up the magic ward to push and repel away wild animals and bugs so that the came site could be safe and comfortable. Second was adding another layer to repel low-key supernatural beings away from the place, and if not send an alarm to wake up his parents with the compulsion to leave the place as fast as possible. Third was a defensive layer meant to trap any malicious creature to buy time for his parents to get away.

After the wards were done, Michael created a magical copy of himself. Although, calling it a 'magical copy' was too generous. It was more of a hardlight hologram with some basic functions, to act like he does when he's lost in thought, and generally obey his parents, so they don't notice anything strange. The other problem with the spell, is that it would break down and disperse if it's hit with any amount of significant damage. It was basically a poor man's version of the Shadow Clone Jutsu from that Naruto manga he read online a while back.

Michael prepared to leave after his supposed bedtime, so the hologram copy would be playing his role of sleeping. If everything works out, his parents won't even notice he was gone.

"Alright, now all we need to do is follow the Altrium Reactor's signal, find that stupid evil spaceship, meet X and tell her, I'm alive and you're alive, and that she shouldn't be copped up in the ship like a NEET, schedule when to meet up later, and come back without anyone noticing." Nobu quickly summarized their plan, to make sure they didn't forget anything. Michael nodded once and went on his way, managing to sneak past his parents's tent and away from the camp site.

"Ignoring some of the bizarre side of what you said, you still haven't explained what 'Altrium' is, or how you can make a signal tracker for it." All of Michael's instincts which hadn't led him astray since his venture into the supernatural, was telling him to just go with the flow on this. So for the most part he was following Nobunaga's lead while taking his own precautions.

"It's basically space particles found in the Servant Universe, used to power up various exotic devices from a Warp Engine to a Spirit Origin Enhancement Device, to helping Sabers grow up healthy and strong. You know usual stuff. It's easy to identify as it's in the shape of a blond ahoge."

Michael came to a full stop, and in the most mechanical and stoic way, looked back at the apparatus the A.I. for visual info, as though he could look Nobunaga in the eyes.

"There's no fucking way any of what you said could be true."

"Yeah way. I totally learned it when I was dead, only my Spirit Origin was left, and hooked up to the evil spaceship's life support."

x=

Michael and A.I. Nobu bickered for a bit on some of Nobunaga's knowledge and concepts such as the "Servant Universe" and futuristic misanthropic A.I. that were "just tsundere", and "wacky space particles". ("The fuck are GudaGuda!?")

As Michael and Nobunaga, they noticed a few odd occurrences. A lot of the animals they encountered, even if they were prey, weak, or even injured, would hiss or growl and try to attack Michael, rather than run away.

Multiple times, Michael had to have Nobunaga use the Telekinetic Push spell to bash them away, while trying not to harm them too much. The few that didn't run away after a bit of smacking around, had to be put down, as crippling them might as well makes them food for predators. There was no need to prolong their suffering.

"What the hell do you think is wrong with the animals here?" Michael asked.

"Dunno, I would say this is normal, but in my experience, beasts tend to be more in-tune with their instincts, and should be able to tell when something in front of them can't be beat. This seems like something put them in a feral frenzy of sorts." Nobunaga added their take on the situation.

"Hmm," Michael nodded. He was glad that the took the time to put up and enhance those wards on his family's camp site, if this was happening relatively nearby. Michael continued on his way, using the magically goggles he made, to see the forest clearly in the dark. "What do you think could cause--"

KAW-KAA-KAAAAAAAK!!

A wave of sound hit Michael, enveloping him. It didn't seem to be aimed at his intentionally, but rather it spread from a large radius, in all directions.

Thumb-dub! Thumb-dub! Thumb-dub!

His heart was beating rapidly, his blood was pumping in his ears, his breathing felt loud and odd. No, he was breathing through his mouth with his teeth clenched. The heat that seemed to start from his core, rise up till his skin was easily able to push aside the autumn chill wind, even without needing magic took awhile to identify.

"...ichael! Michael!"

Someone was shouting. Michael wanted to fight them. Fight something. Not because he had been wrong, but because he wanted to feel the exhilaration of a life and death battle.

"Master, this is beneath you! Get a hold of yourself!"

Yet the voice shouting, and something deep within him, a deep essential part of him, fought to stay in control. It was like a meditative experience. Knowing he was angry and wanting to fight, yet able to observe it.

With a push of his will, Michael called on his magic energy to envelop and fill him. Just as he did so, he felt a spell by Nobunaga being cast on him. He identified it as the Cleanse Inner Energy spell, that well, did what the name said. It was mean to remove any spells or curses that acted by infecting someone with magical energy for their effect to take hold, or act.

"I'm okay." Michael called out, mostly to reassure his worried friend. "I'm okay." He took a while to gather his thoughts and calm down. "I think we found out what caused the forest animals to be in a frenzy."

"Yeah, and given the effect it had on the area, and on you, Retainer, I think it's time we slay this beast. It's been a while since I've had chicken wings." Nobunaga said, reassuring Michael of their victory.

"Heh," Michael chuckled. "I'm pretty sure what's causing all this problem isn't a magical chicken."

Michael kept heading deep into the forest. It seemed the path to the Altrium beacon and the magical beast where mostly the same. Michael experienced the war cry multiple times throughout his hike, but it was getting easier to resist the frenzy, and soon enough he didn't even need the cleansing spell to push aside the magical shout's influence.

As Michael and Nobunaga neared the signal, they saw that it's origin was from a hill, that would take some effort to climb, but shouldn't be much trouble.

That's when a giant figured running through the treetops, jumped down, and stopped in it's path, as though running from something, to glare at the young boy.

"Hey, Michael, turn out you're right." Nobunaga called out. "It's not a chicken, it's a rooster."

"GRRRRAH" Said Rooster growled out, and flicked one of it's legs holding a handle of some sort.

"...A rooster with a fucking lightsaber!?" Michael's jaw dropped.

"Oh hey, that's the discount Necrosaber, X poached off EX-Alter!" Nobunaga smiled.

Then the beast opened it's beak.

"CARNAAAAGE!" It shouted.