Da Vinci was busy typing on the computer with a frustrated look on her face. The universal genius was facing a challenge in an attempt to get communications online within the Lostworld that a handful of Servants had already entered. Jeanne Alter had taken one such communicator before personally investigating and the tiny genius was getting worried. A good deal of Servants entering this Lostworld blind, especially Douman of all people being one of them was not a good thing. She knew for a fact things were going to be complicated once Ritsuka begins entering the Lostworld.
A beep, and communications were possible. "Jeanne Alter, this is Da Vinci, please respond!" The Rider called out as the screen showed the image of a battlefield with people killing each other and the Avenger looking annoyed as she gutted someone with the tip of a cursed spear.
"What now Da Vinci? Can't you see I'm helping stop genocidal idiots from killing innocents?" she demanded as Giles was in the background, laughing like a lunatic as he conjured Horrors and sicc'ed them on soldiers as they screamed with pain and anger.
"Ah…what's the situation in that Lostworld?" the genius asked, looking pretty confused at the situation right now.
"Some knockoff of the Holy Roman Empire is on a crusade to kill anything non-human. There are a plethora of fantasy races here, Da Vinci, and the Empire wants to purge them all." Jeanne Alter explained, disgust in her tone and expression at what she just said. Da Vinci blinked at that, not expecting humanity to be like this in a Lostworld. Usually, Lostbelts and the Lostworld of Britain had humanity at the receiving end of something, not fighting back to the point someone like Jeanne Alter would aid the other side. There must be something she was missing from this.
"How bad is it?" the genius had to ask.
"Bad enough other gods are calling arms for this act of genocide. All because of one witch who said that God was dead." the Avenger replied as black mana surged like a storm and laid devastation towards the human army as an army consisting of other humans and fantasy creatures were charging in. Then, someone snatched the communicator from Jeanne Alter who protested as a girl in her teens wearing a black dress and veil looked at the screen.
"So, this is Chaldea?" the girl asked, her tone and voice sending chills down Da Vinci's spine as it reminded her of Queen Morgan from the British Lostbelt. "I have something to say to the Master, so please pass it on. Keep your Servant's antics in Chaldea. Edison is aiding the Empire with productions of war machines and if it wasn't for BB and her Alter Egos vouching for them, I would consider Chaldea as an enemy. Now while I go give this 'Presi-King' a piece of my mind, are there any other troublesome Servants from Chaldea here in this world I should take note of?" she told Da Vinci who winced at that. Yup, things were already getting bad for Chaldea again thanks to the antics of several Servants.
"Ashiya Douman is at the top of the list right now." Da Vinci answered truthfully while the girl's lips twitched at the name.
"The enemy of Seimei? Here?" she asked, causing Da Vinci to take note that this girl was familiar with Proper History to identify the truth of Limbo. "Tch, one problem after another. For now, Edison and his machines then Douman. I expect a hundred page essay apologizing for not properly handling your Servants when we meet. Be grateful that's all I'm asking for with all these deaths Chaldea is responsible for." the universal genius winced at that, suddenly feeling a cold glare from behind the screen and veil the girl wore before communications were cut off by the signal being lost.
"Da Vinci? What's got you all worked up?" Ritsuka asked, just walking in as said girl was sweating slightly.
"Some of the folks in this Lostworld are not happy with the Servants…" she began explaining as Ritsuka's expression was turned to concerned worry.
*Empire-Temple of El*
She walked through the great halls, priests and servants of the temple bowing their heads respectfully at her while she made it to the resting place of their fallen god. Anger, hate, resentment. Those were the three emotions the Empress of the Empire felt when she looked at the sarcophagus of El, her Father, her Progenitor, her God.
She was created to be the spouse of that imbecile Adam and procreate with him to start a new race. She would have refused and eloped with Samael if not for the death of Father and the massacre of the angels, one that included Samael perishing in. Then casting to the lower world with Adam and left to die as her mother Asherah was imprisoned in some lightless pit. She hated everything, this injustice as her freedom was stolen from her as she planned it all.
The Drifters from Proper History that belonged to the Church enlightened things as she acted as someone named "Eve" and learned everything about their world's differences. One where Father was alive and created Eve when she herself eloped with Samuel and birthed demons. Some things they say about her were amusing, the slander and scathing comments when they didn't know she was said to be the woman they were talking about was quite fun. Especially since she's the mother of humanity in this timeline. They were long gone though, and she used them to create this dogmatic empire with the intent of revenge on the world.
—Or so she thought. An unexpected turn of events had happened. The Holy Witch Hakuno knew the truth and exposed it during the War Game against the Apollo Familia, created a weapon she knew was capable of combating the other pantheons with its power, and Father's lifeless corpse was showing signs of life again. If Father was resurrected, and armed with that powerful sword Hakuno created, could overthrow the other gods and grant her the revenge she wanted.
Such is the desire of Lilith, Mother of the Lostworld Humans.
*Frontlines-Aftermath*
Rain fell from the sky. Dirt turning into mud, dried blood dripping down to the earth as if to be cleansed from stained armor. Adventurers of Orario were busy, busy treating the wounded or burning the dead. Cremated so they can be taken back to Orario to whichever familia they belonged to. Bell had his head down, the rain causing his hair to cling to his head as his bangs covered his eyes. The Hestia Knife was by his side, recently cleaned by Welf as bitterness ate him. The knife had blood on it, of both monsters and people and it ate away at the boy.
Hermes tried to convince Bell to not join this war front but the boy refused. He refused to let Hakuno do this alone. He and the rest of the Familia were adamant on doing this. He remembered the story Hakuno told of the woman who ate her own baby. Of Lucius and Nero lecturing him of how the world isn't as black and white as it appeared. He wasn't sure what was right or wrong right now, as people were suffering from the actions of the Empire. He would be a hero that would help stop this madness, so people can finally be happy again. Bell knew this was a long road he was walking, but with friends like Lili, Haruhime, Primo, and Welf to stand beside him, and mentors like Hakuno, Gilgamesh, Nero and Lucius, then he would find the path he believed in was the right one.
"...How are you holding up?"
Bell looked up, to see Hakuno standing in front of him with the rain sliding off her clothes as the veiled girl was checking up on him. "...It's complicated, Captain." he admitted before feeling metallic arms carefully wrapped around him as Hakuno pulled him into a gentle hug.
"Taking the life of another person is never easy, Bell." she told him, her voice soft and sad. "To mourn those you have killed shows just how kind you are." she told him, one prosthetic hand moving to rub his head in comfort.
"Will it ever get easy?" Bell asked as Hakuno pulled away and lifted her veil a bit to show her face. Those gentle brown eyes holding sadness in them.
"It never should get easier. If you did, then your kindness is forever lost." she told him. "Even now I regret taking lives but it's necessary for me. The world isn't perfect, it's filled with dark and ugly things-but there are those that showed me there are still beautiful things in the world worth fighting and protecting. To me, the Hestia Familia is why I fight, the family I made there and a place where everyone is smiling."
The clouds part, and rays of light started to shine as the rain began to cease. Bell's rubellite eyes widened in realization of the words. The world isn't perfect, but there are things worth fighting and protecting. His family, the Hestia Familia and everyone in it were the ones he needed to protect. As if knowing that he finally understood, Hakuno smiled. A truly pure smile for him as his heart skipped a beat at the sight.
A/N: Yes, in some tellings in the faith, Lilith was Adam's first wife who refused him and went with an archangel named Samael. Then Eve would be born of Adam's rib. Here in this alternate scenario, humanity is far different than those born of Eve. You'll see in the next chapter.
By the way, does anyone know any artists who do fanfiction cover art? I'm considering looking for one for Lunar Witch.
