I'm back everyone! Here's another chapter for all you patient readers.
Can't wait to roll gacha once Avalon le Fae starts. My Wife (Morgan), here I come!
On a brief note, I will be going on hiatus for a bit to play Destiny 2: Lightfall when it launches this month. Just to give you all a heads up so you don't have to wonder where I went.
[Combat analysis at 9%. Mother, due to the lack of actual combat against the Empire, I cannot derive any strategies to counteract their means of attack. Is there any means of acquiring other data other than your own encounter?] The Warmind, now named Tabiti, asked its creator. Hakuno cupped her chin and tilted her head in thought, unaware of BB and the Alter Egos finding themselves transfixed by her cute way of thinking before she snapped her prosthetic fingers in realization. Hakuno recalled a certain Mystic Code she made for the Hestia Familia, it had multiple functions to it that she had to constantly update and upgrade in her free time to ease the way for adventuring in the Dungeon. One of them was recording data on fighting enemies. Originally for the monsters in the Dungeon, perhaps there was recorded data of the Empire's soldiers and equipment she can learn of.
Willing her Regalia, the earring responded to its wielder's commands and connected itself to Bell and Welf's Moon Rings and any recent combat data they acquired. To her joy, there was information on them. A giant mechanical construct and soldiers different from those that tried to kidnap her. If the one's attempting to kidnap her were only goons, these were properly trained warriors. It explained how easy it was to capture them in the first place.
[Data has improved to 15%. Scanning Moon Cell's database on the trademark imprinted on the machine.] Tabiti announced, causing Hakuno to tilt her head quizzically in confusion. BB took the opportunity to take numerous photos with heavy breathing and drool coming down her mouth. Yes viewers from beyond the screen, BB is simping Hakuno hard. Don't think too much about it.
[Data confirmed. This machine of war is trademarked by one Thomas Edison, also known as the King of Inventors.]
"...So, Chaldea is behind this? Are they working alongside new enemies to destroy this world?" Hakuno asked aloud to herself in thought, getting the alarms ringing inside of Passionlip and Meltryllis while Kingprotea was busy humming a tune in her childlike body, thanks to Hakuno's aid in that regard. They all remember Hakuno's full capabilities back on the Moon Cell, and in this place where the Age of Gods didn't end, know full well what their Senpai could do when she wasn't holding back like she was now. If they don't clarify things fast, Ritsuka Fujimaru would be crushed underneath Hakuno's shoes like her mother Morgan did to Chaldea in the Britain Lostbelt.
"Hakuno, before you jump to any conclusions…please be aware that some Servants Chaldea contracts tend to go off and do their own thing. Edison being one of the more eccentric ones with his patriotism and such. If anything, the Master of Chaldea would be trying to fix this mess her Servant started." Meltryllis tried explaining, hoping that the Holy Witch wouldn't do something drastic. Said girl looked at the Alter Ego right in the eyes and the High Servant was almost transfixed into those starry spheres before she blinked and smiled at her.
"I see…I guess having too many contracts with Servants will lead to being unable to handle them all." Hakuno muttered to herself in understanding. Knowing how Nero and Gilgamesh together were a handful with their massive egos, with only Helel being the actual good child between the three-and he's supposed to be the Devil! Then, Hakuno's Clairvoyance (Cypher) activated.
This was a special type of Clairvoyance, compared to those that can see past, present, and future, Hakuno's allowed her to see into possibilities that were non-linear. What-ifs that could happen. Some visions just showed her another Hakuno in Chaldea with this Ritsuka Fujimaru and the crazy antics of other Servants besides Gilgamesh. Then, the Holy Witch felt nothing but pity. The poor Master of Chaldea was suffering mentally with the insanity that was ensuing, worse yet, some that had Hakuno's own children with Gilgamesh summoned as Servants. Truly, working in Chaldea was suffering for that poor Master and felt like she needed to give the poor girl a hug.
*Meanwhile in Chaldea*
For some inexplicable reason, Ritsuka Fujimaru felt as if someone had understood her situation and wanted to comfort her from the insanity she had to put up with for years with all of the Servants she had summoned. She suddenly wanted to cry.
*Hakuno's Throne World*
[Mother, I have discovered that the Empire is after you for another reason.] Tabiti spoke up, getting {her} creator's attention. [They seek to acquire your secrets into creating Holy Swords. They want to use your knowledge for propaganda purposes, to create a Holy Sword of their own design and claim it was a gift from their god and improve morale on their 'holy' crusades.] The way the Warmind spat out 'holy' in the holy crusade was one of disdain.
[Religions using their faith to wage war is atrocious. The one good thing that Pan Human History did right was separate state from religion. Looking back on these recordings by the Moon Cell has made me confirm that the Age of Enlightenment was a godsend in ending these cruel actions and limiting the power religions have on the people. Since the drifters of the Holy Church entered a world where that movement to separate the state and church never happened and gained influence in the Empire…]
"They can purge all things deemed tainted or unworthy in the name of their Lord without restraint." Hakuno finished with a sigh of annoyance. This is why magi hate the Church at times. Faith against logic and wisdom had been a clash that continued to the current century in Proper History. While religions are beautiful in their own way, it's the people that are in it that ruin it for others. Which is why Hakuno will never truly worship or praise gods unless she knows them well enough.
Hestia was an example of one of the goddesses she'll worship and praise if she wanted it (which the girl knew Hestia isn't really fond of) and would be cautious to other gods. Gilgamesh had rubbed off on her with his disdain for them.
*Hearthstone Mansion-Primo's Room*
It was a slightly decorated room, filled with a few vases of flowers, a bookcase holding a few meager books of Primo's personal collection and a few stuffed animals that Sugar Daddy (Gilgamesh) got her and a personal journal and album from Hakuno herself as the elf child was busy writing in it, loosening her thoughts and expressing things she wouldn't have done in public.
It's been a few days since the attack on Orario by the Empire, and a decrease in adventurers entering the Dungeon. Strangely, the monsters haven't been spawning since the attack, almost as if it knew something was happening and was waiting for something…
Primo took the role of a dungeon explorer seriously, the wisest choice when venturing down in the dark below was to listen to any gossip or news from the Guild and other adventurers. Hearing that the monsters had stopped spawning was alarming of itself to any cautious adventurer. Several pros had confirmed their wariness when she asked them personally, as it means less magic stones to get money, increase their stats, and provide energy for the city. Some of the neophyte adventurers saw it as a good thing, since it'll decrease the chances of stampedes and reach other areas with fewer members.
While she would love to take the chance to try out her new Skill, she couldn't, not with the Empire preparing to make a comeback after the initial assault. She gripped her arms tightly as she hugged herself, visions of a moonless night, of burning forests, the smell of spilt blood and the cries of fellow elves butchered like animals. All while the insignia of the Empire printed on the armor of her captors.
"Primo…" a raspy voice whispered to her. The child elf paused from her traumatic flashback and turned to the source. A ghostly winged white serpent coiled to her arm with its yellow eyes staring back at her. "We are here. We will fight them together." the entity told her.
This was her Skill, Diabound: Sacred Retribution. This was the power to manifest a spirit of righteous vengeance to aid in battle and is a holy spirit. Baobhan Sith had taught the young elf how to summon and form pacts with spirits out of mere respect for Primo's devotion to her adoptive mother Hakuno.
In truth, Baobhan Sith found similar circumstances to herself in the past when Queen Morgan found and adopted her. That same devotion she had for Morgan, Primo had for Hakuno. Thus Baobhan Sith had to make sure the young elf grew strong fast, so she does not suffer a similar fate the blood-drinker had in the past. The result was the summoning of Diabound.
It was an interesting creature for sure, a spirit born out of a need for revenge, but noble and holy. It was at that time in Fairy Britain did Primo and Baobhan Sith learn that Diabound was a spirit born from the elves killed by the Empire and wanting justice for their cruelty and horrid deaths at their hands. It bonded with Primo easily since she was a victim of the Empire's cruelty in the past and had gotten the chance to gain power. The souls of the deceased chose her as their envoy of retribution and even Primo felt that weight when she also speculated even her own birth mother was one of the ones to create this spirit.
The thoughts haunt her, but she knew Hakuno would prefer her to enjoy her youth a bit more before doing anything like what she was going to do. This spirit was proof that the dead are not at peace and will cling to her until her task is done. Dismissing the spirit, she proceeded to leave for the room with the intent to find her mother and talk about this.
Primo's childhood and innocence was long gone, burnt down to ashes like Libera Forest was, at the hands of the Empire.