10k Collections Special (1/2)!
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The night poured gently over the outskirts of Kyoto, dyeing the distant mountains with a deep blue hue and brushing the red autumn leaves with an almost ethereal glow under the moonlight. A soft breeze carried the distant sound of festivities, laughter, and the ringing of bells from a nearby temple, but there, on an isolated natural terrace, silence reigned. A wide field of tall grass swayed gently, and wildflowers bloomed among moss-covered stones. The place seemed like an untouched fragment of nature, oblivious to the modern world.
There, the members of the Hero Faction were gathered.
At the forefront, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, was Cao Cao. Young, with short black hair and blue eyes that gleamed with clarity and determination. His attire blended the traditional and the modern: the stiff, dark gakuran worn by Japanese students in autumn was complemented by the flowing, symbolic lines of an ancient Chinese hanfu.
Beside him was Georg, the vice-leader, though that was more a formal title, as everyone there followed Cao Cao's natural leadership. A young man with an apathetic expression, neatly combed black hair, and glasses that reflected the moonlight, concealing his gaze. He wore the standard gakuran like the others, but over it, he donned a robe resembling that of a mage and a long, dark cape adorned with feathers.
Further ahead, leaning against a rock, was Jeanne, the reincarnation of Joan of Arc in this world. A foreign young woman of serene beauty, with blonde hair tied in a low ponytail and eyes of pure celestial blue. She wore a female gakuran, over which rested a simple yet well-forged armor.
Beside her, seated on a large rock with his arms crossed, was Heracles, the one who carried the spirit of the greatest Greek hero. A two-meter-tall giant with shoulder-length gray hair and a weary but attentive gaze. His gakuran uniform was almost hidden beneath heavy Greek-style armor made of bronze and reinforced leather.
Perseus, on the other hand, had impeccably slicked-back brown hair, his demeanor confident and somewhat arrogant. The armor he wore was clearly Greek-inspired, golden and ornate, though the gakuran was still visible underneath. He was cleaning the blade of his sword with a cloth, as if preparing for a ceremony, not a battle.
Marsilio, dressed in an elegant suit with subtle gakuran-inspired touches in the design, stood further back, holding a book with a faint smile on his lips.
Siegfried stood with his arms crossed, leaning against a gnarled tree. His black gakuran was covered by a white priestly cloak with silver embroidery, and at his waist, attached to a skirt-like belt, rested his five Demonic Swords and one Sword of Light.
Next to him was Arthur Pendragon, distinguished even in silence. His blonde hair partially covered his face, and his glasses softly reflected the moonlight. He wore a well-fitted suit with discreet gakuran details at the collar and cuffs. A sheathed sword hung at his waist.
Near Arthur, Le Fay Pendragon sat cross-legged on a rock. She wore her blue sorceress dress, with her large starry hat resting beside her. Her blue eyes sparkled with curiosity, and she seemed to alternate between excitement and nervousness, as if attending her first magical ball.
Finally, seated on a thick tree root nearby, was Zhuge Liang. Despite looking like a little girl, there was something ethereal about her. Her eyes gleamed with wisdom, and she wore a classic Chinese Taoist outfit with wide sleeves, a fan resting on her lap.
Then Cao Cao spoke, his firm voice cutting through the silence of the night:
"…Connla is dead."
Everyone looked at him, but no exaggerated reactions followed. Only a brief, heavy silence.
Jeanne lowered her eyes with a soft sigh, and Heracles gritted his teeth without saying a word.
Cao Cao then gazed at the moon, slowly rising over the mountains:
"But he did not fall in vain. In his final moments, Connla sent us the information we needed…"
A quiet murmur rippled through the group.
"And the time has come to decide how we will act…"
Silence.
"Connla gave us the exact number before he died. There are twelve in total. But two of them are not our concern, as they are a normal human girl and Yasaka's daughter. The rest are… more complicated. They all carry an absurd magical pressure, even without exuding it. That alone makes them dangerous."
Georg adjusted his glasses with one finger and asked, "What level are we talking about?"
Cao Cao crossed his arms.
"According to Connla… a level comparable to Maous, perhaps even higher in specific cases."
Heracles let out a short, scornful laugh.
"Enough of this. That kid was skilled, but he didn't live long enough to know what true strength is. Don't tell me those frail women who got lucky hitting me are worth that much."
Perseus gave his companion a weary glance but remained silent. Jeanne, on the other hand, pouted her lips.
"Ne~ Heracles, you lost to one of them, didn't you? 'Frail women,' huh? That's just a bruised ego~!"
Heracles growled.
"You want me to prove right now that it wasn't luck?"
"Alright, alright, enough," Georg grumbled. "Let's stick to what's important."
Cao Cao took a deep breath, regaining control of the conversation.
"Two names are certain: Scáthach and an oni… everything points to it being Shuten-Douji, according to our spies in the Youkai Faction. The other two are that tyrannical woman and the dragon witch we faced a few days ago. In that case, you're aware of their strength… According to circulating information, Ryougi Kazuya possesses magic that allows him to summon those who have died and left their names in this world. It's no wonder they're calling him the 'Miracle Summoner.' That worries me a bit… We can't know if the women with him aren't some of those legends that should be dead. But, in any case, it shouldn't be a problem. We are all heroes destined to surpass our predecessors…"
"Besides them, our biggest problem is Ryougi Kazuya, who was able to defeat Sirzechs Lucifer and his queen in a confrontation without getting injured. Fortunately, that Red Lancer who defeated Indra isn't among them. Otherwise, it would be more complicated…"
"And unfortunately, a conflict between us is inevitable, after the affront that tyrannical woman and witch committed against us. But don't forget: our main goal is to capture Yasaka. I know it's sooner than we had planned… but with the rise of Chaldea, if we fall behind, we won't be worthy of being called heroes…"
The Hero Faction's primary goal was to establish human supremacy over supernatural forces like demons, angels, and gods, which they saw as threats to humanity. To achieve this, the faction planned to use Yasaka's immense power, given her deep connection to the spiritual energy lines running through the city, one of the world's greatest mystical centers. Her nature as a nine-tailed youkai granted her an almost limitless reservoir of spiritual power, making her the perfect catalyst for the ritual they had planned.
The plan was to use Yasaka's vital energy, amplified by Kyoto's leylines, to open the [Dragon Gate], a mystical portal that would allow the summoning of Great Red. This act would not only fulfill the wishes of Ophis, the leader of the Khaos Brigade, who sought to return to the Dimensional Gap, but also demonstrate the Hero Faction's power, sending a clear message to the other factions about their capabilities.
Initially, the ritual was planned to take place in a few months. However, with the rise of Chaldea and the emergence of an unexpected ally, they decided to act immediately. Moreover, Chaldea had already provoked the faction before, and now they wanted their revenge.
"They outnumber us. Should we call the rest of our members?" Perseus asked seriously after hearing his words.
"It would be useless…" Cao Cao shook his head. "They'd hinder more than help."
At that moment, Arthur spoke for the first time. His voice was courteous and serene, like a knight in the calm before the storm:
"About Kazuya… defeating Sirzechs and his Queen without so much as a scratch… that's not something just anyone can do. That man will be, at the very least, an interesting challenge. I'd like to face him in fair combat, but… as I'm not certain of my victory, and this mission is crucial, I'll leave that confrontation for another."
He paused briefly before concluding, with a slight weight in his voice:
"Remember, this will be the last mission for me and my sister."
Siegfried, leaning with his arms crossed, gave him a sidelong glance, his voice icy but sincere:
"A pity you're leaving. I'll miss my training partner…"
"Yes, I'll miss crossing swords with you…"
Le Fay looked at her brother and Siegfried with a small, melancholic smile. She seemed to hesitate for a moment, as if something tightened within her, but then her voice echoed softly, almost like a whisper carried by the wind.
"…I'll miss all of you too. Even if we have different goals… I never hated being here."
Heracles huffed lightly with his arms crossed, but there was a softer tone in his voice as he commented:
"You're too soft, girl. You'll end up getting hurt being like that."
Le Fay gave a light, carefree, almost childlike laugh.
"Then how lucky I am to have been with such strong people like you all until now, right, Heracles-sama?"
Zhuge Liang observed her with a calm but slightly thoughtful gaze. Her fan spun between her slender fingers, and her voice, though sounding like that of a child, was wiser than anyone else's there.
"This farewell hasn't come yet, Le Fay. The mission is just beginning, and much can change along the way."
Perseus sighed and said:
"Enough sentimentality. We have more important matters at hand…"
As the group conversed, Cao Cao observed Arthur in silence for a few moments. The leader of the Hero Faction then took a brief step forward, his expression calm and serene, but his eyes slightly darkened by a quiet understanding.
"Back to the matter at hand. I know, Arthur…" he said, his voice low but audible to everyone there. "I've known from the start that you would leave."
Arthur turned his face to him, showing no surprise, just a slight nod of acknowledgment.
"It's a pity," Cao Cao continued, looking directly at the swordsman. "You and your sister… have been valuable companions. Disciplined, loyal… and, above all, honorable. The loss of both of you weakens this faction more than anyone here would like to admit."
A respectful silence fell over the group.
On the other hand, Cao Cao showed no bitterness or disappointment, only a calm acceptance, something characteristic of him. He knew the two had been invited to join Vali Lucifer's group…
"So what do we do?" Marsilio asked, his eyes half-closed.
It was Zhuge Liang who answered.
"We'll split them up… First, we use Georg's Dimension Lost to place them in separate spaces where each of us deals with an opponent we think we have an advantage over. But obviously… since we want to capture Yasaka for our plans, one of us needs to go to her and use that item to knock her out…"
Cao Cao gave a slight, confident smile, the kind that carried too much assurance for an ordinary face. His blue eyes gleamed under the moonlight as if reflecting the night sky itself.
"That's a good idea, Zhuge Liang," he said, with the satisfied tone of someone who expected nothing less than brilliance from his subordinates.
He then turned slowly to the group, hands still clasped behind his back, chin slightly raised.
"The only problem is… which of us will deal with whom." He let out a brief, dry laugh. "Leave Kazuya to me, and you can choose the rest as you see fit…"
Then Heracles stood from the rock with a metallic creak from his armor, as if the sound itself betrayed his impatience. His face was grim, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.
"I'll take care of those two women…" he said, his deep voice laced with something denser than anger—wounded pride. "That tyrant with the arrogant eyes… and the silver-haired witch. They humiliated me. And now, I'll make a point of crushing them with my own hands."
Jeanne raised her eyebrows for a moment but said nothing, perhaps out of respect or wariness of the giant's evident fury.
Cao Cao merely nodded, as if he had expected this.
"Good. Revenge is as useful a motivation as any, as long as it brings results. Just be careful not to let your pride cloud your judgment."
Heracles only grunted, as if he didn't care for the comment.
Jeanne sighed but smiled soon after.
"Let's do this with elegance. After all, we are the heroes of this world."
Cao Cao took two steps forward and then extended his right arm, his index finger pointing to the sky.
"Let this night mark the beginning of our true legend. The gods have had too much time under the sun. Now, it's the turn of men—of true heroes—to rewrite the world."
The wind blew stronger at that moment, carrying his words into the darkness beyond the trees.
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(A/N:Author's Note
Hey everyone!
I will post the next chapter soon.
Yep, it's going to be a Lemon between Kazuya and Artoria, the morning after the festival, before he goes to meet Yasaka. As promised, that one will be labeled Chapter 70.5 — from now on, all Lemon chapters will use the ".5" format. If you're not into that, feel free to skip (it'll still count as a normal chapter, just the second part of a story arc, dividing the Lemon from the main plot so no one gets too uncomfortable — I hope). That said, I do recommend giving it a shot, since these scenes often carry important emotional development between the characters.
Oh, and before I forget…
I've been seriously thinking about "stealing" Arthur and Le Fay from Vali and adding them to Kazuya's team.
What do you guys think? 👀
💬 And hey — want to just read ahead a bit?
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