1 Prologue
...
…
Inhale.
Exhale.
...I have no idea where I am, and all I see is white.
At first I thought it was a dream, but dreams are hazy and fleeting. This was solid, real. I even gave myself a few pinches, and a slap to check.
...An endless sea of white.
I'm sitting in a chair, a comfortable one. And in front of me is a table, and spread out is a deck of cards.
I try to remember how I may have gotten here. All I remember is...the convention, yeah, the convention.
And...that's all.
I don't recall anything else.
Hahhh….that gave me a shiver. I picked my head up to look around again, and spotted something new.
There was a chair set across from me, and in it sat a man.
He was...old... I would guess he's around, or probably in his forties or fifties, and was dressed in an old English-styled suit with a black cape around his shoulders connected by a gold chain, possessed spiky gray hair and beard. He stared at me with a smirk on his face and eerie crimson red eyes, holding a cane pressed against the floor.
And because of his sudden appearance, I flew back in the chair and landed on my back, then scrambled up to hold myself up.
"Heh, that's a bit different. Silent surprise, compared to the usual outright yelling or cursing." The Old Man said with a chuckle, his smirk still present as he studied me with his crimson eyes.
"W-Who...who are you?" I asked, gulping a bit from nervousness, "A-And where am I…?"
"Ah, a polite one!" The Old Man said, and looked me directly in the eyes. "My name is one you have heard before, boy. And that name is Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg. I've also been called the Wizard Marshall, and a couple other nicknames."
Kischur...Zelretch...Schweinorg…
Yeah, I knew that name alright. I was a lover of the Fate series, and avidly read about it when I couldn't experience things like the VN's or certain games.
And Zelretch...I knew plenty about him. He was a Dead Apostle Ancestor, the Nasuverse vampires, and is noted to be one of the strongest and also oversaw the formation of the Fuyuki Holy Grail System,
Topping off anything else I could list about him, he was a master of the Second Magic, Kaleidoscope.
In simple terms, dimensional travel.
...but there was no way.
"No way...there's no way your Zelretch, the actual Wizard Marshall." I stood up, and looked straight at him. "Y-You're just a cosplayer or something, I was just at a convention, so there. Stop joking around, whoever you actually are."
Though I said that, my voice was still laced with nervousness…
"Well..." Zelretch mused, still showing nothing but amusement at my reaction "When you say it like that, it does sound like it could just be a joke, but boy... I'm not in the mood of making introductions or pleasantries since you already know me, so..."
And suddenly without a cue, I was yanked up. By some force or anything else, I was up, and dropped into my previously fallen chair, that was now upright.
As this just happened, my mind frantically trying to process just what happen, my previous nervousness now evolved into fear and panic, the emotions starting to grow.
He...he couldn't actually be real...This isn't happening, it can't be.
He can't be real! This whole scenario couldn't be real! Th-This is probably just some sick joke or something my friends wer-
"Yes,calm down would ya, boy."
Calm.
Like someone controlling my emotions directly, my panic and fear faded.
One second my mind was mess but suddenly I feel...calm, collected. Just poof, fine.
"Well... you certainly more polite than the others so far, but you're one of the first ones that almost collapse just because I showed some proof.." Zelretch spoke, his voice still laced with amusement as he grinned at me and..oh lord, I can see his fangs!
"I don't know I should feel flattered, or maybe offended, but... I guess I will take the first option." He chuckled and continued, "But for now, I have an offer for you."
An offer from Zelretch...this is nothing good. I've read a lotta stories with this Dead Apostle Troll, and his offers usually involve dragging people into other alternate worlds, and having them act as his entertainment.
So yeah...nothing good.
"Refusing is an option, right…?" I asked, looking the Marshall in the eyes.
"Hear me first, boy." Zelretch cleared his throat before giving me a look, "I have already traveled to many places, and have changed many things. However, I realize when I did that, all of them turn... A bit dull, you can say..." He said.
"Dull?" How something like world meddling becomes dull, don't ask me.
"Yes boy, dull. They are all amusing and fun, make no mistake. But...usually, they all have one common thing between them." Zelretch rising his index finger to me.
"Greed." He stated, "And like what i said before, all of them are fun to see, but I want something different! Something new, if you will."
"And for that reason, you pick me?" I asked, pointing at myself.
"Correct, boy." The Marshall smirked at me and continued, "Elijah Walker, son of a father with the same name, and Deanna Jabro. Born in 2001, now 17 and going to highschool, and aspiring to be a hero."
Add another reason to be scared of this man. He knows my damn life.
"I could name a couple other things, but you get my point. My offer is this; I will send you to an alternate reality. One where all the world's mythologies hold true, and devils and angels roam! Where people hold the power to slay gods! But have no fear! I will not leave you to simply die! I will provide you with a means of surviving, and from there whatever path you take is up to you!"
Zelretch explained this to me, his eyes gaining an excited glint.
Any sane man would say no. I should say no. I know to say no.
But…
I'm probably dead already.
While some may say that's a jump, and some at this point wouldn't even believe him, but...with me referencing things I've read again, most of the protagonists of these things normally agree because otherwise...they're already dead.
If I am...I will accept.
I don't want to end up dead. Even if...even if I don't get to see them again, my family...I want to live.
"That look on your face says it all. You'll agree, and you know by now what's next, right?" Zelretch commented with a grin, and snapped his fingers.
The cards that were originally on the table, 7 cards, flashed and showed new imagery.
These were Class Cards, cards that contained the power, essence, and entire being's of Heroic Spirits. There were seven, each one for a normal Class.
Saber, Lancer, Archer, Rider, Caster, Assassin, and Berserker.
"As you know, these are Class Cards. Each one contains a Heroic Spirit, and you will gain one implanted into your body. In a sense, you will become a pseudo Demi-Servant, but one of a highest-tier, in a sense of saying." Zelretch explained, watching me examine the cards.
Saber; One of the Three Knight classes, and considered the best Class. High stat Heroic Spirits who bare strong swordsmanship, high magic-resistance, and have are usually from the Age of Gods. That describes this Class. I have always preferred swords...and if I got a Spirit like Siegfried, or maybe even one of the King Arthur's, I'd be set.
Lancer; Second of the Three Knight Classes. Usually extremely fast and agile, they fight using spears and polearms, and excel in hit-and-run attacks. I could get someone like Vlad III, or even Enkidu.
Archer; Last of the Three Knight Classes. Knights of the bow, or in some cases just projectiles. They excel in possessing powerful Noble Phantasms, and have high magic-resistance like Sabers. This could be a second for me, since most Archers are incredible in terms of power, ones like Nikola Tesla or Oda Nobunaga.
Rider; First of the Four Cavalry Classes, and are known for their mounts, be they living beasts or even human constructs. These mounts have granted them multiple and powerful Noble Phantasms, making up for their lower attributes. This would be another great choice. There are multiple strong Riders, ones like Ozymandias, or Perseus.
Caster; Second of the Four Cavalry Classes, and Heroic Spirits of spells and sorcery. Casters, while possessing sorceries of the highest caliber, were regarded as the weakest do to their low combat abilities. They make up for this with other means, using magic that no longer exists in the current age and, no matter which Heroic Spirit is of which class, possessing many possible ploys to be used against enemies. I could get a powerful spellcaster like Tamamo no Mae or Cu Chulainn.
Assassin; Third of the Four Cavalry Classes. Silent killers, and the Heroic Spirit of Assassinations. Covert and stealthy, this Class mainly sticks to the shadows for quick and silent kills. Some are exceptions to this, in a few ways. It's one of my favorite Classes besides the next, and would hope for Yan Qing or Jack The Ripper.
And finally, Berserker; The Fourth of the Four Cavalry Classes. Mad Warrior and Heroic Spirits of Berserker Rage, these are Heroic Spirits that have at some point in their legends gone berserk. They have Mad Enhancement, a skill that trades sanity and thought for a boost in power. This was a second favorite Class of mine, and had powerful Heroic Spirits the likes of Heracles and Lu Bu.
"Now pick, and chose your power, boy." Zelretch gave me a smirk, as I blinked.
"Lancer." and then the world went dark.
…
…
…
Inhale.
Exhale.
…
Like Zelretch had said, he was someplace different.
As he wakes up again he notices it that he is once again in the realm of the living, the beautiful blue sky was hovering over him, no clouds were shown, he could also hear a river stream going on and birds were chirping.
'Now what?' he thought annoyed on how his death experience wasn't as peaceful as some people make it out to be. As he gets up he feels a massive pressure on to the back of his head, 'Was I dropped!?' rubbing the back of his head in agony.
As he looks around he sees that the vast area is mostly a forest, the stream went down for miles and was a very beautiful sight, he would've wished he came here as child, he can imagine all the things he could of done.
As he casually walks down the stream he sees a Shrine residing on the banks of it. As he approaches it he senses someone behind him. He turns around and sees a young girl with long black wear wearing traditional miko attire, consisting of a white haori with red accents, a red hakama, and a pair of zori with white tabi.
"Hello," he says trying to get the girl to come to him. The girl , blushes and hides behind a tree trying to avoid him gaze.
"What is your name?" he asks trying to be soft voiced as possible.
"…"
"It's ok, I won't hurt you."
The girl comes out covering her mouth with her sleeve, she was looking at the ground hoping he wasn't staring at her, "Akeno," she says quietly but is still wary as she does not know him.
…
...it just had to be DxD, didn't it…?
