About the Harbingers

"There's truly not much information" In his house, Allen sighed as he looked over the recollected information about the Harbingers. The information was mostly based on rumors and talked information as there was no report about their style and strength. "The only available information is about their subordinates and is too reduced to have any use."

"Even looking at their missions and exploits is kind of useless as most of their activities are in secret" Allen continued mumbling "The most trusting information will be the time in their position, lower ranking changing more often and even that is quite rare, most of them living even more than a normal human span... All with the exception of two of them, Il Capitano and Tartagglia who usually won't last even a decade."

"Most people were even unaware that Tomoki was Tartagglia and they have never seen him before as he preferred to be kept into a secret" Allen wrote over to clear his ideas "Now there's nobody in that position, but for an empty position, the Tsaritsa is the one to directly appoint the next one, so it's discarded as my choice."

"The 10th rank, Il Capitano, The Captain. He is quite the strange case. He boosts one of the highest reputations amongst the Fatui, being one of the most openly active. He is known for his great strength and unwavering sense of justice, plus his care for his subordinates. However, the strange is that he only has been in that position for 8 years and his predecessor was known for quite the same, all Capitanos having similar talents. In combat, he boost a high command and individual progress, having been seen to use a wide array of weapons."

"The 9th rank, Pantalone, the Regrator. He has been in the position for 30 years. He fights using gloves and charges money every time he fights, something related with Mora, maybe? But it's not really important as his position is the only one that is passed down, him deciding his inheritor."

"The 8th rank, La Signora, the Fair Lady. She is known for her strength, diplomatic relations and her ruthless methods, not minding anything as long she achieves her objective. Her abilities are Cryo related and her fighting style should be oriented to a mage, keeping her distance, but individually quite powerful nonetheless. She has been in her position almost for a hundred years."

"The 7th rank, Arlecchino, the Knave. She is known for being in charge of Snezhnaya's orphanages and is someone that won't hesitate to betray anyone if it benefits her. She shows a clear hate especially over Pantalone and Pulcinella. Little is known about her power as being in charge of intelligence and communication, most of her activities are in secret. Nevertheless, she has been in that position for over a hundred years."

"The 6th rank, Scaramouche, the Balladeer. He is known for his hate and distrust over everyone, preferring to work alone. Little is known about his strength, but he pass most of his time over the Abyss, so he has to be strong enough to easily survive. He had also joined a little over hundred years ago."

"The 5th rank, Pulcinella, the Rooster. He is the major of Snezhnaya City and the one to create the actual policies of the government. This place where strength rules being created by him since he obtained the position. Nothing is known about his strength, never having been seen in a fight. However, he is known as one of the scariest one, the destiny of falling in his hands being far worse than death. He resembles a weak old man, but he has been able to keep his position for 250 years, so he must be hiding something."

"From the next ranks, there's no even recorded information of when they exactly became one, but by their rank, they must be at least 250 years in that position."

"The 4th rank, Sandrone, the Puppet. She barely is seen outside, passing all her time with the Tsaritsa or in her own laboratory creating useless mechanics that are mostly used only by her. She is always with a robot that brings her around, so her strength should lie in it, in robots and firearms."

"The 3rd rank, Columbina, the Damselette. She seems to have the most harmless appearance, but she is known for her low care for human life, not minding at all killing anyone that cross her way when walking. Her power is completely unknown but by the rumors, she is able to kill someone without the need of touching it."

"The 2nd rank, Il Dottore, the Doctor. He is known more as a scholar than a fighter that like Columbina has little regret for the human, however, in his case there's still interest in them, liking to experiment with them to create stronger humans. An obsessive and sociopathic person who enjoys experimenting and seeing the process rather than minding the outcome. A lot of rumors are being told about his power, but everyone is different, being difficult to know the actual truth about him."

"Finally, the 1st rank, Pierro, the Jester. He is the fact leader of the Harbingers and the only one that can truly order the others apart from the Tsaritsa. He is not seen much in public, his actions being quite little but every one of them is said to have a great meaning behind them. About his strength... is not widely known, but it's said that he has no rival, either in close or distant combat."

'It's difficult to make a decision like this' Allen thought.

Allen turned to some papers that Pantalone has given "He has also given me this list about their loyalty with the Tsaritsa."

"Pierro, Pulcinella, Pantalone and Capitano, completely loyal to her, even risking their life for her."

"Dottore, Sandrome, Signora, and previously Tartagglia, respecting her."

"Finally, Columbina, Scaramouche and Arlecchino have a bad relation with her, being able to betray her at any moment for their own good."

"Who knows why and how the Tsaritsa keeps people so hostile against her under her orders, perfectly knowing so" Allen sighed "I suppose that the reason for this list is for me to try to take the position of some of the hostile ones. If I were to put myself on the list, I should be between respect and hate."

"Following my information, the most probable to win would be Capitano, but he seems quite fishy somehow, even Pantalone advising me to not fight him. If it was my last opportunity, I'll choose him, but I have still another in 4 years."

"Pantalone would want me to face Arlecchino who I also don't have a good opinion of her for the orphanage. But she seems too mysterious."

"Maybe it would be better to ignore Pantalone and go against the Signora as she seems the less hidden and if I were able to approach her, I might be able to have an opportunity forcing her in close combat.

"Ha!" Allen shouted "What a hassle! I need to clear my mind" Allen took his sword and left his house, going to the training grounds, trying to clear his mind by practicing his sword alone.

"In training, you should not put your feelings in the sword." Allen turned around at the familiar voice, his eyes going wide as he found the 1st Harbinger, Pierro looking at him.

"Lift your sword" Pierro said as he took one wooden sword, while Allen used his own, quickly putting his defensive stance already expecting what will happen next.

*Clank* *Clank* *Clank* *Clank* Four strikes. Those were the ones that Allen was able to last before Pierro's sword reached his neck.

Since last time, Allen had become far stronger, growing and learning his own talent and style, but even like that he was only able to last two more strikes. However, this time he was at least able to see through Pierro's movements.

Pierro seemed quick and strong, but in truth, he had lowered his strength at his level. But even like that, it didn't stop his overwhelming advantage, his movements could only be expressed as perfect. He made the perfect movements to counter Allen's attacks, winning in the fastest way with that conditions.

"You have improved" Pierro said while he left the sword in its place "But you should not trust external forces to become strong. The true strength is inside" He said before turning around to leave "Remember, the easiest path, is not always the best. Do not waste the opportunities given." He said before leaving Allen thoughtfully about it.

...

The day finally arrived, the day of the Purge. Allen put on his coat and crossed over the eternal blizzard, reaching the Zapolyarny Palace's area where some ice statures guided him towards a waiting room inside the Palace.

"It will start shortly, prepare yourself" The one to inform them was to Allen's surprise Alina who quickly left the room without saying anything else.

Allen looked around at the other challengers. Inside the room, there was a total of 11 people, all of them wearing the usual needed blue coat to cross the blizzard , covering their bodies and faces.

From what Allen could say, he seemed to be the youngest, all the other being taller than him, but apart from that they were quite the differences between each of them. Men, women, musculature... they were quite the group.

"PUA!" One of them took out his hood, revealing his blue eyes and brown hair "Finally, the time has come!" He said excitedly.

"Ajax?"