Dulio let out a loud laugh as Heracles was finishing a story that had the whole tent chuckling.
"I'm telling you, they thought I was a damn terrorist! I just had a few guns on me, that's all!"
Heracles grinned.
"A few? You said you got a whole arsenal in your luggage."
Siegfried raised an eyebrow.
"A custom-made shotgun, four assault rifles, two grenade launchers, five revolvers with a sniper scope, a shit ton of ammunition and ten bricks of C4."
Heracles corrected, proudly crossing his arms.
"You're insane, dude."
Siegfried said, shaking his head with an exasperated smile.
Dulio chuckled as he wiped a tear from his eye
"How the hell did you even bail your way out of that?"
"I didn't. They threw me in a holding cell until Georg bailed me out. I think I traumatized the arresting officer. Poor guy kept muttering about 'terrorists'."
Heracles admitted.
Connla sat cross-legged on one of the cots nearby, deep in conversation with Georg.
The bespectacled magician had a notepad out as Connla explained his newly-developed Longinus.
"So it's called Aeon Balor?"
Georg asked, adjusting his glasses.
"Yeah. Dulio says it's a new Longinus that the Seraph discovered in the System. It has time powers and I could control shadows better than before... But I'm still getting the hang of it."
Connla nodded.
"Fascinating. A temporal-based Longinus fused with the essence of a deceased god. You're practically a walking paradox."
Georg murmured.
Meanwhile, Cao Cao and Jeanne stood near one end of the table, talking over maps and supply reports.
"I still can't believe that you wield the True Longinus. The same spear that pierced Jesus Christ."
Jeanne said in awe.
Cao Cao gave her a small smile, leaning against the table.
"That's what they all say. It's not really a big deal."
Jeanne blinked, almost disbelieving.
"You're literally holding the most powerful relic of all time. That doesn't strike you as a big deal?"
"Not really. I'll tell you what Arthur told me before. It's just a very pointy stabbing stick that glows in the dark, nothing more. Besides, I'd rather be known for my actions than what I have in my possession."
He said with a calm shrug.
Their pleasant chatter stopped as the tent's flap opened.
Arthur entered with Lavinia beside him.
Arthur had removed his hoodie and gave it to Lavinia, the thick material helped obscure her busty figure from view, not that anyone would dare to stare.
All conversation died.
Cao Cao was the first to speak, his voice light but laced with concern.
"Welcome back. You good, Arthur?"
Arthur paused, looking around the tent at all the familiar faces, then gave a slow nod.
"I'll live."
He replied quietly, his tone steady but weighted.
He and Lavinia moved toward the group, settling near the table where the others had gathered.
Lavinia pulled the hoodie tighter around herself and remained close beside him.
Arthur took a slow breath.
"So… what'd I miss?"
Siegfried shrugged from his spot, leaning against a stack of crates.
"Nothing much. Just some quality bonding time. Turns out Heracles has a criminal record."
The others chuckled lightly, and Arthur managed a tired smirk.
"Good... We're gonna need to know each other for what's coming next."
His eyes turned toward Lavinia.
"Lavinia… can you please?"
She nodded wordlessly and raised her hand.
A pulse of magical energy rippled through the tent, and a big magic circle formed underneath their feet.
Within seconds, the entire tent was sealed off.
No sound would escape. No prying ears could listen.
Everyone's expression shifted as they straightened their postures.
Jokes and casual chatter melted away as they all looked toward Arthur now.
Dulio folded his arms and leaned forward slightly.
"So what are you gonna do now, Art? This is his call to make."
Arthur scanned the room, making sure everyone's attention was fully on him.
"Before we get into that, I need to guys know something."
He looked at Lavinia, Cao Cao, Heracles, and Georg in turn.
"What I'm about to tell you stays secret from the rest of the world. It's going to shape everything going forward. And once you hear it, there's no going back."
Georg narrowed his eyes behind his glasses. Lavinia didn't flinch. Heracles leaned back, arms crossed. Cao Cao simply nodded.
"We're all ears, Athur."
Dulio looks at Arthur and asks.
"Are you sure about this?"
Arthur gave a solemn nod.
"They're gonna find out anyway. Better now than never."
Arthur turned to the rest, Jeanne, Connla, Siegfried.
"Afterward, I'm going to ask you all something important. But for now… listen carefully."
The atmosphere grew heavy.
Arthur began revealing everything.
The death of God during the Great War, the creation of the Khaos Brigade and it's leader, Ophis, about C×C (Counter Corps) and its mission to protect the innocent and its progression.
When he finally finished, the tent remained still.
No one spoke at first.
Then, slowly, Georg adjusted his glasses, his voice quiet.
Lavinia looked down, her eyes troubled.
"So that's what this is really about…"
Heracles rubbed the back of his neck.
"That's… a lot to take in."
"It is, but it's the truth. And the world's about to change soon enough, and we have to be there as humanity's shield."
Arthur turned toward the four exorcists. Dulio, Jeanne, Connla, Siegfried.
"I'm asking you now, will you join C×C in our path towards mankind's progression?"
He said firmly, stepping forward.
"If you guys wish not to get involved, then I'll respect your choice. Just as I said to the others, I won't hold it against you. All I ask is for your trust and secrecy."
Rain pounded harder on the tent roof above as silence followed his words.
And one by one, they looked back at him, processing the weight of the choice that stood before them.
But Dulio smiled and leaned back, hands casually folded behind his head.
"Are you kidding? You can't just give us the choice to bail and miss out the chance to team up with the coolest junior in the world. Whatever it is you're doing in the future, I'm all in!"
He said with a chuckle, his green eyes gleaming with mischief.
Arthur let out a soft exhale, the corner of his lips twitching in faint amusement.
Siegfried stretched lazily from where he sat on a crate and scratched the back of his head.
"This is fucking crazy. Like, end-of-the-world levels of crazy..."
He said, glancing at the others, then he looked at Arthur and smirked.
"But honestly? I don't give a damn... I'm in. Hell, following you might be the best decision I've made in a while."
Jeanne placed a hand on her chest and stepped forward, her tone more composed but no less sincere.
"If joining this group means I can save more lives without the Church's restraints, then I will gladly lend my sword and faith to your cause, Arthur."
Her words hung in the air like a quiet vow.
Connla, who had remained seated, looked at Arthur with solemn eyes.
"Arthur... You gave me a second chance when I thought I didn't deserve it. I owe you more than my trust, I owe you my life. So if you're asking me to follow you into the jaws of death… I will. Without hesitation."
Arthur's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of gratitude sparked within him.
Before he could respond, Heracles grinned and stepped forward, wrapping his arms around Connla and Siegfried in a sudden, crushing hug.
"Welcome to the team, boys! You're gonna love it here. We've got explosion, crazy adventures, and the occasional buffet sponsored by our new boss!"
He said with a loud laugh.
"H-Heracles..."
Siegfried struggled in his grip.
"M-My... spine..."
Connla muttered, but he didn't push away.
Jeanne giggled, Georg offered an amused sigh, while Cao Cao shook his head.
Arthur let out a breath, more relaxed this time, as he squeezed Lavinia's hand who looked at him happily.
"Thank you, guys. I mean it."
He said quietly, looking at them all.
The warmth didn't last long, however.
His expression sharpened again, the fire behind his eyes rekindling.
"Now then. Let's continue where we left off."
Everyone straightened instinctively, the jovial air dissipating as purpose settled in.
Jeanne reached into her satchel and pulled out the earlier report.
Arthur took it, his eyes scanned the contents, and his jaw tightened.
The numbers. The images. The casualties.
Thousands dead overnight, entire buildings wiped out, families obliterated.
And then there were the unconfirmed missing orphans.
A possible trap, but the possibility of them telling the truth isn't zero.
Arthur didn't say a word, and the tension in his shoulders spoke louder than fury ever could.
Lavinia reached out and gently squeezed, her fingers interlocking on his tightly.
She didn't say anything either, just stood by his side, grounding him.
Arthur closed his eyes for a brief second.
He let her warmth slow his heartbeat, let her quiet presence dull the storm within just enough to think.
Siegfried leaned forward on the table, glancing between the two.
"Alright, boss. What's the game plan?"
Arthur opened his eyes again, this time, filled with righteous fury.
"The culprits have made it clear that they're targeting me... they even made it personal by involving innocent lives. They burned down homes, slaughtered families, and possibly kidnapped children."
The others grew still.
"So we're giving them payback, times a thousand."
He said coldly.
"However... If there's even a chance that the children are alive and being held hostage, then our first priority is their rescue. No unnecessary fighting, we save who we can first, then we end it."
Arthur's voice grew firmer.
Everyone nodded solemnly, understanding their priorities first.
Arthur stepped around the table now, eyes moving across each person.
"This is the first major operation under C×C. What we do tonight will be seen by the entire supernatural community. So listen carefully…"
And then he spoke the plan.
But the details weren't heard, intentionally muted, only the image of Arthur's lips moving, maps being pointed to, and heads nodding in unison filled the air.
Once the final part of the plan was laid out, Lavinia spoke softly.
"Are you sure about this?"
Arthur looked at her, his expression firm.
"I'm certain. All that's left is to follow the plan and things will work out."
He said.
He turned to the rest, meeting every eye.
"Any questions?"
There were none.
Arthur gave a nod, rolled up the map, and folded the report.
"Then that concludes our meeting. Get dinner and rest early. Check your gear and equipment. Say your prayers if you want. Because tonight..."
He paused for just a moment, then his pupils turned into slits.
"We go on a crusade."
Dulio raised an eyebrow.
"First of all, that thing with you eyes is pretty cool. Second, that sounds kinda intense."
Arthur tilted his head, thoughtful.
"...Peacekeeping, then?"
Siegfried scoffed.
"Yeah. 'Peacekeeping' with a pinch of genocide."
Heracles chuckled.
"Can we vote on what to call this operation? I wanna call it-"
"No."
Georg cut him off.
Arthur sighed.
"Look, just get your shit together, okay? Call it whatever you want."
"But tonight, we're gonna show the world who we really are."
Everyone stood now, the group is now filled with determination.
As the rain intensified outside, team C×C prepared for a battle that would mark their names in history.
DxD
Hello readers!
Is a person a masochist if they crave more problems?
Because I have acquired a taste for making things harder for myself.
Thank you everyone and see you later!