The gentle ticking of a clock on the wall was the only sound that filled the room at first.
Arthur sat with his hands loosely clasped in his lap, his eyes calm but sharp with intent.
He took a deep breath.
"Thanks for coming, all of you. I promise this won't take too long."
Five chairs were arranged in a wide circle at the center of the room, where he, Cao Cao, Heracles, Georg, and Lavinia now sat.
Cao Cao leaned back with one leg resting on his knee.
"You made it sound urgent. Kind of hard to ignore when you set that tone at lunch."
Arthur looked to Lavinia first.
"Lav… can you set up a concealment barrier? One that completely blocks out sound and seering?"
Lavinia blinked in surprise but nodded softly.
"I can. Give me a moment."
She held out her hand, and a pale blue circle of magic appeared beneath their feet, glowing lines extending outward.
It pulsed once, then a faint shimmer rose upward around them, forming a dome of warped, blurry air.
Cao Cao raised a brow, glancing around.
"Isn't this… a little overkill? We're in your room, Arthur. On a sealed floor no one else is assigned to but us."
"You're right... But that isn't overkill."
Arthur replied calmly.
He tapped his foot lightly against the floor.
The barrier surrounding them flickered violently as threads of red light slithered through Lavinia's spell.
Then, without warning, the entire dome turned pitch black, like the world around them had vanished.
Cao Cao leaned forward, squinting at the change.
"This… is overkill."
Arthur finished flatly.
A small spark flared to life between them, growing into a floating fireball no bigger than a basketball.
It hovered just above the floor, crackling and casting shadows over their faces like a campfire in a cavern.
Heracles looked around the barrier that now surrounded them and whistled low.
"Okay, now this is just getting ominous. What's with the spooky theatrics, man? You planning a coup?"
He muttered, arms crossed.
Arthur's face remained still as he glanced around at his companions.
He sighed.
"I'll... get straight to the point. Back at the cafeteria, I said I planned to recruit all 13 Longinus users, Sacred Gear users, and capable warriors."
The others nodded, slowly.
"There's a reason for that. It started a few months ago, right after my first mission from the Church."
Georg tilted his head slightly.
"You mean the mission where you fought Balor?"
Arthur nodded.
"Yeah. That mission was a turning point. I thought it was just random rogue priests resurrecting a God. But the more I investigated, the more I realized there was something behind what they were doing."
Cao Cao raised an eyebrow.
"And that is?"
"They weren't working alone. They were being guided. I traced their trail as far back as I could. It led me to rumors, dead ends, whispers in the supernatural community."
Arthur paused, then met each of their eyes.
"And that's when I first heard the name: Khaos Brigade."
The group went silent.
Even the fireball dimmed slightly, casting deeper shadows on their faces.
Georg broke the silence.
"Khaos Brigade… I've never heard of them."
"You wouldn't have. They're a hidden faction. An organization of different races, rogue elements from every pantheon, species, and ideology. Devils, fallen angels, rogue gods, even some humans. And their goal is simple: topple the current world order and spread chaos."
Arthur stared into the flame.
"And the one leading them is none other than the second strongest being and Infinite Dragon God herself, Ophis."
Lavinia's eyes widened.
"The Ouroboros Dragon? Why?"
Her voice was a whisper.
"Who knows?"
Arthur 'admits'.
"All I know is she's the head of the Khaos Brigade. And she's been gathering powerful individuals and factions under her command. And she has the power to destroy the world."
Cao Cao folded his arms tightly, the casual smirk now gone from his face.
"That… sounds dangerous."
"It is,"
Arthur agreed.
"That's when I realized, fighting this from within a single faction or as an agent of the Church wouldn't be enough. That's why I took a year off. To prepare."
Georg's voice was low.
"Prepare how?"
"I sent my clones across the globe, searching for information, movements, and for people with potential. Longinus users. Sacred Gear holders. People like you guys."
Arthur said.
He looked at each of them in turn.
"I didn't stumble upon you by accident. Our meetings… our destinations… they weren't random. My clones located you in advance. I followed and established contact."
Silence stretched.
Cao Cao's expression hardened.
"You're saying this was all part of your plan from the beginning?"
Arthur sighed quietly.
"Yes. I know how it sounds. I know it might feel like I manipulated things. And I'm sorry for that. Truly. But I wasn't lying when I said I enjoyed traveling with you all. I valued every moment I shared with you boys. Especially with you, Lav."
Lavinia's face flushed pink as she lowered her gaze, her hand gently brushing her hair.
Heracles leaned forward, brow furrowed.
"So you're telling us you're recruiting us for your war?"
"No. You're all free to choose what you want. All of you. I don't want to drag anyone into something they don't believe in. But I won't lie, Khaos Brigade is growing stronger. Their reach is expanding. Eventually, they will act. And when that happens, innocent people, humans and supernatural species alike, will suffer. Entire nations might collapse. I want to stop that before it begins."
Arthur said softly.
He looked at Georg.
"And that's why I called you here. I'm forming my own organization. An independent group outside the power structure of the Three Factions. One that can fight in the shadows, gather strong allies, and if necessary… strike before the enemy does."
Georg tapped a finger on his chin, the gears in his mind turning.
Heracles still looked skeptical, but he hadn't left.
Cao Cao leaned back, silent now, but listening intently.
Lavinia simply looked at Arthur, calm, trusting, and waiting.
"But what I truly want is people I can trust. Not just for their power, but for their heart. For their resolve. Admittedly, I didn't wanna walk this path alone. But the Khaos Brigade will move soon. And when they do… I want us to be ready."
Arthur stood slowly, his back straight, his gaze firm.
He looked at each of them, Cao Cao, Heracles, Georg, and Lavinia, his expression calm, yet carrying the weight of his convictions.
"I've laid out everything I know. I've told you my reasons. Now I'll ask you all one thing."
He took a deep breath, the flamelight catching the faint gold in his hair as it flickered.
"Will you join me on this mission? Not just to fight some mysterious threat, but to protect the world before it even realizes it's in danger. To become a force of change. And maybe… just maybe… make a name for ourselves in the history books."
Silence followed.
No one spoke right away.
Georg adjusted his glasses with a calm, deliberate motion.
"And what if we decline?"
Arthur nodded without hesitation.
"Then I'll respect your decision. I won't hold it against any of you. I asked for unconditional trust, not blind obedience. If you walk away tonight, you'll be free to go, no strings attached."
Georg nodded quietly, the flicker of thought still visible in his eyes.
It was Cao Cao who moved first.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his gaze turning toward the fireball.
For a moment, he said nothing, before exhaling with a small, ironic chuckle.
"Before I met you… I didn't have a purpose."
Cao Cao said softly.
"I was just trying to survive. Trying to get away from people who wanted to use me. My life was… narrow. Small. Just a kid who was sold by his own parents."
He lifted his head to meet Arthur's eyes.
"But then I met you. And suddenly the world seemed bigger than I'd ever imagined. There was more to fight for. These past few months were the greatest of my life. You gave it meaning."
He stood up.
"I don't know where this path will lead, but if you need my help… then I'm with you. I'll stand at the frontlines, as your vanguard."
Arthur nodded deeply.
"Thank you, Cao Cao."
Next, Heracles rose to his feet with a grin stretching across his face.
"Man, this is getting sappy, but I guess I'll join in."
He said, folding his arms behind his head.
He stepped into the light, his bulky frame casting a wide shadow across the wall.
"Honestly, the reason I stuck around all this time was because I figured if I stayed close to you, I'd get stronger. And I was right."
He jabbed a thumb toward his own chest.
"You said this Khaos Brigade is filled with monsters and crazies? That just means I'll have someone worth fighting. That's all the motivation I need."
He smirked and slapped Arthur's shoulder hard enough to jostle him.
"Whenever you need my strength, I'll provide it, Boss."
Arthur chuckled softly.
"Thanks, Heracles."
All eyes turned to Georg, who sat silently in his chair, legs crossed, fingers laced thoughtfully.
He was quiet for a long moment.
Then, slowly, he stood.
"We're not exactly close, Arthur. But what you've told us tonight makes sense."
Georg said calmly.
He adjusted his glasses again, the lenses flashing white in the fire.
"If the Khaos Brigade becomes unchecked, the world will crumble. Nations would fall into chaos. Societies would dissolve. Humanity will either perish or be enslaved. Everything we know would collapse in the face of something like Ophis."
He looked straight at Arthur.
"I see the danger, and I see your conviction. Very well. I will lend my abilities to this cause, my intellect, and my magical expertise."
Arthur smiled, relieved.
"That means a lot, Georg. Thank you."
Finally, he turned to his left.
"Lavinia?"
Lavinia was already standing, a gentle smile gracing her lips.
She walked over to Arthur's side and gently took his left hand in hers.
"Have you forgotten already?"
She asked softly, gazing up into his eyes.
"As long as I get to be part of your life… I'll follow you anywhere. Even through hell and back if necessary."
She tightened her grip on his hand, her voice warm.
"Of course I'll join. I've made my choice the moment I fell in love with you."
Arthur's heart tightened in his chest, his fingers wrapping around hers as he squeezed her hand.
"Thanks, Lav."
He turned back to the group, his voice resonant with gratitude.
"And thank you, all of you. I know what I'm asking isn't easy. But this… this is the beginning of something greater. Together, we can be more than meets the eye, and show those bastards who we are."
Heracles tilted his head with a grin.
"So what do we call ourselves, anyway? Team Longinus? Super Squad? Or maybe… Hero Faction?"
Cao Cao gave him a sideways glare.
"Don't name things ever again, Heracles."
Arthur laughed quietly and raised his right hand into the firelight.
"I've been thinking about that. If we're going to be an organization that the world will take seriously… then we need a name that reflects that mission."
He looked around at them all, his expression turning serious again.
"From now on, we are known as the Counter Corps. A specialized group that acts as a counterforce to anything that endangers the whole world, human or otherwise."
He held his hand forward into the center of the circle.
"Now... Let's show the world what we're truly made of."
Lavinia smiled and placed her left hand gently on top of his.
Cao Cao followed, setting his right hand down firmly.
Heracles smirked and slammed his hand down next.
Georg, composed as ever, placed his hand atop theirs with quiet resolution.
Arthur glanced around one last time, seeing the shared resolve in each of their eyes.
Then he spoke clearly, a rare fire burning in his voice.
"Alright, everyone, on three. One… two… three."
Their voices rang out in unison.
"COUNTER CORPS!!"
Their hands rose upward, raised high as one.
A new team had been born, and the world had no idea what was coming.
DxD
Hello readers!
Power Stones are required for more chapters!
Thank you everyone and see you later!