HFfC: CH 10: The Second Pack

"Which one should we open first?" Zero asked, his eyes darting between the three shimmering packs hovering in the air.

"Let's do the smug Cecil one," Soma decided, pointing at the pack with the self-satisfied, clipboard-wielding god on the front. "He looks like he knows something we don't. Maybe it's a good sign."

Zero let out a small chuckle and reached out, his fingers closing around the pack. It felt warm and crackled with a faint, contained energy. He tore it open with the practiced motion of someone who had opened far too many trading card packs in a past life. Eleven cards, their backs swirling with a cosmic design, slid into his hand.

He took a deep breath and flipped the first one over.

[+10 Magical Energy]

The card shimmered for a second before dissolving into a puff of gentle, golden dust that was absorbed into Zero's body.

"Here it comes," Zero muttered under his breath, a familiar sense of dread creeping in. "A long, painful series of +10 Magical Energy."

Sure enough, he flipped the next card. It was another [+10 Magical Energy]. It too vanished in a golden shimmer. Then another. And another.

Soma started to laugh. "It's still the early cards," he said, trying to be reassuring. "It's usual for the packs to be filled with junk at the start. Besides," he added pragmatically, "you need the energy if you want to make more clones anyway."

"Well, I guess you're right," Zero conceded, though his eye was twitching slightly. He flipped through the next few cards in quick succession. Five, six, seven, eight, nine... all of them the same. The small pile of golden dust motes floating in the air was growing, but their hopes were shrinking.

As he held the tenth card—another god-damned [+10 Magical Energy]—Zero looked at the final, unrevealed card with a desperate hope. Soma crossed his fingers, leaning in closer. This was it. The guaranteed rare. The character card.

Zero flipped it over.

The card shimmered with a slightly brighter light than the others. The text on it glowed with a more potent energy.

[+100 Magical Energy]

The vibe in the café floor, once buzzing with anticipation, dropped into a dead, profound silence. The card vanished, adding a slightly larger puff of gold dust to the air.

The silence was broken by a snort from Soma. Then a giggle. Then a full-blown, roaring laugh that echoed off the walls of the empty café. "AHAHAHAHAHAHA! You got the dupe pack! The consolation prize!"

Zero's face, which had been a mask of hopeful concentration, twisted into one of pure, unadulterated rage. He threw his hands up to the ceiling, shaking his fists at the heavens.

"CECIL, YOU LOW-CLASS BITCH!" he screamed, his voice filled with the fury of a thousand betrayed Gacha players. "HOW DARE YOU! I PRAYED TO YOU! I WISHED YOU WELL! I CURSE YOU! MAY YOUR DIVINE STAPLER JAM FOR ETERNITY! I HOPE YOUR CELESTIAL COFFEE IS FOREVER LUKEWARM!"

If any customers had been present, they would have witnessed the truly bizarre spectacle of the café's demon owner screaming curses at the ceiling while his red-haired chef clutched his stomach, tears of laughter streaming down his face.

After Zero's celestial cursing fit subsided, he took a few deep breaths to calm himself down, while Soma wiped tears of laughter from his eyes.

"Okay, okay," Soma said, still trying to compose himself. "Let's do the peace sign pack next. It has to be better than... whatever that was."

Zero grumbled but picked up the second pack, the one with Cecil giving a cheerful peace sign. He ripped it open, a little less ceremoniously this time. He fanned out the eleven cards.

"Let's just get this over with," he muttered, flipping the first one. [+10 Magical Energy]. It vanished. The second, third, fourth... a flood of the same useless card. By the time he got to the ninth card, he was completely deadpan.

"Okay, the last two cards," Zero said with a sigh. "This next one is probably just more energy, so why bother getting excited." He listlessly flipped the tenth card over.

A bright, pure white light flared from the card, catching both of them completely off guard. It was different from the simple golden shimmer of the energy cards.

"Shit," Soma breathed, leaning forward. "That's a character card."

As the light subsided, the image resolved itself. Like Soma's card, it was designed like an ornate tarot card. The illustration depicted a tall, handsome man with neatly parted blond hair, piercingly intense blue eyes, and a stern, commanding expression. He wore a distinctive military uniform with a green hooded cloak bearing a crest of two wings, one white and one blue.

Erwin Smith
Character Origin: Anime (Attack on Titan)
Traits: A brilliant, charismatic, and ruthless military commander. Master strategist and tactician, capable of inspiring unwavering loyalty and devotion in his soldiers. Possesses an indomitable will and is willing to make monstrous sacrifices—including his own humanity—to achieve victory for his people.

"Attack on Titan?" Soma said, squinting at the unfamiliar title. "What the hell is that?"

Zero shrugged, studying the card. "I don't know. Seems like you; this one must have come out after I died."

"Dang, we missed a lot of good anime, huh?" Soma mused. "Meeh, it's probably mid anyway."

"It says here he's the '13th Commander of the Survey Corps'," Zero read aloud. "Whatever that is, it sounds like a military or police-type organization." A thoughtful look crossed his face. "Do you think... with a clone like this, we could infiltrate the Kingdom's Watchers?"

"You mean that corrupt police group the Captain was talking about?" Soma's eyes lit up with a dangerous idea. "We could become the catalyst for a grand reformation! Clean up the city from the inside!"

Zero let out a small laugh. Their grand ideas were still far off for now. "One step at a time." He looked at the final card in his hand. "Let's see what our last prize is." He flipped it over.

The same brilliant white light flared again.

"Holy shit!" Soma yelled. "It's another character card! A double pull!"

As the light faded, they saw the illustration of a character they both knew instantly, a nostalgic icon from their past lives.

"Let's go!" Zero shouted, his previous disappointment forgotten. "We got Detective Conan!"

"Uhh, Zero..." Soma said, leaning in closer to read the fine print. "You got Conan Edogawa. Not Shinichi Kudo."

"What the fuck are you talking about? They're the same person," Zero shot back impatiently. But as he looked closer at the card's details, his triumphant grin slowly melted away into horror. The illustration was indeed of Conan Edogawa: the tiny, elementary-school-aged child, complete with his oversized red bowtie, blue blazer, and round glasses.

Conan Edogawa (Shinichi Kudo)
Character Origin: Anime (Detective Conan)
Traits: Possesses the brilliant deductive mind and vast knowledge of the master teen detective, Shinichi Kudo. However, this intellect is trapped within the frail, physically weak body of a seven-year-old child due to the effects of the experimental poison, APTX 4869. Relies on gadgets to overcome his physical limitations.

Zero stared at the card, his eye twitching violently.

"FUUUUCCKKK!" he screamed, his voice cracking with despair. "WHAT THE FUCK AM I GONNA DO WITH A CHILD CHARACTER?!"

"Hey, think about it," Soma said, trying to find a silver lining in the face of Zero's despair over the child detective card. "I'm Soma, but my body still has your Archdemon strength, remember? On the day of the competition, I picked up that heavy wooden crate with no problem. Maybe Conan's physical limitations can be nullified by your base body."

Zero sighed, the logic doing little to soothe his Gacha-induced pain. He dejectedly reached for the last pack, the one with Cecil's tear-streaked face, which now seemed to be openly mocking him. "Let's just open this last one and get it over with."

He tore it open. As expected, it was filled with the familiar, disappointing sight of [+10 Magical Energy] cards. One after another, they vanished in puffs of golden dust. Zero could only sigh with each one, while Soma snickered quietly beside him, thoroughly enjoying his misery.

As they reached the tenth card, it glowed with that slightly brighter, more potent light. Soma slammed his hand on the bar table. "What?! Another double-card pack?!" he yelled, his eyes wide.

As the card revealed itself to be [+100 Magical Energy], Soma lost it completely. "AHAHAHAHAHA! You should have seen your own hopeful face!" he howled, pointing at Zero. "You thought it was another character, didn't you?! You got duped again!"

"Ha... ha... very funny," Zero mock-laughed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Shut up." He looked at the final card, the very last pull of their session, with absolutely zero expectation. He flipped it over.

A brilliant white light flared, silencing Soma's laughter.

Zero sighed in profound relief, a genuine smile finally returning to his face. "Thanks, Cecil," he whispered to the ceiling. "At least you gave me three character cards for 3000 Gacha points. I guess I can forgive you."

Soma and Zero leaned in to look at the card. Like the others, it was styled like a tarot card, depicting an elderly but powerfully built man with short, impeccably neat white hair, dignified face. He wore a flawless black butler's suit, and his posture was one of absolute, unwavering servitude, yet his eyes held a hint of immense power.

Sebas Tian
Character Origin: Anime (Overlord)
Traits: Head Butler of the Great Tomb of Nazarick. A Dragonoid whose true form is sealed. In his human guise, he is a master of unarmed combat, possessing immense physical strength and expert hand-to-hand martial arts skills. Embodies unwavering loyalty to his master and a powerful, innate sense of justice. Can switch from a polite, gentle servant to a terrifyingly formidable warrior in an instant.

"Oh, we got a butler-looking character," Soma observed. "Sebas Tian... not Sebastian, huh?"

"Nope, it's separate," Zero confirmed, reading the details. He was genuinely impressed. "It says he's from an anime called Overlord." He flipped the card around, showing the powerful image to Soma. "He looks pretty cool and formidable, right?"

Soma rubbed his chin, giving the card a critical look. "Meh," he said with a dismissive shrug. "His cooking won't be better than mine, though."

"Shut up, you cocky chef," Zero shot back, a grin on his face. "You didn't even win the competition, anyway." He gathered the three new character cards—the commander, the child detective, and the battle butler—and started walking toward the stairs leading to their living quarters.

"Hey!" Soma shouted after him. "I was too good to compete! That's why they kicked me out!"

Zero just waved a hand over his shoulder as he climbed the stairs. "Yeah, yeah," he called back teasingly. "Whatever helps you sleep at night!"

Soma headed upstairs, expecting to find Zero still geeking out over the new character cards. Instead, he found him sitting perfectly still, cross-legged in the middle of the living room floor, his eyes closed and his breathing slow and even. The new cards were laid out in a neat row in front of him.

"What are you doing?" Soma asked, tilting his head.

"I'm feeling my energy," Zero replied, his voice distant, as if coming from far away. He didn't open his eyes. "The new points... they changed something inside me. A new capacity."

Soma watched him for a moment, intrigued. "So? Can you make more clones now?"

Zero didn't answer. He remained perfectly still, his focus turned entirely inward. Soma knew that look. It was a state of concentration so deep that the outside world barely existed. He wasn't just sitting; he was exploring. He could feel the familiar, warm thread of energy that connected him to Soma, a tangible link that hummed with life. But now, alongside it, he could sense something else. A loose, unconnected strand of potential. An empty anchor waiting for a ship. This was it. Another clone could be created.

Understanding that Zero needed time and space, Soma just shrugged and decided to make himself useful. He spent the afternoon reading the history book he'd borrowed from the Royal Library, then meticulously cleaned and organized the entire kitchen. As the hours passed and the sun began to dip lower in the sky, he got bored, then hungry. Finally, he decided to cook.

It was the rich, savory scent of chicken and simmering curry that finally pulled Zero back to the surface. His eyes fluttered open, his mind slowly returning to the physical world. He saw Soma sitting at the large dining table, already halfway through a plate of food.

"Ah, you're awake," Soma said casually, noticing the movement. "Come on, eat your dinner."

Zero blinked, his mind still foggy from the deep meditation. "What do you mean, dinner?" he asked, his voice a little hoarse. "It's not even lunch yet."

Soma gave him a look like he'd grown a second head. He pointed with his fork toward the large loft windows. "It's already dark, dumbass," he said. Outside, the sky was a deep indigo, and the magical streetlamps in the city below were beginning to glow.

Zero stood up, a wave of disorientation washing over him. "Whoa," he breathed, walking over to the window. "I... I only felt like I was sensing my energy for a short time."

"Well, you were sitting there completely still, like some kind of meditating monk, for hours," Soma said, taking another bite. "So, about the clone? Can you make more?"

Zero sat down at the table, his stomach suddenly reminding him how much time had actually passed. He took the plate Soma had prepared for him and began to eat, the delicious food grounding him. "Yeah," he said after a moment, a determined look on his face. "I can feel the thread. We'll do this after I'm done eating."

Soma, who had already finished his own meal, picked up his empty plate. "Alright," he said with a grin, heading for the sink. "Let's meet the new recruits."

Soma returned from the kitchen holding a small, brand-new kitchen knife. It was a paring knife, but its blade was wickedly sharp and gleamed under the loft's soft light. He handed it to Zero, handle-first.

"Just use the usual knife," Zero said, reaching for the one he'd used before.

Soma snatched it away. "How dare you," he said with the sternness of a head chef finding mold in his walk-in. "That thing is not hygienic. You've touched it, I've touched it. From now on, if you want to draw your blood for... this," he gestured vaguely, "you use this dedicated, sterile knife."

Zero looked at the tiny, pristine blade. "Okay, okay," he said, taking it. "Shall we do this then... tiny knife?" he whispered to the blade.

"Why are you talking to the knife?" Soma asked, weirded out.

"Mind your own business, man," Zero shot back.

He took a deep breath and drew the sharp blade across his palm. The cut was clean, and the blood welled instantly, deep and crimson. But this time, the process was different. As the first drop hit the floor, it didn't just form one magic circle. It split, dividing itself like a sentient thing into two separate pools of light on the floor. The blood from Zero's hand didn't just drip; it flowed, pulled by an unseen force, feeding both burgeoning circles simultaneously. The drain was immense, far greater than before.

"What the—enough, man!" Soma said, seeing the constant stream of blood leaving Zero's hand. "You're going to lose too much!"

Zero held up his other hand, a clear gesture that he could keep going, though his face was visibly paling. The two pools of blood on the floor swirled and grew, rising into humanoid shapes with a speed that was both terrifying and magnificent.

Then, as quickly as it started, it stopped. The flow of blood ceased, and the cut on Zero's palm sealed itself shut. Before him stood two new clones, identical to him in every way, naked and blinking in the light.

Zero swayed on his feet. "Fuck," he gasped, a wave of dizziness washing over him. "That took the wind out of me."

"No shit," Soma said, rushing to steady him. "It looks like it took more than just the wind."

The two new clones stood silently for a moment, crossing their arms in perfect sync. Then, one of them let out a deep, booming laugh. "Hahahahaha! Now we can replace the original!"

The other clone immediately mimicked the laugh, a sinister grin spreading across his face. "Yes! The era of the clones is at hand!"

Zero and Soma's faces went pale with genuine fear.

Then the two new clones burst into identical, uproarious laughter. "Ahahahaha! Look at your faces!" the first one wheezed. "We're good, man! We're on your side!"

"Can we get some clothes now, though?" the second one added. "It's a bit uncomfortable with two identical dicks swinging around in the same room."

They all laughed, the tension breaking instantly. "No need for clothes," Zero said, regaining his composure. "You'll be absorbing your cards directly."

He walked over and fanned the three new character cards out like a poker hand. "You guys pick."

The first clone, the one with the booming laugh, stepped forward and decisively pointed at the card depicting the stern, blond commander. "I'll take Erwin," he said, his voice already sounding more commanding.

The second clone, who seemed a bit more reserved, looked over the remaining two cards. His eyes settled on the dignified, powerful butler. "Let me get that battle butler," he said, his voice taking on a quiet, respectful tone.

Zero nodded, holding out the two cards. "Alright. Let's get this done."

The two clones stepped forward. The first took the Erwin Smith card, the second took the Sebas Tian card. They held them for a moment, then, as if by instinct, pressed the cards to their foreheads.

The moment the cards made contact, both clones were engulfed in shimmering, golden light. It wasn't the quick puff of dust from the energy cards; this was a powerful, transformative radiance that filled the entire loft, forcing Zero and Soma to shield their eyes.

The first clone, the one holding the Erwin card, began to change dramatically. The light seemed to stretch him, pulling him upwards. He grew taller, his frame broadening at the shoulders, until he stood at a commanding 188 centimeters. His long black hair shortened and bleached into a neat, military-style blond parting. 

His features sharpened, his jaw setting into a line of resolute authority. When his eyes opened, they were no longer Zero's dark, cautious eyes, but a pair of piercing, intensely blue orbs that seemed to see past the walls of the room and into some distant, strategic horizon. 

The light around him solidified, weaving itself into the tough, brown leather of intricate straps and harnesses, the crisp white of a collared shirt, and finally, the heavy, dark green wool of a hooded cloak bearing the crest of the Wings of Freedom. He stood not as a clone, but as a commander, his very presence radiating an aura of unshakeable will and the heavy burden of leadership.

Meanwhile, the second clone's transformation was one of quiet, dignified refinement. He didn't grow taller; in fact, he seemed to shrink slightly, settling at a still-imposing 179 centimeters. The light softened his features, aging them with a grace that spoke of immense experience. 

His black hair turned a pristine, snowy white, shortening and settling into an impeccably neat style. A short, perfectly trimmed white beard and mustache materialized on his strong jawline. The light around him didn't form into rugged leather, but into the flawless, deep black fabric of a butler's tailcoat, a pristine white shirt, a simple black tie, and immaculate white gloves that covered his hands. 

When the light faded, he stood with a ramrod-straight posture, his hands clasped respectfully before him. He was the very picture of a perfect, dignified servant, yet beneath the surface, there was a palpable sense of immense, coiled power, like a dragon resting in human form.

Zero slowly regained his color, the dizziness from the massive energy drain finally subsiding. He looked at the two new, fully formed figures standing before him, one a stoic commander, the other a dignified butler. "So," he said, his voice a little weak but steady, "how do you guys feel?"

The first clone, now inhabiting the form of Erwin Smith, looked down at his gloved hands, then at the unfamiliar weight of the cloak on his shoulders. "I feel... good," he stated, his voice calm and resonant, laced with a natural authority that was entirely new. "It feels like... me."

Soma, ever the instigator, grinned and clapped the tall, blond commander on the shoulder. "Of course you do! Welcome to Aetherion, little brother."

Erwin's piercing blue eyes turned to Soma, his expression unamused. "Why am I your 'little brother'?" he asked, his tone rigid.

"I came before you, of course," Soma said with a proud puff of his chest. "That makes me the big brother."

Erwin took a half-step forward, and the atmosphere in the room subtly shifted. His commanding aura, a trait that came with the card, washed over them. "Your card depicts a teenager, does it not?" he asked, his voice calm but carrying an immense, unspoken weight. "And my form is that of a grown man, a commander. Therefore, am I not correct, in a timeline-wise sense, that you would be the younger of us?"

Soma was about to retort, but Erwin's gaze was too much. It was the look of a man who had sent hundreds to their deaths for a cause, a look that tolerated no dissent. Soma, for the first time, found himself completely outmatched and relented. "...Okay, fine," he grumbled. "You're the big brother."

Erwin gave a single, dignified nod. "Thank you."

Zero let out a small chuckle at the exchange, then turned his attention to the second clone. "How about you? Did you feel anything strange?"

The clone in the butler suit stood with perfect posture, his hands clasped before him. "I also feel quite well, Master Zero," he said, his voice a smooth, respectful baritone.

Zero, Soma, and Erwin all turned their heads to look at him.

"What was that?" Soma asked, pointing a finger at him. "Why did you call him 'Master Zero'?"

The butler clone gave a serene, polite smile. "I do not know," he replied. "I suppose it just comes with the card, Young Master Soma."

"What?! Why am I 'Young Master'?!" Soma yelped, completely bewildered by his new title.

"Anyway," Zero cut in, trying to get things back on track. "So all of you feel fine? No discomfort?"

"We are good," Erwin confirmed with a nod.

"Good, then," Zero said, relieved.

The butler clone then performed a perfect, elegant bow toward Zero. "If I may be so bold, Master," he said, "I would like to be called Sebas from now on."

"Alright then, Sebas it is," Zero agreed.

Erwin stepped forward as well. "Me too," he stated simply. "I will use the name Erwin Smith."

Sebas turned to the commander and gave another slight, respectful bow. "It is good that we are of the same mind, Young Master Erwin."

Soma burst out laughing, pointing a finger at the stoic commander. "Hah! You're also a 'Young Master'! Ahahahaha!"

Erwin's hand shot out in a blur, delivering a light, but firm, karate chop to the top of Soma's head.

"Owww!" Soma yelped, rubbing the spot as Erwin retracted his hand without changing his stern expression. The pecking order had been firmly established.

Zero laughed, the tension from the Gacha pulls finally breaking. He looked down at the last card in his hand, the one that had caused him so much grief: the tiny, bespectacled face of Conan Edogawa. He looked at the card, then at the tall, commanding form of Erwin Smith. Then back at the card. A wild, reckless spark of an idea ignited in his mind.

"Erwin," Zero said, his voice deceptively casual. "Come here for a second."

Erwin, ever the dutiful subordinate now, walked over to Zero. "What do you need?" he asked, his piercing blue eyes focused.

In a sudden, impulsive movement, Zero reached up and pressed the Conan Edogawa card flat against Erwin's forehead.

The reaction was instantaneous and violent. The card didn't just absorb; it seemed to burn its way into Erwin's skin. A blinding light flared, and Erwin let out a choked, guttural cry, dropping to his knees. He clutched at his throat, his body convulsing as if an invisible fire was raging through his veins.

"What the fuck?!" Soma yelled, stumbling back.

Before anyone could react, Erwin lunged forward with a desperate, animalistic snarl, sinking his teeth hard into Zero's outstretched arm.

Zero cried out in shock and pain. Sebas, moving with a speed that defied his dignified appearance, instantly grabbed Erwin by the collar of his uniform and yanked him back, dragging him away from Zero. But it was too late. Erwin had already drawn blood, a warm trickle of it already flowing into his mouth.

The moment the Archdemon blood went down Erwin's throat, the transformation accelerated. The light engulfing him became blinding. Sebas, still holding him firmly by the collar, felt the body he was holding begin to shrink, the commander's uniform melting away into light.

When the radiance finally faded, Sebas was left holding up the collar of a tiny blue blazer. Dangling from it, his feet several inches off the floor, was the small, seven-year-old form of Conan Edogawa.

The child looked up at the butler holding him, his expression not one of fear or confusion, but of cold, incandescent fury. "Put me down, Sebas," he commanded, his voice small but carrying the unmistakable, commanding aura of Erwin Smith.

Sebas, ever obedient, immediately released him.

The tiny detective landed softly on his feet, adjusted his oversized red bowtie, and fixed his gaze on Zero. "You're reckless," he snapped, his child's voice ringing with the authority of a general berating a foolish recruit. "You still do not understand the fundamental mechanics of your own power, and yet you dare to experiment without knowledge or foresight."

Soma and Zero could only stare, their minds reeling. The sheer force of personality, the commanding aura of the Survey Corps Commander, was emanating from a boy who barely came up to their knees. It was the weirdest, most unsettling feeling they had ever experienced.

"From now on," Erwin continued, his small hands clenched into fists, "we do nothing without systematic knowledge beforehand. No more reckless Gacha pulls, no more impulsive fusions. We will proceed with strategy and intelligence. Is that understood?"

Sebas, standing behind the child, immediately bowed. "I agree completely with Young Master Erwin's assessment," he said, his loyalty unwavering regardless of his master's form.

Chastised and genuinely intimidated, Zero and Soma both found themselves nodding. "Yes, sir," they said in unison, their voices meek.

Zero, recovering slightly, knelt down to be at eye level with the child. "Can... can you turn back into Erwin?"

The child closed his eyes. His small form dissolved, not into light, but into a swirling, coiling pool of blood on the floor, which then rapidly rose and reformed itself back into the tall, imposing figure of Erwin Smith.

"Cool!" Soma immediately exclaimed. "Can you give me the next character card? I want to change form like that!"

Erwin turned his piercing commander's gaze on him. "Did I not just say," he stated, his tone leaving no room for argument, "that there will be no more reckless experiments until we understand the principles at play?"

Soma snapped to attention, giving a crisp salute. "Yes, sir!"

Erwin nodded once, then turned and walked into the bedroom. He emerged a moment later, having put on a simple, dark travel jacket over his uniform. "I am going to the Royal Library," he announced to the room. "I will endeavor to understand everything I can about this world, its history, its magic, and any texts that might pertain to abilities like ours. Until I return, do not do anything reckless."

He walked toward the door. Sebas gave a slight, respectful bow. "Have a safe journey, Young Master Erwin."

Erwin gave a final nod, then stepped out of the loft, leaving a shocked and thoroughly chastised Zero and Soma in his wake. A new leader had just taken command of their strange little family.