Middle of Kuoh Forest
3rd Person Perspective
"Valina… huh?" Ygnisia muttered softly, her golden eyes narrowing with mild interest. "Well, I already had a rough guess about your name, but that'll do."
Her gaze slowly swept across the gathered group.
"So you were planning to train before I arrived…"
The dragon woman crossed her arms beneath her chest, her expression calm yet faintly mocking.
"The next-generation Sun Wukong, a pair carrying Pendragon blood, and a Nekomata Devil."
A small scoff escaped her lips.
"It's not a terrible lineup. But the difference in strength between each individual here is honestly awful. Forget defeating Great Red—do you truly think you can stand against the other pantheons like this? Someone here must have a screw loose."
Bikou frowned slightly while Arthur merely remained silent.
Then Ygnisia's eyes shifted upward.
"Albion," she called lazily. "Do you seriously believe your host and this group can pull this off? You must've gone insane after staying sealed for too long."
"H-Hey! I believe in Valina and everyone here, okay?!" Albion protested loudly from within Valina.
"…Well, maybe I still have a few doubts," the White Dragon admitted grumpily, "but I think we can do it. Especially with me and Valina together."
Then Albion's tone immediately brightened.
"Anyway, Ygnisia! Can your host release me too?! I wanna be free already!"
Ygnisia raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? He can," she replied casually. "But what exactly does my partner gain from helping you?"
A sly smile slowly spread across her face.
"And besides… do you really want to leave your host?"
Valina's body visibly trembled.
For a brief moment, fear flashed across her face.
Albion immediately noticed it.
"No! That's not what I mean!" he shouted quickly. "I don't want to leave Valina!"
His voice softened afterward.
"I just want to help her more."
The atmosphere became quieter.
"That old bastard…" Albion growled. "The man who experimented on her possesses the ability to neutralize Sacred Gear powers. If Valina fights him while I'm still sealed like this, my power could be completely suppressed."
Frustration filled his voice.
"But if I'm free… then this power becomes truly mine. And with that, I can help her destroy him."
Valina lowered her head silently.
"And besides…" Albion continued more quietly, "I've come to see Valina as my precious daughter."
The group froze slightly.
"I don't want to separate from her. I just want to support her properly. Since the day she was born, her life has been filled with suffering."
For once, Albion sounded genuinely emotional.
"At the very least… I want to see my child grow up normally."
Even Ygnisia's teasing smile faded a little.
"And if I'm released," Albion continued, "then maybe she won't need to join the Chaos Brigade like they planned."
The White Dragon's voice darkened.
"Because I know how dangerous that organization truly is. Even if Valina is already an exceptional magician, her enemies are monsters. Rizevim especially…"
Albion growled lowly.
"That old dog has far too many dirty tricks."
Ygnisia slowly nodded.
"Those words aren't wrong," she admitted. "Rizevim is indeed troublesome. Even in my partner's memories, he's someone difficult to kill permanently."
Then her smile returned.
"My partner would probably help you for free after hearing all that. He's too kind for his own good."
Her golden eyes narrowed sharply.
"But I'm not him."
A dangerous pressure spread through the clearing.
"I won't let people take advantage of his kindness."
Then she smirked.
"So tell me, Albion… what exactly can you offer in return?"
Before Albion could answer—
The atmosphere suddenly changed.
Everyone's instincts screamed simultaneously.
Arthur's hand instantly moved toward Excalibur.
Bikou crouched low.
Kuroka's tail puffed up.
Even Valina's expression stiffened.
The air distorted violently.
Then—
Space itself split apart.
A massive portal tore open in the middle of the forest.
An overwhelming aura leaked out from within.
Ygnisia immediately relaxed.
"Oh," she muttered casually. "It's just him."
Footsteps echoed from inside the portal.
A tall masked man stepped out calmly, long white hair swaying slightly behind him. Beside him walked Asia Argento, who looked around nervously while holding onto his sleeve.
The moment the mysterious man arrived—
The pressure dominating the forest vanished completely.
"Yo," Jay greeted casually beneath the mask. "Looks like I came at the right time."
Nobody answered immediately.
Because despite his relaxed tone—
Every instinct in their bodies screamed danger.
Not hostility.
Just… overwhelming existence.
Ygnisia lazily pointed toward Valina.
"We were discussing payment for releasing Albion."
Jay immediately sighed.
"…Seriously?"
He looked toward Valina for a moment before shaking his head.
To think even Vali and Albion Get genderbent shit author you're fucking dogshit who's brain in the dick!
"That's not really a big deal."
Ygnisia clicked her tongue.
"You're too soft."
Jay ignored her completely.
"You don't need to pay me anything," he said calmly. "If possible, just help me out in the future once everything settles down."
Valina blinked slightly.
"…Help you?"
Jay nodded.
"I still can't leave my mom alone with only Ygnisia around."
"Oi," Ygnisia protested instantly.
"Even if I'm much stronger now," Jay continued casually, "I still don't fully feel safe leaving her unprotected. So if you guys can lend me a hand once in a while later on, that's enough payment for me."
"Of course, Albion can refuse."
Silence filled the clearing.
Then Albion suddenly laughed loudly.
"Hahahaha! You really are a weird guy!"
The dragon's voice carried genuine amusement.
"Fine! I'll take that deal!"
Jay simply shrugged.
"Cool."
No chant.
No magic circle.
No preparation.
Jay merely raised one hand—
—and snapped his fingers.
Crack.
The world itself seemed to tremble.
A massive silver light erupted around Valina's body.
Everyone widened their eyes.
Because the seal binding Albion…
…was being dismantled instantly.
Like fragile threads unraveling before an overwhelming force.
Valina gasped softly as immense draconic power overflowed from her body.
A gigantic white dragon silhouette manifested behind her for a brief moment before shattering into countless particles of light.
Then—
Silver light slowly gathered beside Valina.
Taking shape.
Forming.
Until eventually—
A woman appeared.
Long silver hair flowed gracefully down her back like moonlight itself. Elegant violet eyes carried both gentleness and maturity, while a white-and-silver outfit resembling a fantasy military uniform wrapped around her figure beautifully.
Her appearance strongly resembled Roseweisse from Shut Up, Evil Dragon.
The forest fell silent.
"…I'm finally free," Albion whispered softly.
Valina stared blankly.
Then without hesitation—
Albion immediately pulled the girl into a warm embrace.
"There, there," she said gently while patting Valina's head. "You've done well all this time."
Valina froze completely before slowly clutching Albion's clothes.
"…Welcome back," she whispered quietly.
Jay watched the scene silently before clapping his hands once.
"Alright. Emotional reunion later. Ah Valina right? you can still use divine dividing even "albion" separated from you do not need to worry, so lets go to the main point"
Everyone looked toward him.
"I wan't borrowing your group for a while."
"Hah?" Bikou frowned.
Jay pointed behind him casually.
"There's a place where everyone's training right now. I want you guys to come too."
Arthur narrowed his eyes.
"For what purpose?"
Jay's masked face turned toward him.
"Sparring."
The atmosphere immediately shifted.
Bikou grinned excitedly.
But then Jay's attention moved toward Kuroka.
"And you're coming too."
Kuroka blinked.
"Nyaa? Me?"
"Yes. You."
Jay crossed his arms.
"You need to fix things with Shirone eventually."
Kuroka's playful smile weakened slightly.
"…Nyaa…"
His tone softened a little afterward.
"You can't keep running forever."
Silence.
Then Kuroka sighed dramatically.
"Fufufu~ fine, fine. You're way too pushy."
Jay nodded in satisfaction.
In the end, only the girls agreed to come.
Valina.
Le Fay.
Kuroka.
And Albion.
Arthur and Bikou stayed behind.
"We'll skip for now," Arthur said calmly.
"Yeah," Bikou added with a grin. "I ain't walking blindly into some weird training camp."
Jay chuckled softly beneath the mask.
"Fair enough."
Then another portal opened behind him.
Beyond it—
A massive castle could vaguely be seen in the distance.
Le Fay widened her eyes.
"…A castle?"
Jay merely smirked beneath the mask.
"Welcome to the paradise (Hell)"
And one by one—
They stepped through the portal together.
A/N
So, in this AU, Valina's goal is infiltrating the Chaos Brigade rather than simply searching for strong opponents. I think it fits her character better here, especially considering the gender change and different emotional background.
Though of course… she still still looks forward to fighting powerful enemies eventually.