"So this is what it feels like to be a Magic God?"
Rei Ao glanced at his hand. Beyond the surface, he could see countless "rule-lines" comprising his very existence.
"Infinite power, infinite perspective and infinite solitude."
He gave the briefest wave of his hand, and Aleister's carefully arranged seven-layer seals crumbled like foam. All the Windowless Building's defensive spells collapsed at that same moment. The entire structure groaned under unbearable strain.
Outside the Windowless Building:
"What is going on?"
A young woman stared in shock at the tower-like structure undergoing bizarre changes.
Within, Rei Ao's gaze pierced the walls to behold the entire Academy Citythen the entire continent, then the entire Earth. His field of vision kept expanding, encompassing the entire universe.
And that still wasn't his limithe could sense even more if he wanted.
"How small it all is," Rei Ao muttered. From a Magic God's perspective, what once were formidable enemies now seemed like specks of dust. Aleister's plans, Academy City's darkness, the magic side's plots All of it looked utterly trivial.
But Rei Ao didn't indulge in the thrill of this newfound power. He keenly perceived his first post-ascension crisisassimilation. The boundless power threatened to erode his sense of self. Every second, fragments of "Rei Ao" got washed away by the surge of Magic God energya kind of "divine nature."
[Ding!]
[The chat group has detected the "Magic God" status attempting to assimilate your exalted body. Adjusting your status!]
When Rei Ao opened his eyes again, they no longer held that purely godlike detachment.
"The chat group, always so reliable," he remarked. Glancing at his body, he noted it had returned to a more normal appearance, though the Magic God power still remained, unshackled by divine rank. He liked this sense of lightness.
"Aleister."
His voice resonated in Aleister's mind directly.
"Now we can continue our discussion."
Suspended upside-down in his life-support chamber, Aleister stayed silent for a long time. Finally, in a cautious tone he had never used before, he answered:
"What do you want, Magic God?"
Rei Ao gave a slight smile. That simple expression caused the space's rules to tremble.
"A lot of things, but first"
He lifted his hand, a mass of dark-red energy forming at his fingertips.
"I need you to understand one factfrom now on, the rules of this world are mine to define."
The energy spread wordlessly, and in a split second, it covered the entire chamber. Aleister watched in horror as all the magical spells reconfigured themselves under some higher-level logic. This wasn't mere destructionit was a far more terrifying remodeling.
"Welcome to" Rei Ao's voice took on a playful lilt.
"The Magic God's playground."
~~~
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Chapter 684: It's easier to Forgive than to Hate...
On the other side
"Somy memories"
Index's voice trembled so much it was barely audible.
"Every year, I lose a chunk of my memory and it's because of you all?"
Kanzaki Kaori stood before her, fists tightly clenched, nails digging into her palms. This usually valiant female Saint now looked like a scolded child who didn't dare meet Index's eyes.
After revealing the truth to Index, every second felt like agony gnawing at her heart.
"Yes."
Kanzaki's voice was low and hoarse.
Silence descended over the space.
Kuroko's eyes were wide in disbelief. Shokuhou Misaki's mouth curved in a mocking smirk, while Mikoto simply frowned. But all attention was on the small nun in front of them.
Index's shoulders began to quake, at first slightly, then more and more violently. She lifted her head, tears pooling in her jade-green eyes.
"Whywouldn't you tell me?"
Her voice cracked.
"I trusted you. I trusted the Church. I trustedGod"
Each of her words stabbed Kanzaki's heart like a knife. Kanzaki recalled scenes from their pastIndex was once so innocent, praying wholeheartedly, trusting the Church unconditionallyand she had personally erased that purity.
"The Archbishop said it was allfor your sake"
Kanzaki forced the words out, every syllable burning her throat.
"Ha?"
Shokuhou let out a sharp, scornful laugh.
"What a lofty excuse. You magicians are even more foolish than I thought."
Kuroko said nothing, but the disapproval in her eyes was clear. Mikoto lightly tugged at Shokuhou's sleeve, signaling her not to provoke Kanzaki any further.
Index seemed not to hear the comments around her. She stared into space, silent tears sliding down her cheeks.
"All those memories I cherished, all the doctrines I struggled to remember, every prayer, every smile"
Her voice grew softer and softer.
"Were theyall a lie?"
Kanzaki couldn't endure it anymore. She dropped to her knees in front of Index, her forehead nearly touching the ground.
"I'm sorry!"
Her voice brimmed with unprecedented anguish.
"I know an apology won't change anything, but I'm soso sorry!"
"I thoughtI was protecting you."
Her voice choked up.
"But now I understand I was only hurting you."
Index slowly raised her hand, gently pressing a finger to her temple, as if checking whether her memories were still there.
"Every time I woke up, there was always this strange emptiness inside"
She murmured. "Now I finally know why."
Kanzaki looked up, and saw the light in Index's eyes fading awaythe collapse of faith. As a once-devout believer, Kanzaki knew better than anyone how agonizing that feeling was.
"I'm not asking you to forgive me."
Still on her knees, Kanzaki straightened her back.
"But I want to tell you the truth, all of it."
She took a deep breath, deciding to hold nothing back.
"Today, we were supposed to carry out the memory erasure again. If not for them interfering"
She glanced at Mikoto and the others. Mikoto folded her arms.
"Hmph, if I see that kind of situation, I'm not going to stand by and watch someone die."
Kuroko's face was equally grim.
"The way you acted, you looked like murderers bullying someone weaker. If I could've beaten you, I would've arrested you on the spot."
"Heh."
Shokuhou snorted coldly.
"I only got dragged into this mess because of these two idiots."
Kanzaki didn't argue. She bore every accusation because they were all true. She turned her remorseful gaze to Index. She was trembling with the pain of being deceived and the anger at her own complicity.
"I'll return to the Anglican Churchface the Archbishop personally."
Hearing that, Shokuhou sneered.
"Oh? Then whatyour so-called 'benevolent' Archbishop cleans you up?"
"I don't care."
Kanzaki's tone was firm.
"I'm one of the Saints. At least I can force her to give me some answers."
Mikoto frowned and quickly stopped her.
"Wait. If you leave now, what about him?"
She gestured toward Stiyl, who'd been frozen in time by Rei Ao.
Kanzaki froze for a momentshe'd almost forgotten about her partner, who was stuck motionless thanks to Rei Ao's power. Despite his obstinate nature, he was still her comrade; she couldn't abandon him.
"I suggest waiting for Rei Ao to come back before deciding anything," Mikoto proposed. "After all, he's the one who froze himhe should know how to undo it."
Kanzaki hesitated, then eventually nodded. She turned to Index and saw the little nun regarding her with a complex expressionpain, confusionbut oddly, no hatred.
"Index"
A long pause followed, so long that Kanzaki thought Index might never speak again. But finally, she did:
"I forgive you."
Those four words struck Kanzaki's heart like thunder. She looked up in disbelief.
"What?"
"I said, I forgive you."
Index repeated, quietly but firmly.
"Because I understand how much you're hurting, too."
Tears burst from Kanzaki's eyes at last. Never had she expected forgivenessespecially not from her own victim.
"You don't have to"
She choked out.
"I know."
Index gave a small smile, tears still glistening.
"But it's a lot easier than hating you."
She gazed at the moonlit night outside the window, seeking a measure of calm.
Kanzaki could hold herself back no longer. She lunged forward, hugging Index tightly, sobbing like a child.
"I'm sorry I'm so sorry"
Index gently patted Kanzaki's back with her small hand, like comforting a child who'd had a nightmare. The victim was now consoling the perpetratoran absurd yet deeply moving scene.
~~~
Didn't upload yesterday. My bad! Thank you for the support nonetheless!
Chapter 685: Newly Ascended Magic God! Other Magic God's Reactions.
When Kanzaki finally calmed down, only a few emergency lamps provided dim light in the abandoned factory.
"I'll make up for my mistakes," Kanzaki said, wiping her tears and speaking with solemn resolve.
"No matter the cost."
Index shook her head.
"You don't owe me anything. However"
She hesitated, then pointed sternly at Kanzaki Kaori.
"If you really have to do something please make sure no one else has to go through the pain I did."
Kanzaki nodded firmly.
"I swear on my sword."
Shokuhou Misaki watched the scene andunusuallydid not offer any sarcastic remarks. She leaned over to Mikoto and whispered, "That little nun is stronger than any of us imagined."
Mikoto nodded in agreement.
"For her faith to collapse like this and still remain so kind it's unbelievable."
Kuroko glanced at her watch.
"It's so late already. Is that guy even coming back?"
She was referring to Rei Ao.
"I'm not sure. Let's wait," Mikoto replied, shaking her head. She could try asking Rei Ao in the chat group, but if he was in the middle of something, she didn't want to disturb him.
Meanwhile, contrary to Mikoto's worries, Rei Ao was quite at ease. If this world's notion of "peak human" existed, he was well beyond itexisting in the lofty realm of a "Magic God," and even beyond a typical Magic God's measure of power.
Standing at the pinnacle of the world, he was free. So at this point, Aleister and Aiwass were nothing but small fry easily molded by him.
Elsewhere, in the Anglican Church
Steam tinted faintly gold by the braziers filled a certain lavish bath. Twelve Venetian mirrors reflected the figure in the center of the tub in a thousand captivating angles. A blond woman soaked in milky-white liquid sprinkled with Bulgarian rose petals. Beside the gilded tub rested half a glass of 1937 sherry. She hummed a tune from The Magic Flute, slicing open a pomegranate with a silver knife inlaid with rubies. Its scarlet juice dripped down her snowy wrist into the water.
Perhaps only one person in the Church was free enough to enjoy such luxuryArchbishop Laura Stuart.
Laura's emerald eyes narrowed. Ice flowers suddenly crystallized across the water's surface as she sensed a top-level lock shatter. The collar imprisoning the 103,000 grimoires was dissolving around Index's neck like melting chocolate.
Blood seeped from the mouths of the twelve angel statues around the bath, staining the rose-water an eerie pink. Realizing what had happened, Laura lifted the floating silk robe with her toes, gazing at the slight curve of her lips in the mirrora perfect smile that even the most exacting etiquette tutor would find flawless.
"Seems they've failed."
That "they" were Kanzaki Kaori and Stiyl, whom she personally dispatched. She wasn't surprised they failed. Perhaps they now knew the truth. Anyone who realized the ideology they'd always believed in was a lie would be furiouseven they might come back to question her, the archbishop who deceived them.
She didn't particularly mind. Laura was supremely confident because she was the archbishop.
She didn't take it too seriously. Since Index was at Academy City, she'd move on to the next step of her plan. But at that moment
The starry sky reflected on the water twisted, and a star that shouldn't exist flared brilliantly in the Andromeda quadrant.
A second shockwave was fiercer than expected. The fluid in the tub suddenly reversed gravity, rising before Laura in the shape of a Klein bottle topology. She leapt up, water splashing everywhere as the gilded tub split in two underfoot.
"Phase friction"
Laura's fingers, still wet with rose petals, ran through her hair, which abruptly grew down to her ankles. In her pupils, geometric patterns not belonging to any human flickered, while the Celtic runes on the bathroom tiles all inverted.
When the third wave struck, she heard the sound of the world's barriers shatteringlike someone toppling a glass jar filled with stardust.
"This is"
Rei Ao's ascension to Magic God was disturbing the phasesand he was modifying them. Laura detected the phase changes caused by him, and other Magic Gods could sense his presence too. In their view, he was a newly emerged "Magic God."
Over the Nile, moonlight bent by an unknown power formed a Mbius ring. "Nephthys" was weaving a burial shroud of deathly cloth. She paused her golden loom hammer and looked into the distance. The statue of Bastet the Cat Goddess spat out rainbow sands.
"A newborn child"
The Death Goddess touched her holy scarab to a cosmic model made of those sandy grains. A timeline branched out with an emerald-green sprout. She wrapped her linen robe tighter and walked to the pyramid's skylight, seeing a turquoise flame reassembling constellations in the depths of the galaxy.
In a floating tea-house above Chang'an, "Niang-Niang" stirred the moon's reflection in the tea with Yang Guifei's gold-trimmed bone fan.
"Oh, a joyful event?"
She abruptly crushed the Xie Kiln porcelain in her hand. The tea that fell solidified into ice-like shapes. A dodecahedron spun around, each facet displaying the visage of a different dimension.
"This time, it's not their doing."
In the Seventh Garden of the Underworld, pomegranate trees suddenly withered.
"Proserpina" rose from her onyx throne. The wailing of condemned souls fell silent as her long hair turned into countless serpents.
"A strange scent"
She tasted the drifting remains of a phase. Her scorpion-gold fingernails abruptly lengthened three inches.
"Should I make earrings out of that new 'God'?"
"Chimera," glimpsing the mutation through its myriad bestial eyes, froze in mid-brush of its lion's mane. The eagle head on its left shoulder pecked and shattered the observation crystal. Countless animal specimens in the display hall opened their eyeseach iris reflecting the same azure light.
