History Compilation Committee of Japan, Tokyo Branch—
Sayanomiya Kaoru stared at the report in her hands, her expression blank save for the slight trembling of her fingers betraying her inner turmoil. Before her desk, subordinates stood frozen, cold sweat dripping as undisguised fear flickered in their eyes.
"The Kyoto casualties surpass even Tokyo's previous disaster—over 200,000 dead, with more than half the ancient cultural structures destroyed. The property losses are incalculable."
Slumping into her chair, Sayanomiya needed only read the documents to visualize the horrific tragedy that had unfolded in Kyoto—though the catastrophe had struck the Kansai region rather than Kanto.
"Director Sayanomiya, the human casualties are secondary this time. As the city preserving Japan's richest architectural heritage, losing these structures means losing truly priceless treasures. Reconstruction costs are estimated to exceed trillions of yen..."
"...The silver lining is that similar to international donations after Notre-Dame de Paris burned, our government has classified Kyoto's disaster as an unprecedented mega-earthquake. Foreign governments and civilians have begun spontaneous relief contributions."
The Tokyo branch staff delivered their report in one breath.
"The Kusonoki family... If only their ancestors hadn't cooperated with Susanoo to seal the Great Sage Equal to Heaven in Kyoto's Western Heavenly Palace! Japan would never have suffered this calamity. With the seal broken, the Kusonoki lineage's purpose has ended. We must confiscate their entire fortune as reparations... And Takemikazuchi—"
Sayanomiya practically spat the name of Japan's most celebrated deity through gritted teeth. During Tokyo's crisis, she'd followed this ancient Heretic God's counsel, resulting in chaos. Now half of Kyoto lay in ruins—again, by that god's doing.
"Heretic Gods live up to their name—they offer humanity no aid, only civilization's destruction!"
As for Roy and Luo Hao—the two mightiest Campiones of this era—Sayanomiya dared not voice a single complaint. She reserved all her fury for Susanoo alone.
Though she appeared to be gnashing her teeth in frustration, Sayanomiya Kaoru was secretly laughing inside. After this incident, the entire mystical faction of the Kansai region in Japan would be left in shambles. The leaders of these factions, the Kusonoki family, were certainly finished. There would be no chance for Kansai to rise again in the short term, leaving the magicians of the Kanto region to dominate unchallenged.
The losses in Kyoto were indeed heartbreaking, but for the countless civilians who had perished, Sayanomiya Kaoru could do little more than sigh in passing. Such was politics—sacrificing two hundred thousand lives for the sake of greater interests was nothing extraordinary.
"Everyone, let's work a little harder and put in some overtime for the post-disaster relief efforts."
...
While the world broadcasted news of yet another devastating earthquake in Japan's Kansai region, mourning the countless casualties and offering condolences and financial aid, Roy had already returned to his villa in Rome, Italy.
Crack—
With the sound of shattering crystal and metal, Roy's Spiritual Foundation Ascension ritual was complete.
The materials used for this ritual were nothing particularly rare. Many magical techniques in the world of A Certain Magical Index didn't require special ingredients like the fur of ancient mythical creatures—even some modern items could activate angelic-level spells.
For the magic of that world, the most crucial element was the knowledge required for the ritual, not the physical materials. Compared to material components, knowledge was the true priceless treasure. Focusing too much on materials while neglecting knowledge would be putting the cart before the horse.
"The ritual was executed flawlessly. With the experience from Metatron's Spiritual Foundation last time, there were no issues this time. It can now be recorded as a mature and complete spell."
Behind Roy, Aiwass manifested her ethereal form, her voice as distant and otherworldly as a whisper from the heavens.
"Then record it. Though this ritual loses most of its utility outside the Campione world, the knowledge embedded within it is genuine."
Roy sat at a mahogany desk, meticulously transcribing the complete Spiritual Foundation Ascension ritual into a grimoire with a quill.
While the ritual might be ineffective in other worlds, within the Campione universe, it was a mystery on par with Pandora's Circle of Usurpation. Combining this Spiritual Foundation Ascension with Pandora's Circle of Usurpation would multiply the power of a Campione, pushing them to their absolute limits.
At that point, no Heretic God would stand a chance against a Campione.
"Except for the Last King. Even with this ritual fully completed, it would still be impossible to defeat the Last King, who possesses the Oath of the Great Covenant... But since this ritual works on Campiones, perhaps it can be modified further to apply to Heretic Gods. If I once boasted of restoring Asherah to her Earth Mother Goddess status, then using this ritual to usurp the divine authority and divinity of other Steel Gods might actually make it possible to restore the glory of the Earth Mother Goddesses."
Roy leaned back in his chair, resting the quill against his chin, his eyes narrowing slightly as he pondered how to further refine the ritual.
This time, he did not intend to rely on Aiwass but instead planned to complete the modification of the ritual himself. It was akin to a student mastering knowledge and applying it—only by doing so could Roy deepen his comprehension of knowledge and wisdom.
Having intercepted the Spirit Origin of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven and undergone another Spirit Origin Ascension, Roy underwent yet another transformation. His total amount of magical power alone had already surpassed three times that of an ordinary Campione. Sun Wukong's Divine Speed also underwent a chemical reaction with Roy's Lord of the Light during this Spirit Origin Ascension, finally allowing his Godspeed authority to evolve. It was no longer bound by time constraints but could now be sustained through the consumption of magical power.
If that were all, he would merely be on par with the Black Prince—able to activate divine speed at will, but prolonged use would cause physical strain. However, the Indestructible Golden Body usurped from the Great Sage Equal to Heaven ensured Roy's body no longer feared the side effects of Godspeed.
"Just like the 'Holy Son,'" Roy remarked. Now, he no longer needed to assume an angelic form to achieve divine speed. The perfect fusion of Lord of the Light and Indestructible Golden Body had brought about a qualitative transformation in Roy's body and authorities.
"My body now should be called the 'Body of the Holy Son.' The miracles of Christianity have begun to manifest within me."
Roy felt a surge of excitement. He had already laid the foundation for "all the miracles of Christianity." As long as he continued to develop and evolve in this manner, one day he would accomplish "all the miracles of Christianity," and by then, his Holy Right would undoubtedly reach its complete form.
"That will also be the day I attain the rank of a 'Godslayer'!"
Roy took a deep breath, suppressing the exhilaration in his heart.
What humans fear most is a path ahead shrouded in thorns and mist, where no matter how hard they strive, they cannot glimpse the light—such a prospect saps the will to press forward.
But Roy's path was clear and unobstructed. As long as he followed his established plan, he would inevitably reach that supreme rank.
However, Roy failed to notice that when he spoke of modifying the ritual to restore the Earth Goddesses to their former glory, Athena, seated on the sofa, was staring intently at him. Her eyes, like stars shimmering in the night sky, gleamed with dazzling radiance.
'What is happening to me...'
The Goddess of Wisdom pressed a hand to her chest, feeling her body burn with a heat that quickened her heartbeat. She realized her gaze lingered more and more on this Demon King. His unparalleled wisdom was captivating the heart of the Goddess of Wisdom, ensnaring her beyond escape.
This man—this human—was altering the fate of all Earth Goddesses, a fate even she, the Goddess of Wisdom, had once despaired over.
***
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