Aurora Scroll

The Big Boss.

The imaginary teacher that Viers invented as a white robed version of Organization XIII to the Arcanum Club. He was to be a reasonable excuse for his insane growth rate.

That very same fake figure just had a brawl with the Blood Church’s deity.

Even though Yasterah was only a consciousness in another’s body, the power of above Level 5 had certainly been unleashed during their battle.

The secret was multilayered.

It wasn't a coincidence that the Hermit showed up after the Fool participated in the club meeting. Viers was too busy to join the previous meetings. Her absence made the genre-savvy villain wary. That was why he set up a failsafe before he attended the meeting.

The Fable scored once again.

Arsène, posing as Big Boss, had the home ground advantage. The Velvet Sea contained defensive measures that Viers built up for such eventuality.

The Hallow Soul tier Viers had achieved was indispensable. Izabella-Yasterah that came here was basically a soul projection, doing a soul battle. Viers had gone very far in the soul Path of Power.

Both of those wouldn't be enough, until he used divine mana.

After the Tower of Remorse, Viers collected divine mana from a few places. Some were hidden in secret places or Biome, some resided in divine-tier objects or relics. From soul search and stuff, he broke down inferior or broken divine weapons and the like to gain something he could use.

Either way, Viers extracted some of this divine mana for his use. After all, the enemies he was up against would only have gotten stronger. The Level 6 demon and the Level 6 immortal showed up in the Grandia Campaign, Devil God avatars showed up in the Tower of Remorse raid... He had to be prepared for the future.

With some of that divine mana, he could use the Rank 7 demi-god bull monster core in his position in a limited fashion. Previously, he could only produce an intimidation Arte, Aldebaran Shadow Arte. He could use a real attack now, one that he unleashed against Yasterah.

And then, the clincher, a piece of Banbexi’s power, the Devil God of Night and Space.

Viers’ otherself managed to land a sneak attack to banish Yasterah’s invasion.

“We lost so much of divine mana after the difficulty of collecting them. A pity,” Big Boss shook his head. “But we’re not without gain, partner. What do you think? Does a tiny sliver of a Devil God’s soul make up for the expense?”

“I’m not sure, but we have to find a way to utilize this,” Viers said examining the red soul.

“After purification,” Arsène stressed. “This sliver of Banbexi’s and Yaserah’s power is too dangerous to use as is. I’ll spare the details for now, but the night cloth is eroding me at this moment.”

“...And where can I get a purification strong enough to cleanse two Devil Gods power?” Viers frowned, then a light bulb lit up in his mind.

“Good, you remember.”

“We got to set this up first, to maximize our gain. Then, I’ll give a certain angel-touched saintess a call. Time to collect her debt from Valkut... Man, Rose still thinks Viers is dead, isn't she? Or did the Church already spill the beans? Hope this doesn't get too complicated.”

“Think later!” Arsène growled with frustration. His hand was turning red and melting like it was made of blood. “We gotta seal these things in the thickest safe we’ve got and buried deep like they are radioactive, pronto!”

***

So, Boram is busy with the in-laws, hm? Seems like he got hooked with a pretty significant girl. In a quest to obtain father mountain and mother sea’s approval. That sounds pretty awesome. I’d love to join, but this adventure belongs to him alone. ‘Sides, I got no time.

Viers had weathered the attack from Yasterah. He checked up on the others afterward, including the ones absent from the meeting, such as Boram. He was glad to find out all were fine.

“Excuse me, isn't anyone going to talk about how we just got accosted by a deity!?” Paina said. “Am I the only one who thinks that is messed up!?”

“A surprise to be sure, but I think it’s bound to happen sooner or later,” Farley said calmly.

“Huaaa... Viers-sama is getting involved with the kami, I expected no less. Your master must also be a kami. It’s so incredible! I can't wait to tell Yayoi all these!”

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“A valuable experience,” Clarissa was circulating her Victa, creating gentle wisps of fire around her. “Interesting. I think I’m close to an epiphany. I need some time to digest this.”

“Hello! The Blood Goddess! Just showed up on our door!? A mythical figure from the legends!? Am I the strange one for freaking out, or am I the only sane one around here!?”

“Calm Emotion.” Ciel gave Paina a healing Arte then Jessica consoled her with a motherly approach.

Their bodies and souls were fine but the aftershock of the incident left some mark on them all.

Deities and gods, huh? Perhaps Sakuya got a point. Things are moving fast. Is this just a natural cause and effect based on my previous actions, or does the dawn of the Age of Heroes have something to do with it? Either way...

“What are you thinking, Lord Viers?” Farley asked.

“I guess it won't hurt to have more contingencies,” Viers replied.

Farley looked at him for a while, as if trying to read his mind from his expression.

“Where?”

To Viers’ surprise, Farley did pick up something. Impressive.

“Zetel and Harkelan. After I finish my obligation to the Latias Prince.”

“Do you need us?”

“Probably not. I got six Level 5s as my hands and feet. You and the little ones can grow safely in the academy. No need to attract undue attention.”

“Gwen and the others don't like being called little ones anymore. They are almost fourteen now,” Farley chuckled.

“Ah, teenage years. The bitter and sweet time of schooldays... Take care of them, Farley.”

“Of course, Lord Viers. And if you need my spear, I’ll drop everything and come to your aid.”

“I’d like to think I’m prepared enough so it never comes to that, but thanks anyway.”

The two looked at their groups of misfits and their antics. Of Level 4s and Level 5. Of Latias nobility and mavericks. Of untold riches and home in the void sea. Of elementals and unique bloodlines. Of bright hopes and daring dreams.

“All those years ago, when we were as old as Gwen and the others in Luxore town. When I roped you in with my family’s cult business, I never thought we'd end up here,” Farley said, reminiscing about the past.

“And that is why you’re the Magician. The number one after zero. The beginning,” Viers smiled.

Farley gave him a sideways look. She had thoughts, but her lips remained closed.

Viers pulled the Hermit card. Unlike the other card with colors, this one had turned gray.

“My connection to Izabella has been severed. Not surprising, since I pretty much burned the bridge with the Blood Church,” Viers said while looking at the picture of Izabella in the hermit outfit. She still had her iconic witch hat in the tarot picture.

I tried to sow discord between Yasterah and Banbexi since I clearly use a lot of the latter’s abilities but who knows if she bought it.

“Did Hermit do this voluntarily, or was she forced to and needed help?” Farley asked.

Not even Viers knew. Izabella was in a difficult position. It wasn't her fault that a goddess commandeered her body. Now she was like a spy that wasn't trusted by both sides. Quite a pitiable circumstance.

“I have no time or resources to spend to aid her,” Viers said decisively.

If Viers was a hero, when a woman he knew was in trouble, the hero would mount a daring rescue. If it was a harem Fable, it went doubly so.

Alas, Viers was not a hero or a harem king.

“Iz’s soul contracts, Geass, and everything else is still intact. She can't compromise us. If the devil god personally unravels it, then perhaps, but I don't think a devil god can work overtly in the real world. She has already been pushing it. There must be a price she had to pay or else the world would have been Divine-tier demons and extraterrestrials’ playground long ago.”

Viers looked to the sky, with a slight helpless look. “I suppose someone as weak as me had no choice but to let her stew in whatever pot she was being boiled in. What a cold-hearted bastard I am. What a joke.”

“If you could save her, you would. If you could without paying a disastrous price, you would,” Farley said something that was like a question and also not at the same time.

“...Aye.”

“Then that is enough to reassure me. So, back to the grind for you, is it? So these beings can't threaten you anymore, or you have to be at the mercy of their whims... or have someone you even slightly care about taken from you.”

Viers snorted. He wasn't sure what words were suitable as a reply here.

“I have faith you can. One day, you’ll stand with them. First, as an equal, and then... whatever you want them to be.”

“Stop your sweettalk, Farley. My nose will get longer from bloated pride.”

“Your ‘Master’ is able to kick the Devil God of Blood and Control’s butt. For Level 5, you have Clarissa’s lamia sacred sanctum. For Level 6, you have Duke Valentine’s secret Biome which key you have received from Ciel. The path forward is clear. Combine these with your meteoric rise of power, which I have seen from a closer vantage point than most.”

Farley paused and let her words sink in.

“Some faith is earned,” Farley said with a bright smile. “You have earned mine.”

Clarissa, Ciel, and Sakuya heard those words, actively eavesdropping or otherwise. Each contemplating it in their hearts.

“Kin! Kin! It’s bad! Super bad thing happened!”

Dia appeared with teleportation. Her space affinity had been upgraded to Space 5 now, on the same height as her Wood 5.

“Report,” Viers said with his commander mentality switched on.

“Dragon prince is traitor! Dia’s confused!”

“Explain!” Viers’ eyes sharpened.

Viers wasn't the only one who was surprised. Ciel was about to ask a question, but her form wavered with static, like a projection with bad signal.

With his soul mastery, Viers picked up that Ciel was being jammed.

“Oh no. Vi-”

Ciel was cut off before the words came through.

...Something big is happening in Latias.