After the sublimation of "Words of Infinite Deception", he would gain access to a domain similar to "God's Words". However, "Void Star: Tai suu" originates from Taoist cosmology, so it is not entirely identical to "God's Words". It can be more accurately described as "words becoming law", and he had already begun to touch the threshold of the pinnacle of humanity.
Although the concept of the "pinnacle of humanity" had long existed, it was the modern magical cabal known as the Golden Dawn, which Aleister Crowley once belonged to, that truly systematized and elevated its meaning.
The emergence of the Golden Dawn almost completely reshaped modern occult theory. It established what is now known as "Golden-style magic", redefining fundamental concepts such as phases, angels, summoning rituals, sacrifices, and the structure of magic itself.
It even categorized demons and divine beings, assigning numerical values to all phenomena through imaginary numbers. Magicians who transcended the limitations of the human body and approached godhood were divided into three levels, corresponding to the three supernal realms of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, represented by the equation 8 = 3.
The pinnacle of human potential corresponds to the imaginary number 7 = 4, with a total of 11. This represents the process of ascending toward godhood.
Reaching the pinnacle of humanity means that, while still remaining human, one begins to interfere with the underlying rules of the world. This level is expressed as 7 = 4, though its actual strength varies greatly. Some individuals reach a level comparable to Aleister Crowley, while others are closer to Fiamma of the Right.
Even so, the pinnacle of humanity does not equate to becoming a god. It merely grants the ability to perform miracles far beyond ordinary comprehension.
Index pouted when she saw that Arata had fallen silent.
The television news caught Arata's attention.
Most broadcasts within Academy City were carefully curated. Some reports were partially true, others entirely fabricated. In order to conceal the darker aspects of the city, they would even frame certain incidents involving espers as harmless or beneficial.
For example, claims like "following the curriculum will steadily improve your esper abilities."
"At 3 PM today, the gymnasium in District 7 was damaged due to an incident involving an esper..."
There was no footage of Sogiita Gunha's involvement. As a Level 5 and a public figure, negative coverage about him would never be released.
The media consistently promoted Level 5 espers as icons. Figures like Misaka Mikoto and Shokuhou Misaki enjoyed popularity rivaling that of celebrities.
Arata himself had once experienced a surge in recognition due to deliberate promotion by a certain school official. Fortunately, he wasn't widely recognized in daily life, or things would have become far more troublesome.
"This afternoon, multiple acts of vandalism occurred across District 7, and there have been several violent clashes recently..."
"Have fights between espers become this normalized now…" Arata narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking of a certain frail and exhausted figure.
Arata took out his phone and opened the Academy City network forum. As expected, he quickly found threads discussing the "Level Upper".
Among them was an inconspicuous post.
It had no title, only a link. Almost no one would click on something so suspicious.
But once someone did, and discovered what it contained, it would spread from person to person like a chain reaction.
A perfect domino effect.
Arata tapped the link.
An audio file immediately began downloading.
At the same time.
At Tokyo Bay.
A group of young girls dressed in black nun habits stepped off a passenger ship, carrying various unusual items. Their appearance drew curious glances from the surrounding crowd.
"Are they some kind of performance group from Italy? They're all so young."
"No idea, but it looks like it."
People at the port continued to sneak glances. While Japan had its own share of spiritual traditions, Academy City was fundamentally a center of science. A group of Christian nuns was a rare sight here.
A petite blonde nun, who appeared to be only around twelve years old, looked at the bustling harbor with unease and spoke softly to the one leading them.
"His Holiness the Pope ordered us to search for a saint, but we're completely unfamiliar with this place. How are we supposed to find them, Sister Agnese?"
"His Holiness has entrusted me with a spiritual item designed for detection. It will react once we are within one kilometer of the saint. The target is somewhere in this city. We will split into three groups and search from the outer areas inward. Eventually, we will locate the saint."
The nun with tea-colored hair spoke calmly, distributing cross-shaped spiritual devices to the others.
"S-separate? I… I can do that?" the young blonde nun asked nervously, clutching the cross in her hands.
"Angelene, you'll stay with me and Lucia," said another blonde nun, around seventeen or eighteen years old, her tone carrying a hint of helpless reassurance.
"O-okay…"
"Then it's decided. We split up, locate the saint, and report back."
And if we fail to find them?
"If we fail… then there is only one possibility." Agnese's expression darkened.
The saint would be inside Academy City, the largest stronghold of heretics in the world.
If that were the case, they would have no choice but to follow the Pope's instructions. They would enter disguised as tourists, without any external support, and retrieve the saint even at the cost of their lives.
The three groups dispersed, conducting a thorough search across Tokyo.
By the following morning, after searching throughout the night without results, they regrouped. Agnese's expression was grim.
"Nothing. We found nothing. This is the worst possible scenario."
The young blonde nun clutched her braid anxiously and asked in a trembling voice, "Then… what do we do? The saint has been taken by heretics…"
"Damn heretics! To dare take a saint chosen by the Lord… unforgivable!" the older blonde nun suddenly erupted, stomping the ground with fierce intensity. Her earlier gentleness was replaced by fervent zeal.
"We must consult His Holiness first," Agnese said through clenched teeth, her face pale with shame. To report failure like this felt like a betrayal of her faith.
She took out a small silver cross from her robes and began chanting a spell. Soon, a calm and gentle voice echoed from the cross.
"Sister Agnese, have you located the saint?"
"No, Your Holiness. I have failed in my duty and could not find the saint. I am deeply ashamed. It is highly likely that the saint has been taken by the heretics of Academy City, or perhaps was born within it. I humbly request your guidance," Agnese said, bowing her head.
"...I see. In that case, we have no choice but to enter Academy City. I have already prepared false identities for you as tourists. You must bring the saint back."
"I swear, I will bring the saint back, Your Holiness."
Note- Author yaps allot.
...
Re@d adv@nce ch@pters on p@t
guilt_free_daoist
Jo!n d!sc0rd I!nk in synops!s.
GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.