Chapter 8 -> ROOT: [Blessing of Archangel Michael: God's Justice]

<< Notice. Good job. >> -> [Wisdom King: Raphael] or "Voice of the World" if specified.

<<< Hello master! How can I help you? >>> -> [Voice of Wisdom: Sophie]

' What?! ' -> used to symbolise thinking (used in convoluted sentences to help in understanding)

" Hello! " -> Speech.

<< Notice. Good job. >> -> [Wisdom King: Raphael]

<|< REDACTED >|> "Voice of the World".

<<< Hello master! How can I help you? >>> -> [Voice of Wisdom: Sophie]

' What?! ' -> used to symbolise thinking (used in convoluted sentences to help in understanding)

" Hello! " -> Speech.

* moments prior* -> Narrative use

< Greetings > -> TELEPATHY

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JIREN POV:

<<< Starting.

Searching for anomalies.

Searching…

Found.>>>

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Utilize if possible, remove otherwise.

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<<<

<|REDACTED|> essence is dormant in the elementals.

Purifying…

Purified.

Excess energy found will be used for the improvement process.

Assessing…

No further anomalies found.

>>>

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Excellent. Proceed.

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<<<

Fusing Grand Light Elemental…

>>>

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I felt a new energy course through me.

Everything went to white.

The world once again experienced absolute light.

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<<< Acquired Unique skill: Light

Fusing Grand Fire Elemental…>>>

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The light receded, leading Ramiris in the room to open her eyes, only for everything to go red, making her temporarily blind again.

A wave of heat passed through the World.

One individual in particular felt her Authority being challenged and considerably narrowed her eyes.

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<<<Acquired Unique Skill: Fire

Analyzing…

Several improvements and refinements were found.

Purifying…

Done.

Analyzing…

The abilities exceed the maximum capability for their containers. >>>

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[ᛒᛚᛖᛊᛊᛁᛜ ᛟᚠ ᚦᛖ ᚨᚱᚲᚺᚨᛜᛖᛚ ᛗᛁᚲᚺᛇᛚ: ᚷᛟᛞ×ᛊ ᛃᚢᛊᛏᛁᚲᛖ] is being revealed.

[𝘽𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙡 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙚𝙡: 𝙂𝙤𝙙'𝙨 𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚] 𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙.

————————————

<<<Merging into Ultimate skills…

[𝙐𝙋𝘿𝘼𝙏𝙀𝘿] 𝙐𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘼𝙩𝙡𝙖𝙨

- Aura domination, amplification, conversion: Using aura in any way shape or form: to coerce, to use as a weapon, to add attributes, to convert aura to magicules.

- Penetrative effect on resistances: All attacks carry the penetrative attribute, ignores nullification.

- Unyielding will: Immunity to all negative mind altercations, curses, negations, checks

- Immunity to all attacks below a certain attack potency: Grants omni-resistance.

[𝙉𝙀𝙒] 𝘽𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙚𝙡:

Complete immunity to damage from fire & light and their derivations (Heat, Luminosity, Explosions, Lava, Illusions, Lasers, Gamma rays etc). Able to utilize/absorb these elements for conversion, healing, and attack. Disintegrates Dark/Demonic elements upon contact. Spirit Lord and below hold reverence. Absolute command of Fire & Light elementals.

- Limit Break: When at the edge of defeat, has a chance to break one's own limits.

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[𝙐𝙋𝘿𝘼𝙏𝙀𝘿] 𝙐𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙎𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙅𝙪𝙙𝙜𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙉𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙨

- Judgment Eye: The ability to view the alignment and karma value of a person. Sees through all lies. Sees what is concealed.

- Karmic Retribution: The ability to deal additional scaling soul poison damage based on the receiver's karma value.

- Soul Manipulation: The ability to manipulate the soul, includes but not limited to: soul mutilation, soul reading, soul destruction, disembodiment inducement, soul channeling, soul materialization, soul purification.

- Purification Manipulation: The ability to utilize the element of "purity", includes but not limited to: purification aura, purification magic/attack, absolute purification.

[𝙉𝙀𝙒] 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙚:

The ability to absolutely utilize the elements of fire and light and their fusion of "heavenly fire" that possesses the burning and tenacious aspect of fire with the speed and destructive aspect of light, combined into a new element that has inextinguishable anti-evil properties.

- Judgment: The ability to carry out judgment based on a verdict.

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[𝙐𝙋𝘿𝘼𝙏𝙀𝘿] 𝙊𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙑𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙒𝙞𝙨𝙙𝙤𝙢: 𝙎𝙤𝙥𝙝𝙞𝙚

- Thought Acceleration: Raise the thought processing speed by hundreds of millions of times.

- Nigh-Omniscient Analysis: The ability to analyze and appraise without fail.

- Parallel Processing: The ability to detach thoughts and analyze the phenomenon.

- Chant Discarded: When using any type of energy, the chant is no longer necessary.

- All of Creation: The ability to comprehend all non-concealed phenomena in this world.

- System Management: Management of skills and abilities: analysis, synthesis, merging, discarding, refinement.

[𝙉𝙀𝙒] 𝙇𝙖𝙬 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 (𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙚 & 𝙇𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩):

Enables the manipulation of the laws of the world from either magical or scientifical perspective.

- Dimensional Travel: The ability to move through alternate universes (or "dimensions"), crossing over across different planes of existence to reach other, far-off locations.

Subskills: Spatial Domination

- Limited "Voice of the World" control: Conceal, Notify, Connect, Announce.

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The process was done, and I felt access to a brand new world.

Signing a contract with a spirit gives you access to spirit magic, where you "borrow" a spirit's power using your own energy as a catalyst.

However, as I possess Sophie who has unrivaled analysis, and as my spirits were the literal embodiment of those elements with no conscience…

I achieved full control over the spirits themselves.

It is fair to assume I represent the concept of fire and light itself in this world.

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<<<Correct. However, you are limited by possessing a demi-spiritual body. >>

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Indeed.

While my mind and soul are spiritual, probably due to staying in that void and self-actualizing, my body is not.

If my body were in an improbable scenario where it got destroyed, I would lose all my physical strength and ki, but retain my ego, memories and skills.

It's not a huge security concern yet due to my body breaking the world's limits by being immeasurably strong combined with the compatibility with my soul.

And even then, losing my body would grant a massive boost in destructive capability in the short-term with all skills being fully activated at their maximum capacity.

However, I will abstain.

Losing potential is far more detrimental than a short-term power-up.

As such, to achieve both, one has to elevate one's body to a full spiritual status, requiring a process called "Awakening".

Opening my eyes, I gaze at Ramiris who had her jaw dropped once again.

"I am done.", I inform her.

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!!!", she suddenly screamed, making me experience phantom pain in my ears from when my grandmother was alive.

"DID YOU JUST YOINK THE ENTIRE ELEMENT?! EY! WHAT'S WITH THE BLAND RESPONSE?!", continues Ramiris who was now mere centimeters from my face.

"Umu.", I simply respond.

"STUPID! STUPID! STUPID! STUPID!!!!!", she starts screaming on repeat as she punches my head multiple times with all the might she can muster.

"What?", I cock my head to the side, confused by the sudden outburst.

" *huff* *puff* *huff* *phew*

*cough* If you take an entire grand elemental like that, it means the entire element comes from YOU as your new Authority, and now I cannot rule those! In fact, you can disallow usage for everyone!!! Thooose weeeeree miiiiiiiiiiiine!!!!", childishly whines Ramiris.

Sophie, give her the previous access she had.

<<<Confirmed>>>

Two strings of red and white come out of my visage and arrive into Ramiris, giving her once again access to control those particular elements as she sees fit, with the only authority above being me.

Ramiris stops for a moment and stares at me.

"Hoooh! You indeed respect this Queen! Good job!", cheers Ramiris who is back as if nothing happened. "For your consideration, I will give you my Blessing!"

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<<<Received the Blessing of the Fairy Queen: Ramiris>>>

<<<Forming a Hero's Egg using the Light Elemental and Ramiris's Blessing.

Awakening is locked until requirements have been met.

Requirements are hidden.

>>>

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"I am grateful for the blessing.", I respond upon seeing the notification. I lack information on the requirements, but it will do for now.

"No problemo! You should be able to assist me properly now!", grins Ramiris with a sunny smile.

For some reason I got a specific urge at this particular moment, and seeing no threat, I acted on it.

I lift my hand and using my index finger I tap Ramiris on the head.

Soft.

My finger heats up momentarily so I can link her position with the goal of using spatial movement towards her in case she requires assistance, as a means of payback for services provided.

For some reason she started giggling with a content expression?

I assume that's her method of accepting the payback.

I lift my finger as I am ready to leave now.

"Farewell. Until further notice, Ramiris.", I state as I teleport out.

For some reason, I've heard another "WHAAAAAAAAAAAT???" before I left.

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Hinata Sakaguchi POV

My goal was creating an equal, conflict-free society. A world where children would never be abandoned by their parents, where everyone lived in happiness. It was an idealistic concept, far from reality... or so I thought, but this holy city proved me wrong. Everyone was equal in this society and there existed no competition to warrant conflict.

The political system was fairly close to communism. Their "god" being the head of state, they established equality among all members of society.

If there existed a flaw it would be the fact that the ruling class was unavoidably still present, and if the higher-ups were rotten, the entire system would collapse. The issue was simply solved with God. While this would be a con, it simply wasn't. Because of who the God was.

Ruler of the Night.

True Demon Lord Luminus Valentine.

Frankly, Luminus perceived the society as if she were a farmer taking care of her livestock. She was a vampire after all, although the highest caliber of one. And vampires drink blood. Naturally, the higher the progression on the race evolution, the less they require. But she has her own vampire followers to consider, so she needed to maintain consumption.

Regardless, the happier the person, the better the blood tastes.

And happiness was abundant here.

Everything was indeed equal before God in Luminism. And I am one of its most fervent missionaries, believing its core tenets to be absolute. I wanted to provide salvation and justice to people, and that I did. As a Paladin that dished out justice, that slayed monsters - the core enemies of the Church.

The only thing I can rely upon in this world is my power. I didn't deal with anyone or anything, power was my only desire.

At my beginning, I climbed up the ranks as a Paladin in order to spread out justice at greater heights, but I realized the truth. The truth behind Luminism, the existence of the demon lords.

I went to purge these despicable beings out of the holy city. I fought these two male demon lords who were a little stronger than me, but I managed to use my technique to reach a draw.

As I was laying down on the floor, recuperating, staring down at the Demon Lords with a sharp gaze, SHE showed up.

A young silver-haired heterochromatic blue-and-red eyes girl whose aura makes the "Demon Lords" I just fought seem like children.

I was overwhelmed, this was beyond human comprehension.

But she spared me. She gave me a test which I needed to pass in order to have a chance to duel her. I plundered my way out of the test and took all of the tester's abilities.

And then I dueled her.

I lost. Miserably.

So I capitulated.

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Yet, I refused to break.

I became stronger.

I was the right hand of divinity, the slayer of all travails.

Luminus was the key to an equal, fair society and losing her would mean losing all order. I would strive to maintain the status quo, but if Luminus ever became the enemy of humanity, I would slay her myself, that was my resolve.

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I see Luminus arriving from the Walpurgis. We were in the Inner Cloister - the holiest and the most forbidden place in all of Lubelius, even more than the personal chambers of the Holy Emperor. Here she was in her full glory, Demon Lord Luminus Valentine, now visibly pissed off because of the Storm Dragon Veldora, and even more after I told her that Roy died due to an intruder. She had the ability to revive the Vampire if he were in her range, but in the end she was not present.

Noticing her visible annoyance when speaking about Veldora, I suggested a request:

"I would like to defeat Veldora for you."

"Hinata", Luminus coldly replied, "you have grown stronger, yes, much stronger than when you fought me. You are well past the Seven Days and on your way to equaling my level. But even if you can defeat the demon lord Rimuru, you WILL never defeat Veldora."

"He is that powerful? Didn't the Hero seal him away?", I asked, visibly confused. Can't we just do the same?

"That dragon is a form of natural energy by itself. You can use magic to stop a gale, yes, but that dragon cannot be affected by sword or magic. When he flies into rage, shock waves will ravage the earth, FAR more than any of us can even fathom.", she answers clearly peeved but with some modicum of respect.

Luminus suddenly widens her eyes.

"Speaking of Veldora... Hinata.", she suddenly addressed me directly.

"Yes?"

"One week from now on, a person will arrive near our city. I want you to show him the city, and then lead him to me.", she orders.

"Meet you? Who is he...?", I responded shocked. Who is so worthy that even I must give him a tour, to the Demon Lord herself?

Luminus shivered a little bit, and answered:

"A true monster."

"True monster...? Do you need me to eliminate him..? Why would I give him a tour in that case?", I ask now, visibly concerned because I saw Luminus herself SHIVER.

"Hmm. Since you are not convinced about Veldora's horror, a demonstration is required. Yes! I want you to attack the being that arrives. Use everything at your disposal! If you do not manage to eliminate him, just give him a tour and bring him to me! If you do actually manage to succeed, color me impressed and I will give you a... gift… Got it?", practically demands Luminus.

"Yes.", I curtly respond.

"Restrain yourself if you cannot win, I do not wish to lose you too.", she finishes with a strong tone.

Well, if she put it that strongly, I had no option but to nod back. That mishandling with Rimuru was sticking in her throat like a needle. She made multiple mistakes in that bout - from ignoring the conversation, to labeling him a monster, to getting potentially manipulated by the Eastern merchants... How distasteful. But a duel against a "true monster", huh?

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Jiren POV

Now out of the Dwelling, considering I had a week, I decided to observe the city in which the Dwelling of the Spirits is situated.

Country of Ur-Gracia.

First aspect I've observed was the impressive amount of elemental energy in the air, most likely coming out of the contracts with spirits. And to have this much... it appears the entire country are spirit users.

I calmly enter through the gate without any issues whatsoever even with my non-human appearance. I did receive stares, nonetheless, any spirit below the Spirit Lord level would display instinctive reverence even if they lack conscience themselves, not taking in account my personal elements where I was absolute. The citizens themselves seem calm, combined with their spirits practically not willing to offend me - stares were merely stares, curiosity at something unknown.

Low Fire. Low Wind. Medium Water. Low Fire. Low Earth. No high elementals.

I walk towards the altar in the main square, to see the national ceremony. It appears children of 10 years would receive their elementals and become official citizens. Interesting system.

Although no high-level spirit can appear here compared to the Dwelling where I was, it is still a very efficient national resource. Practically everyone here is a Shaman and can utilize at least the weakest spirit magic. It is sufficient for a regular day to day life, and to defend oneself against street robbers.

My eyes shine yellow as I observe the children standing on the altar. LV 5. LV 4. LV 7. LV 3. LV 4. LV9.

Anything above LV 3 for children is suspicious…

Hm.

LV 1.

I see a scrawny kid with brown hair that genuinely reminds me of a typical protagonist. It's immediately noticeable that he lacks confidence, and that other kids push him around. His LV value was perfect, yet I see such a situation. The Law of the Jungle was rather present in this world, was it not?

*sigh* Does this trope exist everywhere?

Although… this does warrant some experiments with LV… Is it a true indicator of someone's good nature? How well can it predict someone's behavior? Would power corrupt someone assumed to be clear of sin?

I send a telepathic message.

< Child. Do you hear me? >

The kid got scared and started turning around, obviously not aware of my location.

<You turning around is foolish. I am speaking to you telepathically. Use your thoughts to communicate. >

<Where are you? Who are you? Why are you here?>, he quickly responds with nervousness.

<That is not important. What I require of you is to answer one single question.>

<Huh, okay. What is it?>

I phrased the question to allow me to discern the potential of this individual, yet what came in that telepathic link was:

<What is it that you truly desire?>

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<I wish to have a harem!!! And…>

*heavy eye twitch*

…

...

...

I take everything I thought about evil back.

Holy Smite it is.

Begon..

<I wish to spread happiness and love to everyone!!>

e…

???

That is by far the corniest statement I have ever heard.

But it will do.

<Wait.. what did I just?>

<I see. So be it.

Find the Spirit Queen.

I wish you luck on your endeavor, Arthur.>, I declare.

<The Spirit Queen? Wait, how do you know my nam…>

A blinding light descends upon the altar, making everyone nearby experience intense pressure and go temporarily blind.

For the first time, a high level spirit appears in the main city altar.

"Heyaaaa! My name's Ark, and I am a light elemental! Are you my new friend?", an enthusiastic voice of a spirit shouts from the altar, making everyone go into shock.

People clammer around.

"It.. can talk?"

"Wait, isn't that an advanced spirit?"

"Light?"

"Hello... Ni..ce to.. me.et y.ou, Ar.k… M.y nam.e is Arthur!", responds the panic-stricken boy, who has no idea what is going on, but manages to respond anyway.

"Hi, Arthur! I will be your new guide, maybe one day I will make a Hero outta you. I hope we have a pleasant ride. Here I cooooome", cheerfully responds the elemental who proceeds to charge into Arthur, and unlike with a certain humanoid-wall, the spirit actually succeeds in integration.

"Woooooow"

"It went in!"

"Hero!"

The light dies out, and Arthur is standing there. His aura for anyone with Magic Sense skyrocketed.

"Hero!" "Hero! "Hero!"

The entire altar exploded. This was the Birth of a Future Hero, well, if he found Ramiris and received her blessing… but that's another journey altogether.

The instigator of the whole event has long disappeared, with nobody noticing.