Chapter 556 – Transcendents (3)
At the sudden offensive of Black Hour, the Western Continent Magic Tower Alliance grew frantic. Needless to say, the very instigator who shook the entire magical world, Dahit Wethroel, had even appeared.
The Alliance command placed the central continent map in the middle and held deep discussions to predict and counter the enemy's next move.
In the midst of this, ill news arrived from the magic city, Virente.
"Black Hour has raided the headquarters of the Magic Association!"
The wicked scheme had reached not only the Alliance's frontline, but also the magic city.
What was the intent?
Upon the following explanation, the faces of a particular Magic Tower faction turned pale.
"During a meeting at the Association headquarters, the Bohemirn Tower's ambassador, Gotric, and his escorts—seven in all, including Maron—were, were murdered...! And Lord Lucard Maniacs has been abducted!"
"...!!"
A grave incident indeed.
That they had slain the envoy was already a serious matter, but to abduct one who received the teachings of Bohemirn Tower's transcendent?
Needless to say, even if among the four disciples he was deemed the weakest in ability, it was never an affair that could be glossed over.
Kwaang!
The eyes of Angelo, the Bohemirn Tower's High Elder, crackled with thunder.
"In Virente, there should have been the Ostea tower master and the Magic Association's president, what in the world were those men doing, that they allowed such an abduction to occur! It's not as if Darkmoon himself appeared there!"
"That is...! Black Hour caused physical terror in both the central and noble districts of the city, and thus they were forced to divert their forces to prevent further damage... It was not a situation where they could employ their strength elsewhere. Furthermore, Black Hour's retreat was far too swift..."
Though a thunderous roar pressed psychological weight upon them, reality remained unchanged.
The only thing that altered was the complexion of the messenger, who had hurried across space itself through the means of the Magic Association to urgently deliver the news.
Uduk.
Grinding his teeth outwardly to conceal his rage, inwardly Angelo recovered his composure, and applied rational thought.
'Though the distance between the frontline and the magic city is considerable, Black Hour's raid occurred nearly simultaneously.... What was the aim?'
Was the true plan nothing more than to seize the tower master's third disciple?
Impossible.
In essence, the abduction of Lucard Maniacs, apart from humiliating and tarnishing the honor of Bohemirn Tower, carried little meaning.
This was something not only the other towers, but even Black Hour, clearly understood.
Then was the frontline the real objective...? But to declare so was still vague. The manpower of the Magic Tower Alliance had not suffered permanent loss.
Black Hour had destroyed chiefly the structures forming their base, so the damage was concentrated in property, not lives.
As a result, attention had been diverted...
'Wait, did they turn our gaze?'
Suddenly Angelo recalled the direction from which Darkmoon had appeared. He had come from the east. Then what lay to the east, beyond the frontline?
───To linger further after the goal is achieved would be inefficient.
The sinister whisper of Dahit Wethroel replayed in his mind. The chill he had felt then now crawled up his spine.
'No way.'
Angelo's eyes widened, filling with horror.
There was no time to compose his expression.
He abruptly turned, moving in haste with urgent, violent strides.
"What...? Where are you going, Angelo!"
Even at the query of Helion Tower's High Elder, no answer returned.
Quarrreureung.
Wreathed in lightning, Angelo charged straight toward his destination with all his might. And there, he directly confirmed his dire premonition had struck true.
"I, I must report this.... To the tower master, at once...!!"
The mutter, half a whisper to himself, dripped down with cold sweat.
His face had turned deathly pale.
Now was no time to conserve means.
At once he activated a disposable artifact, and a complex geometrical formula, radiating violet light, encircled his body in a sphere.
A spatial teleportation magic circle.
Angelo leapt toward the Magocracy's territory, where the Transcendents' council was in session.
***
The banquet specially prepared by the Seventh Demon King, Vandelis, bore no solemn air. As was always the case with meals, casual and personal talk naturally filled the air.
"As always, I have no thought of interfering with Artison Tower's management so long as the children keep to their bounds, but lately, I cannot help but be concerned. The current successor is such an eccentric..."
"Mm, the present Artison tower master is certainly full of individuality. Still, is he not a capable talent, one who has elevated the tower's prestige?"
"He does help, indeed. But he spends so much money, that's the problem. Because of him, the finances swing wildly with each project. Should failures pile up, we may have to go begging. The others are even giving me glances to rein him in."
"Oh dear."
At the deep sigh of Indren, adjunct elder of Artison Tower, Vandelis clicked his tongue with sympathy.
Thus the conversation was nothing more than greetings and trivial chatter.
As time flowed, unable to endure further, Balrog Bessias drummed his fingers on the table, cutting through.
"The meal is done. Enough of this, let us proceed."
"Ah, since it has been so long since we last met, the words ran long. Very well."
The Magocracy's high-ranking mages themselves cleared the dishes and served warm tea, steam rising.
It was brewed from the 'Mistia leaf', known to have been favored by the first Demon King, a precious specialty cultivated only in Centrum, the royal citadel of Arkenad Magocracy.
An indescribable depth of fragrance filled the air.
Huroop.
After wetting his throat lightly, Vandelis lowered his voice. At the same time, unprecedented pressure seized the chamber.
"As all know, by the hand of Darkmoon, Dahit Wethroel—the usurper and leader of Black Hour—the so-called Hierarchy Breakthrough phenomenon has erupted."
The eyes of the Transcendents of the magical world, officially present, focused upon him.
"As a result, the mages who have dreamed now alike can cast hierarchical magic beyond their current stage, albeit with bodily strain. You have each already investigated and researched, so I will not belabor it."
Vandelis folded his hands.
"Presently, the phenomenon has spread from the lower hierarchies up to the mid-5th hierarchy. It is not something that shows visible progress, but by intuition, there is no sign it will cease."
"Indeed, like some plague."
"The pattern is similar. It spreads only among mages, and even without contact it transmits. As a result, it seems certain it will reach the 6th hierarchy."
Balrog spoke, arms crossed.
"The question is this. Will it also spread to those who have reached the extreme of magic? Will it touch even us? And if such a moment comes, can we resist?"
Should one who had reached the summit of magic break through, they might wield 7th hierarchy magic.
Moreover, the Transcendents might be offered possibilities beyond existing common sense, to reach for even higher hierarchies.
"...Or perhaps the root of the phenomenon has already spread to us. You seem to weigh that possibility, Acetro Oldin."
"Yes. For one's power alone, the scale is far too vast. Rather, the likelier supposition lies elsewhere. The annihilation of a concept."
"The hypothesis that Dahit has erased some concept that suppressed the hierarchy."
The necromancer, Ryndel, murmured in a flat voice.
Two grounds supported it.
First, in the dreams, Darkmoon did nothing more than forcibly implant an unfamiliar magical computation into memory.
Second, the sheer limit of his raw capacity.
No matter how supreme his magic as the most heinous criminal of the current magical world, he could not control the entire continent.
Therefore, it was at once absurd yet reasonable to see it as the total erasure of some concept tied to hierarchy suppression.
For concepts by nature can exist everywhere, and once even one of them is annihilated, then all must vanish together.
Acetro adjusted his monocle.
"Frankly, it is riddled with questions. Whether the concept suppressing the hierarchy truly existed, if so, how Darkmoon discovered it. And how he could specify and erase it."
"...That usurper may have possessed a unique method. He is the one who forced the tower's power source, called the Completion, into overdrive."
Balrog revealed his hostility.
None bore deeper enmity with Dahit than he.
Indren, with the face of a boy, sighed and sipped his tea.
"Why Darkmoon did such a thing, we cannot know. Surely it ties to his ideals, but in any case, it is fact that the magical world has changed. Perhaps we could say, a new age has dawned."
Simply put, Dahit Wethroel had changed the world.
Now chaos and confusion would surge everywhere, and it would take much time and effort to stabilize.
Some found it troublesome, some secretly thrilled, some envied the feat, some pondered how to exploit it.
But.
The Transcendents of the magical world, gathered here today, had not convened to discuss how to lead the new age.
That was for each to decide and act upon.
What mattered was the discipline of Transcendents.
"Let us move to the main point."
And the true agenda of this council was that of punishing the violator of discipline.
"I, Vandelis Ruin Arkenad, as the Seventh Demon King, as one who acts so the world not be thrown into war by Transcendents, do hereby declare."
Silence fell.
"By his arbitrary actions, Darkmoon, Dahit Wethroel, has disrupted the entire magical world, birthing irreparable disorder. On this matter of sanction, let us commence our accord."
***
"The confinement of Darkmoon comes first, and should his resistance be fierce, we shall execute him. This is an inevitable measure, and the only choice left us is timing. Attendees, present your opinions."
"I shall begin."
Indren half-lidded his eyes.
"The sooner the sanction upon Dahit Wethroel, the better. Even at this very moment. Only thus can we calm today's turmoil as swiftly as possible."
Ignacia rested her chin on her hand and smirked.
"Still the same, ever preferring stability, just like the half-retired Transcendent you are."
"The world ever longs for stability. Chaos is but a passing process."
"A valid view."
Balrog assented.
"I too agree to immediate sanction. However, if it comes to execution, I shall handle it alone. To kill him is, without doubt, my right. The rest of you need only pinpoint Black Hour's grand hall."
"You mean to settle your personal grudge personally."
Vandelis stroked his chin.
"Kyeoe, what is your view?"
"I believe the timing should be delayed."
It was the opposite choice to Indren and Balrog.
"The reason?"
"The incident has already occurred, and the order of the magical world is in disarray. Since time cannot be turned back, it cannot be gathered again. Moreover, from the start, Darkmoon would certainly choose death over revealing his innermost thoughts while bound, would he not?"
"Indeed, surely."
"The moment sanction is determined, Darkmoon's death is in effect certain. Naturally, Darkmoon himself knows this sequence. Even so, he acted. Whatever it is, he must have made thorough preparations."
It was reasonable.
"Thus I believe, discovering what Darkmoon ultimately seeks through the Hierarchy Breakthrough phenomenon must come first. The man who praised the theory of memory—what method will he use to realize his ideal? We must watch. That is the rational course of action, and... more than anything, it will be far more entertaining, will it not?"
"Leaving aside amusement, to keep watch over Darkmoon's path is not altogether a wrong choice. A few months of observation may hold value."
However.
"Sanction against a Transcendent is executed only by the opinion that has gained the agreement of a majority. Such is the long-standing rule. Now, is there none who would join Kyeoe's view?"
Ignacia licked her lips.
She had already assumed that opposition would outweigh support.
No matter.
There were countless ways to buy time. To drag things out and delay was no difficulty. All the more so, since Dahit himself was now dead.
At that moment.
"I agree with that view."
"Eh?"
Ryndel Nexleon voiced his intent.
Surprised gazes filled the chamber.
For him, it would not have been strange to cast a null vote, or remain entirely silent.
Ryndel continued.
"The present turmoil that has struck the world is, in itself, change. It is not something to be mended. It is something to which we must adapt."
"The sanction of Darkmoon is indispensable, yet I oppose rash measures. They would only serve to amplify disorder further. At least until that dream extends even to us, it is wise to observe."
Acetro too joined.
The flow was unexpected, and none was more surprised than Ignacia. She had not even imagined those two would agree.
'...Suspicious.'
She revealed strong suspicion, yet did not show it outwardly.
The turn passed to Vandelis.
"I judge immediate sanction to be correct. Darkmoon may well cause another incident on par with the Hierarchy Breakthrough. Even if problems arise in that process, preventing them beforehand will ultimately lessen the damage. Adapting to the New Era can be done afterward, it will not be too late."
Three against three.
The pros and cons of immediate decision stood evenly matched.
Thus the final choice belonged to Meia, the deputy of the Lepraegium Tower. All eyes fell upon her.
"..."
From the time she had arrived in the Arkenad Magocracy until now, Meia had said nothing, only drinking tea in silence.
"Choose, deputy."
Balrog Bessias, eyes narrowed, pressed for an answer. His nerves taut, more so than with any other Transcendent.
Indeed, at this council's end, what answer would the one who represented the Lepraegium tower master, an 8th-hierarchy Transcendent, deliver?
Silence stretched on.
At length, Meia slowly lifted her head. From within the darkness filling the inside of her hood, a gentle voice flowed forth.
"At the point when the first half of this year passes, and the latter half begins. Until then, I choose to remain an onlooker."
The scale tipped.
Three to four.
No rebuttal followed.
"If that is the will, then sanction shall be delayed until the dream extends to us. Judging by the present trend, roughly three months will suffice. When the term ends, those gathered here will reconvene in the Magocracy, to pursue Darkmoon. Does any oppose?"
"..."
"Then the accord is concluded."
Vandelis formally proclaimed that judgment had been rendered. The heavy atmosphere that had weighed down the chamber grew lighter.
With this, the crucial agenda was finished.
But as the world is complex, to untie one knot is to reveal yet another.
"...Hm?"
From outside came a request to enter the chamber.
At Vandelis's gesture, the sealed door opened, and soon his granddaughter, Medrail, entered at a brisk pace.
The haste upon her was evident.
"Forgive my discourtesy. Two urgent reports have arrived from outside, matters so pressing we could not judge them ourselves..."
"Speak."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Kernadel, in the central continent, has been destroyed by someone's assault."
"Kernadel? The prison?"
At Ignacia's question, Medrail nodded.
Those guarding Kernadel's entrance had been all but annihilated, and with criminals en masse released from confinement, collateral damage in the vicinity was mounting.
"Above all, they said they could not identify the fiend who assaulted Kernadel. The Church of Luas has requested support from the magical world."
"So they cannot even manage a single prison. Well, that is the limit of the Luas faith."
Balrog commented flatly.
None of the other Transcendents showed the least surprise or dismay. They were not beings to feel such impressions over such things.
Vandelis asked.
"What of the other?"
"Ah, that is..."
Medrail's uneasy gaze slowly shifted sideways.
"Black Hour has launched a surprise assault on the Western Continent Magic Tower Alliance. Multiple bases on the frontline have been destroyed, Darkmoon himself has appeared, and... in the magic city, Virente, Lucard Maniacs has been abducted..."
The Bohemirn tower master's third disciple, Lucard Maniacs.
All eyes converged upon one point.
Tak!
Balrog slammed down the teacup he held, and turned his head sharply.
"What??"
The resumption of Darkmoon's activity.
The blade directed toward Bohemirn Tower.
Ignacia blinked.
'Huh, what is this. Wait, Asher... you, is this what you meant by "it will be entertaining"?'
A fierce shock struck her mind.
Kkpp.
Biting hard at the inside of her cheek, she quietly bowed her head. Secretly, she cupped her mouth with both hands, firmly blocking it.
Ah, I nearly laughed.