Infinite Mage — Chapter 211: The Magical Formula of Angels (1)

Chapter 211: The Magical Formula of Angels (1)

“It’s⁠ a double lock‍ system!”

“That’s‍‍ right. He really⁠ is a meticulous‍‍ type. Now I’ll‍⁠⁠ show you Arcane’s⁠ memory, so check‍ it yourself.”

Harvest’s⁠ memory began to⁠‍‍ flow.

It⁠⁠‌ seemed that Arcane‍ had reached heaven‍ together with a companion.

During⁠‍‌ that time, he‌ ended up entering‍ Ingris alone.

As⁠‍ expected, Eureka offered‌ him a contract.

Arcane‍ accepted the proposal‌ in exchange for‍‍ the right of⁠ free access to‍⁠ Ingris.

At‌ that time, she‌‌ was already insane,‍⁠‌ so the moment‍ the contract was‍⁠ concluded, she began⁠ attacking Arcane.

‘Master…’‍

Unlike⁠ Canis, who couldn’t‌ do anything in⁠‍‍ combat, Arcane fought against Eureka without‌ yielding a single⁠⁠ step.

‘This is absurd. How‍ can he cast‌‍ magic when his‌‌ words are being‍‌ edited?’

Canis⁠‌‍ looked deeper into⁠ the memory.

The⁠ answer was so‍⁠ ingenious that it‌⁠ felt like something⁠⁠ only Arcane could‌‍‍ do.

He‍⁠ had completely erased‍ his memory using⁠ Abyss-type magic.

If‌ there are no⁠ thoughts, there are⁠‌⁠ no concepts that‍ can be sold.‌‌

But‌ it didn’t end‌‍ there.

Arcane‍‍⁠ began restoring the‌ morphemes of language⁠ one by one.‍⁠

His‍ goal was to‌ find the Mara’s‍‌ name by comparing‍ the editor’s reaction⁠‌ while combining all‌ possible languages formed⁠‍‍ from those morphemes.⁠⁠

Nearly‌‍⁠ infinite words were assembled and disassembled‍ repeatedly.

At⁠ a certain moment,⁠ Eureka suddenly screamed.‌

Pale‌ as a corpse, she fled without‌‍ looking back, flying‌ away from where‌‌‍ Arcane was.

Arcane’s‍ roulette of linguistic‌ combinations stopped at the name Eureka.‍‌

“…Is‍ that really possible?‌‌‍ In that brief‍‌‍ moment, he combined‍‍‌ tens of thousands‌ of languages.”

“Things⁠ that happen in‌ thought have no⁠⁠ limit. Well, even⁠⁠⁠ so, you couldn’t‌ write a novel⁠ like that. It’s‍ mathematical. First, he‌‌‌ placed the morphemes,‍ created an algorithm,‌ and then let⁠⁠⁠ it spin like⁠‍ a roulette. When⁠⁠ he was young,‍ his brain must⁠ have worked brilliantly.⁠⁠ Anyway, just seeing⁠ that he created‌‌ me proves he‍ was a genius.‍‍ If he hadn’t⁠ been so stubborn⁠‌ about dark magic,‌‌ he wouldn’t have‍ remained just a third-rank mage.”

Canis‌‌‌ felt proud to be Arcane’s disciple.⁠

Moreover,‍‍⁠ wasn’t it thanks⁠‍ to the notes‌ his master left⁠‍‌ behind that they‍⁠ were able to‍ defeat Eureka?

Eureka‌ had probably remained⁠⁠ hidden until Arcane‍‍ left.

During‍‌ that time, Arcane⁠ must have found information about her‌ and written down‌ her serial number.‌

Arcane’s⁠‍ final memory entered‍ Canis’s mind.

When‍‍ he understood the‌‍‌ true reason for‌⁠ the double lock,⁠ a chill ran‌⁠‍ down his spine.‌‍

Arcane⁠ wasn’t transmitting the⁠‌ location through records,‌‍ but through memories for his disciple.

Canis⁠ walked to the⁠‍⁠ place where Arcane⁠ had stood for‌⁠‍ the last time.⁠

Then‍ he imitated exactly⁠ his master’s movements and extended his⁠⁠ hand toward the⁠‌ panel.

‘Master,‌ thank you.’

Of⁠ course, at that⁠ time Arcane didn’t‍‍ know that Canis‌⁠ would become his⁠ disciple.

But‍ the message he‍‌ left for the⁠⁠ successor who would‍⁠ reach this place‌‍‌ was clear.

Mage,‍‍ become an eternal⁠⁠ child.

Canis‌‌ extracted the panel‍‍ designated by Arcane and changed the‌ language.

Then‌⁠‌ he checked the‌ phrase that appeared⁠‌ on the glass⁠⁠ plate.

The‍ book of light‌ and darkness.

Canis‌ quickly flipped through the pages with his eyes.

Among‍ them, one sentence‍⁠‍ caught his attention,⁠‌⁠ and he stared⁠ at it.

Harvest‌‍ placed his hand⁠⁠ on his shoulder‌⁠⁠ and said,

“You’ve‍ fulfilled the purpose⁠ of coming to‍ heaven.”

“No.‌ I can’t say⁠‌‍ that until we‌ return safely. We‌‌ have to rescue⁠‍ Arin.”

“That’s‍‌‍ true. I wonder⁠‍ if they’re okay⁠‍ over there. Quite⁠‌ a bit of⁠‌ time has already‌‌ passed.”

Canis‌ handed the panel‍‍‍ to Harvest and‍‍ headed toward the‍ central control device.⁠⁠‍

“It’s just the right⁠ time for Rian‍ to arrive. Copy the records. I’ll⁠‌ try to deactivate⁠ the mecha system.”

Harvest‌⁠ placed his palm⁠‌ on the glass‍⁠ plate and copied‍ all the text.‌

He flipped through the‍⁠⁠ pages, completely memorizing‍ the vibration patterns.‍⁠‌

When Canis reached the‍ central control device,⁠ he couldn’t touch‍⁠ anything.

Cold⁠ sweat ran down‌ his forehead.

He‌ had understood the⁠‍ principle by watching‍ how Eureka operated⁠ the screen, but‌ handling equipment he‌‍‍ was seeing for‌ the first time⁠ like an expert⁠⁠ was impossible.

“Damn⁠ it, why is‌ it so complicated?”‌

Canis⁠ began pressing buttons⁠ at random.

At⁠ worst, the most⁠‌ that could happen‍ was that it‌ would break.

At⁠ some point, the‍ complete map of‍‌‍ Jebul appeared.

When⁠⁠‍ he touched the‌ Grand World Hall,‌‌⁠ the screen expanded⁠‍ and countless options‍⁠ appeared.

Upon entering the security‌‌ system, he found‍ the configuration that‍‍ blocked the mecha system.

Canis⁠‍‍ chose to deactivate‍‍ it without hesitation.⁠‌

Some areas that appeared‌ as dotted lines‍⁠ on the map‍⁠‍ became solid lines.‌‍

“Canis,‌ I’ve already saved‌‍‌ all the records.‍⁠ Since I memorized‌ them only as‌ patterns, I’ll have⁠ to convert them into language later.”⁠‌

“Good.⁠‌ I also found‌ something. According to‍ the map, there are portals in⁠ all areas of‍‍ Jebul that lead‍‍ to Ingris. In‍‌ other words, this‍‌ place is the‌‍ heart of Jebul.⁠‌ If we use⁠ the portal in‌ reverse, we can‌ exit through the‍‌ portal closest to‌ the Grand World‍ Hall.”

Canis⁠ and Harvest ran‌⁠ toward the far‍⁠‍ end of Ingris.‌‍

It⁠ was fortunate that⁠ things had gone‍ well.

But⁠‌ that didn’t mean‌ the situation had⁠‍‌ improved.

Arin⁠‍ was still there.‌

They‌‍ could only hope‌ that Rian wouldn’t‌ arrive too late.‌

***‍‌

In‍ Shirone’s unconscious, Ikael’s⁠ memories surged in⁠ like a mass.⁠‌

The‍‍‍ temporal order was‌‍ chaotic, but they‍⁠ moved faster than⁠‌ thought, so he‍‍ couldn’t perceive contradictions.‌

Shirone was shocked when‍ he saw the‍‍ form of Ra‍‌ that Ikael showed‍ him.

It‍ was the height‌ of grotesqueness.

However,‌‍ the intellectual level⁠‌ it contained surpassed‌‌ that of humans‌ in the current‍ world.

“Even⁠ if the parts‌⁠ change, the whole⁠ remains perfect.”

Ra⁠ was the first intelligence to understand⁠‌ the existence of‍‍⁠ the universe.

“The‍ universe is an⁠‍ object abandoned by‍ God. No one‍ even knows it‌ exists. But I gave it meaning.⁠‍ Therefore, this universe⁠ belongs to me.”‌⁠⁠

The⁠‍‍ first being to‌‍ whom Ra gave‌‍ meaning was the‌⁠ angel.

The‍‍ first entity of⁠ causality divided into‍ a second entity,‌⁠ and from there‌⁠ giants and fairies‍‍ emerged.

Each⁠‌ acted according to⁠‍‌ the laws and⁠ spread the will‌ of Ra.

Ikael‍‍ took Shirone to⁠‍ a world.

There‍ were countless creatures⁠‍ living there, but‍ none capable of⁠‌ granting meaning.

A giant two kilometers‍ tall arrived through⁠‌ a dimensional gate.

When‍ the giant stood‌⁠ up, his face⁠ pierced the clouds‍⁠⁠ and the mountains⁠⁠‌ lay below his‌‌ waist.

Ikael⁠‌ also explained about⁠‌ the giants.

The‍‍ Licor de las‌ Anécdotas consists of‌ ten stages.

And‍‌ only giants who‍⁠ surpass the sixth⁠‌ stage can depart‍⁠ to a new‌‌ world.

The⁠‌ giant roared.

His‍⁠ body began to⁠ collapse gradually, and‌ blood and flesh‍‌ fell like rain.

After‍⁠‍ that, a long⁠‍ time passed.

And⁠ in the place⁠ where the giant⁠ fell, humans began‍ to appear one after another.

Humans‌ formed societies, and‌ as they developed‍‌ their civilization, an⁠‍ angel descended and‍ granted a child‌⁠ to the body of a young⁠‍ woman. Someday that‌⁠ child would become⁠ a nephilim and‌ guide people to‌ heaven.

As⁠⁠ time passed, changes⁠ began to arise‌ in human society.‌‌

Humans,⁠ who possessed the⁠‌ ability to grant⁠‍‍ meaning, grew rapidly‍⁠ and eventually, intoxicated by their own‍‍ power, began to‌‌ turn away from‍ God.

The army of heaven‌‌ descended and punished‍ them.

The⁠⁠‌ battle was one-sided.‍ The power of‌‌‍ heaven was overwhelming,‍ and the angels‌‍ together with Mara‍‍ destroyed countless civilizations.⁠

Even‍‍‍ so, humanity prospered‌‍ stubbornly and repeated⁠⁠ the same mistake‌ again.

One⁠‌ day, on a southern island called‍‍‌ Galliant, a group‍‌‍ appeared that denied⁠ the existence of⁠⁠ God.

The‌‍ archangel Ikael intervened‌ personally. She, who⁠ could activate the⁠‍ power of all things, amplified Galliant’s volcanic activity more⁠‌‌ than twenty thousand‌‌⁠ times and caused‍ an eruption.

Time‌ passed quickly, and‌‍ a world very‌ similar to the‌ era in which‌‌ Shirone lived unfolded.⁠

Humanity‌ continued to enjoy⁠ prosperity.

Considering‍⁠⁠ that irreverence had‌‌ reached its limit,‍‌ Anke Ra finally‍‌ decided to destroy⁠ humanity.

The‌ final war. The⁠ end of the⁠ world.

Shirone‌ observed the situation of heaven at‍‍ that time.

A portal tens of‌ meters tall was‌⁠ open, and in‍ front of it‌‍ the army of‍⁠ heaven, composed of⁠ giants, fairies, and‌‌ believers, prepared to‌‌‍ depart.

In the sky, the vibrations of angels‍ resonated, and on‍‍ the ground the‍ armored Mara roared.⁠‍

‘No!‌ No way!’

Shirone‍‌⁠ shouted, forgetting that‍‍⁠ the scene before‌ his eyes belonged‌ to the past.⁠

It‌⁠‌ was impossible to‍‍‌ win. If the‌ army of heaven⁠⁠ entered, the world‍ would end right⁠ there.

When⁠ the order to‌ depart was given,⁠ a massive army,‍ led by the‌⁠‍ angels, began advancing‍ toward the portal.‌

Shirone’s‍ consciousness also entered‍ the portal with‍⁠ them.

After‌ passing through a tunnel shining with‌‌ multiple colors, the⁠ exit appeared.

His stomach churned from‌ the tension.

This‌ was a memory⁠ of the past.‌

But‌‌ then, how had‍ humanity managed to stop the army‌ of heaven?

‘There‌‍ is no record‍ of such a war in history.’‌

Seeing‍ the destination before⁠ their eyes, the⁠ Mara roared with⁠‌‍ fighting spirit.

Shirone flew faster than⁠ them.

And‍ the moment he⁠⁠ reached the end‌ of the portal,‌‌ he froze completely.⁠‌

What⁠‌ appeared before his⁠‍ eyes was not‍‌ the original world.‌

It⁠ was a pale⁠⁠ space where absolutely⁠⁠ nothing existed.

And there, standing, was‍‌‌ a woman.

It‍ was Adrias Miro.‍

“Geppin,‍⁠ I will not⁠‍ forgive you.”

Miro was crying.

Alone⁠ in front of‌ an entire army,‌ she extended her⁠ fist and cast‍⁠ her magic.

Then⁠ something astonishing happened.

As‌ if they had‍ collided with an‌ invisible barrier, the‍ Mara at the‌ front began to⁠‍ stop.

The⁠ angels looked at‌⁠ Miro with uncomfortable‍⁠ expressions.

Meanwhile,‍ the Mara struck⁠⁠ the barrier and‌ let out savage‍ cries.

“Impure‍ creature! You will‌⁠ pay the price‍‌ for betraying Ra!”‌

“Remember this, Miro! The‍‌ end of the world has only‌⁠ been postponed! When‍ that day comes,‍‌ you will be the first to⁠‍‍ die!”

Shirone⁠⁠ understood the whole‌‌ truth.

Between‌ the gap that‌ connected heaven and‌ the human world,‌‌ Miro had created‌‍ another space-time and‌⁠ cut the connection.

That⁠‍ place was Miro’s space-time.

From the group of⁠ angels, a large‌⁠ man flew to⁠‌ the end of‌ the portal.

It‌⁠‍ was the archangel‌‍ Uriel.

“How‍ long do you think you can‍ endure doing this?‍ There is no‌ way to avoid⁠‍ the final war.‍‍⁠ We will return⁠⁠‌ without fail. Make‍‌ good use of‌‍ the little time‌ you have left.”⁠

Miro⁠‌ bit her lips until they bled.‍

As‍⁠⁠ the new space-time⁠‍ expanded, the distance‌ between the two‌‌‍ worlds began to‌ increase.

Uriel‍ looked at Miro‍ sternly before turning‌‍‌ away.

Then‌‌ the angels began‌⁠ to return to⁠‌‌ heaven one by⁠ one.

But the Mara remained⁠⁠ until the end,⁠ hurling insults.

Until⁠ Miro’s figure disappeared⁠‌‌ into the distance,⁠ they continued shouting‌ with desperate voices.

Shirone also moved away‌ along with the‍ army of heaven.

However, he could not‍ take his eyes‌ off Miro.

He‍ understood why the‍ great mage Arcane‍⁠ had tried to‍ prevent the world‌ from knowing the⁠‍ truth, even erasing⁠ his own memories.‍‌

There⁠‌‍ was a day‍⁠ when humanity was‌⁠‍ on the verge‍ of extinction.

And‍⁠ Miro, even now,‍ remained in her⁠⁠ own space, postponing⁠⁠ the end of the world.

***‍‌‌

Shirone⁠‌‌ opened his eyes.

The‌ first thing he‍‍⁠ felt was a great sense of⁠‍‍ freshness.

It‍ was like waking‌⁠⁠ up after a long sleep.

How⁠ long had he⁠‌ been asleep?

When‍⁠ that thought reached‍⁠ his mind, Shirone‍‍ jumped up and‌ shouted.

“No! My friends…!”

Ikael‍‍ calmed Shirone.

“Do‌ not worry. The⁠ time you were‍ asleep did not‍‌⁠ even reach five‌ minutes.”

“But‌‍ then why does⁠‌⁠ my body…?”

“My light penetrated you‌‌‍ and cleared your‍‌ mind. I can‌⁠ activate all things.”⁠‍

Just‌‌⁠ as she said,⁠‍ the mental energy‍‌‍ that Shirone had exhausted from continuous‍‌ battles, from Igirin‍ to Tabu, had⁠ completely recovered.

“Ah⁠⁠ thank you. I didn’t even notice…”⁠

“It’s‌‌ nothing. By the‍⁠ way, how does‌‍‌ it feel to‍⁠ know the secret‍‌⁠ of heaven?”

Shirone⁠ reviewed the memories‍‌ that Ikael had transmitted to him.‌‍

It‌‍ was vague, like‍⁠ a dream, but‌‌ clearly it was‌ not.

He⁠ had discovered an‌⁠‌ enormous truth.

Above‍‍ all, he was⁠ shocked to know that Miro had‍‍ done something like‍ that.

“The⁠⁠ ability to connect‍‍ dimensions belongs exclusively‍‍ to angels. But‌ for a long‌ time we have transmitted that power‌ to humans.”

“Those⁠ are the nephilim.”⁠

“That’s‌‍ right. The nephilim‌‌ guide humans toward‌⁠ God. But some‌ nephilim do the‌ opposite. Those civilizations,‌⁠ in general, turn away from divine‌ will and build⁠‌ their own civilization.‍ Like the world where Shirone lived.”⁠

Shirone‌‍ understood why the⁠‍ records of ancient⁠‍ magic were different.‍

At⁠ some point, humanity⁠‌ had turned away⁠ from divine will.⁠⁠

And⁠ the magic they⁠ developed independently was the Spirit Zone.‍⁠