Deep within the hallowed halls of the Temple of Solomon, in a chamber illuminated by the soft flickering glow of spirit lamps.
Jay stood at the foot of a simple wooden bed, his gaze fixed on the purple-haired woman who had remained in a state of comatose for the past year.
Glenda's face was pale, her features sharpened by the long slumber, yet her condition had stabilized significantly under the care of Bilqis and Solomon. The abundant Nature and Spirit Energy within the temple further aided her recovery.
Though it merely slowed the disaster and did not cure the symptoms.
Lavinia stood at Jay's side, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. Her sapphire eyes were clouded with a mixture of hope and dread. Behind them, Kuroka, Bilqis, and Solomon observed in silence.
"Alright, I will start the treatment," Jay said, his voice grounding the room's heavy atmosphere.
He closed his eyes and a shroud of grey Senjutsu Ki began to rise from his skin like mist, swirling around his limbs before enveloping his whole body. He drew a deep breath and began the summoning chant.
"The Time of Preservation Has Come, He Is the One Who Rules All."
Jay's eyes then snapped open.
"Ars Theurgia."
The transformation was instantaneous as an immense, kaleidoscopic aura erupted from Jay's body, instantly overwhelming the grey mist of his Senjutsu.
The room was bathed in a shifting light of six distinct colors. On Jay's back, the Sigils of the Six Elementals manifested, each node of the Hexagram flaring like a sun. The sheer pressure of the spirit energy caused the wooden furniture to creak and the spirit lamps to flare brilliantly.
Theurgia, are you here? Jay asked within the sanctuary of his mind.
Yeah, what's up with calling me so fast? Theurgia's voice grumbled, though it carried a hint of curiosity.
As you can see from the condition of my teacher, I need your help to completely absorb the spirit of water currently merging with her own, Jay explained, his mental image pointing toward the unconscious Glenda.
Yo, isn't this lady over here in dire condition? Theurgia remarked, his tone shifting to one of genuine interest.
It seems she is almost completely being taken over by the spirit inside of her. It's a good thing you called on me now. If you had waited even one more year, perhaps all of her remaining soul would be no more.
Jay's eyes widened slightly beneath his expresionless face.
Suddenly, his dark hazel irises were overlaid with a brilliant gold, a gift of Theurgia's Spirit Eyes.
The world before him shifted as he beheld the spiritual tapestry within Glenda's body.
There were two colors… and the blue had almost completely filled her entire body. Jay observed.
Yeah, the blue one is a spirit of water, Theurgia noted with a hint of disdain.
How was your teacher so reckless? She really thought she was dealing with a good spirit to not make a master-to-servant contract... Nature spirit is neither good nor evil, but being neutral doesn't mean it's not going to harm you. A river doesn't hate you, but it will still drown you if you don't know how to swim.
Quit with your mockery, Theurgia, or I'll beat your ass again, Jay interjected coldly.
...
Theurgia fell into an abrupt silence.
So, with your spirit eyes, it seems even I can do it with my power, Jay thought about using Absolute Nonexistence, analyzing the way the blue colored spirit was tangled with Glenda's white colored spirit.
Well, you could, but letting me work through you will be quicker, Theurgia replied, his tone now carefully neutral.
Though I do not doubt your control over your power, one wrong move will send your teacher into nonexistence, just like my hand. Theurgia spoke with an ironic tone, which almost made Jay laugh, if not for the seriousness of their situation.
Alright, I'll let you do your thing, Jay decided.
Jay reached out with his hand enveloped in the myriad-colored aura, and then he gently pressed his palm against Glenda's forehead.
The colorful spirit energy flowed from Jay's arm, snaking around Glenda's body until it enveloped her whole.
After only a few seconds, the blue tint within her spirit began to recede, flowing upward through Jay's arm and back into the elemental sigils.
Done, Theurgia said.
Huh? That quick?
Well, all nature spirits are part of me and they are born through me, Theurgia stated with a palpable sense of pride.
I am their King. When I want them to return to me, it's as easy as a dry cloth absorbing a single drop of water.
That's amazing, Jay admitted, not failing to compliment his new spirit.
Of course I am, Theurgia boasted, his ego clearly recovering from the earlier threat.
As the aura settled and the sigils on Jay's back faded into transparency, he withdrew his hand.
The room returned to its natural dimness, though a lingering warmth remained.
"Done. Glenda's condition should get better now," Jay announced, glancing toward Lavinia.
He intentionally withheld Theurgia's assessment of how close Glenda had come to total takeover by the spirit within her. There was no need to burden Lavinia with more what-ifs than she had already carried.
"Then..." Lavinia whispered, her gaze locked on the woman who had been her teacher, her mother, and her world.
The silence that followed was heavy with anticipation.
Until a small, almost imperceptible movement occurred.
Glenda's eyelids twitched.
Lavinia gasped, lunging forward to the side of the bed.
"Oshishou-sama!"
Slowly, with the agonizing weight of her own body, Glenda's eyes opened. They were cloudy at first, struggling to focus on the unfamiliar ceiling.
Lavinia leaned in closer, her breath hitching as the irises of her teacher finally cleared, reflecting the light of the room once more.
Lavinia's eyes flooded with tears, the longing and grief of several years finally breaking through her composure.
As Glenda regained consciousness, she moved her head with a sluggish, heavy effort. Her eyes swept across the room, eventually landing on the young man standing at the foot of her bed.
She recognized those sharp, dark hazel eyes and the indifferent expression on his face.
"Jay..." she rasped, her voice little more than a dry whisper.
Then, she turned her head further, seeing the blonde woman whose face was wet with tears. She saw the maturity in the features, the strength in the posture, and the deep love in the expression.
Her beautiful face, the one she had watched grow before her eyes. The guilt she felt, knowing she had used her for her own benefit. Her beautiful little girl, her daughter in all but blood.
"La... vinia... Is that you?"
Hearing her name spoken in that familiar, maternal tone after years of silence broke the last of Lavinia's strength. She collapsed toward the bed, grabbing Glenda's frail, pale hand.
"Oshishou-sama... Yes, it's me!"
Glenda struggled for a moment, using her remaining strength to lift her hand. Her fingers were trembling and thin, but she managed to reach up and gently caress Lavinia's cheek, wiping away a stray tear.
"I'm... sorry... for... everything," Glenda whispered, her voice filled with a regret that spanned years of manipulation and mistakes.
Lavinia shook her head violently, her blonde hair swaying.
She gripped Glenda's hand as if she feared the woman might vanish if she let go. A profound sense of relief washed over her as she realized that the poisonous lies Augusta had tried to plant in her heart were not true.
Jay stood in the shadows of the room, watching the reunion for a few long moments. He saw the way Lavinia clung to Glenda, and the genuine sorrow in Glenda's eyes.
"Let's give them some time alone," Jay said, turning toward the door.
Bilqis, Kuroka, and Solomon nodded in agreement, their expressions softened by the scene.
They followed Jay out of the chamber.
Jay paused for a moment, casting one last glance back at Lavinia. She was still crying, but they were tears of happiness.
Satisfied, he stepped out and quietly closed the door.
Once they were in the grand, open hallway of the temple, the group slowed their pace. Solomon walked beside Jay.
"It seems that her spirit is severely damaged. Now that the water spirit within her has been removed, it is becoming clear…" Solomon said.
"Yeah, Theurgia said she needs a significant amount of time to recover her spirit," Jay replied. "He also mentioned that learning Senjutsu could accelerate her recovery by helping her harmonize with natural Ki, though I opposed the idea because it's too risky."
Solomon nodded.
"Then you all should stay here for longer," Bilqis suggested, her jade eyes kind. "This temple is designed with an abundance of spirit and nature energy. Staying here would be the most efficient way to facilitate her healing naturally. Right, husband?"
Solomon nodded firmly. "Indeed. The environment here is perfect for her recovery. Or…"
He looked at Jay with a curious tilt of his head.
"-do you already have another plan in motion?"
"Well, there is nothing urgent requiring our presence in the outside world for the moment," Jay said, his expression darkening slightly.
"But I do have one lingering concern."
"One concern?" Solomon asked.
"Do you know the man called Rizevim Livan Lucifer?"
At the mention of the name, Solomon's posture stiffened. His eyes narrowed, and a cold, sharp light entered his gaze, as if the name itself evoked a centuries-old headache.
"The only biological child of Lucifer and Lilith," Solomon said, his voice neutral but laced with a faint, underlying animosity.
"Of course I know of him. He was a troublesome fella even during the tail end of my era. What about him?"
"He is in possession of the strongest Longinus... at least, in my opinion," Jay said. He willed the Black Grail to manifest at his side.
"The Sephiroth Graal."
Solomon stared at the artifact with a look of recognition.
"As you can see, I have one as well," Jay continued. "But in this era, there are currently three Sephiroth Graals in existence. One belongs to me, one to my friend Valerie, and the last is in Rizevim's hands... I assume you are familiar with its primary capability?"
Solomon nodded slowly. "A power that comes into contact with the very principles of life itself, governs the aspect of souls, and can bring back the dead…"
"Yeah. And during my time in Romania, that man used the grail to resurrect the Diabolism Thousand Dragon, Azi Dahaka," Jay stated.
"The Evil Dragon?" Bilqis and Solomon both stopped in their tracks, their eyes wide with shock.
Azi Dahaka was a name from the dark ages of myth. A creature so vile and destructive that it had required the combined efforts of hundreds of Zoroastrian deities to seal him, a conflict that had left the entire Zoroatrianism pantheon in ruins thousands of years ago.
"Then, is Azi Dahaka still roaming freely in the world?" Bilqis asked, her voice hushed.
"Well, I killed him," Jay said plainly.
The statement hung in the air, heavy and blunt.
Bilqis and Solomon stared at him, stunned into a brief silence. Even Kuroka, who had only heard legends of the Evil Dragons, felt a chill run down her spine.
Solomon eventually broke the silence with a soft, wry smile. He shouldn't have been surprised with Jay's casualness about slaying a world-ending threat.
"That is a relief, but I understand the implications you are worried about," Solomon said, regaining his composure.
"If he can bring back one, he can bring back others." Solomon muttered. "He could revive the most vile beings in history, those already dead or sealed, and even more Evil Dragons."
Jay nodded.
"Yes, and not only that… The Sephiroth Graal in my hand, and his hand as well, possesses another capability. One that made it possible for me to find this place, the Soul Information," Jay said.
"That brings us to another catastrophe waiting to happen… When I first heard you speak of it..." Jay stopped walking, allowing his words to sink in. He looked at the King, waiting for him to reach his own conclusion.
Solomon's eyes suddenly widened as a horrifying realization struck him.
"The Beast of the End... Trihexa."
Jay gave a nod. "That is why I need to find and kill him before he can orchestrate a world-ending catastrophe."
Solomon, Bilqis, and Kuroka remained silent at Jay's words, now that they fully understood his concern.
"However," Jay continued, his tone shifting back to his usual pragmatic self,
"...he hasn't made a major move recently. He is currently hiding in a location that I cannot easily access without declaring war on the entire Greek Pantheon, which would be counterproductive for now."
Not that Jay particularly feared the Olympian gods, it was simply not a wise move to make.
"So, I suppose we will be staying here for the time being," Jay concluded. "I can monitor his movements through the Grail while Glenda recovers her strength."
Solomon smiled, the tension leaving his shoulders. He placed a hand on Jay's shoulder.
"You are welcome here for as long as you need-
-After all, this place was built for you."
***
As night fell over the artificial landscape of the temple, a serene, silver light bathed the grassy fields. Lavinia remained by Glenda's bedside, refusing to leave even for a moment.
Jay sat alone atop their usual marble bench, a cup of steaming black tea in his hand. He stared up at the artificial moon, his mind filled with thoughts.
"Nya!"
A dark blur came up behind him, attempting to land on Jay's shoulders. Jay did not move, simply shifting his weight slightly so that Kuroka landed gracefully on the marble bench beside him instead.
"You're not surprised? Nya, how boring~" Kuroka pouted, tucking her legs under her kimono and sitting close to him.
"What are you doing here, Kuroka?" Jay asked, taking a slow sip of his tea.
"Nya! Am I not allowed to be here? How cruel!" Kuroka complained, her tail swishing playfully.
"Even though we have spent a whole year together, and maybe we'll spend another year until Lavi-nya's teacher... or should I say mama? Yes, until she recovers properly."
"... You know you could just leave to go see your sister and come back whenever you want, right?" Jay pointed out.
"Ehh~ But I want to introduce the two of you to her properly," Kuroka said, her eyes gleaming with a mischievous light.
"So of course I have to wait for you two... Besides, she also needs to meet her soon-to-be brother-in-law- Nghnya!!"
Before she could finish the sentence, Jay delivered a swift, precise flick to her forehead. The impact was enough to make a small puff of steam rise from her skin.
"Nyauchie! That hurts! What was that for-nya?" Kuroka cried, rubbing the red spot on her brow.
"Are you still talking about that?" Jay asked, his brow furrowed.
"Didn't I already tell you no?"
"Nya~ Is it because you want to get married and have babies with Lavi-nya first?" Kuroka teased, her eyes narrowing as she looked for a reaction.
Jay didn't answer, his expression remaining perfectly neutral, which Kuroka took as a silent confirmation.
"Well then, I don't mind being a second wife-nya," she added cheerfully.
"No. But i do," Jay replied.
"Nya! I will ask Lavi-nya if she agrees. Even Solomon has a lot of wives... What's the harm in adding one more?" Kuroka pleaded, her voice taking on a whiny tone.
Jay looked at her with a look of genuine disbelief, his face practically screaming Is this girl serious?
"The answer is no. Go find some other strong person to have babies with," Jay said, turning back to his tea.
"Nyaww! But I only want you, Boss!"
Kuroka suddenly launched herself at him, her arms reaching out for a hug. Jay's left hand shot out with practiced ease, catching her by the collar of her kimono and holding her at arm's length. She dangled there for a moment, her feet kicking the air as she tried to press her chest toward him, before she finally gave up and went limp.
"Tsk. How cruel-nya," she said with a heavy pout as he set her back down on the bench.
Jay ignored the antics, returning to his tea in comfortable silence. However, after a minute had passed, his expression grew serious.
"Kuroka, actually, there is something I have wanted to ask you for a long time," Jay said.
"Nya! Are you changing your mind already?" Kuroka asked, her ears perking up.
Jay ignored the comment.
"Your past.... You told me that your former master, that Devil, tried to perform experiments on you and your sister, right?"
Kuroka's playful demeanor vanished instantly. She tilted her head, her expression becoming guarded.
"Nya... why are you suddenly asking about that?"
Jay hesitated, choosing his words carefully. He looked into her feline eyes, searching for the truth behind her constant mask of cheerfulness.
"You... even now, you are labeled as a criminal by them. And you can't even see your sister because of that," Jay said. "Don't you feel any hatred toward them? Toward the system that allowed that to happen?"
Kuroka went quiet. The constant swishing of her tail stopped.
After a brief silence.
"Nya... of course I hate them," she said, her voice devoid of its usual melodic lilt.
The answer surprised Jay. He had expected her to deflect or give a more nuanced answer, but her bluntness caught him off guard.
"I hate them because they separated me from Shirone-nya," Kuroka continued, her face set in a serious line that rarely appeared. "And the worst thing is, they made her hate me… They told her I was a monster who killed our master because I was drunk with power. So yes, I hate them for that."
"And that... what are you going to do with that hatred?" Jay asked.
"What do you mean-nya?" Kuroka shrugged, her usual carefree attitude returning.
"Oh~… Honestly, I don't care about revenge or politics… I just want to be with Shirone again. And as long as she doesn't hate me and I can be with her, the rest of the world can do whatever it wants."
Jay fell silent again, sipping his tea as he contemplated her answer.
***
In a land far removed from the Temple of Solomon, within a grand, golden throne room that defied the modern world's architecture, a different kind of silence reigned.
Towering columns shaped like lotus and papyrus rose toward a deep blue ceiling studded with faint, glowing golden stars. Sunlight filtered from high above in a warm, steady glow, illuminating walls lined with intricate carvings of ancient rites and kings in reverence.
At the far end of the hall, a magnificent throne of solid gold and jeweled inlays stood atop raised marble steps.
But in this grand throne room, there was no one there, just as it had been for hundreds of years.
Except for the man now seated upon the golden throne, and the woman standing beside him.
A young man who appeared to be in his early twenties sat upon the gold, radiating a divine, overwhelming presence. His bronze skin was dusted with flecks of gold that shimmered like scattered sunlight. Dark, wavy hair fell loosely around his face, and long, ornate earrings of gold and crystal swayed softly with every slight movement of his head.
The most striking feature, however, was a radiant sun-shaped mark ignited on his forehead. It pulsed with a rhythmic light, as if it were synchronized with the heartbeat of the world itself.
"How is the preparation of the system?" the young man asked.
"Everything should be finished in a couple of months, perhaps a year," the woman standing beside the throne replied.
Her presence was understated, almost mundane compared to the brilliance of the man she served.
"Is that perhaps too long?"
"No," the young man said, a faint smile touching his lips.
"I have waited hundreds of years for this moment... I can manage one more year of patience. After all, the path has already been decided. Just ensure that everything is perfect for our guests, alright~?"
"Of course," the woman said, bowing her head.
The young man's smile widened, growing deeper and more profound. It was a look of someone who already saw the end of a long journey.
"One year… ten months… and ten days…"
He rose from the throne with an unhurried grace. The air in the throne room grew still and heavy with anticipation as he looked toward the horizon.
"And thus… the Game of Gods shall commence."
________________________________
And so, Arc V begins.
Heliopolis and the Game of Gods
This arc takes inspiration from a culling game, a battle royale between several Egyptian gods, their armies, and a number of canon characters, most of whom rank among the Top 100.
With this, we have officially reached the canon.