Day One: All surface life, humans included, was annihilated.
Day Two: All things in the world perished.
Day Three: The sun and moon were destroyed, day and night no longer distinguished.
Day Four: The continents sank, leaving nothing but a boundless ocean.
Day Five: Water sources dried up, the firmament collapsed.
Day Six: Light and darkness alike were lost, returning to chaos.
Day Seven: Calamity lowered its banners, the world came to rest. Amid joy, silent tears fell.
Thus, over seven days, the world was utterly destroyed. This was the content left behind in the seven murals of Numerounius.
Miles understood that religious legends, when describing the gods of one's own faith, inevitably contained a degree of exaggeration.
Yet the exquisite murals before him presented every detail, every inch of each scene, with astonishing precision. It was immersive, as though Miles had truly been pulled back into the world-circling heavenly flame of a bygone age.
Miles couldn't help but say, "Seven days to destroy a prehistoric civilization… and you revere something like this as a god?"
"Without Numerounius's divine miracles, there would be no Spirit Continent where we live today."
Rather than taking offense at Miles's "disrespect," Sylvia remained unfailingly devout.
"As prehistoric civilization advanced at high speed, the land's resources were depleted, the planet's vitality rapidly drained, and humanity and nature moved toward an irreconcilable extreme. If not for Numerounius's seven-day destruction of the world, the planet itself would have reached the end of its lifespan."
Miles said nothing further. He knew that regardless of the truth, this was the faith they had been taught since childhood.
Nonetheless, when prehistoric civilization was mentioned, Miles couldn't help thinking of another relic from that same era: the god-slaying weapon, Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS - Sky Thunder.
The Creator took seven days to create the world, shaping all things within it.
Though destruction might seem instantaneous, to dismantle creation likewise required a span as long as creation itself.
If the Numerounius took seven days to destroy the world, then during that time, humanity's will to survive would never have waited passively.
Run. Struggle. Use one's own hands to resist the creation of a new world.
Just as sung in the poetry passed down about Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS - Sky Thunder.
With humanity's greatest and final ultimate strike, calamity was annihilated. Humanity, once on the brink of extinction, finally obtained this god-slaying spear that defied fate and destroyed all.
"So it really was recorded!"
In the sixth mural carved into the wall, Miles actually found a figure bearing a striking resemblance to AA-ZEUS.
But it was too late. On the sixth day—"when light and darkness alike were lost, returning to chaos"—the humans of the prehistoric civilization only then obtained the power capable of opposing a god.
They had lost the land, lost the seas, even the light and shadows of sun and moon had vanished. On an incomparably lonely, void-like planet, the battle of Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS - Sky Thunder had already lost its meaning from the moment of its birth.
Even the colossal mural carved across the entire wall used only a single corner to record this moment.
And the seventh mural that followed depicted Numerounius gradually transforming into a wholly different form, destroying the world, returning everything to zero, and beginning anew.
Just as Sylvia believed, it was precisely because the god destroyed the prehistoric civilization and reshaped the world that the Spirit Continent where people now lived came into being.
A world distinguished from technology that overconsumed planetary resources—a world of swords and magic.
"You must be unwilling to accept it, Zeus."
At this moment, Miles could empathize with why, the instant he had stepped into the cathedral, the card of Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS - Sky Thunder had pointed straight at the statue of Numerounius.
That was a regret left behind ten thousand years ago; the god that the god-slaying weapon most ought to have slain, yet failed to slay.
If humanity had been able to grasp the god-slaying power of the 'Heavenly Thunder' on the very first day Numerounius descended, would the outcome have been different?
"Now, do you feel the great radiance of Numerounius? A god who destroys the world and then creates the world. Whether divine miracles or sheer power, both inspire reverence!"
It really did fit the aesthetic of the Varian Empire's faith.
As an empire that worshipped strength above all else, compared to other legendary gods who bestowed blessings, they would naturally prefer a god that possessed the overwhelming power to destroy the world.
Still, Miles truly felt nothing toward such a god.
A god who destroys the previous world and recreates the current one.
It sounded wonderful, but to Miles, this was nothing more than a faith instilled into devout believers like Sylvia from childhood.
Because no one could say for certain what standard a god used to judge the destruction of a world.
And since that standard was unknown, how could anyone guarantee that their world would not be the next to be erased?
When the world-destroying Numerounius descends upon this land once more, one could only hope that these believers would still be able to maintain their devout faith.
What Miles firmly believed, however, was this: without faith, gods and Buddhas alike could not harm him in the slightest. Even if the one standing opposite him was a god that destroyed the world.
"No, no, no. Calm down."
Perhaps influenced by the emotions of the Divine Arsenal, Miles had actually found himself wanting to throw down with this world-ending god. That was far too absurd.
Anyway, as a god of faith, setting aside whether Numerounius itself still existed, at least on the present Spirit Continent, there was no reason for destruction at all.
"Thank you very much for explaining all this to us, Sylvia. However, I think this faith simply isn't suitable for me."
In the end, Miles still hadn't figured out what kind of card effect Numerounius actually possessed as a God Card.
The only truly useful information he could glean from the murals was that Numerounius had two distinctly different forms—one before the destruction of the world, and one after.
Seeing her preaching fail, Sylvia clicked her tongue in displeasure, making an expression no cleric should ever make.
"This demon, with such a filthy heart, really can't understand the greatness of the gods. If you weren't good-looking, I would've thrown you out long ago."
"What are you muttering about, Sylvia?"
"Ah, nothing." Sylvia seamlessly switched back to the gentle smile of a professional nun. "Even if you are not believers of the gods, a benevolent god will surely bestow blessings upon you."
"Then I'll gladly accept your good wishes."
Miles waved to Nova and Irena, preparing to leave.
Compared to Miles, Irena and little Nova had absolutely no interest in Numerounius at all.
At least Miles had tried to infer and speculate about the God Card's effect from the murals on the wall.
As for Irena and Nova, they had only followed along to prevent Miles from being dragged alone into some little dark room and crushed by that lewd nun.
"That's great! Can we finally go have fun again now?" little Nova declared, feeling liberated once more.
"Before coming to the cathedral, I already scouted out all the fun places in the imperial capital. Just follow me~" Putting her hat back on, Irena proactively took on the role of guide.
"You… you're leaving already?"
Seeing that Miles was about to go, Sylvia instinctively reached out to stop him.
Abruptly, then, the moment Sylvia saw her hand hovering over Miles' shoulder, she instantly snapped back to her senses.
Why was she trying to stop a demon anyway? She really had been bewitched by a demon's pretty face!
Smack!
After pulling her hand back, Sylvia angrily slapped her useless self across the face.
I am a holy nun! Stop thinking with the lower half of your body!
"Um…"
The effect was immediate. Sylvia's slap successfully drew Miles' attention again.
Of course, what Miles was thinking was whether nuns these days were all this strange… suffering not only from persecution complexes, but also showing self-harming tendencies.
"Um, do you still need something, Sylvia?"
With half her face burning red, Sylvia forced a smile.
"Actually, if you plan to look around, there are still many things worth seeing in the cathedral. After all, when it comes to touring the imperial capital, the cathedral counts as a must-visit landmark."
"Huh?" Nova's cute face instantly fell. "We finally get to travel, and I don't want to keep wandering around the cathedral. I want to go eat the imperial capital's specialty snacks."
"Food, food… well, we don't really have food, but we do have holy water! Refreshing to the soul, cleansing even the spirit! Nun-exclusive holy water! It's very popular in the cathedral!"
…What a business-savvy church.
Miles privately felt that the reason holy water was popular probably had nothing to do with being refreshing or cleansing the soul, and everything to do with it being nun-exclusive holy water.
"It's just ordinary water." After tasting it, Nova gave her verdict.
Daring to sell a cup of water for two silver coins? These church administrators ought to be strung up on lampposts.
"Miles, drink this cup." Sylvia handed the glass over.
"Why is this one so thick? I'm not drinking it!"
"Probably because this one has aloe added," Sylvia replied.
"So sweet!" Irena drained her cup and couldn't help exclaiming. "It's sweet, sure… but isn't this just pear water you can find anywhere?"
Good grief. Not only did they slap the name 'nun-exclusive holy water' on it, they even added a blind-box element. When it came to fleecing people, the church really knew how to do it.
"Sylvia, I know you want to play the gracious host, but we really should be going."
Even though the cathedral's so-called sightseeing spots were all rather bizarre, Miles could still feel Sylvia's desire to keep them there.
"As for the next few days, we'll be staying in the imperial capital. If there's a chance, we'll come visit you."
"Really?"
Sylvia lit up with joy, only to immediately realize she'd fallen into the demon's charm again.
Just as Sylvia was about to slap herself once more, her hand suddenly stopped. If Miles and the others were staying in the imperial capital for several days, her expression instantly turned serious.
"Miles, you said you're here to tour the imperial capital, right? How long exactly are you planning to stay?"
Miles himself hadn't heard Alice give any specific timeline.
He could only infer it based on the fact that Aisha had only taken a week off.
"Probably no more than a week."
"The night after tomorrow!" For some reason, Sylvia's tone carried a hint of urgency.
"Leave the imperial capital before the night after tomorrow. The Varian Empire has many beautiful cities. If you're just sightseeing, there's no need to stay in the imperial capital the whole time."
"Before the night after tomorrow?"
If Miles remembered correctly, the night after tomorrow should be the emperor's birthday banquet.
On such a nationwide celebratory day, the imperial capital, as the heart of the empire, should be at its liveliest and most prosperous.
Why was this lewd nun suggesting that he leave early at a time like this?
"Why?"
"Why… the reason…" Sylvia stammered for a moment. "I can't say the reason, but I can swear to the gods. Leaving early will absolutely be good for you."
She couldn't say the reason, yet she was advising him to leave the imperial capital before the emperor's birthday banquet.
Although Sylvia had always treated him as someone with a demon-entangled soul, Miles had never felt any genuine malice or hatred toward him from her.
Perhaps the emperor's birthday banquet two days from now really involved something only the clergy knew.
Something truly terrible might happen in the imperial capital.
That said, the more likely it was that something terrible would happen, the more Miles couldn't leave.
Aisha was attending the imperial invitation in the capacity of a Royal Knight of Livorden.
And the task Miles had accepted from Alice was to protect Aisha properly during this imperial trip.
"Sorry, but without a concrete reason, I won't be leaving," Miles declined gently.
Sylvia froze in place. As a member of one of the empire's three great families, and with matters involving her own Diane family, Sylvia Diane definitely couldn't reveal the concrete reason.
And perhaps she didn't need to worry so much about a demon anyway.
"If that's the case…"
Even if there was no need to worry about a demon, Sylvia still tore the silver cross from her chest and clenched it with force in her hand.
The gods were benevolent… benevolent even toward those entangled with demons.
"In the name of Numerounius, I offer my most sincere blessings for your journey ahead."
As a cathedral nun, praying for all beings was the only thing Sylvia could do at this moment.
Yet this blessing from the gods unexpectedly caused the Spirit Eyes on Miles's arm to light up.
"The Spirit Eyes' energy is full?" Miles looked at his arm in surprise.
Perhaps it was just a coincidence. When Duelists summoned Monster Cards, aside from relying on the mana amplification arrays used at the academies, another possibility was that when the Duelist themselves grew, the Spirit Eyes could complete a summon.
After battling Malefic Monsters and achieving Fusion evolution with D/D/D, Miles had undoubtedly grown as a Duelist—enough to summon entirely new cards.
It just so happened that Sylvia's blessing coincided with that moment, causing the Spirit Eyes to activate at the same time.
So was this really just a coincidence?
In any case…
"Miles, you're giving birth!" Nova exclaimed excitedly.
"Watch your wording, Nova."
Miles raised his arm, Spirit Eyes level. Since the energy was full, he might as well perform an on-the-spot summon and expend it all at once.
A Monster Card summon performed within a sacred cathedral.
"Myth bursts forth! Monster Summon!"
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