Regardless of Jorge achieving the 9th Circle realm, whether his magic could be theoretically proven remained a crucial issue.
If his magical theory couldn't be verified in practice, other mages wouldn't be able to learn the derivative spells stemming from it.
Proving a spell was the process of demonstrating that not only the creator but also other mages could realistically implement it through systematic theory.
Without this process, magic would lose its value as an academic discipline and devolve into something like ancient spells—merely a form of personal training or self-cultivation.
Jorge bounced around the office in excitement.
"Proof! Proof! It's proven! The Theory of Ouroboros that I created has been proven!" Zeke clapped without enthusiasm as he watched the excited Jorge.
"Congratulations, Master Jorge."
Even at Zeke's dry congratulations, Jorge teared up with joy and rushed over, throwing himself into Zeke's arms.
"Sniff! Today's proof is all thanks to you, Sir Zeke! I want to dedicate this glory to you!" Zeke didn't particularly need that glory, but he nodded and guided Jorge to a seat.
Jorge remained caught in a whirlwind of excitement, unable to calm down.
Zeke wasn't all that interested, but out of courtesy, he asked about the magic.
"What is this Theory of Ouroboros you mentioned?"
Seeing Zeke show interest and ask a question, Jorge grew even more animated, spittle flying as he began his explanation.
"The Theory of Ouroboros is, well, simply put, like a snake biting its own tail and spinning eternally. No, that's not simple enough."
He pondered for a moment before speaking again.
"The image of a snake biting its tail and spinning represents perpetuity. What I wanted to research was precisely this aspect of perpetuity."
"Perpetuity. Is it similar to immortality?" Jorge shook his head at Zeke's words.
"It's similar but different. Immortality means simply not disappearing, but perpetuity is about ceaselessly striving to avoid disappearance. The determinism you mentioned, immortality, is closer to that—a process aligned toward an inevitable conclusion of nonextinction, no matter what."
Jorge licked his dry lips and continued.
"But the perpetuity I studied isn't about a predetermined outcome. It's about constantly choosing futures that can sustainably continue amid countless possibilities." Zeke wore an expression of half-understanding as he listened to Jorge.
At that moment, Jorge pulled something from his pocket.
It was a flat lump of lead.
"I'll show you what perpetuity means with this."
He levitated the lead lump into the air and applied force from all sides, crushing it into a deformed shape.
Jorge placed the mangled lead on the desk and pointed to it.
"Look, Sir Zeke."
As instructed, Zeke gazed at the lead lump.
Surprisingly, the crushed lead slowly began reverting to its original form.
Soon, the lead lump had fully restored itself.
Jorge looked at the completely recovered lump and said,
"This lead lump has been imbued with perpetuity—it seeks to return to its original form." "To its original form? So it has self-recovery capabilities?" Jorge nodded.
"Yes. I've altered its properties so that the object can eternally maintain this original form."
"Altered its properties? So even without additional mana infusion, when it's deformed, it will try to revert to its original state on its own?"
"You truly grasp the core of it. Exactly. It's a property that perpetually maintains the original form without mana replenishment. Creating that structure through magic is the Theory of Ouroboros."
Zeke looked surprised as he listened to Jorge.
'It seemed similar to the power of immortality.'
After some thought, Zeke asked Jorge,
"Could this property change apply to living beings as well, not just objects?" Jorge immediately shook his head at Zeke's question.
"That's impossible. Living beings fundamentally cannot maintain perpetuity. Life is defined by ceaseless change, never stopping even for a moment."
"Life changes without stopping... I see."
Zeke accepted Jorge's explanation, but it left him with lingering questions.
'Then, what principle powered the immortality I possessed?'
Something impossible for living beings was plainly happening in Zeke's body.
It had started as self-recovery through healing, but now it had transcended that to make him an undying existence. Naturally, Zeke was curious about the source of this power.
Jorge began adding annotations here and there to his notes scribbled all over the office.
Seeing this, Zeke said to him,
"Master Jorge, since there's still a fortnight until the Continental Grand Council begins, why not use this office as a study to refine your theory?" Jorge trembled with excitement at Zeke's words.
"W-Would that be all right?" He nodded.
"It's a space we don't use much, so it doesn't matter. Tell me what you need, and I'll have the furniture rearranged." Jorge shook his head.
"Oh, no need! I'll handle it myself!"
With a flick of his staff, the room's furniture rearranged itself.
Zeke couldn't help but feel anew that this eccentric old man was truly an archmage who had attained the 9th Circle.
'At least I didn't have to worry about Nirvana stabbing us in the back for now.'
Having foreseen the creation of One Thousand Golems, Jorge had decided to make them.
For now, the reason why those One Thousand Golems would be created remained undetermined.
As Zeke watched Jorge focus on organizing his theory and turned to leave the office,
"Ah! Sir Zeke. There's one thing I forgot to mention." Zeke turned to look at Jorge.
Jorge scratched his head and said,
"About the future I saw before. Actually, it wasn't just the One Thousand Golems." In that instant, a voice arrived via communication magic at Zeke's ear.
—"In a scene from the future, the One Thousand Golems were fighting alongside you,
Sir Zeke, against something."
*
Thud thud thud thud!
Carriages of all sorts arrived at Agamemnon Castle in Mycenae.
Representatives from the major kingdoms and families of the Central Continent gathered in Mycenae to attend the Continental Grand Council.
Originally planned for Atlas, the venue had been changed to Agamemnon Castle at Kali's suggestion that holding it in Mycenae—where they had directly experienced the demonkind invasion—would be more meaningful.
Numerous people entered the grand hall of Agamemnon Castle.
Among them were luminaries of the continent: Pope Beatrice of the Holy Kingdom and her successor Roban; Princess Melissa of Alencia; Angelina Graham, the famed successor to Panstus and the continent's greatest beauty; and Hermann Solma of Thebea's Royal Guard.
They exchanged greetings and conversed with those they knew.
Then, someone entered the hall, and a knight by the door announced the name of the newcomer.
"The Young Family Head of the Ishtar Family! Lady Yellin Ishtar!" At the mention of Ishtar's heir, everyone in the hall turned in surprise.
Thud!
Yellin, veiled and clad in traditional Ishtar martial robes, appeared with her escort Himmel. All who saw her fell silent.
They were struck breathless by the unique dignity and beauty she exuded.
Even with her face partially obscured by the veil, it was clear her beauty rivaled that of Angelina Graham, the continent's top beauty.
No one had expected the heir of the Ishtar Family—known only as a byword for terror— to be so stunning.
Following Ishtar, another figure who drew equal attention entered the hall.
"The Family Head of the Nirvana Family! Master Jorge!" Master Jorge entered the hall alongside Xeros.
Having spent the night immersed in research until morning, Jorge shuffled in with a disheveled appearance, nodding off as he walked.
"Family Head. Please stay alert."
At Xeros's words, Jorge finally woke from his daze, wiping drool from his mouth and waving his hand.
"Wha? Oh, right. Haha! Nice to see everyone. Very nice!"
His dazed demeanor drew no mockery or disdain from anyone.
The name of the Nirvana Family alone instilled tension in the kingdoms and families of the Central Continent.
Immediately after, the hall doors swung wide open, and the final arrival entered.
"The Family Head of the Draker Family! Kali Draker!"
Kali appeared, clad in the new white-silver armor Zeke had gifted her to commemorate her ascension as Family Head.
Behind her walked Zeke and Helen side by side.
The new Family Head of the Draker Family hosted the Continental Grand Council.
Kali was already renowned across the continent, so many present knew her.
She strode confidently to the center of the hall.
In the gathering of representatives from the continent's major kingdoms and families, Kali addressed them with dignified poise.
"First, I extend my thanks to all the esteemed guests who have attended this hastily convened Continental Grand Council."
She slowly surveyed the room before continuing.
"The reason we are gathered here today is no other."
At her gesture, screens projected by magic projectors appeared throughout the hall.
The screens showed monsters and demonkind attacking Mycenae.
The continent's key figures, who had been unaware of the battle's details, gaped at the footage.
The horde of Demon Realm monsters and magical beasts pouring from the massive gate in the sky, and the demonkind unleashing powers beyond common sense, plunged the entire hall into shock.
Kali watched alongside them before speaking again. "All of this actually happened here in Mycenae, right now."
She raised her voice as she faced the assembly.
"If such a thing befell your own kingdoms or territories, what would you do?" At Kali's words, the expressions of those in the hall hardened.
Imagining a demonkind invasion striking their own lands made the gravity of the situation hit home.
In an instant, the hall's atmosphere grew somber.
It was a far cry from the lively mood at the start.
Kali scanned the room once more and spoke.
"The reason for holding this Continental Grand Council today is because the entire
Central Continent must unite to avert a greater calamity ahead."
At that moment, a high-ranking official from the Central Kingdom raised a hand and said,
"Lady Kali! What do you mean by this greater calamity? Are you referring to the largescale monster wave rumored in the world?" Kali shook her head.
"A monster wave is merely a harbinger. The greater calamity means something else." All eyes in the hall fixed on Kali.
She slowly opened her mouth.
"The greater calamity... is none other than the descent of the Demon King." At Kali's words, confusion rippled across the faces of those assembled.
"The... Demon King?"
"Surely not the Demon King from the stories?"
"The descent of the Demon King...?"
Mentioning the descent of the Demon King elicited mostly incredulous reactions.
After all, no one had ever seriously believed the Demon King actually existed.
As murmurs filled the hall, Zeke stepped forward from behind Kali.
"My name is Zeke Draker. In the world, I am known as the Knight of Salvation."
As the continent's most renowned Knight of Salvation stepped forward, the murmurs ceased, and all focused on his words.
Zeke slowly addressed them.
"It seems the name Demon King doesn't resonate well." He looked around the hall before speaking.
"Then how about this name? Bahamut, the evil dragon that terrorized the continent a thousand years ago."
In that instant, the hall's atmosphere froze like ice.
Zeke continued, facing their stunned expressions.
"That is another name for the Demon King who descended upon the
Phenomenal World."