บท 36: [36] : Kabbalistic Formula
Draconic Deus.
Underworld.
[***]
"This spot should be fine," Vali said to Aiden as the latter looked around.
Right now, they were in the Underworld, a place where the sky was purple and lacked a day-night cycle.
Demonic energy saturated the air with a heavy density, making it clear that this was the origin and home of devils.
They were in a deserted area, surrounded by a forest that encircled a large lake and a few scattered hills.
Kurumi, Arthur, Bikou, Le Fay, and Kuroka watched from a distance.
Aiden could make out Kurumi, Kuroka, and Le Fay conversing about something, but he turned his attention back to Vali.
"The Underworld has some pretty scenic natural spots," Aiden commented casually as he took in the view. "I always imagined it as a living hell, you know, lava everywhere, fire all around…"
Although he had visited the Underworld before, he couldn't help but voice those words as he admired the enchanting scenery.
Vali, who was already walking away to begin the training match, glanced back slightly and replied:
"You've never been to the Underworld? Or are you just not familiar with it? Even though you're over a century old, you're one of those, what's the word in Japan…? NEETs? Otaku?"
Vali's words left Aiden speechless.
Even Albion agreed with the observation, surprised that he had never heard of Aiden before.
Normally, people whose strength rivals that of a Satan or a god are quite well-known in the world.
"Don't call me a NEET! Otaku maybe… but never a NEET! The reason I'm unfamiliar with it is because I'm a foreigner," Aiden replied casually, though slightly offended.
Vali tilted his head, reflecting for a moment as he recalled Azazel's words about the identity of the mysterious man who fought against Great Red.
'It couldn't be… could it?' he thought, quickly shaking off the idea.
However, the thought filled him with excitement: if Aiden really was that man, perhaps he could help him grow stronger.
'[It's not impossible],' Albion murmured in Vali's mind, his tone calm yet thoughtful. '[However, if he truly is that person, I can only say that coincidences can be unsettling. At least we can be sure he has no ill intentions.]'
Vali nodded at Albion's words, clenching his fists with determination as he prepared for the battle.
Aiden also stopped speaking, reflecting on which technique to use.
He knew he had to hold back to avoid ending the fight in an instant, as he wanted to gather data on the [Sacred Gear] in use.
'I'll use my magic formula. After all, I rarely ever use it since I'm always employing [Gate of Babylon] or the [Angels],' he thought to himself, a faint smile forming on his lips.
In the past, Aiden had created a unique technique called [Kabbalistic Formula], inspired by the Kabbalah and the Tree of Life. (Just the name)
While fully explaining this formula was an extensive task, its function could be summarized as a fascinating magical system that combined imagination, logical calculations, and manipulation of universal laws to manifest supernatural phenomena.
The principle was simple: the less logical the created spell was, the more magical energy it drained.
Aiden had designed this system as a means to harness his human side, namely his magical power.
Although he could also fuel it with his spiritual energy (Reiryoku), the main goal was to make use of his magical energy, which usually went unused except when activating [Gate of Babylon] or employing [Kaleidoscope] to travel between worlds.
Aiden created this system more out of whim than necessity.
His [Angels] and [Demon Kings] already possessed sufficient offensive power, so there wasn't a real need to complicate things.
However, during those 100 years of boredom, he decided to finally materialize this concept.
Now then, what would you prefer?
To make complex calculations about the laws of the universe and focus all your imagination?
Or to simply wave the <Divine Authorities>, which activated by sheer will?
Aiden preferred the latter, which is why he rarely used the [Kabbalistic Formula], despite having created extremely efficient spells with this system.
In general, he found it more practical to rely on his [Angels], but on this occasion, he decided to use his magic.
He didn't want to end the fight immediately and was looking for a more interesting challenge.
'I could also use the [Touki] I've been practicing…' Aiden thought as he watched Vali, who was smiling with evident excitement.
"Well, shall we begin?" Aiden said calmly.
Vali responded by activating [Divine Dividing] instantly.
"Of course!" he exclaimed enthusiastically as bright blue crystalline wings emerged swiftly from his back.
[*]
Kurumi watched the battle with a calm smile.
She wasn't surprised, after all, she knew her husband was stronger.
It wasn't like Vali was fighting with everything he had at that moment, but even so, he was taking a beating.
Aiden attacked Vali while using his magic to summon magical constructs of various elements.
However, lightning was the one he was using the most.
"[-ᚦ-ᚱ-ᚺ-]."
From multiple magical circles adorned with runes and Kabbalistic symbols, lightning spears shot out at high speed, in hundreds of projectiles.
Vali dodged them while flying with his [Divine Dividing], and those he couldn't avoid, he caught with his hands, dividing their power and absorbing the spell's energy.
However, the overwhelming quantity forced him to alternate between dodging and using his own demonic power to cast spells while trying to close the distance with Aiden.
Since he wasn't using his [Balance Breaker] yet, he needed direct contact with his target to divide its strength.
"It's amazing…" Le Fay murmured with evident fascination, her eyes sparkling as she admired the intricate magical circles.
Then, she turned to Kurumi with genuine curiosity and asked:
"Kurumi-sama, is Aiden-sama really human? Is he calculating that magical formula on his own?"
Although lightning spells weren't particularly difficult for her, what truly impressed her was the complexity of the magical circles Aiden was creating.
Kurumi noticed that, even though everyone kept their eyes on the battle, they were paying attention to the conversation.
Calmly, she responded:
"Danna-sama is constantly calculating to construct the spells. But in this technique, it's also necessary to imagine the magic's form. The calculations are used to further enhance its effect."
Le Fay nodded, intrigued, and continued asking questions that piqued her interest, while Kurumi answered with calm and patience.
Kuroka, driven by her curiosity, jumped in without hesitation:
"Kurumi, you and Aiden are married, nyaa~?" The question carried no hidden intention; it was pure curiosity.
"Of course. Danna-sama and I have been deeply in love forever. Naturally, we're married and enjoy a life full of happiness," Kurumi replied with a serene smile.
"Wow, that sounds like a fairy tale," Le Fay commented, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "If it's not too much trouble, could I ask how long you've been together exactly? I'd love to know."
Kurumi closed her eyes for a moment, as if reviewing an internal record, and then replied with absolute precision:
"Danna-sama and I have been married for exactly 95 years, 7 months, 2 days, 12 hours, and 34 seconds."
The accuracy of the response was a bit unsettling, enough to make Le Fay twist her lips uncomfortably.
Kuroka, however, simply let out a light laugh before turning her attention back to the battle.
At that moment, Aiden conjured a net of lightning in the sky, designed to block Vali and limit his ability to fly.
Vali, determined to ignore the obstacle, attempted to divide the spell by touching it directly with his [Divine Dividing], but the net moved nimbly, dodging his arm and attacking him from another direction, wrapping him in electric shocks that paralyzed his body.
"Ugh, that had to hurt! Those spells aren't to be taken lightly, huh? Look at that face of pain, I almost feel sorry for him... almost. But hey, why doesn't he activate the [Balance Breaker]? If he keeps this up, there's no way he'll get close," Bikou commented with a half-smile while floating carelessly on his flying cloud, enjoying the show.
"He's probably just gauging his options, but Aiden isn't giving him room to have fun," Arthur remarked, adjusting his glasses with an unshakable calm.
The electric net ended up completely wrapping around Vali, immobilizing him mid-air like prey caught in a trap.
"[-ᚦ-ᚱ-ᚺ-]," Aiden pronounced firmly.
Immediately, a chain of energy emerged from a magic circle beneath Vali's feet, who floated over 100 meters high.
The chain moved swiftly, wrapping around his legs and binding him tightly.
Under Aiden's command, the chains pulled him directly toward his position.
Aiden clenched his fist, and a white aura began to surround his body, increasing his stats by 10 levels and pushing him even further beyond.
"Oh... [Touki] as well? He has experience manipulating ki (life energy)," Bikou murmured, impressed by Aiden's displayed skill.
However, Kurumi interrupted his thoughts with a casual comment:
"Danna-sama has been practicing ki control for less than a week."
"What…?"
[*]
"He's very strong…" Vali murmured, struggling to free himself from the chains that imprisoned him.
"[Yes, and I can assure you he's not fighting seriously. The power he's building up in that punch is overwhelming. Use the [Balance Breaker]. If you don't, you'll lose to that blow]," Albion responded calmly, though his warning was clear.
Vali decided to trust Albion's instincts, which matched his own: that punch was not something to take lightly.
"Balance Break!" Vali shouted as he continued being dragged by the chains.
"[Vanishing Dragon]," Albion's voice resonated with an almost solemn calm.
A blue light began to emanate from Vali's back, quickly spreading throughout his body.
His power increased drastically, approaching the level of a Satan Class, though not quite reaching it.
Aiden watched him with interest, and for a moment, he remembered Issei's [Balance Breaker].
With a smile, he decided to wait and test Vali's endurance with his next punch reinforced with [Touki].
"¡¡[Balance Breaker]!!" roared Albion.
—Boom!
Vali's body was enveloped in a brilliant white armor adorned with blue jewels at strategic points.
His wings grew larger and more majestic.
"¡[Divide]!."
"¡[Divide]!."
The nets and chains that had restrained him began to disintegrate, divided by the power of the [Balance Breaker].
The energy of the spells flowed directly into Vali's body, further strengthening his aura.
"¡Hahaha!" Vali laughed with euphoria as he launched himself directly at Aiden, disappearing and reappearing in front of him in the blink of an eye.
"You're brave… but also reckless."
—Boom!
The fists of both clashed with devastating force, generating a shockwave that destroyed the ground around them, forming a massive crater.
—Bang!
Nearby trees were uprooted, and the water from the nearby lake was launched into the air as if an explosion had erupted in the area.
"¡¡Kuuuuhhh!!"
The impact was too much for Vali.
Despite dividing the force of Aiden's attack, his own fist couldn't withstand the clash and was flung back, with part of his armor shattered.
"[-ᚦ-ᚱ-ᚺ-]," declared Aiden, creating a new chain that wrapped around Vali and hurled him back toward him.
—Bang!
The next blow landed directly on Vali's helmet, shattering it.
Without giving him time to recover, Aiden manipulated the chains and began dragging him across the terrain as if he were a toy.
Vali, however, managed to free himself once again, dividing and absorbing the energy of the spell.
But in the face of Aiden's overwhelming strength and the sheer number of his magical constructs, his efforts seemed futile.
With overwhelming calm, Aiden continued using his [Kabbalistic Formula] to summon lightning and seemingly simple natural phenomena, yet incredibly versatile.
Although they weren't extremely powerful spells, Aiden's control and precision kept Vali completely cornered.
But after a while, Aiden grew bored. Besides, he already had enough data on the [Sacred Gear] in use, so he decided to end the training.
…
Aiden, who still hadn't moved from the spot where the fight began, finally took a step forward.
A golden glow shone in his right hand, and in the blink of an eye, a short sword appeared.
He swung it swiftly, stopping Vali's blow as he appeared in front of him, launching a combo of attacks.
—Clang!
"¡[Divide]!"
—Clang!
—Clang!
Both exchanged blows.
Vali, moving at incredible speed, flew around Aiden, attacking from all directions.
His movements left blurry silhouettes in his wake as he divided his power, absorbing it and accumulating it within himself.
However, the power was so immense that he had to release some of it through his wings to avoid his body exploding from the overload.
—Clang!
The fists covered by Vali's armor and Aiden's sword, reinforced with [Touki], sparked as they clashed once more.
Aiden spun on his axis and swiftly delivered a direct kick to Vali's stomach.
—Bang!
The impact sent him flying into the sky, breaking part of his armor and leaving him disoriented, his eyes white as a mix of blood and vomit spilled from his mouth.
"[Vali!]" Albion called, trying to wake him up.
Vali's eyes shot open, and he quickly steadied himself in the air.
He coughed violently, blood spilling from his mouth.
"How overwhelming…!" Vali murmured, staring at Aiden from above. "He's only using [Touki] and a bit of magic… and even so, I don't stand the slightest chance."
Their gazes met, and Aiden, seemingly calm, observed him.
"I'll end this here… I have to head home soon. I think one of my women is waiting for me for dinner. I can't just leave her there, can I?" Aiden whispered these words, but Vali heard them with total clarity.
"Hit me with one of your most polished attacks!" Vali shouted, his armor glowing in a bright blue as it regenerated.
"As you wish, White Dragon Emperor. Try one of my spells. Attempt to divide it with your power."
Aiden activated a magic circle above his head, a radiant halo that seemed to envelop him.
He felt his brain accelerate, his perception of the world becoming clearer.
His thoughts flowed at a dizzying speed, and calculations were performed in fractions of a second.
This was [Thought Acceleration].
Aiden was about to cast a spell that required many calculations, so he activated this ability to optimize his focus.
Five golden portals appeared behind him, and from each emerged a sword, floating in circles around Aiden.
He began to calculate, imagining the swords moving and slowly ascending toward the sky.
In no time, they aligned in the shape of a five-pointed star.
The swords followed his orders instantly.
Aiden, while watching them, continued giving them directions through calculations and pure imagination.
The swords, perfectly aligned in the shape of a star, positioned themselves in the sky, with a magic circle glowing at the center.
The circle, composed of Kabbalistic inscriptions that began to spin slowly, emitted a harmonious sound, as if the universe itself was responding to the invocation.
Vali tensed immediately as he felt the overwhelming amount of magical power emanating from the spell.
Aiden watched the magic circle descending from the sky, with the swords acting as extensions of the spell.
The circle positioned itself in front of him like a portal of pure energy.
With a precise gesture, Aiden pointed his sword in Vali's direction.
"¡[-ᚾ-ᚠ-ᚢ-ᚦ -ᚨ-ᚱ-]!" Aiden shouted with imposing force.
—Boom!
From the circle, a gigantic ray in the shape of a sword emerged at a terrifying speed.
The astral blade shone with a blinding glow, as if made of condensed light, with jagged edges that vibrated across multiple dimensions, as if reality itself twisted around it.
"¡¡¡Ahhhhh!!!" Vali screamed as he saw the attack approaching at such dizzying speed that he couldn't follow it with his eyes.
His voice reflected his determination as he channeled all his power.
""¡¡[Half Dimension]!!""
Albion and Vali shouted in unison, using their ability to divide the attack, separating its space, energy, and size.
They attempted to reduce its power, but it was in vain.
—Flash! Spark! Boom!
The ray, which resembled a sword, struck Vali's armor head-on.
The force of the impact disintegrated the surrounding hills, leaving a luminous trail in the shape of a star.
The light shone intensely for a few seconds before fading, as if time itself had been consumed by the power of the attack.
…
…
…
"Hah… hah…"
Vali was breathing heavily.
His armor, which had regenerated several times, was shattered once again, and his energy was quickly depleting.
Frustration consumed him.
Despite his power, he was now painfully aware of how weak he was compared to Aiden and how far he still was from being able to kill Rizevim with his own hands.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of him, floating in the air with complete serenity.
"How about it? Are you satisfied? You don't need to feel disappointed or anything like that. You're still young, and you already have this strength. You're much stronger than most," Aiden commented casually.
"You didn't even move throughout the entire fight… Except at the end, when you completely overwhelmed me," Vali said with a tired smile, his tone mixing frustration and admiration. "You toyed with me, dragging me with that chain, pulling me around, and hitting me with those spells. I couldn't even make you use your full strength. That last spell… I felt like it could reduce me to dust just by grazing me, but in the end, it barely affected my armor. It's clear you held back."
He paused, taking a deep breath, before adding, "Even so, it was entertaining. It's been a long time since I had a fight that left me like this. I think I can get stronger. Let's fight again… when the time comes."
There was frustration in his words, but not a trace of anger.
Aiden watched him in silence, not responding immediately.
As for holding back, it was obvious that Aiden had held back.
That last spell, constructed from the [Kabbalistic Formula], ignored shields, magical or physical barriers.
It struck the target directly, cutting not only matter but also concepts like "protection" or "invulnerability."
Vali, at that moment, hadn't been able to resist it, as he didn't have time to divide it with his [Divine Dividing].
Why was he still alive?
Because Aiden had simply modified the spell so as not to kill him.
It only destroyed his armor, leaving him wounded but alive.
"Don't you have any other way to get stronger?" Aiden asked with curiosity.
He had already gathered enough information about the basic use of the [Sacred Gear] and its [Balance Breaker].
Additionally, he had read that the wielders of the [Boosted Gear] and the [Divine Dividing] could break the Heavenly Dragon's seal and enter a form called [Juggernaut Drive], reaching a power capable of temporarily killing God, though at the cost of their own life energy.
Vali opened his mouth to respond, but Albion spoke first.
"[That form is Vali's last resort. He won't use it unless it's necessary. This is just training, so there's no need]," explained the Heavenly White Dragon with a firm voice.
Aiden nodded, understanding, and looked at Vali, who was still injured and exhausted.
He decided to end the fight once and for all, since his main interest was to analyze the [Sacred Gear].
Moreover, he wanted to go home; he still had to have dinner, and although he had told the others they could start without him, someone might be waiting out of courtesy.
"Well, let's finish this here. Anyway… I won, right? Now fulfill your part of the deal. Oh, I want to analyze it in its base form and its [Balance Breaker] form," Aiden said, extending a hand to help Vali up.
As he did, he thought silently:
'[Zafkiel: Dalet].'
Aiden's left eye transformed into a golden clock that glowed intensely.
The moment Vali took his hand, his wounds began to rewind in time, restoring his body to a completely healthy state, as if he had never been harmed.
Vali was utterly stunned to see and feel how his body regenerated in such an extraordinary way.
Even Albion, though normally unshakable, remained silent, surprised at what had just occurred.
"This is incredible… It's just like Kuroka said, it's as if my wounds never happened," Vali murmured, looking at his hands and restored body in amazement.
"Well, that's exactly what happened," Aiden replied naturally, as if it was no big deal. "I rewound the time of your wounds to a point where they didn't exist. Simple as that."
Vali looked at him. "Are you… a god of time? Or from the Agares clan? No… you're not a devil."
He shifted his gaze to the distance, where he could see his companions approaching, accompanied by Kurumi, who also seemed calm and smiling as she walked toward them.
…
…
…
[***]
End of the chapter.
(•_•)
A/N:
The [Kabbalistic Formula] was a "personal" invention designed to prevent the protagonist's magical power from being wasted.
Here's a summary:
The [Kabbalistic Formula] is the ability to transform imagination into reality through a rational process that employs magical formulas.
It's a magic that moves on the boundary between the logical and the impossible, breaking down the barriers of the physical world by turning abstract ideas into tangible manifestations.
As long as the user of this system can calculate it and imagine it, anything they think of could become possible.
Although, of course, the more illogical the spell being created, the more power will be needed to execute it.
Aiden could generate many things with this ability, such as Jujutsu innate techniques, for example...
Thanks for reading~
Peace out.
*
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