- Aizen-kun, we have guests, – a white-haired girl in a light dress of identical color appeared next to the newborn God, gradually assuming her original appearance.
"Thank you, Office-chan," Aizen replied, squinting at the cracked skies, then turned his gaze to Mikhail and the other faction leaders. – Perhaps it's time to tell the reason for my appearance here? Medusa-chan, kindly remove the barrier from our esteemed leaders.
A girl separated from the row of sentients sitting on their knees, took off her mask and flashed runic circles in her eyes. She waved her hand and the network of barriers burst with a bang, like inflated soap bubbles.
A golden lightning bolt separated from the group of creatures, appearing over the head of a smiling Aizen, but there was no blow. Behind Mikhail's back, a gray-haired old man in a black butler suit materialized out of the gray fog, easily restraining the archangel's blow with a snow-white cane made of bone.
- Please forgive me, Mikhail, but I can't let you touch our God, – the butler's whisper echoed over the entire battlefield and penetrated to the depths of the soul. – Unfortunately, your time hasn't come yet, so I can't punish you. But... you have already punished yourself with your rash actions.
Mikhail jumped back, frowning at his wings, gradually acquiring a black color. The golden halo cracked and crumbled with golden dust caught in the air.
- What are you? – it seemed that the former archangel did not care about his fall and darkened hair. There were several things that bothered him more than anything right now, including the ease with which this old man had held off the archangel's powerful attack that could destroy the city.
- My name is Death, – the butler slowly opened his dark eyes, smiling at the corners of his lips, – The White Horseman.
A pale bone horse materialized behind the man's back, neighing with an otherworldly echo that spread across the space of worlds.
"You can't be Death. He destroyed her soul and sealed the fragments in the far corners of the underworld. Even He couldn't take it all back, let alone the impostor behind your back!
- Is it possible to destroy the concept? The old man wondered aloud, stroking his chin. – Is it possible to destroy death? No. The Master brought me back, gave me a personality and a sense of existence. If you try to interrupt His speech any further, I will destroy you and your soul. This is a warning.
Aizen clapped his hands twice, looking at the hundreds of Gods from all mythologies who finally broke through the barrier and came to the call of the birth of a new Deity, after which he said:
"Greetings, Gods of this world. My name is Aizen. Eisen Souske. Please remember the name of the person who is going to destroy each and every one of you if you decide to go against me and my goal," a purple barrier grew around Aizen's army, holding back several attacks launched by angry Gods. – Please, let me finish. You have two options: either you are with me, or you are against me, which is equivalent to true death. I give you six months to think, after which I will start a war for the Faith and destroy each of you.
- DEUS VULT!* – the reasonable ones exclaimed in chorus behind the guy's back.
- Why would you do that? An elder in a blue and white cassock asked.
In the hands of the Deity held a magical spear, Gungnir, and curiously looked at the newborn "God", which is scattered with such interesting phrases. The man stroked his long snow-white beard and smiled broadly.
There has not been such a thing for a very long time, and the birth of the head of the Pantheon from a person has never happened at all. Odin was bored, and here a newborn God is igniting a war for faith... Oh, how similar it is to the past Biblical God. Odin, like any of the heads of the Pantheons, knew perfectly well that he was dead – the strongest Gods feel the death of their own kind.
- Or is it a secret, a biblical one?
- No, there is no secret in this, – Aizen made a tactful pause, after which he continued: "I'm going to become a Triune God. A true, not a pathetic likeness, like you.
- Oh, how, – One chuckled, exchanging glances with Zeus and Poseidon, frowning at the smiling Medusa, – and you put the legend above the destruction of the world? Starting a war, you need to be ready for your destruction, boy. Especially when you start a war with everyone. Why did you even decide that the "Triune God" is not a stupid legend?
"People didn't become Gods before either," Aizen calmly replied, sitting down on a throne made of snow–white light, "but look, one person managed to take the place of the Biblical one. Gather so many interesting personalities under their banners...
The people behind the guy synchronously punched their fists in the chest, and the hydra hissed loudly.
- And now my comrades are freeing titans, monstrous monsters, forgotten or cursed Gods and other worlds that were sealed by the efforts of many of you, – Aizen condescendingly looked at the commotion among the Gods who tried to go back to their possessions, only a new barrier prevented them from doing so. – So it's not me who needs to worry, don't you think?
- Madman... One whispered, eyes wide with shock. – YOU WILL DESTROY EVERYTHING!
"The end is just the beginning of something new," a monstrous roar rang through the space... Isn't that Zeus' father, Kronos? Do you feel how time itself has gone haywire? And behind it, the space... it seems that you can take it by hand.
The guy lightly smeared his finger in front of him, thereby leaving a shining trail, like a crack that hung in the air.
- You have a choice. First: try to destroy me and my troops. But you yourself must understand that not all of you will survive this battle. At best, you will spend about thirty percent of your forces fighting me and my troops, but you don't know my abilities and what I can show. Despite this, with the remaining forces, you will not be able to seal back or destroy everyone... monsters that you fear more than death. Oh, God only knows how furious they are after so many thousands of years of imprisonment...
"You are not a man," Odin replied calmly, white-clenching the hilt of his spear.
He realized that this snake had calculated everything. They were outplayed on their own field. Odin did not notice a couple of Gods from his pantheon, including Loki and several other dark Deities. They have always been against peace and for war, which means that they could safely betray their own mythology and remove the seals from sealed monsters that even Odin could not kill with the power of his Pantheon at the time.
The only question is: where did he get the knowledge about the location of the Divine Prisons and that only a member of the Pantheon can open the seals... although the question disappears by itself, if you look at the achievements of this boy.
He managed to become a God, with the Infinity Dragon and this strange girl from the Greek pantheon on his side... Medusa! Another monster that his friends sealed in fear, afraid to destroy. Fools! And Hydra, a creature comparable to dragons.
This guy has prepared perfectly.
- Second choice: I will give you a chance to leave this place and save the world. But you, former blood enemies and friends, will have to unite," Aizen continued, theatrically snapping his fingers, thereby ordering Medusa to remove the barrier. "And then you'll have to leave me here." Your choice?
The noise of conversations and angry shouts subsided, after which the Gods one by one began to leave Aizen's chessboard, throwing eloquent curses in the direction of the "madman".
"You are neither a man nor a God. You're a monster," One of them said hoarsely, creating a portal to his domain in front of him. – It's not for nothing that we destroyed the likes of you in the bud. It's a pity that the era has changed.
"Gods are cruel, just like people," Aizen replied, waving goodbye to Odin. – Kokabiel-kun, Valper-kun, can you do me a favor?
Two men separated from the troops, who took off their masks. One of the former leaders of the fallen, and now almost completely reincarnated by the "Father" archangel, whose gray bloody wings with gaping holes radiated a golden glow, looked at the guy with trepidation, holding back fanatical tears.
He wanted his Father to forgive him more than anything in the world, but he could not go against his Essence. He wanted war... and the resurrected Creator gave him both. Gave him back his beautiful wings!
Kokabiel didn't realize that his wings were rotten from the inside, just like himself.
- Take the intelligences loyal to you personally from our army and kill everyone here, okay?
- YES, MY GOD! The fanatics exclaimed in chorus, happily smiling mad smiles.
- Thank you, – Aizen chuckled, seeing the disgust in Mikhail's gaze at his former brother's wings. – Well, it's time to take my leave. We will move on and meet soon... What is six months for God? And for a human? I wonder if all of you will survive... Ah, I almost forgot, Asia-chan, come to your God.
The girl was standing near the leaders. With a stiff cry, she headed towards Aizen's outstretched hand. Rias tried to stop her, but the girl could not disobey the order of God. So great was her fear.
Asia stopped near Issei, then bent over his hand and, activating her mechanism, healed the injury on his arm, then whispered: "I'm sorry," and lightly touched his lips with her own, sobbing with renewed vigor.
- Ah, you're crying again... can you smile for me, for your God? – Aizen looked sadly at the forced crooked smile of the sobbing girl. – So sad and so beautiful. You need to smile more often. Like a flower on the edge of a precipice, absorbing the beauty and fear of death. Truly beautiful.
Issei growled, looking at the monster's chilling smile. "I'll get to you and beat the crap out of you by getting my friend back!" Is it clear to you?!
It seemed that Aizen was surprised for a moment. The guy laughed faintly and answered:
"Of course, Issei-kun... I'll be waiting for you. And Asia will be waiting for you, right?
The girl sobbed and shook her head negatively:
- Issei, forget about me and-...
"No, no, no, the tragedy hasn't started yet," Aizen interrupted her, shaking his index finger and meeting Issei's gaze. – I hope you will come to me. We'll be waiting for you, but first... Survive and save your friends, Issei-kun. Kokabiel, Valper, start!
Medusa spread her arms to the sides and quietly whispered the aria of transference, creating a purple runic circle under all the troops:
- The great circle of transition!
- Goodbye, hero-kun... get stronger and get to me with your friends. I'll be waiting.
-= Some time later. =-
Issei was breathing heavily, lying in a pool of his own blood. His body was covered by the corpse of some fallen that the guy killed in the heat of battle. His first meaningful killing of a reasonable one, with a sword that Kiba created for him at the request of the guy.
No, it was not a request, but a cry... the cry of the soul.
Issei didn't know if his friends were alive, but he believed that everyone had survived. He could only believe... a weak invalid who lost everything.
The guy who lost his strength woke up in his inner world. His loyal comrade, teacher and just a good friend was not there. The space was empty and scarlet-white, like the collapsed ideals of a former schoolboy who realized for the first time what the realities of life are.
Issei fell to his knees and wept bitterly, mourning his friend.
At some point in time, a scarlet scale slowly fell in front of his face like a feather, which the guy carefully took in his single hand, like the biggest jewel.
- Ddraig... did you say that great power requires equal sacrifices? Issei squeezed the scale in his hand until it bled. – Then take my hands, take my legs, my organs, my heart and... take MY NAME!
The guy was enveloped in a scarlet glow, and the distant laughter of the old dragon spread through the space.
-= Unknown location. Aizen Souske's Palace. =-
- Office-chan, did you want something? – the guy smiled warmly and leaned on the handle of the snow-white throne, adjusting the crown of flashes of light that had fallen to one side.
- Why did you kill Neo Mori? – I couldn't understand what she was feeling and why her heart was hurting because of it. – Why did he calmly accept his death? He's your brother.
"Not really, Office-chan. He is Me. Just the other half of my soul... or another soul from my past? – the guy closed his eyes, remembering the past world. – It was necessary to complete the "Mythopoeia". Why did my other half accept death, and not me? Why did Neo decide to complement me, and not I him? Does it really matter?
# he's a human being. But you became a God. Is that what you wanted?
The guy smiled and, thinking, materialized a mug of fragrant tea in his hand, creating exactly the same Office in front of his face:
- How interesting this force works... Office-chan, there's something you don't understand. I didn't become a God. I received Divine power by remaining human. That's why I'm a man, not a God. But have I lost my humanity by gaining such power?
- A man? – the dragon frowned, not understanding what her interlocutor was saying.
"Oh, you don't know, Office-chan? I thought you'd guess," the guy took a couple of sips of the scalding drink and closed his eyes with pleasure. – It all started at the age of five. At this age, I met my second part... With Neo Mori. Or did he meet me? We were the same being, with the same personality, identical soul, but with different conclusions about our past. It is not surprising that we met in the same place, pursuing the same goal, at that moment. You see, he came to the conclusion that man is not perfect and there is something hidden in him, something that can destroy the plans of the Gods and do the impossible. But I came to the conclusion that it is necessary to completely reject humanity and only in this way can the impossible be done. Consider that in a previous life, one is mine... the friend rejected his humanity and at the same time remained human. He managed to surpass God... isn't that wonderful?
"Aizen-kun, I don't really understand what you're talking about.
The guy pretended to roll his eyes and blew away a lock of hair that landed in his left eye:
"You'll understand soon enough. My hero will prove and clearly show you this... it will confirm my thoughts and theories. You'll see.
The girl just nodded, agreeing with the words of this... a human? Or is it God?
- Then Neo and I worked separately, only occasionally helping each other. We couldn't meet often, sometimes I helped him with organ transplants, do you remember that he refused to lose his humanity? I didn't refuse. He wove into himself a piece of the angel's soul, endowed with holy power. It was hard to pull all this off, being in the shadow of the church and hiding from the eyes of the Archangels.
The guy took a couple of sips and stretched his whole body sweetly:
- Oh... It was funny to see Gabriel's face when I confessed to her that I was "His reincarnation." As naive as she is kind.
- You have gained the power of God. Did Gabriel help you? Why didn't you ask me?
- No, no one helped me. I had to walk this path myself... I have always been surprised by the appearance of the "Son of God", "Hercules" and many other legendary personalities who were human and at the same time not. I wondered, "how"? How did they do it? How did the Son of God manage to rise again, was he not God?.. After all, he performed a miracle, – Aizen pulled off the crown from his head, starting to sadly examine it with half-closed eyes. – And I came to a theory that was confirmed by my subsequent actions. It is called the "Mythopoeia principle". The gods existed from the beginning. Or not? It doesn't matter, only faith matters. And not just faith, but Faith.
- The gods get power from faith, the more people believe in them, the more power they will get, – the Office nodded, creating a rocking chair near the guy's throne and immediately sitting down in it, forcing Aizen to sigh annoyingly.
- It's not that simple. If everything was so easy, then Biblical mythology would have overcome other mythologies long ago, but, in general, you're right, Office-chan. If there is faith, there is God, and the place where this faith goes, but... so I would have to spend almost the entire human life allotted to me in order to become a God," Aizen looked at the back of his hand, showing the Office cross. – But I got around it, taking a shortcut of several tens, or even hundreds of years. At first I gathered followers and Faith. People, fallen, angels, demons, other reasonable and my pocket hero with poor Asia – I needed them all. I needed the faith of each of the beings, sincere faith. I could have influenced their minds, but, as it turned out, this does not count, however, I already knew it, but I had to check. A reasonable person should sincerely believe in God, associating me with him.
"With the Bible," the girl nodded.
"Biblical,– Aizen agreed, straightening his hair. – And I needed a different faith. Fanatical, like Walper, Kokabiel and most of our troops. Sincere, like Gabriel's love for his Father. Faith born out of fear, like sweet Asia. Ordinary, like yours, Office-chan. You know I'm a Biblical God, right?
- Yes, – the dragon nodded, scratching the tip of her nose. – Then why did you kill the vampires and a third of the troops, led by Kokabiel and Valper? Won't their faith strengthen you?
"She has already strengthened it," the guy replied, clenching and unclenching his fist, in which hundreds of multicolored sparks flew, both white and yellow, green, black and others, including invisible to the ordinary human eye. "I don't need their faith anymore. This is the essence of God, Office-chan. You're a Deity, aren't you?
- Not really, I don't need faith.
- So I don't need it, – the guy blew the sparks into the snow-white hall, forcing them to dance a magic dance. – I am a human being, and nothing prevents me from believing in myself. You see, man is not much different from God. Is it possible to call a God who does not believe in himself a "God"? How can a person who does not believe in himself be called a "man"?
The girl shrugged her shoulders. She had never been human, so she just couldn't comprehend these words, even if she wanted to.
- Having gathered faith, I managed to connect to the flow that goes into the Divine mechanism of the former Biblical. I managed to connect, but I didn't have administrator access rights... – the guy chuckled and leaned on the handle again, creating a window in front of his face from his memories.
Here is Neo sitting on a chair in front of Issei and smiling at the awakened glove on the guy's hand.
- Issei-kun was the first to accept me as his God. I agreed to fulfill his wish, answered his prayer... isn't this a divine act? He became the first note and the gear that will open the door for me to the Divine throne of the Biblical. It just so happens that I can't get there without him...
Nosferatu is kissed by a cross made of stone with six thousand souls.
- The miracle of forgiveness. I, God, have generously forgiven them, fulfilling their dream of becoming human again. They believed in the Biblical One, but I did the miracle. And I confirmed it out loud.
"Don't thank me, His children," the guy said, hiding His wings and removing the halo. "Thank Him for the sacred moment of finding. After all, He forgives you... I forgive you."
The image flickered and changed to the tear-stained face of Eve, who was comforted by Issei and the demons.
- The creation of Eve for Adam and her fall. But she did not stop believing in her Creator, even though she betrayed him... At that moment, in that room, no one doubted that it was created by the Biblical. And then you and I came and I just confirmed it by asking "Adam" to take care of his "Eve".
"- Eve? Neo smiled and leaned back on the sofa. – She's snuggling up to you... your girlfriend? Ha-ha-ha, then you're Adam, Issei-kun. – the pervert blushed and began to mumble something about the fact that they are not dating. –Hmm, I almost envy you, Issei-kun, I hope you'll take care of her?"
The image wavered, replaced by a guy pierced by a golden sword, who glances at the two girls for the last time.
- My death...
"And your resurrection," the dragon finished instead of the guy, frowning at the golden sand drawn into Aizen, which the Neo Mori turned into. – Your friends and all the witnesses sincerely believed that you died, and then you took off your mask and showed everyone your face. The miracle of resurrection. A divine act, the act of His son.
- Yes, and the final touch, – Aizen waved his hand, expanding the window to several meters.
Issei, with tears in his eyes, gives the first prayer to the practically incarnate God.
- My hero sincerely believes that I have fulfilled all his dreams. And he is sincerely grateful for my help and for the fulfillment of wishes. Prayer from the first follower. From a man who believes in his God. There is nothing in this world more powerful than such an act...
The dark-haired guy chuckled and shook his head disapprovingly:
- At one time, one guy practically repeated this feat. No wonder his name was immortalized in holy writings. I wonder if he knows about it?
- So you got access to faith, – the Office nodded thoughtfully, realizing that this is quite possible.
- I called it "mantling". I repeated "Divine feats", thereby associating myself with God, which, as you can see, resulted in this cross on my hand. The stigma of Biblical authority.
- Then why do you need a soul stone?
- And where does a person get the energy to transform into God? – the Biblical one answered the question with a question, showing a cross implanted in the area of the heart, shining with a soft white light. – I didn't manage to embody one little thing, but I managed to modify it to suit local realities. Office-chan, if you destroy it, then I will die. Do you want to kill me while you still have the chance?
The dragon shook her head negatively. She was just beginning to realize what "Aizen's silence" and "friendship" were. And she did not see the point in killing this man, which excites her mind with impossible deeds. He seemed to her... interesting. Only this word Office could associate with Aizen.
- A human body without the power of God would not be able to withstand the power of so many souls. Conversely, the human body would not be able to withstand the Divine power. A strange and incomprehensible decision to me.
- I am a man, not a God. I tried to stay alone, turning into the second," Aizen carefully buttoned his shirt, "as you can see, something I did, and something I didn't.
- Are you talking about the hatred of that boy, Issei? Why did you try to break it?
- He needed a push. Something that will allow him to complete his transformation into a hero. The right thing that will make him become stronger and reach my level. He will gather under his banners all the Gods who will go to war against the "destroyer". Unite them all, destroy the liberated monsters and titans, possibly transfer them to his side... who knows what a person can achieve?
"You wanted to make him hate you, but you didn't succeed.
- yes... he surprised me," Aizen honestly admitted, looking into Issei's resolute gaze at the memory. – Fool, what else can I say? But on the other hand, he went against God and his plans for himself, proving my theory again.
- He will overthrow you.
- I know. He will overthrow me and make me Triune... I'm counting on it," the guy took a couple of sips of almost cold tea and set the cup on the handle of the throne. – Gather the Gods under his banners, start a new war... You see, I already have Death, the rest of the riders are left. Unfortunately, without the great war and the apocalypse, I managed to get only her, and I need all four of them.
- To become a Triune?
- To finish the collection, – I didn't know if he was joking or not. – Office-chan, have you ever played chess?
– No. - the girl looked at the materialized chess table with two chairs.
- Do you want to, nau-... – Aizen interrupted himself in mid-sentence and looked up somewhere, after which he put his finger to his nose. – Office-chan, shh, look, we are being watched again.
- What are you talking about? – the dragon tried to feel the impudent person who interrupted their conversation, but there were only the two of them in the room. – I don't feel anyone.
- You're just not listening... The guy smiled and slowly rose from his throne, gesturing to the chess table. – Shall we play?
-= The Underworld. The estate of Sitri. =-
Sona clenched her fists white, sitting next to her friend, who did not react to anything. Like a doll that has lost its soul. She could be fed, she could be talked to and washed, but she remained a doll.
Farewell to Neo... all this has hit ayakashi very hard. Almost killed her. Sona herself held on only because of her sister and her friend, but she still shed bitter tears at night.
Everything that happened hit the demoness in love very hard, all the actions of Neo. His words and constant hints... she's not Issei. She understood better than anyone that the guy had never lied when he revealed his cards.
The abnormal goal is to become a Triune. The incarnation of the three Gods, the creator of worlds and a terrifying legend.
That's just for this you need to destroy the world by releasing the horsemen of the apocalypse into it.
But even so... somewhere in the depths of her soul, the girl could not understand that last look of Neo. Before his "death". Why did he look at her with Mizuki? What for? What did that mean? What was in that strange look...
Tears sprang from Sitri's eyes again and she impulsively hugged Mizuki.
The girl could not understand how it all happened. She didn't want to believe that all the time they spent together was an illusion of a skilled silkworm. How can there be such illusions?
And that made it even more painful for her.
"Mizuki... us.".. we will meet with Neo. Let's meet and ask him why he did this? Was it all an illusion... ok?
These words came from the depths of her soul, bypassing her mind. From the part that did not fully believe in what had happened and wanted to believe in Neo.
"All right,– came the quiet reply.
*Deus vult - translated from Latin as "This is what God wants."
This is the end, guys. It was fun writing this work, but I'm no less glad that I finished it. Most likely there will be no continuation and the ending will remain open. It seems to me that it will be even better this way. Will Aizen become a Triune God, will he meet with Sonа and Mizuki, what will they try to prove to him and will they be able to prove to him that not only man is capable of doing the impossible?
Perhaps I will say that this chapter does not describe all the key moments that occurred in the work, added by the Author in the reflections of GG about "mantling", because if I inserted them all into one chapter, it would stretch over several dozen tedious pages.
who does not know what "mantling" and "the principle of Mythopoeia" are - Google. It seems there was even a video).