Disclaimer: I own nothing, this is purely a fanfic for enjoyment.
Cross-over from various games, books, anime, manga, and movies.
The familiar characters you see here belong to their respected authors and owners.
"Speech"
Time*
Chapter 42: Surprise!
The next day*
Route #1595: Dying from lightning bolt strike - 99%.
Route #1853: Dying from the impact of a hurricane - 99%.
Route #2042: Dying from falling into lava - 99%.
...
I close the laptop, rubbing my forehead in frustration. The endless cycles of Computational Divinations have yielded little comfort.
Exiting the Sefirah Castle, I feel the weight of reality reassert itself as I descend from the gray fog. The unsettling stillness of that place lingers, clinging to my thoughts like a stubborn shadow. Despite my efforts, the answers remain elusive, and the sense of foreboding refuses to disperse.
Returning to the mundane world offers no solace. The sterile hum of the airport surrounds me, the low chatter of distant travelers a faint reminder of the world's unceasing motion. Yet, in this secluded private waiting area, all is quiet.
I tear down the Spirituality walls. I exit the bathroom.
Stepping back into the waiting area, I spot Momoyo and Aya. Momoyo remains asleep, her breathing slow and steady. Aya, on the other hand, is unmistakably awake, though her vacant gaze is fixed somewhere in the distance, lost in thought. She's no doubt staring into space to pass the time, the dull monotony of waiting gnawing away at her patience. Luckily, there's no one around but us three so there is no need to cover her up to hide her from the public.
Without a word, I move to sit beside Momoyo. The moment I settle into the seat, she shifts in her sleep, unconsciously seeking comfort. Her head naturally finds its way to my shoulder, resting there as though it were the most familiar place in the world.
Strands of her dark hair brush against my arm, some falling loosely over her face.
I stay still, unwilling to disturb her rest. Aya glances over briefly, though she says nothing. The hum of the airport remains distant, a muted backdrop to this fleeting calm.
The second flight to Japan has been delayed, the weather offering yet another obstacle. As much as I loathe the inconvenience, I would never consider using a private plane. Not after the results of my latest divination.
A grim certainty settles in my chest. Multiple routes have a 99% chance of catastrophic failure. The Fates are meddling again. Most of the predicted failures stem from subtle, inexplicable malfunctions, all culminating in one inevitable outcome. But the worst part?
That damned Bitch.
One of the Fates, malicious and relentless, had tampered further. Her influence twisted the thoughts of the private plane's pilot, leaving him teetering on the edge of despair. Suicidal ideation seeded in his mind like a parasite. I clenched my jaw at the memory of the vision. It was no mere accident. It was a deliberate act of cruelty.
For now, I wait. The seconds drag on, but at least here, I can keep watch.
I can take this time to activate the next Card of Blasphemy, but which?
10 minutes later*
Finalizing... Idle S9Mystery Pryer survived for 3 weeks.
Idle S9Mystery Pryer brought back the Sefirot: River of Eternal Darkness.
Acting Progress... 24%. 3x Boost in effect... 72%.
Unlocking Beyonder's Abilities of the Hermit Pathway's Sequence 9: Mystery Pryer.
1. Eyes of Mystery Prying: Their eyes are special and allow them to see things that normally aren't visible.
First Additional Note: Mystery Pryers have to be careful and show proper restraint with their powers as a Beyonder as they often see things they shouldn't see, leading to them being most exposed to Corruption.
Second Additional Note: They can Pry into things that shouldn't or can't be seen. This can allow a Mystery Pryer to use their Eyes of Mystery Prying to peer through attempts to trap them trap them in Dreams or Illusions.
Third Additional Note: This ability is instinctive and cannot be deactivated. Mystery Pryers can prevent it from affecting their daily lives through Seals or using special Mystical Items of sufficient powers.
2. Knowledge Pursuit: Mystery Pryers will be occasionally be chased by knowledge brought to life, imbuing them with knowledge in random intervals.
3. Spirituality: Their Spirituality will get enhanced upon drinking this potion.
3. Part A - Magic & Divination Art: They have a comprehensive but rudimentary understanding and grasp of magic, witchcraft, Divination Arts, Ritualistic Magic, and other mystical knowledge.
3. Part A. First Additional Note: A Mystery Pryer's use of Ritualistic Magic allows them to summon Spirit World creatures and form Contracts with them which enables them to eventually obtain messages and helpers with unique powers as they progress forward in their studies.
3. Part A. Side Note: As a Mystery Pryer progresses through the Sequences, they will be able to form Contracts with even more and more powerful and unique Spirit World creatures.
3. Part A. Second Additional Note: They can use many Divination methods, including astrology, cartomancy, spiritual pendulums, spiritual numbers, and scrying in order to gain revelations from the Spirit World, however, they are less effective in this matter than Seers.
3. Part A. Third Additional Note: Besides the following, a Mystery Peryer's knowledge on the fundamentals of witchcraft, magic, and the other corresponding mysticism fields enable them to learn and cast some basic and rather quick Spells.
3. Part B - Spirit Vision: Mystery Pryers are able to utilize their Spirit Vision to deduce a person's health and emotions, as well as if an object or person contains some sort of magical aura.
I'm not even surprised at this point.
Good job, S9Mystery Pryer, for obtaining this Sefirot. However, I have no idea why you died in just three weeks. Perhaps I'll find out in the distant future. Regardless, the River of Eternal Darkness is now another addition to my already extensive collection of Sefirot.
The moment the connection solidifies, I suppress the urge to wince. My eyes shift, an unsettling sensation spreading through me. The change is instantaneous, a veil lifted, revealing countless truths and horrors lurking just beneath the fabric of existence. Unlike the clarity brought by the Wheel of Fortune Pathway, this is different.
Through the Eyes of Mystery Pryer, I see. And what I see is wrong.
Shadows slither beyond the corners of my vision. Unnatural shapes distort the familiar, twisting even the mundane into unsettling reflections of themselves. Concepts I can barely comprehend press against my thoughts, and with each heartbeat, I feel the weight of foreign knowledge clawing at the edges of my mind. There's no rationalizing what I witness. Only the crushing awareness that I shouldn't be seeing it.
The influence is subtle but relentless. The longer I endure it, the more my thoughts fray. My sense of self bends beneath the presence of corruption, whispers, and unspeakable truths.
No.
Without hesitation, I switch back to the Card of Wheel of Fortune, severing the vision. The world instantly snaps back into place. The twisted sights vanish, replaced by the dull, sterile surroundings of the airport. Relief washes over me, but it's short-lived.
Because I know it didn't really disappear.
The things I saw are still there. Their influence lingers, even if I can no longer perceive them. Worse yet, I can feel it. A gnawing certainty whispers that those horrors no longer register as threats. Not because they're gone, but because the Pathway has convinced me they aren't.
That's bad. Really bad.
I haven't truly examined the differences between all the Pathways and how they influence me beyond what's visible on the surface. Every shift in perception, every fragment of insight I gain, is only the tip of the iceberg. And while the surface knowledge is dangerous enough, I'm beginning to suspect the deeper truths might be worse.
Not to mention, I've only read the first book of Lord of the Mysteries. Most of my understanding of the 22 Pathways comes from fragmented information, scattered details, and speculation. Out of all of them, I'm most familiar with the Fool Pathway.
But the curiosity gnaws at me. The uncertainty is intolerable.
Now, I truly want to find out what happens when I activate the rest of the Cards of Blasphemy.
With a thought, all 22 Cards of Blasphemy materialize around me, their eerie presence perceptible. The air thickens as the cards hover, each one emanating a fragment of divine authority. I instinctively count them, the familiar weight of knowledge pressing against my mind.
Four remain dormant.
Death.
Mother.
Sun.
Tyrant.
Their sealed power hums faintly, restrained yet watchful. I could wait four days and activate them as intended, one by one. That would be the safer choice, but I have already activated two Pathways through the Boon System.
I could create four new Boon Recipients and gift them the powers within the Cards of Blasphemy temporarily. Random people, insignificant in the grand scheme of things. It wouldn't matter who they are. The Boons would serve their purpose, and once I'm done, I could simply revoke them.
But...
A troubling question remains. If I remove the Boons from them, would the Cards of Blasphemy deactivate?
The idea sends a shiver down my spine. Granting Boons is not merely a symbolic gesture. Stripping that connection may not be without consequence. If the cards rely on that link to remain active, severing it could undo everything.
I sigh, the weight of the decision pressing against me. Whatever I choose, there will be risks. And I'm no stranger to risk.
Currently, I have two Boon Recipients active. Both should survive without any issues, as long as they don't overestimate themselves and try to go beyond their current fighting levels. The Cards of Blasphemy have already enhanced them significantly, but reckless ambition has a way of leading to early graves.
But speculation will get me nowhere.
No time like the present. I need to test this myself—to see whether the Cards of Blasphemy will remain active if their assigned Boon Recipients lose their Boons. If they stay active, then the process is merely a formality. If they deactivate... well, that will raise even more questions about the nature of these Cards of Blasphemy.
With that resolve in mind, I carefully shift Momoyo's head, ensuring she remains undisturbed. She murmurs something in her sleep but doesn't wake. Satisfied, I rise from my seat and quickly make my way back to the bathroom.
There, I rebuild the wall of Spirituality, enclosing myself within its protective barrier.
With practiced precision, I begin the ritual, sending myself to the Sefirah Castle.
The familiar pull takes hold, and my surroundings distort. Reality bends, shifting and unraveling as I ascend beyond the physical realm.
An hour later*
I sigh in relief as the Cards of Blasphemy remain active even after the Boon Recipients being used to activate them have lost their Boons. That settles one major concern—these Cards of Blasphemy aren't bound by the Boon Recipients themselves, only by the act of activation.
But my relief is short-lived.
I blink as all 22 Cards of Blasphemy suddenly reappear around me, spinning wildly in a blur of motion. There is no input from me, no conscious command. Yet, they move with purpose, as if responding to some unseen force.
Then, without warning—
The Cards of Blasphemy slam into my very being.
A silent scream tears through me as unimaginable pain explodes across every fiber of my existence. It feels like my body, mind, and very soul are being torn apart and reconstructed at the same time. I collapse onto my seat, my body locking as agony surges through me. Tears blur my vision, my teeth grinding together as a fire unlike anything I've ever experienced consumes me from the inside out.
Visions flood my mind.
Fragments of knowledge. Shattered glimpses of something beyond comprehension.
It feels like an eternity before the pain begins to diminish. Slowly, I regain control of my senses, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The Cards of Blasphemy emerge from my body one by one, looking unchanged. But I know—instinctively—that something is different.
And then I see it.
The backs of the Cards of Blasphemy have shifted, each one attaching to another in an ever-changing series. The patterns shift endlessly, yet follow a fixed order—an evolving, layered design that is just barely within my comprehension.
And then, the names emerge.
Eternal Aeon Pathway.
Chaos Primogenitor Pathway.
Patriarch Pathway.
Chaos Mist Pathway.
Tail-Devourer Pathway.
Condenser Pathway.
Everlasting Pathway.
Second Law Pathway.
Sublunary Eye Pathway.
Eternal Edict Pathway.
I freeze.
You've got to be fucking kidding me.
10 more Pathways?!