Chaldea, Sixth Sector.
Casket Storage, CrYog-Sothothenic Chamber.
Buzz!!
A sharp mechanical hum pierced the air as a thick, heavy metal door was forced open from the outside. The frame emitted faint mosquito-like whines and flickering lights, relentless in their activity.
Deep within Chaldea's machinery, a subterranean space extended downward, concealed by thick metal walls, a highly classified and heavily guarded zone.
Beyond the imposing iron door, the dark room housed dozens of coffin-like crYog-Sothothenic life-support units, their lights blinking steadily.
This was, alongside the archives, Chaldea's most sensitive area.
Due to Professor Lev Lainur Flauros' sudden betrayal and the resulting explosion, over forty Masters, including the elite Team A, were critically injured and near death.
To preserve their lives, former Director Olga Marie opened all of Chaldea's life-support systems, ordering staff to place the Masters in these units for crYog-Sothothenic preservation until the Incineration of Humanity was resolved, after which they'd be sent to the Mage's Association for treatment.
Initially, these injured Masters were seen as unfortunate victims of a pre-mission tragedy.
But now, Romani understood: while they worked to restore the Human Order, some were playing dead, waiting to strike at the opportune moment.
Even as acting commander, Romani needed approval from Da Vinci and other sector heads to enter. But with extraordinary circumstances and a magician by his side, infrared and laser defenses were useless.
Access via clearance was ideal, but for restricted areas, Roy bulldozed through with raw magical energy.
Modern tech and Chaldea's specialized magical defenses were paper-thin before a Magician of the Third Magic, leaving Romani stunned by the trail of explosions.
"Are we really starting with Team A? Shouldn't we…" Romani began, hesitant. Just ten minutes ago, they'd finalized the plan, and now they stood before Team A. Was this too hasty? He'd expected Roy to devise a detailed strategy first.
"No need for more planning. Hesitation breeds chaos. To resolve this quickly, we must act swiftly." Roy said.
"I don't know if the Alien God is awake or watching us within Chaldea."
"…Fair point. The commotion we've caused won't escape Da Vinci's notice." Romani conceded, grasping Roy's intent.
"That genius? No need to worry. I'll be quick, this will be over in a moment." Roy assured.
"Come, Crypters, let's see what the Alien God left in you."
As Roy uttered "Crypters." Romani nodded, stepping back.
Without his Ten Rings or magecraft, Romani was useless here. Keeping watch at a safe distance to prevent interruptions was his only role.
"…Hm?"
"What are these monstrosities?" Roy muttered, probing the Crypters' souls with the Third Magic. Even with his vast experience, their conditions startled him.
They were… indescribable.
From Romani's intel, the white-haired boy was Kadoc Zemlupus.
His magical aptitude was above average, with top-tier theoretical knowledge, a genius by Clock Tower standards. Impressive but not extraordinary.
The second, Ophelia Phamrsolone, was where things got bizarre.
She possessed a Jewel-ranked Mystic Eye.
Probing revealed its ability: observing possibilities, akin to future sight, allowing her to fix an observed outcome, delaying unfavorable possibilities.
The Mystic Eye, red and in her right eye, was concealed by an eyepatch.
While a Jewel-ranked Mystic Eye was a rare treasure in the magical world, it wasn't enough to shock Roy.
The third, Hinako Akuta, was the heavyweight, her essence wasn't human, resembling Arcueid's existence.
Having interacted closely with Arcueid, Roy recognized this aura. She was a spirit granted a physical body, a vampiric species sustained by natural energy. Not a magical or phantasmal beast but a special spirit managing the surface terminals in Earth's Inner Sea.
She was akin to the "True Ancestor" classification in the magical world, though her origin mirrored theirs, her life's purpose differed.
"In an era so devoid of mystery, where did Marisbury find such a being?" Roy mused.
"Still, seeing a creature so close to a True Ancestor would thrill Arcueid."
After probing Hinako, Roy recalled a certain blonde vampire awaiting his return.
He'd promised her a shopping trip. Once this was settled, he'd keep that promise.
Hinako wasn't the only oddity. The others were equally strange.
Scandinavia Peperoncino, with his bizarre appearance, had a terrifying balance of body and mind, nearing the realm of legendary martial arts masters. His power resembled Buddhist divine abilities.
Kirschtaria Wodime, Team A's leader, was a prodigy. His mastery of astrology and celestial magecraft was formidable, his magical circuits modified to thrive in Age of Gods environments.
Celestial magecraft and tailored modifications allowed him to harness cosmic mana in Age of Gods settings, realizing astrology's original form, a circuit transformation for interfering with galactic celestial bodies.
In a Age of Gods setting like Uruk, his power could rival top-tier Servants like Karna, Arjuna, or Quetzalcoatl.
Innovative, but such modifications weren't modern magecraft. The Alien God's work?
Though curious, Roy moved on, probing Beryl Gut. A simple scan revealed anomalies in his bloodline, werewolf traits and an inescapable urge to kill. His existence was a blight on humanity.
Similar to the Tohno family's blood but distinct, perhaps a non-human clan? In ancient Far East, the Seven Nights or Ryougi families would've hunted such a creature.
"One left…" Roy said, turning to the final Master in the casket.
Daybit Sem Void.
Tezcatlipoca's Master, an entity capable of judging humanity from a cosmic perspective.
"Let's see your essence."
As Roy's Third Magic probed Daybit's mind, the feedback made his eyes widen.
"So that's how it is…" He muttered, understanding Tezcatlipoca's words.
Daybit could indeed critique Chaldeas from a cosmic angle.
His essence was chaotic, indescribable. If forced to label it, Foreigner.
Remarkable. This wasn't a Crypter but a containment unit.
Seven Crypters: four geniuses, three monsters. Quite a spectacle.
Roy was impressed by Marisbury's ability to gather such individuals.
But business was business. He wouldn't go easy on them.
Asleep or awake, they'd stand no chance against him.
Without further words, Roy flicked his fingers, sending arcs of light into the Crypters' heads.
Like ripples in a pond, the unique soul energy merged within.
…
"Hey, is it necessary to linger over this trivial matter? This troublesome kid could just be ignored!!" A disgruntled voice complained in the endless void.
"…Sigh, his personality is a headache, but isn't that part of his charm?" Another replied.
"Charm? I see only trouble. Shub-Niggurath, your affection for him is excessive. If you showed half that care to your own spawn, they wouldn't resent you so much."
"Heh, I don't waste time on useless offspring. How could they compare to him?"
"Ditching your kids like that? Cold… some mother you are." The voice sneered.
"Don't forget, at his pace, who knows how long this will take? With his style, he might follow those ants to the Temple of Time or the Lostbelts."
"Our chance to escape this prison is at hand. Are we really waiting for these ants? You might endure, but I'm done!!"
"Rein in your smothering love."
"Haha, I'm his mother. Is it wrong to dote on my child? Right, Nyarlathotep?" Shub-Niggurath laughed.
"I see no issue. He naturally earns our indulgence." Nyarlathotep said.
"You're still waiting?!" The angry voice roared.
"Calm down, M'ssiskha." Nyarlathotep soothed.
"Waiting's off the table. The Alien God? Just a man-made UO. A toy we could crush effortlessly."
"I'm with you this time."
"Oh? Meaning?"
"Let's handle it ourselves. I've no patience to rewatch the story. His live show's amusing, but freedom outweighs that joy."
"But remember, we need him. Forcing or coercing him would complicate things. If he digs in against us, no one could handle him."
"With preparations complete, it's our stage. A brief appearance, if restrained, is fine."
"Let's help our young kin. Clear these trivialities and return him to his designated stage."
"It saves time and shows our care, perhaps earning some favor."
"What do you think?"
"Good."
"Agreed."
"No issue."
"I'm fine with it."
"…"
"…Hmph, if you all say so, I've no objections." M'ssiskha grumbled.
"But let me handle the Alien God. I'll tear her apart and cast her into the time rifts!!"
"No way, M'ssiskha. As his mother, I'm not yielding this chance~" Shub-Niggurath cooed.
"Oh, then I'll step aside… and take the lead!!" Nyarlathotep chirped.
"Nyarlathotep! You sneaky!!" M'ssiskha roared.
As the void rippled, unobservable darkness slithered into shadows.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the world, the slumbering Alien God stirred, her drowsy eyes snapping open as she sensed…
"!!!!"
…
…
In a radiant white mental world, seven unique souls were summoned by an impermanent force.
Their true identities: the golden-haired, striking Kirschtaria and the seven Crypters behind him.
Their faces were dazed, eyes filled with confusion as they gazed at the blank expanse.
Where was this?
Hadn't the Alien God instructed them to lie low in Chaldea's caskets until the Incineration ended, when apostles would retrieve them?
What was happening? This wasn't reality, nor the prior strange space that summoned them, but an entirely different white world.
The Alien God never mentioned such a place or reason for summoning them here.
The anomaly left the Crypters baffled.
Until…
"Welcome to my world, Crypters." A stranger's voice echoed from ahead, the space shifting.
"Who are you?!" Kirschtaria demanded.
The sudden appearance of an unnoticed human, casually revealing their hidden title, made the Crypters' eyes narrow. Danger loomed, unease gripping them. They tensed, ready for combat in moments, but their every move was laid bare to Roy's gaze, rendering their defenses laughable.
"Who are you? The Alien God's apostle? Or the Alien God itself?" Kirschtaria, Team A's leader, Marisbury's prized disciple stepped forward, confronting Roy.
As a magical aristocrat, he'd met countless figures and honed sharp instincts. He could gauge a person's aura and threat.
This man, simply standing there, instilled a dread and menace unlike any human he'd encountered.
"Who am I? That's irrelevant, and I'm not inclined to explain. Just know my goal is to eliminate the Alien God." Roy said, brushing off Kirschtaria's question.
He had many titles, none known here. He wasn't about to mimic a certain crimson magician with a grandiose introduction like.
I am Roy, traveler of space and time, Magician of the Third Magic, "Root touch me" magus, visitor from above the stars!
Though it might amuse Ritsuka and Mash, he had no need to perform here.
He was pragmatic, here to pick a fight, with the Alien God and these Crypters.
So…
Under their wary gazes, Roy raised his palm.
This sensation! What was?!
"Dodge!!" Kirschtaria shouted, sensing danger, diving aside unceremoniously, his pristine robe rolling across the ground.
Though the mental space was free of dust, his scramble lacked noble grace. The spot he'd stood was shattered by an unknown force, a massive white hand conjured from Roy's shoulder.
"What kind of monster is this?!" Kadoc gasped.
Thanks to Kirschtaria's warning, the others narrowly evaded Roy's casual strike. White light swords rained down, piercing their former positions, a lethal threat chilling their hearts.
A split second slower, and they'd be dead.
Eyes wide with fear, they turned to Roy's smiling face, filled with dread.
This was no ally.
They'd assumed this was the Alien God's domain, with this man as her servant or the god herself.
Clearly not. He was here to kill them.
"Not bad. Dodging that takes skill." Roy said, lowering his hand, nodding at the disheveled group. "Worthy of Marisbury's modern elite."
He'd held back, but their evasion proved their caliber.
He'd deal with them today, but not yet. A serious attack would end them instantly.
His goal wasn't these seven.
This mental world was his domain, and he was its master.
Bringing the Crypters' minds and Great Command Spell here was bait, to hook the big fish behind them: the Alien God.
Killing the seven and stripping their Command Spell was simple, but what then?
If the Alien God didn't show, what was the point of eliminating her chosen few?
The world wasn't short of humans. Without Team A, Earth wouldn't stop. The Alien God could pick others.
Removing the Command Spell could halt the Alienation, but only that.
If the Alien God persisted, launching a new collapse, say, a flood of Humanity, in the future, the problem would resurface.
So, Roy aimed to fish here, using these seven to lure the Alien God and end her.
If she appeared, perfect. If not, these seven wouldn't leave, and he'd find another way.
"You'd better pray your backer, the Alien God, hasn't abandoned you." Roy said, smirking at their guarded stances and magecraft preparations.
"Besides her, I'd love to see who could save you today."
"You're welcome to throw everything at me, try to save yourselves. If you can."
The fishing wasn't over; he'd let them squirm a bit longer.
Unbeknownst to him…
In a hidden corner of the world, undetectable by any instrument, the newly born Alien God wouldn't be coming.
___
If you're interested in reading more that 50 chapters, feel free to visit my pat reon,
https , // www .pat reon. com /XElenea