Any magus studying in the modern or contemporary era would inevitably hear of a legendary figure: Aleister Crowley.
He known as Beast666, the most powerful magician, he was a genius versed in countless mystical traditions, from ancient scriptures to religious doctrines like those of the Abrahamic.
In the Toaruverse, Aleister Crowley also existed, founding Academy City, the pinnacle of technological advancement.
Before developing his Thelema system, this man joined a renowned magical cabal... one just as famous.
The Golden Dawn!
This organization transformed magic from its classical roots into a modern form, drastically lowering the barriers to mastery and producing many renowned, powerful magicians.
Figures like Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers, William Wynn Westcott, and Allan Bennett were all members of the Golden Dawn.
Though the group later fragmented, its successor, the Dawn-Colored Sunlight, inherited much of its magical system.
This system modernized occult elements like Hermeticism, Kabbalah, Tarot, Egyptian mythology, Enochian magic, and astrology.
Among these, Morpheus was most adept at spells rooted in Kabbalah and Enochian magic.
Of course, he was no stranger to other techniques, such as aligning elemental properties with celestial bodies to summon powers from other mythologies... a method he excelled at.
At this moment, the wings behind Morpheus symbolized the power he wielded.
Angelic wings, representing the messengers of the supreme creator, the incomprehensible entity at the highest pinnacle, the great being of nothingness... The One.
Naturally, this power was but a fraction, as Morpheus couldn't harness the true might of angels.
Yet even this infinitesimal sliver... divided by billions upon billions... granted him devastating destructive force and imbued him with traits beyond humanity.
"I declare my magic name: Veritas000, the seeker of truth!"
A magic name represents a magician's reason for walking the path of magic, their deepest obsession. For Morpheus, that obsession was the pursuit of truth.
When a magician utters their magic name, it signals their utmost seriousness... a battle of conviction.
"Angels stand ever before him. In the name of YHVH, angels of earth, wind, water, and fire, descend to guard him!"
YHVH, the name of the divine, the Lord, chanted with a trembling cadence that carried profound meaning. Four shadowy figures materialized around Morpheus.
The sword-bearer, the lily-holder, the traveler's guardian, the gatekeeper of the abyss.
These were the four mightiest angels of legend, standing closest to the divine: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel!
Even as mere shadows, as projections diluted to near-infinite fractions, their terrifying energy could easily shatter continents... or even planets.
Yet Morpheus, a mere mortal magician, couldn't directly wield this power.
The descent of the four angels intensified the elemental forces around him, bending everything to his will.
Their appearance drew every eye on the battlefield.
"What is that?!" Zeus stared at the distant shadows. As the King of the Gods of the Greek pantheon and a god-king, his power should have been unmatched.
Moreover, as a former Interstellar Combat Annihilation Fortress navigating cosmic space, Zeus understood power beyond most earthly gods.
Yet even he couldn't comprehend the force Morpheus now displayed.
Each of those four shadows seemed capable of annihilating everyone present with the energy they radiated!
Could these be projections of an outer god?!
"What are they? His patron deity, lending him divine power?" Hecate frowned, watching Morpheus encircled by the four angels, her curiosity deepening.
She'd always been intrigued by Morpheus's hidden secrets, but seeing this only raised more questions.
Was he using divine Authority to cast his magic? What kind of Authority could summon divine avatars?
Or was he a priest so favored by his god?
Medea's jaw dropped. She'd always found Morpheus dashing and enigmatic, with a unique grasp of magic and brilliant self-crafted spells.
But now, witnessing this, her admiration soared to new heights.
The girl forgot she was on a battlefield, her eyes fixed solely on him, oblivious to all else.
Artemis paused, staring at the figure wreathed in angelic light. Bathed in golden radiance, he seemed divine, as if the world itself cheered for him.
The young man... or rather, youth... raised his staff.
Then, he uttered simple words.
"Hot and dry."
A basic description, as if defining a quality. Instantly, his staff ignited with scorching flames, channeling Michael's power into a blazing arrow.
The fiery arrow shot forth at blinding speed toward an unscathed giant. The giant tried to dodge, but its massive size and the arrow's velocity left it no chance. The projectile struck true.
Boom!
The explosion of flame shook the earth, as if an earthquake had struck.
The giant collapsed, its body mangled by the blast. Its skin, highly resistant to magic, magecraft, and civilization, offered no protection.
Perhaps it had some effect, but against an attack of this magnitude, resistance was meaningless.
With a gentle wave of his staff, Morpheus summoned three identical fiery arrows, aimed ahead.
***
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