«Anyway," Azazel began to speak rather mundanely. - God is dead.
And silence...
All the girls stared at the leader of the Fallen with genuine bewilderment, not understanding what he had said.
«What do you mean? - Ichika intervened. She'd gotten used to the world-changing revelations over the past month, so she was the quickest to move away. She didn't realize it, but she started asking clarifying questions. - What do you mean. dead?
«It's like this," Azazel said. - During the last Great War, his wounds were so great that he died a short time later....
«Are you out of your mind or what? - Ichika started yelling at Azazel. - God can't just die! That's, well... - She dazedly shifted her gaze between everyone present. - God...
«I didn't realize it right away, either," Azazel shrugged. - But over hundreds of years, even angels have had to come to terms with it.....
«I don't understand," Ichika shifted her gaze to Emeric. - Shouldn't something like the apocalypse be starting?
«It's already in full swing. His name is LGBT... - Emeric dodged the thrown book with a chuckle, then continued. - In general, the Biblical God was really the first God who by all accounts created our, well.... - Emeric made a few spatial movements in the air. - Reality...
Azazel joined the conversation. Everyone listened to the fallen man with the utmost attention. The jokes were jokes, but the intelligent man in front of them was one of the oldest creatures on earth.
«Believe me, the whole world was shaken up," Azazel shook his head. - But the Biblical had something that far outweighed any force... He was a true Creator. His list of masterpieces includes our world, angels, humans, and many different artifacts like your Longines," Azazel spoke with the passion and respect of a man who knows what he's talking about. - I don't know if he envisioned his eventual death, but a long time ago he created one very important thing in our world, and that is the Celestial System. It's what keeps the world afloat...
Emeric took the word as if in a trance. Wisdom at this moment was giving him data that was simply abnormal in its essence, as if it did not understand what he could perceive with his mind and what he could not.
«The Celestial System is responsible for gathering the faith of humans, which is what gives rise to the gods... - Azazel nodded at his speech. It was obvious that he was interested in what he had to say. - It defines the rules of current reality. The presence of gravity, friction, or any other natural phenomenon. You could say that our whole world works according to its laws..... She is also responsible for the workability of the Seven Heavens, the home of God and the angels, responsible for Miracles, phenomena in response to sincere prayer...
Azazel nodded acknowledgingly, accepting his explanation.
«But there was a problem," Emeric met Azazel's solemn gaze. - After the death of God, the work of the Celestial System became incomplete...
In truth, Emeric was trying to quiet the trembling in his mind. Emeric was just now realizing that he knew about the death of God! I mean, during the battle with Dichauser, when Wisdom had undercut his powers to the fullest, that fact had just taken up residence in his mind. Not as knowledge that comes to him with visions, but as some sort of checkbox on a form that just got toggled. One, and he has the fact in his head that God is dead. Just like the fact that living organisms breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. It's a fact of the worldview.
It was only with Azazel's raising of the subject that he clearly realized that he knew it! The presence of God is not just knowledge, but part of the surrounding reality. Some law of nature that is embedded in the universe. The biblical God was to the world something ... something big.
«Huh," the fallen man shook his head. - I'm tired of saying this, but you hit the bull's-eye as usual. The Celestial System began to malfunction. The miracles of sincere faith could not be realized in full... The laws of nature began to crack at the seams, man more and more often did the "impossible" ... For example," Azazel nodded toward Valerie. - Half of humans were able to be born with Sacred Mechanisms. It started exactly after His death...
Valerie picked herself up and stared unkindly at the Grigori leader.
«How do you know?
«Whoa-whoa, easy," Azazel raised his hands conciliatorily. - Don't forget who I am. And everyone who's interested knows about you and your unconventional background. It made a lot of noise in the higher echelons of Hell in its time, so don't worry... - Valerie continued to sulk on the couch as Azazel continued with a shrug of his shoulders. - Even the Balance Crushers... They didn't exist before His death. - He nodded at the stricken expressions on their faces. - Humans weren't supposed to squeeze more than a hundred percent efficiency out of their Sacred Mechanisms, which was what most of them did.
Indeed, Wisdom suggested that the same Divine Divide and Amplifying Mechanism only had dragon souls in them. That is, Juggernaut Drive, a kind of berserk mode that maximizes the wearer's proximity to a real dragon, squeezes more than just energy out of the artifact. And there's no such functionality in sight. It's a hellish hodgepodge of human faith, frantic energy consumption, and symbiosis with the soul in the artifact. If Balance Crusher is a kind of overstepping the line, then Juggernaut Drive is a full-fledged tap dance on the laws of nature. Anyone who understands it should be able to smell a catch, except that those who are qualified for such a thing already know of its death.
In general, Wisdom works surprisingly well at this moment. And you can't tell if it's a coincidence or a sign of Fate? How complicated everything is with this gift! And it should be noted that this ability is not a consequence of his death, for Solomon himself, the vicar of God, possessed it. The roots of the gift stretch somewhere much deeper. Wisdom itself, by the way, does not give an answer about its origin. Only some undecipherable signals.
«Or, for example," Azazel gave him an attentive glance. - Our adored Emeric... He was able to use Excalibur, perhaps the holiest sword in the world at the time. It was physically impossible for our pure-blooded demon to defy him. I can't even think of an analogy that defies the laws of reality... And all because of a strong desire that could bend reality to suit him. You're an amazing guy, Emeric.
Emeric only shrugged at such a thing. He would not correct Azazel's guesses. He trusted him moderately, and he didn't feel any falseness, but some things should be kept to himself. If he came up with the explanation himself, then Emeric didn't even need to add anything. By the way, this was probably the reason why Aldis didn't ask him about the fact of using the holy sword. Most likely, the higher echelons have long been accustomed to writing off the "oddities" that break the laws of nature to the death of God. And in most cases, they're absolutely right. Not him.
«By the way," Azazel addressed him directly. - How did you manage to remove the Mask of Solomon?! I've had that artifact for thousands of years, and everything about it spoke of complete protection from the outside! It was the perfect tool for hostage-taking and infiltration!
«Just wanted it really badly," Emeric shrugged.
Azazel looked at him carefully, but only shook his head. He realized he wasn't going to reveal anything more than that.
«Oh, I realize I screwed up, of course! And you don't quite trust me now. No wonder, our first acquaintance began with my 'betrayal'..... - Azazel leaned back in his chair with a sigh. - I won't even tell you how Cockabiel managed to catch me! I'd be ashamed to tell anyone....
... Cockabiel hired a dozen succubi, who arranged for Azazel to have an orgy ...
Thank you, Wisdom! I wish you were dead! You know what they say, you know less, you sleep better! He'll never sleep now!
-... But I'd like a fresh start! For example, Emeric," Azazel looked earnestly into his eyes and nodded to some inner thoughts. He pulled out a golden mask from behind his sinus, which didn't stand out with any intricate ornamentation. But almost all of Solomon's artifacts had that touch. All the most important things are hidden inside. - You are the only one who will be able to fully master this, I'm not afraid of the word, great artifact! Perhaps in your possession it will reveal its full potential.... I'm used to trusting my inner senses, and something tells me that in your hands it will look more organic....
Emeric took Solomon's Mask in his hands with trepidation. As if sensing his gift, it gave off a pleasant warmth. Azazel was a great man after all! This artifact is impossible to put a price on! It has no analogues, even though it is a great artifact of the Wisest of the Wise!
«I," Emeric didn't even know what to say to such generosity. - I won't forget this, Azazel!
«No," he shook his head. - I'm the one who won't forget how you saved all my work of the last hundred years... And the many lives of my brothers and sisters who would have died in that crucible of war....
There was a solemn pause between them. Now Azazel showed how eager he was for peace. He plucked one of his favorite pieces from his personal collection as if from the heart. To such a gesture of sincerity Emeric could only respond with proper respect in the future. Now Azazel had become a full-fledged ally and friend in his mind! Hooray for expensive gifts!
The moment of thoughtful pause between them was broken by Ichika cutting in, emanating envy.
«What about us? Didn't you prepare something for us too?!
Azazel instinctively shuddered at her presence, not knowing why. So the answer came out automatically:
«I can give you a ritual to exorcise the devil....
«Yeah, thank you so much, creepy old man! I see, so you only gave the President something?! Stay out of my Emeric! I heard you're one of those what's-his-name rear-wheel-drive guys.
«I'm not a creepy old man! And what's with the weird rumors! - Azazel frowned in irritation, but after a breath, he continued. - Until the peace summit, I will be staying in your city. So to speak, to keep watch... After the summit, we'll see... But," Azazel looked at them proudly. - I have a gift for you, too!
Akeno, Valerie, and Ichika all picked themselves up with anticipation. Solomon's mask still couldn't leave their gift-hungry minds.
«And that gift is Me!
Silence...
«Get out of here! - The girls' response was remarkably coherent.
«Hey, hey, don't throw things! Stop it! That's not what I meant! I'll be your mentor and teacher, so to speak, with Sona Sitri's entourage! Why are you wearing Balance Breakers?! Oh, Akeno, you know how to use holy lightning?! You can see the breed! Ouch! Kid, stop them! Pa-a-a-a-a-aren!
***
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