Reality Marble.
It is the manifestation of one's inner world, the closest magecraft to true magic. A forbidden spell, a supreme mystery, and one of the pinnacles of magecraft. In essence, it overwrites reality with the landscape etched into the user's mind.
Originally a demonic phenomenon, a Reality Marble is an alien common sense, a "stain" on the world, an anomaly and contradiction. Thus, the World's Counter Force seeks to correct it, making prolonged deployment impossible except in rare cases.
Certain Heroic Spirits can wield Reality Marbles as Noble Phantasms. They need not be Casters or even mages in life, but each possesses unique properties. Examples include a hill of swords like a gravestone, the boundless horizon sought by the king of conquerors and his vassals, a Heroic Spirit reflecting their Master's dreams, a golem creating paradise, a composite temple embodying majesty, or an armored mechanism sublimating desire and ideals. Goetia's Temple of Time is also a Reality Marble.
"I'm bored."
The space Ophis created is likewise a Reality Marble. This world contains nothing, distinct yet akin to the Dimensional Gap. While the Dimensional Gap holds discarded debris, this world holds only Ophis. Less a reflection of Ophis' inner world, it stems from the nature of the "Infinite Dragon God." Infinity, void, chaos—above all, Ophis seeks silence. Thus, this world is devoid of any foreign presence.
If named, it would be The Abyss of the Dragon God.
Ophis is the strongest. In this world, only Great Red and the sealed Trihexa, the "God's Poison," can rival it, barring exceptions. Even Shiva from Hindu mythology pales in comparison. Because it is Ophis' Reality Marble, this world cannot be corrected. The World itself cannot erase it; attempting to do so would cause anomalies in the World instead.
Goetia taught Ophis about Reality Marbles as a stalling tactic, never expecting actual mastery. Deeming it harmless to their plan, the Demon God Pillars overlooked it. In fact, it was seen as beneficial, eliminating Ophis' need to fight Great Red, thus supporting the plan.
Having gained the silence it desired—beyond what it wished—Ophis was not amused. The impassive, expressionless dragon exuded an uncharacteristic boredom.
"Goetia doesn't pay attention to me."
For Goetia, meeting Ophis was an unwanted irregularity. For Ophis, it was fate. Understandably so—both exist on the same plane, sharing a similar perspective, unlike the unfamiliar Trihexa or Great Red, who expelled Ophis from the Dimensional Gap.
Despite an endless existence, Ophis' mentality remains utterly undeveloped—a child's mind. Capable of freely changing form, it currently appears as a young girl, its mentality matching or even younger than its appearance.
In that childishness, Ophis saw a paternal "pity" in Goetia and sought it. But the Demon God Pillars, busy with their Biblical incineration plan, had no time for Ophis. A few Pillars were intrigued, but they too were preoccupied with the plan.
The Reality Marble, meant for silence, became a place Ophis fled to in a sulk against Goetia.
"I'm lonely."
Before Ophis, two bloodied, near-dead figures were thrown. Without stirring, Ophis looked at the man who brought them. He was responsible for their presence.
"Not wondering how I got here, huh? Well, this is your inner world. You must know that realizing it grants free entry."
His attire screamed mage—shady yet fantastical, with a trail of blooming flowers marking his path.
"Good morning and hello, Ophis. Your reliable confidant, Merlin, at your service."
Merlin, the Magus of Flowers, a Grand Caster and half-human, half-incubus, with Clairvoyance seeing the present.
"Merlin? You're not the Merlin I know."
"True. I'm a Merlin from another universe. I can only be here in your Reality Marble."
Merlin observed the bizarre Reality Marble. A Reality Marble is inherently contradictory, but this one's essence is contradiction. Its structure permits all contradictions, where everything is simultaneously "still" and "in motion." Thus, the two near-dead figures Merlin brought—Vali and Bikou—survive despite fatal wounds.
Merlin, confined to Avalon, could enter due to this Reality Marble's nature. No Clairvoyance or magecraft is needed—just recognition. But recognizing it typically requires Clairvoyance, so entry isn't truly open to all.
"Albion?"
"Ophis, huh? Heard you vanished as the Khaos Brigade's leader, but to find you here…"
Albion, the White Dragon sealed in the Divine Dividing, spoke. Its host, Vali, had provoked an untouchable foe—Kingu—and nearly died. As Albion pondered the next White Dragon Emperor, Merlin saved Vali.
"You, calling yourself Merlin, why save Vali and Bikou?"
"Isn't it obvious? To mess with Kingu."
Albion was speechless.
"No, no, not revenge—farewell gift, that's it. Kingu shouldn't have killed Vali Lucifer there. That's all."
Unfazed by Albion's silence, Merlin shifted topics.
"You said you're from another universe. If true, what's your purpose?"
Merlin, unusually, grimaced. "Just checking on the seeds I sowed. Honestly, it was unexpected. Maybe I should've chosen Lancelot or Gawain over Bedivere. But Bedivere was the easiest to summon as a Heroic Spirit, not a Servant. That caused the chain summoning. All I wanted was Excalibur returned. And Cath Palug—what's with him, despite his reluctance… No, never mind. It'll work out. This world has its own beauty. Also, this world's God of the Bible caused quite a mess."
After his monologue, Merlin pivoted. "I'm off. I won't return. Forget the holy sword. Alaya will handle Bedivere and other Servants. As for the Demon God Pillars and Lion King, let this world's people deal with them. Especially Vali Lucifer—he needs to step up. If he grows stronger, Goetia's plan might fail. Then they'll have free time, right?"
Merlin vanished. His final words were clearly for Ophis, who mulled them over.
"…If Albion gets stronger, will Goetia pay attention to me?"
Ophis created a "snake" to share power, larger than those given to the Old Satan or Hero Factions.
"Wait, Ophis! Don't be hasty!"
Albion's protests were futile as Ophis forced the oversized "snake" into the unconscious Vali's mouth.
"Gaaarghhhh!"
Naturally, Kingu was beyond words—furious to the point of a twisted smile—having been outmaneuvered and left empty-handed. His rage would likely never subside.
His foul mood would probably be soothed by time spent with the fox mother and daughter.
"I'm surprised, Lion King. To think you'd come here."
"I'm equally shocked, King of the Demon Gods masquerading as the King of Magecraft. Or perhaps King of Men?"
"A declaration of war? Or, unlikely as it is, a proposal for an alliance?"
"Relax. That's impossible. I heard one of my knights contacted you. Where is he?"
"Who knows? He was at the Temple of Time, but when I mentioned you, he bolted, pale as death. No reason to stop him, so I didn't. If that's all, leave. We're busy planning to destroy the abominations sullying the Seventy-Two Pillars' names."
"No, I have more. I can guess your plan, and I can't overlook it. That's why I'll stop you."
"Oh? You've seen through our plan to burn Hell, Heaven, and rewrite history?"
"That's only half of it, isn't it?"
"What?"
"Your true goal lies before the Biblical incineration. The Longinus you've gathered—Holy Spear, Holy Grail, Holy Cross—are proof."
"Go on, King of the End. What else do we plan besides burning the Bible?"
"To use the holy relics as a substitute for the Tenth Ring, surpassing the King of Magecraft to gain omnipotence. To siphon everything left by the One God from the system using a variant 'Hegemony.'"
"…"
"You aim to become the Counter Force itself—equivalent to Gaia or Alaya, or merge with them. To reshape the past as you desire… no, to dictate all future by your judgment. Only you, who outwitted the Counter Force for three thousand years, could conceive this. The Longinus wielders are to be treated like Avatars, aren't they?"
"…Gahahahahahaha! Exactly, you half-dead goddess who ascended to Heaven! It's the fastest, most certain way to create a world without tragedy, as I desire. We, surpassing omniscience and omnipotence, will choose what remains. What greater pinnacle exists? What better utopia could be built?"
"You don't see it. Your plan has a fatal flaw."
"Our perfect plan will collapse? In a world without that wretched Solomon or Ritsuka Fujimaru?"
"Yes. Not defeat—they're unnecessary. You will fail due to your own errors. Why deny the beauty of what exists now? If you understand human value, protecting their current endeavors is enough. I'm not saying preserve them as I did. But changing the past alters humanity's essence—for better or worse, no matter how you adjust it. Why burn everything? Why not guide Angels and Devils rightly from now on?"
"No such choice exists. They can't live anew."
"I judge that they can."
"What can you do? Beyond wielding that Holy Spear or the holy sword your knight will return, what can you achieve? Didn't you learn as a human that you couldn't protect your kingdom, satisfy your people, or command your vassals?"
"And what have you understood? Gaining seventy-two identities lets you guide all humans to an ideal? Mere omniscience and omnipotence can save anyone? Have you forgotten Solomon himself couldn't?"
"I'm not that incompetent, merciless king without rights."
"True. And this world isn't our world. It's not the world you destroyed. If it's a second chance, why not try in your original world?"
"This is going nowhere."
"We're not on the same page."
"Killing you would be quick, but it's not that simple. This world's humans, this era's people, will come for your head. Wait for them."
"We're both twisted resurrections. I don't intend to settle this here. Reflect on your plan's flaws. If humans challenge me, I'll guide them."
"If you lose, we'll rewrite human despair."
"If I win, I'll uphold human hope."
***
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