Beyond the Old Ones

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 11: Many Experiments

An hour later*

I'm completely speechless yet incredibly excited at the same time. I never imagined it would be this easy to obtain the Sefirah Castle—the very same one Klein Moretti used at the beginning of his journey. What's even more astonishing is how I can alter the castle to my will, just like Klein did when he created the meeting place for the Tarot Club. Following his example, I've crafted my own space within the castle, though with a more modern touch. Instead of the traditional setting, I've incorporated a laptop, allowing me to handle smaller details and manage various tasks with ease.

Oh, how I miss the internet. The best part about the Sefirah Castle is that it enhances my Beyonder abilities—or at least those related to the Fool Pathway. I'm not entirely sure if this was a feature in the canon version, but the power boost is undeniable. This reminds me that I should really start by activating the Error Pathway and Door Pathway soon, expanding my abilities even further.

On another note, I need to explore the possibility of obtaining the other Sefirot. Given that I managed to acquire the Sefirah Castle, it stands to reason that the others should be within reach, especially since I have access to all 22 pathways; thereby, I have the ability to reach Above the Sequence in all pathways. Securing the remaining Sefirot is essential if I'm to achieve the final stage. Of course, I know this won't be as easy as obtaining the Sefirah Castle—and even that required a good deal of luck and knowledge, which I fortunately had in the end.

Anyway, I shouldn't push my luck too far. So far, I am extremely lucky; that alone makes me somewhat nervous.

With a few clicks on the laptop keyboard, I start compiling a list of basic information on what I want to explore. With the data at my fingertips, I switch over to the Card of the Fool, ready to perform a Divination through the Sefirah Castle—this time using the laptop as my conduit. The fusion of ancient power and modern technology feels both surreal and empowering, allowing me to navigate the future and other knowledge with a newfound precision.

Soon, I obtained the information I sought through Computational Divination. The process was surprisingly smooth. The results appeared on the screen with an almost eerie clarity, giving me exactly what I needed to proceed with my plans.

Suddenly, one of the crimson stars pulsed with a vibrant energy and rushed toward me. I expected it to crash into me or the surrounding area, but instead, it stopped just a few inches above the ground, directly opposite the table where I was sitting. The crimson light slowly began to dim, fading away to reveal the silhouette of a person standing in its place.

Standing before me is an attractive teenage girl with short, dark purple hair styled with square bangs that hang neatly over her forehead. Her striking purple eyes meet mine with a captivating gaze. She has a moderately curvy figure, highlighted by her large breasts. The girl is dressed in a school uniform consisting of a crisp white shirt with pink trims along the bottom edge, a skirt with subtle stripes, and a black bowtie that adds a touch of formality. She completes the look with matching black dress shoes.

"Greetings, Mai Mashiro. Are you enjoying your time as a Deadtuber?" I ask her in a dull, flat voice, my eyes studying her expression for any hint of emotion.

"Ah! Greetings as well, mister! Do you know me?" Mashiro smiles brightly, seemingly unfazed by the sudden change in her surroundings. Her excitement is real as if the strange situation only adds to her thrill. "And yes, I'm absolutely enjoying being a Deadtuber! Are you here to kill me? Did I kill someone you care about, and now you're seeking revenge?" Her voice is filled with a curious blend of cheerfulness, as if she's ready for whatever comes next.

"Yes, I know you and your past deeds. But no, if I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't have bothered with conversation—I would have simply done it." My tone remains calm and measured. "As for killing someone I care for, that's not the case either. You may call me Lord of Mysteries." I can't help but feel a slight twinge of embarrassment using this alias, but given that I have access to all 22 pathways, and the fact that I'm using the Sefirah Castle.

"Well, Mr. Lord of Mysteries, why did you bring me here?" Mashiro asks, her smile unwavering. She looks incredibly innocent, her behavior almost childlike, giving no indication that she could be a murderer. Her wide-eyed curiosity differs sharply from the dark deeds she's known for.

"An experiment, if you will." I begin slowly. "If you agree, I will give you the chance to become something far beyond an ordinary human."

"Do I have to quit being a Deadtuber if I agree to be your test subject for this experiment?" Mashiro tilted her head slightly to one side. Her gaze remained steady, betraying no trace of fear or hesitation.

"By all means, continue being a Deadtuber if you wish." I leaned forward slightly, my gaze unwavering as I met her eyes. "But you'll have to follow my instructions exactly and execute them promptly."

"Sure! But under one condition: I crave beauty...!" Mashiro exclaimed, her voice ringing with a fiery. Her eyes glinted with a manic light as she spoke, revealing a wild enthusiasm that contrasted sharply with her previously calm behavior. "I want to recreate the beauty I've witnessed with my own eyes in the past!" The passion in her tone emphasized her passionate desire as if she were on the brink of some grand, artistic revelation.

"That's fine. In fact, I'll give you something to help you achieve your desire, as it would be part of the experiment I want you to take part in." My fingers tapped the surface of the table, creating a subtle, steady beat that filled the quiet room. I glanced down at the laptop's monitor, its screen filled with a labyrinth of data—information that should have been impossible to obtain by ordinary means. Yet, thanks to the power of the Sefirah Castle, it had become a reality.

"Oh?" Mashiro's eyes lit up with curiosity. She leaned forward slightly. "What would it be?"

I didn't respond verbally; instead, I pressed the enter key on the laptop. Almost immediately, Mashiro winced, her expression twisting in discomfort. She brought her hands up to her ears, desperately trying to block out a sound only she could hear. Her eyes widened in shock, the previous excitement replaced by a sense of unease as the unseen force took hold.

This torment lasted for a few minutes, each second stretching out as if it were an eternity. Mashiro's face remained twisted in pain, her breathing ragged and uneven. Finally, the painful expression began to fade, leaving her forehead slick with cold sweat. Her hands slowly lowered from her ears as the invisible assault subsided.

As Mashiro slowly calmed down, her breathing becoming steady, I moved my gaze slightly upward. There, hovering just above her, was the Card of Demoness. This was a result of my experimentation with the Boon System, a new feature revealed in the Circle of Inevitability, the sequel to Lord of Mysteries. Discovering this obscure system was something I hadn't foreseen when I first began exploring the depths of the internet—a network that inexplicably connects to my past life's Earth.

The importance of this discovery was vast, especially considering the experiment I had just conducted—using the Card of Blasphemy instead of a God to bestow Boons, the gift of Beyonder powers, to a Recipient without the need for a potion. As I observed the live data streaming across the laptop's screen, tracking every change in Mashiro's condition in real time, I couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction. The experiment appeared to be a success. The concept of bypassing the traditional pathways to power, using the Card of Blasphemy to grant abilities directly, is another proof of how powerful they are.

"Congratulations, Mashiro." My voice is steady as I observed her recovery. "You're currently weak, but you've become something far beyond an ordinary human. Right now, your abilities are aligned with those of an assassin—silent, lethal, and precise. You may explore your new powers further on your own, but be aware that ordinary humans are no longer your equals."

As I spoke, my eyes flicked to the monitor, where Mashiro's progress was displayed in real-time. Even though I had used the Boon System instead of a potion to make her a Beyonder of the Demoness Pathway, the data showed that she was at 1% in the Acting Progress, with the percentage slowly rising.

"Thank you...!" Mashiro's voice was laced with a strange mix of gratitude and something darker as she gave me a smile that was more twisted than any of her previous ones. The edges of her lips curled upward in a way that seemed almost unnatural. "If I may be excused, could you send me back home? I might need some time to gather myself and rest."

"Yes, but before I send you back, there's something you need to know." I said, my tone more serious than before. "There will be random moments when I summon you here again. However, I'll give you a minute to recognize the familiar signs from the first time I brought you here. Use that time wisely." I paused for a moment to let the weight of my words sink in before continuing. "In addition, if you wish to contact me and return here on your own, find a quiet and private place. Then, pray in your mind with these words: 'King of Space-Time, Beacon of Destiny, Embodiment of Sefirah Castle, Dominator of the Spirit World.' Remember these words as you pray, and I will hear them, then I'll summon you here."

I waited for a few seconds. My gaze remained fixed on Mashiro's face, scanning every subtle movement, every twitch of her expression. I was looking for any flicker of rebellious emotion, any sign that she might resist or refuse to follow my directions. Her eyes, however, held only a strange mix of acceptance and resolve, as if she had already made up her mind. But I kept watching, ready to catch the slightest hint of defiance.

My gaze locked onto hers. "Don't forget them."

Mashiro nodded, her expression resolute. "I won't. Thank you for choosing me out of everyone else in the world." She then bowed deeply, almost to a perfect 90-degree angle.

I nodded in acknowledgment and then initiated the process with a few taps on my laptop. A crimson light began to envelop Mashiro, its glow intensifying and swirling around her. Within moments, the light expanded and enveloped her completely, and then, with a final burst of brilliance, she disappeared into the sea of crimson stars.

I finally relaxed, slumping into my seat with a deep sigh. The mental exhaustion was more than any physical fatigue I might have felt, despite my short preparations to ensure that everything was under my control and that Mashiro would have no means of trying to do something crazy like rushing at me with the intention of killing me.

I took a moment to rest, letting the tension ease from my body. After a short rest, I turned my attention back to the laptop, making a few final adjustments to the settings. Once satisfied, I closed the laptop and let my eyes drift shut. As I relaxed, I felt a familiar, gentle pull. Slowly, the surroundings of the Sefirah Castle began to blur and fade, giving way to the feeling of returning to where before I came here.

I opened my eyes and saw the familiar room of the hotel.

"Did it work?" Alucard asks upon seeing me open my eyes.