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To find a suitable parallel world with a sun they could…borrow, they needed the Counter Force's cooperation.
Of course, There were other methods.
For instance, the Second Magic, Operation of Parallel Worlds—a Magic Yahweh had studied after acquiring the knowledge from the Tohsaka family.
However, even with that knowledge, it was a difficult magic to master. Therefore, they believed seeking the Counter Force's assistance was the most efficient approach. After all, this was its domain.
While Mika was now incredibly powerful in this world, if the Counter Force actively opposed them, it could create significant complications. Hence, negotiation was their preferred strategy.
"Indeed, diplomacy takes precedence over brute force," Mika agreed with a nod.
Having achieved the Eighth Sense, his power had increased exponentially.
That was the nature of Cosmo: significant leaps in power between levels, each breakthrough incredibly difficult to achieve, but granting immense strength.
The difference between the Seventh and Eighth Senses was even greater than that between the Sixth and Seventh. Mika was now practically invincible in the Type-Moon world.
This was why he had dared to return, looking for a sun for his God Cloth. It was also their insurance policy against the Counter Force—While their priority was negotiation, without sufficient power, they wouldn't even get a chance to talk.
With their plan established, Mika's Cosmo surged, its immense power radiating outwards, a force capable of shattering the world itself—felt by every mage and being in the Type-Moon universe, both within the world and in the Reverse Side of the World, triggering a reaction.
Two consciousnesses descended:
Gaia and Alaya, the collective will of the planet and humanity, respectively — the Counter Force.
And within Mika's mind, the conversation began.
——
——
"It's done," Mika said, stretching languidly after emerging from his trance.
He had successfully negotiated with the Counter Force, gaining a deeper understanding of its nature. It didn't possess human-like intelligence or emotions.
Its actions were driven by instinct, a desire to maintain balance and protect the world.
It hadn't initially agreed to Mika's request; However, faced with Mika's overwhelming power, it couldn't refuse.
Therefore, Mika had offered a bargain:
He would help them resolve the "Land of Steel" problem, the inevitable destruction of humanity in many timelines, and offer them a different future.
It was only then that they realized his true nature, a traveler between worlds. Previously, thanks to the Starry expanse's protection, even the Counter Force hadn't been able to detect his presence.
Otherwise, they would have likely contacted him much earlier. After all, other worlds, other possibilities, were intriguing, even to the Counter Force.
——
"They've agreed to assist us, to find a suitable world," he explained to Yahweh, Hephaestus, and Saori.
"That's it? It was that easy?" Hephaestus asked, surprised.
She had anticipated a more challenging encounter, perhaps even a battle against this world's strongest.
Hephaestus had even brought the Divine tools she had forged in Heaven, before descending to the lower world, preparing for such a confrontation.
"It wasn't unexpected—" Yahweh said calmly, and Saori nodded in agreement.
"We're stronger than them and possess something they desperately need."
"They had no choice," Yahweh explained. This was why she had been so relaxed since arriving in this world. There had never been any real danger.
"So now we wait?" Saori asked.
Mika nodded. They had to wait for the Counter Force to locate a suitable world.
"Then let's go explore," Yahweh suggested. Like before, she wanted to experience this world firsthand, not through Gabriel's memories, which felt distant, like watching a movie.
And now, she had the opportunity.
"Let's go." Mika, knowing his Goddess's nature, readily agreed. Leading expeditions was his specialty.
They didn't have to wait long. The Counter Force soon presented them with a world that had reached its end, a desolate landscape devoid of life.
"So this is what a dead world looks like…" Mika murmured, his enhanced senses taking in the scene. It was truly lifeless, not a single spark of life remaining.
"This world didn't simply die, did it?" He asked the Counter Force.
"....."
"I see..." He nodded, understanding.
Like the singularities Chaldea faced, this world had also been destroyed by a powerful being, though the Counter Force had already dealt with the threat before Mika's arrival.
He smiled. They had taken care of it themselves, without his intervention. "It seems they're eager to please us. And the more they desire our cooperation—the more we can demand."
——
——
While he had been collecting information from various worlds, he hadn't learned much about this world's mysteries, its deeper magic.
While Merlin possessed vast knowledge, it was limited to what he found interesting. His Clairvoyance, after all, allowed him to see anything happening in the present, earning him the nickname of "Voyeur." He only knew what he saw. And while he had lived for centuries, accumulating vast knowledge, it was all filtered through his own unique perspective. He wouldn't bother learning about things that didn't interest him.
Magecraft, for instance.
The Type-Moon world had once been a world of Gods, its history filled with conflict.
Its magical traditions were undoubtedly incredibly advanced. After all, the most famous Holy Sword in this world, Excalibur, had been forged by Fairies, a testament to their skill. However, Merlin, uninterested in such matters, knew little about them.
Hearing Mika's request for this world's magical knowledge, the Counter Force readily agreed.
The more he desired, the greater his debt, the more likely he was to help them solve their own…problem: the Land of Steel.
And Mika wasn't concerned about accumulating debt. "Borrowing" from the future was a strategy he excelled at, thanks to his ability to manipulate time. He could make any promise, accept any challenge, knowing that his future self, with his ever-increasing power, could handle it.
And if he couldn't—he would simply become stronger.
With his ability to control time, he could spend years, even decades, in another world, and return to the exact moment he left. He could "borrow" from the future without worrying about repayment.
Of course, if he died, his successor would inherit his debts. And if his abilities couldn't be passed on…well, then the debt would simply vanish.
It was a slightly unethical strategy, but he didn't have much choice.
——
The Counter Force quickly provided the information he requested, a vast trove of knowledge that included unfamiliar concepts and unique approaches to magic, a treasure trove for Mika.
He passed it on to Hephaestus for further study, then, pulling the Counter Force aside, began negotiating for a larger loan. As for why he did this discreetly... well, the request was a bit unconventional, and he didn't want to attract unwanted attention.
The Type-Moon world, with its rich history and established magical traditions, having once been a world of Gods, was a repository of hidden knowledge.
And Mika was eager to explore it—He believed that, besides the Root itself, no other being in this world possessed a greater understanding of magic than the Counter Force—They likely had access to every magical secret, knowledge that was both incredibly valuable and—incredibly cheap.
While knowledge, in the hands of those who knew how to use it, was a source of immense power, it was also infinitely reproducible. Its value wasn't diminished by being shared. And to the Counter Force, which seemingly knew everything, knowledge must have been practically worthless.
Therefore, this was the perfect opportunity to acquire a vast amount of information, a knowledge base that dwarfed even that of the Gods.
It was a chance to leapfrog years, even centuries, of study, an opportunity rarely presented in other worlds. The Counter Force, lacking human-like desires or ambitions, wouldn't hesitate to share its knowledge, even if it was incredibly valuable. After all, what was knowledge compared to the fate of the world itself?
With this in mind, he made his offer—
——
"He's truly audacious…"
Yahweh, Hephaestus, and Saori looked at him in surprise, hearing his explanation. He had leveraged his power and their desperation to secure such a valuable opportunity.
Knowledge was both precious and not. To those who lacked the power to utilize it, it was merely information.
It held no inherent power.
However, it could lead to power. And to the strong, knowledge was power, especially for Gods, whose power stemmed from their understanding of the world, from the laws and principles they embodied.
Every God was inherently wise.
Raw power alone wasn't enough. And for them, acquiring knowledge was a slow, arduous process, measured in centuries, even millennia. An opportunity like this, to access the Counter Force's vast knowledge base—it was incredibly rare. Few worlds possessed such an entity.
This highlighted the unique nature of the Type-Moon world, where the Gods, created by Gaia, the Earth's will, were ultimately subservient to the Counter Force. However, the Counter Force, lacking true sentience, was more of an abstract concept than an individual being, its vast knowledge hidden within the world's deepest mysteries.
"We'll postpone our plans," Yahweh declared, her voice firm.
"The God Cloth can wait. This opportunity—it's too valuable to miss. Mika's growth is our top priority."
Hephaestus nodded in agreement. "I agree. Besides, Mika acquired this World's forging knowledge from the Counter Force. I'd like to study it." The knowledge he had acquired was far more valuable than she had anticipated.
"I have no objections," Saori added.
Yahweh nodded, then turned to Mika. "Then begin your preparations. The Counter Force's knowledge—I imagine it's quite extensive."
"Indeed," Mika replied seriously.
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