Chapter 81: Pillars

Chapter 81: Pillars

Above the gray fog, within the ancient palace, beside The Fool’s seat.

A prayer-point of light swelled outward, sending ring after ring of radiance rippling through the air.

It was as if, inside a sealed and lightless room, someone had suddenly drawn open the curtains, letting sunlight pour in and pierce the eyes of the “sleeper.”

The vortex of worms, which had already fallen still, once again turned frenzied. One slippery, bizarre tentacle after another began to wave and lash.

…

Klein’s gaze slid past the section related to the Lord of the Mysteries and began deciphering what followed:

Eternal Darkness, Singularity of All, Space-Time-in-One:

The River of Eternal Darkness, together with the Darkness Uniqueness, the Death—Eternal Sleeper—Uniqueness, the Twilight Giant Uniqueness, one Knight of Misfortune Beyonder characteristic, one Pale Emperor Beyonder characteristic, and one Hand of God Beyonder characteristic.

God of Origin, Mother of All, Brood Hive of Filth:

The Brood Hive, together with the Mother Uniqueness, the Moon Uniqueness, one Naturewalker Beyonder characteristic, and one Goddess of Beauty Beyonder characteristic.

The Anarchy, Shadow of Order:

The Nation of Disorder, together with the Black Emperor Uniqueness, the Justiciar Uniqueness, one Prince of Abolition Beyonder characteristic, and one Hand of Order Beyonder characteristic.

Calamity of Destruction, Origin of Disaster:

The City of Calamity, together with the Demoness—Chaos Demoness, Primordial Demoness—Uniqueness, the Red Priest Uniqueness, one Apocalypse Beyonder characteristic, and one Conqueror Beyonder characteristic.

Father of Devils, Lord of Mutants, Source of Curses:

The Shadow World, together with the Abyss Uniqueness, the Chained Uniqueness, one Filthy Monarch Beyonder characteristic, and one Abomination Beyonder characteristic.

Demon of Knowledge, Arcana of Madness:

The Knowledge Wilderness, together with the Hermit Uniqueness, the Paragon Uniqueness, one Knowledge Emperor Beyonder characteristic, and one Enlightener Beyonder characteristic.

Key of Light, Endless Disorder, Incarnation of Fate:

The Key of Light, together with the Wheel of Fortune Uniqueness and one Giant Serpent Beyonder characteristic.

So these are all the titles of the Great Old Ones corresponding to the nine sefirot… When Klein finished deciphering it, a wave of emotion passed through him.

If he and Emperor Roselle had learned this mysticism knowledge earlier, neither of them would have fallen into their present circumstances.

At certain times, even without using Beyonder powers, knowledge was completely equivalent to strength… The combined titles of the Earth and Moon pathways differ somewhat from Mother Goddess of Depravity. It seems they truly are only a part of Her. In other words, the Outer Deity on the moon is currently left with the titles and authorities of “Mother Goddess of Depravity,” “Origin of Evil,” and “The Indestructible”… By the same logic, the Mother Tree’s complete title should now be “Mother Tree of Desire,” “Heartless God,” and “Perpetual Blatherer”… As for the Son of Chaos, things are much less clear. He seems to have vanished; no one can understand Him in any real depth… Klein gave an almost imperceptible nod.

He then spoke:

“From the looks of it, the Omniscient and Omnipotent is the strongest, the Lord of the Mysteries and Space-Time-in-One occupy the second tier, and the rest are on the third.”

He was judging this by the number of required Beyonder pathways, and he had not included the Outer Deities in that assessment.

Adam looked at the Blasphemy Slate and said in a calm, unhurried tone, “That is not the case.”

“The number of authorities bears a certain relationship to status and level, but it is not everything. The corresponding essence, power, and symbolism are equally important.

“After the original Creator split apart, standing at the apex of all Great Old Ones were the Three Pillars. One was God…