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Mika slowly opened his eyes, emerging from his meditative trance. He clenched his fists, feeling the changes within him.
"T-this is more than a hundredfold increase—" He was astounded by the sheer scale of his transformation.
His journey to the Type-Moon world had been for a single purpose: To acquire a sun for his God Cloth, a project to refine and enhance his forging skills and knowledge.
However, thanks to an unexpected encounter with the Counter Force, he had gained something far more valuable: their accumulated knowledge—a boon that had enhanced his power a hundredfold, not just his current strength, but his potential as well.
He now possessed limitless possibilities—He was a prodigy—a genius in every aspect of his being. This transformation filled him with a sense of wonder.
——
——
"Mika, wake up." Yahweh's voice broke through his reverie.
Mika looked up and saw her, along with several others, standing around him, their faces barely concealing their amusement.
He realized he had been muttering to himself, lost in his thoughts, a rather embarrassing display of self-absorption. While his earlier pronouncements had been genuine, voicing them aloud felt childish.
"What are you all doing here?" Mika asked, trying to regain his composure, a slight blush creeping up his neck.
"We heard you were waking up, so we came to see you. You've been asleep for quite a while," Yahweh replied with a smile. The others nodded in agreement.
"That's thoughtful of you all," Mika said, his voice stiff.
If not for his earlier embarrassment, he might have been touched by their concern. But now, he just wanted them to leave.
——
——
"So, this is the result...?"
Later, in the Matou mansion's living room, Yahweh, Saori, Hephaestus, Artoria, Merlin, and Sakura sat in a circle, listening to Mika's explanation, their faces a mix of awe and curiosity.
His transformation was truly extraordinary.
While the original Heaven's Feel ritual could create a perfect body from a soul, it couldn't compare to what Mika had achieved.
His version, both in concept and execution, was far more advanced, capable of creating a constantly evolving, ever-perfecting physical form, thanks to his deep understanding of the essence of life itself.
His journeys through various worlds, witnessing countless life forms, while intended to help him achieve the Eighth Sense—had also provided him with a wealth of knowledge—now seamlessly integrated into his Heaven's Feel ritual.
"This... this can hardly be called Heaven's Feel anymore, can it?" Yahweh chuckled. "Even 'Materialization of the Soul' doesn't quite capture its true nature."
"Let's just call it Heaven's Feel. After all, the name itself is just a placeholder for the Third Magic," Mika replied, not particularly concerned about the terminology. "It has no inherent meaning. Using it to refer to my new magic isn't a problem."
"As you wish—" Yahweh shrugged.
Mika then turned to Hephaestus.
"I apologize, Hephaestus, but the God Cloth project will have to be postponed—I haven't fully processed the Counter Force's knowledge yet. It will take time. We can't begin forging until I'm ready."
He felt genuinely apologetic; She had been waiting patiently, and now she had to wait even longer. While the project didn't require his direct involvement—he wanted to participate—which meant the others had to wait for him.
"It's alright. I can wait,"
Hephaestus replied with a sigh, though she had been eager to begin. She knew her role—She was a smith. Her skills weren't essential; Mika, with his current power, could easily find another God of the Forge in another world.
They had chosen her simply because of their existing relationship, their shared history.
Besides, she still had the forging techniques Mika had acquired from the Counter Force to study, a treasure trove of knowledge that kept her occupied.
"Then it's settled," Mika said with a smile, pleased with her understanding. "However, since you're all here, there's no need to rush back. Let's enjoy ourselves for a bit."
"Let's explore together—!" Saori suggested eagerly.
"Sounds like a plan."
And so, they embarked on a journey.
Mika, a seasoned traveler in the Type-Moon world, changed their destination mid-journey, deciding to visit other parallel worlds.
The Type-Moon world—with its infinite possibilities—offered a unique opportunity for exploration.
They visited countless timelines:
The Fifth Holy Grail War, a Holy Grail War in America, the Moon Cell Holy Grail War, even Chaldea.
They had a grand time, participating in battles, manipulating events, and even venturing into singularities and Lostbelts, saving worlds along the way.
These adventures gave Yahweh, Hephaestus, and Saori a deeper appreciation for the Type-Moon universe's unique nature.
After their extended travels, they returned to their original timeline and visited the Clock Tower to see how Waver was doing.
Mika was pleased with his progress.
As expected of a renowned magus, Waver's teaching abilities were exceptional, further enhanced by his Falna, which had seemingly amplified his talent. Perhaps it's the result of his Falna evolving, Mika mused.
——
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——
After their tour of the Type-Moon world, they returned to Orario.
It was the logical choice.
Mika needed a stable environment to process the vast knowledge he had acquired, and his Cosmo, which had felt somewhat unstable after his passive ascension—had solidified during his training with Yahweh, Hephaestus, and Saori.
"It seems like we just left Orario," Mika remarked as they returned to their familiar home.
"That's just your perception. We spent a considerable amount of time in the Type-Moon world. Even this world, several months have passed. Your sense of time is changing, Mika—Immortals perceive time differently from mortals," Yahweh explained.
She was pleased by this change; it was a sign of his continued growth, not just in power, but also in his perspective, his mindset shifting towards that of a God.
"Like the mayfly, unaware of the changing moons, or the cicada, ignorant of the passing seasons," Mika murmured, recalling a passage from a poem he had once read.
Different beings experienced the world differently.
And he was evolving, transcending his human limitations, even though he hadn't yet reached true Godhood, his other abilities having already entered the Divine Realm.
He immersed himself in study, integrating the Counter Force's knowledge, transforming it into his own understanding, strengthening his foundation—And once this process was complete, he would begin the next stage of his journey, his final push towards Godhood.
His Falna level was still 7.
However, thanks to Yahweh's modifications—it could now take him all the way to Level 10, the Realm of the Gods.
The peak of human potential within the Falna system was Level 9. And now, Mika no longer needed to accumulate experience to increase his base stats.
With his modified Falna linked to his infinite magic power, his stats would automatically reach their maximum potential at each level upon his ascension.
Therefore, once he finished processing the Counter Force's knowledge, his next step would be three consecutive level-ups, culminating in his ascension to Godhood.
And the material required for that final breakthrough had already been chosen:
A God.
Yes, to ascend beyond Level 9, a Level 9 adventurer would have to defeat and absorb a God, using their Divine essence as a catalyst for their own transformation.
This was Yahweh's solution, a method she had devised after much contemplation. After all, unlike humans, Gods were embodiments of the world's laws, and the fastest way to become a God was to…consume one.
"However, considering your enhanced base stats, Mika, and the fact that you're the first to use the modified Falna system, I believe a more conservative approach is necessary. For your next three level-ups, choose opponents with God-level strength. This will make your final ascension easier," Yahweh advised.
"I understand."
Finding God-level opponents wouldn't be difficult.
Defeating them wouldn't be a problem either.
With his Cosmo at the peak of the Eighth Sense, he could easily defeat most Gods from other worlds—except for the most powerful Gods, and those from universes like Saint Seiya—where even the "Weaker" Gods were incredibly strong.
Fortunately, he had visited numerous worlds and had a wide selection of potential targets.
"Don't forget that the Great Feats required for leveling up also increase in difficulty," Yahweh reminded him, seeing him deep in thought.
"Choose your opponents carefully. Don't make the first one too strong, or you'll be facing an incredibly powerful God for your final ascension. And for that final battle, choose someone straightforward."
"Straightforward?" Mika asked, puzzled.
"Your Cosmo, combined with your other abilities, makes you incredibly powerful, but your strength lies in your overwhelming attack power and speed. While you've learned some unique techniques from the Gold Saints, those are primarily effective against other Cosmo users."
"Against a God from another world, you'll still be relying on brute force... And a cunning God—even one slightly weaker than you, with their millennia of experience and unique powers, could potentially find a way to defeat you. However, against a more straightforward opponent, even one slightly stronger, you'll have a better chance."
Mika understood.
While his combat abilities were immense, he still had weaknesses.
Without his God Cloth, his physical body, despite its enhancements, was still vulnerable.
A cunning opponent could exploit this, potentially inflicting a fatal blow. However, against a straightforward God—who would likely engage him in a direct confrontation, a battle of raw power, his chances of victory were much higher.
It was about playing to his strengths. Of course, this was only a concern against stronger Gods. Weaker Gods wouldn't even be able to react to his speed and power.
He had to carefully choose his next three opponents.
He remained in Orario, focusing on his research and occasionally training the newer members of his Familia.
With Mika no longer actively participating in expeditions, and with Airmid and Mellie busy with their own training, the Yahweh Familia alliance's lead over the Loki Familia was dwindling.
After all, even with Alise, Gojouno, and Ryuu now at Level 6, their combined strength couldn't match the Loki Familia's experience and numbers.
Just then, Hephaestus arrived, interrupting his quiet contemplation. And she wasn't alone.
With her was another Goddess:
Hestia.
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