Chapter 12: Book 1: Records of Magus Killer – Chapter 12 - Knowledge is Power
Even if Earth managed to produce some extraordinarily powerful magicians, a feat considered nearly impossible, it would not alter the inevitable outcome of Earth's complete conquest by the Burning Legion, which had set its sights on this world.
The vast and relentless power of the Burning Legion was far beyond anything humanity had ever encountered, and their technology and Magic were so advanced that even Earth's most potent defenses seemed laughably inadequate.
Kiritsugu knew a great deal after dismantling the cult, as the cult leader had been a prophet for a mighty entity that had turned its gaze upon Earth. The mere mention of the Dreadlord worshipped by the cultists gave Kiritsugu nightmares, for such power was truly otherworldly.
The Dreadlord's influence had seeped into the very fabric of reality, warping the minds of those it touched and spreading chaos and destruction in its wake.
It was foolish to fight a battle that was lost before it began. This was real life, not some idiotic novel where Earthlings, against overwhelming odds with their meager strength, defeat extradimensional entities.
The harsh reality was that Earth's defenses, both magical and mundane, were laughably inadequate against the might of the Burning Legion. The Legion's forces were innumerable, and their mastery of dark Magic made them nearly invincible.
The existence of this cult proved that Earth had been infiltrated long ago by foreign powers, who had begun their plans for this planet. These infiltrators had been planting seeds of chaos and discord for centuries, slowly undermining the foundations of human society and preparing the way for the Legion's arrival.
Unbeknownst to Kiritsugu, this world wasn't as special as he thought. However, the resurgence of Magic that hit the world a few decades ago was highly beneficial to some cosmic entities striving for more power. This resurgence had reawakened ancient forces and drawn the attention of beings from beyond the stars, all of whom sought to exploit Earth's newfound magical potential for their own ends.
After witnessing Toudou Aoba's death and confirming his demise, Kiritsugu entered his clan compound and disabled the large-scale jammer device. The jammer had been a crucial tool in their fight against the cult, blocking their communications and preventing them from summoning reinforcements.
With the jammer disabled, he took out his phone and sent a message to the Yotsuba Clan, allowing them to enter the island and conduct a thorough search. He knew that aside from Toudou Aoba and a few Guardian Monks, the place was empty.
The Guardian Monks, though powerful in raw power and Psions, had pitifully terrible combat capabilities. Their training had focused on meditation and internal power rather than combat techniques, making them easy prey for a seasoned warrior like Kiritsugu.
After confirming multiple times that Toudou Aoba was dead and calling some "grunts" to do the dirty work of searching every nook and cranny of the island, he went to the clan compound's inner area to search for anything of value. He was particularly interested in finding ancient tomes or artifacts that could aid in their fight against the Burning Legion.
He knew that old clans like the Toudou Clan would undoubtedly have something special in their library or some kind of vault. The Toudou Clan had been pulling strings behind the powers ruling Japan for centuries, possibly being shadow rulers of the entire nation for over a thousand years. Their vast archives likely held secrets and knowledge long forgotten by the rest of the world.
Fortunately, his search soon bore fruit.
He discovered something that exceeded even his wildest expectations. In the ancestral library, he found several ancient tomes and grimoires on ancient Magic and its usage, and even one tome that discussed inborn-specialized Magic. These books were filled with arcane knowledge, detailing spells and rituals that had been lost to time.
The entire library was filled with old, ancient-looking books, scrolls, tomes, and grimoires. Countless books were stored there; it was an immeasurable treasure that fell straight into his hands. Each volume was a priceless relic, containing spells and incantations that could turn the tide in their battle against the Burning Legion.
Inborn-specialized Magic was extremely powerful if used correctly. Some innate magics were truly overpowered, like Kiritsugu's innate time magic, which was extraordinarily potent in certain contexts. Time magic allowed him to manipulate the flow of time, granting him abilities that bordered on the godlike.
Of course, a significant drawback of inborn-specialized Magic was that it occupied the entire magic calculation area, making it impossible to use other types of Magic proficiently. Users would cast modern or other Magic several times slower and weaker than an ordinary magician. This limitation had always frustrated Kiritsugu, as it meant he could never fully utilize his vast potential.
Thus, Kiritsugu researched ways to correct this issue. He delved into the ancient tomes, searching for clues on how to expand the magic calculation area or create a secondary one. He hoped to find a way to overcome this fundamental limitation and unlock his full potential.
From the Kunlunfang Institute, they obtained a ton of research material. Many items from the Kunlunfang Institute were incomplete, incorrect, or needed finishing touches. Despite these flaws, the research provided valuable insights and hinted at possible solutions.
Still, it wasn't enough to create a perfect method or ritual to establish a second magic calculation area, enabling Inborn-Specialized Magicians to use other types of Magic to their utmost potential. Kiritsugu knew he needed more information, more pieces to the puzzle.
"Have you found the vault?"
Emiya Kiritsugu asked as he sensed someone entering the library while he was perusing a random book.
"Yes, Sir. We're currently breaking down the protective spells inscribed over the entrance and opening the vault."
Like many from the Yotsuba Clan, Emiya Kiritsugu instilled fear in countless people. His reputation as the Magus Killer followed him everywhere. He had earned this title through countless missions, each more dangerous than the last.
His body count far exceeded anyone else in the Yotsuba Clan. He had killed many powerful magicians, including the assassination of a magician with Strategic-Class magic. Each kill had been a meticulously planned and executed operation, demonstrating his unparalleled skill and ruthlessness.
"Transport the entire library back, search the entire compound several times, and use detection magic to ensure nothing is missed. I'm going to check on the vault."
Kiritsugu ordered Kuroba Mitsugu, who immediately got to work, followed by several people from the Yotsuba Clan's intelligence division. They moved swiftly and efficiently, knowing that time was of the essence.
He then went to the vault, located beneath the compound. Surprisingly, it looked modern, with vault gates inscribed with countless runes. These runes glowed faintly, indicating the presence of powerful protective spells.
He observed the intelligence division members breaking down the wards and inscriptions on the vault gates. They worked methodically, carefully dismantling each layer of protection to avoid triggering any traps.
It took another half hour to completely break down the vault's defenses and open the gate. The heavy doors swung open with a deep, resonant sound, revealing the treasures within.
Upon entering, he was surprised by its contents. He expected gold, artifacts, or artworks but found strange crystals radiating psions instead. These crystals pulsed with an eerie light, their energy palpable in the air.
Of course, there were also rare metals and gold bricks here and there. These mundane treasures were almost an afterthought compared to the other items in the vault.
But what truly caught Kiritsugu's attention were two things. One was a bookshelf filled with books that had a different style and appearance than anything he had seen before. The books were bound in strange materials, their covers adorned with unfamiliar symbols.
Titles like:
"Guide to the Psionization and Ascension of Super-Order"
"Construction of the Magic Circuits and their Mysteries"
"Elemental Affinities, Thaumaturgical Attributes, Origin and their Purpose for the Magician"
When he saw those titles, he almost froze in his tracks. These books contained knowledge far beyond anything he had encountered before.
"Path..."
he muttered, looking around the shelves. The implications of these texts were staggering. They offered a glimpse into realms of Magic and power that he had never even imagined.
Other titles like:
"Psion Warding and Barriers for Advanced"
"Division of Major Factions of Cosmos: Edition 58"
He marveled at the books, contemplating how best to use them. Each volume represented a potential breakthrough, a way to elevate the Yotsuba Clan's power to unprecedented heights.
From the brief moment he glanced at "Guide to the Psionization and Ascension of Super-Order" he realized that reaching the next Order was extremely difficult. It required many things, but there was hope. These texts provided a roadmap, albeit a challenging and perilous one.
After the High-Order, many had searched for the way forward. Most thought it was a lost cause, though some found hints on how to advance without concrete proof. The path had been shrouded in mystery and misinformation.
But here it was—a proof that the path existed, right before his eyes. The knowledge in these books could unlock the secrets of ascension, enabling magicians to reach levels of power previously thought impossible.
'The real question is, how did the Toudou Clan obtain these things? It's clear these books aren't from Earth. Even though they're translated into Japanese, the knowledge is too advanced.'
Kiritsugu pondered briefly. The Toudou Clan must have had connections or access to sources beyond this world. This revelation raised even more questions about the true nature of Earth's magical resurgence and its connection to the wider cosmos.
'If the Toudou Clan has such items, what are the chances other ancient families have similar legacies? Even if they can't use them or are too weak to take full advantage of the knowledge...'
Kiritsugu decided to loot other ancient families for their legacies. He would gather as much of this knowledge as possible, consolidating it within the Yotsuba Clan.
'It would be best to locate them all and obtain these legacies before Earth is destroyed. Such items would be priceless treasures in countless worlds and give the Yotsuba Clan a power advantage in the far future.'
They wouldn't need them, as they would perish with the rest of humanity. Kiritsugu was determined to preserve this knowledge, even if it meant taking drastic measures.
He was also concerned about a secret USNA project to strengthen Strategic-Class Magicians who reached High-Order Magician Rank and allow them to reach the next Order. This project, if successful, could upset the delicate balance of power and pose a significant threat.
Though it would never succeed correctly, it might create a fake version of the Ranker Order if they had some luck in their experiments. Such an outcome would have unpredictable and potentially catastrophic consequences.
Aside from the books, another thing that caught his attention were the Runes. The Runes represented a different kind of Magic, one that was both ancient and immensely powerful.
Some magicians believed Runes held answers to every question in the universe and Magic, much like mathematicians, believed mathematical equations could describe everything in the universe. The Runes were a language of Magic, capable of unlocking secrets and wielding incredible power.
Nowadays, even Ancient Magic Users have forgotten how to use Runes. Only a very few remembered the Runic languages. This lost knowledge could be the key to unlocking new forms of Magic and achieving greater power.
The most powerful were the Elder Futhark and Younger Futhark, also called Nordic Runes or Ancient Runes. These runes were said to hold the very essence of Magic itself.
'If we utilize all of this properly and to its maximum efficiency, our power would increase exponentially countless times.'
Kiritsugu thought, realizing the full potential of the treasures he had uncovered. The Yotsuba Clan's future was now filled with possibilities, and he was determined to seize them all.