The grand halls of the Temple of Solomon still echoed with the fading thunder of battle, golden runes pulsing like living veins across the marble walls and towering pillars. The air was thick with residual mana, the scent of scorched stone and ozone lingering heavily. Rairen's broken form lay motionless on the reconstructed floor, a stark reminder of the impossible clash that had just concluded. Yet the tension had not dissipated. A new presence had entered the fray—Michelle Starlight, an entity whose overwhelming power radiated like an invisible sun, forcing even the ancient vampire's defeat into something almost secondary.
Michelle Starlight turned slowly, her gaze sweeping across the group with predatory sharpness. Her eyes finally settled on Rin Tohsaka, Luvia Edelfelt, and Reines El-Melloi Archisorte. A wide, dangerous grin spread across her lips as she lifted one elegant hand, fingers already glowing with lethal energy ready to fire.
"You three over there—are you guys enemies or allies? Because if you are enemies…" Michelle Starlight's voice carried a chilling playfulness, her hand rising higher, crackling with power that could erase them in an instant.
Only for Raphael Arzenon to step swiftly between them, grabbing Michelle Starlight's right arm and pulling it back firmly. "Don't kill them. They aren't enemies. They are allies. They haven't done anything yet."
Michelle Starlight was visibly shocked. Never once had someone possessed the sheer audacity to forcefully pull her arm back. Her eyes turned ice-cold in an instant, the temperature around her dropping sharply. "Wow… Do you have a death wish or something? You know I can kill you right now, don't you?"
Raphael Arzenon met her gaze without flinching, his voice steady despite the overwhelming pressure radiating from her. "Yes, I know you can kill me at any time, and I know you are stronger than me. But if I become your teammate, you need to trust me as an equal. That's how a proper team works. I won't join you if you are expecting me to kneel before you."
Michelle Starlight was shocked once more. She opened her mouth to argue, searching desperately for a counterpoint, but no words came. Every potential rebuttal died on her tongue. After a long, tense silence, she finally sighed, lowering her hand. "Fine… I won't kill them."
Michelle Starlight turned her glare toward Rin, Luvia, and Reines, her voice dripping with condescension. "Be grateful you are allies with him right now. Otherwise, you three would be joining Rairen."
Both Luvia and Rin nodded, still taken aback by the unexpected turn of events. They exchanged quick, wary glances, realizing just how precarious their position had become. It was clear they needed to tread very lightly around Michelle Starlight.
Reines, on the other hand, showed no signs of fear or surprise. She regarded Michelle Starlight with cool composure, a small, knowing smirk playing at the corners of her lips. Her sharp eyes flicked briefly toward Raphael Arzenon, who had so bravely intervened on their behalf, a flicker of reluctant respect passing through her gaze.
Michelle Starlight's grin returned as she crossed her arms. "Anyways, the most important question is this: how did you become this powerful, Raphael? I mean, 10 to 11 weeks ago you were a talentless mage, but now you can rival a Dead Apostle Ancestor like Rairen. So spill it—what is the secret to this?"
Raphael Arzenon's expression turned a little panicked. "Oh really… I think it's not necessary for you all to know," he said, attempting to walk away casually.
Only for Yukio—who had been sealed earlier but was now inexplicably free—to block his path. "No. You aren't leaving till you answer that. It's too important of information."
Raphael Arzenon looked for a third way to escape, but realized that Rin, Luvia, and Reines also wouldn't let him leave without answering all their questions. He sighed deeply, annoyance clear in his voice. "Really? You three too?" asked Raphael Arzenon in clear irritation.
Rin, Luvia, and Reines exchanged determined glances, each one equally resolute. There was a shared realization that they wouldn't allow Raphael Arzenon to wiggle his way out of this conversation so easily.
Reines, ever the composed one, took a step forward, her voice firm yet laced with curiosity. "You can't evade the question indefinitely. We have a right to know."
Rin crossed her arms, lips curling into a sharp smirk despite the lingering fear still coiled in her chest. "Oh, you think you can just casually erase Dead Apostles and then expect us not to ask how you—of all people—got this strong?" She scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous. Spill it."
Luvia adjusted her gloves with an elegant but firm motion, stepping closer with a piercing gaze. "Indeed. For someone who was once called 'talentless' by the Clock Tower elite… this is quite the drastic change." Her tone carried the usual noble arrogance but was now laced with real suspicion—this wasn't mere curiosity; it was an interrogation. "O-ho-ho~! You can't just drop such an intriguing development and expect us to simply let it slide, Raphael. A 'talentless mage' rivaling a Dead Apostle Ancestor? That's practically unheard of!" She tapped a finger against her chin thoughtfully. "Unless… you struck some kind of deal? Or perhaps stumbled upon a hidden treasure?" Her eyes gleamed with curiosity—and just a hint of suspicion.
Reines smirked from behind them, twirling one of her rings lazily around a finger as she tilted her head. "Come on now~ If we're going to deal with world-ending nonsense like her,"—she gestured toward Michelle Starlight—"and suddenly have to take orders from you because she says so… at least tell us what kind of bargain-with-the-devil stunt pulled you up to this level."
Raphael's eye twitched in annoyance as he glanced between them, realizing there was no escape route left—no clever words or half-truths would satisfy their collective pressure now that they had him cornered both physically and mentally. Even Yukio stood firm, blocking his last exit path without hesitation.
Raphael Arzenon stayed silent for a while, carefully thinking about how to explain without revealing too much. He couldn't tell them about Cielux, nor could he speak of his informational body or the true Origin of Reflection. That would put him at even greater risk. He had to lie—creatively. Finally, he spoke up, his voice measured.
"How I got powerful has nothing to do with a deal or an item. Instead, it has to do with a foundational part of one's own existence. As you know, within the field of magecraft, Origin is the starting point that defines one's existence and directs one's actions throughout life. It is the driving force that comes from within the Root that has managed to stream out of the Source and take on material form. The form it can take on at times is that of a human being, and all humans match their actions to be in harmony with the driving force that originated them from the moment they enter into the world. Under the system of magecraft, Magi with an Origin that is strongly expressed outwardly are sometimes removed from the normal alignments, and there are times that the Origin itself becomes the alignment. Most of those magi exhibit their talents as extreme specialists, allowing them to potentially reach higher grounds than normal magi. Even those without an Elemental Affinity are sometimes still capable of casting spells simply by following their Origin. It's possible for them to overcome great obstacles such as a lack of Magic Circuits or a lack of talent for magecraft altogether."
Raphael Arzenon paused, letting the weight of the explanation settle, before continuing in a low but calm voice. "In my case, I awakened my Origin—that being the Origin of Reconstruction. This has elevated my Projection Magecraft into actually reconstructing phenomena. Basically, if I can analyze something's structure, I can reconstruct them just as powerful as the original. The only limit right now is the magical energy drain."
Reines' eyes gleamed with genuine fascination as she processed the explanation. She leaned in slightly, her smirk widening. "Oh? Now that's interesting."
Luvia crossed her arms, tapping a finger against her elbow thoughtfully. "So… you're essentially bypassing the inherent limitations of Projection by reconstructing phenomena itself? That explains how you went from barely a third-rate magus to rivaling an Ancestor." She let out an impressed hum.
Rin scowled but couldn't hide the glint of scientific curiosity in her gaze. "Awakening one's Origin directly is absurdly rare—and dangerous! What kind of catalyst did you use to trigger it?"
Reines tilted her head mischievously. "…And more importantly, dear kohai, does this mean we get to see you 'reconstruct' my lost afternoon tea set? Or perhaps Luvia's dignity?" She ignored Luvia's immediate glare with practiced ease.
Luvia, always ready to analyze the fine details, interjected. "And what exactly is this Origin of Reconstruction? Sounds quite powerful."
Raphael Arzenon kept up the lie, replying simply, "It basically means my very essence is Reconstruction, in simple terms."
Luvia and Rin's eyebrows shot up at the profound statement. The idea that someone's entire essence could be tied to something as specific and powerful as Reconstruction was mind-boggling.
Rin leaned in, a newfound fascination in her gaze. "Your entire essence is Reconstruction? That sounds… extraordinary. So it's not just a talent; it's a fundamental part of who you are."
Luvia nodded, clearly impressed. "And it explains your incredible power. Reconstructing phenomena at their original strength is far beyond anything a normal mage could do."
Michelle Starlight spoke up, her tone demanding. "What can you currently reconstruct through analysis?"
Raphael Arzenon replied, annoyed, "Yeah, fuck no. I am not answering that question. The risk of you guys going to the Clock Tower and telling them what my full capacity is—that's too dangerous right now. So no."
Yukio stepped forward aggressively. "You will answer that question or else."
Raphael Arzenon's face turned serious. "Oh, don't worry. I will simply kill your fucking ass, you church knight looking as fuck. Get the hell away from me with that fucking attitude."
Yukio snarled in anger. "You little shit—" He raised his fist, ready to punch Raphael Arzenon.
But Raphael Arzenon instantly used his Command Spell. "Begone."
In an instant, Yukio was teleported out of the country, flung back to America. Raphael Arzenon sighed heavily. "What a dumbass. Forgot we were still in my Temple, for crying out loud."
Michelle Starlight chuckled. "Enough. Fine. If you won't answer that question, then let me ask you this: what is your goal with this power?" Her absolute presence pressed down on the room like an invisible weight.
Raphael Arzenon's face grew serious. "Simple. My goal with this power is to one day reconstruct all the lost Magics of the world. This is why my current fight with Rairen wasn't good enough. This fight only gave me a small taste of what my actual end goal will look like."
Reines chuckled at Yukio's abrupt departure, her usual smirk returning. "Well, that's one way to deal with an unwanted guest."
Rin frowned, sizing Raphael up with critical eyes. "You do realize the sheer magnitude of what you're talking about, right? Some of those lost Magics were considered too dangerous, too destructive. Not to mention, you'd be meddling with mysteries that've been lost to time—maybe for good reason."
Luvia's eyes widened, her usual haughty demeanor giving way to sheer shock. "Reconstructing all the lost Magics?! O-ho-ho… That isn't just ambitious—that's nearly blasphemous!" She fanned herself dramatically with one hand, as if physically overwhelmed by the audacity. "O-ho-ho~! You can't just drop such an intriguing development and expect us to simply let it slide…"
Rin narrowed her eyes sharply. "Nearly blasphemous? Luvia, he's talking about unraveling mysteries that even Atlas wouldn't dare touch! Do you realize how many people—no, how many organizations—would slaughter him for even dreaming of this?"
Reines smirked, leaning against a pillar, her expression a mix of amusement and something almost predatory. "And yet… it sounds absolutely thrilling. Tell me… Raphael-san~ What makes you so certain you won't become another Roa or Zouken along the way?" Her golden eyes gleamed coldly as she waited for his answer.
Raphael Arzenon replied seriously, "Yes, I already know the Clock Tower will most likely stop me under normal circumstances. This is why this Vampire War is the perfect opportunity for me. I can reconstruct the immortality of every vampire I fight, make myself immortal over time, and obtain their abilities on top of that. And if I can find a way to seal away—" Raphael suddenly stopped himself from finishing the last sentence before continuing, "Anyway, I got to go. I have another mission to complete after this." He began to walk away.
Another mission?
Reines watched him turn, her smirk faltering for a moment as curiosity flashed across her face.
Luvia called out after him. "Hold on a moment, kohai. You can't just drop a bombshell revelation like that and walk away."
Rin nodded in agreement, her sharp gaze fixed on him. "Yeah, what was that about sealing something? You're not finished with your explanation yet."
Instead of answering, Raphael Arzenon teleported away, only to immediately teleport back inside the Temple with forty birds—all chained up—which instantly increased his remaining Command Spells to 128. "That's better," he said calmly.
Michelle Starlight smirked. "Why do you need that much Command Spells? Do you think that would be enough to fight me?"
Raphael Arzenon sighed. "No, I have no plans to fight you at my current level. Besides, I wish for us to be friends instead. I mean, you intrigue me a little. You are the only individual I have met so far that I can't analyze at all. I can analyze Rin, Luvia, and Reines and reconstruct their powers and use them against them, but you are beyond even my capacity to reconstruct."
Michelle Starlight chuckled, genuinely amused. "Is that so? I will take that as a compliment," she said, giggling softly.
Reines, ever the opportunist, leaned forward with a playful glint. "Oh? So you can steal our abilities… that's delightfully unfair." She smirked. "I suppose I should feel flattered that my magecraft is worth 'reconstructing'—though I do wonder if you'd survive trying to handle my temper along with it."
Rin's eye twitched. "Wait. You can analyze and reconstruct our powers?!" She shot Luvia a sharp look—this was not good news.
Luvia's eyes twitched in sheer, unrefined indignation. "Wait just a moment—did you just say you can reconstruct our powers and use them against us?!" She jabbed an accusatory finger at him, her voice climbing dangerously. "That's—that's outright plagiarism! The Edelfelt Mystic Codes are proprietary techniques refined over generations! O-ho-ho-ho… I ought to sue you into oblivion for this blatant intellectual property theft!"
Rin was less theatrical but no less offended, scowling darkly. "Tch. Figures someone like you would pull cheap tricks like that. And here I thought your whole 'Reconstruction' thing sounded almost noble."
Reines merely smirked. "…Well now~ That certainly explains why he's still alive after mouthing off so much~ But~ Just because one can steal a sword doesn't mean they know how not to cut themselves swinging it~ Are we sure Raphael-san here isn't biting off more than his Circuits can chew?"
Rin narrowed her eyes at Raphael but quickly redirected her focus to Michelle Starlight. "…And yet even someone like him can't figure you out? Just what kind of monster are you?"
Michelle Starlight grinned. "Don't worry about my true nature. Just know I am beyond your human understanding."
Without warning, Raphael Arzenon used his Command Spells within the temple to rewind time by a few minutes—before Rairen had been killed by Michelle Starlight. He then placed his hand on Rairen's forehead.
Michelle Starlight raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing?"
Raphael Arzenon answered calmly, "I am reading his memories to see if he is the final boss or just another subordinate under someone else."
Michelle Starlight blinked, then played with her fingers, trying to hide her oversight. "Oh yeah… I completely forgot about that part when I just killed him."
Raphael Arzenon sighed. "Don't worry, you are forgiven. At least you aren't as bad as Reines." He quickly put his headphones on before Reines could start yelling at him.
Reines' eye twitched violently, her expression shifting from casual amusement to outright indignation. "Excuse me?! What the hell does that mean, you—!"
But before she could finish her rant, Rin grabbed Reines by the back of her collar and yanked her away. "Calm down, brat! At least wait until he's done reading Rairen's memories before screaming at him!"
Luvia crossed her arms with a huff. "Tch… How unlike you to let someone get under your skin so easily." She shot Raphael a sideways glance.
Reines continued bristling despite her usual composure, her teacup slamming onto its saucer with a sharp clink. "Oh? Forgiven, are we? How generous of you~ And here I thought you had enough self-preservation not to throw around such reckless comparisons while still within my line of sight—"
Raphael's headphones blared loud music, completely drowning them out as he casually strolled toward Rairen's corpse like a man on a peaceful afternoon walk.
Michelle Starlight blinked before erupting into genuine laughter. "HAH! You really just muted them mid-rant?! That's—" She wheezed, doubling over slightly. "That's actually brilliant."
Meanwhile, Rin and Luvia stood frozen in identical states of appalled disbelief.
Rin: "…Did he seriously just—"
Luvia: "UNBELIEVABLE! THE AUDACITY TO IGNORE A LADY'S WORDS LIKE SOME COMMON STREET HOOLIGAN—!" Her golden curls practically vibrated with fury.
Michelle Starlight leaned in with undisguised interest as Raphael's fingers pulsed with eerie light against Rairen's forehead, threads of reconstructed memory unraveling before him.
Inside the mental link, Raphael Arzenon telepathically confronted the true master—Roanoke. The Dead Apostle Ancestor radiated a deadly aura of pure death. Raphael saw him surrounded by the blood of thousands, an existence of absolute power. In the vision, Rairen appeared demonic, standing sixty feet tall, his entire body swallowed by pure darkness. Only glowing purple eyes were visible within that abyss. Roanoke's voice boomed, layered with thousands of demonic echoes at once. "Who dares speak to me this boldly?"
Raphael Arzenon asked, voice steady but wary, "What are you? I thought you were a vampire, but your existence…"
He didn't finish. Cielux finally spoke up inside his inner world, her voice calm. "Master, don't be scared. He isn't a demon—just a Dead Apostle Ancestor who has lost all appearances of being human."
Raphael felt relief wash over him. He smiled gratefully. "Cielux, I am sorry, okay? I know I treated you like—"
Cielux finished the sentence, her voice full of rage and barely suppressed tears. "A tool. Yes, you did, Master. How do you think I felt about that? All I wanted was to be your partner—the one you trust with all your heart. But the moment you gained too much power during your battle with Rairen, you saw I wasn't important anymore. You returned to seeing me as nothing more than an AI. Do you know how much that hurt me, Master?"
Raphael looked down in shame. "You are right. I was one piece of shit to you, Cielux. You are right—I should treat you as a partner." His face turned serious. He raised his hand and used Reconstruction to create a glowing key, offering it to her. "This is the full permission key to Codex Akasha. You can keep it. I believe I should trust you from now on. So take the key and continue supporting me."
Cielux was left shocked and speechless.
Raphael returned his focus to Roanoke with absolute confidence. "I came here to simply tell you one thing, Roanoke—that being I will be the one who will kill your bitch ass."
Roanoke laughed. "I am a 10,000-year-old Dead Apostle Ancestor. Do you really think—"
Raphael cut him off. "That's the issue here. The Crimson Moon arrived on Earth around 2,000 BC, meaning all Dead Apostle Ancestors should be only 2,000 years old or less. But you somehow are older than Crimson Moon himself. So tell me—how is it possible for you to be a Dead Apostle Ancestor who predates its own origin point?"
Roanoke's expression remained unchanged, but his voice grew darker. "You are too smart for your own good, boy. But that is knowledge you will never know, for I will kill you before that happens."
Raphael's heart raced with a flicker of fear, but he forced a confident smile. "Oh yeah? Then let's see who kills who first later down the line in this war." With that, he cut off the telepathic link.
"…Well?" Michelle prompted after a moment, her grin eager. "Is our dearly departed vampire here just a pawn? Or do we get to hunt down something even more fun?"
Raphael Arzenon's face was serious. "I didn't just read Rairen's memories. I just had a telepathic conversation with his leader just now."
Michelle Starlight's grin widened. "Really? And what did you tell him?"
Raphael Arzenon smirked. "Simple. I told him the next time we actually meet, I will kill him myself."
"I—wh—you what?!" Reines sputtered, stunned speechless.
Rin gaped at him, incredulous. "Are you trying to start a full-fledged war, or is your head screwed on backwards?! We had no idea what Rairen's people were capable of, and you just announced a one-on-one challenge like it was nothing…"
Luvia gripped her fan tightly, knuckles white. "Dare I ask WHY on earth you would do something so… reckless and stupid—?"
Raphael Arzenon explained calmly, "It's simple. Even if I lose to the leader, there is still Michelle Starlight to handle. She is stronger than the leader of that group. I scanned him—he's powerful, yes, but not to the point where I couldn't analyze or reconstruct his abilities. Unlike Michelle, who is beyond my capacity to analyze. And second, the leader of that group himself admitted the main reason he hasn't attacked mage society yet is because of Michelle Starlight's presence. As long as she is around, he wouldn't dare start a war. He wants to seal or have her gone before officially starting the war. That shows that yes, Michelle Starlight is that much of a threat to him."
Michelle Starlight's grin twisted into something almost feral, her crimson eyes gleaming. "Oh? So I'm the deterrent keeping an entire war at bay? How flattering~." She twirled a strand of hair around her finger, feigning modesty. "And here I thought no one appreciated little old me."
Reines exhaled sharply. "So let me get this straight. The only reason some ancient, scheming monster hasn't reduced the Clock Tower to rubble is because he's scared of you?" She gestured at Michelle's petite frame with exaggerated disbelief. "…I suppose looks are deceiving."
Luvia scoffed but didn't argue.
Rin crossed her arms, glaring at Raphael. "And you just had to provoke him further?! What if he decides to—I don't know—expedite his plans now that he knows we're onto him?"
Michelle giggled, resting a hand on Rin's shoulder in faux reassurance. "Relax~! If he tries anything funny…" Her fingers curled ominously. "…I'll squash him like the insignificant pest he is."
Raphael Arzenon nodded. "Yes, but now I will go report this to the Atlas Institute. They need to know about the important details." He used his Command Spell and teleported away.
"WAIT—!"
Reines lunged forward as if to grab him, but Raphael had already dissolved into golden motes of light. She let out an exasperated groan and pinched the bridge of her nose. "That insufferable—! Does he ever think before acting?!"
Luvia sighed, adjusting her gloves. "Evidently not." She shot a sideways glance at Michelle Starlight. "…I suppose we'll have to rely on you for damage control now."
Rin scowled at the empty space. "Unbelievable! He drops world-ending revelations like they're casual gossip and then just—poof! Off to Atlas?! What about Clock Tower protocols? What about debriefing us, his so-called allies?! Ugh!"
Michelle Starlight stretched lazily, utterly unfazed. "Maa~ You worry too much! If things get messy…" Her grin sharpened. "…I'll just obliterate whoever needs obliterating." She added cheerfully, "Want macarons while we wait for disaster to strike?"
Reines stared flatly before sighing in defeat. "…Make mine double chocolate."
Meanwhile, during Raphael Arzenon's teleportation, his face grew serious. "Cielux, I want you to tell me everything about my connection to Avalon."
Cielux's face turned distant. "Yes… I think it is time for you to learn the truth of everything."
And with those words, the chapter drew to a close, leaving the weight of revelations, fragile alliances, and looming wars hanging heavily in the air.