Congratulations are in order! Now I have four wives, and I never thought I would have so many legal spouses. Our weddings were as solemn and ceremonious as they were with Maria and Koneka. The wedding ceremonies were entrusted to a professional wedding planner and were held in a cathedral dedicated to my beloved in Venice, where Maria and Konoka were previously married.
After I assured Fesalia and promised her that she would become my third wife, she agreed to arrange a double wedding for us on the same day, but she insisted on being the first to take the vows. While I was busy preparing for the celebration, I reflected on God, whom the highest echelons of the Church consider the creator of all things, but this did not make me omnipotent. Thus, I had to immerse myself in the hustle and bustle of the upcoming event, and I needed Venzos' assistance for the entire day.. Despite his exalted position, he assumes a multitude of obligations. In order for him to serve as the officiant for the ceremony, we faced the intricate challenge of managing his schedule so that he could attend multiple locations simultaneously and, without compromising his duties as Pope, oversee our wedding.
It must be acknowledged that, to me, it was astonishing that Baby Feza desired a wedding in accordance with Christian, Catholic traditions, given her indifference towards such matters and her cool attitude towards religion. This is not surprising, considering her guardians are all divine beings.
That's me, Maria, and Koneko for you.
But then, this is what transpired. She also desired to walk down the aisle alongside me, adorned in a bridal gown. To May, those dances with tambourines were of no significance, but in the end, she participated in the festivities with Fez.. The only guests at our nuptials were the leaders of our order: Inquisitor Marco, Tanuki Kenmei, who was after all the one getting married, Alfonso, and his beloved, my students, Nigelus. That was the entire list.
Naturally, I could not neglect the world with my flock, nor fail to express gratitude for sharing the joy of having such a beautiful and wonderful daughter as a wife. Thus, with an abundance of generosity, I spared no effort in creating miracles across the land. Many hospitals and nurseries suddenly lost their patients overnight, thanks to instantaneous healing. As our wedding took place in Venice, the city itself received my blessings, resulting in the restoration of perfect health for all its inhabitants. During the ceremony, the cathedral bearing my name once again became the focal point of attention, serving as the epicenter for the release of an immense amount of divine energy accompanied by a brilliant display.. The cathedral shone with a radiant white light, rendering all onlookers prostrate in prayer. It is sometimes salutary for society to be confronted with such an experience.
This day has become yet another momentous and unforgettable event in the annals of history, etched into the collective memory of all sentient beings upon this earth. The International Council of Mages (ICM) was filled with trepidation, for they believed that such a manifestation of the divine presence of the All-One could not bode well for them. Among the elders who sat at the council were those whose parents or grandparents had been involved in the bitter conflict with the Inquisition and the Vatican, and these individuals were the last remnants of a generation raised in hatred of the Church and belief in the All-One.. Thus, the entire wizarding community found itself in a state of suspense, awaiting the response of the church to this divine blessing. However, all of this was futile, for they need not have been concerned, as both the largest Christian denominations were led by individuals of sound judgment who were personally acquainted with me.
It was not difficult for Venenzo and Tikhon to ascertain the opinion of their «deity» on any given matter. And I commended the actions of the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, which were well-aware of my sentiments, and I certainly had no intention of launching another crusade against the adherents of the «evil one».
Following the nuptial ceremonies at my cathedral, we proceeded to my domain within the subterranean city, where my companions were granted the privilege of visiting for the first time and beholding my abode. The impact of the ambiance upon them was profound. And all of this due to our immediate visit to the Serpent Tree.
Imagine for a moment that you find yourself in sunny Venice, emerging from a brightly illuminated cathedral into a cyclopean underground chamber, where the ceiling is invisible without the aid of magic, and a towering monstrous tree looms over you, its branches suddenly descending to meet you. How would the visitors have known that the tree would greet its owner in this manner?
The branches, resembling tentacles from some immense creature from the depths, were as thick as railroad trains and covered in scales, akin to those found on the tree's trunk. Instead of bark, they were the generator, transformer, and repository of an immense amount of cosmic energy. Their harmless appearance belied their true nature. The sight from the outside was truly uncanny.
As thousands of branches descended upon you from a height of half a kilometer, with the crown of the serpentine tree reaching a kilometer in height, resembling a pack of basilisks from afar, it was difficult to maintain one's composure.. But my guests today possessed nerves of steel and did not make any sudden movements, or rather, none of them had time to act. The twigs fully utilized the dimensional power afforded to them by their essence, approaching us in a manner that defied the conventional notion of movement. They materialized just a few meters above us like true sorcerers, harmonizing their spatial coordinates with ours on the conceptual plane.
The witchers and other guests were only aware that despite their passive defenses, maintained even during sleep by archmagi, and despite every precaution such as a prohibition on approaching objects exceeding a certain velocity, they were subjected to an onslaught of numerous serpentine entities. This occurred in one of the most potent locales, now known to me, existing in both the mundane realm of Earth and the enchanted world of Magic.
"And this is my Yggdrasil. What do you think of it?" I asked, a note of pride in my voice as I gestured towards the tree. To be the sole proprietor of one's own Yggdrasil was a remarkable feat. Lately, I had been grappling with doubts about whether my particular specimen was indeed the progenitor of the world tree in Norse mythology.
And it happened after my tree's consciousness awakened. As of now, it is still quite feeble, akin to a toddler, yet it possesses the intelligence to forge a robust mental bond with me, allowing me to traverse the Earth's surface to any location, regardless of protection, circumventing any anti-magical enchantments, without relying on my own abilities. My tree has fully embraced the Earth's realm with its "roots", assuming complete control, and through this, as its master, I have become the sovereign of the Earthly domain. I can manipulate this realm as I see fit, creating any kind of game I desire, but only within the confines of this specific realm. The realm of magic remains closed to me, being much more "substantial", "vast", "extensive", and thus, more challenging to integrate with my tree or encompass within my domain. By God, there are hamsters everywhere around me, dragging everything into the house in their attempt to hoard it.. Well, Zachar, there is a tree now, and I suspect that a certain degree of initiative and the desire to seize everything within one's reach play a significant role in my brownie's merits. My personal realm, my universe, has long been occupied, but as my entire universe does not extend beyond the boundaries of planet Earth, I am neither elated nor dismayed by the power the tree bestows. The extent of power and the limits of possibility granted by the tree within a specific space are intricately linked and are proportional to the amount of area the tree can encompass with its roots, like a stirrup encircling the world.
"Incredible!" were the words that echoed, along with expressions of astonishment. Indeed, I remain a self-absorbed rogue, for it was a source of great delight to me to see the magicians, who had been observing the tree from a distance, utterly astounded, after I moved them several kilometers away, allowing them to fully appreciate its immense scale, which extended across their entire field of vision.
"Is that Yggdrasil?" Witold asked me, for some reason. The witchers hailing from Scandinavia in the Middle Ages, for whom Yggdrasil is an integral part of their unique and ancient culture, remained frozen like statues, their mouths agape as they gazed in awe at this magnificent creation of nature.
"And so that is it?" Olaf almost squeaked with enthusiasm. "And you laughed at me too when I believed in the tales of old Ilva!" He looked at Marcus and Witold with reproach. There seemed to be something personal between them. Marcus and Olaf, as far as I knew, were practically the same age and had been very young boys when they came under Witold's guidance, hiding from the church in the Viking lands. In his childhood, Olaf had likely been mocked and teased for his love of Scandinavian folklore, with sagas being recited in chants by skalds. One need only look at red-haired Olaf to make any questions about his taste or adherence to tradition vanish. He looks like a true Viking who has just leapt from a drakkar onto the shore, ready to charge into the nearest village and wreak havoc.
And thence, from the cavern of Yggdrasil, having impressed all, we proceeded to an empty metropolis which I had transformed to suit my whims and inclinations. This city is characterized by serpent motifs and robust Gothic architecture, yet Venenzo and Marco, beholding the grandeur of the surroundings and my aesthetic sensibilities, drew certain conclusions based on ancient manuscripts from the Old Testament, which only served to reinforce their faith in me, albeit with greater conviction than ever before!
At last, we arrived at my abode, situated on the site of a plaza with an altar, where once the fanatical drow attempted to summon Lolth. Now, it is the very heart of my realm.
The festive banquet was held in an immense hall, but the attendees were heavily oppressed. This is not surprising, for they were once again reminded of who their companion and leader was. Nonetheless, the benevolence of the One permeated the atmosphere during the ceremony, leaving the guests feeling somewhat subdued, while the local landscape featuring Yggdrasil and the interior of my primary residence also left a lasting impression.
After a few glasses of Avalon ale — despite the presence of a few individuals who appreciated the exquisite taste of Amaterasu's sacred sake — the mood among the guests rapidly improved, and laughter began to fill the air.. None of the guests assembled at my table this evening looked at me with the awe of one beholding a deity. The festivities lasted nearly twelve hours and might have continued for much longer, for I had the capacity to manage time on a rather broad scale at once. My guests were made aware of this, but my new bride truly desired to be alone with me, thus they gently ushered the guests away.
It is remarkable that some years ago I learnt to share not merely my consciousness but also my corporeal being. I have learned to replicate and divide myself into seven full-fledged entities that are in no way inferior to one another, and which are far easier to control than my illusory duplicates. When I am in my seven true forms at once, with all my bodily organs functioning in unison, I feel as if each of these forms is me.
When I first discovered this capability within myself a year and a half ago, I was simultaneously elated and astonished by my own ignorance of such a gift as metamorphosis.. Salazar's gift of transformation, which he imbued in me, had not previously been considered as a possibility of becoming such an extraordinary ability with limitless potential. It transpired that I had been blind. Now that the metamorphic capacity has evolved to the next stage, I am only able to perceive a small portion of it, realising that there is still a long journey ahead for me to fully comprehend this gift.
For me, it initially resembled an iceberg, with only the portion visible above the water's surface being accessible and comprehensible. The catalyst for its evolution lay in the overall level of my spiritual development, or rather, it emerged as the primary factor that began to subtly influence my physical being and drive it towards growth. Once my blood had become a reservoir of the requisite amount of energy, the gift intensified without any conscious intervention on my part, and with this newfound power, I acquired an intuitive grasp of what was within reach and what could be accomplished through dedication and diligent practice.
Had I devoted at least twice the amount of time to mastering this ability, continuing to do so up until now, I could have taken on the most extraordinary forms and become a true dragon long ago, rather than waiting for my essence to be rebuilt and, on a spiritual plane, acquire the wings that would grant me access to the element of air.
Thus, there is still no obstacle to my flying like Superman for me, but I am only able to do so with the aid of skills and abilities acquired through knowledge that enable me to soar. As a metamorph of a high order, I feel like a bird in the sky and a fish in water. It is difficult to put into words the difference between what I once possessed and what my abilities have become due to the gift of metamorphosis. One must experience it oneself to truly comprehend the depth of the distinction between the former and the latter.
Now, as Dar himself informed me when he discovered some of the potentialities available to him in the future, I am aware of this.. One day, I may become anything I desire, and by that I mean I could even be an intelligent molecule, if I so choose. How is such a thing even possible? It is beyond my comprehension. From a pulsar to a supernova, I might become a star the size of a cyclops, spanning the breadth of star systems across the cosmos.
The metamorphic potential granted to me by Black Blood is tied to both physical bodies and magical abilities. Those facets of the gift he bestowed upon me will one day be within my reach, empowering me to further enhance my inorganic nature. I can assume the guise of any human form, becoming a limited elemental of any substance or energy, ranging from plasma to mana to psi-force, albeit not with the full power of a true elemental. Within my own body, however, I shall reign supreme.
Upon realizing the possibilities this presents, I promptly uploaded Bella to this account.. Now, she devotes more than half of her study time to learning about her gift of metamorphy and revealing it under my supervision. Speaking of her sister Andromeda, she also learns all the intricacies of this field from her elder sibling. I would like to say that among the current generation of Black witches, she possesses the greatest talent for metamorphy.
Let us also remember Kanon and his daughter Nymphadora Tonks, who had the good fortune of being the child of the disowned Andromeda Black. As she was not subjected to generic curses, and metamorphy is primarily a genetic and only secondary magical ability, she inherited a gift that she had no knowledge of how to utilize.
Although Tonks's excuse is that there was no one around to assist her in discovering the possibilities of metamorphy and seeing all its potential splendor, she was nevertheless able to master it. Therefore, in all my classes with my students, Andi would definitely be present, if her schedule at Hogwarts allowed it.. And since she was at my side, I resolved to investigate this Theodore Tonks, to determine if there was any value in having such a gifted daughter.
I discovered that he was not an adopted child, but rather a descendant of a once-thriving lineage that had long since faded into obscurity. This lineage was known for its exceptional talent in the realm of magical charms, particularly in the art of enchanted sculpting, and also possessed a lesser gift for healing abilities.
However, my numerical analysis of Andromeda's energy fields in relation to Theodore's revealed a strong likelihood of producing exceptionally gifted offspring. Despite his unrefined personality and lack of proper upbringing and training, Tonks managed to captivate Moody's attention. The true reason behind this remains uncertain, perhaps Albus personally requested Alastor's assistance. Moody would have never accepted Tonks as a personal student if she lacked talent.
Theodore, only eleven years old, demonstrated remarkable responsibility, intelligence, and a flexible perspective on the world. It appears that he had already begun his journey towards embracing Andromeda much earlier in this timeline.. The young man succeeded in establishing himself in a favorable position, such that by the second week of his academic pursuits, nearly all members of the Hufflepuff house had elected him as their head boy. A similar situation occurred with Andromeda during her first year at Slytherin, although the primary reason for her selection as prefect was largely attributed to the esteemed standing of her family. Among the first-year students of that academic year, there was no one who could challenge the nobility associated with the lineage of baby Andi.
And contemplating Theodore's gaze upon Andromeda, one cannot help but sense the presence of emotions! However, the devil realizes that in any situation, he stands no chance against her. It would be fascinating to observe how Nigelus will react when his great-niece announces her love for a "muggle-born", and her intention to marry him. Yet, she will remain undaunted. Despite her outward appearance of respect and submission, within her tranquil demeanor, malevolent forces continue to thrive and find comfort.
Blackie, what more can I extract from this? Let us return to the wedding, or rather, to the moment when I found myself alone with my spouse. My wedding night with my beloved wife proved to be an exhilarating experience, spanning over a year and a half. This prolonged duration was due to our mutual resonance, causing us to become completely disconnected from reality and time. Only we existed, and our desires, each seeking to possess the other.. Were I the object of each wife's desire, they would all seem equally desirable to me, and with my newly acquired abilities, I could engage with each of them on equal footing, without favoring any one over the others.
It is impossible to describe everything we shared together, but suffice it to say that it was enchanting. We were only interrupted when we succumbed to exhaustion. Our spirits could no longer withstand the power that coursed through us at the height of our union, at the very epicenter of which we stood.
Upon waking, I gazed upon my wives through my spiritual sight, which had been permanently activated. I saw the world in all its spectral hues. With the capacity of my mind and intellect to process such vast amounts of information, I beheld a wondrous, unexpected, and extraordinary vision.
Life was beginning to take shape within each of my wives' wombs. Can you imagine my elation at that moment?
No, I had envisioned and understood fully that one day I would become a father, a goal towards which my wives and I worked tirelessly, but I did not anticipate this moment to arrive so suddenly, so soon. After all, I was certain that the individual capacity of my wives would not be sufficient for them to conceive and carry a child.
However, I failed to consider the synergy between our souls in intimate moments. For a goddess to conceive requires an immense amount of energy, which must be shared equally between the male and female partners. Previously, Maria and Koneko lacked the ability to release sufficient energy simultaneously to match my strength and use that energy to create a haven for the new life within their bodies.. But as soon as two more deities became my legal spouses, and after they had exchanged vows and undergone a ritual, their collective potential was sufficient for conception. Had they not become my brides and had we not repeated these intimate encounters with them, the process would not have been successful.
Once united in matrimony with a single individual, they ceased to be strangers to one another in terms of their energies. Their spirits and forces ceased perceiving one another as foreign or harmful. Thus, it was merely necessary for them to engage in energetic synergy and harmony. As a consequence, their combined strength gave rise to offspring: Maria, Koneko, and Fesalia, eventually resulting in Mei's birth. All of these events occurred in the sequence in which they assumed the role of my wives.
I had assumed that fatherhood would be a distant prospect for me, perhaps a thousand years away. It was not that I actively sought to hasten the event, but when one is told by a Scorpio that the world they inhabit is in mortal peril, one tends to defer action until resolution has been achieved.
I found myself in a state of temporary disbelief. After all, one does not often find oneself on the brink of fatherhood, let alone of five sons. It was an unexpected turn of events in my life, and I was not prepared for it. Hmm…
As time passed, my wives began to come to terms with the situation.
May was the first to awaken, but as she emerged from the realm of dreams, which were imbued with the erotic energy of the goddess of slumber, her expression quickly shifted from tranquility to a state of disorientation. Kitsune, the seductive vixen, found herself grappling with the unfamiliar sensations, while Fez and Maria, awakened simultaneously, found themselves in each other's embrace. Despite having fallen asleep at opposite ends of the spacious room, their bodies drawn to one another, even in unconsciousness, they sought closeness, for their bond was strong and grew stronger with each passing day.
"Hm... Why do I feel so peculiar?" I had not previously been aware of my habit of speaking aloud to Feza. "Why is that?" she asked, now turning her gaze upon me, her normally hidden red eyes unmasked in their true hue.
"I have some good news for you, my dear ones," I said, as all my wives looked at me. Maria, Koneko, and Feza were waiting eagerly, their faces tinged with anxiety. May, however, radiated boundless joy, her smile sparkling with delight. "You will soon be mothers."
A few moments of silence passed, and then the room was filled with the exuberant shrieks of the three women, as they rushed towards me in a whirlwind of embraces. They formed a tangle of writhing, nude bodies, all exclaiming with joy. Even May joined in, although she did not attempt to drown me out with her own vocalizations.
For a quarter of an hour, they were unable to contain the overwhelming emotions of joy, but it was now time to put an end to this chaos and engage in a serious and essential conversation.
"Have you taken the joy away?" he asked, embracing all his wives and slightly squeezing them with his strength, attempting to impart a sense of clarity to their minds. Receiving no response to his question, but reassured that they had ceased their attempts to diminish his spirits, he laid them down on his shoulders and began to articulate his vision of their future.
With a new life now taking shape within his heart, a life he had actively participated in bringing into existence, he demanded of them... I demand... he paused briefly, allowing them to fully comprehend the gravity of his instructions. He required that they spend the entirety of their time before and after the birth within his domain, ensuring their safety and that of their child.
Despite the fact that they are all incredibly powerful deities, among the top twenty strongest beings in existence, I cannot permit the slightest possibility that they may be threatened or endangered, even in conjunction with the world of Earth and magic.
"What?!" exclaimed Fez. "That's not going to happen..."
"Yes, what about you?" asked Maria.
Only the clever May and silent Koneko displayed no negative reaction to my words, as they possess strong instincts inherited from their animal nature. A female must ensure her safety, while the male assumes the role of provider for her and their offspring, thereby increasing the chances of survival for the next generation. In Marie's case, her rebellious Venetian spirit came to the fore, while in Fez, his bloodline stirred, prompting him to push the child towards a more dominant position in the family despite his upbringing in a patriarchal environment where he had never witnessed disagreements between me and my wives, who always obeyed my instructions without question.
"Hush…" I did not raise my voice nor exert force. A single glance was enough to sober my wife, who had attempted to express in an impolite manner everything she felt about me and my decision — this was not open to discussion.
I had once desired to wrap you all in cotton wool and conceal you in a safe haven, for I strive with all my being to protect you. And to be frank, I was not even certain what motivated me to seek to protect them further; was it affection, love, feelings for my wives, or perhaps my own ego? The mere thought of seeing my beloved women suffer and experience pain inflicted irreparable harm upon my self-worth, and if such a thing occurred, it would crush my pride as a man.
Damn it! I was merely contemplating it in a stream of consciousness, and my anger was so great that if I were to unleash it upon the territory of France, all would perish from a heart attack. My desire for vengeance could terrify even archdemons.. They must have discerned something in my gaze, for they began to shift uneasily and exchange fearful glances.
I fail to comprehend the rationale behind your dissatisfaction. If your mobility is restricted to my realm, what is the issue at hand? You are all goddesses! Might I enumerate the possibilities for remote presence and engagement? Illusions, projections, golems, avatars — just to mention a few of the more obvious options that come to mind.
He paused for a moment, allowing a dozen seconds to elapse before continuing. "Moreover, in addition to my desire to safeguard you by confining you within this realm, there is also the necessity to imbue my domain-world with the essence of your power.". As the world is still young and in the process of development, it would be advantageous for you to spend as much time within its boundaries as possible in order to gain access to and the right to control the reality of this place in the future. The fact that your husband is the ruler of this world gives you a considerable advantage, but it would be even more advantageous if the world recognized you from the moment of its inception.
Most importantly, it is crucial that my children, even before they are born and while still in their mother's wombs, should be present here and breathe their first breaths in this world. I spoke much more on this subject, and after my speech, we had an amicable conversation. After hearing my reasons, neither Maria nor Feza had the heart to take offense, as my desire to ensure their permanent presence here was not a mere whim but a necessity driven by my desire to safeguard them and our future offspring.
Furthermore, your time here affords you a plethora of opportunities, liberating you from the mundane routine that characterized your existence on Earth.
For instance, with Maria's assistance, you could delve into the study of the eggs of the future queen xenomorphs acquired during the recent raid. I strongly advise you to engage with the expertise of Mei, a master of the demonic arts of the East.
Given your ability to manipulate any energy within your soul, synthesizing yuki, a unique substance exclusive to ayakashi, should not pose a significant challenge. Once you master this technique, I will impart the knowledge of harnessing the power of higher yōkai. Through this, you will integrate the collective strength of all your allies into your Hyakki Yakō.
I have articulated the rationale behind my recommendations. I am confident that you will not encounter difficulties in acquiring servants in the form of xenomorph swarms. It is crucial that you comprehend the essence of these beings, as they bear a remarkable resemblance to your own soul, enabling them to seamlessly assume your role in your future procession of demons.
Now, regarding Koneko, the ifrit heritage you possess grants you the capacity to conjure spectral flames, making you somewhat akin to an ayakashi in nature, as gins share similar attributes. Why not seek assistance from Mei? She is a kitsune, renowned for their prowess as some of the most potent fire mages.
Maria, ever eager to create new monstrous entities, will likely find a task to keep her occupied. Assist Feza in her endeavor with her monsters, and together, you can devise strategies to enhance the lethality of Hyakki Yakko. After all, as the archmage of chimera experts, you hold the key to innovation.
Do not concern yourself unduly with the prospect of isolation at this juncture. Remember that my presence can be concurrent in multiple locations. Thus, each time you enter my realm, your experience will be distinct from that of others.
After we had resolved the situation in my realm and discussed the course of action for each individual, I departed, providing them with a personalized experience, as promised, by transporting one of my entities to Earth. The time had come to unravel another mystery in this realm.
Before venturing into the enigmatic realm through the portals within the pyramids of Mexico, I imparted instructions to several trusted confidantes at the highest levels of this realm. One of my duplicates visited Nigel in England, Venenzo and Marco at the Vatican, Witold in the Citadel, Gloria in the Rocky Shelter, Patriarch Tikhon in Moscow, Jaromir, and Kenmei in Japan, among others. However, my mission did not conclude there.. Another aspect of me has embarked on yet another «voyage», and although my instincts do not foresee any peril or trouble, I deem it prudent to keep everyone on Earth on their toes. Who knows what may transpire?
Even though I am aware that my journey to that enchanted destination in Mexico through the portal represents only a portion of me, as there are now seven of us, each body harboring a fragment of my consciousness, it remains challenging to assuage my paranoia. It appears to be incurable, but perhaps that is for the best.
Having ensured that my duplicates had met the appropriate individuals and imparted my directives, I proceeded directly to the Sun Pyramid at Teotihuacán. This was the site of the largest portal, which led to the destination I sought. Prior to imbuing it with sufficient energy to transform it into a source of prana, I cast a series of potent spells over the area, even more potent than the Fidelius Charm.
People did not forget this location, but it suddenly lost its allure for everyone on Earth. Only the most potent archmages were able to resist my magic, and since 99% of them were my adherents, I was not unduly concerned. My illusory duplicates, which I deploy in numbers when I travel, will deter any prying trespassers more effectively than any Dichlorvos, should there be any, from attempting to pry.
It took me an hour to imbue the portal with sufficient energy to activate it. Once the charging was complete, a circular aperture fifteen meters in diameter appeared atop the pyramid, its surface shimmering in a golden glow. "Let us proceed!" I thought to myself, stepping through the portal before donning my armor of adamantium.