Beyond the Old Ones

Disclaimer: I own nothing, this is purely a fanfic for enjoyment.

Cross-over from various games, books, anime, manga, and movies.

The familiar characters you see here belong to their respected authors and owners.

"Speech"

Time*

Chapter 30: Someone Lost Their Head

30 minutes later*

After undergoing a series of Computational Divinations, I have confirmed that I am, in fact, forming a cult in many people's eyes. I'm not too sure how I feel about that. However, it doesn't change my current situation of being subtly pushed away from getting involved with the plots.

I tap my fingertips on the table, frowning as I stare at the laptop's screen.

Another thing I have reviewed is how my future tends to align with my goals very often as long as I consistently use the Sefirot after rerunning past Computational Divinations, which yielded different outcomes compared to the ones I've obtained before. Additionally, having more than one Sefirot has allowed me to discover new things. It makes me wonder what changes will happen after I've activated the rest.

I let out a deep sigh.

I descended back into reality as I left the Sefirah Castle. Afterward, I switched to the Card of Fool and reached into my right pocket to pull out a coin, then flicked it in the air as I entered Cogitation, focusing on the question of whether I was being watched right now.

It landed on tails, indicating a negative result.

A thought triggered the Cards of Black Emperor and Justiciar to appear before me, using them as a medium to bring out the Nation of Disorder. This formed a sphere for me to observe the Nation of Disorder.

Thirty-three layers of sky seemed hidden deep within swirling smoke, each with numerous buildings faintly visible. At the highest layer of the sky was a majestic palace.

I grabbed the Card of Justiciar, switched out the Card of Fool, and felt a connection with the Nation of Disorder.

I walked to one of the many bathrooms and stared at my reflection in the mirror. My face hadn't changed, yet it gave off an air of trustworthiness as if I were a genuinely good guy. It was strange how subtle it was—an impression that could disarm even the most cautious person. Behind me, the sphere projecting the Nation of Disorder added an entirely different aura. Its swirling depths and layered skies made me appear more devilish and strikingly handsome, as though I were a figure carved from shadow and fire.

"Maybe I should focus more on the Card of Justiciar...?" I muttered to myself.

I shook my head, dismissing the thought, and left the bathroom. As I walked, I switched to the Card of Red Priest. The projection of the Nation of Disorder dissolved into nothingness, replaced by the foreboding essence of the City of Calamity. Its dark influence stirred something instinctive within me—a predatory edge.

Before doing anything else, I began preparing the area. Setting up traps was a necessary precaution, a process of layering defenses while I gathered what I needed.

Hours later*

Finalizing... Idle S9Spectator survived for a day.

Idle S9Arbiter brought back 3% of Sequence 8: Melee Scholar's Potion Ingredients.

Acting Progress...9% 3x Boost in effect... 27%

Unlocking Beyonder's Abilities of the Visionary Pathway's Sequence 9: Spectator.

1. Body Language Analysis: Spectators possess keen powers of observation when it comes to observing individuals in either an individual or group sense.

Additional Note: They can look at a person strictly from a bystander's perspective, discovering their true thoughts from their expressions, their manners, and their subconscious actions.

Side Note: Through this, they can accurately figure out connections and draw conclusions from the details they gathered to form an accurate mental model of the target.

2. Enhanced Mental Attributes: A Spectator's Body of Heart and Mind would receive great enhancement, mostly on their inferential, analytical, observational, and identification abilities, along with their memory.

Additional Note: If an animal drinks this potion, it will gain intelligence and the ability to speak in human language.

3. Enhanced Vision: Upon drinking this potion, a Spectator will also possess the sharpened eyesight needed to analyze a target's body language.

Huh, this is the second time the idle brought me Sequence 8: Melee Scholar's Potion Ingredients. Also, once again, the whole potion thing baffles me to no end.

On a more pressing note, Idle S9Spectator only lasted a single day. Maybe the Cards of Blasphemy are trying to tell me something, nudging me in a specific direction. Perhaps it's a sign that I need to stop being a mere bystander, passively observing events as they unfold. Instead, I might need to take a more active role in altering the world's plot events.

Still, I can't help but feel a bit disappointed that I didn't get another Seifort. Not that having four already isn't absurdly fortunate—it's borderline impossible. It just goes to show that not all idles are graced with the ridiculous luck needed to obtain one. Actually, now that I think about it, that might explain why Idle S9Spectator had such a short lifespan. Perhaps it burned itself out trying to acquire a Seifort and could only grab the potion ingredients at the last second before dying.

"I'm back." Alucard declared nonchalantly, appearing out of thin air that I barely had time to register her presence. Her tone was as unbothered as ever as if her sudden materialization were the most natural thing in the world. "Oh, and by the way." She added with a trace of mock apology. "I broke that chainsaw you so graciously entrusted to me."

I opened my mouth to respond, but she cut me off, tossing the broken chainsaw—once a formidable Death Scythe—onto the floor. Now, it was reduced to little more than shattered metal, a pile of jagged fragments that barely resembled its former glory.

"And what's the story behind this new locale?" Alucard asked, her crimson eyes lazily scanning the surroundings. Her expression was an effortless blend of curiosity and disinterest, the kind that suggested she'd taken just enough notice to comment but hardly enough to linger on the matter.

I gave Alucard a quick summary of everything that had happened since she disappeared with the chainsaw.

"Then enlighten me—what's the point of remaining in this place?" Alucard snapped, her scowl carving through the conversation with razor-sharp irritation. "There's already a nurse permanently stationed to tend to the brat's aunt. I didn't forge a contract with you to waste my time idly gazing at clouds like some aimless wanderer."

"I'm quitting after helping set up a few traps around the place, which I've already done," I replied calmly. "I also left a letter explaining everything to Ciel. When he comes to check on his aunt, he'll understand why I'm not around." I paused, meeting her gaze. "Besides, I was waiting for you to reappear before leaving."

"Excellent. Then let's be done with this place." Alucard said, a sly smirk curving her lips as her crimson eyes shimmered with eager expectation. "I trust you've chosen somewhere suitably intriguing for our next destination."

I began walking through the hallway toward the front entrance, Alucard walking beside me.

"Kind of." I replied with a casual shrug. "Though it might not be the most interesting place once we get there."

"As long as it's remotely intriguing, I suppose it'll suffice." Alucard remarked, her eyebrow raised in a subtle challenge. Her voice, though playful, carried an unmistakable edge—a warning cloaked in danger. "But don't dawdle too long getting to the exciting part. Otherwise, I'll simply have to take matters into my own hands."

"Eh, no promises." I smirk. "All I'll say is, you shouldn't outright kill anyone without checking with me first if they play an important role."

Alucard just stared at me dully, her gaze unchanging.

"If it makes you feel better." I added with a shrug. "You could always destroy the nearby buildings to cause some panic among the crowd. Might stop you from getting bored."

"I can agree to that." Alucard replied, her lips curling into a smile that revealed her sharp, pearly-white teeth, a predatory gleam flickering in her eyes. "Now, where's the car?" She glanced around casually as we stepped out through the front entrance, her gaze sweeping over the surroundings with a faint sense of impatience.

"I scraped it for parts and made a motorcycle from it." I grinned, very happy.

The Card of Red Priest and the Card of Demoness appeared before me. Forming a large sphere for the City of Calamity, the air shifted. A beastly roar echoed as a Yamaha VMAX materialized from the sphere. The motorcycle seemed alive, driven by some unseen force, as it made a tight circle around the front yard before coming to a stop in front of me.

"A very good motorcycle."

"I'm not sure what kind of trickery you employed to summon that from thin air, but I must admit, I'm impressed—and rather intrigued now." Alucard remarked, her expression shifting to one of slow, deliberate approval as she nodded, the slightest hint of admiration gleaming in her crimson eyes.

"Right then. Let's go." I sent the City of Calamity away and switched to the Card of Abyss before hopping onto the motorcycle.

Alucard followed suit, wrapping her arms around my waist as she settled in behind me.

"By the way, you can't have this motorcycle." I said quickly, predicting the same possessive gleam in Alucard's eyes that had led to the demise of the chainsaw.

Alucard clicked her teeth behind me, a sound that made me grin in response.

"Now, hold on." I warned her just before we blasted off. In the blink of an eye, we were already speeding down the road, the mansion disappearing behind us in mere seconds. The motorcycle roared through the long, dense forest, the trees blurring by in the middle of the night.

If I were a regular human, I wouldn't be able to see as clearly as I can now, nor would my body be able to withstand the intense air resistance hitting me. In addition, Alucard would have been thrown off immediately, no matter how tightly she held onto me if she were an ordinary girl.

A grin spread across my face, pure excitement lighting up my expression as I pushed the speed beyond what a normal Yamaha VMAX could reach—well beyond what was safe for any average human. Steering it at these speeds without crashing would be impossible for anyone else. However, thanks to the Card of Abyss, none of that was a problem for me.

Within a minute, we had already passed countless cars, the drivers no doubt terrified out of their minds at the sight of something going this fast, with no regard for safety or limits.

Just as we were about to leave London, I slowed down and brought the motorcycle to a stop in front of a random building.

"Are we there yet?" Alucard asked with a hint of curiosity and skepticism. "Is this really the place you deem interesting?" She eyed the building with doubt, making no move to dismount from the motorcycle, her gaze evaluating the structure as if it were barely worth her attention.

"Nope." I replied casually. "Just need to check on something."

Reaching into my right pocket, I pulled out a coin, drawing Alucard's attention. She watched me intently as I switched to the Card of Fool and flicked the coin into the air, entering Cogitation as I performed a divination. My focus sharpened as the coin spun through the air, glinting briefly in the dim light.

Catching it midair, I glanced at the result before slipping it back into my pocket. "Alright, we only need to wait a few minutes." I said confidently.

"Fine. Whatever it is we're waiting for, it better be worth the trouble." Alucard muttered, her voice carrying a trace of reluctant impatience as she rested her head against my back. The unexpected contact sent an involuntary shiver down my spine, but I kept my silence, unwilling to acknowledge this new side of her.

My Spirituality of Sequence 9: Seer was flaring with warnings, sharp and insistent.

Before I could ask Alucard to move, a car came speeding down the street, veering dangerously close to us. It nearly crashed into us but managed to sheer away at the last second. As the vehicle sped off, a box-sized bowling ball case came out of its back window.

Instinctively, I reached out and caught it in midair.

"What's this?" I muttered, examining the box.

I popped it open, and Alucard leaned over my shoulder to get a better look.

"Is that... a head?" I asked, more to myself than to Alucard, in disbelief.

Inside the box was the severed head of a young woman with long black hair, piercing purple eyes, and unnaturally pale skin. Except... she wasn't dead.

Her eyes blinked slowly, staring up at us with eerie calm.

Barely into the night, and this happens... Yup, it's best I double-check all my Computational Divinations often.