28 Chapter 26 - Alaya

The beginning first changed everything.

The following second acknowledged many.

The resulting third showed the future.

The linking fourth concealed itself.

And the final fifth had already lost its meaning.

This is was what true magic has done. Not magecraft, not science, not ESP, not Mystery, but true magic. Magic is the power acquired when you reach the root in some manner. I have seen it through the Greater Grail, but I connected to it through my emotions. The cost of my emotions...

Going to the Clock Tower was fascinating. It is the headquarters of the mage's association filled with information regarding magecraft throughout the human ages.

"Are you nervous Shirou?" (Rin)

Looking back, Shirou responds, "No, not really. I'm just amazed by the sight."

Rin sights, "I know it's cool on the outside, but once we're in it's going to be a nightmare..."

"Umm, may I know why?" (Shirou)

"It's a huge political mess. Everyone wants to get a higher status by fawning over these Lords." (Rin)

"Right..." Shirou says weakly.

"You guys better be careful. This place discriminates a ton to Asians and being discriminatory is quite common. Imagine a thousand Shinjis everywhere but worse." (Zhong Yuan)

"Oh yeah. Berserker, what are you going to do?" (Rin)

"Hm... I'm not sure yet, but first I'm going to tour around with Illya." (Zhong Yuan)

I and Illya toured the Clock Tower. Clock Tower was literally the holy spot for mages so different types of cultures could be found. Additionally, the tower was split into 12 faculties which were ruled by their own lord. So anywhere we went, we were bound to meet something new.

Rin would probably sign up for the Mineralogy faculty, later meeting Luviagelita Edelfelt and fighting over Shirou. Lord El-Melloi II was in the Modern Magecraft Theories and the Archaeology Class had the antagonists of Kara no Kyokai.

"I feel that this faculty would suit us the most!" (Illya)

"Oh, which one?" (Zhong Yuan)

"Spiritual Evocation. It's about summoning spirits, which you are so I might join easily." (Illya)

"Hmm... Sure." (Zhong Yuan)

My body however wasn't reliant anymore on Illya. Ever since I took in All the World's Evil, a perpetual machine of hatred was made inside me giving me endless amount of energy and mana. We signed up for the classes and I was admitted as a summon for Illya and we spent out days studying. Sometimes, we met up with Rin and Shirou until Shirou finally left to pursue his dreams.

Illya's body growth didn't change much. Because of her magic circuits overloading her body, she never got the chance to grow, but finally she was starting to look more like a teenager than a little kid.

I also tried meeting some important people from the Nasuverse like Aoko Aozaki, Shiki Nanaya, Arcuied, and Barthomeloi Lorelei. Of course, it was kind of hard to meet them, but none could help me regarding true magic except Aoko. She told me her experiences regarding the Root and about being careful with the Red Shadow and the Counter Force.

"Hopefully this works..." (Zhong Yuan)

The magic I deviced from everything I tried was to become a container of emotions. My emotions were wasted to connect to the root to an even more endless supply of magic so I needed another source. If I were to elevate myself into a higher being which can understand and absorb the entire universe's population's emotion, I could aim for higher reaches. Why didn't I just rely on my All the World's Evil? It simply wasn't as good of a source as I thought. It gave me perpetual energy, but it gave me only hate to store, not the others.

"Hear me, Lord of Creation."

"I Announce."

"In my being representing nothingness."

"I will transcend the limits of time and space."

"I'm no longer bound to anything."

The moment I have finished my chant, I arrived back at the Root. It was swirling in a color blue light in a dark empty space.

'Touching it also represents my death, but achieving to understand this represents erasing the "impossible." (Zhong Yuan)

I was reaching to touch it. With my understanding of all emotions and fears that transcend life,death, space, and time, I felt that I could do it. Understand it.

"Don't..." (???)

I turned back to see nothing. I look around, but it was still empty.

"What do you want?" (Zhong Yuan)

"Humanity's existence... foreigner..." (???)

"Identify yourself!" (Zhong Yuan)

"...Alaya..." (Alaya)

Alaya is the collective consciousness of mankind and the force that keeps humans alive. Not wanting extinction, Alaya collectively sends Counter Guardians to stop anyone from reaching the root.

"Why didn't you send any Counter Guardians after all this time?" (Zhong Yuan)

"You know why. Probably all of them against you will result with a massacre." (Alaya)

"So you know... Why can't I reach the Root?" (Zhong Yuan)

"It will threaten humanity's existence..." (Alaya)

"No it won't. In other works, humans manage to stay alive even more than Gaia, and leaving Earth. Hell, even Gilgamesh had a prophecy of humans leaving earth." (Zhong Yuan)

"I can't state the reason why, but you can't do it. Others found methods to reach the Root, but they never understood it. You are the only candidate I know that can." (Alaya)

"So... No matter what, I can't touch it?" (Zhong Yuan)

"Yes." (Alaya)

"Then grant a wish for me. Where can I find this girl? She was my wife until she died. How can I get her back?" (Zhong Yuan)

"...I don't get it. She never existed here..." (Alaya)

"What are you saying?" (Zhong Yuan)

"She isn't a part of me or the root, meaning she never existed here... so will you give it up?" (Alaya)

This fact boggled by mind. If she didn't exist, did that mean she was only part of the SAO world?

"Do me a favor. Am I in the Throne of Heroes or part of you? Is there even a part of me in this world?" (Zhong Yuan)

"...No. You were never recorded up until the time you connected with the Root. The moment you did, you were to be archived in the Throne of Heroes..." (Alaya)

This was the scenario I never wanted to see. Me and Yuna not being part of this world meant I couldn't revive her here through this world's means. My eyes go back to a depressed state so I asked.

"Hey... If I were to go to another universe, would I keep my powers and still be connected?" (Zhong Yuan)

"...Universe? I and Gaia are only part of this world and it's different timelines. We never had any interactions with other universes so we can't tell." (Alaya)

"I see. I have to go then..."

I grab Einz out of my inventory, and aim it at my head.

"This is it...this world's potential..." (Zhong Yuan)

BANG

*****

[Host was archived as to the Throne of Heroes]

[Potential Candidate for: Saber, Archer, Berserker, Caster, Avenger]

[Host has been named: Virtual Hero Zhong Yuan]

[System shutting down...]

And I was back to my dream land.

'Let's see... which world is next?'

There where countless worlds next. And any world could have the key to reviving.