North America, the East Coast, New York City, Times Square.
As everyone knew, in a place where every inch of land was worth a fortune, like Manhattan's Times Square, even a tiny advertising space commanded astronomical fees that the vast majority of people in the world could never dream of affording.
Normally, Times Square was a dazzling spectacle of flashing lights and colorful architectural light shows. Every skyscraper resembled an enormous canvas covered in brilliant neon advertisements and electronic billboards, their images constantly changing.
Advertisers practically wished they could divide a single screen into several smaller ones. Even the transitions between advertisements were timed down to fractions of a second, because every instant represented money.
But today, the cover girls, sports stars, product promotions, and political campaign advertisements that New Yorkers were so accustomed to seeing had all disappeared.
In their place was an unprecedented display of uniformity. Even the enormous Nasdaq screen outside the Nasdaq Stock Market had stopped broadcasting real-time stock prices.
And it was not just Times Square. Across New York State, the United States, Canada... Virtually every city dominated by the science side began broadcasting the earthshaking battle taking place over the southern Indian Ocean at almost exactly the same time.
All entertainment broadcasts were suspended.
"My fellow citizens, my fellow children of freedom, it is with profound regret that I must inform you that this war has escalated beyond our ability to handle. My heart is filled with guilt and anger, but I am sorry. Faced with the current situation, I am powerless. I cannot even offer a single effective solution."
In the upper-right corner of the screen, the President of the United States was delivering a nationwide address.
"Although our coalition forces have already secured a clear advantage on conventional battlefields, the Roman Catholic Church and its allied nations continue their desperate resistance. The true instigator of this world war has finally revealed himself. He is Fiamma of the Right, leader of God's Right Seat, the darkest organization within the Roman Catholic Church, along with his allies."
"I know many of you have questioned the decision to enter this war so readily. You understand the terrible consequences it has brought far more intimately than I ever could. But is that not precisely the pride of a free people? This is our rejection of the old order imposed by the Roman Catholic Church!"
"All men are born free."
"Are we supposed to surrender that freedom willingly? Are we to allow the shackles of the Dark Ages to descend upon the children of freedom once more? To let our wealth be plundered, our children enslaved, and our lands stolen from us? Are we even to permit those tyrannical believers and monks to claim the first nights of our wives and daughters by force?"
There was no discussion of the usual issues of finance, race, gender, or anything of the sort. Gone, too, were the elaborate rhetoric and impassioned delivery that had characterized his speeches at the beginning of the war. This time, the president's voice was unusually subdued and pessimistic.
And that made his words resonate with the people all the more deeply.
As though perfectly timed to coincide with the end of the president's statement...
BOOOOM!
On the screens, a surging tide of flames swept forward, transforming the world into a living hell.
Islands and stretches of coastal land sank beneath the waves, while raging torrents swallowed everything in their path.
Mountains burned and oceans boiled. Enormous fissures stretched for hundreds or even thousands of kilometers, their depths impossible to fathom. The vast ocean was torn open, revealing churning magma and blistering heat erupting from the cracks below, swallowing entire islands.
Another image appeared. Along the coast of Western Australia, facing the southern Indian Ocean, waves hundreds of meters high slammed into the crimson continent. Impacts as heavy as mountains erupted with terrifying force, hurling enormous, scorching boulders high into the sky before they rained back down upon the land!
On the island of Madagascar, even from an altitude of ten thousand meters, the approaching tsunami was visible as a white line racing toward the coast before crashing ashore.
This was a battle of unimaginable magnitude. Dazzling flames illuminated heaven and earth, making everything as bright as day. The combatants seemed more like gods and demons than living beings.
It was easy to foresee that once World War III ended, the maps of the entire Indian Ocean region would have to be redrawn.
The monotonous starry sky was dyed crimson by the "sparks" of the colliding powers.
That crimson glow was also reflected across countless pale faces watching the screens. Men and women, young and old alike.
People were utterly at a loss.
Sharp gasps sounded everywhere. Even black spectators seemed frightened pale, while white spectators repeatedly muttered "Oh my God" and frantically traced crosses over their chests.
The thought that the world was about to end echoed through people's minds. An atmosphere of despair spread everywhere.
Then, just as their emotions reached a fever pitch, the president abruptly changed his tone.
"But God loves the world. He has even bestowed His angel upon us! The corrupt Roman Catholic Church, the reactionary Fiamma of the Right, and those blasphemous wretches who profane humanity have already lost Heaven's favor!"
At that very moment, on the enormous screens...
The blazing radiance of solar flares revealed an overwhelming power of divine punishment. The sacred figure burning fiercely at the zenith of the heavens resembled the descent of the Almighty Himself.
The heavens and the ocean appeared to have been split into two distinct halves. From the line where sky met sea, the heavens were dyed a magnificent crimson-gold, while the ocean below remained a dark, unfathomable expanse of churning waves.
The contrast was unmistakable.
The holy angel even endured a vicious blow from the devil shrouded in black mist while attempting to calm the boiling ocean and suppress the undersea volcanic eruptions and earthquakes caused by their clashes. At the sight, people could not help crying out, their hearts nearly breaking.
The more emotional believers covered their mouths, tears welling in their eyes.
The camera conveniently focused from a distance on the tall, thin figure hovering in midair and emitting a cold, sinister chuckle. Black mist swirled around the man's entire body. Within the deep darkness, a pair of faintly crimson eyes could be seen gleaming from his gaunt, slender frame.
That chilling gaze, the hoarse "Heh-heh-heh" laughter, and the sinister aura of ghostly winds and wailing spirits surrounding him...
There was no need to debate who the villain was. Surely no one would suggest that the magnificent, radiant, sacred guardian angel of the sun standing opposite him was evil?
"God loves the world! It was the Roman Catholic Church that twisted His revelations for its own benefit! They even usurped God's authority, seeking to become false gods on Earth and enslave humanity!"
Someone roared furiously, "They're the real blasphemers! Abolish the Roman Catholic Church! They're unworthy!"
"Despicable! How could an angel possibly lose?! That false god is completely unworthy! He's exploiting the angel's kindness and desire to protect humanity!"
Someone tore the necklace bearing the crossed Keys of Saint Peter, the symbol of the Roman Catholic Church, from around his neck and hurled it viciously to the ground.
Once someone took the lead, the crowd's emotions exploded. Angry shouts rose into a deafening uproar.
"Abolish the Roman Catholic Church!"
Prayers and reverence for the angel, along with profound hatred toward the "devil," surged almost simultaneously.
And once the crowd's emotions had been thoroughly ignited, the first person who had shouted angrily quietly slipped away with the flow of people, disappearing into the shadows. Pressing a hand to his earpiece, he whispered, "Mission accomplished."
Meanwhile, in cities controlled by the science side, even more forces began mobilizing to shape public opinion. Opposition parties and media outlets, which ordinarily delighted in contradicting one another, were suddenly speaking with almost identical voices. Financial magnates who rarely appeared in public and lofty members of parliament all began openly declaring their positions.
People were naturally inclined to follow the crowd.
Under this carefully orchestrated guidance, more and more people began blaming the Roman Catholic Church for both the outbreak of World War III and the suffering caused by the loss of their loved ones. Their hatred was directed particularly toward Fiamma of the Right and that false god!
Just then, an official announcement from the Russian Federation completely ignited the world's anger and malice.
"We cannot allow this meaningless war to continue any longer."
"After carefully reviewing the conditions proposed by Academy City, we have agreed to attend negotiations. The specific details will be discussed further in subsequent talks, but I can guarantee that the outcome will not be detrimental to Russia."
"We have no excuses for this historic mistake. At the very least, the only thing we can do now is bring this abnormal situation to an end as quickly as possible and restore the world to the peaceful state it once enjoyed, when peace could be taken for granted."
...
"Once everything has ended, we are willing to accept any sanctions imposed upon us."
"Effective immediately, I hereby declare that Russia will cease all acts of war against Academy City and its allied nations. Furthermore, we formally declare war against the Roman Catholic Church and Fiamma of the Right of God's Right Seat!"
Supreme Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church
Krans R. Tsarskiy
In simpler terms, Russia had issued an official statement shifting the blame.
Yes, yes, yes. All the crimes had been committed by Bishop Nikolai Tolstoy. He had been deceived by Fiamma of the Right, who had drawn out the malice within his heart, leading him to imprison the Supreme Patriarch, usurp his authority, and launch the war.
Naturally, to preserve the reputation of the Russian Orthodox Church, they had even gone out of their way to reduce Nikolai Tolstoy's share of the blame, dumping an even greater mountain of accusations onto Fiamma of the Right.
The Russian Orthodox Church was now a victim. It had even become an ally of justice, and Academy City had accepted it as such. In other words, the only remaining obstacles to world peace and freedom were Fiamma of the Right of the Roman Catholic Church and the allies conspiring with him!
And just like that, in the middle of fighting to stop Aleister's plan and save Fiamma of the Right, Ollerus, who genuinely believed he was protecting the world, was left utterly dumbfounded.
As a magician who had nearly ascended to the throne of Magic God, Ollerus was exceptionally sensitive to the malice emanating from people around the world. After all, quite a few of the magic side's powerful forbidden rituals depended, to varying degrees, on the inclinations of believers toward either malice or goodwill.
But what the hell is going on?!
The world war is still ongoing... I can understand why malice is increasing across the world, but why the hell is all that malice being directed at me?! And why is it getting even stronger?! What did I do? I only just came out of seclusion...
"Selene! What have you done?!"
Ollerus forced an extremely furious roar through clenched teeth.
He was genuinely enraged.
Given his usual composure, no matter how much Selene teased or even insulted him, Ollerus would never have lost control of himself like this.
But Selene's actions had inflicted a wound far deeper than verbal abuse or physical violence. It was as though a sharp knife had been plunged directly into his heart.
For a compassionate man who firmly believed in the principle of "extending a helping hand to those in danger," being disliked and even hated by so many people was truly painful.
And what made matters worse was that among all that malice were the innocent, straightforward feelings of countless children, expressing thoughts such as I hate you! and You're a bad person!
There were even simple waves of hostility from animals like dogs and cats, which barked furiously or bristled and growled at him alongside their owners.
At that point, Ollerus simply could not take it anymore.
"Perhaps it's because you've chosen to make an enemy of me."
Selene's lips curved into an unrestrained grin, and a hint of smug satisfaction flickered in her crimson eyes. She made no attempt to deny her involvement. Quite the contrary, she proudly took credit for it.
"After all, I'm incredibly popular. My businesses provide millions of jobs worldwide and indirectly support the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people. Countless corporations and enterprises around the world cooperate with me, and even more people benefit from the industries and supply chains connected to my businesses. What about you? What have you contributed?"
Selene tilted her head, casting a sidelong glance at the furious blond man before her as she raised the Voidstar Anchor.
Hummm!
Flickering arcs of fire illuminated the weapon with an indestructible brilliance. Then she surged forward, swinging the dazzling golden spear with the combined strength of her waist and abdomen.
"You're comparing yourself to me?! What do you have that could possibly compare?! What reason do you have for the people of the world to support you?! What makes you think you're qualified?!"
A faint, ringing hum sounded, followed by a thunderous explosion!
An enormous, bottomless circular void appeared on the ocean's surface. What followed was an utterly shocking sight. Not a single drop of seawater or speck of seabed mud was displaced outward by the impact.
Everything had been annihilated!
Even the surrounding space began rippling!
"I..."
Ollerus' newly gathered fighting spirit instantly collapsed. In the blink of an eye, he was blasted more than ten kilometers away. Along his trajectory, the atmosphere was crushed and scattered as though it were sesame seeds being ground beneath a millstone!
At that instant, Selene's words struck Ollerus like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, leaving him feeling as though lightning had struck him directly.
He usually lived in seclusion on the streets of Milan, Italy, occasionally doing small good deeds, punishing evildoers, and helping the innocent. Perhaps he was somebody worth mentioning among the locals and stray animals, but compared with Selene's vast industrial empire spanning more than half the world, just who the hell was he?
Competing with Selene in secular influence and reputation?
If I'm fighting Selene, doesn't that mean I'm effectively making enemies of more than half the world's population?
In fact, that was not far from the truth. Selene had simply employed considerably more methods to achieve that result.
Selene had always scoffed at the influence of public opinion, but even she could not deny that in a world without absolute authority, public opinion was genuinely useful.
One could only say that Selene was remarkably compatible with the capitalist powers of the Americas. Nobody else could have manipulated the system with quite the same creativity. Accelerator and Kamijou Touma certainly could never have pulled off anything like this.
She controlled an enormous pharmaceutical, aerospace, and military-industrial complex, after all.
Why were the media outlets in the science-side countries being so obedient? Because the people above their bosses had spoken. Did they dare utter a single word of disagreement?
Selene would not personally do anything to ordinary civilians over such matters. After all, this was not her own empire, so she had to exercise some restraint.
But what about the capitalists, financial conglomerates, and local gangs beneath her influence?
Did they still want their money?
Did they still want their positions?
Did they still want opportunities to curry favor?
Make a suspicious move in the morning, and by noon, you would be gone. By the afternoon, your family fortune would already have been divided among others.
...
Above the Star of Bethlehem fortress.
"Selene... So this is what it means to have influence in both legitimate and underworld circles?"
Aleister opened his eyes. All the preparations for adjusting the Fish of the Last Supper ritual were complete. What he had regarded as the most difficult requirement, gathering the hatred of the entire world, had been fulfilled by Selene with astonishing ease.
After the destruction of the Document of C, he had assumed Selene would use unprecedentedly powerful psychic abilities to manipulate the emotions of two billion people and satisfy the ritual's activation conditions. That would have been perfectly consistent with her personality.
She was absolutely capable of doing something like that.
Seriously... She always finds some new trick to surprise me.
"Now then, let the ritual unfold."
"My century-old wish!"