Reborn as the God-Emperor in Marvel

Solomon couldn't help but notice the vast starry sky above Balder's room, a warm light illuminating the space. In the distance, a massive creature slumbered, only revealing a face adorned with ivory-like headgear. Surrounding it were countless angels.

Among these angels were behemoths like Temperantia, yet here they appeared smaller than ants.

Even with the distance created by magic, Solomon felt an indescribable pressure. It was the kind of fear only humans can feel in the presence of something so immense. Even Phoenix, who stood by his side, couldn't help but stiffen, its golden-red feathers on end, making the bird appear puffed up.

The Lumen Sage, Balder, followed Solomon's gaze to the strange space on the ceiling. "Ah, that's the most important achievement of the Isabelle Group," Balder said proudly, stretching out a hand as if showcasing something. "An artificial sanctuary connected to the heavens, turning this entire room into a space linked to another realm. Through this, we can glimpse the true form of the Creator."

"An impressive display of magic," Solomon exhaled slowly. The situation was more dire than he had anticipated. The photos Luka had taken of the blood-red coffins, extracting witches' blood, were likely used to fuel this enormous space.

Solomon couldn't understand why the Supreme Sorcerer had sent him on this mission. The current situation made it clear that Balder, the Lumen Sage, was more than prepared. In such a crisis, shouldn't the entire Mage's Conclave have been deployed to take him down?

The Eye of Agamotto—that had to be the answer. The Supreme Sorcerer must have foreseen a possible failure for the Lumen Sage, a scenario in which Solomon's participation was crucial. Otherwise, no one would send an inexperienced mage into such a situation.

But Solomon wasn't about to relax. He took out a potion that had been gifted to him by Baron Mordo and drank it in one gulp. Immediately, he felt a slight relief from his fatigue, but it wasn't enough. "I'm terribly exhausted, Mr. Balder," Solomon said. "Would you permit me a brief rest to face the final outcome at my best?"

"By all means," Balder replied, sitting down with Cereza on his lap. Whether out of confidence or arrogance, Balder seemed unconcerned by anything Solomon might do. He even allowed the gray short-haired cat to remain curled up in Cereza's arms. Solomon glanced at Phoenix, who gave a slight bow, indicating it would do its best to protect him.

The mystic took another glance at the expressionless Balder and the small Cereza in his arms before allowing himself to relax. Leaning back into the soft chair, he closed his eyes and swiftly entered a meditative sleep. Short rests were vital for mages like Solomon, who cast spells through pacts with otherworldly beings. Only by recovering his mental strength could he perform his magic, and the potion from the Supreme Sorcerer would maximize the benefit of this brief respite.

After some time, Phoenix's voice rang in Solomon's mind. A person had just entered the room through the portal. Bayonetta walked in with a serious expression, followed closely by Luka, who Solomon had thought had given up in the face of danger.

Bayonetta was in a foul mood, having barely won her battle against several Virtues and Jeanne. Along the way, she had also recovered part of her memory from five hundred years ago. Jeanne, in fact, had been her childhood companion. Before the destruction of the Umbra Witches, Jeanne, who was destined to lead the witches, had been both Bayonetta's only friend and rival, even though Bayonetta was feared by everyone as the forbidden child.

When the Umbra Witches were hunted to the brink of extinction, it was Jeanne who sealed Bayonetta away. The memory that had plagued Bayonetta, of Jeanne stabbing her chest with a rapier, was the moment Jeanne sealed her to protect her from the Lumen Sages, ensuring the Left Eye of the world didn't fall into their hands.

Jeanne had used a unique witch's magic, temporarily sealing Bayonetta within a ruby, the same ruby now adorning the watch around Bayonetta's neck—a symbol of their friendship. Jeanne had fought her way through hordes of enemies and hidden Bayonetta in a coffin at the bottom of a lake until Luka's father broke the seal twenty years ago, bringing Bayonetta back into the world.

Bayonetta also recalled the origin of her lipstick. She remembered kneeling beside a dying woman in tears, surrounded by flames and angels. Leading the angels was Temperantia, one of the four Virtues, which explained her subconscious hatred for that particular angel and why she had felt relief after killing it. The dying woman was Bayonetta's mother, who handed her the lipstick and told her to save someone.

"To protect you, who had lost the will to fight after your mother's death, and to protect the 'Left Eye,' I had no choice," Jeanne, defeated by Bayonetta, had said. "I was so naive back then."

"I remember now," Bayonetta had replied. "A long time ago, you were my one and only."

"That boring, doll-like woman was my friend," Jeanne had said with a chuckle.

"Why did you choose me as your opponent five hundred years ago?" Bayonetta had asked. "Why, when I was despised by everyone?"

"To become the strongest witch, you must face the strongest opponent, that's all," Jeanne had said, even as she lay on the ground. Her personality mirrored Bayonetta's. "Never run from the Lumen Sage, Balder. Settle the grudge from five hundred years ago. It's your destiny."

"Fight, then return victorious, and carve a new path. Don't fear your fate, Cereza. Hold your head high and open your eyes. Behind every truth lies another." Jeanne's words had puzzled Bayonetta, especially because Jeanne seemed to confuse her with Cereza, a mistake Bayonetta found odd.

Why had Jeanne, once a companion, helped the Lumen Sage? Who exactly was Cereza? These questions weighed on Bayonetta's heart. She raised her head and looked toward the top of the Isabelle Tower, where Jeanne had suggested all the answers lay.

Despite her severe injuries, Jeanne had suddenly sat up and fired one last shot at Bayonetta. Startled, Bayonetta had dodged just in time, but Jeanne was soon engulfed in a golden thunderstorm from the heavens. The anguish of losing her friend so soon after recovering her memories tore at Bayonetta's heart.

It was shortly after this that she had encountered Luka, who was struggling to climb the stairs. Having composed herself, Bayonetta and Luka made their way to the top of the Isabelle Tower, crossing the Path of Psionics and arriving at the spherical room.

"Mommy! Mommy's here!" Cereza, nestled in Balder's arms, cried out, turning her head to look at Bayonetta. She stretched out her chubby little hands and called in a childish voice, "Mommy!"

"You've finally arrived... my dear Cereza," Balder said. "Why the sad face, my dear? You used to smile brighter than the sun as a child."

"Huh?" The little girl looked at Balder in confusion but quickly forgot about it. She smiled sweetly at everyone in the room before yawning adorably and slowly falling asleep.

Bayonetta glanced at Solomon, who had just risen from his chair. Her gaze was sharp, clearly demanding an explanation for why the little girl was in Balder's hands. Solomon didn't answer but kept a close eye on Cereza.

For now, Bayonetta decided to hold off on questioning Solomon. She couldn't guess the intentions of the Mage's Conclave. Instead, she turned her attention to Balder. Adjusting her glasses, she asked, "As I understand, you're the last Lumen Sage?"

"Yes, my name is Balder," he replied. "But you may call me Father. You've lost many memories. Our last meeting was five hundred years ago. If you hadn't lost your memories, this reunion would be far more emotional."

"That girl, where did she come from?" Bayonetta demanded.

"That's a long story," Balder said, rising with Cereza in his arms. He walked toward an astrolabe next to the table. "We Lumen Sages, like you Umbra Witches, are observers of history, each of us using our 'Eyes' to watch the world. All of this is for the universe, to ensure its survival. But five hundred years ago, you were exiled from your race, even though you were the Left Eye of the World."

Balder approached a decorative potted plant and broke off an unopened flower bud. Using magic, he made the bud bloom before placing the delicate flower in Cereza's thick hair. "We are now on the verge of resurrecting the Creator, Jubileus. There is only one way to restore your memories and open your Observer's Eye. Your pure eyes must witness the history they could not see. Your battles, your struggles, everything you've experienced in Vigrid will help restore your memory. All of this is for the Left Eye."

"I'm tired of your philosophical nonsense," Bayonetta said impatiently, raising her gun and aiming it at Balder. "I'll ask one more time. Where did that girl come from?"

"I've already answered your question," Balder said with a chuckle. "It's all to awaken the 'Left Eye.' To awaken it, you must reexamine yourself."

"You're beyond saving," Bayonetta growled, her voice filled with

 fury—the most intense emotion she had ever displayed in front of anyone.

"Ah, redemption, such a mysterious word," Balder said theatrically, like an actor delivering a soliloquy. "I have illuminated the path to redemption with light. But no matter how bright the light, the darkness within the human heart remains deep. Light, darkness, and the chaos between them... To create a new world, these three separated realms must be unified. That's why the resurrection of five hundred years ago was initiated, sparking fear and triggering the Witch Hunts. Even though they believed the Creator Jubileus would return, the Left Eye remained elusive. From that moment, I began constructing Vigrid, and now, the fruits of my labor are finally ripe."

"Yes, Jubileus will be resurrected, and we will become the Eyes of the World!" Balder's voice rose in excitement, but Cereza remained peacefully asleep in his arms. "A new world will be born!"

"I could never call the creator of this nightmare 'Father,'" Bayonetta retorted, regaining her usual flippant demeanor as she buried her anger deep within herself.

"Nice speech, big guy," Luka said, finally speaking up after watching the drama unfold. "But isn't it a bit over the top, Mr. CEO of the Isabelle Group? Redemption, light... you've really taken your corporate motto to heart, haven't you?"

Solomon shot a sideways glance at Luka, thinking to himself that he hadn't misjudged this guy. Luka really did have a knack for getting himself into trouble.

"But if you ask me, it's all nonsense!" Luka continued. "History is full of people like you—genocidal maniacs. Or maybe I should call you a notorious butcher."

Balder recognized Luka. In fact, it was quite remarkable that Luka, as a mere human, had made it this far. The saying "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" seemed to apply, as Luka's father had once worked for Balder. Although Luka's father didn't agree with Balder's methods, the sage had never cared what the man investigated.

"But when ugly rumors begin to spread, I do have to intervene," Balder said nonchalantly. "However, in gratitude for him finding the lake where my long-lost Cereza was hidden, I fulfilled his final wish and accepted his permanent resignation."

"You bastard!" Luka shouted, charging at Balder. But after just a few steps, his limbs were lifted by invisible forces, just like what had happened to his father twenty years ago.

"I no longer need you. But as a show of respect," Balder said, "I will allow you to die just as your father did."

I really need recommendation votes. So many others have far more than I do! Tomorrow, I'll start splitting chapters so I can keep up with the demand.

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