The grand court of the gods shimmered in golden light as Levi entered, bowing respectfully before the supreme deity.
"You summoned me, Lord Julius?"
Without turning from the celestial window, Julius spoke."Did you gather any additional reports about Kazuki Ayanami?"
Levi hesitated, lowering his head.
"Apologies, my lord… but no. Nothing new has surfaced."
A brief silence lingered in the chamber.
"Fine," Julius said, waving a dismissive hand. "You may go."
Levi bowed once more and left the chamber.
Julius remained still for a moment before murmuring, "Sneha… come."
Within seconds, a radiant figure appeared — Sneha, the mightiest of Julius's angels, her presence bright as starlight itself.
"You called for me, Lord Julius?" she asked, a curious frown on her lips.
Without delay, Julius turned to face her, his gaze heavy with thought.
"Tell me, Sneha… do you believe that Kazuki Ayanami could ever surpass you?"
Sneha raised a brow, then scoffed lightly."No, my lord. He may be clever, but surpass me? I don't believe so."
Julius studied her expression carefully.
"And yet," he began, "I do. Because his potential isn't bound to mere physical or spiritual strength… it extends into something else. His mind."
Sneha tilted her head."With all respect, Lord Julius… you command worlds, you manipulate fate itself. There is no one superior to you — especially not a mortal child who's merely disrupted a political game."
A ghost of a smile touched Julius's lips.
"Let's say, for the sake of argument, that you're right. That I remain superior to him in strength… in mental strategy… for now. But spiritually—" Julius paused, his expression unreadable."I'm not so sure."
Sneha's eyes narrowed."What do you mean, Lord Julius?"
Julius's gaze grew distant.
"There's a depth within him I've only sensed once before… long ago, in a being who once threatened the balance of gods and cosmos alike."
Sneha's expression hardened."Are you saying this mortal carries that same essence?"
Julius didn't answer. The rest of the conversation faded from mortal knowledge, the scene veiling itself in divine secrecy.