Chapter 11

I am no longer an undead. I'm now an entity on par with the World Tree itself, the same tree that gave birth to the overpowered World Items. However, in my current state, it could be said that I'm weaker than it's leaves. But in time, even the 'Twenty' won't affect me.

At the moment, since neither I nor Pandora's Actor can activate one of the most powerful items in our possession, Aves Petrificus, there's a need for search of an individual who can do such. Prefferably a level 100 Player or possibly someone who can use any Items without being restricted. But if such individual really exist though, he could only die as an enemy or be of use to me as a puppet.

Until I regain strength or the item is activated, I'll have to move in the shadows while building up my forces quietly so as not to alert the powerhouse of this world. I'm not certain if we've actually been transported to the New World, but there's a chance that other entities over level 100 exist. After all, I'm living proof of that.

As someone who only managed to watch up to the second season, which was the latest at the time, and read only half of the first volume of the light novel before I got sick, my understanding of the New World is quite limited. On the other hand, I have all the experiences of Suzuki Satoru and fragments of the 'Primordial Dragon Monarch.' I've also retained the talents from my previous life, as Theos Ignis. This should make up for what I don't know.

The challenge is figuring out how to make my move without drawing attention because of my massive size, while maintaining all my power. Although my race and appearance have undergone permanent transformation, my racial and job classes stayed the same, so I don't have any spells or skills that would let me alter my form. I do have a spell that can turn me into a warrior class, and an item that can change my outer appearance, but neither of them have the capacity to change my mass or volume.

The only workaround I can think of, though it would significantly weaken me in the process, is to use a mannequin and a 10th tier magic spell called [Projection] to control it remotely. The drawback of this spell is that it only lets me transfer up to 69% of my stats, which means I won't be able to use my most powerful magic spells that depends on my experience and level. On top of that, I can only use it on something I've created myself, and how much of the 69% I can actually manifest before it breaks depends on how durable the material is.

Although there are numerous drawbacks, it's better than to risk venturing on the outside world myself. At the very least, this method allows me to stay within the treasury, the most secure and well-guarded place in the tomb.

Despite the fact that I could just simply delegate all tasks to Pandora's Actor, an unsettling sensation prevents me from doing so. This discomfort, this itch that I cannot scratch, persistently pervades me from doing so. It fills my thoughts with an uninvited hostility and a desire for vengeance, which I assume are the intrusive thoughts of the 'Primordial Dragon Monarch'.

This is a fascinating experience, to say the least. It seems as if another consciousness is gradually consuming my unconscious mind. It's an intriguing concept, the idea that our unconscious minds can be influenced or even overtaken by an external consciousness.

What should have remained as my deepest inner feelings, emotions, and thoughts--the primitive and instinctual part of my mind--have been invaded. Now, a strong pride and hatred, which should have been confined in my ego, have fused with my very instinct. I'm not consciously deciding to feel this way, but these emotions are strong enough to seep into my conscious mind, affecting my thoughts and actions.

Now, each time I look at my reflection in the mirror, my mind is flooded with nothing but overwhelming satisfaction, confidence and unsettling superiority. These thoughts wil just obscure my judgement, hindering my ability to make the best decision. I acknowledge that as a human, it's natural to to experience such feelings occationally, but this level of intensity is unhealthy.

The worst thing that could happen is it stops me from being self-aware and make me close minded. Such degree of irrationality will just lead to my own demise. This could explain how such an overwhelmingly powerful World Enemy fall in the hands of less powerful beings.

With a clear vision of the mannequin etched in my mind, I casted the spell, "[Create Greater Item]."

I felt a surge of my own mana in the shade of purple, flow out from me. It condensed into a humanoid form, a figure kneeling in silent reverence before me. Ever since I ascended to the status of a World Enemy, the nature of my mana had evolved, becoming more dense. This heightened concentration, in turn, enriched the durability of the mannequin.

I had meticulously crafted the mannequin to bear numerous crevices across its surface. These intricate fissures revealed the hollow inside of it's jet-black body. I designed it in such a way to allow the mana I will infuse into it to flow freely, not just confined within, to ease the pressure that will result from the mana's compression into this smaller vessel.

The appearance of the mannequine reminiscent my past form as Theos Ignis. However, this figure was quite different. If it were to stand, it would be at a towering 7 ft tall, it was a more mature version of me and has a white hair which is a stark contrast against it's jet-black body.

This lean, dark figure was designed to house an abundance of dense mana, akin to a vessel formed from the very fabric of the cosmos, ready to contain the energy of the universe within its form.

Despite the numerous crevices crisscrossing its body, the sections of the mannequine didn't crumble or fall apart. Instead, they hung there, suspended in mid-air by an unseen force, each piece floating in its rightful place. Together, they formed an intricate network of floating fragments that made up the complete figure.

The sight was nothing short of magical. It felt like I was looking at a living constellation, each star held in place by an invisible force, painting a picture of silent strength and resilience. Even in its stillness, the figure seemed ready to spring into action at any moment, a silent guardian born from my power and imagination.

Preparing myself, I invoked another magic spell, "[Projection]."

Upon saying the word, the huge amount of my power poured out from my dragon form, funneling into the mannequin. The sensation was very new to me, like I'm being split into two yet remaining whole.

From a high vintage view, I watched a small jet-black figure, etched with glowing purple crevices that streaks purple electricities all over its body. It's knelt on the ground while his head is tilted upwards, looking intently into my eyes.

Yet, from another vintage point, ground-level point of view, I was staring up at a colossal dragon. Its jet-black form casting a formidable shadow within the treasury, as immense as an ancient mountain. It has two glowing orbs of deep purple within its eye sockets, staring down at me with an unyielding gaze that seemed to held a universe of stories within.

(A/N: Dragon and Human Form)

In the game, the spell [Projection] should've split my vision into two distinct panels, but what I was experiencing was far from that. It was as if I had two minds connected to each other, running in parallel while sharing information at the same time. It was a complex dance of perception, a reality where I could view things from two different angles simultaneously.

Regrettably, the spell's limitations meant I could only cast it on a single object at a time, thus barring me from exploiting its enhanced visual acuity and parallel processing capabilities. Nevertheless, it was a fascinating peek into a different dimension of perception.

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