After getting my worldview destroyed by Trod, I decided to do something to distract and cheer me up.
"Enhancement time!" - I smiled while rubbing my hands together.
The long-awaited enhancement wave is here!
First, I checked the menu.
Name: Divine fragment of Ic'thotl'itrod
Powers: Dark Offering(Dark Idol), Camouflage(Alter Appearance 4, Conceal Presence 1), Storage(Increase Storage size 2), Teleport(Increase Range 3, Reduce Cost 1, Reduce Cooldown 4, Mass Teleportation 2), Reality Travel(Decrease Cooldown 2), Evolution(Devolve, Synthesize), Enhancement, Sanitization, Energy Conversion, Increase Compatibility 1, Analytical Eye 1, Empower Words 1, Mark of Zeal 1
Host Abilities: True Tongue 1, Unreality Affinity 1, Void Affinity 1, Space Affinity 1, True Sun Affinity 1, Immortal Body 1, Immortal Soul 1, Divinity 1
Basic Energy: 12,761
Evolution Energy A: 2,518
Enhancement Energy A: 160,305
"Hm. It's coming along nicely. But I see that the Basic Energy isn't increasing now. Is it stuck in the zombie world? No, I should probably call it Ascended World now." - I muttered.
Logically, Primrose, being connected to all those Kin, should have gotten a few points by now. But they remained stagnant.
{Forgetting the efficiency of transporting energy from one reality to another, the act of doing so is the same as throwing a bloody steak into the ocean. A predator is bound to come.}
"Eh... Predator?" - I couldn't help but ask worriedly.
{Unreality Creatures, Gods, God Aspirants like yourself, and powerful individuals wishing to steal your qualifications. Any of them is a hazard to you, so avoid attracting them and stay low.}
"... Noted." - I pursed my lips.
Yeah. If I learned something, it is that Trod doesn't fuck around. If he says something like this, then it is likely correct.
Shaking my head from the unpleasant thoughts, I started viewing all the possible enhancements I could get.
{Enhance existing Powers has been selected}
{Please select a Power to enhance}
Powers:
Camouflage Storage Teleport Reality Travel Sanitization Increase Compatibility 1 Analytical Eye 1(locked) Empower Words 1(locked) Mark of Zeal 1(locked)
Well, first of all, Dark Offering and Evolution were gone. In other words, I can't enhance them anymore.
And so, I looked at the new first option.
Camouflage:
Enhancement Options:
Conceal Presence 2 Alter Appearance 5 (Locked)
Ignoring Alter Appearance, which reached the level of looking like another species if I want, I looked at Conceal Presence.
Conceal Presence 2: Improves the effects of Conceal Presence 1. Price: 25 Enhancement Energy A
"Although it is less useful to me right now, it might save my life one day." - I muttered.
With that thought, I raised it three times, costing 400 points.
{Enahcement Compelte}
Enhancement Energy A: 160,305 -> 159,905
Conceal Presence 4: Completely conceals the Host's presence, smell, and sound from mortal means. Increases resistance to mental-energy-based detection and tracking.
"Interesting. So others can track me by using psychic powers? Good to have this, I suppose."
With that, I decided to check Storage, my trusty friend.
Storage:
Enhancement options:
Increase Storage size 3. Add function.Add Function:
Automatic Sorting Time Flow Control 1 Segmentation 1 (Locked)
All of them are good, so I decided to start enhancing them.
Increase Storage Size 3: Increase the size of the Storage space from 64m^3 to 512m^3. Price: 1,000 Enhancement Energy A
Increase Storage Size 4: Increase the size of the Storage space from 512m^3 to 4,096m^3. Price: 10,000 Enhancement Energy A
Automatic Ordering: Automatically sorts all items that enter the Storage into designated areas. Price: 10 Enhancement Energy A
Time Flow Control 1: The Host can control the relative time flow speed of the Storage Space up to a factor of 2. Price: 10 Enhancement Energy A
Time Flow Control 2: The Host can control the relative time flow speed of the Storage Space up to a factor of 4. Price: 25 Enhancement Energy A
Time Flow Control 3: The Host can control the relative time flow speed of the Storage Space up to a factor of 8. Price: 75 Enhancement Energy A
Time Flow Control 4: The Host can control the relative time flow speed of the Storage Space up to a factor of 16. Price: 300 Enhancement Energy A
Segmentation 1: The Host can segment the Storage into 2 parts, allowing each segment to experience different conditions. Price: 10 Enhancement Energy A
Segmentation 2: The Host can segment the Storage into 4 parts, allowing each segment to experience different conditions. Price: 25 Enhancement Energy A
Segmentation 3: The Host can segment the Storage into 8 parts, allowing each segment to experience different conditions. Price: 75 Enhancement Energy A
Segmentation 4: The Host can segment the Storage into 16 parts, allowing each segment to experience different conditions. Price: 300 Enhancement Energy A
Total: 11,830 Enhancement Energy A
Enhancement Energy A: 159,905 -> 148,075
And... I still have a ridiculous amount of points. Anyways... Next.
Teleport:
Enhancement options:
Increase Range 4. Reduce Cost 2. Reduce Cooldown 5. Mass Teleportation 3. Add function.Add Function:
Waypoint. (Locked)
As Teleport is my trump card, I couldn't neglect it. And so, I started enhancing away~
Increase Range 4. Increases the maximum teleportation range from 100m to 500m. Price: 1,500 Enhancement Energy A
Increase Range 5. Increases the maximum teleportation range from 500m to 3,000m. Price: 9,000 Enhancement Energy A
Reduce Cost 2. Reduces the cost of teleporting by 20%. Price: 25 Enhancement Energy A
Reduce Cost 3. Reduces the cost of teleporting by 30%. Price: 75 Enhancement Energy A
Reduce Cost 4. Reduces the cost of teleporting by 40%. Price: 300 Enhancement Energy A
Reduce Cost 5. Reduces the cost of teleporting by 50%. Price: 1,500 Enhancement Energy A
Reduce Cooldown 5. Reduces the cooldown by 50%. Price: 1,500 Enhancement Energy A
Mass Teleportation 3: Allows the Host to Teleport with 3 more living creatures, but the cost of carrying them is 8 times that of the Host. Price: 75 Enhancement Energy A
Mass Teleportation 4: Allows the Host to Teleport with 4 more living creatures, but the cost of carrying them is 7 times that of the Host. Price: 300 Enhancement Energy A
Waypoint: In the same reality, the Host can Teleport between Dark Idols he had built before for a relatively cheap cost. Price: 100 Enhancement Energy A
Total: 14,375 Enhancement Energy A
Enhancement Energy A: 148,075 -> 133,700
"Man... I am letting points flow like water, but I barely used a fifth. Is this the feeling of a nouveau riche?" - I couldn't help but mutter.
Shaking my head, I continued to the third article.
Reality Travel:
Enhancement options:
Decrease Cost 1 Decrease Cooldown 3 Add Reality Anchor 1 Add Function.Add Functions:
Unanchor Improved Selection 1 Information Gathering 1 Strategic Insertion 1 Arrival at Waypoint (Locked)
These things that I couldn't afford in the past now looked so cheap. It just puts to show how much I went through.
Without hesitating, I started enhancing away.
Decrease Cost 1. Increases the efficiency of Reality Traveling, reducing its Energy Cost by 10%. Price: 10 Enhancement Energy A
Decrease Cost 2. Increases the efficiency of Reality Traveling, reducing its Energy Cost by 20%. Price: 25 Enhancement Energy A
Decrease Cost 3. Increases the efficiency of Reality Traveling, reducing its Energy Cost by 30%. Price: 75 Enhancement Energy A
Decrease Cost 4. Increases the efficiency of Reality Traveling, reducing its Energy Cost by 40%. Price: 300 Enhancement Energy A
Decrease Cost 5. Increases the efficiency of Reality Traveling, reducing its Energy Cost by 50%. Price: 1,500 Enhancement Energy A
Decrease Cooldown 3. Stabilizes unreality paths, reducing the time it takes to travel again by 30%. Price: 75 Enhancement Energy A
Decrease Cooldown 4. Stabilizes unreality paths, reducing the time it takes to travel again by 40%. Price: 300 Enhancement Energy A
Decrease Cooldown 5. Stabilizes unreality paths, reducing the time it takes to travel again by 50%. Price: 1,500 Enhancement Energy A
Add Reality Anchor 1. Adds a new reality anchor, enabling a new reality connection. Price: 10,000 Enhancement Energy A
Unanchor: Can unanchor from a Reality. Caution: An unanchored reality will be forever lost to the Host. Price: 1,000 Enhancement Energy A
Improved Selection 1: The Host can specify the kind of reality he wishes to enter. Price: 1,000 Enhancement Energy A
Information Gathering 1: The Host will receive relevant information before entering a new Reality. Price: 1,000 Enhancement Energy A
Strategic Insertion 1: The Host can select his starting location in a 1,000km radius from the original landing location. Price: 1,000 Enhancement Energy A
Arrival at Waypoint: Instead of arriving at the original location, the Host can come in a Dark Idol. Price: 1,000
Total: 18,785 Enhancement Energy A
Enhancement Energy A: 133,700 -> 114,915
Although I wouldn't use them anytime soon, I decided to enhance them ahead of time, just in case. Anyways, having the cooldown halved can make reality-traveling a daily job. In the future, I might further enhance the cooldown, depending on my needs.
In any case, the ability to arrive at a Dark Idol is worth it, especially now.
Anyways... NEXT!
Sanitization:
Add Functions:
Empowered Sanitization 1 Sanitize Area 1 Sanitize Other
Sanitization is rather underwhelming but by no means underrated power. This power is why I can be here and not kill most of my world, and it deserves a seat of honor just for that.
It can cure any disease or cancer by destroying them directly from the body. It is equivalent to never becoming sick again.
However, it has the downside of only applying to me. But now that downside is gone.
Empowered Sanitization 1: Can Empower the effect of Sanitization, removing Energy-Based or Divine taint and harmful organisms. Price: 25 Enhancement Energy A
Sanitize Area 1: The Host can activate Sanitization on a 3-meter radius around himself. Price: 10 Enhancement Energy A
Sanitize Other: The Host can use the power of Sanitization on another for a cost. Price: 100 Enhancement Energy A
Empowered Sanitization: Empowers the effect of Sanitization, removing Energy-Based or Divine taint and harmful organisms.
Cost: 1 Basic Energy Per Second(Replaceable with Mental Energy)
Sanitize Other: Use Sanitization on another for a cost.
Cost: 0.01 Basic Energy Per Second(Replaceable with Mental Energy)
Total: 135 Enhancement Energy A
Enhancement Energy A: 114,915 -> 114,780
Yes, I know. It's an underwhelming enhancement this time. I would have continued enhancing it, but...
Sanitization:
Enhancement options:
Empowered Sanitization 2(Locked) Sanitize Area 2(Locked)
Yeah, it's locked. It needs Increase Compatibility 2. Go figure.
In any case, I now qualify as a miracle doctor if I want. But this did raise a question.
"Can I have my Zealots use it from a Dark Idol? Wouldnt that make them all miracle doctors?" - I asked.
{Yes, they can use it. Sanitization was created to cure believers of otherwise incurable diseases, especially in technologically backward worlds.}
"Hm... That is considerate of him." - I muttered.
{Considerate? Nay. It was created by one of his Zealots to combat a magical plague. Ic'thotl'itrod saw a profitable opportunity in it, so he refined the technique and distributed it to his Zealots as a means of gathering believers and influential figures.}
"Zealots can do that?" - I asked with a raised eyebrow.
{Do you believe your powers are unique? Wrong. They are merely a product of turning you into a more receptive vessel for Ic'thotl'itrod's divine fragment through energy baptism. In truth, all Zealots can receive affinities and even divinity through sufficient energy baptism. It is to the point they can become subordinate gods.}
"So... I am a Zealot?" - I asked skeptically.
I didn't feel any loyalty to Ic'thotl'itrod.
{No. You are, without a doubt, a Pseudo-God with complete independence and power structure. It is just that Zealots have a similar power structure to Pseudo-Gods since they are meant to be mass-produced versions of them. And some of these mass-produced products can become Gods with enough grooming. Reliant Gods, but still Gods.}
"If that's the case, why not choose one of them instead of me? I think any of those Zealots had higher qualifications." - I said skeptically.
{Without a doubt, Ic'thotl'itrod would have preferred one of his Zealots over you, but he didn't have a choice. All his Zealots were struck by an incomparably powerful curse, either killing or weakening and corrupting them into insane abominations. He already predicted it, so he sent his weakest followers into hiding in your reality, building a secret tomb meant for a successor to come and claim a fragment filled with his core divinity, yet disconnected from his soul as to avoid the curse. As for his subordinates, the ones who brought the fragment, all turned corrupted madmen, roaming the tomb as mindless tomb guardians.}
"That's... kinda sad." - I said with pursed lips.
{It is, but it was the only way. When you get stronger, I do hope you make a pilgrimage to that tomb and put them to rest. They deserve it.}
"I'll try. But I have a feeling that the secret society Great Grandpa escaped from did something to those guardians."
{That is possible. After a hundred million years and suffering from such a terrible curse, they have indeed fallen to the level simple firearms can hurt and kill them. With enough manpower, those tomb guardians can be killed off. I could have sensed their condition while entombed, but now, I can't.}
"Hm... Fine. After I become confident enough, I will go there." - I promised.
{I thank you for that. Now then, are you going to increase your compatibility now?}
"Eh... will it hurt as bad as last time?" - I asked with a cringe.
That feeling was insanely painful. I am half-traumatized from that pain.
{Not on that scale, no. The first baptism is always the most painful. It is much easier to endure afterward.}
"Well, that is a relief, I guess. And I suppose I would become closer to being like Ic'thotl'itrod in my personality, right?" - I said bitterly.
That was the price I had to pay. To continue Ic'thotl'itrod's existence, every time I increase our compatibility, my very existence would get sculpted into Ic'thotl'itrod. My existence won't get erased, but I would be half Ic'thotl'itrod after several times.
Some of my recent personality changes might be attributed to it.
{That is correct. Body and soul, you would slowly resemble Ic'thotl'itrod. This also indirectly affects your personality, making you resemble him more and more.}
"Knew it... is my detachment from human life caused by his influence?"
{Partially. Ic'thotl'itrod was never known to show compassion to his foes, but he still cherished life, especially that of his subordinates, often being overprotective. However, this influence is too small to affect you that much, so it can only be attributed to you becoming an Ascended, and perhaps you developed a callousness to killing in general.}
"Well, that is one mystery down. Anything else about his personality?" - I asked.
{Ic'thotl'itrod is a complex individual. To explain his personality, you need to understand his birth circumstances. He was a natural outer god, born from the collective thoughts of countless realities from many spectrums, becoming a powerful god from birth. His portfolio includes many subjects; Light, Fire, Nuclear Fission, Nuclear Fusion, Creation, Destruction, Life, Fertility, Evolution, War, and Wealth.}
{These Portfolios later shaped who he was and how he behaved. He loved creating things, especially life and liked watching it evolve until it died out, sometimes for billions of years. He also liked destroying things, especially his enemies, and the thrill of fighting a good opponent, even lowering his power to face them, yet was also cautious and cunning, not shying away from using underhanded and stealthy means on an unprepared enemy. And he was also passionate and libidinous and had many relationships and offspring in his long life, whether with mortals, his Zealots, or other Gods. And he was also very profit-driven and tended to calculate his actions.}
{You should have felt it by now. The changes have already begun. Although subtle, they will slowly mold you into what he was. Things that originally had little to do with you will slowly surface and reveal themselves, while tendencies already present be more pronounced. However, this change can cause future problems and personality disorders, so Ic'thotl'itrod chose a successor close to his personality.}
"... I'm not like that... barely had drunk sex I hardly remember..." - I muttered.
{No, it is there, alright. You created a thick mental barrier because of past trauma as a self-defense mechanism, causing subconscious fear of the other sex. More accurately, of yourself. That is why you can't hit on girls without getting intoxicated. It is to the point you might reject a beautiful girl lying on your bed with spread-open legs.}
"Oh, fuck you." - I crossed my arms and snorted.
But his words hit the nail, making me feel stuffy in my chest. I already know I have that problem, or I wouldn't have rejected that girl in the gym. Some of my buddies dared me to hit on girls, but I always chickened out. It was out of fear. Fearing I would become human trash like him.
{Don't feel bad about it. It would heal in due time. Integrating with Ic'thotl'itrod's divine fragment should also help it heal.}
"... You devil... You truly know how to push my buttons, don't you?" - I asked with narrowed eyes.
{I am already integrated with you. I know you more than you know yourself. Whether you like it or not.}
"Hah... Okay, fuck it. Let's get this over with."
Name: Divine fragment of Ic'thotl'itrod
Powers: Dark Offering(Dark Idol), Camouflage(Alter Appearance 4, Conceal Presence 4), Storage(Increase Storage size 4, Automatic Ordering, Time Flow Control 4, Segmentation 4), Teleport(Increase Range 3, Reduce Cost 5, Reduce Cooldown 5, Mass Teleportation 4, Waypoint), Reality Travel(Decrease Cost 5, Decrease Cooldown 5, Add Reality Anchor 1, Unanchor, Improved Selection 1, Information Gathering 1, Strategic Insertion 1, Arrival at Waypoint), Evolution(Devolve, Synthesize), Enhancement, Sanitization(Empowered Sanitization 1, Sanitize Area 1, Sanitize Other), Energy Conversion, Increase Compatibility 1, Analytical Eye 1, Empower Words 1, Mark of Zeal 1
Host Abilities: True Tongue 1, Unreality Affinity 1, Void Affinity 1, Space Affinity 1, True Sun Affinity 1, Immortal Body 1, Immortal Soul 1, Divinity 1
Basic Energy: 12,761
Evolution Energy A: 2,518
Enhancement Energy A: 114,780
After getting my worldview destroyed by Trod, I decided to do something to distract and cheer me up.
"Enhancement time!" - I smiled while rubbing my hands together.
The long-awaited enhancement wave is here!
First, I checked the menu.
Name: Divine fragment of Ic'thotl'itrod
Powers: Dark Offering(Dark Idol), Camouflage(Alter Appearance 4, Conceal Presence 1), Storage(Increase Storage size 2), Teleport(Increase Range 3, Reduce Cost 1, Reduce Cooldown 4, Mass Teleportation 2), Reality Travel(Decrease Cooldown 2), Evolution(Devolve, Synthesize), Enhancement, Sanitization, Energy Conversion, Increase Compatibility 1, Analytical Eye 1, Empower Words 1, Mark of Zeal 1
Host Abilities: True Tongue 1, Unreality Affinity 1, Void Affinity 1, Space Affinity 1, True Sun Affinity 1, Immortal Body 1, Immortal Soul 1, Divinity 1
Basic Energy: 12,761
Evolution Energy A: 2,518
Enhancement Energy A: 160,305
"Hm. It's coming along nicely. But I see that the Basic Energy isn't increasing now. Is it stuck in the zombie world? No, I should probably call it Ascended World now." - I muttered.
Logically, Primrose, being connected to all those Kin, should have gotten a few points by now. But they remained stagnant.
{Forgetting the efficiency of transporting energy from one reality to another, the act of doing so is the same as throwing a bloody steak into the ocean. A predator is bound to come.}
"Eh... Predator?" - I couldn't help but ask worriedly.
{Unreality Creatures, Gods, God Aspirants like yourself, and powerful individuals wishing to steal your qualifications. Any of them is a hazard to you, so avoid attracting them and stay low.}
"... Noted." - I pursed my lips.
Yeah. If I learned something, it is that Trod doesn't fuck around. If he says something like this, then it is likely correct.
Shaking my head from the unpleasant thoughts, I started viewing all the possible enhancements I could get.
{Enhance existing Powers has been selected}
{Please select a Power to enhance}
Powers:
Camouflage Storage Teleport Reality Travel Sanitization Increase Compatibility 1 Analytical Eye 1(locked) Empower Words 1(locked) Mark of Zeal 1(locked)
Well, first of all, Dark Offering and Evolution were gone. In other words, I can't enhance them anymore.
And so, I looked at the new first option.
Camouflage:
Enhancement Options:
Conceal Presence 2 Alter Appearance 5 (Locked)
Ignoring Alter Appearance, which reached the level of looking like another species if I want, I looked at Conceal Presence.
Conceal Presence 2: Improves the effects of Conceal Presence 1. Price: 25 Enhancement Energy A
"Although it is less useful to me right now, it might save my life one day." - I muttered.
With that thought, I raised it three times, costing 400 points.
{Enahcement Compelte}
Enhancement Energy A: 160,305 -> 159,905
Conceal Presence 4: Completely conceals the Host's presence, smell, and sound from mortal means. Increases resistance to mental-energy-based detection and tracking.
"Interesting. So others can track me by using psychic powers? Good to have this, I suppose."
With that, I decided to check Storage, my trusty friend.
Storage:
Enhancement options:
Increase Storage size 3. Add function.Add Function:
Automatic Sorting Time Flow Control 1 Segmentation 1 (Locked)
All of them are good, so I decided to start enhancing them.
Increase Storage Size 3: Increase the size of the Storage space from 64m^3 to 512m^3. Price: 1,000 Enhancement Energy A
Increase Storage Size 4: Increase the size of the Storage space from 512m^3 to 4,096m^3. Price: 10,000 Enhancement Energy A
Automatic Ordering: Automatically sorts all items that enter the Storage into designated areas. Price: 10 Enhancement Energy A
Time Flow Control 1: The Host can control the relative time flow speed of the Storage Space up to a factor of 2. Price: 10 Enhancement Energy A
Time Flow Control 2: The Host can control the relative time flow speed of the Storage Space up to a factor of 4. Price: 25 Enhancement Energy A
Time Flow Control 3: The Host can control the relative time flow speed of the Storage Space up to a factor of 8. Price: 75 Enhancement Energy A
Time Flow Control 4: The Host can control the relative time flow speed of the Storage Space up to a factor of 16. Price: 300 Enhancement Energy A
Segmentation 1: The Host can segment the Storage into 2 parts, allowing each segment to experience different conditions. Price: 10 Enhancement Energy A
Segmentation 2: The Host can segment the Storage into 4 parts, allowing each segment to experience different conditions. Price: 25 Enhancement Energy A
Segmentation 3: The Host can segment the Storage into 8 parts, allowing each segment to experience different conditions. Price: 75 Enhancement Energy A
Segmentation 4: The Host can segment the Storage into 16 parts, allowing each segment to experience different conditions. Price: 300 Enhancement Energy A
Total: 11,830 Enhancement Energy A
Enhancement Energy A: 159,905 -> 148,075
And... I still have a ridiculous amount of points. Anyways... Next.
Teleport:
Enhancement options:
Increase Range 4. Reduce Cost 2. Reduce Cooldown 5. Mass Teleportation 3. Add function.Add Function:
Waypoint. (Locked)
As Teleport is my trump card, I couldn't neglect it. And so, I started enhancing away~
Increase Range 4. Increases the maximum teleportation range from 100m to 500m. Price: 1,500 Enhancement Energy A
Increase Range 5. Increases the maximum teleportation range from 500m to 3,000m. Price: 9,000 Enhancement Energy A
Reduce Cost 2. Reduces the cost of teleporting by 20%. Price: 25 Enhancement Energy A
Reduce Cost 3. Reduces the cost of teleporting by 30%. Price: 75 Enhancement Energy A
Reduce Cost 4. Reduces the cost of teleporting by 40%. Price: 300 Enhancement Energy A
Reduce Cost 5. Reduces the cost of teleporting by 50%. Price: 1,500 Enhancement Energy A
Reduce Cooldown 5. Reduces the cooldown by 50%. Price: 1,500 Enhancement Energy A
Mass Teleportation 3: Allows the Host to Teleport with 3 more living creatures, but the cost of carrying them is 8 times that of the Host. Price: 75 Enhancement Energy A
Mass Teleportation 4: Allows the Host to Teleport with 4 more living creatures, but the cost of carrying them is 7 times that of the Host. Price: 300 Enhancement Energy A
Waypoint: In the same reality, the Host can Teleport between Dark Idols he had built before for a relatively cheap cost. Price: 100 Enhancement Energy A
Total: 14,375 Enhancement Energy A
Enhancement Energy A: 148,075 -> 133,700
"Man... I am letting points flow like water, but I barely used a fifth. Is this the feeling of a nouveau riche?" - I couldn't help but mutter.
Shaking my head, I continued to the third article.
Reality Travel:
Enhancement options:
Decrease Cost 1 Decrease Cooldown 3 Add Reality Anchor 1 Add Function.Add Functions:
Unanchor Improved Selection 1 Information Gathering 1 Strategic Insertion 1 Arrival at Waypoint (Locked)
These things that I couldn't afford in the past now looked so cheap. It just puts to show how much I went through.
Without hesitating, I started enhancing away.
Decrease Cost 1. Increases the efficiency of Reality Traveling, reducing its Energy Cost by 10%. Price: 10 Enhancement Energy A
Decrease Cost 2. Increases the efficiency of Reality Traveling, reducing its Energy Cost by 20%. Price: 25 Enhancement Energy A
Decrease Cost 3. Increases the efficiency of Reality Traveling, reducing its Energy Cost by 30%. Price: 75 Enhancement Energy A
Decrease Cost 4. Increases the efficiency of Reality Traveling, reducing its Energy Cost by 40%. Price: 300 Enhancement Energy A
Decrease Cost 5. Increases the efficiency of Reality Traveling, reducing its Energy Cost by 50%. Price: 1,500 Enhancement Energy A
Decrease Cooldown 3. Stabilizes unreality paths, reducing the time it takes to travel again by 30%. Price: 75 Enhancement Energy A
Decrease Cooldown 4. Stabilizes unreality paths, reducing the time it takes to travel again by 40%. Price: 300 Enhancement Energy A
Decrease Cooldown 5. Stabilizes unreality paths, reducing the time it takes to travel again by 50%. Price: 1,500 Enhancement Energy A
Add Reality Anchor 1. Adds a new reality anchor, enabling a new reality connection. Price: 10,000 Enhancement Energy A
Unanchor: Can unanchor from a Reality. Caution: An unanchored reality will be forever lost to the Host. Price: 1,000 Enhancement Energy A
Improved Selection 1: The Host can specify the kind of reality he wishes to enter. Price: 1,000 Enhancement Energy A
Information Gathering 1: The Host will receive relevant information before entering a new Reality. Price: 1,000 Enhancement Energy A
Strategic Insertion 1: The Host can select his starting location in a 1,000km radius from the original landing location. Price: 1,000 Enhancement Energy A
Arrival at Waypoint: Instead of arriving at the original location, the Host can come in a Dark Idol. Price: 1,000
Total: 18,785 Enhancement Energy A
Enhancement Energy A: 133,700 -> 114,915
Although I wouldn't use them anytime soon, I decided to enhance them ahead of time, just in case. Anyways, having the cooldown halved can make reality-traveling a daily job. In the future, I might further enhance the cooldown, depending on my needs.
In any case, the ability to arrive at a Dark Idol is worth it, especially now.
Anyways... NEXT!
Sanitization:
Add Functions:
Empowered Sanitization 1 Sanitize Area 1 Sanitize Other
Sanitization is rather underwhelming but by no means underrated power. This power is why I can be here and not kill most of my world, and it deserves a seat of honor just for that.
It can cure any disease or cancer by destroying them directly from the body. It is equivalent to never becoming sick again.
However, it has the downside of only applying to me. But now that downside is gone.
Empowered Sanitization 1: Can Empower the effect of Sanitization, removing Energy-Based or Divine taint and harmful organisms. Price: 25 Enhancement Energy A
Sanitize Area 1: The Host can activate Sanitization on a 3-meter radius around himself. Price: 10 Enhancement Energy A
Sanitize Other: The Host can use the power of Sanitization on another for a cost. Price: 100 Enhancement Energy A
Empowered Sanitization: Empowers the effect of Sanitization, removing Energy-Based or Divine taint and harmful organisms.
Cost: 1 Basic Energy Per Second(Replaceable with Mental Energy)
Sanitize Other: Use Sanitization on another for a cost.
Cost: 0.01 Basic Energy Per Second(Replaceable with Mental Energy)
Total: 135 Enhancement Energy A
Enhancement Energy A: 114,915 -> 114,780
Yes, I know. It's an underwhelming enhancement this time. I would have continued enhancing it, but...
Sanitization:
Enhancement options:
Empowered Sanitization 2(Locked) Sanitize Area 2(Locked)
Yeah, it's locked. It needs Increase Compatibility 2. Go figure.
In any case, I now qualify as a miracle doctor if I want. But this did raise a question.
"Can I have my Zealots use it from a Dark Idol? Wouldnt that make them all miracle doctors?" - I asked.
{Yes, they can use it. Sanitization was created to cure believers of otherwise incurable diseases, especially in technologically backward worlds.}
"Hm... That is considerate of him." - I muttered.
{Considerate? Nay. It was created by one of his Zealots to combat a magical plague. Ic'thotl'itrod saw a profitable opportunity in it, so he refined the technique and distributed it to his Zealots as a means of gathering believers and influential figures.}
"Zealots can do that?" - I asked with a raised eyebrow.
{Do you believe your powers are unique? Wrong. They are merely a product of turning you into a more receptive vessel for Ic'thotl'itrod's divine fragment through energy baptism. In truth, all Zealots can receive affinities and even divinity through sufficient energy baptism. It is to the point they can become subordinate gods.}
"So... I am a Zealot?" - I asked skeptically.
I didn't feel any loyalty to Ic'thotl'itrod.
{No. You are, without a doubt, a Pseudo-God with complete independence and power structure. It is just that Zealots have a similar power structure to Pseudo-Gods since they are meant to be mass-produced versions of them. And some of these mass-produced products can become Gods with enough grooming. Reliant Gods, but still Gods.}
"If that's the case, why not choose one of them instead of me? I think any of those Zealots had higher qualifications." - I said skeptically.
{Without a doubt, Ic'thotl'itrod would have preferred one of his Zealots over you, but he didn't have a choice. All his Zealots were struck by an incomparably powerful curse, either killing or weakening and corrupting them into insane abominations. He already predicted it, so he sent his weakest followers into hiding in your reality, building a secret tomb meant for a successor to come and claim a fragment filled with his core divinity, yet disconnected from his soul as to avoid the curse. As for his subordinates, the ones who brought the fragment, all turned corrupted madmen, roaming the tomb as mindless tomb guardians.}
"That's... kinda sad." - I said with pursed lips.
{It is, but it was the only way. When you get stronger, I do hope you make a pilgrimage to that tomb and put them to rest. They deserve it.}
"I'll try. But I have a feeling that the secret society Great Grandpa escaped from did something to those guardians."
{That is possible. After a hundred million years and suffering from such a terrible curse, they have indeed fallen to the level simple firearms can hurt and kill them. With enough manpower, those tomb guardians can be killed off. I could have sensed their condition while entombed, but now, I can't.}
"Hm... Fine. After I become confident enough, I will go there." - I promised.
{I thank you for that. Now then, are you going to increase your compatibility now?}
"Eh... will it hurt as bad as last time?" - I asked with a cringe.
That feeling was insanely painful. I am half-traumatized from that pain.
{Not on that scale, no. The first baptism is always the most painful. It is much easier to endure afterward.}
"Well, that is a relief, I guess. And I suppose I would become closer to being like Ic'thotl'itrod in my personality, right?" - I said bitterly.
That was the price I had to pay. To continue Ic'thotl'itrod's existence, every time I increase our compatibility, my very existence would get sculpted into Ic'thotl'itrod. My existence won't get erased, but I would be half Ic'thotl'itrod after several times.
Some of my recent personality changes might be attributed to it.
{That is correct. Body and soul, you would slowly resemble Ic'thotl'itrod. This also indirectly affects your personality, making you resemble him more and more.}
"Knew it... is my detachment from human life caused by his influence?"
{Partially. Ic'thotl'itrod was never known to show compassion to his foes, but he still cherished life, especially that of his subordinates, often being overprotective. However, this influence is too small to affect you that much, so it can only be attributed to you becoming an Ascended, and perhaps you developed a callousness to killing in general.}
"Well, that is one mystery down. Anything else about his personality?" - I asked.
{Ic'thotl'itrod is a complex individual. To explain his personality, you need to understand his birth circumstances. He was a natural outer god, born from the collective thoughts of countless realities from many spectrums, becoming a powerful god from birth. His portfolio includes many subjects; Light, Fire, Nuclear Fission, Nuclear Fusion, Creation, Destruction, Life, Fertility, Evolution, War, and Wealth.}
{These Portfolios later shaped who he was and how he behaved. He loved creating things, especially life and liked watching it evolve until it died out, sometimes for billions of years. He also liked destroying things, especially his enemies, and the thrill of fighting a good opponent, even lowering his power to face them, yet was also cautious and cunning, not shying away from using underhanded and stealthy means on an unprepared enemy. And he was also passionate and libidinous and had many relationships and offspring in his long life, whether with mortals, his Zealots, or other Gods. And he was also very profit-driven and tended to calculate his actions.}
{You should have felt it by now. The changes have already begun. Although subtle, they will slowly mold you into what he was. Things that originally had little to do with you will slowly surface and reveal themselves, while tendencies already present be more pronounced. However, this change can cause future problems and personality disorders, so Ic'thotl'itrod chose a successor close to his personality.}
"... I'm not like that... barely had drunk sex I hardly remember..." - I muttered.
{No, it is there, alright. You created a thick mental barrier because of past trauma as a self-defense mechanism, causing subconscious fear of the other sex. More accurately, of yourself. That is why you can't hit on girls without getting intoxicated. It is to the point you might reject a beautiful girl lying on your bed with spread-open legs.}
"Oh, fuck you." - I crossed my arms and snorted.
But his words hit the nail, making me feel stuffy in my chest. I already know I have that problem, or I wouldn't have rejected that girl in the gym. Some of my buddies dared me to hit on girls, but I always chickened out. It was out of fear. Fearing I would become human trash like him.
{Don't feel bad about it. It would heal in due time. Integrating with Ic'thotl'itrod's divine fragment should also help it heal.}
"... You devil... You truly know how to push my buttons, don't you?" - I asked with narrowed eyes.
{I am already integrated with you. I know you more than you know yourself. Whether you like it or not.}
"Hah... Okay, fuck it. Let's get this over with."
Name: Divine fragment of Ic'thotl'itrod
Powers: Dark Offering(Dark Idol), Camouflage(Alter Appearance 4, Conceal Presence 4), Storage(Increase Storage size 4, Automatic Ordering, Time Flow Control 4, Segmentation 4), Teleport(Increase Range 3, Reduce Cost 5, Reduce Cooldown 5, Mass Teleportation 4, Waypoint), Reality Travel(Decrease Cost 5, Decrease Cooldown 5, Add Reality Anchor 1, Unanchor, Improved Selection 1, Information Gathering 1, Strategic Insertion 1, Arrival at Waypoint), Evolution(Devolve, Synthesize), Enhancement, Sanitization(Empowered Sanitization 1, Sanitize Area 1, Sanitize Other), Energy Conversion, Increase Compatibility 1, Analytical Eye 1, Empower Words 1, Mark of Zeal 1
Host Abilities: True Tongue 1, Unreality Affinity 1, Void Affinity 1, Space Affinity 1, True Sun Affinity 1, Immortal Body 1, Immortal Soul 1, Divinity 1
Basic Energy: 12,761
Evolution Energy A: 2,518
Enhancement Energy A: 114,780
