Ch.142142. Another World (3)

The reason I responded with such a dumbfounded attitude to Grand Master Hecate’s proposal was, naturally, because she suggested I try forming an otherworld despite my complete lack of experience.

To make an analogy, it felt similar to being asked to practice driving on actual roads immediately after completing the basic skills test for a driver’s license.

“Uh… me? Right now?”

“Of course. Even if something goes wrong, I’ll be able to handle it somehow.”

So, to me who was hesitating with unavoidable uncertainty, Grand Master Hecate spoke those words with a gentle smile…

“Alright. I’ll give it a try.”

Thanks to her encouragement, I managed to gather some courage and, with a deep breath, began to unfold the otherworld step by step as I remembered.

I let my consciousness sink as deeply as possible, drawing my real-world self into the depths of my soul and consciousness.

Momentarily pulling my material self down into the mental realm, I adjust my vision to face inward.

“Aah…”

My physical body left in the material world probably looks foolish with its mouth hanging open, but I have no time to worry about such trivial matters.

As I sank deeper and deeper, settling to the bottom, with my self falling endlessly to the depths of consciousness, I tried desperately to overcome the sensation of powerlessness, the feeling that I might lose consciousness completely at any moment…

“…Ah.”

Suddenly, I realized that the distinctive sensation of my self descending was no longer perceptible, and I understood that I had finally entered the space of imagery, the inner space that had been my original goal.

I saw it. I saw a small world.

I saw a small world formed by humans being born, growing, being abandoned, being taken in, forming relationships, connecting with others, pursuing knowledge, and defining themselves.

I am this small world, and simultaneously, this small world is me. I see a world made of human self, mind, memories, and soul, and that world is gazing clearly back at me.

Though I should be seeing this mental landscape for the first time, it somehow feels familiar. My consciousness, having descended to the very “bottom,” meets the eyes of this world and resonates with it…

[—whatreasonistheresoIlookedstraightatMinervaandaskedtheprophetsuggested—thatanswerwasunexpectedlysophiregardlessofpreparationdesperatelysurroundingPierwithprotectionshieldingthespiritandsoulfrommharmwhilefacinghimproudlythroughelectricitythatbecomesanattackwhensprayedCorinthesetechniquesformysteryaremorepreci—suddentransformationconfusedtheylookedatmeandcouldnotclosetheirmouth—writtenonthefloor—]

Immediately after. I was swept up in a flow of consciousness that I sensed would dissolve and vanish if I let go of my mind even for a moment, and as I struggled not to be buried in that flow…

“…?”

What am I doing right now? Where am I? Who am I? I am, I am, I am, I—

—A veil of oblivion hidden in the flow of consciousness enveloped his mind. He was on the verge of forgetting everything, even his own existence.

But from above, a lifeline, a lifeline sent by the ‘Moon’ descends. With that line, his oblivion could be resolved and everything returned to how it was before.

However, even as everything about himself was being forgotten, he did not stop struggling.

His mind, mostly covered by the veil of oblivion, moved according to one of the few remaining memories, ‘how to f■■m a ■■’ by moving his ■■ and ■■■■—

A world, a world is f■■med. The landscape of the self, drawn from his mental ■■, scatters… and a barrier formed according to his—my—will captures and stabilizes it.

He, no. I see the world. I see my world.

A world recreated from everything I’ve built up until now. A mirror reflecting the mental image. I see my own completed world.

※ ※ ※

Right after forming the otherworld. In truth, I probably should have been in a state of panic, even to the point of fainting.

The experience of being buried in one’s self, nearly having one’s existence forgotten under the weight of accumulated karma, would be difficult for anyone to shake off…

“…?!!”

At least, that doesn’t seem to be the case for me now, deeply fascinated by the mental landscape unfolding before my eyes.

The otherworld I deployed for the first time through my own will… its landscape was… sparse enough to be considered somewhat shabby.

A wasteland—my mental landscape evoked a desolate wilderness.

Plants that might once have been lush vegetation had lost their life and withered to the point of crumbling.

Rocks that seemed to have erupted from deep below protruded from various spots on the ground, and wind from an unknown source stirred up the yellowish-brown soil.

Additionally, the sky within the otherworld was reddened like a sunset and mostly covered with clouds.

The peculiar atmosphere of this wasteland, along with its silence, evoked a scene that seemed somehow lonely and empty…

‘….’

I, the master of this otherworld, could tell. The empty wasteland that the otherworld currently appeared to be was merely one aspect of this wilderness.

Beyond the wasteland, there were special structures that appeared hazy to any beings inside, massive chains rising from the ground and piercing through the clouds above.

Eight chains with clearly identifiable forms. Four chains whose existence was certain despite their blurry appearance.

With a total of twelve chains rising as if to pierce the sky, I “grabbed” one that looked particularly cold and pulled it with all my might…

-….KUGUUUUUUUUUU!!!

Then, with a sudden roaring sound, a massive pale blue-white sphere attached to the end of the chain, which had begun to lose power and unravel, broke through the clouds and fell to the ground.

After falling for quite some time, the sphere, that white object, touched the ground and then… emitting a dazzling radiance, completely transformed the surrounding landscape…

‘A snow field, huh…’

When my vision recovered. What reflected in my pupils was the sight of what had been a dry wasteland just moments ago instantly transformed into a snow-covered field with small shrubs.

While this snow field might appear ordinary at first glance, I, as both its master and the one who had taken the form of the snow field, knew better.

If I wanted to, I could freely control the cold throughout this otherworld to unleash attacks rivaling extreme power.

I could lower the currently just slightly chilly temperature to extremes, completely freezing the bodily fluids of living beings.

But the true power of this otherworld seems to emerge when linked with Robo, the master of this mystery.

[Master, this is…]

“It’s a new power, Robo.”

As Robo’s thoughts resonated throughout the entire otherworld, Robo gradually revealed himself from thin air, having grown from his original one-ton truck size to nearly that of a large bus.

Robo, the aura that current Robo exuded… was undoubtedly that of an adult Fenrir, a high-rank divine beast.

Just Robo’s breathing caused the surrounding air to rapidly freeze, and frost fell from his fur, which had now become closer to an icy blue color rather than gray.

Additionally, the faint glow emanating from his eyes froze the moisture in the air, and these ice fragments, scattered by the north wind, gained the power of slaughter.

Beside Robo, who visibly displayed his extraordinary nature, ice-colored statues formed naturally as cold air condensed.

These wolf-shaped entities were each structures ranging from high-lower rank to middle rank, and also quasi-spirits (Spirit) possessed by wolf animal spirits responding to the call of the highest species.

Without doing anything, middle-rank entities popped up from thin air, and an even greater number of lower-rank ones multiplied frantically, filling the empty desert…

-—CRASH!

“That’s enough. Well done, Gregory.”

Only after hearing the sound of breaking glass followed by Grand Master Hecate’s voice did I realize that the otherworld had been forcibly dismantled due to time constraints, and I had returned to reality.

“How did it feel?”

“…It was strange. I mean, it made me truly realize that I’ve become a high-ranker.”

While repeatedly clenching and unclenching my slightly tingling right fist, I tried to imprint that previous sensation into my body while thinking:

…A high-ranker at 17 (estimated)—I could probably rank among the top in this world.