(Eldritch Gods are Outer Gods. But not all Outer Gods are Eldritch Gods.)
After the long vacation ended, Leo returned to Japan with Pandora and life resumed as usual as Leo went back to his job as teacher.
[Yo Host. I have good news for you. Wanna hear?]
Leo ignored the change of his System's AI speech and overall cheerful disposition after he managed to recruit Pandora and answered, "Sure" While he was sipping his hot cup of coffee on his teacher's desk.
[So, have you noticed that for a reality warping entity like the Great Ones, you lack those powers.]
'I do and I am grateful for that.' Leo replied. He is rather happy that he gets the powers of being an Eldritch God without the drawbacks of them. But, the way his System is discussing it made Leo feel a little bit anxious.
[Well, it's not that you lack it. But you have yet to unlock it.]
'...'
[Let me explain. After you killed Gehrman at the end of the Hunt. According to the original route, you will consume Moon Presence and fully transform into an infant Great One.]
[However, for you. It's different. Moon Presence has long been slain and even the other Great Ones you encounter are nothing more than a fake copy of them. That's why you hadn't transformed into an infant Great One. Your state was just a seed that hadn't been planted.]
Leo didn't like himself being referred to as 'seed'. It can cause misunderstanding considering what 'seed' they are talking about.
[But worry not! Your hard work all this time collecting Blood Echoes finally paid off as I can feel you are definitely a proper Great One now, although still an infant.]
'But I feel no changes at all.' Leo frowned as his body and soul felt no different than before.
[Of course you wouldn't. The changes did not happen to your flesh puppet. Instead, your true body in higher dimensions.]
[The metamorphosis is almost complete. Hence why I am here giving you a warning. The changes that will happen soon would be a little… 'explosive'. So, I suggest you enter your Hunter's Dream in the next 10 seconds.]
'Right now?!' Leo almost screamed and quickly looked left and right to see the teachers were still in their office waiting and preparing for their first class of the day.
'Shit!' Leo cursed and used magic on himself to erase his presence without anyone noticing before he hastily entered the Hunter's Dream.
———
In the Hunter's Dream.
Before Leo could take a step forward. He felt his body lose all its strength and fell to the ground feeling weightless. Then everything went blank.
When he opens his eyes, he isn't inside his Hunter's Dream. Instead, he was floating in a void of nothingness. Not space because of the lack of stars in his surroundings.
[Host is correct. We are indeed inside a Void. The outer confine of the material universe, both the immaterium and materium. Place where Eldritch Gods, Outer Gods and any other existence that may thrive outside the material universe will wander.]
[However, that is not the point. Look in front of you. What can you see?]
Leo follows the System's instructions and looks at what is in front of him. He saw nothing but his other sense could tell something was there which prompted him to look harder until he made out what was a chaotic mass of constantly shifting and transforming blobs of mass.
[See. That is your true body. You can say it is still in the process of reading your soul's genetic material and forming a physical vessel to hold your true soul similar to a human infant after the genetic material from a male donor seeded the female egg. But in this case, your soul provides the genetic material and transposes it into physical flesh using the Blood Echoes you collected as material.]
Leo doesn't fully comprehend the explanation and he didn't really care. What he does care about is the Blood Echoes.
"Hold a goddamn second. This is where all the vanished Blood Echoes goes?!"
[Yes.]
Leo was shocked and angered. All this time, whenever he absorbs Blood Echoes. Always a great portion of it vanished into thin air. Otherwise, Leo would already be hundreds of times stronger than he currently is. After all, those gods he slayed are not normal gods. Majority of them are Titans. Being equivalent to Primordial Gods.
"You're telling me, all this time. This thing had been leeching on my hard work? How come I didn't notice it? This is my true body right?!" Leo is in panic after realizing his so called true body isn't exactly under his control at all.
[Your true body did not have consciousness yet. It was governed by instinct alone. But worry not. After it becomes a complete vessel, your soul will be taking over the control. It wouldn't take much longer. That's why I brought you here. To witness the birth of your true body.]
"It wouldn't go rogue on me right?" Leo is still worried, which is not unfounded.
[You are worrying too much.]
With the reassurance from his System. Leo decided to wait and watch.
Blobs of mass start to grow bigger and bigger. Previously it was the size of a fist but now it's the size of himself already and still keeps growing.
After a long time had passed. If time even exists here. Then the blob starts to take a form.
First was a head. It has no facial features, no eyes, nose, mouth or ears. Just a shape resembling a head and then from the side of the head, a pair horn grew out and split into two pairs with a demented resemblance to antler of the Cleric Beast. Then a line appears where the mouth should be as it opens to show two rows of sharp teeths of a predator.
Next the body formed. A long vertical slit appeared which made Leo assume it's another mouth. But when it opened, big blood red glowing eyes revealed with reddish sclera surrounding it, looking around curiously and somehow filled with the childish innocence of a newborn. Few more slits appear around the first and reveal similar but smaller eyes curiously darting around looking into the void until they land on Leo. Then the arms and claw-like hands formed along with crimson feathered wings that also had eyes on each.
This gives a demonic and also angelic impression to Leo as he watches with curiosity at his true body forming. It also looks surprisingly humanoid which is very welcomed.
Surprisingly, there are no legs. Instead the body extends like his body is all a part of a robe, stretching all the way down. Tentacles riddled with eyes crawl out the end of the robe acting like its legs.
(I modeled it after Scarlet King. Fitting don't you think? Antler=Beasthood, Red theme=Blood)
*ROOAARRR!*
A roar echoes through the vast void to declare its birth and that was the last thing Leo heard before he felt a powerful force yanking him.
Next thing he knows. He was inside the body as his eyes were oddly elevated than he remembers. No, he can see all 360 degree angles without any blindspots. He can see himself looking at his claw-hand with his eyes on his chest. It's weird yet feels… normal.
[Congratulations for finally becoming a real Great One. Although, still infant as we speaked. But worry not. Concept of age does not exist. To a Great One, their strength defines their seniority. So, grow stronger by collecting more Blood Echoes as nourishment. Eat well and you will grow well.]
"So… this is my real body now?" Leo looks at himself with worry.
How will he interact with humans if his body is this? Can anyone even perceive him without insight? Countless worry flashed through his mind.
[Yes. It's your real body now. But, don't worry. You can still use your other body.]
"How?" Leo hurriedly asked.
[Let me finish first. You cannot enter a world with your true body. It's not impossible. But you should understand what the inhabitants would do right?]
"Yes." Leo can already imagine the Heretic Gods and his fellow Campione band together to kill him on sight.
The reason Athena even tolerates Leo is because she, like most, assumes Leo is just an associate of an Eldritch/Outer God. Not one himself. As for why the treatment is like that… Leo can only blame other Eldritch/Outer Gods for the reputation as incarnation of Chaos and Destruction. Wherever they went, chaos and destruction would follow and that not even touching on certain groups that literally eat worlds as a source of nourishment.
[Try to project your will and imagine possessing your body in the Hunter's Dream.]
Doing as he was told. Leo knew the process already and imagined himself like a flashlight flashing light. But instead of light, its soul. Then he can sense the faint string that is linked to his body in Hunter's Dream. He uses his projection to touch the string and with a light tug, he feels himself sucked through a small tunnel at the speed of light.
The next thing he knew, he had already returned to his body. But that's just an illusion. His eyes and senses came from this mortal body but he can still feel himself in the void. Able to still see the empty dark void that Ophis would definitely love and move his arms or tentacles. It's weird, his senses are overlapping and need time to get used to.
[Good. You master the basics very easily. Now, it's time to tell you the real good news.]
Leo is surprised there is still more. Like what else is better news than acquiring an eldritch god body?
[Doubtful are we?] The System read Leo's thoughts. [Well, it doesn't matter because brace yourself.] The System is keeping Leo at the edge of his toe with this build up.
[With your true body obtained. I found a way for you to return to the DxD world and reunite with those girls. But before you get excited. I have a few disclaimer.] Leo, who is already shocked by the news, calms his nerves for a bit and brace himself another time for the disclaimer. He hopes it's not that bad. [First, it's not guarantee success. Second, it would probably need a lot of Blood Echoes if you want to succeed. But for the love of god. Please don't go commit genocide to collect Blood Echoes. Killing your enemies is one thing, dooming the world is another. The last thing we need is a bounty on your head.]
"You can rest assured, I'm not crazy. I wouldn't harm the innocent." Leo nods before he quickly returns to the topic about returning to DxD. "So, what must I do?"
[Spread your seeds~] The System said playfully with its genderless and emotionless mechanical voice.
"..."
"Please be more specific."
[Okay, okay… I'm just trying to lighten the mood.]
[Anyway, it is like spreading spores. Every Eldritch/Outer Gods which includes you have an innate ability to spread those spores into the material universe. These spores will autonomously wander and seek for worlds to create a gateway. Usually by possessing the locals and converting them into cultists to summon you.]
Then Leo remembers how he ended up in the DxD world. If using this method, there is indeed a higher chance of success than repeatedly killing himself until he ends up back in DxD.
[Now, here's the catch. The more se- spore you can release the higher the chance of success. These spores will normally cost your flesh and blood literally. But this Great System has devised a way to use Blood Echoes instead.]
"How much are we talking about?" Leo tries to form a plan in his head.
[Preferably as much as possible. But at the minimum… Wait. Let me run the calculation first.]
Leo nods and busy himself with getting familiar with all the new stuff. Mainly to isolate his senses to not get confused.
A few minutes later.
[You would need at least 3 more Heretic Gods on Titan level.]
Three more Heretic Gods on that Level isn't easy to find. What came to mind is the three Gods of Shinto, Amaterasu, Susano and Tsukuyomi. The three popular and major gods of Japan.
"That's doable." Leo concludes while his mind is already making the plan.
Susano would be the one he needs to be wary about. Amaterasu is not a combative type Heretic God which means all her power is reliant on her ability to wield the Sun. As for Tsukuyomi, Leo is confident to overpower the God with two moon related authorities and a sun authority which is conceptually stronger than the moon.
[Well, do your best then.] The System said with a playful tone at the end which left Leo suspicious but he brushed it aside as he is very happy and excited with his gain.
"It won't be long, everyone. I definitely will return. Just wait for me." Leo said his resolve before he left.
Gehrman in the background watching Leo mumbling to himself also sighed.
"Looks like I am not the only one suffering with loneliness it seems. He is even hallucinating and talking to himself." Gehrman sighed with a pity and worried face.
Of course, Gehrman is unaware of the System.
———
Upon leaving Hunter's Dream. Leo immediately noticed it was night time as the familiar power welling inside him. Besides, the office was dark with all lights switched off and the sky outside was dark.
"Shit… they must have thought I went missing." Leo realized the implications of suddenly disappearing for an entire day.
In Leo's mind, he is thinking how to explain his disappearance as he grabs his stuff from his oddly clean desk and leaves the office. He chose to climb off the wall instead of through the front gate for obvious reasons.
In front of his apartment, Leo opens the door and is immediately greeted with arrows from Liliana which he dodge by twisting his body away and look at her and Pandora with a questioning stare.
"Leo?"
"Huh? Leo? That thing is Leo?" Pandora asked with disbelief and terror.
[She is a True God. She can see through the veil of mist covering your true form. Quickly calm her down would you?]
Leo quickly approached Pandora who retreated while trembling. "Mom it's me, Leo." Leo called to her which did make her calm down a little after hearing his familiar voice.
"Leo?" Pandora was surprised and stopped her panic for a moment and looked at that abomination trying to hug her. "My beloved son… Leo."
"Yes. It's me, mom." Leo replied and following the advice his System just gave him to strengthen the veil with illusion from Hecate's authority.
After Leo strengthens the veil, Pandora can see Leo without his real form overlapping and Liliana stops sensing his eldritch aura.
"What was that just now?" Liliana hastily closed the door before a neighbor saw them. "Also. Why are you missing for an entire week?"
"Entire week?" Leo exclaimed before he sighed tiredly and took off his shoe. "Uhm. Let's have a seat. I will explain everything."
"You better! Do you know how worried Mama was when you just vanished without any trace and news for an entire week." Pandora chastised Leo, more worried about his disappearance than transformation which made Leo feel warm in his heart.
Once they were seated, Leo explained first about what he did to clear up the misunderstanding. He explains that he is a Great One and an abridged history about the whole Yharnam tragedy along with the Great One like how he explained to Liliana before.
After that, Leo tells them he went missing because he was transforming? reborn? maturing? Anyway, he became a real Great One.
"I thought you were simply associated with them. Not one of them!" Pandora was in shock and denial. She just made a real Outer Gods into Campione somehow.
Liliana is even worse. She was in denial at first but after she ask Leo to let her see his true form despite his warning, she fainted instantly after a glimpse.
"So… Leo you won't try to eat everyone and destroy the world right?" Pandora asks to reassure herself. She is too afraid to bear the weight of her mistake.
Leo scoffed at Pandora. "What do you think I am? I swore to the Hunter's Oath and I will not stray from it." Leo reassured his cute little mother.
Pandora finally relaxed and feel relief. She would be devastated if her action brought harm to the world.
(The end is a reference to Pandora Box and Leo. The box releases all the evil yet also hope. Evil represents Leo's Eldritch heritage and hope being Leo himself.)
—————
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