While Rachel and much of the world were discussing and applying the new inventions from the MIPE exhibition - magic inventions and potions expo, Asmodeus sat in his office with closed eyes, seemingly immersed in thought. He closed his eyes as he contemplated. A day ago, he received a message from the system, with the following content.
"Ding, request to the host for communication. Please confirm connection within three days."
Asmodeus had long wanted to understand where the system came from and why it was helping him. But when the chance presented itself, he hesitated a little.
'What kind of being stands behind the system?...' Exhaling, he still decided to accept the invitation.
"Confirm connection."
Asmodeus felt his consciousness being drawn somewhere and did not resist.
When he felt the environment change, he opened his eyes. Before him was a dark space... Or rather, space? Under his feet, he saw something resembling a planet, but it was definitely not Earth, with at least ten extra continents...
"This is what I looked like before..."
A voice came from the void.
'Huh?'
"I'm here."
Asmodeus turned around and saw something like a cluster of light or energy before him. The cluster was small, smaller than a football.
"You...? The system?"
"Yes and no... I am Primis, the will of this world, which has awakened again thanks to you."
While Primis spoke, the light of her body, or what could be called a body, flickered.
"Me?"
"Yes. The system is what I created as a last resort... Our world was losing in the war with that dimension and the four gods... I tried with all my might to break free and escape from that universe, although I successfully detached... it led to my current state. Hah, a pitiful ball with seven continents... Fortunately, before losing consciousness, I separated part of my will, with the sole purpose of finding someone to restore the world, at least to the minimum necessary level for me to awaken again."
"So, you're the accumulation of all the thoughts of the planet's inhabitants? Then why does the system aim to strengthen the planet's population instead of increasing it, for example?"
"As a result of the forced separation from the original universe, I lost access to many energies... Only those that certain organisms living on me and I myself can generate remained. But for maintaining the consciousness of the world, the number of its inhabitants doesn't matter; only strong individuals are important."
"So, the stronger a person is, the stronger their thoughts that shape you?"
"In a sense."
"Wait, then why didn't you just empower everyone with magic? You gave me runes that turned non-magical folks into wizards."
"That's a requirement I embedded in my fragment. Only a truly outstanding individual can be chosen. Your lineage... it's very potent. Your arrival in this world gave me more energy than hundreds of thousands of beings. Though I don't know why your blood is sealed, it doesn't change the essence of it. From my perspective, when you appeared in the world, it was like a bright star in a starless sky."
"You didn't answer why you didn't give magic directly to people."
"Such power is not considered natural... It's external, effectively produced by me. Muggles, as you call them... Even after being influenced by mana, they are not exactly the same as Verumis, although it increases the chance of Verumis appearing, and muggles will start producing energy after some time.... A greater number of such beings still cannot help me enough. If I may illustrate, if you stand among hundreds of thousands of as 'HE' called you - 'Verumis,' one Verumis is worth a thousand muggles, who didn't get magic rings..... Verumis, you and I, create this energy. We share a common root. The more people know about this energy, the more it can manifest in them and in me. But I couldn't just give power to weak beings. For Verumis, it was too risky. If the so-called muggles turned this power against Verumis... If Verumis became even fewer than a couple of hundred years ago, I would be forever forgotten. That's why I actively helped various Verumis create spells that would help them hide from muggles, waiting for someone who could exactly fulfill what is needed."
"Verumis? And 'HE'?"
"It's too early for you to know..."
"..."
"Okay, you said I radiate more energy, but I'm not from this world."
"It doesn't matter. Those whom you brought from another universe. They also radiate more energy, especially the one-eyed one. He's no weaker than you. Although your powers are sealed..."
"Sealed by whom!?"
"I don't know. But I see that this seal is not created to harm. When you become strong enough, it will gradually fade. And in making you stronger, I can help with that."
"So, you chose me for this? We're mutually beneficial?"
"In a certain sense, yes."
"Alright, then why did you summon me? Not just for a chat?"
"I wanted to tell you that you must prepare."
"For what?"
"I found certain parts of myself that separated during the transition to this universe."
"The continents that are missing?!"
"Yes, at least some of them."
"And then?"
"I have to consume them and return them to their places!"
"Why am I here for that?"
"These separated pieces also developed their own wills... They don't want to be consumed, though they are too weak to compete with me... Well, the important thing is that when I consume the remaining wills, the continents will return to their original places. And that could harm Verumis. Also, I don't know what creatures are currently living in those worlds..."
"In those? Not just one?"
"Two, they are close to each other, so I tracked them."
"What will happen when the continents return? Earthquakes? Or something like that?"
"It will shake a bit, but I'll hold it. Your goal is to be ready to confront the forces of other parts. Although I don't think there will be too strong opponents there... But certain Verumis might have become something like gods there..."
"Gods?!"
"..."
"Is this again something I don't need to know!?"
"..."
"You're ****** kidding me!? Say at least something!"
"The only thing I can tell you is that the path they chose is wrong. The path to becoming a true god does not lie through faith. Okay, it's time for you to leave."
"What? Whaaaaat?"
Asmodeus felt himself being pushed out of the strange space.
Asmodeus woke up, still sitting in his office.
'I swear to become like Rick Sanchez and **** the planet!' - Asmodeus shouted to himself.
"Knock, knock."
"Asmodeus, I've prepared dinner. I'm waiting for you downstairs."
Rovena's voice came from behind the door.
Asmodeus calmed down and was about to go downstairs to have dinner when the system panel appeared before his eyes.
"Ding, countdown started - 30 days."
"..."
So, a month...
"Well, so be it."
Extinguishing the lamp, Asmodeus went downstairs to have dinner.
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Guys sorry for slow updates, I'm sick right now. Guess what? Our favourite covid. Anyway, I have a fever and writing a book in this condition has become almost impossible, I'm just squeezing it out of me....
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