The white and sacred tower stood like a calm, motionless giant, visible from afar. Its height was so immense that even the tallest skyscrapers of the 21st century seemed like worthless dwarfs in comparison. It rose over a thousand meters, and that was only part of its grandeur. Flying dinosaurs instinctively avoided the tower, as if an invisible force kept them from approaching it. Invisible golden runes, like threads of intangible light, were woven throughout the tower. These runes formed a protective layer that shielded the tower from any threat. Anyone who approached the tower felt as though they were entering a sacred, untouched realm.
On one of the upper floors of the tower, there was a large room filled with advanced and intricate equipment. This was the laboratory of Shikama Doji, where he tested his new spells and powers. In the center of the room, Shikama Doji stood with focused eyes and hands moving gently through the air. Above him floated a dark, mysterious orb, as if made of pure darkness. He tapped his finger lightly in the air, and at that moment, a small white rabbit leaped out of the dark orb. The rabbit seemed harmless, but Shikama Doji, with a calm and almost devilish smile, whispered a word: "Die."
Suddenly, the rabbit's body began to expand, as if filled with energy from within. In an instant, the rabbit exploded, scattering flesh and blood across the room. Its entrails stuck to the walls and ceiling, turning the room into a scene of horror. Shikama Doji watched with the same calm smile, as if this were merely a simple experiment. He waved his hand gently, and the remnants of the rabbit disappeared, as if they had never existed.
Shikama Doji thought back to the past, to the time when he had first met Tiamat. Nearly a thousand years had passed since then. In that time, he had made significant progress. He had created many spells and even built a prototype of the Tower of Babel. He had crafted a spell to control his creations, similar to a Command Seal, but it was still incomplete. This spell could not be passed on to the offspring of his creations, nor could it control their souls. But Shikama Doji was not worried. These were minor issues, and he was confident that he could perfect the spell in the future. He thought that as long as there was room for improvement, he would continue to strive.
He had also gained a better understanding of the laws of this world. For example, he had learned that for the natives of this world, the past was a kind of recorded, unchangeable conceptual information. Any attempt to alter the past would only create a singularity, and nothing could be changed. But this law only applied to the natives of this world. For beings like Shikama Doji, who came from outside this world, this law did not apply. He could change the past, but he did so cautiously, knowing that any change could have unpredictable consequences.
Shikama Doji had also devised a plan to combat Alaya. This spell had given him the idea that if everything went well, he could easily control Alaya. He thought to himself that Alaya wouldn't even understand where the blow was coming from. He had also realized that because he was an outsider, no one could foresee his future. This wasn't surprising to him, as the skill of clairvoyance was more like seeing a timeline, and he existed outside of it.
His relationship with Tiamat had also improved significantly. He could even tell what she was thinking just by looking at her face. Thinking about how he had become so attached to someone felt like having a younger sister to Shikama Doji. He smiled softly at the thought of Tiamat.
Now it was time for an experiment. With the same soft smile, Shikama Doji raised his hand. Suddenly, the space in front of him cracked and shattered. He moved slowly toward the broken space and stepped inside. After he entered, the broken space repaired itself, and the fabric of space returned to its original state, as if nothing had happened. In a place far from the tower, the space cracked again, and Shikama Doji emerged. This was space manipulation in its simplest form: teleportation. He had also created a miraculous spell that allowed him to move through space.
In the world of (ovaru no Seraph) there was a similar spell, but it had many flaws. It only worked for short distances, consumed a lot of energy, and took time to prepare. There was even a chance it could transport someone to a completely different location. But Shikama Doji had refined and perfected the spell over time. The version he now possessed was complete and flawless.
Now it was time to test his newest and most powerful attack spell. Shikama Doji raised his hand toward the sky. In the blue sky, a golden magical circle with intricate runes formed. A ball of light gathered at the center of the circle and suddenly shot toward a large mountain in front of him, like Excalibur from Arthurian legend. A massive explosion occurred, and the mountain completely vanished. A giant mushroom cloud rose into the sky, and earthquakes shook the area within a 10-kilometer radius. All creatures near the mountain were instantly vaporized, and the sound of the explosion terrified the dinosaurs, sending them fleeing.
Shikama Doji looked at the scene with satisfaction. "Magnificent," he thought. "Just as expected from Aether." He thought about how he had managed to create such a powerful spell. His power was now on par with the main gods of the pantheon, but he knew it wasn't enough. In the future, he would face even stronger beings, but there was no need to rush. He had all the time in the world.
Shikama Doji thought confidently about the future. He knew he had a long road ahead, but nothing could stop him.