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The digital countdown vanished, replaced by a surge of pure, unadulterated sensation. I slowly opened my eyes, not with the dull ache of a recent awakening, but with a vibrant clarity that bordered on overwhelming. Every nerve ending felt alive, every sense ablaze to an unnatural degree.
An incredible strength coursed through me, fully controlled, effortlessly integrated. It wasn't just physical might; it was a profound mastery over my own being. I felt like I could read others' minds just by existing in their vicinity, a subtle hum of their thoughts brushing against my own.
Unlike Ainz, who awoke in the New World with only his game knowledge and a vague sense of his character's abilities, I had all the information in my mind as if it had always existed. It was a seamless transition. I possessed all arcane knowledge, complex thought processes, and the intricate lore of Yggdrasil, not as remembered facts, but as innate understanding.
I also had a photographic memory now, crisp and infallible, allowing me to recall every detail, every line of code, every strategic nuance with perfect clarity. It was a terrifying, exhilarating upgrade.
It was a right choice, I mused, to collect as many mind and soul-enchanting abilities as possible during my time developing Zeldania. At least I wouldn't be a hidden, incompetent leader leading outstanding talents, unlike some skeletal overlord I knew. My creations deserved a true master, not someone fumbling through their own abilities.
I savored the sight and sensations surrounding me. The Throne Room of Zeldania, now fully materialized, hummed with a quiet power. The obsidian walls gleamed, the intricate runes on the floor pulsed with a soft, internal light, and the very air felt charged with magic. This was no longer a game; this was reality.
I rose from the Throne of Kings, my movements fluid and powerful, a stark contrast to the frail body I had left behind. My multi-colored hair shimmered in the ambient light, and I could feel my mystic eyes subtly shifting patterns, reacting to the sheer density of mana in the air.
Taking a deep breath, I started walking out of the throne room, Ziana and Malvis, my beloved creations, already by my side, their presence a comforting anchor in this new reality. They too radiated an aura of immense power, their forms as real and tangible as my own. We moved with a silent, purposeful stride, the guardians of the first floor, the familiar faces of Albedo and Demiurge, already kneeling in reverence as we passed.
"My Lord," Albedo's voice, rich and melodious, echoed through the vast hall, "Your presence graces us with unparalleled majesty."
"Indeed, Master," Demiurge added, his eyes gleaming with fanatic devotion. "The Great World of Zeldania awaits your command."
I gave them a brief nod, a small smile playing on my lips. "At ease, my loyal guardians. We have much to explore. Follow me, I want to check our surroundings first. It looks like we are at another world after the destruction of Yggdrasil."
"Yes, my Lord," Shalltear's voice, vibrant and eager, cut through the air as she materialized beside me, having followed us from the throne room. "I will follow you even to the end of worlds, and beyond!" Her devotion was almost palpable, a fervent heat.
We stepped out of the grand entrance of Zeldania. The sight that greeted us was a barren wasteland, stretching as far as the eye could see. Cracked earth, jagged rocks, and a sky that seemed perpetually overcast, a stark contrast to the vibrant, polluted cityscape I had left behind. It was desolate, yet strangely beautiful in its raw, untamed nature.
I focused my senses, extending my perception far beyond the visual. My mystic eyes pulsed, absorbing the ambient energies, mapping the terrain. Soon, I felt a subtle presence, a faint ripple in the mana signature nearby. It wasn't strong enough to be a threat, but it was something.
"Follow me," I instructed, my voice calm, "I want to investigate that presence."
As we walked, the landscape slowly shifted. The barren earth gave way to sparse, gnarled trees, then a thin, eerie forest. The air grew heavier, thick with an unfamiliar energy. Soon, through the mist-shrouded trees, I saw something that looked distinctly out of place: a towering, weathered Shinto-like gate, its ancient wood dark against the muted sky. A torii.
And then, I sensed it. A powerful presence beyond the gate, unmistakably draconic. A strong one, at that. For normal people, it would be terrifying. But for me, it was merely... interesting.
But I also sensed many smaller presences, scurrying about like insects around the dragon's aura. They were weak, insignificant.
"Shalltear," I commanded, my voice cutting through the silence of the forest. "Kill all these small fries. Leave the dragon alone."
"Yes, my Lord!" Shalltear's eyes gleamed with bloodlust, a predatory smile spreading across her face. She launched herself forward in an instant, a crimson blur.
A sickening symphony of tearing flesh and muffled screams erupted from beyond the torii gate. Blue humanoid figures, vaguely reptilian, exploded into motes of light, disappearing as quickly as they appeared. Shalltear was a whirlwind of death, her Spuit Lance a terrifying extension of her will. The entire skirmish lasted mere seconds.
I watched the disappearing blue humanoid beings, noting their generic appearance. They were clearly low-level mobs, nothing more than cannon fodder. Before I could even offer a word of praise to Shalltear for her efficiency, a dense, swirling mist erupted from beyond the gate, engulfing us. It was thick, disorienting, and carried a faint, metallic tang.
"Who dare to intrude on my land!?" A booming voice resonated through the mist, shaking the very ground beneath our feet. It was deep, ancient, filled with raw power and indignation.
Shalltear tensed, her posture shifting into a combat stance, her eyes narrowed. She could only see two gleaming red eyes staring at her from within the swirling fog, eyes that burned with intense draconic fury.
Why did I specifically say Shalltear could only see the eyes? Because, unlike her, I could clearly see the dragon in front of us, its massive form barely contained by the mist. My mystic eyes pierced through the illusion, revealing the true scale of the beast.
And then, I knew. A jolt of recognition, a flicker of meta-knowledge. We were at 'Tsukimichi - Moonlight Fantasy' right now. And in front of me was the superior dragon, the 'Invincible Shen.' Damn, she looks much bigger and stronger than in the anime. Her scales seemed to ripple with raw power, her presence radiating an ancient, primordial might.
"My Lord, please give your permission to show this insolent worm what a great offense it did!" Shalltear requested, her voice a low growl, as she eyed the dragon with a mixture of rage and disgust. Her fanatic loyalty meant any perceived slight against me was met with absolute fury.
"Shalltear, I order you to stand out of this," I said, my voice firm, leaving no room for argument. She complied instantly, her body freezing mid-movement, her expression shifting from rage to obedient stillness. Her absolute devotion was truly something to behold.
I started walking towards Shen, the mist parting before me as if by an unseen will. My steps were measured, confident.
"Say," I began, my voice calm, cutting through the lingering tension, "if I beat you up, will you swear your loyalty to me?" I asked her non-chalantly, my tone designed to show that I was fine with refusal as well, that this was merely a proposition, not a demand. Though, deep down, I knew she wouldn't refuse. My luck stat wasn't just for show.
The mist swirled, and the booming voice returned, tinged with a hint of amusement, then disbelief. "Ho? Big talk? Ignorance? You don't appear to be arrogant, so I guess you are just ignorant... or perhaps incredibly foolish. Very well. If you, a mere human, defeat me, the Invincible Shen, I will become your loyal follower for life. But know this, boy, countless have tried, and all have failed." Her voice boomed, echoing through the mist, a challenge in every syllable.
"Then I will take your words," I replied, a smirk playing on my lips. "Don't regret them."
Then, I moved. Not with a burst of speed, but with a fluidity that transcended mere velocity. My body, imbued with the power of the Original Human and Infinite Energies, was a weapon of unparalleled precision. I dashed towards her, appearing before her massive draconic head in an instant. My hand, seemingly delicate, extended. I didn't punch; I merely flicked her head.
A shockwave erupted, not from the impact, but from the sheer force of my control. Shen, a creature of immense power, was blown away, her colossal body tumbling through the air like a ragdoll. She roared, a sound of fury and disbelief, as she righted herself mid-air.
She retaliated instantly, opening her maw. A torrent of pure, concentrated energy, her signature breath attack, erupted towards me, a devastating beam of destruction. I didn't dodge. Instead, I simply extended a hand. A shimmering, multi-layered mana shield, conjured from my boundless MP, materialized before me, absorbing the attack. Then, with a thought, I redirected the energy, sending her own breath weapon hurtling back at her with amplified force.
Shen, caught off guard, couldn't fully evade. The redirected blast struck her tail, a critical hit. A deafening scream of pain ripped through the mist, a sound of agony and shock. Her massive form convulsed, crashing into the ground with a thunderous impact that shook the very earth.
Before she could recover, I kicked the ground, propelling myself forward with explosive force. I punched myself at her, not with a fist, but with my entire body, a living projectile. I spun in mid-air, delivering a perfectly aimed roundhouse kick directly to her forehead. The impact was less a blunt force, and more a precise, focused strike that bypassed all her natural defenses, striking directly at her consciousness. Her eyes rolled back, and she went limp, knocking her out cold.
As her colossal form fell to the ground with a large thud, creating a small crater, I landed gracefully beside her, my landing as soft as a feather. Not a single hair on my multi-colored head was out of place.
"You can come out, Shalltear," I called out, my voice resonating with quiet authority.
"Also, this dragon."
"Yes, Master! You were amazing just now! Truly, I am blessed to watch you in action with my bare eyes!" Shalltear materialized beside me, her eyes shining with absolute adoration, practically fawning all over me. Her praises, delivered with such fervent sincerity, actually made me blush, a warmth spreading through my cheeks.
I ignored my embarrassment and knelt beside Shen, placing a hand on her massive head. A soft, green glow emanated from my palm as I cast a high-tier healing spell, mending the damage I had inflicted.
Shen stirred, her eyes fluttering open. As consciousness returned, she looked up at me, then slowly, painstakingly, lowered her massive head to the ground, bowing down in absolute submission.
"I swear my life to you, my Master," she rumbled, her voice now filled with reverence, devoid of its previous arrogance. "I am Invincible Shen, one of the seven superior dragons of this world. Please bless me with your name, as a sign of my new fealty."
"I am Zevion, Zevion Asgorath," I stated, my full name echoing with a new weight, a new authority.
"Lord Zevion," she repeated, her voice hushed. "Then let's start with the contract."
She began initiating a magical contract, a complex ritual that would bind her to me. I could feel her trying to assert a degree of autonomy within the pact, subtle clauses that would grant her some freedom. But with my Infinite System and my inherent power, I kept overpowering her, subtly rewriting the terms as she tried to establish them. It was less a negotiation and more a gentle, yet absolute, domination.
I started to feel some pity for her. She was powerful, yes, but against the sheer, overwhelming force of my system, she was like a child. I let her off the hook at a 99.99-0.01 ruling pact. Of course, I was the dominant one in it, holding almost absolute control, but that 0.01% was a tiny sliver of her original will, enough to retain her selfhood without truly challenging me. It was a mercy, in its own way.
"Lord Zevion, please grant me the honor to be named by you," she requested again, her head still bowed, her voice filled with anticipation.
"Then you will be now named as Tomoe," I declared, the name rolling off my tongue.
As I named her, a mist tornado, far denser and more vibrant than the one she had conjured, surrounded her. It swirled with iridescent colors, obscuring her draconic form. The roar of the wind, the crackle of energy, filled the air.
After the tornado disappeared, Tomoe stood where the dragon had been. She was now in human form, a stunning woman with long, light blue hair and amber red eyes that still held a hint of draconic power. She was dressed in traditional Japanese attire, a reflection of her original form. She knelt gracefully in front of me, her movements fluid and respectful.
"I, Tomoe, offers my whole life to my Master and Lord Zevion," she pledged, her voice clear and resonant, filled with a newfound devotion.
"I accept your service as my servant," I replied, extending a hand to help her rise. "Serve me well... Anyway, come and follow me. We have much to discuss, and a new world to understand."
Then, I started going back to Zeldania, my new fortress. Tomoe walked a respectful pace behind me, Shalltear still beside me, her eyes occasionally darting to Tomoe with a hint of competitive curiosity.
After some time, we were back in the grand Throne Room. I sat on the Throne of Kings, its immense power now feeling like a natural extension of my own.
I called to Albedo, who was already kneeling nearby, ever vigilant. "Albedo, go and bring Ziana and Malvis, as I have some important matters to discuss with them, and our new companion."
"Yes, Lord Zevion, your order will be executed immediately!" she replied, her voice filled with zealous devotion. With a graceful bow, she disappeared, her form dissolving into a shimmer of dark energy.
I called those two because they are the highest authority here after me, my closest confidantes and most powerful creations. Their insight would be invaluable.
"Say, Tomoe," I began, turning to her, who was still standing in respectful silence, "do you know anything about those blue humanoid beings that were near your land before we met?"
"..."
As I didn't get any immediate response, I turned to her fully. Her eyes, usually so composed, were wide with shock, her mouth slightly agape. She looked utterly flabbergasted, as if she had just witnessed the impossible.
I frowned slightly. This level of shock was unusual for a superior dragon. I cast a calm mind spell on her, a gentle wave of soothing energy that washed over her, helping her process the overwhelming sensory input of Zeldania and my own immense presence. Her eyes slowly lost their wide, disbelieving stare, though a deep awe remained.
"So, why are you so shocked?" I asked again, my tone softer.
"What do you mean 'why'?!" she exclaimed, her voice still a little breathless. "Master, just who are you?! And this place... this place is just too overwhelming! It feels like... like an entire universe contained within itself! The sheer density of power, the complexity of its structure... it defies all known laws!"
I leaned back on the throne, a casual, almost bored expression on my face, though internally I was amused by her reaction. "Well, I am a world destroyer who destroyed his own world, so I randomly got teleported here with my previous world being destroyed by me. This 'place' you speak of, Zeldania, is the core of that world, now transformed."
I answered her calmly, as if I were talking about trivial matters, the weather perhaps, or the price of tea.
"What!? A world-destroyer!? That's too much, too overwhelming to digest at once! And why did you even destroy your own world, Master?!" she practically shrieked, her composure completely shattered, losing her mind at the sheer audacity of my statement. Her draconic instincts screamed at the concept of a world's destruction, let alone by its own inhabitant.
I grinned, a wide, unrepentant smile that probably looked terrifying to her. "You can't blame me for that. My world was too ambitious and tried to use me to conquer other worlds, to turn me into its pawn. So I destroyed it. It was a matter of principle, really." I declared this without any regret or hesitation, the memory of Yggdrasil's sinister will still fresh in my mind.
"For my friends, and family, as well as for my subjects," I continued, my voice gaining a chilling edge of absolute resolve, "I will turn the whole existential plane against me without any hesitation if they dare to threaten what is mine. My loyalty is absolute to those I cherish, and my wrath is equally absolute against those who threaten them."