I Became the Priest of Blasphemy of the Outer Gods

Chapter 118. Enhancement (2)

With my current recovery speed, I couldn’t use “Gluttony” in the Wildlands.

Although my physical abilities had significantly increased after undergoing the ‘Awakening Ritual’, I still needed the assistance of “Gluttony.”

I had attempted to enhance it, but Lyla vehemently objected.

“It’s already unclear if this thing is a divine relic or an enchanted item. On top of that, it has evolved, so how should we know the method to enhance it?”

Lyla was terrified of involving an Outer God again. She knew it was best to stay under my protection, but deep down, she wanted to leave because of the trauma still gripping her.

“What if the enhancement fails and it becomes an uncontrollable monster?”

“I’ll just eat it.”

Lyla stared at me, wondering if she had misheard.

However, this was a venture I deemed worth trying.

Absorbing and analyzing “Gluttony” to recreate it using my abilities was my plan.

But, doing so would mean losing its subspace pocket function, which was a significant loss.

“You should know that as your protector grows stronger, it’s good for you too.”

After much hesitation and deliberation, Lyla eventually agreed. Of course, I didn’t demand an enhancement recklessly.

“What is this?”

Lyla was curious as she received the stack of parchment I handed her.

“It’s notes on the methods and theories I want to try.”

“You almost seem like a mage.”

Lyla gazed at the notes with interest.

“It seems like there are methods here that you haven’t taught me yet…”

“These are just theories for now.”

“But how on earth do you come up with this stuff?”

“The truth is, I play dice with a friend from another dimension, and I wanted to try being an enchanter and swordmaster with a powerful magic sword—”

“Enough. Don’t say it if you don’t want to.”

I had told her everything, after all.

“Sigh… Anyway, let’s start with the first one.”

While others were practicing their skills, Lyla and I headed to the workshop. And then…

“The 11th attempt… failed.”

The theories I devised were quickly shattered.

Even the rare star iron and platinum I procured proved ineffective. I hadn’t expected such a dismal failure.

“Does it feel like it’s gotten smaller?”

“Just your imagination.”

In fact, it seemed like “Gluttony” might have worsened.

“Should I feed it more of my body?”

“Please, stop saying such insane things so casually. I’m already aggravated.”

Lyla, who was initially uneasy, quickly became fired up after repeated failures.

“About this theory, let’s try mixing gold and silver. It seemed to react a bit more to silver earlier.”

“So, what’s the ratio?”

“Let’s try a 7:3 ratio first…”

We continued working on the lavish task of cutting gold and silver.

“By the way, there’s something I’ve always wanted to ask.”

“Hmm? A non-crazy question?”

… I wondered what she took me for.

“I was curious about how you ended up researching enchantments.”

Lyla didn’t join the guild of magical workshops and decided to independently pursue enchantment research.

No matter how you put it, it was a waste of resources and time.

She was so talented that even the archmage Cernun had a high opinion of her, so why choose the seemingly futile path of an enchanter?

“There’s nothing much to it. I just wanted to.”

“You just wanted to?”

“I thought it was cool…”

Lyla felt a greater sense of mystery and charm from enchanted items compared to using magic directly.

“I like the idea of my creations continuing to exist in the world.”

“And you ventured into it with such a simple reason…”

“I thought I could find the answers within a few years! I was somewhat of a prodigy, you know.”

“If it were that easy to figure out, unapproved enchanters would be everywhere by now.”

From this, it seemed the guild of magical workshops was extremely thorough in controlling information.

As a Professor Magus at the time, I had wanted to visit, but even the archmage Cernun found the visiting process arduous, so I had no chance.

‘I wonder if there’s a way to get in there somehow…’

“Enough daydreaming and focus! I noticed you think too much!”

“Is that something a mage should say?”

Just as we were about to focus again on our work…

“Stop there.”

Mary suddenly dropped down from the ceiling, blocking our way.

“Please… don’t show up like that.”

Lyla’s face turned pale at the thought of the mutant residues we’d seen on the island.

“Sorry. But I just can’t hold back.”

Mary then fixed her gaze on “Gluttony.”

“That thing keeps screaming. It’s too loud.”

“… Screaming?”

I heard no sound, nor did it show any noticeable movement.

“Humans can’t detect it. Finish the enhancement quickly. I have a method.”

“What do you intend to do? Did Dowol give you any knowledge about enchantments?”

Mary shook her head and pointed at “Gluttony.”

“It’s more of a lifeform now than an item. It transformed after absorbing so much, repeatedly regenerating. As long as you treat it like an item, you can’t enhance it.”

“So, what do you suggest?”

Mary proposed a very straightforward hypothesis.

“You need to supply it with life rather than metal. Items related to the Outer Gods would be optimal.”

Considering “Gluttony” had grown after ingesting Pleroma, it seemed worth trying. We laid out the materials we had available: a cup of the “Golden Blood Elixir,”

Leviathan’s heartstone, a piece of Kraken’s lens, a part of Mary’s body, both of my eyes, and…

“Are you really going to use that?”

Lyla turned pale at the sight of the last item—remains of a 5th rank residue.

“We’ll be facing formidable rivals. Against such opponents, we’ll have no chance unless we put everything on the line.”

The Wildlands alone housed the force of the 5th rank Beatrice.

Although Beatrice herself might not intervene due to her interest in the Dragon’s Crown, one could never be certain.

Moreover, we had to prepare for battles against powerful entities like Cahon.

‘Even now, they’re strong, but if they ever break free…’

The battles would be of a monumental scale, much like the ones I witnessed during meditation.

To triumph, we would need to put everything on the line, just like when fighting Pleroma.

“But doing that—putting everything on the line—is no easy feat.”

The “Chalice of the Red Ceremony” required too many sacrifices to wield its liberated power.

It could only be used in places where a massacre had occurred at the scale of a village.

‘Unless I start gathering corpses piece by piece, it’s practically impossible.’

The “trump card” created with Outer Magic and Akasha was sealed with Cernun’s advice.

It was too risky to test blindly as its effects were unpredictable.

“To stand against the strong, I need every usable means, even if it requires such drastic and reckless attempts.”

“While you’re not wrong…”

Lyla was uncertain about whether this would truly work.

“Phew… Just be prepared to offer protection immediately, just in case.”

Mary and I nodded.

Lyla began melting the ingredients. They released such powerful auras even while simply melting by magic.

“Screeech…”

A strange noise resounded alongside a spooky sight of tentacle-like things writhing.

Lyla’s complexion grew paler, but she didn’t stop.

“Now!”

As the solution reached completion, Lyla urgently called out.

The liquid exuded a bizarre, repulsive array of colors, almost as if it would wriggle and come to life at any moment.

I quickly placed “Gluttony” into the cauldron, and Lyla sealed the lid.

“Will this succeed?”

“I’m worried it’ll succeed but in a weird way.”

After some time, the movement within the cauldron stilled.

“… Is it dead?”

A whisper from Lyla, who seemed to secretly wish for failure.

Although, it appeared that failure was not the case, as the cauldron began to crumple.

Despite its thickness, the iron cauldron buckled easily, and an eye slipped out from the crumbled gaps, staring outwards.

“Eek…!”

Lyla turned whiter than a ghost and collapsed, legs giving out.

“Mary, lead Lyla to safety.”

I watched the tentacles of “Gluttony” tearing through the iron cauldron.

It resembled a chaotic amalgamation of various animals. Except for the dangling limbs, it was barely recognizable as “Glutton”.

Mary swiftly took Lyla out of the room, but “Gluttony” seemed to not target her from the beginning, lunging towards me instead.

“… Did it succeed?”

Unexpectedly, “Gluttony” transformed into a cloak-like shape draped over my shoulders and back.

But unlike the texture of fabric before, it felt like an inflating tumor was enveloping me.

Yet, the reason I couldn’t be sure of success was because “Gluttony” was integrating with my body.

‘It’s not attempting to devour… it’s integrating.’

My blood vessels, nerves, and muscle fibers connected with “Gluttony”.

As a result, I could understand the changed state of “Gluttony.”

“Thankfully, the subspace pocket function remains.”

Its defensive strength increased; it could withstand 3rd rank spells and was much sturdier against physical impacts.

Moreover, the enhancements went beyond just boosting basic stats.

‘I gained the capability for more versatile transformations.’

Not only the cloak form but also transforming the tentacles into hand-like shapes was no issue.

While this appeared as a lower version of my ability to freely transform my body, this skill had a distinct merit.

“Being able to transform into what has been devoured…”

The scope of transformation depended on the extent of what was consumed.

But this wasn’t just “Gluttony” transforming—it allowed me, the wearer, to metamorphose.

And it wasn’t merely imitating an appearance.

‘Is this truly possible?’

With significant anticipation, I headed outside the castle. My companions, busy with practice, stopped to gawk at me.

They couldn’t hide their shock at the grotesque new form of “Gluttony” clung to my back, but what would truly astonish them hadn’t happened yet.

Taah!

Utilizing “Gluttony’s” tentacle, I leaped into the air.

‘Transformation – Leviathan.’

In the sky, I shifted into the colossal form of a monstrous whale. Before the massive body hit the ground.

‘Transformation – Pleroma.’

I transformed once more into a giant half-human, half-spider, suspending myself in the air with webs slung high. The enhanced “Gluttony” enabled transformations into such creatures. And more importantly.

‘Indeed… Pleroma had such stats.’

I could replicate the traits and all stats of the devoured subjects. Now, successfully devouring meant I could become any entity I desired.

“Haha, I feel like I’m already getting hungry.”

An innocent, childlike laugh erupted from my mouth.