LotM: Surviving as a Marionette

Don ignored the system's frantic roaring and metaphorical shadowy crawling, nor did he pay attention to the Theater Core's serene, almost zen-like state of resignation, radiating an aura of 'just end me already' and 'yeah, yeah, whatever'.

First, he floated over to his own physical body, attempting to touch it. Predictably, his hand passed right through as if they occupied different spaces.

Don then turned his attention to the system and the Theater Core, drifting towards them. Reaching out, his hand passed through them as well, eliciting no reaction whatsoever.

"Not existing within the same space then…"

He began to scrutinize his own state.

It resembled a spirit body, yet he couldn't communicate with the system or the core. He couldn't lift the Sun Scepter—an item infused with his own spirituality—and he couldn't return to his physical form.

The system was bound to him on a spiritual level; his body, mind, and spirit were intrinsically intertwined. The collision between the Knowledge Moor and the Chaos Sea had forcibly 'ejected' his spirit body, yet the system, starting from the 'body', couldn't locate Don's spirit body…

No, it couldn't even be confirmed if the ejection was solely due to the collision of the two Sefirot… Was it intentional or accidental? The system hadn't followed him out either.

The system, acting as a vessel for a portion of the Knowledge Moor's power, remained within the body. Even after the Knowledge Moor had withdrawn its presence, his spirit body showed no inclination to return.

"The spirit body expulsion wasn't a ritual effect; it couldn't be reversed by simply ending a ritual. This state should be no different from, or even worse than, an unprotected Sequence 5 Wraith."

Yet, he had faced the impact of two Sefirot head-on without instantly going mad. Was it because the Knowledge Moor and the Chaos Sea hadn't targeted him?

No. With his insufficient level of existence, even if they hadn't targeted him, merely seeing them should have resulted in his utter annihilation, beyond any hope of recovery!

The terrifying disparity in their levels of existence should have drowned him in corruption instantly!

The only reason he remained intact now, uncorrupted, was because that disparity had been bridged. The mere act of 'seeing'—a superficial connection—could no longer affect him.

Considering the things he could now recall, and the fact that the connection established by mere 'sight' couldn't corrupt him… it was likely that his own level of existence had been elevated.

His current state was an essential change brought about by this elevation in his level of existence.

"The system can use 'Knowledge Pursue Man' to elevate my level of existence. Similarly, when the system and I are separated, my inherent level of existence can be similarly elevated, unlocking the special nature of my own spirit body."

System… Suppressor… Could an equal sign be drawn between them?

Then… why?

Don looked around. The vast theater lay bare before his eyes, just as he had previously seen the myriad mysteries hidden within the Knowledge Moor's maddening knowledge. He could perceive the turbid power of the Chaos Sea surging from the depths below. In this current state, he could see all the marionettes concealed by the black curtain, see the Theater Core, see the countless Spirit Body Threads, and see the maddening knowledge adorning the curtain itself.

The system, the inner thoughts of the Theater Core, the communication between the two—it was all starkly visible to him, holding no secrets.

Like a 'Bystander'. Don thought.

"Somewhat similar to a Spectator, but unlike a Spectator, I can 'see' things that are far more fundamental."

"However, a Spectator can influence the unfolding play. My current state is one of more objective observation—unable to touch, unable to influence anything that happens."

His level of existence in this state was sufficiently high.

But the danger was equally immense.

Don recalled the visions he had once seen but forgotten.

He had observed those scenes, but could beings of the same level of existence, or even higher, also perceive his prying gaze in reverse?

If they observed him, then, possessing only Sequence 5 Beyonder powers, unable to resist, would he be instantly corrupted, transformed into something akin to the True Creator?

A high level of existence wasn't necessarily a good thing. Possessing the level without the corresponding power was also a path to self-destruction.

The system suppressing Don's level of existence was also indirectly protecting him, preventing him from prematurely encountering certain terrifying entities.

"This kind of cheat… might as well not have it…" he muttered.

Without the system's suppression, he estimated he would have landed and instantly been corrupted the moment he observed the fundamental nature of certain entities beyond the starry sky, as they became aware of his gaze.

The 'Knowledge Pursue Man' state could elevate his level not just because of his own uniqueness and the Olden Days knowledge, but also because the level of existence represented by the 'Maddening Knowledge' was crucial. It ensured he wasn't left utterly powerless against those entities despite possessing the level.

"Try depleting my spirituality completely. See if I can rely on the instinctive reaction of spirituality to return to my original body."

Don exhaled an imaginary breath. Having figured this much out, he prepared to attempt a return to his body.

His research into the spirit body wasn't particularly deep. A Marionettist's operations focused more on Spirit Body Threads; the spirit body was the domain of Spectators or the Death pathway. This current state was an area his current mysticism knowledge couldn't readily reach.

With that in mind, Don probed his own spirit body again, searching for any system remnants.

Things like a subsystem installed on his spirit body, or connection threads. And he truly discovered something deep within his spirit body that didn't belong to him.

They were characters upholding civilizations; they were Maddening Knowledge.

[Spirituality fully depleted, return possible]

The moment he saw those symbols, his spirituality instinctively deciphered their meaning.

Seeing this, his metaphorical heart steadied.

"Maddening Knowledge, as expected."

It was the Knowledge Moor that triggered this state. What did the Knowledge Moor want? What does it seek to gain from me?

…Ah, no good. Feels like I'm growing a brain.

"Whatever it wants, I'm not on the two Knowledge pathways. Even if it wanted to cultivate me as some kind of potion ingredient, wouldn't it fear the Celestial Worthy awakening within it if it consumed me?"

This very concern was part of why he chose the Seer pathway over the two Knowledge pathways (Hermit and Paragon).

Hence, he tuned out the system whenever it mentioned switching pathways.

"Well, since there's 'Maddening Knowledge' present, perhaps I can attempt to observe…"

He knew that his 'observation' would also rapidly deplete his spirituality.

Don slowly drifted out of the theater, passing through the enormous curtain, arriving amidst a stretch of forested mountains.

Then, he witnessed a scene he would never forget.

"!!"

For a moment, Don was rendered speechless by sheer shock.

From this perspective, the sky was no longer the sky.

The very foundation of Tingen was flipping. Distant areas, which should have been beyond sight, twisted upwards, rising from the ground as if countless stones and earth had formed a colossal bowl, inverted over the star-studded sky overhead!

They tumbled and distorted. Flowers, grass, trees, stone buildings, walking crowds, hawking vendors—all hung upside down or stood perpendicular to the ground, which now bulged like stretched canvas. The entirety of Tingen was laid bare before Don's vision!

An utterly impossible vista abruptly manifested before his eyes!

(End of Chapter)