LotM: Surviving as a Marionette

The spectacle was unparalleled.

Don silently picked his metaphorical jaw off the floor and scrutinized the scene before him.

He discovered he could freely manipulate the surrounding imagery at will, twisting this view before him, switching the objects of his observation.

This was almost instinctual, knowledge carried by the level of existence itself, much like how entering the 'Knowledge Pursue Man' state automatically granted the understanding of using knowledge to corrupt others.

Previously suppressed by the system, maintaining this level of existence for a period or encountering specific circumstances should allow him to naturally comprehend the Beyonder abilities this level could bring.

...Even so, the entirety of Tingen was still too vast. Trying to observe every detail individually was utterly impossible with his mere Sequence 5 spirituality.

"Sequence 4 is a threshold." Upon reaching Sequence 4, this state would likely undergo a qualitative transformation as well. Don thought.

He could feel his spirituality draining rapidly. Merely maintaining this view was constantly eroding his inherent spirituality. Soon, he would leave this state and return to his body.

Exhaling an imaginary breath, Don swept his gaze around, preparing to test the observational limits of this state.

Fortified by the Maddening Knowledge carried within his spirit body – knowledge that was also rapidly depleting – used to resist the prying gazes of the unknowable and unobservable entities, he felt relatively safe for the moment.

Seizing the chance before his spirituality was completely exhausted, Don looked on with curiosity.

Then, he saw a person.

A person with black, curly hair, black eyes, wearing a black soft hat, and a monocle carved from crystal over his right eye—

Amon???

Immense shock instantly turned Don's metaphorical limbs ice-cold.

"What's happening? Why is Amon here? Has he set his sights on me? Or is he after the Miracle Invoker Sealed Artifact?"

This was a fear rooted deep in memory – the impression of Amon from reading the books, compounded by the unease of book characters becoming reality after entering the world of The Lord of the Mysteries, forming a small shadow within his psyche.

Now, truly seeing this Angel King appear before him, Don felt an instant onset of monocle PTSD.

Though he had contemplated ways to counter Amon, how to use the system against this Angel King, how to safely escape his notice, the memory of this Angel King still made him instinctively hold his breath, sending chills down his spine.

This was the being who contended with Klein Moretti for the Sefirah Castle!

But he was overthinking, scaring himself.

The monocle-wearing Amon hadn't detected his observation.

Don's level of existence in this state was quite high, his condition exceptionally unique. Only Amon's true body might detect this cross-dimensional observation. Similarly, without a specific channel, Amon couldn't enter this entirely separate space through Parasitism or Theft.

Don quickly calmed down, also confirming his current safety.

"This space is safe. It's a Bystander mode accessible only to me."

Looking back at that Amon, Don saw his location was far from his own territory, in the residential area of Tingen's nobility and wealthy merchants.

His spirituality was draining precipitously. Don saw Amon attached to a young man, parasitizing his spirit body – the Beyonder ability of a Sequence 4 Parasite on the Marauder pathway.

"Not strong." Don could observe the entity's essence; it was a Worm of Time, not the true body.

"A demigod-level avatar."

He wanted to continue observing, but he already felt his spirituality nearing depletion.

Don immediately memorized the specific address of Amon's location, mentally marking it with a big red cross.

He planned to steer clear of Tingen for a considerable time... Ah, not that he was afraid of Amon, of course.

In the final moment as his spirituality receded and his spirit body began its return to his physical form, Don heard a voice.

"Tch, Farbauti truly regresses with age."

Don: …?

What did he just hear?

Looking again, the surrounding vision shattered abruptly. Don felt a sharp pain lance through his head. The Sun Scepter clattered to the ground as he dropped to his knees, retching violently.

His spirit body returned, landing him within the Theater With Curtains That Never Draw.

The sensation of depleted spirituality was truly wretched. The emptiness made his head feel like it was exploding. Simultaneously, the system's voice blared out.

[Host! Host! Where did you just vanish to?!]

The system's electronic voice sounded like it was blaring through a loudspeaker. Don clutched his head, feeling utterly miserable and unwilling to speak.

This was the result of spiritual exhaustion; he needed rest to recover.

[Host? Host, answer me, Host—] The utterly oblivious system continued at maximum volume. [Aaaaah, Host, your spirituality is completely drained!!]

[Was it that bastard! Yes, that bastard! Host, tell me, I'll string that bastard up right now for you to play with as a marionette! Aaaaah Host don't die! Don't make me beg you on my knees… At least switch to the Hermit or Paragon pathway before you die, okay?]

[If you die, I won't live either! Boo hoo hoo! I'll make the whole theater your funeral offering!]

The Theater Core watching the drama from the side: Impressive.

Don: "..." Why not just say you'll make all of Tingen my funeral offering?

The Theater Core decided discretion was the better part of valor and vanished.

Don had zero desire to engage with the system. He shifted from kneeling to lying flat on his back, staring at the sky. He wanted to sleep but couldn't, his head filled only with a deafening buzz.

This effect could be resolved by making a wish to the Theater Core.

Don raised his hand, using the Ring of the Curator's ability to wish away the negative effects of spiritual depletion. Only then did he feel significantly better.

Seeing his host finally revived, the system muttered and grumbled for a while before highlighting something for Don to see.

The negative effect description of the Sun Scepter had changed.

[Negative Effect: Will cause the Sun to Rises!]

Now, beneath this text, a new small line had appeared.

[Remaining uses until next Sun Rises: 53!]

Meaning, after 53 more uses of the Sun Scepter, this whole ordeal would happen again?

Don instantly fell silent.

[Host, don't worry,] the system explained. [The first time is the most violent. Each subsequent Rises will be significantly weaker.]

[Moreover, once the Beyonder characteristics of the mystical item are fully supplemented and balanced, the Sun won't Rises Upward again for a very long time.] In this state, the Sun Scepter would approach stability, finally becoming a demigod-level mystical item without overly severe negative effects.

So, he needed to continue collecting Sequence 4 Beyonder characteristics for the Reader and Tyrant pathways.

'Until it's fully supplemented, it's best not to use it again.'

There wouldn't be the main system coming to help next time.

But Don wasn't focused on that. "You mean, as long as it's not fully supplemented, it will continuously cause the Sun to Rise Upward?"

He looked thoughtful.

(End of Chapter)