The image on the light screen faded, and new text appeared:
[Faced with Sampo Koski, Emanator of The Elation, you are unwilling to flee. You refuse to let him pull the strings, treating the suffering of others as a play to be critiqued from on high.]
[Facing a desperate situation, you decide to pray to The Apothecary of The Abundance, asking for everything It can give you.]
[Such a greedy and bold prayer, even for The Apothecary of The Abundance, who never refuses a wish, would normally be granted at a greatly reduced scale. It would not be fulfilled completely.]
[But you are different.]
[It gladly agrees to your request.]
It can even gladly agree to a request like this...
Ron looked at the text on the screen, a sense of wonder washing over him.
When he prayed to The Apothecary in this way, he didn't actually believe his wish would be fully granted.
He simply wanted to receive The Apothecary's blessing to the greatest possible extent. After all, The Apothecary was an Aeon who would never bring ruin upon people and would never ignore any prayer. Even with such an audacious request, the worst that could happen was that the wish would be fulfilled at a discount; there would be no punishment. It was a choice with every possible benefit and no drawbacks...
But he never expected that The Apothecary wouldn't even discount the wish... Was it because of the "Salvation" trait?
Because I broadened the Path of The Abundance, The Apothecary remembers me and is willing to generously grant my every wish...
Ron thought pensively, a sliver of anticipation for The Apothecary's blessing blooming in his heart.
If that was the case, the blessing granted by The Apothecary would likely be far more powerful than he imagined... Ron had previously estimated that he would, at most, receive power comparable to an Emanator. That was the known limit of The Apothecary's blessings, based on past cases.
But if The Apothecary was willing to bestow everything It could give this time, the result would surely be much stronger than an ordinary Emanator of The Abundance...
Then there should be nothing to worry about in the fight against Sampo.
Ron had been somewhat cautious before. Even if he obtained the power of an Emanator, he would have only just received it.
It would surely be difficult to compare himself to someone like Sampo, who had received the blessing of Aha, The Elation, an unknown time ago, becoming an Emanator who manipulated the lives of all...
But if he could receive The Apothecary's blessing without reservation, then perhaps even an Emanator like Sampo, who had held his power for who knows how long, would be utterly overturned at his hands...
With these thoughts in mind, Ron looked at the light screen. The text gradually faded, and new lines appeared:
[The world in your eyes has changed. A scene from thousands of light-years away squeezes into your vision, replacing what was before you.]
[You see the thousand-handed, thousand-eyed Aeon dancing amidst a throng of stars. A gentle, fragrant wind blows through the cosmos, and specks of starlight drift through the universe. Silent, dead stars receive The Apothecary's touch, shimmering softly before transforming into droplets of golden-green rain.]
[One of Its thousand hands gently waves a vine. At its motion, stars fall from their orbits, only to burst forth with the most brilliant radiance of their existence—a dead galaxy flickers with a light of life it had never before known, transforming into seeds of life at The Apothecary's will, becoming droplets of gleaming, golden-green rain.]
[It merely casts Its gaze upon you. Its thousand eyes blink in unison, and It offers you a soft, gentle smile.]
[It parts Its vermilion lips, and a layered, overlapping voice echoes—]
["I shall grant thy prayer. Henceforth, thou shalt know no sickness, no calamity, no sorrow, no grievance." ]
["Thou shalt live eternally, until the cosmos collapses and myriad eons fall to ruin." ]
[The countless drops of golden-green light rain around you seem to receive a command, immediately surging toward you with the voice.]
---o---
The text on the screen faded, and a new image appeared:
Ron was standing in the dark expanse of the universe, enveloped by the cold, silent void.
Looking at the scene on the screen, Ron couldn't help but feel a bit stunned.
What's going on? Wasn't my simulated self in Belobog, facing off against Sampo?
How did I suddenly end up in a place like this?
But as soon as the thought popped into his head, he understood the reason.
It was likely a change brought about by The Apothecary's blessing... Perhaps his body was still in Belobog, but his soul and consciousness had arrived in this part of the cosmos.
Or perhaps nothing had changed at all, and he had merely imagined this dead universe, and The Apothecary was about to bestow its blessing upon him here...
Ron watched the screen with anticipation. The scene continued to play:
In the dark and empty void, Ron floated, looking around with some confusion. He saw points of green light emerge in the far distance, gleaming with a brilliant gold.
A moment later, an endless rain of light crossed a distance of tens of thousands of light-years, traversed the treacherous void, and arrived at Ron's side, pouring into his body drop by drop.
With every drop of light that entered him, he could feel a heavy, vibrant power emerge within. The power within each droplet felt bottomless, and vast Imaginary energy flooded his body.
A golden-green light flickered in his pupils. As the rain of light entered his body, the condensed Imaginary energy of several galaxies flowed through his blood, surging into every single cell...
His hair began to grow, but the influx of Imaginary energy made it more resilient, more lustrous, healthier... more spiritual.
His hair, his flesh, his bones—everything was being altered under the influence of the power of The Abundance. Strange tentacles sprouted from his body, only to be suppressed and returned to their original form.
Scales, carapaces, feathers, manes... the traits of countless creatures emerged all over Ron's body. His form was being relentlessly remolded by the Path of The Abundance, receiving the most essential power of every kind of life.
He was degenerating from a human, turning into something that had never before appeared in the entire universe...
A terrifying monster.
---o---
The image on the screen faded, and new text appeared:
[You have received the unreserved blessing of The Apothecary of The Abundance.]
[You have become an Emanator of The Abundance, obtaining power far greater than that of other Emanators.]
[The Imaginary energy of more than ten galaxies has surged into your body, gradually transforming you under the influence of the power of The Abundance.]
[The Apothecary of The Abundance bears you no ill will, so all these transformations are benevolent, pushing your body to develop in a better direction.]
[But The Apothecary's unreserved blessing is more than you can bear.]
[The endless Imaginary energy is not only remolding your body, but also affecting your consciousness—more powerful creatures possess stronger instincts. Now, you are about to become the most powerful biological conglomerate in the universe. Your consciousness will naturally be crushed by these instincts, collapsing and dissipating under the pressure.]
[Under the influence of The Apothecary's blessing, you are forced to a crossroads—]
[Embrace the power, or resist the instinct?]
[Restraint or indulgence, you must make a choice.]
Reading the text on the screen, Ron couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
As expected, the blessing of The Apothecary cannot be easily accepted. It's easy to end up like this, a monster dominated by the power of The Abundance, devoid of reason...
The Apothecary truly held nothing back from Ron. It felt as if It had given him all the Imaginary energy from the Path of The Abundance that could possibly be bestowed, much like how Aha, The Elation, had once given the entire power of its Path to a worm...
However, Aha had only done it for amusement, offering that worm no protection whatsoever, simply and crudely dumping all its power into it, leading the worm to an extremely tragic end.
But The Apothecary was different... It truly was giving Ron all the power It could, and in a way that was beneficial to him.
However... while The Apothecary's blessing wasn't completely without limits like Aha's—where the sheer narrative energy of the Path of Elation directly caused the worm to explode—it was not without its dangers for Ron.
In fact, the blessing of The Apothecary had always been among the most dangerous in the universe. Otherwise, Ron wouldn't have been so cautious about it before, never even considering praying for a blessing.
Although he had prayed to The Apothecary now, he had long been aware that he would face this situation. It was not unexpected.
I should think about how to solve this... I probably won't lose my mind immediately. My stats are very high in this simulation, so I should be able to hold on for a while...
Ron thought to himself as he looked at the screen.
The text faded, and a new option box appeared:
[1. To restrain desire is the foundation of self-mastery.]
[You know that every gift from fate comes with a price. The blessing of The Apothecary is the most generous gift in the universe, and you must naturally pay the heaviest price for it.]
[Endless evolution will turn you into an ultimate lifeform that comprehends the boundary of life and death and understands the changes of all spirits. But the instincts of these creatures are enough to shatter your sanity, causing you to lose control of your body and be forced to drown in overwhelming power.]
[You have no desire to see yourself become a monster driven by instinct and power. You decide to do your utmost to restrain the blessing bestowed by The Apothecary and resist the changes it brings upon you.]
[If you choose this option, there is an 80% chance that your sanity will immediately collapse. The formidable power of the Path of The Abundance will transform you into an ultimate lifeform never before seen in the universe. You will be unable to control the simulation game from this point on and will enter a spectator mode.]
[There is a 20% chance that you will successfully resist the change. Part of The Apothecary's blessing will be lost as a result.]
[But you will be able to maintain your human form and act with your sanity intact for one hour, after which this choice will trigger again.]
[2. Instinct is the optimal choice flowing through the blood of all life.]
[You know that not a single drop of The Apothecary's blessing can be wasted. To defeat Sampo Koski, Emanator of The Elation, you are willing to do anything.]
[Although your sanity will be eroded by instinct, you know that after you evolve into an ultimate lifeform, your residual reason will be more than enough to stir your instincts and crush Sampo into paste.]
[You decide to submit to your biological instincts, respecting The Apothecary's generous gift to you, and begin your evolution completely.]
[If you choose this option, due to your relaxed acceptance of the blessing, you will perfectly receive the blessing of The Apothecary.]
[Your sanity will be completely suppressed by instinct, and you will transform into an ultimate lifeform entirely controlled by instinct.]
Looking at the options on the screen, Ron rubbed his temples with a headache.
So there's a chance to hold on for a while, but the difficulty is just too high... 20%? Only a one-in-five chance of success?
He had never considered letting The Apothecary's blessing transform him unchecked... He was here to play a game, not to watch his character go wild in an uncontrollable cutscene.
Ron had fought so hard to get here, to have a chance to mercilessly beat Sampo for seven pages. Of course, he didn't want to become an uncontrollable monster.
Besides, by not suppressing his desires and being forced into a monster remade by the power of a Path, Ron didn't feel he could achieve his goals that way.
He didn't know what he would be capable of without his reason, but he knew that most who accepted The Apothecary's blessing eventually lost their minds, driven by instinct to pursue their desires. Ron didn't think he was any stronger than them.
He might end up just like the infected from the Seed of Calamity, obeying his hunger, being consumed by it, and becoming a monster that devours everything...
However, although Ron didn't want to be consumed by desire, it wasn't up to him...
He could only hope to succeed in suppressing it.
Only a twenty percent chance of success...
Ron sighed and clicked on the first option.
---o---
The option box on the screen faded, and new text appeared:
[You know that you absolutely cannot be controlled by instinct. You forcefully restrain the instinctual desires that surge from the depths of your heart, desires made irrepressible by The Apothecary's blessing.]
[But your thoughts are just thoughts. The Apothecary's blessing is not something that can be changed by mere "thoughts." ]
[You forcefully suppress the unfathomable power of the Path within you, but your suppression is completely meaningless to it. It is effortlessly changing your body, and mutations appear one after another...]
[Instinct and desire, under the influence of The Apothecary's blessing, crash down like a tidal wave, turning your thoughts into a reef in the shallows. The monstrous waves slam against it, completely submerging it in a mere moment...]
Looking at the text, Ron sighed.
As I thought, it's not working...
A twenty percent success rate was indeed too low.
Just as Ron was feeling helpless, the text on the screen faded and a new line suddenly popped up:
[Your trait "Stellaron's Cower (Purple)" has successfully activated.]
[A Stellaron lies in your pocket. As you received the blessing of The Abundance, it began to emit a faint glow.]
[Just as the blessing of The Abundance was about to completely transform you, the Stellaron merged into your body.]
[You have obtained a new trait: "Seed of the Stars (Gold)"]
[Seed of the Stars: Cancer of All Worlds, Seed of Disaster, Heart of Ruin... The names of the Stellaron represent calamity itself, yet none know that It is also the seed of a Path.]
[The mysterious Stellaron from beyond the world wields the same Imaginary power as the Paths, taking root in the void and expanding with unimaginable energy.]
[And now, the Stellaron has obediently entered your body... It is you, you are It. You have become a human-shaped Stellaron.]
[You will gain the ability to contain the blessing of an Aeon and switch between Paths.]
[Your trait "Seed of the Stars" attempts to contain the blessing of The Apothecary, but its power is far from enough. The attempt has failed.]
[However, due to the Stellaron's attempt, The Apothecary's blessing upon you has been temporarily obstructed. The mutations on your body have temporarily ceased. Your stability has increased by one point.]
[You have saved your sanity... but only for one hour.]
[After one hour, you will face this choice again.]
Ron stared at the text, slightly stunned.
This was truly unexpected... He only now remembered that when he went to find the Imperial Second Pioneer Group, he had casually stuffed the Stellaron into his pocket and brought it back with him.
At the time, he had simply thought of keeping the potentially dangerous item with him to prevent another incident like the infected betraying them for it, and then he had forgotten all about it.
After all, the Stellaron's power had been completely useless in this simulation. It wasn't even a bargaining chip, so Ron hadn't paid it any mind.
He never expected that, at a time like this, the mental influence from The Apothecary's blessing would be narrowly overcome with the help of the Stellaron...
The effect of this "Seed of the Stars" trait was somewhat redundant with "Salvation." While the ability to house a Stellaron in one's body and switch Paths after receiving an Aeon's gaze was powerful, it was far inferior to the "Salvation" trait's ability to walk multiple Paths simultaneously.
Still, managing to reclaim his sanity with the help of this Stellaron he had completely disregarded was a good use of a forgotten asset. No need to be too greedy...
Ron thought silently, sweeping the cluttered thoughts from his mind.
He had no mood to care about these things right now... The moment he confirmed he could rationally control this body, which possessed power exceeding that of a typical Emanator, his mind was set on only one thing.
New text appeared on the screen:
[You have successfully received the blessing of The Apothecary of The Abundance, become an Emanator of The Abundance, and temporarily maintained your consciousness.]
[Next, your consciousness will enter the simulation game. You will personally control your Emanator self until your sanity collapses and you are completely consumed by desire...]
Looking at the text, Ron's lips curled into a slightly chilling smile.
"Good... Very good."
He murmured.
"This... is exactly what I wanted."
---o---
"Hey, pal, why'd you go quiet?"
Sampo patted Ron's shoulder, a wide grin on his face.
"Have you finally realized the gap between us?"
As if they were old friends, he casually draped an arm around Ron's shoulders, completely unguarded. He squeezed gently, and Ron's shoulder emitted a creaking sound. It was impossible to know how much force he was using.
An ordinary person's shoulder blade would have been shattered to dust by that grip.
Seeing Ron's head lowered, his expression hidden, Sampo leaned in close to his ear, his tone dripping with condescending mockery.
"Pal, that's just how the world works... Some people are born high above, while others spend their lives toiling away. Their sorrows and joys become a joke in the eyes of others, their whole bitter existence nothing more than a tiny part of a play."
"Laughter is a right unique to the living, and some living beings are destined to laugh much more happily than others..."
He sighed with heartfelt emotion, but was interrupted by a question. The voice was similar to Ron's, but it was laced with a wet, grating sound and a strange, unsettling echo—
"Oh, is that so?"
Sampo froze for a fraction of a second. He saw the man in his grip lift his head. Half of Ron's face was covered in layers of dense, yet exquisitely beautiful scales, each one adhering flawlessly to the golden ratio and glowing with a faint, pearlescent gold.
He saw countless, intricate sigils flickering within Ron's pupils, the marks combining to form a dense field of stars. It was as if a brilliant golden sea of stars had been born in Ron's eyes, containing an infinite cosmos within.
He heard Ron's voice tremble with the cries of countless living beings, as if the question hadn't been spoken by Ron alone, but by a myriad of creatures speaking in unison, questioning him alongside Ron.
He realized the body he was holding was getting warmer... no, not just warmer, it was heating up rapidly.
Ron's body temperature was skyrocketing. What was a normal, slightly cool temperature a moment ago became as hot as a branding iron, then in an instant, as scorching as molten magma...
Then, it became like the blazing core of a planet, until it was a brilliant star. For a split second, Sampo even felt that Ron was radiating a terrifying heat comparable to that of a pulsar, before it gradually stabilized, like the core of a star in its prime, pulsing with terrifying energy.
This... this isn't right, is it?
He instinctively felt that this wasn't normal. He immediately let go of Ron, trying to step back quickly, to get away from him...
But his attempt to flee failed.
He tried to lift his foot but found he couldn't move.
He looked down and saw that, at some point, "vines" had sprouted from the ground, shimmering with starlight and composed of actual, miniature stars. They had completely locked his legs in place.
Pcht.
A long, slender, pale hand, evolved into a perfect curve and also covered in golden scales, effortlessly pierced through Sampo's chest with a quiet, clean sound.
Endless tentacles sprouted from Ron's arm, instantly surging through the massive wound and into Sampo's body. The fine tendrils filled his every meridian, viciously draining every last drop of power from Sampo's body, nearly sucking him into a withered husk.
Sampo used all his strength to move his body, weakly turning his head, only to see a Ron who was clearly completely different from before, looking as if he were suppressing some unknown monster within him.
This time, Ron wore a smile that was strikingly similar to Sampo's from moments ago.
He stood beside Sampo, his smile wide, making no attempt to hide his fury. His voice was tinged with mockery.
"You said some people are destined to laugh more happily than others... In your world, does even the right to laugh have to be divided into ranks?"
"If that's the case, then right now, I'm definitely smiling much happier than you are..."
As Ron spoke, the corner of his mouth lifted into a somewhat terrifying arc.
"After all... now, I'm an Emanator, too."