Chapter 40

Hmm. It’s good that I’ve dissected and improved the spells, but it’s troublesome that there’s no way to test these altered spells.

Of course, I can’t just teach something未经tested recklessly, right?

After all, testing and debugging are indispensable steps after creating anything. Hmm… a testbed… I need a testbed…

But even if I were to use it myself for testing, the environment wouldn’t be the same as when a Lizardman uses it. Hmm… what should I do about this?

If only I were a Lizardman, this would’ve been an easy problem to solve. Unfortunately, I’m not a Lizardman…

Hmm? Wait a second.

Since I’m not a Lizardman, why don’t I just become one?

Using Polymorph won’t work though; it only changes appearance, so the essence remains the same, making it hard to yield the same results.

Perhaps creating a doppelgänger would be better? A doppelgänger… hmm… sounds good.

I gave a small nod.

Since my creative ability knows no bounds, let me create a Lizardman. Then, by linking my consciousness, I can turn it into a doppelgänger—should work, right?

Fortunately, there are plenty of Lizardman blueprints available. Just roughly picking one and copying it should suffice.

—

Thus, I created a Lizardman. With sleek silver scales, it was completed in a rather impressive form.

Nice. The body is ready. Now, if I link my spirit to this body… hmm… connecting the main body with the doppelgänger using magical power. Let’s name this “Mental Synchronization Magic.”

The Lizardman, which had its eyes closed as if asleep, slowly opened them, revealing me standing before it.

Or rather, before me stood another version of myself. The recognition that we’re both me doesn’t leave my mind. One spirit. Two bodies. Hmm…

Moving them simultaneously isn’t easy, especially controlling the main body.

Controlling the doppelgänger isn’t particularly burdensome, but focusing on moving the main body leaves insufficient resources for the doppelgänger. Or maybe because concentrating on the main body makes me neglect the doppelgänger.

Well, I don’t need to move both the main body and the doppelgänger at the same time right now, so let’s move on for now. If any improvements are needed, I’ll fix them later.

Still, despite creating this body through my creative powers, I have this feeling that even without such abilities, pure magical power could form a body—why is that?

Of course, it consumes an immense amount of magical power, so regular creatures wouldn’t dare attempt it. And the formed body has far inferior capabilities compared to the expended magical power, making it practically useless.

But beings who surpass ordinary lifeforms—those treated as Kings of Spirits like the children—might they be capable?

Thinking about it, it’s been a while since I took scales from the other kids except Erebus. Even if returning the scales is out of the question, teaching them this much shouldn’t hurt, right?

With this method, even if the created body comes with many restrictions, it won’t cause the same chaos as before.

Creating a body by consuming vast amounts of magical power, then linking consciousness to create a doppelgänger… Can this really be called magic? Considering the astronomical magical power consumption, not even humans or elves could use it.

Anyway, naming this technique… let’s call it “Avatar.”

Considering the massive magical power consumption, only beings worthy of being called gods could use this.

After severing the connection with the Lizardman doppelgänger, I began modifying it.

Changing the race into a human, then into an elf or dwarf… hmm. Beastmen are possible too. It’s almost like customizing a game character.

Appearance can be changed too… gender seems impossible though. Hmm… well, it doesn’t matter much.

For some reason, even when transformed into a human, horns appear on the head by default like in Polymorph, but they can be removed easily… though removing the horns seems to further reduce the total power output of the avatar.

Well, how often will I need to use power through the doppelgänger? If I need power, I’ll use the main body. Whatever.

Anyway, turning the doppelgänger back into a Lizardman, I start testing the spell I’ve improved.

A spell that embodies spirits directly into the body. Following my command obediently, a fiery spirit, originally a high-ranking dragon spirit, is embodied into the Lizardman.

「Fresh body!!」

Seems spirits, especially superior ones originally dragons, instinctively yearn for their past days with physical forms, greedily absorbing into the Lizardman body I’ve made.

The Lizardman’s body begins to burn fiercely. Hmm… embodying a spirit transforms the body itself into something akin to a spirit.

Performance-wise, it’s excellent. Since the body is half-spirit, it can deflect most physical attacks.

Feels somewhat like a Devil Fruit from some pirate manga? Of course, against attacks powerful enough to harm the spirit itself, there’s nothing that can be done.

Moreover, the attributes of the embodied spirit fully manifest—if you embody a fire spirit, flames accompany every movement.

Let’s skip over how embodying a wind spirit allows flight.

Still, as long as the spirit doesn’t try to steal the body due to insufficient rapport, or if the spirit is completely subdued, there shouldn’t be any problems. Though issues like spirits lurking for the body or significant variations depending on the strength of the embodied spirit do exist. Nevertheless, it’s undoubtedly a fine technique.

There’s a minor issue where Lizardmen have limited magical power, restricting the strength of spirits they can embody… but that’s easily solved by teaching them simple meditation techniques to gather more magical power.

If the user has close relationships with multiple spirits… hmm, could multiple spirits be embodied at once? That’s intriguing.

However, befriending multiple spirits isn’t easy—they’re as capricious as children and unlikely to listen easily.

Wait. Could spirits actually listen…?

At that moment, a flash of inspiration struck me.

The talent of an Archmage—it might be the so-called “social butterfly” skill, allowing quick friendships with spirits.

Though calling it a “social butterfly” feels strange. Quick familiarity? Talent? Like a capybara? Hmm…

No, perhaps it’s the talent for caring for children? Since spirits are capricious and tend to act on their own, they need to be gently coaxed into friendship…

If spirits can be easily befriended, it’d enhance spell usage significantly.

I chuckled softly to myself.

For a mage’s aptitude to be social skills… How did it come to this? But getting close to spirits has many advantages. It’s fine, right?

High-powered spirits could influence the environment or weather. Excellent mages would coax such spirits to gain what they need.

Hmm. Perhaps it’d also be useful for rituals. Resolving droughts or stopping floods… spirits would willingly lend their power for close friends, even if the Lizardman’s personal magical power is low.

Good. Roughly decided, now I need to designate a Lizardman with outstanding social skills as the Archmage.

Thinking this, I opened GodTalk, but something caught my attention.

A few buttons at the bottom of GodTalk. The speech bubble shaped one clearly indicates the current message window, but…

What’s the star-shaped button beside it?

I tapped the star-shaped button with my finger, and the message list changed to another window.

Names displayed: Yggdrasil, Sagarmatha, and Shamash. The screen looked like a contact list in a messenger app.

Indeed. So, the World Tree revered as a deity by the elves, Yggdrasil, and the sacred mountain worshipped by the dwarves, Sagarmatha. And somehow, Shamash is also present.

Got it. This screen displays a list of gods.

But Shamash? Regardless of the others, why is Shamash here?

Hmm… has faith in Shamash spread among humans? It’s natural to revere light that illuminates the dark as divine…

Ahem, well, it’s not really a problem. It’s not bad to have more gods looking after humans.

Favoritism? Yes, favoritism, but it’s unavoidable.

If I didn’t favor them like this… humans might get overshadowed by other races and disappear.

Humans, aside from being widespread across the world and having a large population, have no real strengths. They’re physically weak, lack skills like spirit magic, and struggle daily. I couldn’t just stand by and watch them perish.

Part of me that was once human urged me to help them.

That’s why I favor humans.