Epic of Caterpillar

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Continuing with Ervas and Veronica's story, I wondered how much Mana Calculated is there…

Maybe differently than in Genesis?

I do not really know how is Mana Calculated there, so it might not be as much here?

I do not have much of a clue, but based on their mana alone, they can do lots of crazy stuff.

And Veronica in specific is amazing, she is a Living Armor that can shapeshift, becoming enormous mechs, vehicles, and more crazy stuff as she keeps developing.

And Ervas is just as insane, it seems that his family tree was incredibly mixed with many species, so every time he evolves, he awakens some bloodline… he recently got one of a dragon.

Oh, and I also got the answer over this strange void, this white space is actually Ervas soul!

Yeah, crazy.

It is what is called 'Soul Void', a void within the soul of Ervas that was produced through the wound left on his soul by Bestellen, which he opened even more, and by combining it with his bloodline of otherworldly creatures summoners, he created a void on his soul that connects to other worlds and planes.

Yeah, incredibly insane.

Oh, and Veronica has an 'Abyssal Soul', a soul filled with abyssal darkness that possesses crazy powers, such as being able to reflect any effects directed to her, and even open it up, bringing people inside a strange space.

So both of them are just insane, like me!

I never thought I would find such insane people.

My insane fellows.

I was honestly left startled.

"Amazing, you two got such an interesting story… And Kritias, huh? Do you know? That world is pretty amazing… Made from two dead gods and all… And really, that you two used to be one is baffling! Such an interesting power and backstory… Veronica is a Living Armor and Ervas a Half-Demon that has like a million bloodlines? You two really have a lot going on for you, pretty amazing," I said.

Ervas and Veronica could not help but feel a bit embarrassed over my praises, as they spoke a bit differently than they always did.

Now, time to talk about my own story! So lets them brace themselves a bit…

"Now, now, time to hear my own story! Brace yourselves because it is just as long! Well, it all started when I died from a fever… and boom! I became a Caterpillar!" I said as I began to introduce my own story to them, revealing that I was, originally, a freaking caterpillar!

"A Caterpillar?! Are you kidding me?" asked Veronica.

"You must be surely joking…" said Ervas.

Ah, I guess it is incredibly ridiculous compared to their own story…

"Hahaha… No, I actually became a Caterpillar," I said with a profoundly serious tone of voice, I needed them to take me seriously in this.

"…Eh?"

It seemed that within the two minds, they could not simply muster how did I a Caterpillar become something like me.

And it is understandable, I know, I know…

Even I find it stupid.

"Now sit tight, and hear me well, because I am not going to go into too many details!" I said.

And like this, I pretty much talk to them about everything I went through.

From reincarnating as a Caterpillar, defeating the Emperors, building my own Kingdom, conquering Athetosea, fighting gods, and eating them, all of it.

Even my multiple wives, my children, and stuff.

Now that I think about it, I really do sound like the villain of the story!

"So that's it," I said.

"Woah…" said Veronica.

"And you're telling me that you did all of this in less than a year?" asked Ervas.

"Y-Yeah. In here, everything is pretty fast-paced. You gotta keep moving and getting stronger if you don't want to be squashed to death," I said.

"Well, it is not so different in here…" said Veronica.

"Indeed, we all have it rough, isn't it?" asked Ervas.

I guess they're not having it easy either…

"Yeah… Part of being a reincarnated person, I suppose… Anyways, I guess we have become fairly good friends, aren't we? Even though our worlds are so different, even though our lives are so different, we can find many things to agree with and that we are very similar with… How about it? Let's make an alliance, my first alliance with people from another world, actually!" I said.

I really wanted this, it could come in handy.

"This is…" muttered Veronica.

"Well…" said Ervas.

"Eh? What is it? You don't like it? Well, I know I am quite the villain myself… but I swear that I treat well my friends!" I said.

I really meant it! I am a good person when I want to!

"No, it's not that, we are quite moved," said Veronica.

"Indeed, this is pretty overwhelming… but we accept, Kireina," said Ervas.

"Indeed, let's do it! A world alliance!" said Veronica.

"R-Really?! Now, this is what I am talking about! …Though, how do we do this? We sign some papers or…?" I said.

Well, although we came to an agreement, I have no idea what to do with all of this…

"Gah…! If you don't know, then why do you even come out with the idea?!" asked Veronica.

"Hahaha!" I laughed nervously…

"There are ways to form a permanent connection. Through your explanations, you said you have various abilities to divide yourself and connect your soul with your divided body parts, right? We are quite amateur into that yet, but you seem pretty advanced," said Ervas.

"Oh yeah! Oh? I know what you have in mind… Also, I just come out with yet another layer of connection… Although I am a mortal, I can give Divine Protections, did you know?" I asked.

I just realized something, if I give them my Divine Protection or Blessing, it should be capable of connecting them with me!

And I have already discovered that such things can even transcend time and space.

"Y-You can?" asked Veronica.

"Indeed! Now, let me grant you my Blessings- I mean, Divine Protections… That's how they're called in here, right?" I asked.

"Indeed… Also, if you could do the same thing as the other entities, it would be appreciated as well," said Ervas.

"Sure thing! Like this, I will be able to always accompany you through your adventures. Damn, this is true quite the insane plot twist," I said.

"Don't talk as if this was a novel, Kireina-san!" laughed Veronica.

"Anyways, there you go…" I said.

I had decided to give in a piece of my soul to Ervas, as he was a Summoner and he told me that the entities he spoke with always would give him their piece or a 'pawn' or 'children' as his new summoned creature.

So I tried to do the same but in my own style.

Of course, I put a few tricks on it.

I decided to concentrate an insane amount of power and abilities inside of a piece of my soul, almost 90% of what made up my consciousness energy, and then, sealed it all.

I knew that if it were too strong, the entity would not be able to enter, so what I did is packing a lot of power and then sealed it into something 'weak'.

Like this, Ervas will be able to summon my clone with no problems, and my clone will develop all, or most, of my original abilities as it progresses in that alien world.

Of course, I connected it with the strongest bond I could to me, and it was done.

It resembled a large, almost one meter of height mass of flesh with several eyes, tentacles, and other disgusting things.

Ervas mentioned that it looked like its other monster 'Nyarlathotep'… So, I decided to change the appearance to make it more appealing, making it into a beautiful butterfly, resembling one of my previous evolutions, the Dark Moon Butterfly.

"Well, maybe this appearance is a bit strange… How about this?" I asked, shapeshifting into a beautiful purple butterfly.

"A butterfly…" said Veronica.

"Welcome to the crew, Kireina," said Ervas.

After making the butterfly get through the void, I felt incredibly weakened and even felt as if something was forcefully pulling me back to my own body, so I decided to say my goodbyes for now…

It was not as if I was going to separate myself from them, as I've connected myself with my clone, I will be able to see what it sees.

Although my clone will have its own independent mind and all, so it won't be technically me.

"Sure thing, now I gotta go, so take good care of my little clone! See ya!" I said as I could hear a bit of what Ervas and Veronica were saying as I dissipated out of this 'plane'.

I woke up, finding myself in Agatheina's bed.

Everything felt as if it was some crazy dream that I had.

But I believe that everything was really true.

Even more now, as I felt that an enormous chunk of my soul was extracted from me, I guess that's the clone, I made it incredibly strong, but it had most of its power sealed for now.

Ding!

[You lost -20.000 Soul Stats, -20.000 HP, -20.000 MP, -1000 Stamina, -5000 Strength, Defense, Magic, Resistance, Speed, and Charisma, and -200 Luck!]

Damn, I even lost stats for it, so it better be worth it.

Ouch, my precious luck…

Anyways, it better be freaking worth it!

Ding!

[You acquired the [Otherworldly Connection: Kritias/Mirror Kritias: Level 1] Skill!]

What? What is this?!

[Otherworldly Connection: Kritias/Mirror Kritias: Level 1/10]

A Skill that represents your connection to another world's Origin, specifically the world named 'Kritias' and its Parallel World, Mirror Kritias.

A connection is not yet a complete Origin, as the Origin Core of such worlds had only recognized the piece you have sent there.

As long as you develop your piece there, you will be capable of strengthening this connection.

You are able to share part of your power with this piece, although it is very limited as of now, the power shared might increase as the level does.

You are able to draw the Source Energy from that world's Origin Core, although it is very limited as of now, the power acquired and drawn might increase as the level does.

This is an insane Skill!

What do you mean by that I can drain Source Energy from Kritias?

Can I… really?

Let's see…

I quickly activated the Skill, effect, trying to draw power from that world…

And then, I felt it.

Semi-transparent energy, something almost otherworldly began to permeate my own body…

It was a strange and mystical feeling, I could not truly describe it entirely, I was being embraced by this.

Wait…

This energy…

Does it feel like that of Veronica and Ervas?

And this power…

No way…

Is this?

It can't be…

That fast?

So this power can be shared?

Do they know this?

I should tell them…

Although perhaps, without my interference, they wouldn't be able to do it themselves.

This is rather troublesome then.

But still…

This is a bit insane.

Ding!

[Assimilating [Kritias/Mirror Kritias] Source Energy from [Origin Core]

[Assimilating]

[Reevaluating protocol…]

[Assimilating and extracting…]

[Transforming…]

[Editing…]

[Merging…]

Ding!

[Source Energy successfully assimilated into host's soul and System interface account]

Wait for a second… But what did change? It does not feel like anything has changed…

Ding!

[Kritias/Mirror Kritias] Source Energy will begin to be converted into Main Class/Subclass Skill Points, Experience Points, Dungeon Points, and Primordial Essence!]

Oh…

Maybe the stats I sacrificed were worth it?

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