He looked after me and I told him stories of what happens in the future. Of course, I also told him about my previous life experiences, not meant to draw pity but more to just dump all of this information. It was satisfying to let go of such a heavy hull of thoughts.

“I’m gonna get going now. I’ll still be in this city so if you want to talk again, just call me over. Send a servant or two and I’ll be sure to be there-”

Suddenly, the snake twisted and contorted before shrinking down into a humanoid-sized man. A drop of sweat slid down the side of my face as a man with short dark green hair and flawless pale skin greeted me with a calm smile. The double beauty mark inked below his right eye drew my gaze to that side of his face, and in an instant, I realized it.

With pupils as sharp as needles and as wide as the spike of a thumbtack. With pupils as green as a verdant forest hollowed out by merciless poison gases. With pupils as threatening and belittering as the man, I had seen before… I could only tell this is who I had met previously, but different somehow.

“We are one together, but separate beings… allow me to grant you the other half of the body. I hope you use it wisely.”

.𝒪𝒱𝓁xt.𝑐𝒪𝔪

Jormungunder has fused your Incomplete Body with his power

Ouroboros and Jormungunder have formed the skill: Ancient Serpents Body

.

Ever so subtly, the scales that had formed each skin cell had sharpened. It was like a new suit of armor had formed around me with a thorny effect that would dish out damage just as somebody damaged me. It was an incredible effect that not only allowed my to skin to somehow breathe better, but absorb and release mana twice as fast.

From just my skin I was absorbing mana. With just a thought, I could close it, sealing the mana that was rampaging with my body like a bomb. If I ever needed to blow myself up, this would be perfect.

As dark robes enveloped his naked body, he walked towards me and shot out his hand. His smile assured me there was no malicious intent, but I wasn’t going to be careful anyway. I trusted him. At least for now.

“Not gonna say anything else?” He smirked, slowly letting go of my hand.

“Thank you…”

He let out a cheery smile before wrapping his arm around my shoulder. I couldn’t help but smile at him. And as we walked down the steps, the pressure that used to weigh on my shoulders felt like nothing now. I was almost prepared to go to war.

…

As I walked through the dark and smoggy streets of what was supposed to be one of the greatest cities on this continent, I looked around, searching for somewhere that I could hide. And, it didn’t long before I soon found what looked to be a dark alleyway stretching deep into the back alleys of a few abandoned buildings.

I found myself in the deepest and darkest part where the stench of sewage water wafted strong like it was its own sea breeze. Nausea was the only thing permissible here and I wasn’t an exception but since this was the perfect place for me to set up base and spread out my influence, I didn’t complain.

Quasi World

My surroundings darkened until an entire abyss surrounded me. It was a familiar feeling which activated the rest of its mechanisms, causing the sound of turning gears to flip the darkness around and reveal a massive white building.

This was the most I could muster for now, but upon expanding my strength in the future I could probably alter the entire abyss to my will. For now, though, I was stuck with this massive white and unappealing box that when entered revealed a massive hall with hundreds upon thousands of dhampirs socializing and sipping on tall glasses of wine. It almost looked like some noble convention but in reality, this was just the welcoming area.

Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, entirely illuminating the dark hall with white light, displaying the waxed marble floor and polished quartz walls and ceiling. Engraved into each wall was either a painting of me or a door leading to some other part of this massive white box. And finally, at the very end of this hall, a massive receptionist area was planted with two curving staircases leading up to a second floor on each side.

“H-He’s back! Everyone! The Master is back!” A voice suddenly echoed through the building, causing an instantaneous snapping of necks no matter what position they were in towards my direction.

“ALL HAIL HIS HIGHNESS! ALL HAIL THE COMMANDER OF THE SANGRIA-EYED KING!”

The attention wasn’t very appealing to me, but as I had no choice but to use these blood-drunk **ers, I entertained them a bit. I chatted with a few and ate with a few until I finally reached the receptionist area.

“Your Highness, it is good to see you. What have you graced us with your presence for today?”

“Send out a message to everybody that we will be expanding our army. Also, tell them to prepare for war,” I said, but it was more like an announcement as the entire hall froze. A few dhampirs from the other sections of this building poked their heads in and smiled. Everybody smiled. Everybody grinned with excitement.

And before I was rushed with questions, I exited my quasi-world and reappeared in the dark alleyway. My heart raced with excitement as this new privilege of controlling an entire city presented itself to me.

So, with just my very own will, I dragged anybody and everybody that I could find into this alleyway in a slow and tedious process. I converted them into dhampirs instantly and made sure they adapted to their new cravings and such through my quasi-world. And one single day may have only produced a few… but over time, it would surely stack up.