"I'm thinking about what methods I can use to reduce the danger. For example, changing my race to gain the corresponding resistance."
Tingyun walked to his side, her fox tail gently draped over his leg.
"Change race?"
"Yes, a temporary change. To cope with the unknown environment at the center of the giant Tatsumaki."
Higashino Makoto looked at the Seed of the World Tree in his hand; the golden seed slowly spun in his palm.
"Primal Earth Elemental, it is immune to most physical attacks and has extremely high resistance to earth magic. The Space Devourer is immune to spatial attacks and gains the ability to walk in the void."
He paused.
"If the giant Tatsumaki really does lead to New World, there's likely a spatial distortion at its center. These two races could make me safer."
Tingyun looked at him, her Kohaku eyes flashing with complex emotions.
"Sir, will changing one's race have any side effects?"
"No."
Higashino Makoto shook his head.
"My special profession, combined with the Seed of the World Tree, allows me to transform into various races without any side effects."
He took a deep breath and then closed his eyes.
The Seed of the World Tree emitted a faint, seven-colored light, enveloping his body.
He felt his body changing—
The bones became heavier, like the weight of the earth.
The blood became thick, like flowing lava.
Then, another change began.
Space distorted around him, like a shattered mirror.
He felt that he could perceive the folds and cracks in space, as well as those dimensions invisible to the naked eye.
He opened his eyes.
The gold in his eyes deepened, as if it contained the entire universe.
"Grown ups..."
Tingyun's voice trembled.
"Are you... are you alright?"
Higashino Makoto lowered his head and looked at his hands.
His skin turned slightly grayish-white, like the color of rock, but faint spatial ripples flowed beneath it.
He clenched his fist and felt the ground tremble slightly beneath his feet.
"Very good."
He said.
The voice was no longer the deep and calm male voice from before, but a heavier voice, as if it came from the depths of the earth.
Better than I expected.
"My lord, you... you've changed so much, it's like you're a completely different person."
Higashino Makoto looked at her for two seconds.
To be honest, he was quite surprised himself.
This has never happened before; this racial change is indeed quite significant.
He took a deep breath, calmed the magical fluctuations caused by the racial conversion, erased the abnormality in his body, and returned to his original state.
Then he reached out and ruffled her hair.
The fox ears trembled slightly between his fingers.
"I already said it's no problem, it's just a slight change to a temporary race."
His voice regained its previous warmth.
She threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly.
"My lord, you've scared this young lady to death!"
Higashino Makoto gently patted her back.
"It's nothing, it's basically just a different skin, I'm still me."
Tingyun grabbed one of Higashino Makoto's hands, while its tail tightly wrapped around the other.
After a long while, he took a deep breath, then let go and took a step back.
"Sir, when will you depart?"
"Now."
"So urgent?"
"The giant Tatsumaki suddenly appeared earlier than expected, and it's unclear whether it will stop abruptly. I need to get there as soon as possible to assess the situation."
Tingyun lowered her head, her long, dark green hair falling down and obscuring her face.
"May I come with you?"
"Okay, but you can only wait outside."
Tingyun raised her head, her Kohaku eyes looking at him.
"I understand."
"Alright, pack your bags. We'll leave first thing tomorrow morning."
"Yes, sir."
Tingyun bowed slightly, then turned and walked towards the door.
The door closed behind her.
Higashino Makoto stood by the window, gazing at the closed door, and remained silent for a long time.
Then he turned around and looked out the window.
Novas Etier's floating islands appear and disappear in the clouds.
Further away, in that desert covered in yellow sand, a massive Tatsumaki, occurring only once every thirty years, is brewing.
That's where he's going.
It's also a place he must return to.
Not long after, Tingyun finished packing her things.
A month ago, after making a pact with Ainz, the Guardians began preparing various supplies.
Higashino Makoto retrieved several premium items from his treasure vault and began using them.
Increase Fortune, increase drops in the next dungeon...
Since it involved World Item, Higashino Makoto had no intention of giving it to Ainz.
Then, he took out several tarot card-like props. They weren't very useful in the game, but in the real world, they could be used to predict the future to a large extent.
Higashino Makoto drew one of the cards.
--The Sun in order of precedence.
"Good... is everything going smoothly?"
Higashino Makoto stood at the exit of Novas Etier.
He was wearing a dark robe, and his backpack contained several World Item.
Tingyun stood beside him, her long, dark green hair tied up high, and she wore a practical outfit that allowed for easy movement.
Naturally, every guardian who ventures out must carry a World Item.
It's just that it has never encountered any danger, nor has it ever been used.
This time, there might be unknown dangers, so Higashino Makoto specifically reminded Tingyun.
"Did you bring any World Item?"
Its fox ears stood straight up, and its Kohaku eyes looked at him.
"Of course, sir. I am ready."
"Um."
Higashino Makoto stretched out his hand and made a light sweeping motion in the air.
A pitch-black spatial rift appeared silently before the two of them.
Through the other end of the crevice, one could see yellow sand, blazing sun, and a distant, faintly visible column of Tatsumaki.
The "Space Devourer" talent bonus gave Higashino Makoto a new understanding of teleportation, portals, and Reality Slash skills.
This is another good discovery: by transforming into the corresponding race, one can acquire the corresponding talents, which can be used to enhance the understanding of skills.
This is yet another shortcut to becoming stronger.
Let's go.
Higashino Makoto was the first to step into the rift.
Tingyun took a deep breath and followed.
The rift closed silently after the two passed through, leaving no trace.
The Dolor Desert.
Yellow sand filled the sky, and the sun blazed overhead.
At first glance, the sand appears to be golden, but for ordinary people, there is almost no way to survive in this place.
On the distant horizon, a massive column of Tatsumaki is slowly moving.
Its diameter exceeds several thousand meters, its height is immeasurable, and clouds churn at its top, resembling a colossal beast crawling out of hell.
Higashino Makoto stood on a sand dune, his golden eyes gazing at the Tatsumaki.
Tingyun stood behind him, the pillar of wind reflected in her Kohaku eyes.
"Sir, that is..."
"Hmm. A giant Tatsumaki that happens only once every thirty years."
Higashino Makoto's voice was calm.
"It came ahead of schedule."
He turned his head and looked in another direction.
In the distance, another figure was walking towards them.
This time, Ainz isn't Momon in the same black armor as Fizz.
He wore a black magic robe, and his eyes emitted a faint red light.
Ainz Ooal Gown.
The Overlord.
A woman named Narberal followed behind him.
Higashino Makoto thought he would bring Albedo or Shalltear.
After all, their abilities are more reliable.
The two walked up to Higashino Makoto and stopped.
Ainz raised his head, his crimson eyes peering through the gaps in his helmet at Higashino Makoto.
"Higashino."
"What's wrong?"
You... seem to have changed a lot.
Higashino Makoto touched his chin, even though his appearance hadn't changed at all.
Have you noticed the change in your magic?
"We used a little trick to increase resistance to earth and spatial attributes in order to cope with the unknown environment at the center of the Tatsumaki."
Ainz nodded and didn't ask any further questions.
He stared at the Tatsumaki, a complex light flickering in his scarlet eyes.
Are you ready?
"Ready."
"Then let's go."
Ainz strode forward.
Higashino Makoto followed behind him.
After walking a few steps, he stopped and turned around.
"Tingyun."
"Exist."
"You stay here and don't go near the Tatsumaki."
"Nabe, you too."
Tingyun looked at him, her Kohaku eyes glistening with tears.
"Grown ups..."
"Wait for me to come back."
Higashino Makoto turned around and continued walking forward.
Tingyun stood there, watching his back as he gradually disappeared into the yellow sand.