Limits and New Goals

Time passed as Ainz busied himself preparing to deal with the True Dragon Lords.

Meanwhile, Higashino Makoto had Muni and Novas Aetir's guardians skilled in intelligence warfare monitor the areas around the Great Forest of Tob, ready to seize "Downfall of Castle and Country" at any moment.

After nearly two months, Higashino Makoto's level had reached Lv. 110.

He had thought his level would rise without limit, only to encounter a bottleneck.

It happened on the fifth day after he reached Lv. 110.

In fact, starting from the second day after reaching level 110, the ever-useful Sin Silver Coin had suddenly become unable to grant him experience.

"Dammit, what the hell is going on?!"

Higashino Makoto angrily slammed his hand down on the round table before him.

Though it was a relatively high-end magic item, it still shattered beneath the immense force.

I clearly asked for my level cap to be raised to infinity!

Why could he no longer gain experience?

He had previously tried gaining experience by killing monsters, but it had still failed.

"Dammit! Where did it go wrong?!"

Higashino Makoto stood and paced back and forth irritably.

Although Lv. 110 made him nearly invincible in this world, the gap between that and infinity was simply too vast.

How could he continue breaking through?

After pondering for a long time, Higashino Makoto reluctantly came up with several possibilities.

First, he could find the Ring of the Eternal Serpent again and ensure that he would never face another bottleneck when leveling up.

This was both the simplest and the most troublesome option.

After all, obtaining it would solve his problem.

But who knew whether the Ring of the Eternal Serpent had crossed over to this world at all?

Still, since he intended to collect World Items anyway, he could look for it along the way.

Second, he could gain levels through learning, just like the humans of this world.

The humans of this world could not gain skill points through leveling either. Instead, they gained levels only after learning skills.

He could try learning skills or martial arts without using skill points.

But Higashino Makoto was quite doubtful about whether that would work.

At the very least, Ainz had been unable to do so in the original work.

But he had plenty of time, so he could give it a try.

Third, like the protagonists of certain anime and novels, he could try analyzing magic power itself or breaking through the system's restrictions through sheer will.

But Higashino Makoto felt that path was almost certainly hopeless.

After all, he knew himself. He was neither particularly strong-willed nor a genius.

Rejected.

Fourth...

Higashino Makoto calmed down and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"If I remember correctly, the reason players were able to cross over into this world was because the world itself bestowed some essential quality upon YGGDRASIL's game data."

"And the one who triggered the rules of this world should have been the Dragon Emperor, through some kind of Wild Magic."

"If I could come into contact with that knowledge..."

Higashino Makoto recalled the World Item he had acquired—Genesis.

If he used that knowledge, which could invoke the laws of the world, together with Genesis...

Perhaps, maybe, there was a chance—

"—to become a true Creator God?"

After carefully reviewing the logic, he found no obvious flaws. It truly seemed possible.

Higashino Makoto clenched one hand into a fist and made up his mind.

Although there was currently no news of the Dragon Emperor, and it was unknown whether he was dead or alive.

Or rather, there was a high chance that he was dead.

After all, if he were still alive, the dragons would most likely not have fallen to their current state.

But wasn't his son, the Platinum Dragon Lord, in the Council State?

Though he could not be sure whether the Platinum Dragon Lord knew the details, if there was a chance, then he would pursue it.

Higashino Makoto rolled his slightly stiff neck and decided to personally head to the Council State to seek trouble with the Platinum Dragon Lord.

Better not arrive too late and find that Ainz has already butchered Platinum.

Higashino Makoto began selecting his equipment.

Since World Items other than those with direct offensive effects were useless against the True Dragon Lords, he chose items that could directly strengthen or restore himself, or directly attack.

Fugin and Wuni, naturally, had to be brought along as an intelligence warfare tool.

The Holy Grail could fully restore his HP and MP once per day, remove all negative statuses, grant immunity to bleeding, instant death, and poison, and could activate automatically upon death or be used manually.

Bring it.

The Bag of Sin could no longer increase his experience, but it could still restore thirty percent of his MP every day.

Bring it.

Brionac was a living weapon with light and lightning attributes, effective against evil. It could transform into five great serpents composed of light and lightning and automatically attack enemies.

Bring it.

He would also bring one of the Twenty as insurance.

With his overwhelming level advantage, five World Items, and all his remaining equipment at the divine-item level, Higashino Makoto refused to believe that anything could go wrong.

"Pandora, come in."

Upon hearing Higashino Makoto's voice, Pandora, who had been waiting for some time, entered.

Her small, snow-white feet stepped onto the black-and-gold carpet. Dressed in pure white, the young girl formed a striking contrast with the room, further emphasizing Pandora's transcendent, holy air.

Her azure eyes lifted slightly, and her pale pink lips released a somewhat hollow voice.

"Lord Amon, what are your orders? Do you require me to attend your bed?"

"No matter how rough you are, I can accept it all."

The girl's voice carried a certain anticipation and temptation, like that of a witch luring someone into depravity.

Such words coming from that pure-looking, youthful body created a striking contrast.

Had I been too rough with her a few days ago because I was in a bad mood, and unlocked too many positions, causing her to go astray?

Higashino Makoto shook his head, casting the guilt from his mind.

No, wait. I seem to have set her up as a bad woman from the start.

Right, this isn't my fault.

Then it's fine.

Higashino Makoto rejected the temptation and began arranging the coming operation.

"Place Novas Aetir on alert for now. Select ten guardians and take World Items from the treasury for them to equip."

"Have them all assemble in the First Floor plaza and await my orders."

This was mainly to guard against the possible existence of the Dragon Emperor and Mother.

Without World Items to grant them the World Protection buff, the guardians might very well be wiped out in one stroke by Wild Magic like the Elder Coffin Dragon Lord's Soulbreaker. Higashino Makoto simply could not feel at ease otherwise.

"I'll have Muni remain here as a liaison. Once you receive an order, use a gate to teleport over and support me."

This was to prevent the True Dragon Lords, or Ainz and the others, from using World Items or Wild Magic to cut off communications.

Go ahead and try cutting off communications through a World Item. If you can do that, I'll admit my bad luck.

After making the arrangements, Higashino Makoto gave his final orders.

"While I am away, everything in Novas Aetir will continue as usual."

"Guard the home and wait for my return."

With that, Higashino Makoto directly used Greater Teleportation to leave Novas Aetir, leaving behind only the newly recalled Muni and the somewhat worried Pandora.