With the energy from the Ninja Mask flowing into him, Alistair felt his spirit rejuvenate. However, his mana remained low—the mask's shadow energy was a different currency altogether from this world's mana. Still, because "Mystery" acted as a universal primal substance, the two fused without friction, pushing his progression bar steadily forward.
"Ugh—!"
Suddenly, Alistair doubled over. A violent surge erupted within him as the mask's energy collided with a pre-existing power. It felt like two tectonic plates grinding against each other inside his sternum.
Compatibility issues? Alistair curled into a ball on the floor, sweat beading on his forehead.
He closed his eyes to internalize the struggle. He saw a pitch-black, mask-shaped soul energy clashing with a surging, dark-red aura shaped like a dragon's head. He could control the dark-red energy, but the black shadow energy—the essence of the Ninja Mask—was wild and aggressive.
Enduring the agony, Alistair realized the mask's energy, though vast and ancient, was mindless. It attacked with raw, cold malice but lacked strategic direction.
Is this the soul of Ninja himself? Why is it mindless? Alistair didn't have time to ponder. He seized control of the dark-red dragon energy and launched a counter-offensive.
Though the shadow energy had a larger "reserve," Alistair's focused control allowed the dragon-head energy to dominate. Slowly, the two forces reached a tense equilibrium, settling into separate sectors of his consciousness.
Alistair let out a shaky breath and inspected his new "internal landscape."
A three-way split?
He had the world's Mana (anchored by his rings), the Shadow Energy (anchored by the mask), and... a third force. He focused on the three Talismans he possessed: the Horse, the Ox, and the Tiger. They were surrounded by that same dark-red, flickering flame energy.
Wait... these Talismans are shards of Shendu's power. Shendu is the Fire Demon... the Dragon of the Heavens. This dark-red energy isn't mana. It's Demon Chi. Specifically, the Chi of Fire!
The realization hit him like a physical blow. In the original lore, the Talismans were Shendu's godlike powers stripped from his body and crystallized. Owning them wasn't just getting a buff; it was reclaiming the essence of a Demon Sorcerer.
So, the Shadow Mask and the Demon Chi are from the same origin universe, but they are different systems. No wonder they clashed. And neither of them likes this world's mana.
Only "Mystery" acted as the bridge, the universal "Occult" glue that allowed Alistair to wield all three without exploding.
Was it the Fire Chi that reacted to the Dragonflame earlier? Alistair wondered. Shendu is a Chinese dragon, and the legend here speaks of a Western one... but fire is fire. Is the Dragonflame a local mutation of Demon Chi?
He turned his focus to the Ninja Mask energy. The original consciousness seemed to have eroded over centuries, leaving behind a massive, ownerless treasure trove of power waiting to be spent.
My path is paved with Desire, Alistair thought. Lust is the most efficient, but I won't say no to raw soul power.
The surge in soul energy immediately bolstered [The World]. Since Stands are the manifestation of spiritual energy and mana, both his Stand's physical power and his Time Stop capability increased.
Six seconds.
His Time Stop had jumped from five to six seconds without him finding a new "Node" of Mystery. The mask had filled the gap itself.
Alistair exhaled a long, misty breath. He felt ready for the mountain. But before leaving, he looked around the room. Is there anything else hidden here?
He spent the next thirty minutes turning the room upside down. He found nothing but old toys and game boxes. Eventually, he gave up. The mask was a massive enough win—an endless army of Shadowfolk was a game-changer.
Knock, knock, knock!
Alistair was tidying up the mess when the door opened.
"Alistair? What are you looking for? You're making a lot of noise," Chitose's voice drifted in.
Alistair turned around, brushing dust off his shirt. "Just looking for some old memories. Oh, who's this?"
Beside Chitose stood a girl with dark blue, medium-length hair.