Shikama Doji, with amusement in the void, was deep in thought. This world no longer had anything to offer him to grow stronger. He could reach the levels of Alaya and Gaia with enough time, but that wasn't entertaining. As someone who grew stronger through amusement, he decided to leave this world. He wasn't referring to parallel worlds, but literally going to another world. This was something impossible, something even the strongest beings wouldn't dare to think of. It was a high-risk endeavor with a high chance of death, but Shikama Doji had always grown stronger by taking risks, not by being cowardly.
He had two ideas for this. The first was to enter the "Root" and perhaps find a way there. However, this was extremely dangerous, as Alaya and Gaia were the guardians of the "Root" and allowed no one to enter. Shikama Doji was certain that if he entered the "Root," Alaya would undoubtedly try to act against him, even if it came at a great cost. The second method was to create a crack in the "Crystal Wall." But what was the Crystal Wall?
The Crystal Wall was like the shell of an egg or, more simply, an invisible barrier. Shikama Doji speculated that every world must have one of these walls. But who created these walls? This was something Shikama Doji wanted to figure out in the future. As a being beyond the third dimension, he could sense the presence of the wall, even if he couldn't see it or determine its location. This wall was everywhere and nowhere at the same time. It seemed to hide its existence, yet it was omnipresent. Before he to go to the starry sky, he could only vaguely sense it and wasn't entirely sure.
Outer Gods could easily pass through this wall, as if it were as simple as drawing a line. But the real problem began here. Although Shikama Doji was considered an alien, he was still somewhat a native. He was a cornerstone of humanity's history. Humans were created by him, Although this concept was given by him to Christ, his achievements still existed. Therefore, if he wanted to leave this world, the "Root" would subconsciously hinder him and block his path. This was a problem even beings like Christ faced. Despite having infinite power in these dimensions, they were still limited.
For Shikama Doji to deceive the "Root" and leave this world, he needed to become an Outer God. Of course, transforming into one of those tentacle-filled beings that Shikama Doji despised was the only way. He had to discard the concepts of the "seraph God Almighty" or the "Divine Ancestor" and embrace the concepts of "Alien," "Outer God," "insanity" and "Aldrich" to attain the status of an Outer God. But Shikama Doji didn't need to worry, as this status wouldn't affect him much. He could discard it whenever he wanted. It was only a temporary upgrade.
Shikama Doji raised his hand, and a crystal began to form. The crystal was red and starry, as if made of stars. Inside it, thousands of faces could be seen screaming and moaning in madness and agony. The space around him began to twist. Without hesitation, Shikama Doji extracted his own concepts to avoid being corrupted by the status of an Outer God and absorbed the crystal into his body. At that moment, he felt his consciousness expanding at a speed beyond light. The "Aldrich" consciousness, unique to Outer Gods. His consciousness entered an ancient and chaotic dream. There, a being whispered strange things. This being was at the center of the universe, surrounded by countless Outer Gods playing strange melodies.
Shikama Doji immediately shut down all his senses and dared not explore further, or else he would turn into a mass of flesh, tentacles, and eyes, driven to madness. This being was "Azathoth," also known as the Mad God or the Blind Idiot God. He was the omnipotent creator in the Cthulhu Mythos, the origin of everything, the beginning and the end. The creator of all Outer Gods. Everything began from his dream, and everything would end with his awakening. Even the strongest Outer Gods would go mad just by looking at Azathoth. Azathoth was chaos itself. He didn't even know what he was dreaming or the meaning of his whispers. But despite lacking reason, he was omnipotent and omniscient. Even his awakening would bring about the apocalypse and the end.
Meanwhile, a mass of gray mist with an undefined form separated from Azathoth and moved toward Shikama Doji. It seemed this gray mist could distort and alter everything. While Shikama Doji dared not raise his head, the authority entered his body, and his existence began to change. Now, he not only possessed the status of an Outer God but also gained authority from Azathoth. He had now fully become an Outer God. To avoid being driven mad by Azathoth's corruption, he infused the authority into the crystal. Shikama Doji's body distorted, surrounded by flesh and blood. Numerous tentacles enveloped him, forming a cocoon of flesh and blood filled with eyes and tentacles. Shikama Doji was inside this cocoon.
The Outer Gods, who were playing their instruments, indifferently glanced at their new kin. It seemed nothing mattered to them except playing. Even powerful Outer Gods like Nyarlathotep, Yog-Sothoth, and Shub-Niggurath turned their gazes here, looking with interest at their new brother/sister. It was rare for a divine being from another world to ascend to the status of an Outer God. Meanwhile, the sound of a heartbeat echoed in this twisted and distorted place. Shikama Doji couldn't tell how much time had passed: a second or millions of years. Here, the concepts of time and space didn't exist. Shikama Doji could feel the endless madness. The unknown whispers of madness tried to consume his consciousness and drive him insane.
But Shikama Doji resisted easily and endured the transformation. When the cocoon broke, Shikama Doji emerged. He hadn't changed much, except his eyes had turned crimson. Even the gray mist surrounding him could be seen. Without looking at Azathoth, he quickly left this ancient dream and returned to the "Fate" world. Shikama Doji sighed. Even a single glance at Azathoth would have driven him mad.
Unlike other Outer Gods, Shikama Doji hadn't changed much, as his aesthetic wasn't tentacles. Shikama Doji would rather die than become a tentacled monstrosity. The gray mist surrounded Shikama Doji, and whispers could be heard praising him. Distant planets distorted, and countless eyes and mouths appeared on them. As they orbited Shikama Doji, they worshipped him.
**Praise the Lord of the Gray Mist**
**The Lord of Distortion and Change**
**The One Who Holds Authority Over All Changes**
**The Origin of All Distortions and Changes**
Like fanatical devotees, they began to flatter Shikama Doji. This was the corruption of a high-ranking Outer God, capable of corrupting even abstract concepts. The authority Azathoth had given Shikama Doji was called the "Nameless Gray Mist." This authority granted him the power to distort and alter everything, even abstract concepts. Additionally, he now had infinite energy and all the abilities of an Outer God, but this power came at a cost. Shikama Doji felt the madness trying to corrupt him. He could suppress it now, but what about later? Therefore, this power wasn't something Shikama Doji could rely on. The only thing he could rely on was his own strength.
"Well, which world should I go to now?" Shikama Doji said with amusement. Now, all restrictions were lifted, and he could go anywhere he wanted. He was completely free. Outer Gods were the freest beings, doing whatever they pleased.