Overlord continued, his voice carrying a solemn tone laced with wisdom. "The main reason I wanted the two was to understand their abilities to harness Divine Force and create all manner of treasures. At first, I believed it was related to their Gifts, but upon closer inspection, I discovered the true nature of their abilities."
Vlad and Jormungandr exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued by Overlord’s revelations. They were used to Overlord’s imposing demeanor, which was designed to make him seem more authoritative, but they weren’t swayed by it. Instead, their focus sharpened as they focused on the essential information.
The ability to harness Divine Force into your energy pool and create armor and treasures was useful but also a strange power. If the power didn’t come from their Gifts, where had it originated?
Without keeping them waiting, Overlord continued, "Upon closer inspection of their souls, I discovered that the core of their abilities stemmed from a mutation within their spirits—specifically, due to a parasitic entity embedded in their souls. After analyzing this further, I determined that the mutation originated from a foreign soul fragment. In fact, Jerom and Dimitry had pieces of the same entity’s soul implanted within them."
Vlad and Jormungandr’s eyes widened as they absorbed the information. A flicker of understanding passed between them. The concept of embedding part of one’s soul into another wasn’t foreign to them. Vlad had used a similar method in the ritual that transformed Jormungandr into the Depravita of Gluttony and the small white dog into the Depravita of Greed.
It was an extremely archaic and powerful magic involving principles Vlad had learned from the memories of his Second Past Life, where he had reached the peak of the universe. If someone else in Terra possessed such capabilities, they needed to be found and eliminated quickly, as they could rise to become an existential threat to the Xaos Kingdom.
Aware of their thoughts, Overlord clarified, "What was done to them was much cruder than the 7 Sin Ritual. A foreign entity forcefully implanted its soul fragments into them, but there was no synergy between the pieces, leaving them wounded and unstable."
Vlad’s eyes narrowed. While he was relieved that no one in Terra could recreate something like the 7 Sin Ritual, another concern emerged. If the soul fragments weren’t connected and lacked synergy, the original owner must have been incredibly powerful to prevent their dissolution.
"The God of Glory and Fame," Vlad muttered, his voice laced with cold realization. He hadn’t forgotten the entity that had revealed itself during the climactic battle over the Azarin Empire.
Overlord immediately confirmed Vlad’s suspicions. "I have reached the same conclusion, Prime Master. The God of Glory and Fame must have entered Terra during its ascension to a higher dimension. Unable to enter the world in his full form, he split his soul into three pieces—one housed in Goddess Lucia, carrying his will, and the other two in Jerom and Dimitry."
Overlord paused, allowing Vlad and Jormungandr to digest the information before continuing. "I believe the God intended to nurture these soul fragments within their vessels, strengthening them over time until he could fuse them, restoring himself to his former glory. That would make him a god walking among mortals, and no one could have stopped him from taking control of Terra."
It was clear Overlord had run countless simulations and analyzed the situation from every angle to reach this hypothesis, and he was confident in his conclusion. He delivered one final piece of information: "As for why the God of Glory and Fame took such a risky approach to enter Terra, I am uncertain. Perhaps he saw an opportunity or was fleeing from something and had no choice. Either way, it doesn’t change our course of action."
Vlad nodded, his mind racing. The reason behind the God’s desperate move no longer mattered. The real threat was that his fragments still existed, and they could never be allowed to reunite.
"You seem to have a solid understanding of their nature," Vlad said, his tone laced with curiosity. "Why did you need me?"
Though it was essential to know this information, Vlad wondered why Overlord had requested his presence if the A.I. Chip Clone already had such a complete grasp of the situation.
"I require your help, Prime Master because I seek to assimilate the bodies and souls of Jerom and Dimitry. While I understand the nature of their abilities, to go beyond mere understanding, I need to absorb their souls into my core code within the energy pool," Overlord revealed.
Shock rippled through Vlad and Jormungandr. The A.I. Chip Clone was aiming to assimilate pieces of a god’s soul! If that wasn’t aiming for the heavens, then what was?
The potential benefits this could bring to the Xaos Kingdom were immense, especially considering how powerful these abilities were. But the risks were equally significant. Vlad’s eyes flashed with concern. Merging with someone else’s soul—especially a god’s—could have unpredictable consequences.
"What kind of dangers could this assimilation pose?" Vlad asked, his voice cautious.
Overlord responded promptly, "If I were an entity with will and ego, there could be risks, as my personality might mutate. But since I do not possess a true ego, there should be no danger of that."
The A.I. Chip Clone’s words were calm and logical, but what he said next left the duo stunned.
"However, in the case of unforeseen mutations, I have protocols in place. If such an event occurs, my existence will be erased."
Vlad and Jormungandr exchanged a glance, their expressions grim. There was no hesitation in Overlord’s declaration—if he ever became a threat to the kingdom or deviated from his directives, he would willingly self-terminate.
The way the A.I. Chip Clone spoke of death made it clear he had no emotions, not even fear. If erasing himself was necessary to ensure the fulfillment of his directives, he would do so without question. Such dedication and commitment to a goal was what any king would want in a follower.