Alaric heard Hoggoth's scream and flinched so hard that he opened his eyes for a moment, ready to stop everything.
But then he noticed something: the only one complaining was Hoggoth. Oshtur and Agamotto were still calm and silent.
At that moment, Alaric shrugged, closed his eyes again, and continued expanding his new Dimension, the Polar Day World.
The dimensional space had already been generated, and all that remained was to stabilize and expand it. For that, he needed energy, so he simply continued using the Vishanti's magic.
Along the way, Alaric immediately transferred the newly created God of White Magic there, giving him an initial core of power. He upgraded him. Perfected him.
As long as the Vishanti didn't explicitly order him to stop, he wouldn't.
In the Spiritual World of the Vishanti.
Hoggoth: Don't you feel the difference? This is too much! The energy being drawn far exceeds what we permitted him!
Oshtur: But haven't you noticed he's still able to control it? The energy isn't overwhelming him.
Hoggoth: Well… yes. But how is he managing that!?
Hoggoth was stunned. An ordinary human mage wouldn't be able to withstand even a fraction of what Alaric was currently absorbing. Yet he remained stable.
Oshtur: Agamotto, your thoughts?
Agamotto: Dimensions?
Hoggoth: Excuse me?
Oshtur: Alaric has the ability to create dimensional spaces, a true trait of multiversal beings.
It was a serious conclusion.
Oshtur, as one of the four original Elder Gods and a deity of light who once created the Astral Plane, a dimension shaped purely from thought and spirit, could sense what was happening.
And she knew exactly: the power Alaric was drawing didn't remain in his body. It was going into the void. Into the newly formed space.
And in the void… a dimension already existed.
Hoggoth: Multiversal level? But he doesn't yet possess that kind of power!
Hoggoth looked at the small figure before him, feeling like he was confronting something that defied logic.
Oshtur: Perhaps that's the very source of his power. The dimension he created gives him strength no mage from Kamar-Taj possesses.
That's why he was acknowledged as the Supreme Sorcerer of the Planet upon his arrival here.
Hoggoth: Are you sure he's just a human? What if he's the reincarnation of some older entity?
His abilities go beyond the normal scope of humanity.
He can create dimensions, channel enormous amounts of energy, and even steal the power of other entities… without them being able to stop him.
Oshtur: We are not certain, but as long as he cooperates with us, there is no reason to treat him as an enemy.
Agamotto: I agree.
Hoggoth: Forget everything else! Just make him shut the channel! Our energy will be drained!
Why is everyone acting like that doesn't matter!?
Hoggoth: I can't believe this! You call this cooperation!? Our aid is being completely redirected!
Hoggoth was practically shouting, but no one answered. He felt like he was yelling into the void.
Oshtur: Alright, I think that's enough.
Oshtur finally spoke, confirming that the time had come to stop.
Maybe this energy wasn't critical now, but if they were completely depleted, they might not have the power to help, not even Alaric.
There's a difference between assistance and self-annihilation. Therefore, it was time to draw boundaries.
Gradual cooperation. Development of trust. Building a relationship.
That's the way.
Oshtur: Alaric, stop.
Alaric: Alright.
He opened his eyes and immediately shut the energy channel.
At that moment, the Polar Day World was fully formed. For the first time, a pure dimension of White Magic existed in the universe under Alaric's command.
And everything went perfectly. There was no interference. No collapse.
And the Vishanti?
They had helped. And willingly so.
But one of them wasn't pleased.
Hoggoth was still fuming. When he had pleaded earlier for Alaric to stop, he was completely ignored.
But as soon as Oshtur spoke, he stopped immediately!?
Did that mean Alaric didn't respect him!?
Hoggoth: Are you looking down on me, Alaric? I am also a Vishanti!!
Damn it…
Frustrated, Hoggoth closed his eyes, not wanting to even look at him anymore.
"Looks like you gained a lot." Oshtur spoke quietly, noticing the satisfaction on Alaric's face.
"Thank you for the gift, Your Excellency Vishanti!" Alaric expressed his gratitude with full respect, clearly pleased with what he had achieved.
Hoggoth: "Hmph!"
Alaric: "???"
Alaric sensed that Hoggoth with his tiger-like appearance and temperament, had something against him. Question marks spun in his head, but he just shrugged. Maybe it was just a tiger's nature, quick to anger, quick to cool off.
Alaric magnanimously forgave him for all earlier outbursts.
Hoggoth: "???"
"This is what you deserve," Oshtur said calmly, with her usual authority.
"In that case, we'll send you back. If you need help in the future, feel free to summon us in the spiritual realm."
"Of course, of course! I haven't forgotten what you said earlier, you can count on me."
"That's best then." Oshtur nodded.
"Then I'll go first. See you some other time~" Alaric smiled, ready to return from the Supreme Dimension.
Hoggoth, who had long since had enough of everything, was just about to extend his paw and complete the ritual when Oshtur suddenly stopped him.
"By the way… I have something for you."
Oshtur suddenly spoke again, raising her palm. A drop of perfectly pure, glowing water separated from her hand and slowly floated toward Alaric.
Confused, Alaric tried to catch it, but the drop immediately absorbed into his skin without any resistance.
Hoggoth: "Oshtur, you..."
Before Hoggoth could finish his question, another surprise awaited him, Agamotto, who almost never speaks, also sent his gift.
A golden-colored flame shot out of Agamotto's hand and likewise absorbed into Alaric's body.
Hoggoth: "Agamotto! You too?!"
Alaric: "?!"
Hoggoth: "That's mine—!"
Oshtur: "Return."
With a single gesture of her hand, without additional words, Oshtur closed the energy space.
At that very moment, Alaric felt a strong shift in reality. The scene before him blurred, then returned to what it was, the meditation room he had been in before the meeting with the Vishanti.
Confused, he raised his hand to his forehead and scratched himself.
"What even did they give me…?"
But he didn't even get to finish the thought, he suddenly burst into flames from within.
"Aaaaaah!!"
A golden flame exploded from his body, engulfing him completely, and it felt like every muscle and bone was burning. He fell to his knees, sobbing in pain.
"What is this!!"
"This burns more than Dormammu's fire!!"
"You're Dark Lords!!!"