Once the account change is complete, the shift in the body’s laws allows one to immediately perform another “Live-binding” on an additional item.
Furthermore, after changing accounts, one doesn't need to perform a “Dead-binding” first; they can go straight to a “Live-binding,” holding off on a Dead-binding until they find something truly exceptional.
If Dead-binding is like installing an emulator for external peripherals, then changing accounts is like upgrading a smartphone directly into a computer—it is far more comprehensive than any Dead-binding.
However, this transformation comes with a hidden danger.
—Once the transformation is complete, the person will inevitably begin to drift toward the persona of the image they transformed into.
For example, if you were to transform into Oga from Sea Tiger, you would inevitably become sentimental and fussy.
If you become a robot, you are prone to losing your individual emotions.
This is a powerful change... or rather, a distortion. Many people have debated this in the past.
No one can escape it, regardless of how strong their willpower is.
Acting out of character (OOC) only leads to self-annihilation.
Moreover, there is the concept of Compatibility. Only with high Compatibility can one exert their full power.
...
So, was there a way to prevent oneself from being distorted?
Yes, there was.
If you changed into an “account” that was extremely similar to yourself, the impact would be smaller—but no matter how small, the influence still existed.
It was impossible to find a character that was exactly like you! At most, they would be similar.
However, there was another path—what in this world was more like yourself than, well, yourself?
Therefore, the best method was to become oneself. One could use various mechanisms to complete a transformation into their own being.
But this also required certain conditions to be met.
First, it had to be a permanent change.
And if the change was incomplete, it wouldn't be recognized as an account change; it would only be considered a type of Dead-binding.
Those who simply grew horns or a tail were considered to have merely Dead-bound a lineage, such as Vampires or Werewolves.
...
So, was there a transformation that was drastic but still left one looking human and still being themselves?
There was. Various shapeshifting abilities could turn one into a complete non-human—but those carried just as many side effects.
Based on his observations and summaries of information from Phantom events, the most excellent type of transformation was...
Gender-swapping abilities were one of the typical representatives.
A complete change, yet still in human form, and still oneself.
The only downside was the change in gender, but even that was much better than turning into some kind of eldritch horror.
As for a transformation that was drastic, kept a human form, didn't change gender, and had little impact on one’s personality...
Well, he had never seen such a thing; it was truly too rare. One could only say that everything was possible in dreams.
As for this information, he had specifically learned it from things like Skyscreens, Retrospectives, and Gold Lists—a whole mess of different sources.
These were all super-large Phantom events—officially known as Super-large Phantom Events—that would only appear in the later stages of the apocalypse.
In fact, he was even starting to suspect that his own rebirth might be some kind of Super-large Phantom Event.
—Could it be that he wasn't the only one who had been reborn?
Regardless, there would be a chance to find out in the very late stages—those Skyscreens and such would simply dox everyone and everything!
Similar medium-sized Phantom events included things like Retrograde Rain or Originium Catastrophes, things capable of covering an entire city.
Small-sized Phantom events included things like Raids from Minecraft.
...
These Phantom events occurred randomly; at most, there would be some omens before they happened, though even those were hit or miss.
However, because the distinctions between these things were somewhat chaotic, the classification system was also quite a mess.
Most Super-large Phantom Events like the Skyscreens happened in the late stages, and even when he was in the Phantom Realm, he could see their content.
Naturally, he knew some of the stories and the intelligence within them, allowing him to deduce the optimal path for growth.
Perhaps he could walk a path of invincibility?
As for changing gender or whatever... he honestly didn't care. That was purely a trivial matter.
After all, in his previous life, he had turned into a robot and ended up nearly devoid of emotion by the end.
To be able to possess a biological body now was already quite good. One always had to lose something on the road to becoming stronger; that was only natural.
In the apocalypse, one's brain and survival were far more important than what was in their pants!
Not to mention that in the later stages, gender didn't really matter anymore. Most people were various human-like but non-human entities anyway.
...
For a male, an excellent choice for an account change would be a Magical Girl or a Witch.
Witches were the kind that had evolved through various literary works into a powerful race. Magical Girls were the classic type, most of whom were conceptual beings and also very strong.
His choice was to take both.
“I shouldn't have remembered it wrong... Found it.” After a bit of searching, Mo Shao discovered his target and couldn't help but feel a slight spark of joy.
A white creature that looked like a cross between a cat and a rabbit, but with a hint of a fox, possessing blood-red eyes: an Incubator!
—Kyubey. He had a deep impression of it.
After all, back then, it was the only thing in this area with such a distinct art style, so he naturally remembered it clearly.
As for the method of transformation, he chose to directly kill it and then perform a forced connection.
Although real-world humans had many limitations, the setting that allowed them to forcefully use Phantom Objects was a bit of a cheat.
However, to pull off what he was planning required a certain level of soul strength and mental power to serve as a guide.
—That was why almost no one could achieve this in the early stages.
Of course, forceful use was one thing; whether the final Compatibility would be high or not was another matter.
Mainly, it was a way to avoid being blocked by things like “eligibility requirements.”
...
Kyubey was actually quite easy to kill, especially in its current state where it hadn't “regained its senses” yet. One could just pick up a rock and bash it to death!
Of course, he was actually using a knife.
It wasn't that he carried a knife on him, but rather one he had confiscated while working as a security guard, checking students for prohibited items.
It was even sharpened. He didn't know if the student had planned to use it on a classmate... or perhaps on a teacher?
Even if Kyubey were willing to turn him into a Magical Girl, he would still kill it regardless.
Right now, this thing wasn't “networked” yet. If it eventually connected and sent his information back to the other Incubators, wouldn't he be screwed?
So, it was naturally better to just kill it.
After he killed it, tiny flecks of pinkish-white light flew out. These were the fantasy elements extracted from its body.
He made his wish—Let me become a Witch!\n
The simpler the wish, the better. The more complex it was, the harder it would be for him to utilize. He didn't have that kind of ability yet.
Mo Shao instinctively closed his eyes, invoking Kyubey's rules. Using his own spirit and soul, he guided the distortion toward becoming a Witch.
—At this point, he was likely the only one capable of doing this.
To ensure he wouldn't change back and that the transformation was permanent—the original body had to die completely.
And that was also simple.
Without the slightest hesitation, Mo Shao turned the knife and stabbed himself. Having lived in the Phantom Realm for so long, he had developed a fair amount of decisiveness.
Of course, he had to take precautions.
He had already moved the non-functional motorcycle over, ready to switch to that account at any moment.
If he failed, he had to leave himself a way out, even if it meant returning to the life of wilderness survival in the Phantom Realm.
But if he succeeded, then he would embark on a brand-new adventure!
Rate on N.U.
