Noah really didn't want to deal with the System's hindsight commentary.
It was pointless.
And he knew perfectly well that arguing with it was a losing battle.
The System was mechanical. No matter how much Noah cursed it, it wouldn't react.
Worse, it had a habit of saying things that hit far too close to home.
Just like now.
Noah felt like he might actually die of rage.
Deciding not to butt heads with the damned System, Noah shifted his focus.
He wanted to properly experience the power of the Light.
This was the entire reason he had come to this universe. Now that he finally had it, there was no way he was going to let the chance slip.
"I advise you not to try it so casually," the System said without hesitation.
"Why?" Noah frowned.
If he didn't experience it, what was the point?
"Is there a problem?"
"There is," the System replied calmly.
"I do not recommend importing this power into your mana source."
"The Light is a singular, highly infectious power. If mishandled, your other energies may be assimilated."
"Assimilated?" Noah's expression darkened.
That was bad.
Very bad.
He controlled multiple types of power. Six elements resided within his mana source.
Except for dark power, everything else was stored together.
If the Light infected them and forcibly unified everything into a single attribute, the loss would be catastrophic.
It would be like deleting his character and starting over.
More importantly-
His Domain was built on that foundation.
If everything were assimilated, he would be forced into becoming a God of Light after divine ascension.
...Wait.
A Child of Light and Shadow?
Wasn't that Illidan?
Noah had no intention of becoming a so-called "Chosen One."
And he absolutely did not want his Domain turned into that kind of mess.
But then what?
Did he really have to abandon the dark power that served as his ultimate trump card?
He didn't want to.
That power was far too useful.
Still, if he were forced to choose, he would.
"Is there really no other way?" Noah asked irritably.
"Tell me I didn't waste all this time."
"There is another method," the System replied immediately.
"And you already know it. You simply haven't recalled it."
"I know it?" Noah tilted his head.
Then-
The dark element.
He remembered.
How he had mastered it.
It had been an accident, but it worked.
Did he really have to repeat that process?
Just thinking about it made his head hurt.
He wasn't even sure his body could endure another transformation.
The Dragonborn spell was his own creation, but its blueprint was based on the Animagus.
Noah had never heard of anyone possessing two Animagus forms.
Even after the Dragonborn spell became public, no one had ever produced two clones.
He was the pioneer, yet even he didn't know if it was possible.
"You don't need another clone," the System said, sensing his concern.
"You only need to create a carrier mode fully adapted to this energy, then seal it."
"A carrier mode?" Noah frowned.
"And seal it... like when I turn into that dragon?"
That made sense.
A carrier mode meant adapting his body to the power until full control was achieved.
After that, it could be sealed and invoked only when needed-just like his transformation state.
It was efficient.
He wouldn't need to create a monstrous new form.
And the Light wouldn't enter his mana source to contaminate everything else.
"But..." Noah rubbed his temples.
"Where do I store it afterward? Seal it into my eye again?"
"Yes. It will be fully converted into energy form. If you want balance, this is the optimal solution," the System replied matter-of-factly.
"It cannot enter your mana source. Your eye is the best carrier."
"Can't I just condense a crystal on my forehead or something?" Noah protested.
"Plucking out an eye is way too bloody. I'm not an Uchiha!"
"It is acceptable. You have sufficient experience."
What do you mean, sufficient experience?
I just spent a peaceful stretch of my life as a one-eyed rogue. You call that experience?
Noah didn't know whether to laugh or curse.
The logic was sound.
The balance worked.
But the idea of removing his eye again made his scalp tingle.
He deeply regretted coming up with such a self-destructive design in the first place.
If this wasn't self-mutilation, what was?
And it was the most vicious kind-entirely self-inflicted.
Noah sighed.
In the end, he chose to trust the System.
It might screw him over occasionally, but its advice was almost always correct.
Still, the thought made him shudder.
One golden eye.
One red eye.
He would look like anything but normal.
"I'm really not an Uchiha," Noah muttered.
"Why am I so cruel to my own eyes?"
Complaints aside, once Noah made up his mind, he didn't waste time.
He didn't want to linger in this universe any longer than necessary.
After adjusting his condition, he began.
The amount of Light the System had absorbed wasn't enormous.
But it was enough.
Soon, golden power began to surface around Noah.
Light spread across his body.
Pure.
Holy.
Unlike anything he had ever felt before.
Noah gritted his teeth, prepared to resist its influence.
Prepared for brainwashing.
Prepared for corruption.
But-
Nothing happened.
Noah was still Noah.
His thoughts were clear.
His will unchanged.
The Light was simply power.
Raw power.
"System?" Noah asked quietly.
"Did you already process it?"
"Of course," the System replied, its tone mechanical-and mocking.
"Did you think I would allow you to be brainwashed into an idiot?"
"If you're finished, I'm finished. Even if I didn't care about you, I care about myself."
"Please cherish your life."
"..."
So that's how it was.
In the System's eyes, Noah was still the same reckless mage.
It was awkward.
But Noah didn't blame it.
Having an assistant like this was probably his greatest fortune.
Since brainwashing was no longer a concern, Noah proceeded without restraint.
As the Light intensified, pain bloomed in his left eye.
He had expected this.
He had faced a golden Naaru before.
He remembered that sensation clearly.
Now, with Light covering his entire body, the danger was naturally greater.
Balancing Light and Shadow was far from simple.
Concepts like "light within ultimate darkness" or "darkness at the heart of light" were easy to say.
Hard to grasp.
Even harder to control.
Noah wasn't Khadgar.
He couldn't pull off those abstractions.
So he chose the slower, steadier path.
Like casting a spell on himself.
As long as the pain was ignored, the influence would weaken.
The results were acceptable.
Relaxing his mind, Noah carefully sensed this new power.
It flowed through him.
It changed him.
He considered what form this power should take.
Something suitable.
Something stable.
Something that wouldn't cause problems later.
He closed his eyes.
As his thoughts settled, the Light responded.
It began to change.
The blinding gold gradually faded.
Its form softened.
It reshaped his appearance, his clothing, and condensed behind him.
Noah felt none of it.
He was completely immersed.
After an unknown amount of time, the fusion completed.
Noah opened his eyes.
And for the first time-
He felt the true meaning of the Holy.