I was just fishing, how did I become a Great Old One?

[Coordinates: Outer side of Orion Arm, Dimensional Fault Zone, Deep Blue]

Inside the command center of the Deep Blue, the atmosphere was eerily quiet. All eyes were focused on the thin, paper-thin figure on the floor, which was only long and wide.

This two-dimensional creature, who calls itself "Stanley," is diligently using its line-drawn arms to make various movements in the air that can only be understood through lines.

"Dear... 3D experts..."

Trembling text appeared in Stanley's dialog box (in the two-dimensional world, sound is also a visual ripple, and for ease of communication, it is directly represented by text bubbles).

"I know this sounds crazy, but my homeland—Flatland—is really going to die."

"That damned Folding Tyrant... He not only wants to turn our world into a mille-feuille, he also wants to flatten all the 'circles' into 'ovals' and stretch all the 'squares' into 'rhombuses'!"

"This is blasphemy against geometry! This is an insult to the plane!"

Jiang Li squatted on the ground, looking with great interest at the stick figure that looked like it had stepped out of an elementary school textbook.

"A folding tyrant?"

"Sounds like a villain who likes origami."

Jiang Li touched his chin.

"However, you just mentioned... that you have a specialty there called 'Möbius strip pasta'?"

"Noodles that will never run out?"

"Yes...yes!" Stanley clung to the offer as if it were a lifeline. "That's tribute from the royal family of our Flatland Kingdom! If you can drive away the tyrant, I can take you to eat it! And there's [Klein bottled wine]! You can drink as much as you want!"

"make a deal!"

Jiang Li suddenly stood up and waved his hand.

"Brothers! We've got a job!"

"This mission is not only to save the world, but also to explore new dimensions of gastronomy!"

"Target—The Two-Dimensional World!"

……

[Preparation for Dimensional Reduction: How to Flatten Yourself]

Although the decision was made, a huge physics problem was presented to everyone.

How do I get in?

The dimensional rift that stretched across the void, though it looked like a door, was actually a road roller traveling at the speed of light to three-dimensional beings.

If you rush in without any protection, every atom in your body will be instantly flattened, and your internal organs, blood vessels, and bones will all be squeezed onto a single plane.

There is only one outcome: it becomes a thin, but already dead, "specimen".

"We need a tool that allows us to 'actively reduce our dimensions' while retaining our three-dimensional consciousness and functions."

Nyarlathotep pushed up his glasses.

"This falls into the category of high-dimensional narrative, which ordinary magic and technology cannot achieve."

"That's easy."

Jiang Li turned to look at Tangyuan, who was secretly eating the leftovers of the "pulled silkworm" in the corner.

"Spit out the glutinous rice balls!"

"Hmm?"

Tangyuan raised her head, her cheeks puffed out, looking completely innocent.

"No... I didn't steal any food..."

"I didn't say you stole any food." Jiang Li walked over, picked up the glutinous rice ball and shook it. "I meant, throw up that thing in your stomach... that thing that looked like a rolling pin that you ate randomly in some ruins before."

"belch--"

Tangyuan burped.

Then open your mouth wide.

"puff."

A golden cylinder, its surface covered with intricate runes, fell out.

【Dimensional Road Roller - Concept Version】

This is something that Tangyuan thought looked like a giant egg roll in the ruins of a place called "Two-Dimensional Foil Launch Center," and swallowed it without thinking.

Although only one core component remains, it is sufficient.

"These are our tickets."

Jiang Li picked up the "rolling pin".

"If we get rolled around by this thing, we can safely turn into paper dolls while retaining our vital signs."

"Get...get out of here?"

Odin looked at the heavy metal rod and swallowed hard.

"Boss, that sounds like it hurts."

"These old bones of mine..."

"Don't worry, it won't hurt."

Jiang Li smiled like a nurse holding a syringe.

"Just bear with it, it'll be over in the blink of an eye."

"Come on, line up!"

"Today, the entire crew of the Deep Blue (including those two giant turtles) will experience what it's like to be a 'photograph'!"

……

[Dimensional Reduction Ceremony: I'm No Longer Human!]

The first "victim" was Wang Ergou.

"Woof woof woof! (Help!)"

Er Gou was pinned to the ground by Jiang Li.

The dimensional roller slowly rolled by.

"Sizzle sizzle—"

A strange light flashed.

The originally three-dimensional, fluffy husky was instantly transformed into a... [dog sticker] after being rolled over by a road roller.

It became as thin as paper and stuck to the ground.

But what's amazing is that this "sticker" can move, blink, and even make a flat, squeaking sound:

"Woof... (Something feels off, why is my field of vision just a line?)"

"success!"

Jiang Li was overjoyed.

"Next! Odin!"

Odin lay down as if facing death.

"Come on! For the Möbius noodles!"

The road roller rolled over.

Odin has become a majestic... [Stickman illustration].

Because his drawing style is rather rough, when it is turned into two dimensions, it looks like a simple sketch of an old man holding a toothpick (Gangnier).

Next was Abel.

The road roller rolled over.

Abel was transformed into a... [black and white comic book style silhouette].

Cool, austere, only black and white, with a gloomy background.

The Mechanical Archbishop has been transformed into an "Engineering Blueprint".

The black goat has been turned into an "abstract graffiti" (all lines and circles, it looks a bit sloppy).

The two giant tortoises in the starry sky transformed into a massive Ukiyo-e print.

Finally, it was Jiang Li's turn.

He handed the road roller over to Nyarlathotep (Nyarlathotep can freely switch dimensions and does not need to roll).

"Come on! Pick a handsome one!"

Naya chuckled and steered the road roller to roll over.

"Buzz—"

When Jiang Li opened his eyes again, the world had changed.

He looked down at himself.

It didn't turn into a simple line drawing, nor into a black and white comic.

Instead, it became... [Full-color, meticulously retouched, thick-painted style, limited edition character illustration]!

The colors are vibrant, the light and shadow are three-dimensional (although it's fake three-dimensional), and it even has a shimmering special effects background.

"No wonder he gets the treatment of a main character."

Jiang Li (paper version) moved his flat hands and feet with satisfaction.

"It feels...light and airy."

"It's like being freed from all the constraints of gravity."

"Alright, guys!"

Jiang Li was like a flyer blown by the wind, drifting into the air.

"The Deep Blue ship will be temporarily shrunk and stored away (becoming a stamp)."

"We are venturing into the two-dimensional world!"

……

[Crossing the Rift: Entering the Flatland]

The "papers" lined up and, led by Stanley, floated into the dimensional rift.

After passing through a layer of bizarre and colorful film.

The view before me suddenly opened up.

But at the same time, it also became extremely... [weird].

For someone who has just come from a three-dimensional world, the visual experience here is simply a disaster.

Because the concept of "height" no longer exists.

Jiang Li no longer saw three-dimensional buildings, mountains, and rivers.

He could only see... [lines].

Countless lines of varying lengths, colors, and thicknesses intertwined in his field of vision.

The house is the line.

The tree is a line.

People are also lines.

"How...how am I supposed to see where I'm going?"

Odin (now a golden line) shouted ahead.

"All I see in front of me is a bunch of messy lines; I can't tell which is a wall and which is a road!"

"Let's adjust to the perspective!"

Stanley (a short black line) is leading the way.

"Here, we will use the 'brightness' and 'gradient' of the lines to determine the distance."

"The brighter the line, the closer it is to us; the darker the line, the farther away it is."

"and……"

It gave a demonstration.

"You need to learn to 'turn sideways'."

In this world, everyone is flat.

If you are facing someone directly, all they will see is a line.

If you want others to see your full appearance (like your face), you have to... [lie flat]? No, you have to adjust your angle to make yourself visible to the other person.

"This is too much trouble!"

Jiang Li complained.

"This is simply a world of graphics card rendering errors."

"but……"

He activated the perception of the [Gluttony Godhood].

At the level of rules, he can sense the energy contained within these lines.

"Although it looks like a line, this is indeed a complete world."

"The air smelled of ink... and the fresh scent of paper pulp."

They are currently located on the edge of the Flatland—the Draft Paper Plain.

The ground is white (background color), with some green lines (grass) growing on it.

A yellow circle (the sun) hangs in the sky.

"Be careful!"

Stanley suddenly sent out a warning bubble.

"There's a patrol team ahead!"

"They are the henchmen of the Folding Tyrant—the [Scissors Legion]!"

……

[First Battle: Paper Cutting Game]

Jiang Li squinted (although his eyes were still flat now).

Suddenly, a team rushed out from the jumble of lines ahead...

【Silver sharp angle】.

There were a dozen or so creatures shaped like scissors.

They consist of two sharp metal blades connected by a pivot in the middle. They have no legs, but move sideways like crabs, with the two blades constantly opening and closing, making a terrifying "crackling" sound.

Scissor Soldiers.

In this world full of two-dimensional characters, scissors are the absolute Grim Reaper.

Once they clamp you down, snap! You're split in two. And in this world, it's very difficult to put you back together (you'll need glue).

"Intruder detected!"

"Abnormal shape! Abnormal art style!"

"That's...colored?"

"Heretics! Tear them to pieces!"

The lead pair of enormous scissors (with gold handles) emitted a sharp, scraping sound.

A dozen or so scissors rushed towards Jiang Li and his group as if they had gone mad.

"Hmph! A few broken scissors dare to be so arrogant?"

Odin has the most explosive temper.

His current form is a stick figure, and the Gungnir in his hand has turned into a toothpick.

But he remained brave.

"Take this shot!"

He launched himself out like a javelin.

"when!"

A crisp sound.

Odin's spear tip pierced the blade of the scissor-soldier.

No sparks.

There's only one awkward reality: Odin is too thin.

He was like a thread that passed right through the gap in the scissors, without touching anything.

"Me too!"

Abel (black and white silhouette) rushed forward, brandishing his blood-red blade.

But he discovered that his knife couldn't cut his opponent at all.

Because in this world, physical impacts have become geometric collisions.

The opponent is an acute angle (extremely aggressive), while Abel is a curved surface (although he has a knife, the blade is flat after being flattened).

"Snap!"

A pair of scissors clamped Abel's leg (shadow).

One snip.

Abel's leg fell off and became a separate black fragment.

"Ah! My leg!"

Abel exclaimed in surprise.

Although it doesn't hurt (paper dolls don't have pain receptors), it's still very inconvenient to be without legs; he can only hop on one leg.

"Oops!"

Jiang Li realized the problem.

"Our three-dimensional attack methods are not applicable here!"

"Here, whoever is sharper, whose angle is more pointed, is the boss!"

"Scissors beat paper!"

The scissors army was about to surround them, preparing for a "paper-cutting massacre".

Jiang Li's brain was working at lightning speed.

In this world... what are the rules?

Lines? Surfaces? Colors?

Suddenly, he remembered the pen at his waist.

【Genesis Fountain Pen】.

The pen has also been downgraded, becoming a flat, cartoon-like paintbrush.

"etc……"

"This is a world painted on paper."

"So..."

"If I had a pen, could I... [create]?"

Jiang Li suddenly pulled out his paintbrush.

"Scissors, right?"

Have you ever played rock-paper-scissors?

"What's there to be afraid of with scissors?"

"Afraid of stones!"

"System! Give me ink!"

Jiang Li suddenly swung his brush in the void.

There were no complicated incantations, just simple graffiti.

"Shuashuashua——"

He drew a huge, black, solid circle in front of him.

In this world, a solid circle represents either an extremely heavy sphere or an indestructible shield.

"Snap!"

The golden scissors at the very front snapped into the black circle.

"collapse!"

Its blade broke off.

Because this is a "Black Hole Stone" drawn by Jiang Li using Abyss Ink. It has maximum hardness.

"efficient!"

Jiang Li's eyes lit up.

"In this world, I am Ma Liang with his magic paintbrush!"

"Want to cut my hair?"

Jiang Li's pen danced with incredible speed.

"Then I'll draw a house for you!"

He quickly drew a... [frying pan] around those scissor soldiers.

That's right, it's a huge, round ring with a handle at the bottom.

Then, he drew a few scrambled red lines under the pot (representing fire).

"Sizzle sizzle—"

In this world where rules are made tangible, the fire drawn actually has heat! The pot drawn actually holds things!

Before the scissor soldiers could react, they found themselves trapped inside a black circle (the edge of a pot).

Immediately afterwards, a scorching heat came from beneath my feet.

"Hot! Hot! Hot!"

Metal scissors are most susceptible to heat damage.

They started to turn red and soften.

"Since they're scissors, let's melt them down and make molten iron!"

Jiang Li, like a mad painter, added a few more strokes of yellow liquid (oil) to the pot.

"Abel! Pick up your broken leg! I'll put some glue on it for you!"

Jiang Li was frying scissors while also managing to heal his teammates.

He drew several lines of white slime on Abel's leg, and the severed leg was instantly reattached.

"Odin! Stop poking! It's not working!"

"Take this!"

Jiang Li casually drew a huge warhammer for Odin (a solid cube with a few pieces).

"Smash them! Smash them flat!"

Odin took the new weapon (which was drawn), and it felt heavy.

"Hahaha! This is great! This is awesome!"

"Take this! This is—the [Dimensional Reduction Strike Hammer]!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

With Jiang Li's "Divine Brush" assisting and Odin's violent output,

This once invincible scissors patrol was quickly smashed into a pile of scrap metal and then fried into pancakes in a frying pan.

……

The battle is over.

Jiang Li put away his paintbrush and blew away the non-existent smoke.

Looking at the pot of "teppanyaki", he smiled with satisfaction.

"It seems that in this world, cooking skills are secondary."

"Painting is the only true path."

Stanley was dumbfounded.

It had never seen such an outrageous operation before.

Draw the weapon directly? Draw the fire directly?

This is simply the power of the Creator!

"Big... Boss..."

Stanley's chat window was shaking.

"You...you are some deity who has descended to earth?"

"I?"

Jiang Li wiped the paintbrush off Odin's hand (to recycle the ink).

"I'm just a cook who's passing by."

"Part-time illustrator".

He looked up into the distance.

At the edge of the draft paper plain, a magnificent city, composed of countless complex geometric shapes, can be vaguely seen.

That's the [Line Walled City].

It was also their first foothold in this world.

"Let's go, lead the way."

Jiang Li patted Stanley on the shoulder (line).

"Go and see your civilization."

"By the way... look for that noodle and liquor stuff."

"This is only the first dungeon in this volume; we'll have to take it slow."