Chapter 40: The Deterrence Era?

These giant deities seemed to be realizing the dangers of mixing characteristics.

They were consciously preying on ordinary humans rather than the Beyonders among them. In their eyes, ordinary humans were a harmless "delicacy."

Hermione had foreseen this situation. After a sigh, she spoke, "Your Highnesses, is it possible that ordinary humans themselves possess some kind of characteristic?"

Omebella smiled gently at these words. "That reasoning of yours... is this the psychology of those who protect the human race?"

Looking at Hermione, Omebella said slowly, "Under the advocacy of the King, we giants have also formed this atmosphere, discarding the vicious habit of cannibalism."

"I have found that this habit is indeed conducive to maintaining the rationality of the entire race. Thinking in broader terms, there are indeed many aspects of the habits maintained by humans that are worth our learning."

"But unfortunately, Hermione, while I am inclined to advocate for mining the value of the human race, for now, their nutritional value remains higher."

After waiting for the seemingly gentle Omebella to finish these malicious words, Hermione spoke again, "Your Highness, I possess the dragon’s ability to infiltrate the ocean of collective subconsciousness. Within the human collective subconscious, I have seen many spiritual imprints that belong to the 'giants'."

Upon hearing this, Omebella said dismissively, "Perhaps it is because in the process of humans gaining abilities, some were lucky enough to consume certain characteristics left behind by giants."

"I thought so at first, too," Hermione agreed, before changing her tone. "But our noble King, why would he look forward to the rise of humanity?"

Omebella’s soft expression turned cold. She seemed to think of something, and her tone became disinterested. "What are you trying to say?"

Hermione lowered her head and said, "Humans may have evolved from a branch of the giant race."

Beside her, Badheil snorted, "My father has not forbidden us from eating humans."

But Omebella stopped Badheil from saying anything more. She took a deep look at Hermione and said slowly, "Refraining from cannibalism is a measure to stabilize rationality. Humans are suspected to be a branch of the giants?"

Omebella chuckled. "Your reasoning... does have a point."

Seeing Badheil’s disappointment and unwillingness, Omebella continued, "Badheil, we are of noble status; do not attempt things that carry hidden risks. When we return, I will ask your father about this, and let other giants conduct some experiments to see if consuming humans is truly harmless. Remember, I hope you can become a great existence like your father..."

As she said this, Omebella’s large vertical pupil suddenly paused. She realized that Badheil had not consumed any characteristics or creatures that could make him more powerful for a long time.

The last time he hunted a minor deity of another species, it did not truly help Badheil advance further; it only allowed him to master his own abilities more proficiently after a bitter battle.

Characteristics that could allow Badheil to grow... Omebella’s expression turned grave.

But then, she looked at Hermione as if nothing had happened. "In that case, prepare some meat for consumption."

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief, relaxing the spirit she had kept ready to connect to the Sea of Chaos.

After she became a "Manipulator," she sensed her connection to the Sea of Chaos and felt a terrifying power hidden within it. That was not a power she could control, but she was confident she could trigger it to threaten powerful enemies.

Fortunately, it had not reached that extreme situation. Hermione did not want to be a "Sword Bearer" either...

Subsequently, the tribe brought the prepared food to the council hall in a steady stream. Watching the giant minor deities gorge themselves, Hermione observed that they were not truly hungry; they were merely filling a "hunger" of the spirit.

So, the act of eating humans was not necessary for them; it was more of a hobby and a pastime.

The giant deities arrived with great momentum and departed with equal grandeur.

The sun was high in the sky. Amanises was at home familiarizing herself with the human language. Sensing the movement, she didn't even look up as she asked, "You're back early?"

"There was nothing left for me to do there." Hermione threw herself onto the soft bed and lay there, lost in thought.

Amanises put down the stone tablet in her hand, walked into the bedroom, and asked, "Were you given a hard time by the giants?"

"It went smoother than expected, actually." Hermione sighed deeply.

It was better than expected, but there were still many troubles. The "Giant King’s" schemes and arrangements for her and humanity, and Omebella’s suspected subsequent research into whether humans were edible... these things made Hermione feel very uneasy.

Although she had secretly planted a tiny thorn in Omebella’s heart—letting her guess the unique path upward for the God of Dawn.

At this moment, Amanises sat down skillfully by Hermione’s bed. She said, "I am preparing to reveal my status as a demigod to accelerate the collection of faith, and then consume that characteristic."

"So soon?" Hearing Amanises’ plan, Hermione pillowed her head on her arms and looked at her sideways. "Do you not intend to wait for a new demigod to appear in the tribe?"

Amanises shook her head. "There is no telling how long that wait might be... Once I successfully ascend and possess power below that of a King, even if someone suspects something, there will be room for maneuver."

Hermione said nothing to this. She knew that Amanises felt the pressure she was under, which was why she was so desperate to obtain greater power.

Greater power, indeed...

Lying on the bed, Hermione suddenly said, "I want to communicate with a dangerous place. I hope you can provide me with concealment."

"Is it very dangerous?" Amanises asked.

Hermione whispered, "Not as dangerous as your contact with the Sefirah."

Hermione knew that Amanises was privately taking the risk of losing control to contact the "Sefirah," attempting to master that power which transcended the Sequences.

But this attempt was destined to be futile; only Beyonders of the "Gou San Jia" (the three pathways related to the Lord of the Mysteries) who were tainted with the aura of the Sefirah could possibly obtain the authority to enter it. Because only those Beyonders were close to the image of the "Celestial Worthy," making them better candidates as vessels for the "Celestial Worthy’s" resurrection.

But clearly, a woman with Amanises’ personality would always have her own ideas.

"Very well. When?" Amanises said.

"Right now."

The darkness, possessing the authority of concealment and capable of nourishing the spirit, descended once more to envelop them. Hermione closed her eyes, her spirit diffusing into this darkness. Her spiritual body silently recited the incantation that had "brought" her to this world.

"The Omniscient and Omnipotent Creator;"
"The Omniscient and Omnipotent Maker;"
"The Omniscient and Omnipotent Lord of the Astral World."

As the incantation ended, a strange sensation linked with Hermione’s spirit. The familiar "gray-white" fog enveloped and lifted her consciousness, and she arrived as she wished at that indescribable "ocean."

From afar, Hermione found her target—the relic of the past in a laboratory coat, lying silently in the gray-white fog.

The Ancient Sun God.

It was also the source of the terrifying power she had sensed from this "Sea of Chaos."