Chapter 52: Grazing

Hermione tried to sense the aura of "Error." There was a faint response in the haze, but for some reason, connection was completely impossible.

Hermione also attempted to capture other auras, but came up empty-handed.

With her attempts yielding no results, Hermione sighed regretfully in her heart: "I still haven't found the commonality between Amanises and Lilith, the Ancestor of the Sanguine. Surely it can't be that I'm currently only capable of pulling two people into the dream space..."

However, to play it safe, it was not appropriate to contact other more powerful existences at the moment. Whether it was herself or Amanises, both were currently in a growth phase.

During the developmental stage, it was best to keep a low profile and stay prudent.

At this moment, speaking of the invitation coming from the Giant race, Amanises frowned and said: "Despite facing such heavy pressure, the Giant race still insists on holding a celebration, and they actually included your name on the list of invited guests for the sacrificial ceremony... What do you think they are trying to achieve?"

Hearing Amanises bring up the Giant race's celebration, a slight ripple stirred in Hermione's emotions. She had expended numerous resources just to release the "Error" uniqueness from the Chaos Sea to disrupt the situation, yet the Giants still had the spare capacity to pay attention to her.

Hermione had a prediction; it most likely still had to do with the "Giant King's" schemes regarding the future of the human race.

However... it also demonstrated from another perspective that the "Giant King" seemed to care deeply about the human race.

"A wartime sacrificial ceremony can also boost morale... As for inviting me to participate in the ceremony, it's probably out of curiosity about what a human demigod looks like," Hermione replied vaguely. She did not mention to Amanises the Giant King's intention to spread offspring among humans.

Amanises did not deliberately conceal her thoughts much.

Hermione could certainly sense Amanises's special feelings toward her.

Although Amanises possessed a steady and composed personality, once human nature and emotions were truly involved, Hermione dared not guarantee that Amanises would remain completely devoid of anger or impulse.

Yet Amanises had not fully grown yet, and it was inadvisable to come into direct conflict with the Giant King.

Hermione shifted the topic to the development of the tribe and the spread of faith:

"Fortunately, the Giants didn't forcefully conscript the able-bodied men of the tribe to serve them this time, so it won't interrupt the tribe's current developmental momentum... During the time I go to the 'Giant King's Court,' keep a close eye on the tribe's safety. In the event of large-scale casualties among the tribe's residents, it would shake our anchors and consequently affect our mental state."

Solely using the safety of the tribe's residents was not enough to bind the rather manipulative Amanises.

Therefore, Hermione emphasized that the safety of the tribesfolk was tied to the stability of their minds, wanting to keep Amanises stationed at the tribe.

Realizing that Hermione deliberately intended to hide something from her, Amanises pondered for a moment before speaking up: "I will accompany you to the Giant race's ceremony. The 'Giant King' is having His attention occupied by 'Error,' and might not necessarily participate in this ceremony. As for those subordinate deities of the Giant race... they pose no threat to me whatsoever."

Throughout the Second Epoch, Sequence 1 subordinate deities were exceedingly few. Coupled with the authorities of Concealment and Calamity, Amanises had already taken the embryonic form of a classic schemer in the Lord of the Mysteries world.

Hearing this, Hermione shook her head and advised: "The Giant King may not necessarily be unable to spare the time to attend the ceremony. At the level of true deities, the geographical distance between regions can be bridged by Them in a short time through numerous means."

The "God of Dawn," Badheil, was currently only a Sequence 2 of the "Twilight Giant" pathway, yet he could indirectly utilize Spirit World traversal through the abilities of aging and decay; the "Giant King," who wielded the authorities of that pathway, undoubtedly possessed even more powerful similar means.

Thinking of the ability of Spirit World traversal, Hermione said to Amanises:

"After I advanced to 'Three-Headed Cathedral,' I gained the ability to herd the souls of extraordinary creatures, thereby acquiring the abilities of the herded creatures. There is still some time before the Giant celebration, so I plan to hunt extraordinary entities to acquire long-distance teleportation capabilities."

The Chaos Sea retained the Beyonder characteristics of the "Hanged Man" and "Sun" pathways from Sequence 9 to Sequence 0. When Hermione changed pathways, she chose "Three-Headed Cathedral" instead of the Sun pathway's Sequence 3 precisely because she had her eyes on the Herdsman ability.

In addition to being able to use abilities from other pathways, she also wanted to try whether she could unlock more pathway potion formulas and advancement rituals of the "Blasphemy Slate" through the Herdsman ability.

"Long-distance teleportation..." Relying on the pathway knowledge recorded on the "Blasphemy Slate" and having thoroughly complemented her own pathway, Amanises now also possessed the ability of Spirit World traversal, and naturally understood the importance of mobility to safety assurance.

Through Hermione's description, Amanises—who now had a preliminary understanding of the Herdsman ability—smiled faintly and said: "Since you've already targeted the abilities you want to herd, you must already have a plan on how to obtain them, right?"

"Mhm."

Hermione nodded and said:

"A Phoenix is wreaking havoc on the northern fringes of the Giant territory. A human tribe is settled over there, and there are sporadic believers who worship me there. Although they haven't been affected yet, some believers are praying to me with feelings of panic."

Saying this, Hermione sighed softly inwardly. In front of these divine creatures, human tribes were as fragile as blades of grass, facing the danger of annihilation at any moment, which was why the Irusha tribe had been so ecstatic when she claimed to be a demigod.

Receiving protection from other races was far inferior to the strengthening of one's own race.

With this thought, Hermione added: "Why don't you make a move this time? I'll herd the soul of that Phoenix, and you can spread your faith at that human tribe?"

Amanises currently needed more believers to maintain her state.

"Alright." Amanises did not refuse Hermione's good intentions and nodded in agreement. "When are we setting off?"

"Wait a moment longer." Having finalized their subsequent itinerary, Hermione smiled and said: "I plan to pull the 'Ancestor of the Sanguine' in for a chat, and by the way, collect the price we agreed upon previously."

Since this matter involved a true deity, Amanises asked with considerable curiosity: "Have you figured out what 'price' to exact from the Ancestor of the Sanguine?"

Hermione smiled mischievously: "I intend to use this 'Ancestor of the Sanguine' to add fuel to the fire for the 'Giant King.' If His fair-weather ally becomes someone He can no longer quite trust, I doubt He will have the leisure to stir up trouble."

As long as the corresponding aura was captured by the Chaos Sea, Hermione could establish contact with the other party at any time under non-specific conditions.

However, compared to Zhou Mingrui's "forced summoning" of Tarot Club members using the power of Sefirah Castle, Hermione's ability leaned more towards a "call."

High-level existences far exceeding her own level, such as Lilith, had the ability to resist Hermione's call.

Yet Hermione was certain that barring special circumstances, the "Ancestor of the Sanguine" would not resist establishing contact with someone who understood the "Primal Mother Goddess."

And the facts proved this true; invoking the name of the "Sun God," Hermione summoned and pulled Lilith's consciousness.

Just a moment later, she received the other party's response.