"I said it's not enough!" Truman repeated, "This is also the Lord's will."
This might be his only chance to openly extort, and he had to seize it!
Buzz! A faint glow emanated from the statue, coalescing into a slate-like form, shrouded in thick shadows.
This was the Ancient Sun God's stance.
Omabella and Badheil stiffened, sensing the true god's will.
"This is the 'Twilight pathway,' notarized by the Lord's power!" Truman held the slate, looking at Omabella. "Dispel the shadows, and it's yours."
"…" Omabella couldn't stay calm, her life aura leaking, causing wheat and grass to sprout from the church floor's cracks, a patch of green.
Badheil stirred, the desired prize within reach. Giants leaned toward seizing it…
But a god was watching.
"…Fine! Bring it all out," Omabella relented, turning to Badheil.
Badheil wanted to protest, but under Omabella's and the god's gazes, he grudgingly produced the remaining characteristics.
They were mystical items formed from saint and Sequence 2 angel characteristics.
The highest were a Sequence 2 "Duke of Entropy" from the Black Emperor pathway and a Sequence 2 "Master" from the Paragon pathway.
Oh, this "Master" is what later generations call the "Knowledge Magister."
These mystical items paled compared to the Scroll of Civilization, but their sheer number—over a dozen—was staggering!
That's likely a dozen saints and two angels!
Even the Sun God's angels were mostly Sequence 2.
"…" Truman fell silent, tempted to raid an ancient god's treasury.
These ancient gods, ruling the world for ages, amassed terrifying characteristics. Even with many consumed, their hoards rivaled half a modern true god church!
As the mystical items appeared, the shadows on the illusory slate faded, revealing its contents.
"Sequence 1, Hand of God… Sequence 2, Glorifier…" Badheil and Omabella memorized the knowledge.
"One's missing!" Badheil roared after reviewing the Hand of God's details. "Where's the god-level sequence?!"
"A true god…" Truman gave an odd smile. "You'd better think hard if you want to see it." He reached to dispel the final wisp of mist.
"No need! That's blasphemy!" Omabella stopped Truman and Badheil.
She waved, and a vibrant flower emerged from the Spirit World, swallowing the illusory slate. Badheil's eyes widened, dispelling his dawn light, catching only half a line.
"Main ingredient: Three 'Hand of God' characteristics…"
Badheil's gaze froze, but the slate was fully consumed by the flower, vanishing into the Spirit World, likely back to the Giant King's Court.
Omabella's life force grew heavier. She glanced at Badheil, said nothing, then turned to Truman, her gaze softening. "I hope we can cooperate more."
Finally, Omabella led Badheil away from the Sun God's divine kingdom, returning to the Giant King's Court.
"Knowledge is profit!" In this world, knowledge equaled power, but such profits were unique to this era when potion formulas were exclusive. Later, formulas would become cheaper.
Truman eyed the mystical items. They carried heavy side effects, but angels could shatter and reshape them without issue.
The most crucial, the Scroll of Civilization—a living uniqueness—posed no resistance under the Sun God's divine light.
"Besides the uniqueness, you can choose one," Sasrir's voice sounded in Truman's ear.
"Then I'll take the 'Master.'"
Truman didn't hesitate, claiming the "Master" characteristic, akin to his Sage Robe's sequence.
He planned to forcibly merge these characteristics, crafting an even greater Sage Robe.
"The Hermit is knowledge itself; the Paragon is its application…" The new Sage Robe would master knowledge's control and use.
Truman had a plan. Then, he saw Sasrir appear, taking the Scroll of Civilization.
"Its side effect forces everything in its region toward its predicted future, expanding over time until it engulfs the world," Sasrir noted, aware of its drawbacks.
In this process, humans and extraordinary races lose autonomy, becoming "gears" in civilization's machinery, irreversible.
"With uniquenesses traded like this, how much did you gain from these deals with the ancient gods?"
"Mostly Sequence 2 characteristics. Sequence 1s are rare—ancient gods who resist eating them aren't ancient gods."
"Uniquenesses, though, there are two: the Black Emperor's and this Scroll of Civilization."
Uniquenesses differed from Sequence 1 characteristics. For a typical Sequence 1, consuming same-pathway Sequence 1 characteristics could strengthen them.
But accommodating a uniqueness required a simplified godhood ritual, or madness ensued.
"So, about five god-level pathways?" The haul was immense.
"Not just that. Goddess of Beauty Auernia also traded for the 'Moon' pathway."
Sasrir glanced at Lilith, who'd been by Truman's side, utterly imperceptible.
She'd been watching all along.
"She controls the last of my Sanguine's reserves," Lilith said, unsurprised.
"Ancient gods' treasuries?" Truman suddenly thought of the three fallen ancient gods.
The Demonic Wolf's was hopeless—a lunatic likely consumed everything, now mostly in the Goddess's hands.
Lilith had already planned for that.
But the Mutant King?
"The Spiritual Creature God Tolzna visited here," Sasrir said, as if reading Truman's question.
The Spiritual Creature God was the Mutant King's subordinate god.
Ugh… Truman sighed inwardly. Back then, he was busy snatching the ancient gods' dropped "gold coins"… or rather, characteristics.
The Spiritual Creature God clearly looted the Mutant King's remains and fled.
You can't have both prizes.
"But I recall you have a 'God's Sin' characteristic?" Sasrir noted. "Tolzna will find you eventually."
"The Spiritual Creature God?" If it's who Truman remembered, they were rather tragic, with a rebellious child…
"We'll deal with that later," Truman shook his head, turning to Lilith. "What do you think?"
"Challenging, but manageable," Lilith shook her head slightly.
"Good." Bringing Lilith was mainly to let her observe Omabella.
(End of Chapter)