Afterward, Truman spent days integrating the "Master" characteristic into his Sage Robe, a challenging process that relied on the Book of Dreams to forcibly suppress—or perhaps contaminate—it.
During this time, the grand missionary campaign gradually quieted, leaving him, the Angel of Dreams, with some idle moments.
"Does regaining humanity require having a family?" Lilith often asked him strange questions.
She remained cold, almost devoid of emotional fluctuations.
"Is that what you observed?" Truman's expression was peculiar.
His angelic territory had recently seen an influx of devotees, a result of the missionary efforts. Some city-states or human settlements, too harsh to inhabit, had to relocate entirely to the divine kingdom.
This large-scale campaign at least doubled the Sun God's devotees, necessitating the construction of massive cities on the ground.
Sasrir had been so busy he barely had time to drink!
Meanwhile, Lilith constantly observed humans, almost molding herself into a Spectator.
"But you have no chance," Truman shook his head. Lilith possessed all the traits of a Spectator—merely an observer.
She wasn't moved by what she saw nor satisfied by what she knew.
For such a Sanguine to seek "humanity" was a disaster waiting to happen.
"…" Truman fell silent. His unique existence, brimming with humanity, made it hard to grasp Lilith's current state. "How about picking up a human hobby?"
"Hobby?" Lilith's face was serious.
"Yes, a hobby! Start with human behaviors, then find the corresponding understanding." Truman often found Lilith exasperating, as he didn't know how to guide her toward humanity either!
"Alright!" Lilith nodded, still bewildered. "But what hobbies are there? Does blood-drinking count?"
Truman's mouth twitched. In this era, what entertainment did people have?
Only in his dream territory, where devout followers could enter the Paradise of God, was there a semblance of leisure. Elsewhere, it was likely just labor and prayer.
"You could…" Truman faltered, but his eyes lit up. "Make puppets!"
This was inspired by a certain disgraceful Sanguine from later eras.
"What? Puppets? Like the Mutant King's kind?" Lilith was puzzled.
Uh! Truman realized this world had natural "puppets," and the Mutant King was a literal "stuffed doll."
Puppets, marionettes, and stuffed dolls were divine creature imagery in this era, revered as sacred statues in the Mutant King's city-states, worshipped day and night by countless humans.
"Sort of… more or less…" Truman shook his head, producing a "Puppet" beyonder characteristic.
He'd snatched it from the sky of characteristics after the Mutant King's fall.
Truman molded the "Puppet" characteristic by hand, shaping it into a humanoid form. The characteristic's inherent properties autonomously refined the puppet.
With a touch of dreamlight, a life-sized puppet, nearly indistinguishable from a human, appeared before Lilith.
"That easy?" Truman was surprised to see a characteristic self-shape for the first time.
"Is this me?" Lilith stood before the puppet, identical to her.
Truman had modeled it after her, and the characteristic's evolution made it indistinguishable from Lilith.
"I'm beautiful," Lilith said, satisfied, hugging the puppet and leaving.
"Phew, finally fooled her," Truman sighed. Lilith always brought questions he struggled to answer.
"I should've stopped her from regressing this far," he shook his head, resuming his study of the Book of Dreams' powers.
"Dreamweaving" and "Cause and Effect" showed a path to deeply develop the Book, and he was working toward it.
But Truman hadn't anticipated that Lilith would cause such a ruckus.
Within days, rumors spread through the dream territory of a werewolf devouring souls under the moonlight, howling at the moon.
A few days later, many residents discovered stolen corpses from the new cemetery.
The area near Lilith's residence became a silent zone, where humans fell into a puppet-like state, ceasing to pray to the dream, work, or live—becoming walking corpses.
Worse, centered on Lilith's castle, the entire dream territory experienced bizarre events.
Trees hanged people, grass "bit," and soil churned restlessly, trying to bury anyone stepping on it.
The territory's humans nearly believed the Angel of Dreams had abandoned them, punishing them back to days of constant fear.
In panic, they prayed to Truman, begging forgiveness.
Truman was stunned, realizing his territory had been vivified by an immensely high-status power!
"Lilith…" His mouth twitched. He shouldn't have suggested a hobby. She was, after all, a former ancient god!
In understanding and wielding life authority, none surpassed her!
Truman entered a fairytale-like castle palace, originally built for himself. Now, as he spent his days under the dream statue, it had become Lilith's castle.
"Are you the master's friend?" A Sanguine maiden, strikingly like Lilith, approached.
Truman examined the maid, took a sharp breath, and looked away, unable to bear it.
"Where's your master?" he asked, already heading toward Lilith.
The castle's eerie aura unsettled him, urging a quick exit.
"You're here," Lilith's voice, cold and emotionless, came as she sat on the castle's lawn, back to Truman.
"I followed your advice to find a hobby and realized I'm best at shaping life."
"So you gave the puppet life? And let it wreak havoc in my territory?" Truman shook his head, slightly regretful.
Lilith's unique state required unconventional approaches.
He surveyed the castle, frowning. "This is all the 'Mother' pathway's life authority?"
Upon entering, he'd felt countless eyes watching—flowers, grass, even grains of sand, all sprouting eyes, peering from corners and crevices.
These were all alive!
Though no longer an ancient god, Lilith retained all her characteristics!
With her former status, she could indirectly wield life authority, performing astonishing feats.
(End of Chapter)