Chapter 16: Yuantai, Oh Yuantai, Please Hurry and Come Out

What kind of existence could possibly resolve the problems afflicting Amaneusis?

Hermione pondered over the prominent figures of the Second Era.

Perhaps the "King of the Demon Wolves," unique bearer of the "Fool" path, possessed the ability to solve this issue.

Yet, the destructive Demon Wolf’s method of resolution likely involved devouring Amaneusis outright or using grafting techniques to seize the source fortress aura within Amaneusis... To expose the source fortress before the destructive Demon Wolf would spell a grim fate for Amaneusis.

Besides that, there was the ancient Sun God, hiding somewhere in some forgotten corner, who might hold the power to solve this problem once and for all... Moreover, this ancient Sun God, who cherished a savior’s ideal, would likely earnestly seek to rescue Amaneusis, a fellow relic of the old days.

Even absent this kinship, inheriting the "God’s" legacy and effectively embodying half a “God,” the ancient Sun God would actively prevent the "Celestial Sovereign" from resurrecting within Amaneusis.

If only the Old Sun could emerge from the sea of chaos sooner, Hermione thought to herself.

Even I, once a staunch materialist, have reached the day where I pray for a savior...

While Hermione racked her brains for ways to save Amaneusis, outside her unseen dwelling, white feathers stained with a faint yellow grime sprouted from the eaves.

A rotting eyeball rolled out from among these greasy feathers, its dim, lifeless gaze peering into the sanctum that belonged to Amaneusis.

In the study, Urolius, organizing stone tablets, suddenly shed a tear of blood, lifting his head in bewilderment to glimpse countless decayed, twisted corpses piled and wrapped around the dwelling. He opened the window to look out but saw nothing.

Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Amaneusis lying on the bed opened their eyes.

The moment Amaneusis awoke, the grime-stained feathers sprouting from the eaves crumbled to dust, and the spying eyeball weathered into sand, as if nothing had happened.

“You’re awake?” Hermione exclaimed joyfully, leaning beside the bed before forcing a wry smile. “I’m sorry—I wasn’t able to help much.”

Amaneusis sat up, their expression untroubled. They had never expected Hermione to possess the power to cure their affliction. Instead, they comforted her gently: “This isn’t a problem that can be solved immediately. I have, in fact, grown accustomed to this state.”

Yet pain is not something one grows accustomed to; it only numbs.

Seeing the look on Hermione’s face, Amaneusis gave a faint, reassuring smile. “Thank you for trying on my behalf. Actually, I also have a way to resolve this... The scion of a certain king has fallen, and I have a premonition that the traits left behind by them can help me overcome this issue.”

“Oh?” Hermione’s curiosity piqued. “Is it a trait that enhances your ‘Calamity’ or ‘Mystery’ abilities?”

Based on the stories Hermione had seen, she guessed that those carrying the source fortress aura like Amaneusis could break free from its influence if their advancement beyond the “Fool,” “Gate,” and “Error” paths reached a sufficiently high sequence.

Amaneusis sighed. “Yes, but there’s more... The fallen king’s scion left behind traits that also include ‘Alteration’ and ‘Resurrection’ abilities.”

Hermione was taken aback. Was this not a lesser version of the “King of the Demon Wolves”? Those traits corresponded to a fusion of the first sequence of the “Fool” path and the first sequence of the “Darkness” path!

One could only say, no wonder the Second Era was so wild and untamed—various strange and chaotic traits could blend together. Of course, a fusion of two sequence-one extraordinary traits from non-adjacent paths... that scion of the Demon Wolf must be utterly mad and reckless.

No wonder the source fortress aura was so volatile. It wasn’t that Amaneusis was meant to be sacrificed to the destructive Demon Wolf. Astonishingly, the Demon Wolf’s domain still harbored an extraordinary trait called “Secret Servant”!

Hermione couldn’t help but voice a warning in a teasing tone:

“If others consume it, they might just become crazier. But if you eat it, you’ll awaken the one inside you. That’s no way to solve the problem.”

Seeing the worry in Hermione’s eyes, Amaneusis replied:

“I’ve heard the legends of that being from you, so I’m fully aware of the consequences of consuming that trait.”

“Besides, even without the legend, I wouldn’t dare consume it. Not just me—all the demigods drawn to the Demon Wolf’s domain wouldn’t dare either.”

Hermione was surprised. “Why?”

It was almost as if the sun had risen from the west—the Demon Wolves could actually restrain their desire to devour higher sequence extraordinary traits!

“Because anyone who consumes that trait eventually becomes food for the ‘King’,” Amaneusis said with a trace of helplessness.

They continued, “It is said the ‘King’ harbors two utterly opposing forces within them, the cause of their madness.”

“The ‘King’ constantly breeds offspring, attempting to separate the surplus abilities inside their body. But the traits they separate are uncontrollable, so their madness never abates.”

“The fallen two-headed Demon Wolf was also a product of this attempt. It was their closest success... but unfortunately, two mixed abilities were inherited simultaneously by the two-headed Demon Wolf.”

Hermione understood. Whether it was expelling a “Secret Servant” trait or a “Calamity Knight” trait, it was all part of the destructive Demon Wolf’s goal to purify themselves instinctively. But the uncontrollable mixture of traits expelled too much...

Amaneusis sighed again. “That two-headed Demon Wolf has fallen, but sooner or later the ‘King’ will want to reclaim the traits left behind. So, currently, all beings—including myself—who feel the desire to devour this exposed powerful trait, yearn for it but dare not consume it.”

“Good thing you still have that shred of reason,” Hermione said with relief.

Amaneusis gave a bitter smile. “Those who lacked reason and ate recklessly have already been devoured by the ‘King.’”

At the same time, a hint of disgust and horror crept into their expression. “The ‘King’ has no rationality, but driven by instinct, it seems they have been trying something in recent years...”

Hermione frowned, sensing the gravity in Amaneusis’s low, chilling tone. “What kind of attempt?”

“Using the breeding method to separate traits inside their body, the ‘King’ expels traits en masse without discrimination. Then, the offspring are made to reproduce further, separating traits within them... Ultimately, the ‘King’ selects the appropriate traits...”

Amaneusis spat out the cold, three words:

“...to eat back.”

To eat back...

Hermione felt a chill crawl over her scalp.