This era lacked the urgency of an impending apocalypse. For angels, who could essentially live forever, time was cheap.
Yet, even for angels, the events of the past few centuries felt like a lifetime apart.
First, the ancient god structure, stable for hundreds or thousands of years, shattered abruptly. The Sanguine Ancestor, dragging the Demonic Wolf and Mutant King to their deaths in a self-detonation, killed nearly half the ancient gods.
A deity claiming to be the Creator emerged, aggressively preaching and spreading sequence potions that allowed ordinary beings to achieve extraordinariness.
Then, the ancient god factions, recovering from the war, grew hostile, vying for the fallen gods' legacies, sparking a centuries-long war among beyonder races.
In this terrifying conflict, the giants and dragons reaped the greatest spoils, their influence swelling, suppressing other ancient god races.
After the war, the world regained a measure of peace.
According to elven records, this era was called the Twin Era.
Of course, in this era, the mundane human race, bolstered by the Creator's preaching, developed immensely. Human city-states sprang up rapidly across several continents.
In the largest human city-state, protected by the Angel of Dreams under the Creator, humans faced no fear of attacks from Beyonder races or monsters.
At the city's heart stood the grandest Creator's cathedral, flanked by one dedicated to the Angel of Dreams.
Beneath the dream statue in the Dream Cathedral, an elderly man in a gray-white robe prayed devoutly.
The old man appeared unremarkable, his hair fully white yet still thick. His eyes, deep as an abyss, were too calm, unstirred by ripples.
"Mr. Hermes," a respectful voice called from outside the cathedral. "The giants have come to visit."
Hermes paused his prayer, frowning slightly. "They've finally come, have they?"
He stood, following the clergy outside.
"Good day, great God of Dawn, Harvest Goddess," Hermes bowed to the two towering giants.
"Hermes!" Badheil, the God of Dawn, exuded confidence from the giants' newfound dominance, his past shadows seemingly swept away, glory restored.
"You two deities, this isn't something I can decide," Hermes refused again. He loathed all things tied to ancient gods and would never cooperate with them.
Joining their disputes was sheer folly.
"You!" Badheil's single eye flashed with dawn light, a terrifying storm of light flickering, shaking the entire city-state!
"I am the favored of the Angel of Dreams," Hermes stated calmly, his expression unchanged, merely presenting a fact.
The Creator's faith had spread across all continents and islands, and the Creator's angels left countless legends.
The Angel of Dreams was the most enigmatic, appearing sparingly over centuries, leaving tales of undefeated battles against subordinate gods, protecting many devotees.
To this day, no one could pinpoint his pathway!
This made many subordinate gods in ancient god camps wary of the Angel of Dreams.
At the name, Badheil's dawn light flared, not from fear but disgust.
"You think I wouldn't dare kill you?" Badheil drew a twilight greatsword from the void, pointing it at Hermes.
Hermes, now a Sequence 3 "Dreamweaver," watched calmly, dragon scales faintly shimmering on his skin.
Twilight light eroded the void, poised for a life-or-death clash that, with the giants' destructive might, could raze the largest human city-state!
"Enough, calm down," Omabella's gentle voice quelled the tension.
Hermes nodded calmly, Badheil snorted coldly.
If the Giant King's son destroyed a Creator-protected city, it would be a declaration of war against the Creator.
At this time, the Creator remained aloof, uninvolved in ancient god disputes.
"We had a fairly pleasant cooperation with the Angel of Dreams once. Why not consult him first?" Omabella said to Hermes.
"Next time we come, we hope for good news," Omabella nodded lightly at Hermes, leading Badheil away.
This was their second visit, driven by patience for humanity's growing number of Beyonders over centuries and the Angel of Dreams backing them.
Perhaps even a secret deal with the Creator wasn't out of the question…
Hermes knew this, which is why he dared not agree. Ancient god conflicts were too perilous, and humanity's centuries of Beyonder growth weren't enough!
"Come to the Creator's Heaven," a voice suddenly spoke in Hermes' ear.
His eyes lit up, praying in thanks for the Angel of Dreams' favor, then hurrying to the Creator's Heaven.
The Creator's Heaven had fully merged with this continent, becoming the epicenter of human faith, with most devotees worshipping the returned Creator.
Hermes, no stranger here, was soon led by clergy to a Creator's cathedral.
Inside were two figures: the Angel of Dreams and the Deputy Monarch of Heaven!
The Angel of Dreams looked as he did when Hermes first met him, unchanged but more inscrutable.
The Deputy Monarch was unfathomable.
Hermes instinctively lowered his gaze, as he dare not to look straight.
Yet, standing close, he faintly overheard something.
"…convene a council… historical tides…"
"…wait for the opportunity… draw attention… they're already prepared…"
Many words sounded profound to Hermes, too daunting to grasp.
"Let me prepare everything first," the two rose, turning to Hermes.
"I've seen your Hermes Language—impressive," Sasrir praised Hermes without restraint.
"Don't just talk—offer something. He's joining this time," Truman advocated for his follower's benefits.
"Uh…" Sasrir faltered, then nodded at Hermes. "Fine, I can advance your reward." He parted the shadows behind him, retrieving a fist-sized eye.
The eye was peculiar, its pupil pale gold, exuding majesty. Its surface bore countless symbolic runes and strange patterns, linked to the Collective Conscious Sea.
Staring at it felt like the eye was watching you, a heavy dragon's aura pressing, piercing all your heart's secrets.
This was a Mind Dragon's eye—or rather, its characteristic!
(End of Chapter)