Mystery: She came from the Chaos Sea.

Chapter 25 We are dust particles that cannot be avoided.

The research institute is located at the easternmost edge of the "Land of Escape".

In fact, because of the considerable distance between them and the tribal settlements, it is difficult to classify them as part of the tribal territory.

The research institute was built on the basis of a natural cave and was continuously expanded by generations of people in the tribe. It is divided into the cave part and the above-ground building part.

"This place holds the extraordinary materials we've collected, backup data of the researchers' work, and some less dangerous research projects we're also working on." Helmaene explained to Amanisis as she helped her collect some personal items and cleaned and arranged her room in the research institute.

"So, all your research data is kept here?" Amanisis, following human habits, took the initiative to sprinkle water and clean, and laid out a mattress made of animal fur on the newly moved wooden bed.

Helmani put down the wooden bucket full of water and shook her head, saying, "Not necessarily. Because dangerous research is conducted in research institutes located in the wilderness far from the tribe, the research results cannot be transferred here in a timely manner, especially for research institutes that have gone out of control and been destroyed..."

Helmani paused, then sighed:

"Even though the tribe actively organized people to collect those precious research materials, the deaths of researchers inevitably left those materials incomplete... and sometimes, those research institutes even became extremely dangerous and treacherous places of disaster."

Those research institutes scattered around include the most powerful extraordinary individuals among humans, such as Helmaenie, as well as lucky individuals who have just embarked on the path to extraordinary status, and some ordinary humans with ideas and no fear of danger...

After tidying up the living quarters, Hermaine led Amanisis on a tour of the research institute, which embodied the tribe's hard work and dedication.

Here, more mature research findings are inscribed on walls or stone slabs, while tedious or unproven conjectures are recorded on parchment, wax tablets, and the like.

There are also some closed research sites where entry is prohibited, and materials rooms guarded by extraordinary individuals.

Amanisis browsed through one magnificent room after another, known as the "Library" or a transformed natural cave, witnessing humanity's research into extraordinary powers and the repeatable yet dangerous methods of acquiring them.

However, these records do not contain the much knowledge that Hermaine had mentioned.

The two tacitly avoided discussing the matter.

Hermaine then spoke of spreading the faith within the tribe:

"As long as it's not an invasion of faith by other extraordinary races, the giants don't care if we humans create and spread our own faith."

Helmani smiled wryly, "Most giants are high above, as if they don't care about the thoughts of ants... Of course, there is also the reason that, through the communication efforts of generations of tribal leaders, the tribe has gained the sympathy and support of a very small number of giants in various aspects."

"Although no statues of gods have been built, the statues of the tribe's ancestors have been scattered in public places such as the research institute, council hall, square, and school. This is actually the beginning of a belief."

"Even myself, Ouroles, Leodorus, and others have statues displayed. This stems from the conjecture of a late sage, who speculated that the great divine power of the gods of extraordinary races originated from the faith of a vast population. Thus, the custom arose in the tribe to build statues of powerful, still-living extraordinary beings."

The idea is beautiful, but reality is cruelly the opposite. The authority of the gods is not born from faith; rather, it is the gods who possess authority who give rise to faith…

It is the supplication, submission, and refuge of living beings to a powerful being...

Amanisis said thoughtfully, "Didn't you correct this bias?"

Helmani pretended not to understand the deeper meaning of His words and simply answered on the surface: "At that time, I hadn't figured out many things. Besides, this custom carried the hopes of many people in the tribe, and it couldn't be abolished just like that."

So many people hoped that a god belonging to humanity would be born from their prayers. It even became the belief that kept some people alive in this dark and desperate era.

"Right now, I don't want to abolish this custom," Helmani said. "I plan to build a statue for you according to this tradition once you enter the sight of the tribe in human form."

Although Amanises deduced from Hermaine's "anchor" theory that popular faith played a significant role in His rationality, he still harbored doubts until he truly experienced this effect.

However, Amanises did not possess the arrogance of the other gods and was willing to follow the arrangements of Hermaene, who had somehow acquired much secret knowledge.

This trust was also the main reason why He left the kingdom of the wolf demons and followed Helmaine to the human world.

"Are extraordinary beings rare in the tribe? Upon arriving here, all I've seen is Leodorus, who greeted us, and a woman who, like me, was guarding the materials room..."

“They are quite rare,” Helmani explained, “but it’s not just us. There are thirteen seats in the tribe, called ‘Councilors,’ which are held by the most capable and prestigious people in the tribe. Currently, eleven of the thirteen seats are Sequence Five and Sequence Six Beyonders.”

"In addition, there are demon-hunting teams that protect the tribe and go out to explore, and research teams that live in the wilderness research institute... Some of them are extraordinary beings, and some are ordinary humans."

Amanisis nodded in agreement, saying, "A rather well-organized system, but... I don't think I saw any of it."

Helmani sighed, "Apart from essential personnel like Leodorus who stayed behind, all able-bodied men, regardless of their job or profession, including councilors and researchers, were conscripted by the giants to prepare for the festival."

"Does that include 'members of parliament'?" Amanisis asked, puzzled.

Participating in the festival is a dangerous thing. Even the fifth and sixth senators are just slightly larger ants among the giants.

Not a single mistake, not a single poem, not a single post, not a single piece of content, not a single look!

Understanding the source of the other party's doubts, Helmani explained: "The extremely harsh and oppressive living environment, as well as the development of the ideas of the sages, led to the gradual formation of a communal ownership system in the tribe that was oriented towards survival, and the concept of private property was very weak in the tribe."

Amanisis still had doubts: "Shouldn't those extraordinary beings, such as Sequence Five and Sequence Six, be extremely precious to humanity? Shouldn't they be protected as much as possible?"

Helmani laughed:

"While becoming an extraordinary being, especially a powerful one, inevitably depends on a considerable degree of luck..."

"But in Ilusa, through the compilation of case studies of more human tribes, humans discovered that, in addition to luck, becoming an extraordinary being also requires a tenacious will and fearless courage."

Sunlight streamed in through the tall, narrow windows, and dust particles floated in the air, much like the human race's fate in this despairing world.

But even tiny specks of dust, when accumulated, can have weight.

In the dim light, Helmaene whispered:

"It's not that there are no people who want to run away, but that those who are willing to stay will no longer run away."

"And...where can humanity escape to in such a world?"

A place to escape to.

It is a gathering place for those who have no other choice but to go.

(End of this chapter)