986 The "Infectiousness" of Parasitizing (1/2)

So Mr. Fool also has authority in the aspect of concealment... Leonard came to a realization as he understood why Old Man had specially mentioned the need for the blessings of concealment.

Without waiting for his reply, Klein added, ”In addition, tell Pallez Zoroast that Amon might very well know that there's a Marauder pathway angel in the vicinity of Boklund Street.”

This... Leonard's pupils dilated as he blurted out, ”How would 'He' know that?”

It's not convenient to tell you why... Klein mumbled inwardly before replying rather sternly, ”It's not like I'm Amon.” ”Which of _His_ actions or words made you come to this conclusion?” Leonard asked subconsciously.

No, it's me who ”told” ”Him”... Klein chuckled as a response.

Indeed... Leonard nodded and said, ”No problem. I'll inform Old Man of this.”

He paused for a moment before asking, ”Are you waiting for 'Him' to give a detailed plan?”

Klein tersely acknowledged.

”When it comes to the knowledge of Amon and the Marauder pathway, few are better than 'Him.'”

Having said that, Klein, who had determined that Amon wouldn't come to Boklund Street any time soon, calmly added, ”There's no need to be in a rush to respond. Give me the feedback at tomorrow's Tarot Gathering.”

From the looks of it, things haven't reached a critical stage yet... Leonard figured out the most important information from Klein's words. He nodded slightly and said, ”Alright, we will discuss this in detail at tomorrow's Tarot Gathering.”

After settling this matter, Klein immediately got up and bowed in the direction of the ”door of light.”

”Mr. Fool, we are done.”

Leonard stood up, but before he could do anything, his vision became a blur as the crimson stellar light inundated him. When he snapped awake, he found himself in the sparse forest on the outskirts of North Borough.

”Is there anything you wish to tell me?” Pallez Zoroast's slightly-aged voice sounded.

Leonard cleared his throat and said, ”Klein told me that he's a Blessed of Concealment. He can attempt to pray for help.”

”Blessed of Concealment. Indeed...” Pallez sighed and said, ”Tell him that as long as he can really gain the blessings of Concealment, I'm willing to provide help when it comes to dealing with Amon and finding all 'His' avatars hiding in Backlund.”

Leonard wasn't surprised by this answer as he chuckled.

”Old Man, you don't sound as weak as you make yourself out to be!”

Pallez Zoroast chuckled without a hint of anger in his tone.

”Didn't you read through Roselle's Quotes? I recall that there's a saying that a starving camel is still bigger than a horse.”

”That will depend on the breed of horse and camel,” Leonard retorted habitually before asking, ”Old Man, how should we deal with Amon? Do you plan on using yourself as bait?”

”Ahem!” Pallez snapped back, ”If that were the case, what we'll be facing will be Amon's actual body and not 'His' avatars. When that happens, there's a high chance that it will instigate a deity's battle. I might still have a chance of escaping. As for you, perhaps you will return to Evemight's Tenebrous Heaven.”

Leonard could only reply with a chortle.

Pallez Zoroast continued, ”Unlike the similar powers of other pathways, Amon's avatars can rapidly strengthen 'Himself by absorbing the Beyonder characteristics of the Marauder pathway, thereby splitting even more Worms of Time, allowing him to parasitize different creatures. As long as there's enough Beyonder characteristics, this process can keep happening...”

”I-isn't this like the spread of a plague?” Leonard felt a chill run down his back once again.

If one had enough Beyonder characteristics of the Marauder pathway, Amon's avatars could go from parasitizing one person to the entire city!

”Pretty much.” Pallez Zoroast affirmed Leonard's guess and sighed. ”To deal with Amon, this is the only way to take action. Using Marauder pathway Beyonder characteristics at the demigod level to bait 'Him' out. As long as you successfully finish off one of his avatars, there are ways to seek out and eliminate the rest. However, Amon is a master of deceit. We need to be careful; otherwise, it might appear like we are baiting 'Him,' but in actual fact, 'He1 is baiting you. On this matter, concealment is of utmost importance!”

”I understand.” Leonard sighed and turned to ask, ”How strong can Amon's avatar be?”

Pallez Zoroast fell silent for a few seconds as though in recollection. Finally, he said, ”In theory, 'His' strongest avatar can reach the equivalent of a Sequence 1, but it's almost impossible for 'Him' to do so. This will make his mental state unstable and show signs of losing control.

”Typically, one of 'His' avatars is a Worm of Time, each starting off as a weak Sequence 4. However, each possesses the trait of an angel capable of shattering Beyonder characteristics. By absorbing sufficient amounts of Marauder pathway Beyonder characteristics, such an avatar can reach a level equivalent to a Sequence 2. However, Amon seldom does so.

”His' avatars will automatically fracture and create even more avatars.

”Furthermore, with the actual situation in Backlund, it's very difficult for 'Him' to gather enough Beyonder characteristics that can raise 'His' avatar to Sequence 2.”

Leonard thought carefully for a moment before asking, 'So, we will be facing a group of Amons. Amongst them, a majority have the strength of a weak Sequence 4, with a minority having the normal standards of a Sequence 4, while an extremely small minority reaches Sequence 3?”