Nareth spent two days exploring the underground and surface ruins of the brown mountain range.
He was disappointed to find no connection between the pre-Harvest Giant civilization and Be'lakor.
'Finding a Be'lakor-related civilization among so many fallen ones is not so easy, after all.'
He then thought of the Aeldari's warning about Sak'trada Deeps. There should be a fragment of Be'lakor's relic there. And with more information, he could use the Dice of Prophecy. His disappointment faded.
'Though Be'lakor is powerful, even possibly capable of ascending to godhood,
he hasn't ascended, and without his relic fragments, he has lost much power. Divining him will surely be less difficult than divining a uniqueness.'
With this thought, he went to the seventh layer of the Kingdom of Disorder, looking at the oak tree with its dense white and red foliage.
Threads of law enveloped the massive tree, keeping its living branches immobile.
From William Wood's report, he knew this massive tree could grant the Harvest Giants abilities akin to psychic power.
The Harvest Giants' coming-of-age ceremony was to go to the Grey Mountains.
The best among them would receive its gift, becoming stronger than their kin, serving as Temple Guardians.
A fortunate few, chosen by the Tree God, would become Tree-Blessed, able to move freely through the earth and control oak leaves.
They would lead their settlements. Their word was the Tree God's will.
Among the thousand Tree-Blessed, twelve Harvest Giant priests were permanently merged with the Tree God.
After reviewing the Harvest Giants' situation, he examined the massive tree.
'Their entire civilization was built around this oak.'
'It must be a high-sequence entity, likely Sequence 4.'
'Tree, life, it's likely potion material related to the Mother Pathway.'
He recalled that among the half of Sequence 5 recipes unlocked on the Blasphemy Slate, the "Druid" recipe did not include an oak tree, but did include Tree-Blessed and Harvest Giant Guardians.
He glanced at the thread-wrapped Harvest Giant priests.
'The Harvest Giant priests are also likely Mother Pathway potion material.'
'Given their spiritual luster and their progression from Tree-Blessed, they're probably Sequence 4 "Ancient Alchemist" material. Supplementary material.'
'Then the entire tree is unlikely to be the main ingredient for a Sequence 4. Part of it might be the main ingredient, or it might be Sequence 2 or higher.'
With this thought, he focused. The threads of law loosened. The dome-sized red-white tree vanished.
The next instant, it appeared in the second layer.
The tree shook, struggling.
As black mist rose, he stepped into the second layer.
The "Mentor of Disorder's" spiritual energy surged. Brown earth rapidly formed, enveloping the python-like roots.
The red-white oak's trembling gradually ceased. Its branches swayed slightly.
Seeing it no longer struggled, he left it rooted in the second layer.
Returning to reality, he found himself surrounded by a mass of branches and red and white oak leaves.
He immediately summoned Chief Apothecary Mikel and the "Biologist" Marlena Skala.
After they bowed, he focused. Two equal piles of branches and leaves appeared before them.
"They are good materials, rich in life force. Study and use them as you see fit."
Though not the Tree of Life that Leman Russ would seek to heal the Emperor's soul, the red-white oak was still a treasure from root to crown.
Rich in spiritual energy, it was excellent supernatural material.
"By Your will."
After they acknowledged, he dismissed Mikel and asked Marlena.
"Describe the Slaugth's physiology and behavior in detail."
A flicker of surprise crossed her tea-brown eyes. She wondered why the Black Emperor was asking about a xenos race they had already defeated.
But the "Biologist" had studied many of the Legion's foes. She immediately spoke.
"Everything about the Slaugth, including their regeneration and their consumption of corpses, is based on the necrotic fluids within them..."
Seeing her answer fluently, he nodded with satisfaction.
The Sequence 5 "Druid" advancement ritual on the Mother Pathway, as he knew, required mastery of the physiology and behavior of many common animals and three types of supernatural creatures.
He was confident Marlena had mastered the physiology and behavior of far over a hundred common animals, and likely dozens of supernatural creatures.
He then asked about the Hrud and the Nephilim. She answered fluently.
With a thought, the Tree-Blessed, Harvest Giant Guardians, and other materials in the first layer's palace appeared beside the furnace.
The Jokaero began concocting the Sequence 5 "Druid" potion.
He then asked about the Gorgon Serpent and other supernatural creatures, quickly exceeding a dozen.
He nodded. A brown potion appeared in his hand.
"You are an experienced, knowledgeable biologist. Even the Mechanicum's biologists cannot match you."
"Drink this. You will gain new power."
"Thank You, my Lord, for Your gift." She bowed, taking the potion.
Her tea-brown eyes saw countless blue-green specks within. She drank.
The potion tasted like a mouthful of earth.
The biomancer guided it down.
A complex mixture of plant scents rose from her stomach.
The "Biologist" discerned the strongest scent as oak, mingled with animal fats.
Her perfect, lustrous, elastic skin rapidly cracked, like a Harvest Giant's tree-like body.
Dirt formed on her feet, covering her boots.
Her body suddenly rose, letting out a bear-like roar.
Then it twisted, swaying like a serpent.
She felt as if she were transforming into hundreds of the creatures she knew.
As her thoughts scattered, the Black Emperor's commanding voice sounded in her mind.
"Meditate. Rein in the overflowing power."
Moments later, the newly promoted "Druid," her skin restored to its smooth elasticity, her body steady, looked at the branches and oak leaves and spoke.
"My Lord, I thank You for Your gift."
"I have gained the power of the oak. They are now the best materials for me."
On the last day of 3rd month, 897, Nareth, after a series of unpredictable voyages around Vostroya, returned.
On the first day of 4th month, an iron-grey warship transitioned from the Warp.
On the bridge of the Iron Blood, Perturabo stared at the hololith before him.
.....
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