Harem Stealer: Reborn with the God-Tier Sharing System Chapter 487 That's the price

In her domain, Gaia abruptly halted her current task, her head whipping sharply toward a specific direction.

From her vantage point, only the denizens of her realm carried on with their everyday existence, yet as the Will Eternal, she beheld far greater sights—and the vision that met her eyes triggered an unusual surge of emotion within.

"Already?" she murmured, observing as a section of the Spirit World became fully shrouded by the influence of one of Them—the power of the Pale Lady.

Her eyebrows knit together, her expression twisting into one of deep concern as she watched Noah draw the vessel of Her into his mind.

Gaia, despite knowing better, reflexively attempted to halt the occurrence. But it proved far too delayed, and she found herself unable to reach Noah's consciousness.

Not without risking harm to him.

"I truly hoped I was mistaken about you, Raj. Why must you be such a source of trouble?" Gaia breathed out, shutting her eyes in a vain effort to soothe her racing heart.

The emergence of the Pale Lady's vessel within the Spirit World did not catch her off guard.

How could it? After all, she herself had granted Her simpler entry into the Perfected Reality and even initiated the descent toward the Spirit World.

Any observer aware of this outrageous scheme would deem Gaia a reckless fool for inviting the harbinger of destruction into her own midst.

And that assessment rang entirely true.

The Pale Lady belonged to Them. Their sole aim remained to consume her and seize the Seed from which she originated.

The Seed belonging to one of the Olds. The entity They dubbed the Interpreters.

Gaia remained ignorant of the identities of those Olds; the Son of Emptiness had steadfastly withheld any information on the matter.

Only recently had she uncovered these details, all courtesy of the Pale Lady.

Exposing herself so boldly before Them had carried grave risks, yet she had come to realize that embracing such peril was essential to uncovering the motives driving the Son of Emptiness.

Even at present, gaps lingered in her knowledge. Gaia still puzzled over the necessity of Noah, the Merchant, and the One of Fire for this safeguarding endeavor.

But such matters could wait for later reflection; right now...

Gaia turned her gaze back to the Spirit World, allowing a faint smile to form, albeit one tinged with tension.

"Did it unfold according to your intentions?" a voice resounded around her, ancient, devoid of gender, and monotone, as if emanating from every direction.

"I have gained insight into my son, Heboric..."

"Now you accept him as your son? I always saw you as far more unyielding than this, Gaia."

"...keep quiet when I am talking." She growled, then pressed on. "As I was saying, I understand my son well. For thousands of years, I have observed his growth without ever averting my gaze. He stirs up chaos, he carries himself with pride, and he possesses boundless curiosity and boldness."

"The traits essential for the Prince," Heboric hesitated. "Perhaps even the King, should he prove himself capable."

"Indeed." Gaia inclined her head. "That is precisely why I deliberately permitted the Pale Lady to form a vessel solely within the Principality of the Primus Universe."

She grinned, eyeing the peculiarly hued expanse of land underfoot, reminiscing about the numerous instances she manipulated the Spirit World's timeline to enable it.

All without arousing suspicion from anyone.

"The Pale Lady stood apart from the rest," Gaia added. "Unlike the others, she harbored no intent to devour me. Rather, she sought to taint my core Seed, transforming me into an appendage of Her own being. For what purpose? That remains unclear. But it fueled her desire for a foothold within me."

"And now, do you feel no fear?" Heboric questioned. "She possesses that foothold at last. Even with your apparent scheme in place, she is one of Them. It would be utter folly to assume they can be restrained. They originate from-!"

"I am aware, Heboric." Gaia cut in sharply. "And here's yet another lesson I've gleaned about my son: he invariably discovers a method to transform

a dire circumstance into an advantageous one."

"You intend to rely on your son to resolve your predicament?"

"I am granting him the means to guard against the Son of Emptiness. Only They possess the power to conceal him."

"Should he manage to secure her consent... do you grasp the implications? One of Them agreeing to indulge a lowly inhabitant of reality?"

"It concerns merely a vessel from the Main Self. It's far more feasible than you imagine."

"The Main Self will become aware, and you shall face consequences unscathed no longer."

Gaia sneered. "You fail to comprehend the dynamics among Them. What do you suppose would occur if the others discovered the Pale Lady's prior access to reality?"

Heboric's reply did not arrive right away, as he contemplated and recognized the validity of Gaia's argument. His musing was interrupted by her steady voice resuming.

"Allow me to explain, Heboric, their likely response. They would go to any lengths to

undermine her and claim that connection for themselves. Thus, trust me when I say she won't approach me—not right away, at least—out of dread over what I might reveal to her dear companions when cornered with no alternatives."

Be cautious of the desperate rodent.

Heboric let out a chill laugh. "You are wagering your existence, Gaia."

"Such is the cost."

"All for the sake of aiding your son? He amounts to a single entity, yet you have endangered an entire reality on his account."

"That single entity happens to be my son, Heboric."

"He holds greater value than all of them combined?"

"Must I make it explicit? In my view, he surpasses even you in worth."

Heboric fell noticeably silent, then huffed in annoyance. "That stings."

Gaia merely shrugged, offering no retort, and shifted her focus once more to

the developments transpiring in the Spirit World.

Noah had to act swiftly, as the Son of Emptiness would soon enjoy the opportunity to scrutinize and detect irregularities within her. Prior to that, Noah required mastery over the Pale Lady's vessel to secure his safeguard and strength. Even as these thoughts swirled, Gaia felt her gut twist into knots. Anxiety gnawed at her intensely. Permitting one of Them so near to both her and her son carried immense peril. The Pale Lady could behave unpredictably, sealing their utter doom.

Yet, no alternative path presented itself currently.

She now recognized the imperative to defend herself and those she cherished, since the Son of Emptiness's shielding might not endure indefinitely.

With a heavy sigh, Gaia shut her eyes.

"You are the Selfborn, the Son of Will Eternal, the thief who claimed my

power and forced me into the throes of birth..."

A subtle smile graced her lips as she recalled that moment. Oddly enough, those recollections had grown dear to her now.

"...you can pull this off once more, right?"

Gaia placed her faith in her son. In truth, she had little choice in the matter.

No other recourse existed.

...

At the same time, within Raj's Primeval Consciousness, Noah confronted the vessel of the Pale Lady directly, his movements restored.

He offered a timid grin.

"I am sorry..."

The eyes of the Pale Lady grew lethally cold.

"...I didn't mean to kiss you." -End of Chapter 487-