Unknown Frontier

Back in his living quarters, Ian sat at his desk, flipping through the catalog Aeson had given him. He had heard of many of these paths before, but now he examined them in detail.

Pantheron's Favor was one of the easiest and most common paths. It allowed anyone to gain power simply by praying, as long as there was a god willing to bestow blessings. Divine Ascension, on the other hand, was its complete opposite. Instead of relying on the blessings of a higher being, it was a path where one ascended through the faith of others, gathering belief like a reservoir until they themselves could claim divinity.

Some paths were rooted in lineage, tapping into the dormant potential within one's very blood. Others, like Soulforge and Elemental Resonance, reshaped a person's core essence, fusing them with the forces of nature or the fundamental elements. Body Forge focused on physical refinement, tempering flesh and bone to surpass limits, while Life Force delved into vitality itself, extending life and enhancing resilience.

Runic mastery leaned toward the intricacies of arcane circuitry, intertwining symbols and energy to weave spells into reality. Herbology and Medic paths were deeply connected to the forces of healing and restoration, their practitioners revered for their ability to mend wounds, cure ailments, and even regenerate lost limbs. Symbiotic paths, however, were more unconventional—binding one's body and soul with an external entity, whether a spirit, parasite, or an artifact with sentience of its own.

There were also stranger, more unique paths. Royal Power harnessed authority itself as a source of strength, drawing from the command and recognition of others. Gluttony, that devoured energy, matter, or even concepts, absorbing what it consumed and making it part of the user's being.

Though many of these paths appeared distinct, they ultimately led to similar destination, merely channeling the same underlying forces in different ways.

Among them all, the most revered was the Path of the Innate Sword, a sacred discipline among elves. It was said to be the purest embodiment of martial perfection, a union of body, mind, and blade, where the sword was not wielded but came from within. But Ian had no interest in that. His focus lay elsewhere.

Two paths intrigued him above all others. The first was Eldritch, a path centered around growing circuits within the body like living roots and vines. It started with a single implanted seed, an ember of raw potential, that spread and evolved, intertwining with flesh and soul, reshaping the very essence of its wielder. Those who mastered it could regenerate from even the brink of annihilation, sprouting anew from hidden sub-seeds like a forest reclaiming lost ground. The nature of the initial seed determined the future direction of the path, and Ian had an advantage, his Mindbloom. The fact that it had allowed him to traverse between universes suggested its immense potential. Mindbloom has already fused in him body and if he could cultivate his starting seed based on it, the possibilities were limitless.

The second path was Architect, one of the simplest yet most profound. It bore similarities to the path of wizards or mages, but with a fundamental difference, it was attributeless. It did not rely on elements or external forces but instead focused purely on the creation and destruction of reality through sheer mental will. More importantly, it complemented Ian's expertise in arcane circuitry. With the support of Mindbloom, he could potentially elevate it far beyond its usual limits.

After much deliberation, he made his decision. He would take both. It wasn't uncommon for people to cultivate multiple paths, as long as they did not interfere with each other. Eldritch would enhance his body, while Architect would refine his mind. With that resolve, he finally allowed himself to sleep.

The next morning, Ian contacted Aeson, who promptly provided him with the first two levels of both paths. Architect was much easier to get started with—Aeson handed him a refined mental guide, a set of intricate instructions designed to help him carefully redirect his mental energy and shape it into controlled constructs. Eldritch, on the other hand, was more complex. The process required precise calibration of his body's internal energy, ensuring that the implanted seed would take root properly without causing instability.

After receiving the necessary materials and guidance, Ian soon settled back into his usual routine, spending time in the workshop, refining his craft, exchanging thoughts with Myrra and the others, and slowly deepening his understanding of the paths he had chosen.

One day, Myrra stopped by, a subtle excitement in her usually calm demeanor. "I received the blessing from my god," she said, a hint of pride in her voice. "Soon, I'll be moving on to more advanced work. I hope you'll catch up quickly."

She exhaled slowly, as if savoring the stillness around her. "It's a gift of perfect stillness. My mind no longer wavers, no matter the chaos around me. Thoughts settle like untouched water, crystal clear. Even in the heat of action, I remain composed, my body moves with instinct, unshaken, as if time itself slows in moments of urgency. It will be invaluable in precision work."

Ian smiled. "That's impressive. Congratulations."

Myrra gave him an approving glance. "And you? How's your progress going?"

"I'm getting there," he replied. "But it is going to take some time."

She smirked. "Then you'd better not fall behind."

Days passed. Ian devoted himself to meditation, absorbing mental energy and strengthening his connection. He could feel the changes taking root, subtle yet undeniable. Then, the moment arrived, the day to open his mind.

As he sank into deep focus, something within him shifted. A low, resonating boom echoed in his consciousness, not a sound heard with ears, but one that rippled through his very being. The world around him expanded in ways he had never experienced before. Even with his eyes closed, he could see, or rather, sense everything within a meter of his body. Every shift in the air, every pulse of energy, the faintest flicker of movement, it all became clear. It was as if reality itself had been laid bare before him.

The first step was complete. He had finally become an Awakened One. A slow smile formed on his lips.

His next focus would be the Eldritch path. It was much more intricate and would require time, resources, and careful cultivation. But with his newfound awareness, he was ready.

The very next day, Ian went to the workshop and contacted the supervisor. His promotion had been approved. His rank within the facility increased, granting him access to better materials, higher-level projects, and improved compensation.

The supervisor soon introduced him to a new group of people. They were about thirty in total, all awakened ones, including Myrra, who gave him a curious glance as he entered.

"Ian, these will be your new colleagues," the supervisor said. "You'll find a mix of disciplines here, different people work on different aspects. I expect you to collaborate well."

A tall man with sharp features stepped forward first. "Welcome. I'm Lirian. I specialize in energy flow refinement."

Next, a woman with short, silvery hair gave him a nod. "Kara. I handle structural formations in artifacts."

A few others introduced themselves in quick succession, Daren, a rune specialist; Velka, an artificer who focused on material fusion; Oryn, a strategist overseeing broader applications of their work; and others.

Myrra crossed her arms with a light smile. "You're moving up quickly. Trying to leave me behind?"

Ian chuckled. "I'll do my best to keep up."

After the introductions, he quickly settled in and started working, integrating himself into the team.