Chapter 46 – Choosing Paths

  Jack initiated the grade upgrade and immediately was brought into a strange place. It reminded Jack of the in-between place he appeared in after going through the portal and being initiated into this new world. That place had been a large empty white space that seemingly went on forever. However, while this place also seemed to go on forever, it was not empty. Instead, it was filled with Fire and Darkness that shift and swirled in chaotic patterns everywhere he could see.

  At first, Jack thought something must have gone wrong, but the fire didn’t burn, and even in the complete darkness, Jack was still able to see. As he adjusted to the new place, Jack found he could also alter the area in small ways. He was even able to make the fire take different shapes. After a little experimenting, Jack managed to give the place some structure. The fire turned into a field of red, yellow, and blue flowers made of flames underneath a pitch black sky. He was just starting to admire the new landscape when messages started to appear in front of him.

  *Welcome to your Psyche*

  Current Affinities: Darkness, Fire

  *Please voice your path*

  -Path chosen can only be changed through effort and time.

  “My Psyche?” Jack called out to the empty space but only heard his echo in response. “This is my inner self?”

  Jack waited but no answer came.

  “How am I supposed to voice my path?” Jack called out. “I’m still not sure I understand what I’m doing or what to choose.”

  *Assistance requested*

  Would you like recommendations?

  “Sure,” Jack said. It was only recommendations, but it might give him ideas to work from.

  *Calculating…*

  Recommendation:

  Path of the Hunter: You are a hunter. This means more to you than just your next meal. Not only do you hunt the beast of the world, but you hunt knowledge, understanding, treasures, and challenges few will ever know. The path of the hunter is the path of challenge. Pursue your endeavors with the tenacity of a predator.

  Path of the Crafter: You are a crafter. Unlike most, one craft is not enough for you. You are a crafter through and through. The pursuit of creation knows no limits. The path of the crafter is the path of creation. Pursue your creations with the tenacity of an artisan.

  Path of Secrets: You are the holder of secrets. You understand that knowledge and understanding is not for all to have. You safekeep knowledge and information so that it may not be misused. The path of Secrets is the path of the confidante. Guard your secrets with tenacity of a sentinel.

  Path of the Polymath: You are a polymath. Nothing is ever enough. No one craft is enough, no one weapon is enough, no one discipline is enough. You are a student of the world and everything within. You wish to know, understand, and do anything and everything. The path of the Polymath is the path of understanding. Pursue the practical application of knowledge with passion and never let anything obstruct your pursuits.

  Path of the Rarified: Everyone can be exceptional, but you have taken the steps to being one-of-a-kind. You pursue the paths least walked and chart your own when the way becomes blocked. Classes, skills, experiences, opportunities, or items. It doesn’t matter to you. You seek what no one else has done before. The path of the rarified is the path of the unique. Pursue opportunities most would die for, because they have.

  There was a lot to look over on this. Jack had only ever heard of the Path of the hunter as Rayne followed that path. The rest were new to him, and many were things he didn’t even know could be paths to choose from. He needed to look over each one closely.

  The path of the hunter seemed simple enough. It was more or less what he had already been doing. Finding things to hunt and challenges to pursue. It was even fairly open to the interpretation of what was defined as hunting. Would it count if he was hunting for ingredients or materials? He could see himself following that path easily, but was that what he wanted to be? Jack wasn’t sure what he truly wanted to follow, but try as he might, he couldn’t see himself as a hunter. From time to time, sure, but not as the thing that would define him.

  The path of the crafter was another interesting one. He was already pursuing a host of Professions, and it wouldn’t take him much to continue down that path either. However, the Akashic Craftsman class may have granted him multiple professions, but he chose it originally to not be tied to any one thing. He had barely begun practicing all the different crafts it had granted, and he still wasn’t sure if he would like them all. Even now he was considering trying to find ways to combine some of his Professions.

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  The path of secrets was out from the beginning. Jack may be under a contract not to talk or share certain things about the Akashic Order, but he didn’t like it. The thought of going through life as some kind of hoarder of secrets didn’t appeal to him at all.

  That only left two more path recommendations. Both were very interesting and confusing. How was the path of the polymath different from the path of the crafter. Jack supposed the only real difference was that it was about more than just crafting. It appeared to be involved with learning everything, but wouldn’t that be the path of knowledge. He vaguely remembered Daniel mentioning that was the path he followed.

  “Maybe it’s like the different between applied and theoretical physics?” Jack muttered. “Both involve learning and understanding physics, but one is involved with using physics while the other is about what it could do. Is that right? I should listen more to Daniel when he explains things.”

  Ultimately, Jack put this aside as well. He just didn’t understand the path enough to choose it. That only left one more path recommendation. The path of the rarified, which drew Jack’s attention more than the others. Who didn’t like rare things? Every gamer instinct in him told him that rarer was better and this path was pursuing those rare things. He almost chose this right away, but one thing stopped him.

  It was nice to get rare opportunities and things, but was it enough to base his whole path around?

  “This feels like when they were trying to make me decide my future career at age seventeen,” Jack muttered. “Who knows what they want to do by age seventeen? Or level ten for that matter. There are only a couple that I might consider of these. Is there any way to combine something like the path of the hunter, the polymath, and still be free to pursue anything I like?”

  *Calculating…*

  Path of Mindfulness: You can’t be defined. You plan to experience and learn anything and everything but without being held to any specific goal. The pursuit of the moment is your true calling. It is the Journey not the destination. The Path of Mindfulness is the path of the moment. Live for the day and cherish every second.

  Path of the Pinnacle Aspirant: You hold yourself to a standard few can reach. Whether its crafting, fighting, learning, or cultivating. Whatever you pursue, you make sure to reach beyond what is expected or what is adequate. It is not enough to be good enough. You may not be able to reach the pinnacle yet, but you know you will one day. The path of the pinnacle aspirant is the path of transcending. Pursue the exceptional and overcome what you think your limits are.

  Path of the Rarified Polymath: It is not simply enough to know and understand the world around you, you must excel as one of its exceptional students. Only the best and rarest creations, knowledge, and pursuits are worthy of your time. The path of the rarified polymath is the path of the savant. Be the best there is that ever was.

  Jack didn’t have to think hard about this. “I choose path of the pinnacle aspirant,” Jack spoke aloud. The path of mindfulness and the rarified polymath were interesting and much better than what he had expected, but mindfulness felt a little lackadaisical. His chosen classes meant he would need to be very active and focused on pursuing them if he ever wanted to ascend. He wasn’t sure how that would work with that path, but he had been told that it wasn’t a good idea to go against your path. There were just times you had to plan and pursue goals.

  The rarified polymath class was out as well. There was just too much emphasis on being exceptional in everything you did. It gave Jack the impression that being average would not be tolerated. Jack just didn’t think that was possible.

  The pinnacle aspirant path though, was about trying to constantly improve yourself as you reached for the top. It felt right to him. He might have been lost since coming here, but ever since the beginning, he had been working towards reaching the highest heights he could. He didn’t see a world where he wouldn’t be trying to reach the pinnacle in everything he did. The completionist in him drove him to it, and he wanted… no he needed to see how far he could go.

  *Path of the Pinnacle Aspirant chosen*

  Pursue your path and grow in power young cultivator

  -Path can be adjusted at level fifty

  *Race has improved to grade F*

  -All basic System stats have reached the first threshold.

  -Dexterity has reached the second threshold

  -Mana Cultivation at one Node unlocked.

  -Calculating Titles…

  *Race trait gained: Mana Specialist (Rare)*

  Reduces the cost of Mana in all forms by ten percent.

  *Pending Experience returned*

  *Level Up! Human (Level 11)

  +5 Unallocated.

  *~*

  Jack awoke sometime in the night. Someone had moved his body up into the trees where they had made their current sleeping area. Rayne was asleep nearby, but Sylvian was up and keeping watch. She noticed Jack stir as he awoke.

  “Welcome back,” Sylvian said.

  “How long was I out?” Jack asked.

  “The rest of the day, most of the night,” Sylvian answered.

  “I thought it was only supposed to be a quick upgrade,” Jack said yawning.

  “Normally yes,” Sylvian said. “Don’t forget you were also recovering from upgrading a cultivation path as well.”

  “Right,” Jack said. “Should have spent more time working on my body and spirit cultivation. Bet I would have gotten an even better trait than Mana Specialist.”

  “Getting good titles and traits can be great,” Sylvian said. “But it is not a simple thing to do. It is amazing you were able to reach the level you have in the time you have been here.”

  “Suppose there is that,” Jack sighed.

  “What did you end up choosing?” Sylvian asked. “For your path?”

  “Path of the pinnacle aspirant,” Jack said. “Took a while to settle on that.”

  Sylvian was quiet for a moment before asking, “Are you planning on pursuing the Divine path?”

  “Don’t know,” Jack answered honestly. “I don’t plan on stopping so probably, but that is a long way out. Were either of you able to progress your cultivation?”

  “I am close to my first Node as well,” Sylvian said. “Rayne is making decent headway in her spirit cultivation.”

  “You think this will be enough?” Jack asked. “Enough to take on Clayton?”

  “I don’t know,” Sylvian admitted. “But we can’t risk waiting much longer to try. The others should be getting close to finishing their part.”

  “Guess back to it in the morning,” Jack said.