Chapter 775 (2/2)
But he was changing. He was… growing up.
Randidly chuckled in spite of himself at that rather inane description of what was happening. But it was true, in a way. As a child, you held infinite possibilities in your hands. That was the wonder of it, a wonder that Randidly now viewed so nostalgically. But as you grew, you would discover paths available to you that you cared enough about that you would cash in your potential for capability.
Of course, avoiding the decision didn’t exactly delay it. If you didn’t transform the potential you possessed, it would slowly rot away inside of you. Which was what Randidly himself did for a long time, especially emotionally. Even now, Randidly wasn’t sure why he had such a hard time committing to something early on in his response to the System.
Perhaps being nothing was less scary than failing to become something.
Randidly’s eyes slowly opened. In the near darkness of the night, they were deep forest green. Feeling that he had spent quite enough time just sitting and pondering, Randidly opened his Path Menu.
It wasn’t like he had gained altogether that many Skill Levels in the past two days. Really, the largest improvement was Extinguishing Ash, Devouring Storm, and that was likely just because it was such a low-Level Skill currently. Improving it was high on his list of goals. The fact of the matter was Randidly possessed so many Skills that gaining 1 or 2 Levels in a bunch of them led to him gaining 40 PP in two days.
Plus, the training with Helen had really put a strain on his use of images. It likely helped speed along his Leveling by a lot.
Needless to say, the first thing Randidly did was finish off the Evolution of Self I Path.
Congratulations! You have completed the Evolution of Self I Path! There is no wrong Path in the world, just like there is no perfect Path. Only appropriate destinations. Your new Path spreads in front of you, long and full of possibilities. When individuals reach certain extreme criteria, it is possible for their existence to follow a narrow Path upward toward the Nexus. This is a great boon. It is dangerous beyond belief, but this is a Path that leads straight toward the pinnacle. Seize this chance, traveler. The Path leads ever onward. +10 to all stats.
Randidly’s glee at seeing a flat +10 to all Stats quickly soured as he reread the Path reward.
...certain extreme criteria… a narrow path upward toward the Nexus...
This… this almost seemed like a dangerous sort of Path in the way his interactions with the Patron of Ash were dangerous. That it would lock him into a weird series of tests. Randidly opened up and looked at the Path options.
Heretic XXIX 0/???, Nexus Traveler Cohort 5 0/50, Experimenter I 0/50, System Transgressor 0/1, Friend to Humanity 0/100, War Leader 0/200, Mantle of the Patron 0/500, Metallurgist 0/300, Advanced Mana Engraving 0/400, Aether Convergence II ???, Perfect Soul Bond 0/1000, the Bell of Doom Tolls 0/600, Growth of Yggdrasil III 0/2000, Fiery Sharpshooter 0/350, The Ashes of Ulaat, Patron of Ash 0/1000, Order Ducis: Font of Guidance ???, Humanity’s Torch 0/500, Bearing of a Teacher ???, Limitless Will 0/1000, Evolution of Self II 0/50, Puppet Master 0/100
Another relatively short Path for Evolution of Self II, huh…? And likely increasing gains. But Randidly was extremely wary after seeing that reference to the Nexus. Plus, that text relating to certain extreme individuals gave him the same whiff of meddling that some of the messages he received when he escaped the prison did. The overlay System was not pleased that he had escaped its notice and had such profound changes. Perhaps this was a roundabout way to control those who had the ability to escape its normal controls.
Well, Randidly wasn’t having any of it. Of the others, Randidly was amused to see that so short a time was enough to earn himself a Puppetmaster Path. Likely, that would help him in his Helen training. But if he was going to focus on improving that aspect of himself, it seemed better to just say screw it the consequences and begin on Limitless Will…
Biting his lip, Randidly considered for several seconds. Then he nodded decisively. Better to just go fo the Limitless Will Path. He had no doubt that there would be an excellent reward waiting at the end of that 1000 PP.
It pained him somewhat to start such a long investment, but Randidly firmed his resolve and made his selection. But then a notification popped up.
Warning! While you are on the Evolution of Self Path, other Paths cannot be selected without forfeiting further gains in the Evolution of Self Path and collecting the rewards you have earned. At this level, this course of action is not recommended. Warning! Do you want to continue? Y/N.