Chapter 315 - Crossing the Midpath (2/2)

Mason looked taken aback.

”It is true. None do hear his voice. He has withdrawn himself. In this coming conflict, he may very well fade entirely,” said Li. ”But he ends his light for the sake of a greater good. For your lives and your futures.”

Li eyed Mason, looking into his expression. ”I can sense disbelief in you. That is only natural. You have spent your whole life believing in how eternal this light is. But you know very well not to doubt my words.

I do not tell you this to dampen your spirits. I tell you this to let you prepare for a world without the One Light. His light has done good, but at the heart of it, it is up to you, the people that live atop the dirt, to continue that good, not in the name of some light or some god, but for yourselves and the future.”

Li's expression darkened slightly as he remembered the incoming threat of the Chthonia. ”And if people like you are ever to steward and champion this world, you must grow stronger, and you must learn to set your differences with others aside, because in the end, to the threat that is coming, whether you are mortal or demon does not matter – all of you are just meat, just things to be fed on and devoured and chewed up until you are nothing.”

Li paused for a second as a silence settled among the party. Worried expressions formed on all their faces as words of concern from Li himself settled in their hearts.

”Forgive me,” said Li. ”I said something a little too ominous. The future is not set, it never is, so do not worry so much. It may be a grim one, it may not. But if it is indeed dark, then the answer is simple: join me in making the future brighter.”

Li nodded to Mason. ”That is what your One Light would have wanted for you.”

”But I already strong!” said Tia as she pulled on Li's sleeve again, the vast majority of his speech having flown over her head.

”Of course, of course,” said Li as put a hand to her shoulder. He pointed out towards the glowing white Midpath bridge, towards the enormous treeline of the Gigant forest that reached above the clouds. ”And I've decided: we are going to get stronger, all of you together. I will help you in the coming fights, but I will not intervene unless necessary.

Hopefully by the time we cross this forest, all of you will have come out a little more prepared for things to come.”

In essence, Li wanted to powerlevel this party. He knew that would take longer for them to reach the West, but Tia and Old Thane both were part of this group. He did not want them defenseless and reliant on him, for even if they were strong compared to many in this new world, they were ants if the Chthonia came to be.

He did not know if they or the rest of the party could level beyond their natural set talents, or if levelling even worked the same as it did in the game, but he would experiment now and try.

For much of his time in this world, he had only focused on farming, not giving a thought to combat related mechanics such as leveling because he was just strong enough to deal with everything himself.

But for the first time, this was going to be a threat he could not handle entirely alone. He needed the people around him, the people that cared for him and he them in return, to be able to stand by themselves.

”Aye, I'm game,” said Old Thane with an expectant smile as he tightened his fist. ”My fists are slow now, they are, but crossing the Gigant – a land of legend – will hone them well.”

There was still a hint of unease lingering in the air, and Old Thane sensed it.

He raised his voice and addressed the party. ”Do we cower for a future we know nothing of? A future we can shape with our fists? Nay! We follow Li, and by the time we cross the Gigant, we'll have might to our names that will earn us seats in the records of history themselves!”

”I will make certain of that,” commented Asala as she wrote down Old Thane's dialogue in her tablet.

”All of us have different goals, aye,” said Old Thane.

He looked at Sheela. ”Some of us wish to reclaim the pride of our people and fend for our homes.

He looked to Vilga.  ”Some of us wish to discover ourselves, to know who we truly are through the fiery forge of combat and adventure.”

He looked to Mercer. ”Some of us simply want the greater adventure.”

Then to Mason. ”But all of us, in the end, as Li says, are the same: we wish to do good on our adventures, and without the might to make the right, what use can we be? I'll not dawdle while a Darkening shakes this world, and neither should the rest of ye.”