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English
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Published:
2023-01-03
Updated:
2023-01-03
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9,045
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4/?
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An Ancient Path

Summary:

In one thread of Fate, Wei Shi Lindon Arelius chose to embark on the Path of Black Flame. But what if, instead, a twist of Fate changed this outcome? What if Lindon's eyes caught upon another Path in the Arelius library, an ancient Path practiced by the greatest sacred artist Cradle had ever known? What if Lindon had chosen... the Path of the Hollow King.

Chapter Text

Lindon hesitated for a moment. “Or… I’m not sure how to ask, but are there any… famous or especially powerful Paths out there?” The myths and legends of Sacred Valley were filled with tales of unbeatable Paths, so if those really existed, Lindon didn’t want to be stuck with a mundane one. 

Eithan raised one eyebrow. “You think you need a special Path? Are ordinary Paths not good enough to meet your esteemed estimation?”

Lindon ducked his head. “I knew it was childish to ask; excuse me, I only wanted-”

“No, you were right. Powerful Paths, coming right up.”

The ball flashed with a scintillating wave of prismatic colours, and then images filled the centre of the room. Figures in the midst of combat, and writ across them, the names of Paths.  

“Ask, and you shall receive,” Eithan said, a smug grin stretching across his face. “Every legendary path recorded by the Arelius family since the days of our first Patriarch. Feel free to browse, though I might be persuaded to provide some suggestions.” 

Lindon needed no further encouragement; his eyes opened wide as he roamed from image to image.

A red man cupped its hand and gathered a ball of deep purple light. The technique trembled against invisible restraints as though pushing against the air, and an equally vivid purple sword appeared in his left hand. The Path of the Broken Star.

A dark black figure crawling with shadows fought alongside a hulking copy of itself, devouring techniques launched at it from all sides before unleashing a wave of darkness. The Path of Crawling Shades.

A dark indigo figure stood, surrounded by a spiral storm, flashing between torrents of wind, water and lightning, its enemy caught in a vortex that gave them no chance to react as lances of lightning tore them apart. The Path of Raging Sky.

A sky-blue figure cut through the techniques of tens of Stellar Spears launched at it with blades of Forged water so dense they seemed metallic. The Path of Twisting Rivers.

An emerald green figure with mighty wings of wind madra locked down its foe before wrenching the air from their lungs. The Path of Grasping Sky.

Another green figure buried their foe under a wave of constructs and scripts that slowly destroyed their cohesiveness until they were torn apart in a flurry of runes and strikes. The Path of the Last Oath. Lindon stopped in front of this image, which eithan took as his cue to step in. 

“The Path of the Last Oath, designed for and by Soulsmiths. It relies on Forging constructs and constructing script circles to control the battlefield and environment in a way most sacred artists simply can’t. It’s perfect for you… ”

Lindon was ecstatic at this description and ready to unleash a barrage of questions regarding madra composition, strategies for advancement, and any known technique until Ethan continued.

“...but its last known practitioner died thousands of years ago, and with her died almost every practical detail of the Path.”

Lindon moved on. 

The Path of Grasping Sky intrigued him until he learned that it was the Path of the Imperial family, and his practice of it would fly in the face of several laws. Lindon was prepared to ask about the Path of the Broken Star when suddenly he noticed a final set of images, almost hidden behind the rest. Almost as he did, Eithan began to talk.

“You know, if paths of the nobility interest you, I do- Lindon. Lindon, am I boring you? What are you-”

Lindon almost didn't hear the Underlord as he walked through the figure demonstrating the Broken Star to gaze upon a figure of deepest black. The figure fought a battle against an endless horde of foes and still somehow managed to carry an air of flawless confidence. A haze of destruction madra hung over him, disintegrating techniques and limbs that lashed out to strike him. As the figure lashed out, spears of black madra lanced toward foes, turning them to dust with a touch. Lindon watched in awe as above the mass of battling figures, stars of Forged destruction madra kindled into existence. The fight continued frantically until the stars speared down, each homing toward the cores of every enemy, rending their bodies and souls asunder. Slowly, Lindon’s gaze dropped to see the name of this Path right as Ethan’s hand closed over his shoulder, tight enough to be more than a little painful.

“The Path of the Hollow King. The Path created by our family’s Patriarch. I’d forgotten it was ever recorded here. If you’ll turn around, I’ve prepared a brief look into-”

“This Path could defeat Jai Long,” Lindon said. It was half a question and half a statement. In his core, he knew it. He turned to look at Eithan and saw something surprising in the Underlord’s eyes. Concern. Eithan’s mouth opened and closed a few times before he spoke.

“Better than any other.”

Suriel’s marble almost seemed to hum in Lindon’s pocket as he decided. “I choose this Path.” 

Eithan sighed, smiled, and then spoke. “Well, it's not what I anticipated, but I would be lying if I said that it didn’t work quite well. Destruction is one of the hardest types of aura to find and cultivate, but luckily, dragons radiate almost as much of it as they do fire. And Underground Chamber 3 should already have the seals undone and a medical team standing by. You go on ahead, I’ll be right behind you.”

As Lindon exited the room, Eithan allowed his smile to fade. “May the heavens forgive me,” he whispered. Then, as he adopted his characteristic grin and strode from the room, the world trembled at the rebirth of the Hollow King.