Chapter 6: Chapter 6 – The Seven Paths

“Are you kidding me? That’s your plan?” Aries growled.

“Listen, you have to understand, against the Goddess Fayette, we stand no chance at all.”

“I cannot believe that pathetic party I took out as an S Rank Sage thought it would be a good idea to take on a Goddess! How stupid can you get?” Aries couldn’t believe his ears. Facing a Goddess at their level and in their condition was suicide.

“I don’t know why we decided to face her, but I can’t exactly ask my party now, can I?” Theseus eyed the Shade angrily. If they could’ve climbed Heaven with the party, the reason for them being in the dream in the first place could’ve been clearer.

“Sorry about that. I didn’t know this was a dream. Say, can’t you just dream up new powers?” Aries wondered sarcastically.

“If only.” Theseus thought curiously.

“I think this is the only way.” Theseus said. They had to undergo intense training. Drawing up a diagram of the Seven Aura Paths, Theseus tried to explain his plan in greater detail.

“Firstly, we have the Natural Path. Using that path, we can use body tempering or physiques to gain aura, but we don’t have access to any herbs or resources to strengthen our bodies.”

“The Natural Path, used to exploit a vessel’s innate power and potential. I know that brat. Get to the point!” Aries sneered.

“Shut your mouth Shade. I’m trying to explain each path to prove this plan is the smartest path to take.”

“Whatever.”

“Next, we have the Scientific Path. Obviously, we don’t have access to any technology nor the artifacts.” Scientists who used artifacts and technology to fight were rare, simply because it was expensive to maintain artifacts.

“For a similar reason, we can’t use complex runes. The resources it would are too taxing compared to the equipment we have left. Also, any runes that could help us defeat Fayette would just kill us. We can use simpler runes, but that’s about it.”

“Yeah, we really screwed up using those potential seals against Ouzo…” Aries sighed.

“We will have to use an Ultimate Potential Seal for the fight though.” Theseus explained. Ultimate Potential Seals sucked up all the last lifeforce and potential from its user. If they failed to defeat Fayette, both Theseus and Aries would die and be trapped in the dream forever.

“Fair enough. This is a Goddess we are talking about here.” Aries pondered out loud. Closing the gap between two Sage Realm chumps and a Goddess was almost laughable.

“Okay, now the real things we can actually do here. The Shade, Spirit, and Summoner Paths can help us if we create a contract founded on Summoner principles.”

The Summoner Path was good for leaders and generals. Buffing or sharing aura between subordinates and masters was normal for Royalty and Deity Realm masters.

“What do you have in mind?” Aries finally started paying closer attention.

“There’s a common skill called Shade Summon we can use.”

“Oh Hell no! Letting a clown like you use my Shade Core is outright idiotic.”

Aries was not having it. Shade Summon allowed a master to take control of a Shade as a subordinate in combat.

“Come on, we don’t have many options here!” Theseus complained.

“Fine, but you have to add to the Soul Contract a clause that forbids you from using this skill in the real world.” Aries knew Theseus was right, but it was demeaning, nonetheless.

Getting to work, the two perfected the Shade Summon Skill as they recovered from their injuries due to their Potential Seals.

***

Two months flew by at the base of the fourth floor. Their hard work had paid off. With the Shade Summon skill, Theseus and Aries fought as one. Together, their aura collectively broke through to the F Rank Royalty Realm.

“This is far from enough, but it’s a start.” Aries remarked. Their supplies were running low, but Theseus was proud of their work. Even though the bottom tier of the Royalty Realm was impressive, the Goddess Fayette was still over one realm stronger than the duo.

“There’s one last path. What’s your plan? It’s obvious the Authority Path was always the only option.” Aries asked. He kept quiet about the final path for all this time, and for good reason. The Authority Path was the bridge between the imagination and reality. For all intents and purposes, Authority magic was the most volatile and dangerous path to follow. Skills that utilized this path were not related to the elements and vessel, like the Natural Path, nor was it based on tangible exterior sources, like the Scientific and Runic Paths.

The Authority Path was called what it was not because of the highest realm, the Authority Realm, but because of the nature of Authority. Starting at the Deity Realm, Gods and Goddesses had to become a God or Goddess of a specific aspect of reality. The God of Fire was strong because he had Authority over fire. Likewise, a Goddess of Illusion could only be as strong as her Authority and grasp of illusions. Most skills naturally evolved into Authority Path skills over time because Deities required Authority to transcend. The nature of Authority influenced all Seven Paths, but they were still distinct in practice.

The volatility of Authority Path skills was the main reason most avoided the path until they were experienced Royalty Realm experts. Controlling reality through the imagination was intangible and difficult, leading to serious accidents as well as overpowered and outrageous skills. Truly, it was much easier and safer to just temper your own vessel on the Natural Path than dabble with Authority magic. One wrong skill could ruin ones’ entire life.

Because the imagination is the root of the skill, Authority Path skills become stronger depending on the limitations and consequences of using the skill. For example, a skill similar to the Ultimate Potential Seal could be used to place a future limitation of never being able to use aura again. Normally, Authority Path followers invented their own skills as well, which led to inefficient or dangerous skills. Unsure of how the dream body would affect their real bodies, Theseus thought long and hard during their training on the limitations and rules of the skill.

“I call it, Dream Transcendence.” Theseus declared.

“What does it do?” Aries asked, unamused.

“The longer we are within the dream world, the stronger our auras will rise when we use it, but, we can only use the skill once. And also, after we use it, we can’t use aura again in this dream world.”

“An interesting concept. Is this skill based on Dream Authority?” Aries wondered about Authority Skills but was too afraid to dabble in it. Time and time again, he witnessed fools create their own Authority Skills, only for them to die gruesome deaths because their skill was too outrageous or poorly thought out.

“Yes and no, actually, only you can use it…” Theseus said.

“What? Why?” Aries barked.

“Although I can logically deduce this is a dream, you are the only one of the two of us that knows without a doubt that this is a dream. If I were to use Dream Transcendence, I could die if I doubt this isn’t a dream.” Theseus explained.

“You really are smart, huh?”

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Aries grew to respect Theseus because of his genius. It was a shame he was so weak. He thought far ahead about the consequences of his created skill.

“I’ll write down all of the complexities behind the skill so you can memorize how it works. If your mind strays at all from the principles behind the skill, it could be disastrous.”

“Hmm, yes, Authority Skills are quite a mess…” Aries didn’t want to end up dying but accepted the conditions. If all went according to plan, he would temporarily become the God of Theseus’s Dream.

How strange.

“We should arrive at Fayette’s meadow within the year. All in all, we will have been inside this dream closer to two years.” Theseus explained.

“Wow, how much time has passed on the outside?” Aries thought out loud.

“Who knows? It could be a day, week, month, or even longer.” Theseus shrugged. They weren’t in a position to rush their plan. Picking up the scroll with the Dream Transcendence skill on it, Aries read it as they walked. Their preparations to defeat the Goddess continued as they climbed Heaven slowly and methodically.

***

At the end of the second year in the dream world, Theseus and Aries met the boss of the fourth floor.

“Welcome friends!” Fayette chimed and hopped down from her tree. Her golden hair swayed with the wind. Tiny like a pixie, Fayette flew towards the duo with excitement and smugness.

“Today, you die!” She exclaimed happily! From the surrounding forest, armies of spirits, pixies, and fairies swarmed the party.

“Now!” Theseus yelled. As the horde engulfed them, both Theseus and Aries activated their last resort spells. Theseus had painstakingly crafted two Authority Skills for the two of them. Despite the original plan to use the Ultimate Potential Seal on themselves, Theseus decided the Authority Skills were enough.

“Summoner Skill: Shade Summon!” Theseus cried out.

“Authority Skill: Ultimate Dream Potential,” Theseus continued. This was the equivalent of the Ultimate Potential Seal, but it used less resources compared to creating a rune. It was worth it to craft another dangerous Authority Skill in order to preserve the final remnants of equipment used to climb the fourth floor easier.

“Authority Skill: Dream Transcendence!” Aries yelled under the horde. Erupting from the combined aura of the F Rank Royalty Realm, Aries’s aura continued to rise.

D Rank Royalty Realm.

C Rank Royalty Realm.

B Rank Royalty Realm.

A Rank Royalty Realm.

“Incredible. To think you would go to such lengths.” Fayette shook her head in disapproval. By using skills of this magnitude, the duo would be throwing away their future growth if not their very lives. Despite their impressive boost in power, Fayette was confident in her abilities. Watching cautiously, Aries’s power stopped at the D Rank Deity Realm.

“So, this is the Deity Realm. Kukuku, to think the gods were this powerful!” Aries instantly disintegrated the horde around him. His dream like powers swept over the meadow and pressed down on Theseus, whose aura stabilized around the C Rank Royalty Realm due to the Shade Summon and Dream Potential skill. The power was addicting. Never before did Theseus feel this strong.

“Sigh, I’m sorry. You all have been working so hard to get here, but the difference between us is still too great.” Fayette waved her hand and captured Theseus. Theseus appeared next to Fayette but couldn’t move.

“I wonder if any of you have ever met someone of the Deity Realm before.” Fayette monologued.

“Shut up you stupid fairy.” Aries waved his hand, and Theseus appeared next to himself.

“We could do this all day but know this:

My foundations aren’t based on a skill that will run out within the hour. I am the C Rank Goddess, Fayette of Illusions!” Fayette proudly announced. Summoning another horde, Fayette and Aries clashed relentlessly. Aries was holding his own, but it looked like he had the disadvantage. It was to be expected if what Fayette said was true. A C Rank Goddess had more aura capacity and more experience compared to the newly born Dream God.

Unlike last time, Theseus did not prepare the Runic Explosion skill. His vessel couldn’t be used as a pawn, and the Vessel Explosion rune couldn’t be used. Helpless, Theseus knew it wasn’t enough and fell to his knees in defeat.

“What are you doing? Get up!” Aries glared but also knew it was futile.

“Die! Die! Die!” Fayette giggled as she slaughtered Aries. Bloodied and beaten, Aries could no longer move.

“Enough.” Fayette spoke shortly.

“This is the end for your climb. Say your goodbyes. This I will grant you.”

“I’m… I’m sorry.” Theseus apologized. Even with the miraculous Dream Transcendence skill, it wasn’t enough to beat the fairy Queen Fayette.

“Don’t be sorry. You tried your best, and even though you trapped yourself here with me, it was a gamble you had to take. I’ve grown to respect your recklessness, brat. You should be proud; the Dream Transcendence skill was amazing.” Aries smiled weakly. He meant what he said. A skill that raised his aura by an entire Realm was nearly unheard of. He had messed with the wrong person back in that forest.

“Goodbye… Friend.” Theseus smiled back as Fayette prepared to execute the duo.

Theseus smile faded as the familiar scene jogged his memory. This was not the first time Fayette declared she would murder his party. The dream’s accuracy to the previous encounter with Fayette frightened Theseus, but he knew what he had to do. Thinking quickly, he devised a way to resolve the dream.

Fayette stood above the duo about to decapitate the two.

“Authority Skill: The Second Runic Explosion,” Theseus said as he looked at the confused, deranged Shade. He created this skill in the moment, in the heat of his emotions. If he couldn’t survive this, Aries would still survive. The dream would be resolved.

“What are you talkin-“ Aries tried to say but was cut off by the explosion. Fayette, also confused, could tell something was amiss with Theseus’s aura, but before she would react, the explosion occurred.

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