Divine Path System

Prince Samatv left Telor's dorm room in hurried footsteps.

Contrary to his leisurely and confident steps when he visited, he was just short of running away when he exited.

Varian saw him off with a bright smile before he entered his cottage and closed the door. The smile on his face disappeared and his eyes showed a solemn look.

"What exactly is happening in the academy?"

He examined the red pill with a curious gaze.

"He isn't lying. This should be for awakening natal treasure. But whether it suceeds or not is another issue."

The whole experience was weird.

Usually, if someone gave him an experimental drug, it's an attempt at exploitation.

But it felt different with Prince Samatv. Because even while pushing that scam of an opportunity onto him, Samatv was looking at him with eyes full of sympathy.

Those were geniune feelings that his soul power verified. This guy, who Telor never had any bond with, was really feeling sad for him for some reason.

It made little sense.

'Telor is not the one being pitied. It's Telor's state. The state of being weak or…not having natal treasure?'

Varian knew there was discrimination based on this.

Baldur's natal treasure got damaged. So, he left the comfort of his home and searched for the long lost princess just to get her natal treasure.

For any Palarian, a good natal treasure was a high ticket to high status.

Conversely, no matter how talented you were, if you didn't have a good natal treasure, some positions would always be away from your reach.

Of course, it's the middle and bottom class that would feel the heat.

It's not as if rank 9 powerhouses without natal treasure would be 'discriminated' against by a rank 8 powerhouse with natal treasure.

Strength, after all, was the ultimate equilizer of all other differences.

It's similar to how Sage Nevar, who was shunned for being a space awakener in a gravity-only Zion duchy at a young age. But when he returned as a powerhouse, they all welcomed and worshipped him.

But if it's a rank 4 or rank 7 in the kingdom, it'd be a different experience.

The reason Telor Xon Navak, despite being an above average talent and a lineage closer to the ruling family, got little to no attention from the powerhouses was for this reason.

He had no natal treasures. So, unless he showed extraordinary potential, he wouldn't become the focus of any nurturing plans.

From the perspective of the kingdom, it's a much easier and cost-effective bet to nurture those with strong natal treasures.

While not all powerhouses had strong natal treaures, all strong natal treasure holders became powerhouses.

It's as simple as that.

"But Logos, why do Palarians even have a natal treasure?" Varian lay down on the new bed and asked.

[It's the design of Asherah.]

"Asherah?" Varian spun the pill on tip of his finger.

[A powerhouse of the genesis empire.

Long ago, the Jai Empire was waging a successful war against the Alliance. The Tribes were holding on well but they didn't have enough soldiers for the war.

They couldn't send their own precious bloodlines to guard distant stars. Nor could they counter the increasing military power of Jai.

While the military itself wasn't a problem to the divine rankers of the Alliance, it served as an excellent training ground for powerhouses that would go onto become divine rankers.

So, the Alliance was forced to improve its army to foster their own divine rankers and kill the potential ones from Jai.

So, Asherah created several races.

Most of them failed and either went extinct or into decline. But some succeeded and they now rule a couple of kingdoms in this Empire.

She tried to go beyond the normal limitations of natural races, so you have various mutations in the races she built.

Palarins are one such race. Her idea was to build a race with weapons. She succeeded.]

"A divine ranker created a race? A new race? Isn't that already domain of a god?"

[They are called divine rankers for a reason. But a god, you say, was able to do this only after a lot of failures and experiences. And that's in the area of her specialization. It's a very limited skillset.]

Varian shook his head. "This is just crazy."

[What will be crazy is your capabilites once you reach the divine ranks.]

The System's voice was serious without any hidden sarcasm.

[Why do you think so many divine rankers are stuck at rank 1 and never reach rank 2?]

Varian shrugged.

[If Celestial ranks are all about exploring your path within the avenue, then divine ranks is mastering the whole avenue.

Simply put, a life ranker who's only focused on his path until then has to focus on other paths and learn them.

A life lover has to learn about the beauty of death.

An orthodox order follower has to immerse himself in the madness of chaos.

A space pursuer has to appreciate the flow of time.

Think about it for a moment. Anyone who reaches divine rank in any path does so by madly pursuing the path they're in. It's extreme dedication to that one path.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say their divine path becomes a big part of their identity as they progress in their journey.

But when they reach the divine rank, they have to do the same to not just a different but a completely opposite path.]

The System explained.

"So to pick another path at that point, it's like going against their entire identity, isn't it?" Varian said with a gasp.

[Yes. It's like overwriting yourself. That's why so many fail. Most divine rankers remain rank 1s.]

"And what happens to me, someone with seven paths?" Varian tilted his head.

[…Wouldn't it be better to reach there and find out?] The System said in a teasing tone, as if it was trying to contain a chuckle.

But then, its voice turned solemn and with a hint of pleading.

[But Host, when it happens…please stay strong. There are somethings only you can do.]