(Arc 2 Complete!) Path of the Last Champion [Sci-Fantasy LitRPG, Party Dynamics, Earned Power]

"Well, it's… Complicated."

The Master of Blades gestured for Nar to take a seat, and he himself paced the lightning lit room with his hands behind his back.

"Have you noticed the silver pin she sometimes wears?" his master asked him.

"The one that looks like the icon of the Crystal?" Nar asked, frowning.

"The very same," his master said, with an inclination of his head. "That pin marks her as an Ascending One, or an Ascendant."

"I've heard people calling her that," Nar said, with a slow nod. "And even that bishop guy… They all seemed very respectful of her."

"Of course they would!" the master said, with a half smirk. "An Ascendant is a combat class that is, quite literally, on the cusp of becoming a Named Few. And that is something worthy of respect indeed!"

Nar's jaw dropped and his master chuckled as he came to sit before him, his face growing serious once more.

"I have never found myself in this situation before, of having to explain to an apprentice of mine what it is like and what it means to become apprenticed to an Ascendant One or a Named Few," he told Nar. "Yes, a handful of them have gone on to those soaring heights, but that was after they left the Scimitar and my tutelage. So, I'm quite at a loss as to how to go about it without making a mess of it."

Nar, for his part, was still staring at the Master of Blades in shock, dazed at the abrupt turn in their conversation.

"I will do my best, though, and please, close your mouth. It's a disturbing thing to look at while trying to hold a conversation" the master said, with a hint of amusement.

Nar frowned at him, but he did shut his gob.

"Alright… Let's start this way, then. One cannot just become a Named Few," the master said. "There are requirements that you first need to meet, and these are very, very, very steep requirements. Not only is an absurdly high level demanded, but there are also requirements for a tremendous attribute density and the rank of skills must be, at the very least, a solid mix of epic and legendary."

He scratched the side of his chin absentmindedly, while Nar, for his part, did his best to keep his jaw from dropping again.

"To try to put it into terms that might begin to help you understand the power involved at such heights, if you placed me and the COO side by side…" he shrugged and grimaced. "I have no idea. I know she could end me with nary an effort of will, but I cannot even comprehend the how. I cannot fathom it. Any of it! She might as well be an entity completely beyond me. A god to me, for all effects and purposes."

A shiver ran down Nar's spine.

"She… Well, she is young, so much so that to my eyes she is barely any older than yourself," the master said, his eyes vacant. "And that is further testament to her boundless might. That she would become an Ascendant at such a young age is nothing short of miraculous…"

He shook his head. "But becoming an Ascendant is just the first step. The meeting of the requirements, so to speak. After that, you must actually earn one of the limited Named Few titles that exist, which unlike the titles everyone can earn in raids, can only be held by one person at any time."

The master raised two fingers.

"There are two ways in which this is done. The first, and the easiest way, is to look for a title that is unclaimed," he explained. "You, or most likely a whole bevy of consultants, advisors, augurs, and Crystal knows what else, will locate a title that is not in use, making sure that it is applicable to your path, and you submit a claim over said title. If the System agrees with your claim, the title is granted to you and you become a Named Few with that title. Simple as that."

"Right…" Nar mumbled.

"The second way is a bit more complicated… There is a title that you want, but someone else currently already has it, and you are unwilling to back down from it. In this case, you make a claim for said title… And then, any guesses as to what happens?"

Nar crossed his arms and thought about it before shaking his head. "I don't know? The System decides who's stronger? Or more suitable?"

The master barked out a laugh, startling him.

"No, no, no! You're thinking about it logically!" the master said, his eyes gleaming. "Think! This is the Nexus! With all that you've seen and learned since stepping out of that gate, what do you think really happens?"

Nar grimaced.

"They fight over it?" he asked. "No… That can't be right!"

"It is," his master said, shaking his head. "They fight over it. And a fight at that level… Well, let's just say that it is done with one of the Radiants themselves as witness, and present to create a barrier powerful enough to contain the fury of two Named Few powered individuals going all out."

"Crystal…" Nar breathed.

"Sounds insane, right? That two sapients fighting would be so powerful as to require one of the Radiants themselves to shield the Nexus from its ravaging devastation…" the master said. "But that is what it means to be a Named Few, and to be a weapon against the Abyssals and their legions of Formless."

He smiled at Nar's dazed features. "Well, something to look forward to, eh? Anyways, the Ascendant and the Named Few fight, and whoever wins, takes the title. The loser, if alive, becomes an Ascending One once more, and is free to try and take their title back or, as is more often the case, to take a different title. But there is always some lingering shame in defeat…"

The master crossed his arms.

"People usually prefer the first method… No one's feathers are ruffled. No one's ego is bruised, and there are no enemies made of powerful houses, corps or delving guilds," he said. "But the Radiants prefer the second method. It keeps Named Few on their toes, to know that at any time, their title can be challenged and taken from them, and that's how the gods always want us. Ready and primed for a fight at all times."

He glanced out into the storm that still flashed silently outside.

"I don't know which way the COO or the Master of Emotions and Hand to Hand Combat are going to go for," he said, his face lit up by a mighty coil of brightness. "But my XP is on the second. They're not the kind to settle for leftovers… And titles carry powerful boons with them. Buffs. Skills. Tremendous, tremendous boons to any path. So of course you'd want something good, and there are titles and then there are titles. But that remains to be seen… It's much above my paygrade as you can imagine."

Nar nodded slowly. "So, the Master of Emotion and Hand to Hand Combat is also an Ascendant?"

Surprise colored the master's features, and he glanced at Nar in disbelief. "You didn't know?"

Nar shook his head, and the Master of Blades tutted.

"I didn't know she was making a secret of it… Well, it doesn't matter. She joined us at the same time as you guys did, so I'm sure the knowledge will spread throughout the ship soon enough. But, uh… For now, keep it to yourself? Until you've heard it from someone else at least. Don't go getting me in trouble now!"

Nar snorted. "Your secret's safe with me, master."

"I appreciate it."

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"Is that why the two of them are here?" Nar asked. "Aboard the Scimitar, I mean? I knew the COO was very strong, at least level 150 from what she told me and Kur. So I had wondered why someone as strong as her would be here… In an apprenticeship in the Outer Edges."

His master rubbed his chin.

"Now that is a very good question, and one to which I have no answers…" he said. "Even if they are here, waiting to decide on and claim a title, they should still be somewhere where they are a lot more useful than here. The fact that they are… And that one of them is even teaching apprentices, it raised a lot of eyebrows, that's for sure. Though it's not something any of us, not even the captain, would question. But perhaps it's something that you will find out as you become Tys' disciple…"

"Damn…" Nar muttered. "I don't even know what to think."

"Well, on the one hand, being a disciple to an Ascendant One, or a Named Few, all but guarantees that at the very least, you have the potential to become one yourself."

"Which sounds great, but what's on the other hand?" Nar asked, frowning at the golden man.

"On the other hand, to name a disciple is a big step for an Ascendant or Named Few. Their honor, and that of their house or organization are staked on that choice, and on the promise that their chosen will one day ascend to the same rank as them. Should you fail to live up to that promise… Well, it will reflect poorly on everyone involved, especially her. And on top of that, there is a whole slew of political nonsense that you will find yourself diving head first into as you climb up into the ranks of the powerful," his master said, grimacing. "And on that, it would be remiss of me if I didn't let you know that something seems to be going on between your Ascendant and the leadership of Tsurmirel. Usually, Tys would consult with them regarding choosing a disciple and then they would decide if said disciple was the right choice or not. If they agreed, Tsurmirel would then submit the application on her behalf to the Church, who monitors all said relationships. However, instead, she has gone straight to the Church herself, bypassing the board and the guild master, and that is… Eyebrow raising, to say the least."

Nar groaned and rubbed his forehead. "I just want to be strong..."

"I'm afraid such nonsense always comes with true might," the master said. "Becoming her chosen disciple means that many doors and opportunities that would otherwise remain barred from you will now open instead, but situations that are far more complex than what the average delver or Master of Blades needs to deal with, will also become your daily reality. It just comes with the territory, Nar, and sooner or later, if you truly were serious in aiming for a title, you would have to fall under the wing of an Ascendant One, and take on all that it implies."

He chuckled. "Radiants know, little old me wouldn't be enough. Not even close! So I don't think you should say no. This is the most promising and straightforward path for you to take, and getting started on it this early will only reap you greater benefits."

"I see…" Nar said.

The Master of Blades reached over and tapped his leg.

"I can understand how overwhelming all of this is, especially in the wake of… The revelation that you cannot return. But while you can say no, if you want, I counsel you to at least hear her out, and to have a proper think over it. If you really want to become a Named Few, Tys is likely your best shot. And once you reject her offer, it will be very unlikely that another Ascendant will risk stepping up and being embarrassed by your rejection again, if you catch my meaning."

Nar nodded grimly, and passed a hand over his hair, scanning the stormy clouds below.

"That said… It would be remiss of me, if I did not… Well, warn you," the master said, his eyes half-twitching. "Tys training will most likely be… Unpleasant."

Nar frowned at him.

"Not that she is a bad person! But you must understand that people at that level are brutal combatants, and they had to endure grueling training and face titanic foes to reach said level," he said. "With that, I expect that the little bruises you've incurred in our training will be nothing compared to what's to come. So if you say yes, brace yourself."

Nar could only shake his head.

Little bruises… he thought, thinking of the cracked bones, sword cuts, broken nose, loose teeth and the many other such injuries that he had been forced to sustain as part of their daily training.

"If you do survive her training, and the challenges before you…" his master said, with a heaving sigh. "Then, from what I understand of her plan, there will be very little in the Nexus that will be a threat to you. Or your party. It's up to your decision, efforts and, dare I say, good fortune to make it there or not."

Nar gave him a weary nod.

"I'll hear her out," he said, trying and failing not to hear the already made decision in his words. "But what about… Us?"

The master grinned. "Tys will teach you many things, but not the blade! That's for me to teach you, Nar. And no one will do a better job than me. I can promise you that."

"Alright… Alright…" Nar said, wearily. "Then please, master, continue to be my master. And this… This is done. This is over. And we don't need to talk about it again. Ever again."

The Master of Blades considered his apprentice for a few heartbeats, then gave him a firm nod.

"Very well. We shall continue as we were then, but more focused on the blade and the skills related to it," he said. "The rest, it will be taken up by Tys, with the support of the Master of Aura. If you accept her offer of course."

"Of course…"

"I will send you a schedule once I know your decision," the master said. "Tys will likely want to speak to you tomorrow at some point, and whatever you tell her, she will let me know afterwards."

He rubbed his chin.

"Other than that, I'm afraid the time to relax is over. It's time to get back to work, and we'll need to hit the ground running," he said.

Nar looked up at him with a wave of anticipation.

"We're heading to a cluster of easy dungeons, the kind you can easily clear in a few hours," his master revealed. "We'll stay there for a bit over a month, and everyone will be going in and out of those dungeons repeatedly. Teaching schedules will be tailored to that, and our main goal there is to get everyone used to all the new skills, affinities and changes that occurred to their paths as part of the third assessment rewards."

"That sounds good," Nar said, with a cautious tone.

He had no idea what to expect from the gains in the party, but given how good his had been, and how there were already several points of friction emerging in the party from their differing affinities and paths, he had no doubt that there would be significant changes amongst his party members, and it would be good to have the time to smoothen everything and get back into fighting shape.

"It is, but it's what comes after that should be your concern," the master said, with a toothy grin.

Nar sighed. "I knew that reward wasn't going to be a reward!"

His master chuckled darkly.

"Depends on how you see it. On one hand, going into the Brightnight will give you a challenge unlike any you've faced thus far, and if you earn them, the gains will be tremendous. Any levels you make in there will have increased attribute densities, and you'll also have the chance at some very juicy rewards. Up to epic rank, actually."

"Really?" Nar asked, leaning forward despite himself. "And the catch?"

"Well… I guess spending 4 months in a giant, dense jungle domain, filled to the brim with deadly, ravenous and often poisonous beasts, and facing many other challenges besides, is not going to make for a pleasant experience for you all."

"Four months?" Nar cried.

"Is it that surprising?" his master asked, with a mischievous smile. "You are all, to the last, delver apprentices, are you not? What did you expect? To spend these two years aboard the Scimitar, all cushy and comfortable for the whole of it? With a hot meal and showers and safe beds to lie in every night?"

He shook his head. "The third assessment was just a taste. Elite delves tend to be long, and this won't even be the longest one of your apprenticeship. Here, aboard, we teach, but it's in the dungeons that you all actually learn. And the Brightnight will teach you a lot."

The master of Blades folded his arms.

"Given how, somehow, there were no casualties from those corrupted dungeons, though some injuries will require a much longer and comprehensive treatment, Tsurmirel's eyes have become focused on us," he said, glazing at the storm. "It sees you all as an exceedingly promising batch of elite delvers to be, and they've started investing on a whole new level… And expecting great things in return. Buying up the slots for the Brightnight, in such a short notice, was not cheap, Nar. Not at all."

Isn't that fantastic, Nar though with a grimace.

"You are in for a wild ride," the master said, grinning at him.

"I can't wait," Nar muttered.

"Me neither."

*********

Nar made his way back to his room shortly after that, bidding good night to the man that would remain his master, and leaving him to continue admiring the storm and to contemplate whatever mysterious matters his ancient brain considered.

He was happy to find the others fast asleep when he returned to his room, as he had been worried about the possibility of Kur receiving a notification of his discharge, and dreading the conversation that the finding out they couldn't go back for his dad was surely to bring.

They would all promise again, swearing by their very souls, that not one of them would give up in finding a way to save his dad. And he would have to put on a fake smile and nod, while within he knew that it was impossible, and that there was no way at all of ever making it back. Not unless he found a way to either disobey or beg the gods themselves… And he very much doubted either was possible. Promise or not, it was time to grow up, and realize that as much as the gods didn't care for him, his dad, and all the other workers, They wouldn't care for him now either, unless there was a god out there willing to disobey the Crystal Itself…

Which is just stupid to even consider, he thought, shaking his head. No, Nar. This is it. You've done your best… But this is it.

The numbness spread over, silencing that sobbing, crying and raging voice. The one that screamed again and again that his dad would now die alone in the dark… That he had failed, and by all the Creation, how dare he fail like that?

The scalding hot water of the shower felt so far. So distant, and it hid the shattering of his heart, and the void that spread to take its place.

In the morning, he would nod and smile at all of them, those who had become his new family, and whom he would do everything to ensure their happiness in their new outside reality.

He would also listen to Tys, and then he would tell her yes.

He would become a Named Few, just like he had always planned to.

He might have failed his dad, but he would not fail his party.

At least that he would achieve, no matter the cost.