Lord Of The Lost

Among all the known roads in the magical realm, one stands above all others: the Divine Path, a transcendental path with the highest potential for power and enlightenment.

In this world, gods exist, each embodying a different divine path. But these paths are not easily accessible; the gods have hidden the very essence of their ways, guarding their secrets jealously. Even the term "Divine Path" is shrouded in mystery, known only to a select few. William was one of the rare individuals to catch wind of this secret, having learned of the Way of God from none other than the elusive Witch of the Misty Forest.

One other path stood on equal footing with the Divine Path: the path of the Demon Wolf, an epic template of immense power. However, it was not considered a "Divine Path" for two key reasons. First, it was a dual path, requiring mastery of both light and shadow: and second, the Demon Wolf had not been fully integrated into the pantheon of gods. Still, its potential was undeniable, a formidable rival to any divine road.

What puzzled William was how Metatron, an enigmatic figure in the magical world's forums, had caught wind of the Divine Path. He had mentioned it briefly, offering only surface-level knowledge, which was strange given how closely guarded the secrets of this path were.

A curious player had once asked Metatron for guidance: "How can I change my job to the Divine Path?"

Metatron's response was vague. "There aren't many clues. Aside from the border town, maybe you could try exploring the Elf Forest."

But then he added, "If you're looking to change jobs, choose a path that aligns with your talents and has high potential. Otherwise, you might outgrow it and need to switch again later."

This advice seemed solid at first, but to most players, switching to a new path or "job" wasn't something they could easily achieve.

One day, Gambler, another player who often challenged conventions, engaged Metatron in a conversation that would shake the community's understanding of extraordinary paths.

"Metatron," Gambler asked with a mischievous smile, "do we really have to follow these predefined paths you mentioned?"

Metatron answered confidently, "Yes, those paths are proven to be the best."

Gambler leaned in closer, intrigued. "But why not choose an extraordinary path unique to yourself? One that no one has ever walked before?"

Metatron seemed caught off guard. "What do you mean?"

Gambler's eyes glimmered with excitement as he pressed on. "Why should we settle for these traditional paths? Everyone has their own unique talents, right? Instead of looking for the next best thing, why not forge a path that's entirely your own?"

Metatron hesitated. "That would be... an unknown path. No one's ever done that."

"Exactly!" Gambler exclaimed. "All paths were unknown once. Roads appear when enough people walk them. Why not create a road that suits your talents perfectly?"

Metatron was left speechless, stunned by the audacity of Gambler's suggestion. To create a path of transcendence from nothing? It sounded impossible. Every established path had been the result of centuries of exploration, trial, and error, each step carefully crafted into a proven, systematic journey.

But Gambler was undeterred. "You're thinking too conventionally. We're playing a game here, aren't we? Why not be bold and take risks?"

His words lingered in the air, rippling through the forum. It wasn't just a passing conversation anymore; Gambler's challenge had struck a chord. For countless players, the idea of carving their own extraordinary path, instead of following the well-trodden roads of others, became a tantalizing possibility. The impact of that single conversation would go on to inspire many, changing the way players thought about their destinies and the potential locked within themselves.

William sat in front of his computer, letting out a long, lazy yawn as his fingers absentmindedly tapped the edge of his keyboard. The concept of carving out a unique, transcendent path was swirling around in his mind; a path that was unexplored, unknown, and would need to be discovered step by step.

"Sounds like it could be possible," he muttered to himself, his voice low, as if the idea were too fragile to speak aloud.

But he quickly dismissed the thought. 'Not for me,' he thought, with a wry smile. His talent was too broad, too versatile. He could walk almost any path, but none of them felt special. While others might dream of forging their own way, William was cursed with too much potential and that left him stuck in a strange limbo.

"I envy those people who can create something truly their own," he sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Me? I could do anything… but nothing feels right."

The absurdity of it all gnawed at him. 'How abominable!' he thought. Here he was, capable of walking any road, yet unable to feel the thrill of discovering one meant just for him.

To distract himself, William clicked on the five-person discussion group in the forum. He needed something to focus on, something concrete, and this group had something promising in store.

"Metatron, can we go to Shadow Castle now?" William typed quickly, hoping for a clear answer.

This was something he'd been waiting for. Metatron had invited him to explore the infamous Shadow Castle not long ago, but the plan had been abruptly canceled midway. Metatron had claimed that five people weren't enough for the challenge and that the losses would be too heavy. William had assumed it was due to their lack of strength, so he had shelved the idea for a while. Now, though, his curiosity had returned with a vengeance.

He had even borrowed Little Red Riding Hood's invisibility cloak, just in case. 'No turning back now,' he thought.

After a pause, Metatron finally replied, though his answer didn't inspire much confidence.

"Eh? That should be OK, right?"

William furrowed his brow. 'Not exactly reassuring,' he thought with a shake of his head, but it was good enough to get things moving.

The five of them quickly agreed on a time and place, logging into the game together, ready to face whatever dangers lay within Shadow Castle.

Metatron was the first to appear in the game; a man somewhere in his late twenties or early thirties, with short brown hair and piercing brown eyes. He exuded a quiet calm, the kind of confidence that comes from both experience and conviction. His robes were neat, almost ceremonial, giving him a priest-like appearance. William had heard that Metatron was deeply religious in real life, which explained the serious, almost reverent air he carried with him, even in the game.

Next to log in was Gambler, a middle-aged man with long, somewhat greasy hair that gave him a reckless look. His casual demeanor seemed at odds with the dice he was constantly tossing between his hands, as if life itself was just another game of chance. William couldn't help but smirk. Gambler always looked a bit... rough around the edges.

The third player, Alex, was much more of an enigma. Cloaked in shadows, his face was entirely hidden, and the aura he projected was one of cold detachment. Gloom seemed to follow him like a cloud, making it clear he wasn't the talkative type. William had never seen Alex engage in conversation on the forum, either. He was a silent figure, brought into the group by the Forum Master himself. That meant something, Alex wasn't someone to be underestimated.

Finally, there was the Forum Master. Today, he looked far more composed than yesterday. His sharp eyebrows and bright, focused eyes gave him a dignified, almost commanding presence. In this game, a player's true body and their advent body; the in-game avatar, were closely connected. If the advent body was injured, the player would feel real pain. And if the advent body died... well, the sense of death wasn't just an abstract concept. It was something that lingered, haunting players long after they logged out.

As William joined the group, the atmosphere was thick with tension. They all knew the risks of this adventure. Shadow Castle was not for the faint of heart. Every step could lead to danger, and every decision could be their last. But for William, it was more than just a mission. This was a chance; perhaps his only chance, to see if he could break free from his indecision and follow a path that might finally lead him somewhere.

Even if it was a shadowy, perilous one.

In the world of sequence games, the connection between the real body and the advent body; the one that explores this virtual realm; is deep, but not without limits. If your real body remains intact, even severe injuries to your advent body, such as losing a limb, don't result in permanent damage. When you log back in, the missing arm might be there again, but it would feel as if it's asleep, numb and sluggish. It wouldn't be usable right away, as though it were dead weight. Regaining full use of it would take time, a frustrating process of slowly bringing it back to life. Superficial wounds, on the other hand, don't affect your real body as strongly; they're just a dull ache, a reminder of danger without lasting consequences.

This system is intentional, sequence games don't allow players to exploit glitches or bypass mechanics easily. If you suffer a loss, you feel it.

"Wallace, this is your reward!" The Forum Master's voice broke through William's thoughts, pulling him back to the present.

The Forum Master handed William four gold coins, the reward for their recent mission to suppress the bandits. The coins glinted in the dim light, a tangible reminder of their hard-fought victory.

"Are you planning to head to the magic house to learn some new skills?" the Forum Master asked, raising an eyebrow.

William shook his head. "No, even if I learn something new, it's not like I'll be able to use it right away. It takes time to master."

In sequence games, learning an extraordinary skill wasn't enough on its own. Mastery came with practice, and control was everything. The game provided a baseline, sure, but it didn't guarantee power, it only gave players the foundation.

"It's like learning to shoot a bow," William explained. "The game can ensure your form is correct, that your posture is right, but hitting the target? That's all on you."

For most people, firing an arrow a hundred meters was an achievement in itself, let alone hitting the bullseye. A master archer who could strike the mark every time had put in countless hours of practice. For William, that was what it was like to train in [Piercing Attack], a skill he had been honing for what felt like forever. He practiced relentlessly, day in and day out, pushing himself to understand the technique's deeper mechanics. He could now use it with some fluidity, even while riding a warhorse, but he still wouldn't say he had truly mastered it.

Mastery wasn't just being able to perform the skill, it was being able to do it effortlessly, in any situation, without preparation. In the chaos of battle, there wouldn't be time to "prepare" for a skill. You couldn't pause the action to gather your strength while your enemy had their blade at your throat. You had to strike instantly, without hesitation or wasted movement. Only then could you claim to have mastered a technique.

"When I can pull off [Piercing Attack] with just a casual strike, without needing to focus, then maybe I'll consider myself proficient," William added thoughtfully.

The Forum Master nodded in agreement. "That's true. Yesterday, I learned a lightning spell at the magic house, but on the battlefield, it's... impractical," he said with a sigh, clearly sharing William's frustration. "I tried using it during a fight, but it takes at least ten seconds to cast, and that's not exactly useful when someone's charging at you with a sword."

The Forum Master shook his head, a wry smile on his lips. Casting magic was far more complex than he'd expected. Even if he had the knowledge, unleashing the full power of the spell was another matter entirely. It felt like juggling two battles, one inside himself to control the magic, and the other against his enemies.

"The only good thing I've managed so far," he added with a chuckle, "is using the spell to charge up my lightning amulet. At least that's something."

William couldn't help but grin at the Forum Master's self-deprecating tone. The two of them were caught in the same struggle, learning the extraordinary was one thing, but using it effectively? That was a whole different battle.