When the plot-skips players into the game world

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Hearing Barton's words, Aiwass raised an interested eyebrow.

"...Transcendence Path? Do you know what you're talking about?"

The true identity of the "Knight" should be a reservist of the Light Cavalry. He might be a student at Avalon Military Academy.

He came from a traditional Knight Family, with at least one direct elder in his family bearing arms. He also mentioned the possibility of being promoted to Sky Cavalry… In other words, he had just set foot on the Transcendent path and hadn't completed his first promotion, and the gryphon allocated to him was an unblemished pureblood gryphon.

In other words, his family background was among the highest echelons within the Kingdom of Avalon.

Even if he chose not to become a Transcendent, he could live a comfortable life.

And yet such a person... was now telling Aiwass that he wanted to pursue the Path of Transcendence?

Aiwass was struck with a thought and countered, "Do you know something?"

"I'm serious."

Sir Knight said gravely, "It's not a momentary impulse, nor do I have any rebellious thoughts… I've just learned some forbidden history imbued with mystical powers… And then I started thinking, could it be that we've walked the wrong path, and the Path of Authority should actually coincide with the Path of Transcendence?

"If the essence of the Path of Authority is similar to Strength, then at its core, Authority is about power. Power is handed down from above, but power also changes hands, as the positions of ministers rise and fall. How can one who lacks the desire to ascend take their duties seriously?

"—I think that commands from above, coupled with promotions from below, combined, are the true 'Power'."

...Interesting.

Aiwass raised an eyebrow.

The Knight hadn't said anything wrong, just that he was a bit too ahead of his time.

Avalon fell in the last minor version of the first major version, "Glass Steps".

In version 2.0, the players resolved the trouble with the Holy Nation, earning the friendship and support of the Pope and The Holy Maiden; in version 3.0, Star Antimony did something fatal, leading to unstoppable division; and after Isabel defeated the Fallen Celestial Marshal, she grew stronger and gained lofty popular respect. With the reborn Holy Nation's help, she organized a force to recapture Avalon.

After purging the old kingdom's bandits, traitors, rebels, and the one who was once a puppet of Star Antimony but now independent and summoned the Shadowy Celestial Marshal, Isabel shattered the Iris Flower's conspiracy, regained Avalon's land, and completed the restoration of the kingdom.

Then a fire burned away the decay, and the reborn "Avalon," renamed as the Vanhua Kingdom Camelot.

Aiwass still remembered the CG after killing the final BOSS Shadowy Celestial Marshal in version 3.4's high-difficulty dungeon, one of the few he didn't skip—of course, he was also numb from exhaustion and lay down to catch his breath after finishing it.

On the land previously withered by the control of the Shadowy Celestial Marshal, new sprouts emerged, dead trees regained vitality, and the earth bloomed anew with flowers. Half-Elf Isabel, still youthful-looking, dressed in a white robe, wearing a crown, and holding a scepter, just like her grandmother Queen Sofia, delivered a speech standing on a wooden platform entwined with vines in the vibrant city.

As the founder of the Kingdom of Camelot, Queen Isabel chose to voluntarily relinquish some royal powers, handing authority over to the cabinet and the parliament, thereby transitioning Camelot into a constitutional monarchy.

This led to a complete overhaul of the entire power structure—the Knight Families would no longer inherit positions and remain aloof. Knights would also no longer be de facto aristocracy. It also meant that the main Authority system, centered around "Law" and "Royal Power" and stable for over four hundred years since Avalon's establishment, was broken, and the restrictions and resistances to other Paths were lifted as well.

It wasn't until then that Transcendents of the Path of Authority realized… the Path of Authority and the Path of Transcendence never actually conflicted with each other.

Even the Silver-Crowned Dragon itself had the characteristics of the Path of Transcendence; just like the Great Sage of the Path of Wisdom and the Gemini Mirror of the Path of Beauty, also had elements of the Path of Balance.

Since the exalted Nine Pillar Gods were not pure embodiments of Paths, having their own wills and inclinations, it was even more the case for mortals.

Each person's experiences, personality, and talents are different, and it's rare for anyone to be a pure "Angel Envoy" of a single Path. There is a great likelihood of combining any two Paths, and while three Paths combining are rare, instances still exist.

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——After all, the pursuit of change, progress, and transcending authority from below, and the emphasis on controlling one's will, holding power, and leading others from a place of authority can be understood as two facets of "power."

Its essence and core are still rooted in authority and still carry elements of dedication. Only by adding a little bit of transcendence does the system finally come to life, able to operate normally rather than aging and decaying day by day.

Authority, dedication, and transcendence go hand in hand, finally achieving the three apexes of the Avalon triangle. Isabel's Path of Beauty just happens to be outside this triangular point, not interfering with any side... like a royal family distancing itself from the core of power, it has become the emerald in the center of the silver Avalon triangle.

This is probably why the Silver-Crowned Dragon disregarded the destruction of Avalon.

To Him, Avalon was probably no longer the Knight Nation He had originally intended to build. This fire did burn its way into the heart of the Silver-Crowned Dragon.

So, Barton's understanding was entirely correct. Fast-forward three years, and it's common knowledge acknowledged by everyone.

But because his understanding was too advanced, surpassing two major versions... if he put these ideas out now, he would be deemed crazy, a heretic.

Moreover, his concept had no practical foundation.

In the present Path of Transcendence, new professions such as the Great Sin Scholar and Ascension Sorcerer that can perfectly integrate with the updated Path of Authority have yet to emerge. The most mainstream profession in the Path of Transcendence is still the Demon Scholar and its advanced form, Demon Incarnation.

Even if you include Demons and Curse Ritual Magicians, together they don't amount to much good. Even though Aiwass himself is a Transcender of the Path of Transcendence, he still has to admit that the Path of Transcendence truly is the Path of the wicked.

Sir Knight, straightforward yet not smart enough, if he were to come into contact with the Path of Transcendence at this time, he would probably be completely devoured and used up by those people.

But the fact that the Knight could think of this also shows that he is indeed a talent—his presence here today is somewhat motivated by a desire to compete for the Holy Lance. Even knowing he would stand no chance against Aleister, he does not want to sit idly by; even after encountering Aleister, he did not beg for mercy or tremble but simply wanted to ask one more question.

This indomitable spirit of persistence and daring to challenge the strong perfectly fits the promotion requirement of the "Ascension Sorcerer" profession in the Path of Transcendence. It also happens to be perfectly compatible with the close-combat professions of the Path of Authority.

But the initiation into this profession is quite troublesome. The Celestial Marshal who controls the shedding has not been brought down by the Ring of Ouroboros ritual, and it's very hard for humans to undergo Shedding Skin.

...Should I give him a chance?

After careful consideration, Aiwass decided to save him rather than destroy him.

He spoke earnestly, "Actually, the moment you asked that question, you'd already stepped halfway onto the Path of Transcendence.

"There's nothing wrong with that. Humans are children of the Serpent Father and the Eternal Self, a race inherently suited to the Paths of Transcendence and Love. Everyone is insatiable, wanting better and always full of desires; this is the essence of human progress."

These were the words the Shadow Demon had just said to him, which Aiwass was now promptly using.

"But the real issue is, have you awakened and stepped onto this path? Have you already thought about the profession you want to advance to, or do you think 'anything in the Path of Transcendence is fine'? Or do you simply start to doubt the Path of Authority but haven't figured out what path you want to take next?
Your next chapter awaits on empire

"Have you thought about what Transcenders in the Path of Transcendence will encounter? Have you thought about your family, your Knight Family? Have you thought about the conspiracies launched by those who are also Transcenders against you, how they will use you, and the persecution your family will face?"

Aiwass earnestly advised, "If you haven't thought about these things, my suggestion is—you can keep this idea, but don't advance to the Path of Transcendence for the time being.

"At least not for the next few years. When you truly get on the right track in your career, and if you still have this idea, it's not too late to switch then.

"Very few Transcenders can handle three paths; for most, two paths are the limit. And you are still very young. If you want to switch to Transcendence now, you might want to switch to Dedication later, then possibly to Adaptation, and when you're old, you might want to switch to Twilight... It's better not to step onto a dual path too soon if you can spare your future self some leeway."

It won't be long now, Aiwass thought. In a couple of years, once the Butterfly Celestial Marshal is taken down, you could switch to "Ascension Sorcerer."

You haven't even reached the second energy level of your first path yet, so why rush into a second path?

This is like when playing an online game, you haven't even left the newbie village, but you're already considering the issues of skill allocation and equipment at max level—when the time comes, you'll deal with it then.