When the plot-skips players into the game world

Barton awoke still with the shock Mr. Alistair imparted on him lingering in his heart.

It was a sudden madness that enraptured the soul, and even after he had chosen his Path traits, he could not forget. The image of Mr. Alistair's three fingers was extremely clear in his mind.

His brain trembled, his spine tensed.

Compared to the secrets described by Dark Cloud, the mere words that caused discontent with the Path of Authority, Mr. Alistair had personally shown him what it meant to "Transcend."

—I indeed am not yet qualified.

Feeling somewhat lost, Barton thought as he became fully awake. There are things he wanted to do but couldn't... by now, he had long understood such things.

But it was fine.

He climbed out of bed, switched on the room's electric light, and looked toward the mirror to his side.

There, a youth that appeared to be only thirteen or fourteen years old.

He had pupils green as olivine, and golden short hair that hung low over his shoulders, cut off with a single slice.

His hair was fine and soft, clinging close to the scalp, which made his head look somewhat small.

He stared at the mirror, clenching his fist slightly.

Blue-violet sparks crackled, flowing from the palm of his hand, racing rapidly over his body, and at this moment Barton no longer felt the mild numbness throughout his body, nor did his hair stand on end as it typically would.

This was the second-level "Affinity for Lightning."

It was a "key Path trait" his father had marked for Barton when he taught him!

Appearing alongside were "Storm Vessel" and "Gallant Spirit," which were virtually incomparable to it.

"This is the gift Mr. Alistair left for me..."

Barton murmured to himself.

His father once told him it was very difficult to get good Path traits in the first two promotion ceremonies. Therefore, it was sufficient to choose from the twelve fairly good Path traits he had outlined.

The reason why advancing from the third Energy Level to the fourth was a watershed... a significant part of it was due to the appearance of very good Path traits starting from the third promotion ceremony.

Interests could bewitch the minds of others. Sufficiently great interests could drive people mad.

Everyone wanted better traits, the result being that everyone tried their best to show themselves, completing more tasks given by the Pillar Gods. But because of this, the pass rate might decrease sharply.

Therefore, at least in Avalon, the more it got to the later stages, the more participants there were in the New Moon Ritual—because teammates might drag you down, and might even stab you in the back.

So it was better not to have any teammates from the very beginning.

In the early ceremonies, everyone was basically new and came to get "Vessels" or "Affinities," the blue Path traits. As long as you passed, you were guaranteed a trait suitable for you, so there was no tripping each other up.

This was also where Barton drew the courage to secretly participate in the ceremony.

"...That's all very well," Barton murmured to himself, "but were there really so many newcomers at this ceremony?"

Or was it that he himself should not have participated in the New Moon Ritual?

But regardless... his gaining of Affinity for Lightning this time came from the kindness of others. He felt undeserving.

For if they had competed fairly, he should have been eliminated by Mr. Alistair long ago. It was because of his initial talk of "alliance" that he was spared and fortunately survived.

And this was the reason for Barton's shame.

At that time, he didn't truly want to ally with the Demon from the bottom of his heart. Barton genuinely thought, since Antlers was seeking an alliance with a newcomer like him... it meant he definitely invited others upon their entrance. Hence, Antlers's words were not trustworthy.

Barton had met many such people. They would visit his father during holidays and festivals.

Many of them appeared gentle, cheerful, and magnanimous. Barton too once believed they were good people because they brought him many valuable gifts.

But his father only patiently instructed Barton: "Because I am Avalon's great Guardian, commanding national Inspectorate, controlling the entire army during wars. That's why they come to ingratiate themselves with me, that's why they treat you so well.

"Their outward manner will always be very good, but the attitudes they show are worthless. You should not look at what they say, nor at what they do, but at what they ultimately have done."

—But to say what they have done, doesn't one have to wait until after things have concluded? Does that not mean that what anyone says could be a lie?

Barton had asked at the time.

And his father affirmed: "Exactly."

"Don't believe in alliances, don't trust promises. Any contract has the possibility of being torn up from the moment it's made..."

Having witnessed firsthand how Antlers betrayed an alliance, Barton whispered to himself: "I think I understand a bit now..."

Compared to the ability of "Affinity for Lightning" he had received, the experiences he got from this promotion ceremony were an incomparably precious treasure.

And just then, Barton suddenly heard the voice of the butler.

This was around three or four in the morning...

He cautiously approached the door, pressed his ear against it, and then he heard a familiar voice.

—It was Mom!

Mom had returned!

He became incredibly flustered at once, running to the floor intending to begin hastily tidying up the ritual. But he had only tidied up two items when he realized he probably should turn off the room light first.

But just as he turned off the light, his bedroom door was opened from the outside.

With a click, the light was turned back on.