Inside the platform, Stelle and Su Yan walked side by side toward the Supply Zone.
“Stelle, I have a special tool that can help me become a Pathstrider.
Want to give it a try?”
“A Pathstrider?
What’s that?” Her memory wiped clean, Stelle looked at Su Yan with a blank expression.
Su Yan: “…” *Well, that was unexpected.*
After a moment of silence, Su Yan explained the basics of Paths, Aeons, and Pathstriders.
“So in other words, if I become a Pathstrider, not only will I steadily grow stronger, but I’ll also gain special abilities…”
Grasping what she considered the key takeaway, Stelle looked at Su Yan thoughtfully.
“Exactly.” Su Yan nodded in approval of her understanding.
Some people viewed treading a Path as having their ideals recognized; some became Pathstriders to achieve personal ambitions; others embraced the philosophy of an Aeon to walk their Path…
As for Su Yan, his reasons were simple: first, he was curious about the “superpowers” one could wield as a Pathstrider; second, he found it interesting and convenient…
“In that case…” Stelle’s expression suddenly turned solemn, and she asked with utmost seriousness, “…is there a Path that can grant me the ability to hunt for treasure?”
A few minutes earlier, Su Yan had asked if she had anything she liked.
At the time, she couldn’t answer—everything from her past had been completely wiped away, including her passions and preferences.
The blank slate in her mind made Stelle feel a sense of powerlessness whenever such questions came up, and she hated feeling powerless.
Because of that, she had made up her mind…
She would forge new memories, starting by finding new interests.
While pondering what hobby to pick, inspiration struck: hunting for treasure sounded like a lot of fun.
The Trailblaze required traveling to countless planets.
Exploring world after world in search of hidden treasures was not only exciting, but it was also a form of trailblazing in its own right.
Unaware of her inner thoughts, Su Yan recalled the special abilities shown by various characters and Paths in the game.
Gathering his thoughts, he offered his guess: “Perhaps the Path of Remembrance can develop the kind of ability you need.”
The Path of Remembrance allowed one to read the memories of people and objects.
If an item was an extraordinary treasure, the memories clinging to it would be unique, making it stand out in the sight of a Memokeeper.
Furthermore, Remembrance could create Memoria entities.
In the game, Topaz’s pet Trotter had the ability to sniff out treasure; if that ability existed in reality, perhaps Remembrance could be used to replicate something similar.
“Then I want to tread the Path of Remembrance…” Stelle clenched her fist.
“For your first Path, I’d suggest you pick Destruction.”
Taking certain future events into account, Su Yan didn’t want to alter the order in which Stelle unlocked her Paths.
After all, Elio’s script had its own purpose.
Besides, keeping the future predictable had its benefits for him.
For instance, knowing where regrets lay allowed him to effortlessly plug the gaps ahead of time, using minimal effort to make the future brighter—a plan that aligned nicely with his goal of doing a few good deeds during his travels.
“Sure, works for me.” Stelle didn’t refuse or even hesitate, accepting Su Yan’s suggestion on the spot.
Surprised by how readily she agreed, Su Yan looked at her with a hint of astonishment. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
“Aren’t you going to ask me why?”
“Nope!
I trust you.
If you’re telling me to choose Destruction, there must be a good reason.”
With that, Stelle fixed her gaze on him.
“However…”
“You have to make up for the treasure-hunting ability I’m missing out on.”
“Deal!” Su Yan agreed cheerfully.
He then took out the Aeon Summoner.
“Let me test it first.
If there are no issues, you can use it next…”
Setting the summon target on the Aeon Summoner to Nanook, Su Yan confirmed the summon…
In the very next instant, he found himself standing in the cosmic expanse.
In the distance, shattered stars hung suspended—a scene intimately familiar from the game as the space between Paths.
And “nearby,” a battered, scar-covered giant was equally unmistakable.
As the mortal’s gaze met the Aeon’s, Su Yan offered a polite greeting: “Hello!”
The next moment, sensing that the new Path had been unlocked, Su Yan politely took his leave.
“Goodbye!”
Without a second’s hesitation, he beat a swift retreat.
The first effect of the Aeon Summoner was to summon an Aeon.
As supreme entities of the cosmos, when suddenly displaced by an irresistible force, their natural reaction would be to observe their surroundings.
And observing naturally meant looking.
The moment the Aeon looked at Su Yan, the condition for the “Gaze of the Aeon” was fulfilled.
And the gaze of an Aeon could draw someone onto their Path…
As for whether the Aeon was willing or not—well, details, details…
When he first crafted the item, he estimated the success rate at only fifty percent.
After all, he couldn’t be certain whether a mere glance was enough to unlock a Path, or if it required the Aeon’s explicit approval.
Judging from the current result, it seemed to be the former.
Of course, it could also be the latter…
After all, many Aeons gave their blessings to anyone who asked…
Su Yan didn’t dwell on the reasons, as there was no need.
The second effect of the summoner was to dismiss the target, sending the Aeon back to where they came from.
Having “invited” the guest over, it was only proper to send them back home.
Once the Aeon left the space between Paths, he too would exit it.
He was back in the space between Paths.
Nanook stared down at Su Yan with cold indifference, Path energy flooding the entire domain.
Su Yan looked up and saw shattered planets and dying civilizations reflected in Nanook’s eyes…
Countless streams of data and an overwhelming will of annihilation surged into his mind along that gaze.
The torrent of information and the Aeon’s will crashed against Su Yan’s consciousness, as if seeking to overwrite and reshape it…
At the same time, he could feel the Path energy under his command swelling rapidly.
Bursts of unique insights surfaced one after another, proving that he was sprinting forward along the Path.
After an unknown stretch of time, the influx of information and will ceased, and his rapid advance along the Path came to a halt.
Nanook continued to gaze at Su Yan for a brief moment.
A subtle change flickered in the Aeon’s eyes—neither satisfaction nor admiration, nor anger nor disgust…
A moment later, Nanook departed.
Su Yan was pulled out of the space between Paths, and his taut nerves gradually relaxed…
*Good thing I prepared defensive items in advance.
Otherwise, I definitely couldn’t have withstood the onslaught of an Aeon’s will and all that information…*
As the thought crossed his mind, Stelle’s worried voice came from beside him.
“Su Yan, are you okay?”
Hearing her, Su Yan turned to look.
Seeing her panicked expression and the way she wanted to touch him but hesitated, he felt a flicker of realization and looked down at his hands…
Cracks.
Spiderwebs of fissures covered his skin, resembling a piece of porcelain on the verge of shattering.
Inside the cracks, a substance like liquid gold flowed sluggishly.
Su Yan: “…” *That injury looks awfully familiar!*
It was the exact same injury Bai E had!
Just slightly less exaggerated.
Reasonably speaking, his face was probably in the same state.
“Stelle, I’m fine.”
Setting his thoughts aside, he looked at the anxious girl to reassure her first.
“It looks scary, but it’s really nothing.
It’ll fade after a while!”
“I’d rather trust a doctor’s opinion.
Come with me to get checked…”
“Alright.” Su Yan didn’t refuse; he agreed it was necessary.
The Aeon Summoner clearly had side effects—like having his location tracked by an Aeon.
He also needed to confirm his current condition so he could craft corresponding countermeasures, ensuring Stelle wouldn’t run into the same problem.