What fate should I use for the next simulation?

"How should I use this entry...?" Ruan murmured, stroking his chin thoughtfully as he gazed at the "Salvation" entry on the light screen.

Having been utterly exhausted after the last simulation, Ruan hadn't yet taken the time to tally his gains and had immediately collapsed into bed. Later, he was woken up by Bronya and, dealing with her and Himeko, hadn't had a chance to properly assess his rewards from the third simulation.

So, it was only now, after a good nap, that he had the time to review his gains and think about his strategy for the next simulation. The seemingly unimpressive white "Salvation" entry was far more powerful than it appeared. When Ruan obtained this entry, he immediately recognized its most important utility.

Besides the buff enhancements it provided when integrating with a Path, its ability to encompass multiple Paths set it apart from other entries. This made it capable of opening a new, top-tier strength level on its own.

It's important to note that Paths are not something that can be mixed together arbitrarily. They require a Pathstrider's philosophy to resonate with their lifelong goals, using those goals as a beacon to advance. Due to conflicts between the fundamental forces of different Paths, it is impossible for a Pathstrider to tread multiple Paths simultaneously.

However, the "Salvation" entry was absurdly overpowered, enabling the forced expansion of Path concepts, allowing one philosophy to interpret different Paths and draw power from each. This inherent advantage put it far ahead of others from the start.

Before acquiring the "Salvation" entry, Ruan had been grappling with a dilemma—whether to temporarily unload the "Will of Preservation (Purple)" entry from the first simulation. Though it significantly shortened his development time by making him a Pathstrider of Preservation as soon as he entered a simulation, it also locked his future in place.

For instance, in the last simulation, his choices almost got him expelled from the Path due to conflicting philosophies. If not for the "Amber King's Gaze" entry pulling him back onto the Path and giving him one last chance, he wouldn't have had the opportunity to use the Stellaron for a kamikaze attack.

Through these simulations, Ruan had come to a profound realization—he had chosen the wrong profession. Paths are like professions, with the imaginary energy within each Path adaptable to one's preferences. However, each Path has its own focus.

For example, the "Destruction" Path excels in destruction. While Destruction Pathstriders may only have about 20-30% more imaginary energy than Ruan, their destructive power is on a completely different level. They can incinerate planets and turn civilizations to ash. What could Ruan do? At most, he could condense crystalline rock using the Preservation Path's power and throw them like projectiles, causing damage through sheer weight and strength.

This limitation isn't just due to the Path's philosophy but also its focus. In terms of pure destructive power, Ruan was far weaker than a Destruction Pathstrider. But that wasn't Ruan's fault; as a Preservation Pathstrider, his skills were all centered on "preservation."

If he had a teammate with similar abilities, Ruan could have had a lot of room to maneuver—providing crystalline shields to his teammate, blocking all attacks from the Destruction Pathstrider, and offering a comfortable space for his ally to unleash attacks.

However, finding such a teammate was another challenge. In the last simulation, aside from using the Stellaron for self-destruction, Ruan managed to harm the Destruction Pathstrider, but that relied on the golden "Amber King's Gaze" entry's reflective damage. Ruan himself couldn't deal any damage.

Under these circumstances, it's understandable why Ruan struggled; he had no choice but to trigger the Stellaron, blowing himself and the Destruction Pathstrider up together. But with the "Salvation" entry, things would be different...

He could keep the "Will of Preservation" and wait for the opportunity to embark on a new Path. Combining multiple Paths would be incredibly powerful. Imagine simultaneously treading both the Preservation and Hunt Paths, shielding himself while launching rapid, aggressive attacks—though this scenario only existed in games, simulations wouldn't differ much.

If Ruan had a stable means to harm the Destruction Pathstrider, he could survive and potentially close the gap through skill, ultimately defeating it. For added security, he could take the Abundance Path, replicating his previous simulation's strategy by detonating the Stellaron to kill the Destruction Pathstrider while healing himself to survive the blast.

The future seemed bright with these possibilities.

For the next simulation, he could aim for a no-death completion. As long as he played it safe, such as adopting the Abundance Path to maximize his survival, he could clear it in one go!

Satisfied, Ruan nodded and glanced out the window at the dim landscape, unsure how long he'd been resting. Since Bronya hadn't come to call him, it probably hadn't been too long... right?

Hoping he hadn't been napping too long, Ruan climbed out of bed, ready to find Bronya and get to work. As a self-proclaimed lazy person, Ruan wasn't keen on working, but Bronya paid him a monthly salary of 1.5 million credits—a job with such a salary means a day off is kind, but two days off could mean getting fired.

Unlike his simulated self, who was a renowned imperial general, he was just an ordinary worker in reality, and he needed the money. Just as he was about to leave his room, there was a knock on the door—

"You've slept for a long time; you must be hungry... want to eat together?"

Ruan opened the door to see Bronya holding a tray full of delicious food, smiling warmly at him.

What's going on here?