A Second Pathway?

West Borough, Black Estate, 1:30 A.M, Friday

"Well then Master Atlas, the potion is ready. I will ask again, are you sure about this!" Alfred said in a concerned tone.

"Yes, Alfred!" Atlas responded with a reassuring gaze as he looked at Lucy tearfully.

She seemed not to understand what was going on as she wagged her tail and tried to chase it.

"Well then, here goes nothing." Alfred scooped up Lucy and slowly dripped the potion onto her mouth.

Lucy's eyes widened and her pupils dilated. She barked out loud and started howling in pain.

Atlas clicked his tongue and looked away trying to avoid Lucy's eyes. She started convulsing and white foam started frothing in her mouth.

Then, as suddenly as it began, the convulsions stopped. Lucy's eyes slowly snapped open, brimming with joy as she locked her gaze onto Atlas.

"Congratulations, Lucy. You're a Sequence 9: Assassin!" Atlas exclaimed, his voice breaking with elation.

…..

West Borough, Black Estate, 8:30 A.M

'Hmm, it seems the environmental council is proposing some changes; the hearing for it is set in the next three to four months!'

Atlas ate his breakfast in silence as he quietly read the paper. He had to give credit where credit was due; Alfred was one heck of a cook.

After finishing breakfast he silently retired to his room. Atlas soon chanted his honorific name and went to the River of Eternal Darkness.

Instantly a tattoo of a surging river appeared on his right pec and extended to his arm. Atlas's process of entering his Sefirah was way easier than Klein's. He did not need to set up an elaborate ritual at all.

He immediately found himself in the River of Darkness. But, the place he was in currently was dissimilar.

A translucent dark mist lingered around an ancient ruin, creating an ethereal and serene atmosphere. The mist caught ambient light that was being emitted, making it glow faintly around the base of the ancient ruins. There were massive, weathered pillars which featured narrow grooves etched vertically along their surfaces, through which a steady stream of water flowed. The water glimmered as it cascaded down, adding a sense of movement and sound to the stillness of the scene.

The streams converged into small channels at the base of the pillars, forming a circular flow that elegantly surrounds a central seating arrangement.

Atlas stood awestruck, his breath caught in his throat. The ethereal beauty of the place was overwhelming. He quickly deduced that the changes in the River of Darkness were linked to his transformation into a Beyonder.

His awe was interrupted as a tidal wave of memories crashed into his consciousness.

Atlas could see himself chanting his honorific name; a dark mist soon wrapped around his body providing him comfort from the disastrous ravings; the wooden phoenix eyes shifted at a slow pace and landed on his body.

It cawed aloud with exasperation at his resistance. It soon hurled fire on his body; which instantaneously erupted the cavern, flinging him into the icy depths of the Tussock River.

The last memory that was seared into his mind, was a voice engraving the words.

"Sequence 9: Ember Scribe: Abilities -

Spirituality - Increased Spirituality allowing for a stronger use of spirit vision.

Embers Of The Past - They can conjure small flames and use them to record past events. These flames can also burn impurities from objects and people.

Divination - They can divine the future with all kinds of methods."

Atlas could figure out that this pathway belonged to the Outer God — The Ashen Sovereign. He knew that the name he used was probably not 'His' actual epithet but he had nothing else to go off on.

Atlas would've been happy that he gained an extra pathway but something didn't feel right. The phoenix specifically engulfed his body into flames; which was the action that gave birth to him having a pathway.

'But, why did 'He' do that?!' this thought resounded in Atlas's mind. A chilling reason soon dawned upon him.

'This pathway is extremely compatible with the Death pathway, I can feel that in my gut. The Death pathway also has extremely high suppression powers over low sequence Beyonder's; so what if this pathway has something like this too!. It is probably stronger than the Death Pathway since it originates from an Outer Deity.

Since this pathway originated from an Outer God, 'He' can probably use his suppression powers over me to directly descend onto me!' This revelation made Atlas shiver.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt he was right!. There was no other reason for 'Him' to gift Atlas a new pathway. But this matter did not scare Atlas at all!; he had to survive, he would not falter!.

Atlas was going to survive till the end, he was going to live no matter who opposed him!.

This will and determination to survive stemmed from Atlas's past life. His last life was dull and bleak; a drop in the ocean one might say. So, when he was finally reborn, his desire to leave a mark on history, to be remembered throughout time, his ego to be someone who was always admired awoke; this desire was suppressed and by his previous unassuming life, but in this new life it erupted like a volcano.

Every human carried within them a quiet yearning to be remembered, to leave a mark that whispered their name through time. Yet, in a world that measures worth by conformity and efficiency, these dreams were often silenced, pressed beneath the weight of expectations that leave no room for individuality to bloom. But, Atlas would break these rules and if Fate opposed him; he would defy and break Fate itself!.

Atlas's thoughts drifted as he focused on his spirit and astral body and could feel the corruption in his body was gone!. But, this did not reassure Atlas at all. 'The only way I can resist 'Him' is by climbing his sequence too. I will not fail!'

Atlas made a vow to survive; he was not going down without a fight. If his arms were torn off he would kick, if his legs were torn off he would bite, if his mouth was torn off he would stare the person to death, if his eyes were gouged out, he would curse the man to death. Even if his body was chopped into pieces; Atlas would not give up on his quest to strength.

As such it was a good thing that Atlas's potion had digested by around 85%; this was probably due to the fact that he acted in front of a deity. This also made Atlas figure out one the rules of acting for his potion; A corpse collector must always put the safety of the corpse above all else, even his own life!.

Atlas's thoughts soon drifted to the reason he entered the River of Darkness; he knew he did it on a whim. But, he had a slight suspicion that it was because of his spiritual intuition or some other power at play.

Atlas then soundly made his way to the chair seated at the head of the table. He sat down and gave a deep sigh; his day had just started and it had already turned sour.

He rested in the chair for a few minutes as he gazed at his Sefirot. His attention was soon drawn to the water flowing down the groove near his feet; he gazed at the water intently. The groove was about 5 feet deep and around 3 inches in length; Atlas was engrossed in the water, he could make out figures twisting in agony and pain.

He then saw two figures whose faces were completely normal but were slowly twisting in agony. It seemed the figures would be in complete agony in around 7 months; Atlas seemed drawn to these figures as he slowly extended his hands trying to save them. His hands soon grasped their shoulders and the figures immediately exploded.

….

In the Loen Kingdom's Evernight Goddess Diocese

Daly Simone held a sealed artifact in her hands which resembled a canteen which contained water. She wore a hooded black robe and a silver bracelet with a hanging white crystal pendant around her wrist. She tingled with the artifact a bit and sighed with exasperation as she got no response.

Suddenly the canteen glowed with a dark light and shrouded her.

….

Moon City

A young man with dark hair and blue eyes had a sorrowful expression. His eyes were red with pain and sorrow. He knelt beside a crystal ball and seemed to be pleading to it. His body seemed like it was going into a transformation into a monster; the young man had minor deformities and had a sick constitution. His words soon resounded in the dark room.

"O Magnificent Deity, please cast your eyes on this land that you have forsaken.

O Magnificent Deity, please allow us, the People of the Dark, be freed from the curse of our destiny.

"I Albedo Cooper am willing to dedicate my life to you, using my blood to please you."

Suddenly a black glow burst out from the ball swallowing the boy whole.

…..

In the dark mist, Daly Simone regained her sight. She started reckoning the situation in a state of horror and confusion when she noticed the blurry image of a boy on the opposite side of her doing the same as well.

Immediately after, the both of them discovered another mystery person standing not far from them who was shrouded in a dark mist.

The 'mysterious person' was none other than Atlas who was similarly dumbfounded.

Daly and Albedo were startled at first, falling silent in the process. Then, they immediately started speaking in unison.

"What are you planning on doing?"