Path of the Slayer B1 C14. En Garde, Young Pathwalker

Instincts kicked in, and I lunged to my left while pivoting slightly, my right arm raising to meet the Primordial’s training sword. The maneuver should force the bookish senior’s attack to glance off my half ripper arm while I was positioned to disarm him of his weapon.

His training sword touched my artificial forearm and threw my entire arm off to the side. I jerked in the same direction, my steps pulled out of their practiced efficiency, my heart rate bolting.

Path Energy snapped and popped loudly around me, soaking into my body while fanning out as a short field. My feet found their footing immediately, and instead of staying put, I lunged away, burning a percentage of Path Energy for a quick retreat.

Senior Codex appeared right in front of me with a bored expression behind his undisturbed spectacles. He flicked his sword at me point-first like a fencer, giving me no room to draw my greatsword fully. 

I relied on my hand-to-hand, Hellion leading the way.

Senior Codex made me pay for it. I went for a parry, and my arm felt like it was struck by a large hammer instead of a sword.

Path Energy crackled loudly on impact, sending white sparks flying. My entire body jerked in the direction my hand went, and with a grunt, I twisted against the momentum, my abdominal muscles screaming.

My half ripper forearm collided with another light flick of Senior Codex’s training sword, and I suffered the same consequence a third time. It was like being battered by a more heavily imposing warrior, and the stress on my metal hand had me worried something might get damaged.

Yet, almost like an idiot, I fought against the momentum and threw my hand in the Primordial’s way again.

The same result occurred … until I dismissed my bonded treasure.

The bored expression on his face shifted into mild interest as I angled off with a proper pivot. I drew the greatsword from behind my back for a high-to-low swing.

The range was close, so I had to draw the handle into my body while using one hand. Path Energy did all it could to help me while I waited five long seconds from my half ripper hand to return.

Senior Codex raised his single-handed training sword and deflected my swing smartly. I’d expected that. I didn’t quite expect him going for a strike with his open hand at my open chest, but I could adjust.

I let my greatsword get swept aside and watched his palm snap out toward the middle of my breastplate. Without using my Great Skill, I hardened myself while bracing for impact with pure Path Energy alone.

I went down to 88% and took the thrust.

The air left my lungs.

The floor dropped away.

Before I knew it, my back met the opposing wall with a loud crash. Somehow, I instinctively stopped Pain Eater Gluttony from activating, even though it would’ve helped.

Checking my Path Energy, I saw it was down to 73%.

My next breath filled my throbbing chest with air as I quickly got to my feet. I was still four seconds away from re-summoning my arm, and Senior Codex was right in front of me again despite how far he’d sent me.

I should’ve felt fear.

No such feeling arrived.

Only determination.

I went on the attack immediately, swinging my greatsword with tight and fast windmill motions. I went faster and faster, burning Path Energy to go at a speed that was supernatural while using only one hand.

To my relief, Senior Codex paid me enough respect to back off, enabling me to take two steps forward from the wall.

Then he caught my sword with a quick and nonchalant parry that threw me out of my rhythm. My greatsword nearly ripped out of my hand, and I lost a percent of Path Energy to keep hold.

My momentum was gone. And my body was open.

He struck me three times.

Left biceps.

Right rib.

Left thigh.

All with the flat of his blade. All with crushing and blurring speed. I growled in pain, and my Path Energy suffered, losing 5% to each hit.

I had two more seconds before my half ripper arm returned. It felt like forever.

With a roar, I lunged at him for a bullrush. We collided, and to my joy, I forced him backward, giving me more ground.

I knew what he was going to do before he did it.

But his technique was flawless.

Beautiful even.

He used my momentum against me, binding my sword arm while pivoting and kicking out my leg. The half-dojo, half-library setting spun around me, the ground awaiting my eventual fall.

I refused, slamming my soles down under me. A grunt escaped me as my body locked up, all of my core muscles engaged. Path Energy did the rest, burning a few percentages as I stopped the slam and got a hold of Senior Codex in return. Only then did I let myself fall, only to twist around quickly and sweep my legs underneath him.

“Oh, ho! You know how to grapple!” It sounded like the old and bookish Pathwalker was pleased by that.

I didn’t care.

I was mad.

I was getting beaten on by a librarian of all people.

That couldn’t stand.

With us both on the ground, we rolled and fought for a proper position. Then finally, the Hellion Half Ripper returned fully, and I gained more of an advantage.

Just when I thought I would win the over-top mount position, he squirreled away from under me and flipped me over. We continued to jockey for positioning.

My Path Energy ticked down consistently, the magic crackling over me fiercely like a fire that I could faintly see as white sparks or embers over my form. My concentration grew sharper. My movements became faster.

My muscles exerted more raw power than ever before. The way we moved, even while grappling, sent tremors through the dojo. We even sent ourselves flying across the mat, bouncing radically with thumping impacts that sounded like miniature bombs.

The impacts were at their loudest when we struck the walls, ended up on our feet, continuing the grapple from there. The moment he introduced punches, I unleashed all the close-quarters-combat I knew, and finally got a general reaction out of him after bashing his face on my knee.

“Oh, my!” he exclaimed.

Yeah, exactly.

I found my footing at last and abused the hell out of it. Twisting into elbow strikes and short uppercuts that caught his head easily since he was much shorter than me. I used to suffer the same when I was short, but with me being taller, I got to bully someone else for once.

Elbow strike.

Elbow strike.

Uppercut.

Knee.

Damn, I was putting in a lot of work to beat up an old man. Almost to a savage degree.

But he wasn’t quitting.

So I didn’t stop.

I pummeled at him, and he leaned against the wall and covered up, taking the abuse. I kept the pressure going even though I knew the inevitable was going to happen. But he wasn’t calling it quits, and I was curious of the consequences if I went over the edge.

Then I struck 0% and my body stopped working.

All my Path Energy disappeared.

A horrible feeling overcame me, as if I was worthless, as if all that would ravage me there was around me. My legs gave out. My mind became duller and slower. And I struggled to breathe as I collapsed fully to the floor.

Even my Hellion Half Ripper wasn’t able to endure the lack of Path Energy, fading away on its own, leaving my right nub naked.

I was nearly comatose.

It was terrible.

I threw myself some pity for a second.

Then I pushed down with one hand and forced my ragged body to my knees. That was as far as I could go, but at least it was something.

“Impressive,” said the Primordial, removing the cracked spectacles from his face.

I felt some satisfaction in that until he replaced the broken ones with another pair of round spectacles that looked the same. I didn’t let it show that bothered me. I had other issues, like 0% Path Energy.

“Most Young Pathwalkers would’ve fallen unconscious or cried while empty of their Path Energy. Though, it has been written that Slayers are the epitome of willpower, so I suppose it shouldn’t be a surprise that you’re still trying to stand back up.”

I tried to talk. My mouth failed me.

I grunted meaningless words instead.

“Yes, indeed, this certainly confirms the training regime I would suggest for you. But let’s get you in a better shape so you can focus on my advice, hm?”

The bookish senior sat down in front of me, legs crossed in a meditative posture. His next words seemed to resound all around me as he spoke in a calm tone, like the most patient of guides.

“The knowledge to regenerate Path Energy is fairly common, even if it’s different for every Pathwalker. Path Energy, after all, is the energy we produce while our soul is on a journey matters most to the Pathwalker. There are many ways to regenerate Path Energy outside of the basics, but I’m here to teach you the basics, and I believe this will serve you well.”

I remained on my knees while straightening my spine. It wasn’t exactly a meditative pose like his, but it was a proper warrior position that could lead into a rising step attack even when kneeling.

With some struggle, I placed my hands on my thighs and concentrated with all of my willpower on his next words.

“Envision your Path of the Slayer as your soul on a journey. What is your soul doing while it is on that journey? Take from that what you will and fill up your Path Energy. You may close your eyes, if you must. Or let your vision fade, so what is in the physical plane becomes less important compared to the spiritual one.”

I had to give it to the old man. He looked bland as hell. But his instructions were clear and easy to follow.

I’d done closed-eye meditations before. They helped clear the mind. This time, I closed my eyes and imagined my soul on a journey.

I saw nothing but my profile.

I waited and kept searching.

I found darkness.

I found memories.

My soul remained elusive, as if it hid away after my Epiphany.

I kept trying. I kept searching for my soul. I imagined it on a journey.

There was nothing at first.

Maybe there had been nothing for a long time.

But I was patient. So I kept imagining, searching, and waiting.

Then something finally revealed itself to me.

I saw my soul immediately without the System Profile as a wavering flame. It was crimson with black edges, and it was bumbling through the dark, minding its own business.

The dark didn’t stay formless for long. My soul’s surroundings became a terrain with wicked trees and fingers of mist that hid evil things.

But my bumbling soul didn’t seem to care. It was on a journey. It was where it was supposed to be.

In fact, my soul was prepared. It extended a more solid limb that looked sharp on one end and while carrying on through the evil misty forest. Nothing seemed to happen at first.

Then wolf-like monsters came out, with big teeth that could crunch up my soul easily in a few bites. My soul struck at the wolves with its sharpened point and killed them easily.

Other monsters came out, and my soul struck at them, again and again. Even when the mist grew thicker, and the evil trees drew closer, my soul kept bumbling on through the evil forest while chopping monsters into pieces.

It belonged there.

Deep in the dark.

Amid the evil mist and trees.

Where the wicked things lurked.

My soul wanted to journey through places where the light feared to reach.

It felt … happy there.

When I opened my eyes, my Path Energy was crackling over me. 

“It’s back at 100%,” I mumbled, surprised.

Senior Codex remained seated with legs crossed in front of me. He gave me a serious nod.

“Yes, well, that’s the thing with Slayers. Let one rest, and they can top off their Path Energy immediately,” he explained. “It’s frankly unfair, really. It’s even more unfair that you have a bonded treasure that could feed a muscle-bound killer like you Vitality the more you slaughter. Cursed, yes, but it’s an excellent find at your Level.”

“And yet, I’m still far behind other Pathwalkers?” I asked uneasily.

“What do you want to do as a Pathwalker?” he asked.

“Be the best.”

There was no hesitation when I said that.

No ifs.

No buts.

I wanted to be the best.

The words were my salvation. They got me through the dark times. They were also a curse.

Senior Codex nodded. “You and many other Pathwalkers want something similar. To be the best. To reach the point where all Paths connect under the System. To see what is beyond even the System.”

“You … haven’t?” I asked.

“No, I haven’t. I’ve given up.”

We looked at each other. The moment was heavy. I didn’t know what to say.

Senior Codex moved things along. “If you wish to be an average Pathwalker who can live a lavish lifestyle among Rankers, you certainly can. If you head back to your empire, I’m sure they would give you gifts, luxuries, women, lands, and plenty of political power.”

That was hard to imagine.

Me, with political power and luxuries?

And I would get that by only being average?

Senior Codex chuckled dryly. “One Pathwalker is worth ten million Rankers. Your potential is vastly greater. You have more control over your fate than a Ranker does, even if there are plenty of Rankers who are technically stronger than you and can kill you and will love to try. But a Pathwalker, even the weakest of us, is still a someone who is favored most by the System. After all, this is all made for us to rule over, if we choose to.”

“I don’t want to be average,” I said, brushing past the intense revelations being given to me for free. It was all good to hear, but at the key aspect was what I wanted. So, I repeated myself. “I don’t want to be average, Senior Codex.”

“Then you will be far behind those who wish to surpass us old farts who’ve hit their limits or given up. In fact, it is said this new generation coming up, with all the resources poured into them by their ancestors, might break past the limits we old ones couldn’t break past. You’re technically a part of that new generation, and unfortunately, you don’t have the Path Energy or the Path Magic to compete normally. You certainly won’t have the Bloodline, that’s for sure.”

That was upsetting to hear.

But that didn’t stop me from wanting to be the best.

Senior Codex graced me with a rare smile before continuing. “But you are the one and only Slayer, and even among Slayers of the past, you’re unique. You became a Pathwalker at Rank 0, and before then, all you could do was rely on your mortal skills.”

“Can you give me a comparison?” I asked.

 He slowly nodded. “I can’t go into specifics, but I can speak on general consensus that is relatively public knowledge among Pathwalkers of affluence. Most Pathwalkers occur after Rank 4 or Rank 5. Sometimes as far as Rank 6, especially among the noble Pathwalkers. And the consensus is that the best and brightest of the young are becoming Pathwalkers at Rank 6 by age eighteen or so.”

I felt like I was going to crap out bricks of blood.

A shout escaped me, booming with Path Energy. “HOW?!”

Senior Codex held his silence.

It took me a while to calm down and answer my own question.

“Epiphany Elixirs,” I grouched. “Freaking Epiphany Elixirs.”

“Indeed, Epiphany Elixirs and such. Useless to Pathwalkers, but great for Rankers. The elixirs come with no drawbacks, really, just positives. But you had no such advantage. You did it the hard way. The inefficient way, which is usually looked down upon. And that gives you one significant advantage on top of being the Slayer.”

I leaned closer. “What’s that significant advantage?”

“Great Skills might be easier for you to get.”

“Why does that matter compared to Path Magic or whatever the hell Bloodlines are and all the other special things you mentioned? I’m assuming those are stronger than Great Skills.”

He surprised me with a chuckle. “Young Pathwalker, I only have three Great Skills, and I’ve been on my Path for far, far longer than you. In fact, I didn’t get my first until I was at Path Level 101. And it took me much longer to get one above Uncommon quality.”

It was stunning to hear that. I wasn’t sure how powerful Senior Codex was. But I figured if he could bypass my defenses and project his power into my mind, then he had to be an old monster. How far along the Path was he?

And why had he given up?

Before I could settle on my next question, the Pathwalker Primordial stood up. “Enough talk. Our time is limited. And I need to drill the basics into you. Your Path Energy efficiency is atrocious, and you won’t last long out there if you can’t eke out the most out of your lowly Path Energy.”

I narrowed my eyes at him before responding in a manner that was far from efficient. I used another power.

Path Magic activated: Path Magnetism.

My Path Energy slid into a different spectrum of magic that hummed and vibrated with a metallic tinny. My reserves dropped from 100% to 60%, which wasn’t surprising. My Tyrannosaurus Roar had a similar hefty cost, though that was easing up steadily as I gained Path Levels.

The key part was that after activation, Path Magnetism seemed to linger around me. I also had access to the rest of my Path Energy, though it felt more subdued, as if it became a more supportive layer of power underneath the humming vibrations of Path Magnetism.

Since the elemental power was ready to serve, I gave it a simple direction.

I imagined Path Magnetism gathering in my half ripper hand. Then I aimed my hand behind me where my Fallen Slayer Greatsword waited on the dojo mat.

My metallic and edgy hand vibrated with an expressed power that was invisible to the eye. On the other end of my focus, the greatsword vibrated before inching toward me.

I concentrated further, putting more energy into Path Magnetism, and the result was immediate.

Path Energy went down from 60% to 59%.

The greatsword launched from the floor and flew at me.

Point first.

I grabbed it by the blade with a clang, though I wasn’t pleased by how it flew to impale me. I obviously needed more practice.

A dusty chuckle sounded out. I looked back at Senior Codex with a glare and found that blank expression on his face behind his round spectacles. For some reason, the Pathwalker Primordial annoyed me.

Oh, right, he didn’t answer my question.

“How big is the target on my back?” I asked.

“En garde, Young Pathwalker.” Senior Codex slashed his training sword down at me, which had appeared in his hand when I wasn’t looking.

I responded with a rising cut off my knees, blade-to-blade, my energy and new elemental power crackling and humming.

I didn’t bother turning off Path Magnetism despite Senior Codex’s wishes. It was fun to use. I was quick to notice unique tricks I could pull off with my greatsword because of magnetism, such as adding more power or speed to my swings.

I was sure there was more for me to discover with enough practice.

But the cost to my Path Energy was worrying.

Senior Codex let me suffer the consequences of burning Path Energy out even faster than before. Then he beat me around while I was barely conscious just for good measure before he allowed me to meditate.

Just like before, it took a while for my imaginations to find my soul. Once I did, I watched the little crimson and black flame go on its journey through the misty and evil woods, killing the monsters that went haunting in the misty night.

Once I recovered fully, I went back at it again with Senior Codex, but with only Path Energy and my greatsword. My head was in the game fully this time.

Things didn’t get better.

Not by a long shot.

I soon came to understand the old and bookish librarian was a savage.