Divine Path System

"Your Master Asha betrayed you. She sold you for a better career prospect."

In a garden of vibrant flowers, Varian, Isadora, Sarah and Miss Calamity in a circle on the lush green grass.

The man's words caused Isadora to bite her lip and lowering her head. "I don't have a deep bond with her. But she gave me her avatar. It saved my life from Princess Eshala."

"Asha must've been under pressure since she couldn't advance to rank 2." Miss Calamity said.

Varian scoffed. "A rank is really that important, huh."

Aurora nodded with a stern expression, shooting all of them a glare, especially Varian. "For the normal person, it is not just important, it is everything.

For the next step within a sub-rank, centuries old friendships were broken.

To reach the next sub-rank, entire races were slaughtered.

For the next rank? Heh, all bottom lines were broken.

Beneath this facade of divinity, there is only ugliness of greed. Even the vilest of criminals would pale in front of what the divine beings do. They are not the gods they think themselves to be, they are the demons, spawns of hell and agents of evil.

If the divine rankers just disappeared today, half of all deaths would end. The divine are gods only in appearance, if you look below that light of holiness, there would be so many corpses that they could drown entire stars."

Varian shifted in his seat, contemplating those harsh words. It wasn't meant to be a jab but he didn't consider himself a person with bottomline either. He could go to great lengths for the things he valued. And nothing could stop him.

He discarded the notion of morality long ago. He didn't advocate for evil. But when necessary, he wouldn't hesitate to become the fiercest demon.

The pain he inflicted on Icarus? The torture he put people whose names he didn't even bother to recall?

It was an evil act.

The good people would say that he had no necessity to torture people when he could kill them swiftly and end the enmity.

But no. The answer was always no.

Death was too easy for some people. They had to taste the pain that a demon could inflict. And then, they must feel the regret of their own choices. That regret should then consume them and then, only then would give them that final sleep.

Master Asha, regardless of the reasons, had fallen into the category of his enemies. Since she saved Isadora once, he decided not to put the woman through any pain.

Just a swift, painless death.

"Brother-in-law!"

"Yes?" Varian didn't realize it but his voice was laced with coldness and exuding a lot of killing intent.

"Do you really want to kill her?" Miss Calamity asked with a deep sigh. "She is the daughter of All Mother Asherah, has a lot of siblings who are hostile to her. If she didn't reach rank 2 and one of them did, she would be facing a very painful future.

Keeper Equilius must've promised her protection. She is a very good woman, helped a lot of people expecting nothing in return. This act of her which you see as betrayal, it's her only way of survival at this point."

Varian frowned, inadverdently glaring at the veiled woman who defended the betrayer.

Miss Calamity smoothly slipped behind Isadora and wrapped her arms around the princess. "Senior Sister, tell him not to plot my death. I am just informing him of the other side's positions, not taking sides."

Sarah crossed her arms at the lady's antics.

In the beginning, Calamity was only interested in meeting her idol, Isadora. It was an affection developed in her younger days when the princess of Pala set legendary records. Isadora treated Calamity well in her younger days and a good bond was built.

However, it still felt unreal that Aurora was behaving so favorably. In her own words, a divine ranker could do a lot of evil for the sake of a little progress.

So far, she didn't show any hint of greed, even after recognizing the greatness of Hortus.

Now a days, however, the idol seemed to have turned to her 'brother-in-law'.

While Isadora still accomplished feats that were legendary, Varian's feats surpassed were at another league altogether.

But why?

Why was she being a fan? Why did she no greed to snatch the ultimate treasures?

Sarah didn't hide her gaze.

Miss Calamity felt it clearly, as did others.

Earlier, Sarah didn't say it out loud because the power difference was too high in case she turned hostile. But now, she saw no reason to hold back.

"Aurora, then where is your greed? The three of us are not normalpeople, Hortus is not a normal place and our speed of progression is not normal pace."

Isadora gently held Aurora's hands hugging her. It's a small gesture but it was made in preparation for a battle.

Despite all the help she'd given them, the princess was cold blooded enough to kill Aurora if she turned out to be hostile.

"Ah that," Aurora giggled. "If I was normal, perhaps I would have. Don't worry. "

"Hm?"

"I'll just disappear one day. It doesn't matter what happens before that. So, I don't need to be greedy. You don't have to be wary against me. I think it's fun to hang around with you all."

Her words were cryptic but the soul powers of both Sarah and Isadora recognized no falsehood.

"Life should be enjoyed." Miss Calamity raised her arms. "Do you want to go surfing in blackholes?"

"Anyway," Varian ignored her and continued. "Immortal's design itself dictates that he must merge with the perfect hybrid to reach his ultimate state. Once you cross a threshold of power, he can always sense you. It's instinctive, like a fish knowing to swim."

Isadora tilted her head. "Even to Hortus?"

"Might or might not." There was uncertainty in his voice. "He is born from the power of slivers. I am afraid it's erroneous to judge him with normal standards. So, what's the plan for him?"

There was a short silence in the garden before Sarah raised her hand and made a gesture with her thumb moving over the neck. "How about I just kill him?"

Varian tapped his thigh. "Immortal is a very…prideful man, if I must say so. He would rather kill himself than die under another's hands.

So far, he's trying to get Isadora on his own instead of calling the help of a divine ranker. He's the child of slivers. No matter how much of neglected he is, he must have divine rankers willing to help him.

He did not call any. Not even when Icarus started attacking. His pride wouldn't allow it. But if a divine ranker attacks, he can justify putting aside that pride.

Once we step into that territory, our new divine rankers will have to face veterans. Even a mid rank 1 is very difficult for the three of you. And he might call a high rank 1. Or a peak rank 1."

"You want to fight him alone?" Isadora clasped her hands. "He might still call the divine rankers."

"Might. But if you go, he definitely will." Varian shook his head. "He still doesn't know Isadora reached the divine rank. If he does, he might give up any hesitation and call for help.

The only way out I see is using myself as the bait. If his pride is as strong as I thought it is, he'd capture me himself to draw Iasdora out."

"Then how will you make yourself a bait?"

Varian smiled. "Isn't there a war going on?"