I Leveled Up Faster Than The Gods Themselves
Chapter 8: The Weight Of Worlds
The instant Ryn's foot made contact with the ethereal bridge, which shimmered like spun gold beneath the soft light of an unseen sun, the entire Ascendant Realm quivered as if awakening from a deep slumber; the vibrations reverberated through the very fabric of existence like a colossal beast exhaling in the serenity of its dreams.
Seris, standing beside him with a calm presence, gripped his forearm tightly, her touch grounding and steadying him amidst the uncertainty that loomed. "Be cautious. The Path tests everyone who dares to step onto it… even those as experienced as I," she cautioned, her voice a mixture of warmth and worry.
Ryn's gaze was drawn to the bridge sprawling out before them, suspended over a chaotic maelstrom of compressed memories and intertwined timelines-fragments of the past drifting by like luminous sparks in the darkened void. The distant end of the bridge appeared to recede into an infinite haze, twisting and curving with a life of its own, as if teasing him with its elusiveness.
He swallowed hard, the weight of the decision pressing upon him like an anchor. "Then I'll pass the test. I have to," he declared, each word laced with a fierce determination that resonated in his chest.
Seris turned to him, her eyes soft yet penetrating, surveying him with a long, appraising gaze that seemed to pierce through his bravado. "You speak as though failure holds no possibility," she remarked, a hint of concern threading through her words.
"It isn't," Ryn responded firmly, his voice low yet imbued with a steely resolve. "If I falter now, everything I lost… remains lost," he added, the painful memories of his past reflected in his eyes, a stark reminder of his stakes in this perilous journey.
As Ryn began to tread further onto the bridge, he felt a heartbeat pulse through the structure, synchronizing with his own. The air around him shimmered, and glowing blue words materialized, carving themselves into the space as if dictated by the very essence of the Path itself.
Power without intent is mere noise. Intent gives strength direction.
Ryn exhaled sharply, a flicker of realization passing through him. "So… the Path is doing more than just leading me?"
Seris nodded, her features reflecting an understanding that transcended explanation. "It's evaluating whether you genuinely comprehend the purpose of power," she clarified, her tone both enlightening and grave.
With renewed intention, Ryn stepped forward once more-this time with purpose coursing through him. The bridge responded, solidifying beneath his feet as if acknowledging his conviction.
Fear is allowed; retreat is optional.
In an instant, a projection of Ryn's younger self materialized beside him, the boy crouched in despair on a rain-drenched rooftop, tears glistening like the raindrops that fell around him. The specter whispered hauntingly, "You're still afraid… aren't you?"
Ryn did not shy away from the truth. "Fear means I'm still alive. Not moving because of fear is just a slower form of dying," he asserted, his voice steadier than he felt in that moment.
As the illusion faded into wisps of light, the bridge beneath him brightened, illuminated by his acceptance.
You owe no one your suffering.
To Ryn's surprise, these words flared to life before him, radiating like fire against the backdrop of the ethereal space. Seris's expression turned to one of astonishment, her eyes wide with realization. "That lesson… it's rarely intended for individuals."
With a nonchalant shrug, Ryn remarked, "Guess I'm not 'most' people," his tone carrying an air of quiet defiance. He continued in low tones, "I didn't climb this far only to become a pawn for someone else again."
Seris's gaze softened, her demeanor shifting as a flicker of guilt passed across her features, perhaps understanding the heavy burden he carried.
Empathy strengthens; pity weakens.
Stepping closer, Seris regarded him with a profound seriousness. "You exhibit empathy even in your pain. That's a powerful trait, Ryn."
He replied thoughtfully, "Empathy is about the choice to understand another's plight, whereas pity is merely looking down from a distance."
The Path acknowledged this insight with another pulse, radiating warmth through the air, encouraging him further along the way.
Resolve is greater than talent.
Suddenly, a dozen silhouettes emerged, figures embodying prodigious fighters who outmatched him in raw talent and innate ability. Their presence loomed ominously as Ryn stared at them, feeling the weight of their skill hanging in the air.
Yet, instead of succumbing to despair, he stepped forward with newfound confidence. "I don't need to be born special," he asserted, his voice firm and unwavering. "I only need to refuse to quit."
With that declaration, the formidable silhouettes shattered like wisps of smoke, dissipating into the ether.
Seris watched him appreciatively. "You talk like someone who's lived through twice the experiences of one lifetime."
Ryn offered her a half-smile, a hint of wistfulness dancing in his eyes. "I guess I have," he replied, carrying the weight of those experiences with dignity.
Knowing limits is different from obeying them.
Without warning, the bridge tilted dangerously, threatening to unceremoniously launch him into the abyss below. In a desperate move, he hooked his arm around a glowing railing, grasping for stability.
Seris shouted, urgency lacing her voice, "Don't overextend yourself!"
Gritting his teeth against the peril, Ryn shot back with conviction. "Limits tell you where you are, not where you're confined to remain."
Determined, he pulled himself back onto the bridge, straightening it beneath him once more, affirming his resilience.
Control is more than holding back. It's the choice of when to unleash.
Suddenly, a tempest of raw energy erupted around him-his own power spiraling out of control, a chaotic force threatening to rend the very fabric of the Path asunder.
Seris's eyes widened in alarm. "Ryn-if you don't rein that in-"
But he inhaled deeply, centering himself amidst the turmoil. With focused intent, he asserted control, and the raging aura folded back inward like the extinguishing of a furious flame, allowing the storm to dissipate into the calmness of the air.
"See?" he said triumphantly, "Control."
Seris stared at him, stunned and impressed by his mastery over his own formidable strengths.
Every bond is a risk. Strength comes from choosing them anyway.
In that moment, the lesson manifested as a glowing tether that connected him and Seris, a symbolic representation of their emerging bond that pulsed with a vibrant energy.
Seris froze, her eyes wide with realization. "…The Path is acknowledging our connection, isn't it?"
Ryn couldn't help but chuckle softly, his tone lightened by the moment. "Guess we're really stuck with each other," he quipped, sensing a warmth between them.
She turned her gaze away quickly, a slight blush coloring her features, but not before he caught a glimpse of the smile playing at the corners of her lips.
You are allowed to want something for yourself.
This lesson pierced through him like a sharpened blade, its weight heavier than any previous confrontation. Ryn felt as if a tidal wave of self-discovery crashed upon him-he had never contemplated what he truly desired-what he yearned for-beyond the instinct for mere survival.
He murmured softly, almost hesitantly, "Then… I want a life I don't have to run from." The admission hung in the air, raw and honest.
Seris regarded him with evident surprise. "…That is the first genuinely selfish thing you've shared. And it's pure," she affirmed, the sincerity of their moment intertwining their fates.
Courage is the consequence of caring.
A flash of impending peril flickered before Ryn's eyes-an unsettling vision materialized, depicting Seris, injured and besieged, encircled by shadows of looming threats. The image filled his mind with dread, a vivid tableau of what might come to pass if he failed to act.
Without pausing to consider the consequences, Ryn's hand instinctively reached for hers, driven by an urgent desire to protect her, to shield her from harm.
As quickly as it had appeared, the vision evaporated, yet the intensity of his response lingered in the air, a palpable promise of devotion and bravery.
Seris, her voice barely above a whisper, uttered the words that pierced the silence, "You'd risk yourself… for me?"
In that moment, Ryn's resolve was unwavering. There was no hesitation in his declaration. "I don't protect people out of a sense of duty. I safeguard those I fear losing, those who mean more to me than anything."
Her breath caught in her throat, radiating a wave of warmth that mirrored the depth of their bond.
"Power grows fastest in the presence of purpose."
As Ryn stood on the shimmering Path, its ethereal light surged beneath him, infusing his legs with strength, coursing energy through his bones, igniting his core. He felt invigorated, as though the very essence of purpose was flowing through him in a vibrant rush.
"What's the purpose driving you?" Seris inquired softly, her eyes searching his with an intensity that demanded honesty.
Ryn took a moment, choosing his words with care before replying, "To never again find myself powerless when everything is on the line. I want to confront whatever challenges come my way with unwavering strength."
The bridge reverberated with approval, its energy resonating with the conviction behind his words.
"A burden shared does not break you. It makes you unstoppable."
As the final lesson took shape before him, golden wings of light unfurled, shimmering behind Ryn. They were a perfect blend of his essence and Seris's, a testament to their unity in this journey.
Without uttering a single word, Seris placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, her touch a silent acknowledgment of the bond they shared, the unspoken understanding that passed between them.
The magnificent wings began to dissolve into the air, yet as they faded, something far deeper and more profound settled within him. It was a sense of certainty, an unwavering conviction that transcended mere power.
The Bridge's End - And the New Danger
As the luminous lessons came to a close, the golden bridge came to an abrupt halt, the vibrant colors fading into stillness. At the distant end loomed an imposing structure, a tall archway crafted from obsidian stone-its surface etched with swirling runes that danced and shimmered with an eerie life of their own.
Seris gasped sharply, her eyes widening in disbelief. "No… that's impossible," she breathed, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and awe.
"What is it?" Ryn asked, his curiosity piqued by her sudden alarm.
"That arch… it only manifests for one individual per generation. A… a world-tier ascendant candidate," she explained, the weight of the revelation hanging heavily in the air.
In an astonishing turn, the arch began to pulsate with light, reacting as if it were alive and aware of Ryn's presence.
Seris instinctively took a step back, her gaze fixed on him, as if she were seeing him anew-layer upon layer of realization dawning in her eyes. "Ryn… this means you aren't merely being tested."
With each passing second, the runes spun faster, the energy in the air thrumming with palpable anticipation.
"You're being chosen," she concluded, her voice filled with an awe that bordered on fear.
Suddenly, a thunderous voice erupted from the archway, its tone ancient and chilling: "ASCENDANT OF TWO LIVES. ENTER, OR BE ERASED."
The very fabric of the realm trembled beneath the weight of those words.
Seris tightened her grip on his arm, urgency lacing her voice, "Ryn-if you choose to step through that arch, the trial could be life-threatening. It could mean your end."
He looked deeply into her eyes, weighing her concern, then shifted his gaze toward the archway, which loomed before him like a gateway to both the unknown and the inevitable.
With a whisper, laden with determination, he declared, "If this world wishes to see me dead, it should have made a more concerted effort the first time it tried."
Without another moment of hesitation, Ryn took a resolute step forward-
-into the blinding embrace of the light beyond the arch.
To be continued...