208 days ago, in this... well, for now, let's call it the Honkai Impact 3rd Proper World Universe.
In short, in this H3 universe where everything began, the concept of "Path" - a common belief in the neighboring Honkai: Star Rail Parallel Universe - abruptly appeared.
At the time, because this concept was something Ling Ke had unilaterally copied and grafted over, it was equivalent to him, using his own personal will and with the friendly cooperation of the Imaginary Tree, forcibly modifying the laws at the cosmic level. So...
"Since the dozen or so Paths I initially created, which I already knew about before I crossed over, are an unconventional method where 'the Path exists first, then the Aeon is chosen,' then the qualifications for ascending to the corresponding dozen or so Divine Thrones must be changed."
"Otherwise, if ascending to a Divine Throne relied solely on 'who has walked the furthest on that Path,' wouldn't the Aeons corresponding to certain Paths have to be replaced frequently?"
"That would be utter chaos."
Ling Ke had once thought this.
Because of this, he set an extremely difficult "Ascension Threshold" for these qualifications.
It is a standard so outrageous that it could immediately disqualify the vast majority of lifeforms in the universe.
Even the Cocoon of Finality does not possess a trillionth of the required standard.
No, strictly speaking, this is a difference in the level of their realms. Comparing them with numbers is an inferior method and completely meaningless.
In short, the more than half a year that has passed is truly just a blink of an eye for this universe as a whole. Many Paths remain "unclaimed."
Pathstriders who walk these unclaimed Paths are like the main cast from the neighboring Trailblaze. They have no corresponding Aeon to protect them, but they can still use the corresponding Path Power.
As a side note, apart from the dozen or so Paths Ling Ke directly shaped, not a single new Path has been born to this day.
Yes, the rule he left behind - "If a certain lifeform can carve out a Path, then THEY can directly become the Aeon of that Path" - has not yet been triggered.
It is under these major premises...
"Today, since all the Time-Reverse Descendants have arrived... and Kali even unexpectedly cobbled together "that kind of thing," then..."
Within the Pure White Great Hall of the Theater of Domination, Ling Ke sat alone upon his magnificent throne. He sat up straight for once, no longer looking as lazy as he had during his "vacation" over the past few months.
A faint smile played on his lips. "It is time for the entire universe to hear my "voice.""
The moment he spoke...
*Buzz~*
The entire universe momentarily ground to a halt.
It was as if the servers of a popular online game had suddenly shut down, and then...
The "Server-Wide Announcement" arrived.
Unfortunately, in this popular online game (the current universe), there was only one "Player."
He was both the "Player" and the "Operator."
The Imaginary Tree acknowledged everything.
And this so-called "Server-Wide Announcement" was not meant for the "Player" to see.
Issued by the "Player," it conveyed a series of established facts to every living being in the starry cosmos, with concise clarity:
"Greetings..."
"To the rich and the poor..."
"To the great and the small..."
"To the narrow-minded and the open-hearted..."
"To the happy and the suffering..."
***
"...All sentient beings possessing 'wisdom,' good morning, good afternoon, and good evening."
"You do not need to know who I am, nor do you need to know my purpose."
"You only need to know that I... have granted you a brand new 'possibility'."
"Its name is: the 'Path'."
In the time-frozen universe, countless sentient beings all "heard" the same voice.
Even though they couldn't speak each other's languages... some even lacked the very concept of "communication."
And yet, they still understood... they understood everything the Supreme Will wished to convey.
The 'Path'.
Within the human civilization of Earth, people interpreted it as an "extension of philosophy," a "materialized mental image," a "supernatural power shaped from will."
Preservation, Destruction, Erudition, Enigmata.
Order, Harmony, Trailblaze, Finality.
Abundance, The Hunt, Permanence, Beauty.
Equilibrium, Remembrance, Voracity, Propagation.
And... Elation and Nihility.
Currently, there are eighteen Paths in the universe. Anyone has the chance to become a Pathstrider, or even... ascend to a corresponding Divine Throne.
Of course, considering that Ling ke has set an "Ascension Threshold" that is incredibly difficult for most beings to reach...
Then... isn't it true that a probability infinitely close to zero is still a possibility?
After all, an Aeon's Divine Throne is not some street-corner public toilet or a cheap cabbage sold at a roadside stall.
If anyone could just seize it, its value would be nothing more than that.
Anyway...
"A single lifeform is allowed to tread upon multiple Paths, and naturally, they can awaken multiple kinds of supernatural power."
"And for every 'step' you take on each Path, no matter how small, it means you can draw upon more Imaginary Energy."
"With it, you can achieve anything you can imagine."
"Creating avatars, transferring consciousness, controlling space, reversing the future... or even unleashing pure power, all are possible."
The mysterious Supreme Will stirred the emotions of all sentient beings.
"Rejoice! This will be a prosperous era of blossoming flowers."
"Wail! This will be a cruel world of the strong preying on the weak."
"Anyone can become the winner, or the loser."
"There is no absolute fairness in this world. You have simply been given a brand new weapon called 'Path,' and a brand new capital called 'Path,' at the same starting line."
"From now on, 'Will' is no longer something intangible. It will be a treasure in your hands, one that will never betray you first."
"Currently, five of the Aeons' seats have been filled. The Divine Thrones high above are not yet all occupied."
"Ignite the desire in your hearts, or your sense of responsibility, or your sense of mission... Let them burn fiercely, and let the entire universe see the radiance they cast."
"You no longer need to hesitate, no longer need to stop moving forward."
"To the beings who have already entered a 'Path' before this, you are either outstanding, or 'lucky,' or 'unfortunate.'"
"The 'Track' has already been prepared for you."
"You can even create more 'Tracks' for yourselves."
"Starting now, although you are already behind..."
"It's not too late."
***
*Hummm*
Time across the entire universe resumed its flow.
Different cosmic regions returned to their respective temporal speeds.
At this moment, some were terrified, some elated, and some... still lost.
On a massive Mechanical Planet, the intelligent machines that had already eradicated their creators gained a new understanding of truth.
On a Primitive Continent where the law of the jungle reigned, a frail figure struck sparks from stone and wood.
Deep within a dark river of ice, an ancient beast that had slept for a trillion years opened its hundreds of pupil-less eyes.
A certain planet shattered, revealing itself to be a Celestial Egg. From it emerged a terrifying predator capable of traversing the universe on foot.
***
One by one, bizarre events unfolded. Some occurred in silence, others shook the heavens and earth.
And in a remote corner, in the Solar System, which was too small compared to the universe...
"Aeon?"
The Survivor of Venus, who had not acted for a long time, was carefully savoring this "New Possibility."
At the same time, on Earth...
"Path?"
In the Newborn World Serpent Headquarters Base, deep beneath the Sahara Desert in North Africa, MEI raised her right hand. She looked at the anomalous fluctuations at her fingertips that were already distorting light, lost in thought.
Not just her...
Kevin, who was executing a hunt mission; Sirin and Kiana, who were being hunted; Otto, hidden somewhere; Seele and Bronya in the Serene Miniature Garden...
And... Kali, the Herrscher of Blood, in the deep sea.
"Ah! This is the voice of a 'God'."
The little girl, with sky-blue skin and pure white hair, blushed visibly.
She narrowed her eyes slightly, cupping her face with her hands. Her small mouth parted slightly, revealing two pairs of fine fangs.
"As expected..."
Kali looked at the "Non-existent Egg Cocoon" not far away. "As expected, my faith is the most correct."
"God of God-Making... Lord of Myriad Gods... The Great Will..."
"He controls the universe."
"He is supreme!!!"