Chapter 661
Lord of Scales and Feathers: Let Me Handle It.
“…How did this happen?”
Eivass’s eyes widened slightly. He found it hard to understand. “Can a Path… be reversed?”
“—Naturally.”
Just then.
A person wearing black gloves suddenly patted his shoulder from behind.
A voice he was very familiar with suddenly echoed in his ear. “Don’t be nervous, Eivass. This is normal.”
It was the voice of the Lord of Scales and Feathers.
In Eivass’s eyes, the world around him rapidly darkened. It was as if night had fallen and the curtains had been drawn. Only a small circle of space around him remained illuminated.
“…Normal?”
“It’s perfectly normal. The reason professionals experience almost fatal Path deviations is because they don’t actually fully align with the Path they belong to. Their power actually comes from the ‘Profession’ they align with, and a holder of a Profession can naturally switch Paths. After all, the power of a Phantom Demon isn’t static. When switching jobs, it’s normal to take your clients and resources with you, isn’t it?”
The Lord of Scales and Feathers placed a hand on Eivass’s shoulder, offering comfort and a touch of sophistry. “Think about it—all belonging to the Transcendent Path, Extraordinary beings who can align with professions like Demon Scholar and Demon Avatar… are they the same as an Ascencist?
“Didn’t you yourself once encourage a child with Transcendent Path adaptability to find a way to switch to Ascencist instead of Demon Scholar?”
Hearing this, Eivass frowned slightly.
There seemed to be some truth to it…
He recalled what his foster father had told him about the “previous cycle.”
—Although Eivass doubted if it was truly a previous cycle, the information within it should still be referenceable.
In that world line, Ring Heavenly Envoy was promoted to the Pillar God of the Metamorphosis Path, the ‘Endless Knot.’ The Alchemists of the Path of Balance that it controlled then fell into the Path of Metamorphosis and became ‘Elementarists.’ This was one such example.
“Hmph.”
Seeing Eivass lost in thought, the Lord of Scales and Feathers simply chuckled lightly.
Noticing Eivass was still hesitant, He patted Eivass’s shoulder and said simply, “Then let me handle it.”
The next moment, the world before Eivass’s eyes brightened again.
Everything that had just happened seemed like a fleeting illusion.
In response to Eivass’s query, Siegfried was earnestly explaining, “It’s possible. Generally, when the description of a profession falls between two Paths…”
Suddenly, Eivass’s expression changed.
He abandoned his previous furrowed brow and the solemn attitude, replacing it with a cheerful and carefree smile. The emerald jewel on his chest lit up, and Eivass’s pupils turned the same emerald green.
“Eivass” relaxed completely, waving his hand casually. “That’s enough for now. I’ll explain it myself.”
The other Cardinals naturally understood what was happening.
They all bowed to Eivass and paid their respects to the Lord of Scales and Feathers.
“Eivass,” with a foxy squint and a pleasant smile, raised his hands like a conductor, then lowered them slightly. “No need for such formalities, everyone—”
The real Eivass, meanwhile, was experiencing this peculiar sensation.
He was still within his own perspective. But there was a strange feeling of “this body isn’t mine.”
To describe it, it was like being in a first-person perspective video game cutscene, with “I” speaking volubly. Although Eivass could “skip” the dialogue at any time to regain control, his body was acting on its own beforehand.
“—Speaking of the Path of Adaptation, what comes to mind for everyone?”
The Lord of Scales and Feathers suddenly asked.
The Cardinals fell into a silence akin to “a teacher asking a question in class.”
However, Siegfried didn’t let the question turn into a self-answered one. He earnestly replied, “Perhaps… powerful survival abilities. Whether it’s ‘Apothecary,’ ‘Prophet,’ or ‘Assassin’ and ‘Hunter,’ all emphasize survival abilities in the wild or extreme situations.”
“You might as well be clearer—it means cowards.”
“Eivass” said dismissively.
His dark green pupils gazed at Siegfried, causing him to stiffen repeatedly.
“But this situation ends today.
“This is a deal between me and the Silver Crown Dragon—I created an opportunity for him to personally end Bear Heavenly Envoy. Please don’t forget, those Extraordinary beings whose ‘Professions were reversed’ would have originally embarked on the Path of Power five hundred years ago.
“Although ‘Power’ has become ‘Authority,’ are there no such valiant warriors in the Material Realm? Or—”
“Eivass” looked at Siegfried, then at Fafnir. “Have you two forgotten that you both once belonged to the Path of ‘Power’? Have you forgotten the heart with which you embarked on that Path? Or do you believe that your current selves are no longer the same people as you were then?
“It was Bear Heavenly Envoy who suppressed this portion of power, not distributing it as Professional power to the Material Realm. I obtained His power and expanded the definition of ‘Adaptation’—the original ‘Adaptation’ emphasized only harmony with nature and increasing one’s survival ability, but lacked a crucial definition.
“—That is, in extreme situations, ‘fierce struggle’ is also a part of adaptation! Wasn’t the previous adaptation considered a ‘cowardly’ Path precisely because it lacked this crucial element?
“It’s because Adaptation lacked ‘Power.’ And now, I have perfected the Path of Adaptation, expanding its definition… What problem is there with that?
“Those who originally fit this concept might have entered other Paths due to a side aspect of this concept—for example, their protective hearts made them more suited to the Path of Devotion; their sense of responsibility and willingness to respect order led them to the Path of Authority; their actions of fighting nature led them to enter the Path of Adaptation, but become Hunters; and those warriors who yearned for fierce combat entered the Path of Love of Indulgence.
“But this doesn’t mean they suited these Paths; it means they had no choice.
“Because the inheritance of ‘Warrior’ has been lost. This is a world without warriors.
“And my contractor—a warrior named ‘Star,’ together with the Silver Crown Dragon, defeated Bear Heavenly Envoy, even taking on an irreplaceable important role. He brought back the profession of Warrior for this world. Isn’t this a great deed?
“Ultimately, I signed contracts with you not for you to make things difficult for my contractor. You all signed your contracts willingly—I didn’t force you or harm you, did I?”
“Eivass” wore a kind and gentle smile, but his words were not soft. “If you still have any questions—
“Then first go ask them, and then find someone else to argue with.
“I’ll be waiting here.”
(End of Chapter)
