Cassian stumbled through the narrow hallways of the fortified base, his vision blurring at the edges. Peter stayed close, fending off questions from the stunned Ascendants who had just witnessed Cassian’s raw, violent prowess.
“What’s wrong with him?” one Ascendant demanded, his voice edged with fear.
Peter raised his hands in a calming gesture. “He’s fine. Just... spent. That kind of fight takes a toll, you know?”
The woman narrowed her eyes. “Spent? That’s not what he looked like out there. He was laughing, for God’s sake.”
Peter forced a tight smile. “Look, he’s not like us. Give him some space. He just needs time to recover.”
The murmurs of unease rippled through the crowd, but Peter managed to usher Cassian into a secluded room without further incident. He closed the door behind him and sighed. “You owe me for this,” he muttered to the barely-conscious Cassian before stepping back out to “stand guard.”
Inside the room, Cassian collapsed onto the floor, the weight of his body feeling distant and unreal. The system interface materialized before him, glowing brighter than he had ever seen.
System Notification:
Path Evolution Initiating. Prepare for integration.
Agony erupted through Cassian’s body, a searing, unrelenting wave that forced a guttural scream from his throat. He clawed at the ground as his vision turned white, the pain consuming every inch of him.
Flashes of insight and clarity came through the torment. He saw fragments of himself—his battles, his pain, and the choices that had shaped him. The system laid out three branching paths, each one radiating with distinct energy.
Path of the Wounded Knight
A defender of the weak, where growth through pain is tempered by compassion. Offers a powerful healing aura, reducing the personal growth rate in exchange for bolstering allies.
Path of the Wounded Destroyer
An avatar of devastation, where pain fuels unparalleled offensive capabilities. Offers increased damage at the cost of reduced defensive options.
Endless Path of Wounded Suffering
A path of unimaginable torment and unlimited potential. Growth is amplified by enduring extreme suffering, offering unparalleled evolution and the ability to reshape the essence of your weapons. This path demands the rejection of limits and complete surrender to the pain.
Cassian’s eyes locked onto the third option. The words seemed to hum in the air, resonating with the marrow of his being.
“Unparalleled growth,” he muttered through clenched teeth. “No limits. No hesitation.”
He selected the Endless Path of Wounded Suffering, and the pain surged tenfold. His body contorted, and his screams echoed through the room, the system interface flashing wildly as it processed his decision.
System Notification:
Congratulations. Path of Wounded Suffering acquired.
Skill Unlocked: Weapon Enchantment – Wounded Suffering.
Cassian’s vision darkened, and the world fell away.
Cassian woke with a start, the sensation of dry blood and sweat clinging to his skin. His stomach growled loudly, and his throat felt parched, but beneath the hunger and thirst, there was something else—something powerful.
He sat up slowly, his joints cracking as he moved. Everything felt... different. Stronger. Sharper. He pulled up his status screen and saw the changes immediately.
Status Update:
Attributes:
- Strength: 25/50 (Improved from combat; increased physical power)
- Agility: 25/50 (Enhanced through evasion and reflexes)
- Endurance: 25/50 (Boosted by continuous pain and recovery)
- Intelligence: 25/50 (Growing with understanding of combat and system)
General Skills:
Inspect: 25/50 (common; Increased proficiency; reveals more detailed information
Meditation: 25/50 (Uncommon; Improved depth of system interaction and focus)
Pain Tolerance: 100/100 (Uncommon; Complete immunity to discomfort from pain) Max Ascendant level
Combat Skills:
Combat Meditation: 25/50 (Rare; Increased understanding and growth while in this state)
Unarmed Combat: 25/50 (Common; Adjusted by recent combat; better hand-to-hand effectiveness)
Glaive Mastery: 25/50 (Common; foundational understanding of glaive techniques)
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Swords Mastery: 25/50 (Common; foundational understanding of sword techniques)
Dual wielding Mastery: 25/50 (Uncommon; foundational understand of using 2 weapons simultaneously)
Endless Path of Wounded Suffering:
- Ascendant Void Control: 25/50
- Weapon Enchantment – Wounded Suffering 0/1
At the edge of his interface, a notification blinked persistently.
System Notification:
You have unlocked Weapon Enchantment: Wounded Suffering. Choose a weapon to enhance.
Cassian’s gaze fell on his glaive, its battered edge a familiar comfort. Without hesitation, he selected it.
The glaive pulsed with dark energy, twisting and reshaping itself in his hands. Spikes erupted along the shaft, biting into his palms with sharp, agonizing precision. Cassian hissed at the pain, but it only fuelled his satisfaction.
System Notification:
Glaive of Wounded Suffering created. This weapon grows alongside its wielder, drawing strength from their agony.
Cassian examined the weapon, blood trickling from his hands as the spikes withdrew slightly. “Perfect,” he muttered, a dark smile crossing his face.
When he opened the door, Peter was sitting just outside, his arms crossed and eyes closed. He jolted awake at the sound of the door creaking.
Peter looked up, relief and apprehension warring in his expression. “You’re alive,” he said, trying for levity. “And... taller, apparently.”
Cassian smirked, rolling his shoulders. “Taller? Must be the new diet.”
Peter frowned. “You seem... different.”
“I am different,” Cassian replied, his tone flat but carrying an undercurrent of satisfaction. “And I feel incredible.”
His stomach growled loudly, breaking the tension. Peter snorted, handing him a ration pack. “Yeah, well, you still sound starving. Eat before you faint.”
As Cassian tore into the food, the tension eased slightly. But Peter couldn’t ignore the changes—the sharpened features, the slight increase in height, the air of barely restrained power that clung to Cassian like a second skin.
Later, as Cassian and Peter joined the others, Commander Ardan and Kara approached. Their expressions were guarded, suspicion lingering in their gazes.
“You’ve been gone for three days,” Ardan said bluntly, his tone making it clear he didn’t trust the explanation. “And now you look... different. What happened?”
Peter stepped in before Cassian could respond. “It’s part of his Path. Let’s just say it’s not something any of us would want to go through. But it makes him a hell of a lot more useful now.”
Ardan’s eyes narrowed. “Useful how?”
Peter hesitated, then spoke carefully. “Cassian can be a wrecking ball. You’ve seen what he can do. Let him take point on clearing out those monster nests, and we’ll have this zone secured in no time.”
Kara crossed her arms, her gaze shifting to Cassian. “And you’re okay with this plan?”
Cassian smirked, hefting his glaive onto his shoulder. “Okay with it? Sure.”
The group exchanged uneasy glances before Ardan finally nodded. “Alright. Let’s see if you can back up that confidence. Kara can put together a group and we’ll see. I can already feel my headache developing over the trouble you are going to cause me…”
Ardan gestured toward the battered glaive, his tone measured. “That weapon looks like it’s seen better days.”
Cassian’s grin was razor-sharp as he spun the glaive lazily in his hands. “You should see what it can do now.”
Kara arched an eyebrow. “And you’re okay with putting that... thing on the battlefield?”
Cassian leaned forward slightly, his voice low and calm. “You want this zone cleared, don’t you? Let me do what I do best. Just find me a team who can keep up.”
Ardan exchanged a wary glance with Kara before nodding. “Fine. But make no mistake—if you become more of a problem than a solution, we’ll end this. Fast.”
Cassian’s smirk didn’t waver as he straightened. “Good. I’d hate for this to get boring.”
Peter shifted uncomfortably under Ardan’s sharp gaze, aware of the growing unease in the room.
“Cassian’s... different,” Peter began carefully. “You’ve seen him fight. He’s not like anyone else here. He doesn’t just endure the pain; he thrives on it. And yes, that’s unsettling, but it’s also what makes him effective.”
Kara crossed her arms, her skepticism clear. “Effective? Or dangerous?”
Peter hesitated, glancing toward the closed door where Cassian had locked himself away. “Both,” he admitted. “But that’s why we need him on our side. Let’s face it—you’re losing ground. You need someone who can do what he does, even if it’s uncomfortable to watch.”
Ardan’s expression darkened. “And what happens when he turns that... ability on us?”
Peter’s voice hardened. “He won’t. I’ll make sure of it. Just give him a chance.”
Kara leaned forward, her tone sharp. “This isn’t just about fighting monsters, Peter. It’s about trust. If Cassian so much as steps out of line—”
Peter cut her off, his usual calm fraying. “If he steps out of line, I’ll deal with him myself.”
Ardan studied Peter for a long moment, his gaze weighing the conviction in his words. Finally, he nodded, though his expression remained guarded. “Alright,” he said, his voice gruff. “We’ll give him the chance. Kara, gather the best group we have. Let’s see what this... partnership can do.”
Kara gave Peter a lingering look before nodding. “Understood.” She turned on her heel, her boots echoing against the concrete as she left to assemble the team.
Ardan lingered for a moment longer, his sharp eyes flicking between Peter and Cassian. “If you’re wrong about him, it’ll be on your head,” he said before following Kara out of the room.
As the door closed behind them, silence settled over the room. Cassian, leaning casually against the wall, turned to Peter with a raised eyebrow. “Deal with me, huh?” His smirk was razor-sharp, his tone laced with amused incredulity. “That’s a bold promise coming from someone who nearly had a heart attack just watching me fight.”
Peter’s face flushed, and he looked away, running a hand through his hair. “I had to say something,” he muttered.
Cassian pushed off the wall, stepping closer. “Oh, I get it. But now I’m curious—how exactly were you planning to ‘deal with me’ if I lost control?”
Peter’s shoulders sagged as the reality of his words hit him. He let out a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Let’s be honest. I couldn’t stop you if I tried.” His tone grew quieter, more serious. “That’s why I need you to promise me something, Cassian.”
Cassian’s smirk faded slightly, replaced by a flicker of curiosity. “Promise you what?”
Peter met his gaze, his expression raw with desperation. “Don’t lose control. Don’t become like the monsters you fight out there. I’ve seen too many people go down that path, and it doesn’t end well. You’re... different, sure, but you don’t have to let that difference turn you into something worse than the things we’re trying to stop.”
Cassian stared at Peter for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, to Peter’s surprise, he let out a soft chuckle. “You’re really betting everything on me, huh?”
Peter nodded, swallowing hard. “Yeah. I am. So, don’t make me regret it.”
Cassian tilted his head, his smirk returning, though it was softer this time. “Alright, Survivor. I’ll try not to ruin your grand vision. Just make sure you’re ready to keep up.”
Peter let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, relief mingling with lingering unease. “Deal.”
Cassian gave him a pat on the shoulder—gentler than Peter expected—before turning his attention to his glaive, absently spinning it in his hands, blood trickling between his fingers. Peter watched him, the weight of his own gamble settling heavily in his chest. Cassian’s promise was something – but would it be enough when the blood started flowing again?