Divine Path System Chapter 2 - Red Pluto Day And Girl Of Dreams

"If only I weren't so paralyzed." Varian pounded his foot against the ground. The sealed wound tore open, fresh blood trickling down once more. Automated sensors immediately commanded the medical bot to address his injuries.

Varian, however, remained indifferent to both the stinging pain and the ministrations of the machine.

His thoughts drifted back to that fateful night. He could only recall memories leading up to his collapse. He possessed no memory of her final words, nor the chilling events that unfolded following that horrific spectacle.

Most baffling of all, he could never fathom how he managed to survive.

Although investigators claimed his mother’s final strike had ravaged the Fire wolf’s nervous system, causing it to expire mere moments after her own death, he struggled to believe it. Nevertheless, it was the only explanation he was ever given.

The locker room door creaked open, admitting a man of substantial build. With a clean-shaven pate and a thick, rugged beard, the man appeared to be in his thirties, possessing a commanding, mature air.

"Good day, Mr. Gareth." Varian greeted the Hall Master with a genuinely warm smile.

Once, Varian had been a child of optimism. Even as an Unawakened youth while his peers ascended long before sixteen, he offered no complaints. Instead, he chose to train.

He finished his secondary education two years ahead of schedule, intending to dedicate an entire year to preparing for the entrance exam of the Earth Trooper Academy. It was an institution famed for shaping the elite ranks of the Human Armed Forces.

Upon enlistment, a soldier's duty could lead them anywhere from the scorching plains of Mercury to the frigid reaches of Neptune. It was a noble path, one Varian's father regarded as the ultimate service to humanity.

Varian believed that one single year was the perfect window to achieve his Awakening, and his mother’s surprise gift only bolstered that possibility.

The moment she unveiled the prize, he felt certain he would successfully awaken and enter the Earth Trooper Academy as a top-tier student.

But fate is a fickle mistress. Following her demise, Varian lost both his direction and his self-belief.

It wasn't merely the failure to save her that crushed his spirit. He had known the mortality rate for both of them was catastrophic. What shattered him was the realization that he had been too petrified to even attempt a rescue.

Coming to terms with his inability to move while his mother’s life hung in the balance caused his inner fire to sputter and die. He never saw himself as worthy of anything again.

Medical professionals told him his body had simply paralyzed itself out of raw terror. Many adventurers had shared similar experiences, freezing in the face of death while teammates were consumed by magic beasts.

Consequently, Varian repeated the same narrative to himself, incessantly. The drive to protect others that had fueled his entire childhood had turned into a pyre, reducing his self-conviction to ash.

He discarded his plans for the Academy, seeking instead to dull his constant agony. He found his answer in combat. Since fighting fellow unawakened proved insufficient, he turned his sights toward fighting those already Awakened.

Gareth had provided a helping hand, employing him as a mentor for neophytes still struggling to master their powers through manual sparring.

To anyone else, it seemed like an ordinary job. To him, it was a lifeline against the encroaching tide of madness.

"That was a bloody match. You’re going to be quite the sensation." Gareth grinned, sinking into a plush chair. He carried the aura of a seasoned rogue adventurer. Rumor had it that he was once a high-ranking adventurer, implying he had reached at least level 7.

"I apologize for losing control. The Hall might suffer for it." Varian sighed.

In duels, injuries were tolerated to a degree. However, shattering someone’s ribs was pushing the boundaries of what was permissible.

"What could possibly happen to the Hall? I’d like to see who dares to slander us." Gareth slapped his chest and let out a chuckle. A formidable aura emanated from him, causing the very air to fall still.

Publicly, he was known as a Level 4 Space Adept. He possessed the influence to back his audacity. With a single snap, he could lock space itself, effectively dismantling any level 1 awakener. Even level 3s stood no chance against his might.

"Then I shall count myself fortunate that the level 1 was so unskilled. If he had possessed any real finesse, I would have been defeated," Varian shrugged.

Varian was capable of handling many level 1 awakeners. This was thanks to his seasoned experience, which far outweighed their lack of tactical knowledge.

Nevertheless, since every Awakener possessed higher physical stats, they could easily outpace him if they managed to replicate even a fraction of his technique.

Moreover, there was an inherent ceiling to how far mere skill could carry him.

A standard human could never hope to conquer a level 2 Awakener. Varian had attempted it and failed too many times to count.

As they progressed along their path and advanced through levels, Awakeners became like insurmountable mountains. A level 9 Awakener was effectively a living nuclear bomb reminiscent of the era before the Blink.

This was exactly why Varian had burned with a desire to awaken for so many years.

That was, of course, until that night occurred.

His life took a sharp detour, eventually leading him here to deaden his own senses.

Or perhaps that was merely the excuse he gave. Deep within the recesses of his mind, he felt that he might be performing this role to help others achieve the feat he couldn't — saving the world and protecting his kin.

"I worry about you. You cannot exist like this forever. You should visit a dungeon and attempt to awaken. Even though you just hit eighteen, take the chance. We never truly know our own potential until we test ourselves," Gareth stated, his expression growing somber.

Varian began to formulate his typical excuse, but Gareth cut him off. "If you’re attempting to argue that you lack the capital to secure an Adventure Team for safety, I will shoulder the burden. You can settle the debt later. Heck, only repay me if you reach Awakening; otherwise, treat it as me blowing off steam. I’m filthy rich."

Varian tried to construct a counter-argument but found none. Gareth met his gaze steadily, raising a brow. "The real reason, then?"

Varian returned the look for a heartbeat before sighing. "I… I don't feel worthy. I’m not suitable. If I Awaken, I will only put more lives in harm's way."

Could a person who seized up in terror when their own family was in mortal danger ever be relied upon to shield others?

If he became a soldier and one day, the Abyssals—beings far more ferocious than any common magic beast—assaulted his comrades or civilians, would he be able to intervene, or would he succumb to fear once more?

If he were to Awaken, the number of lives he was responsible for protecting would balloon from a few to hundreds, or perhaps even thousands.

Seeing a single magic beast had paralyzed him once. That failure cost him his mother.

Therefore, if he froze again when facing the Abyssals, the cost would be thousands of lives. A sin far too heavy for him to gamble upon.

There was no guarantee he wouldn’t be seized by that same fear again. Medical experts had warned him that such a physiological response might haunt his path forever, suggesting he refrain from military service entirely.

So, he had surrendered.

Logically, he understood he should focus every ounce of his energy to become the greatest Awakener and take vengeance for his mother. But he wasn't driven by logic alone.

An unshakeable specter of guilt haunted him. She had died; he had survived. Why him?

Gareth observed the turmoil in Varian’s expression and let out a melancholic sigh. "We dwell in brutal times; everyone loses someone dear to them. The ultimate way to honor the fallen is to continue pushing forward, utilizing our strength so that others are spared such grief."

'I am simply trying to prevent more casualties,' Varian thought to himself, choosing to remain silent.

Gareth rose and strode to the door before glancing back. "The Red Pluto Event is approaching. I won't force your hand, but I am leaving you the digital coordinates of an Adventure Team I trust. If you reconsider, give them a call." He tapped his comm—a multifunctional device on his wrist—and shared the data with Varian.

Varian examined the contact information and noted the calendar. It was the 36th of the 7th Month, 520 YAB (Year After Blink).

So, I am eighteen. The Pluto Ceremony is about to begin; I should get going.

Varian forced a smile and exited the Training Hall, taking his hover-bike to the stadium, a massive, oval-shaped arena bathed in deep blue.

It was teeming with at least a hundred thousand spectators, yet the architecture was spacious enough to accommodate them all with ease.

Varian found his seat and stared up at the colossal 3D holographic projection.

A man clad in military regalia appeared on the screen. He bore a scar on his cheek, likely kept as a badge of honor, given that modern medical tech could erase even the most gruesome of infirmities.

The stadium fell into absolute silence as the crowd looked upon the legendary figure: Evander, Commander of the Earth Forces.

"We mourn the annihilation of a billion souls when Pluto was claimed. We will know no rest until we reclaim it and honor their sacrifice..."

The anniversary of the day Pluto was conquered by the Abyssals—the 36th of the 7th Month—was christened Red Pluto Day, a yearly observance.

From the shores of Mercury to the rings of Neptune, the entire Human Federation mourned the loss of a billion fellow humans and the home they had lost.

It was also a day to renew the oath of vengeance against the Abyssals. Every human would strive within their ability to guarantee the ultimate triumph of the Human Federation.

Unlike the fervor of the audience, Varian felt his interest wane. Speeches like this had been the fuel for his childhood dreams, but after the last year, all he felt was the suffocating monotony of existence.

Aside from combat, only two things occupied his mind: the recurring memory of his mother’s death and an inexplicable dream.

A girl with brown hair and golden eyes haunted his slumber. She was a complete stranger, yet somehow, he was certain of her name: Sia.

He had scoured school archives, questioned neighbors, and searched every record, yet he had never known a girl named Sia. Nor could he perceive her face in his dreams—it was always shrouded in a thick, unnatural mist.

The only silver lining was that these visions only visited him while he was asleep.

"This generation is in dire need of Heroes. Where do these heroes come from? From you, the youth. Do not settle for being level 9. Aim for Sovereign status.

A Sovereign acts as a beacon of honor for their home planet!

The Protector of the Human Federation!

The Nightmare of the Abyssals!

This year, as every year, we recognize the rising talents who dedicate themselves to peace, and we hope to witness a Sovereign emerge from among these brave young men and women." Evander concluded his address, signaling the start of the awards ceremony.

Recipients ranging from eighteen to twenty-one, cadets from the Trooper Academy, Planet Guard, and Defense Academies of Earth, stepped forward to accept their medals.

Some were level 6 Enhanced, others level 5 Beast Morphers, and a select few were level 4 Space Adepts.

Varian witnessed at least one awakener from every path. Awakeners. Not normal humans. Certainly not him.

As his gaze aimlessly drifted across the holoscreen, it suddenly locked onto one figure. His frame stiffened, and he used his comm to zoom into the feed.

He scrutinized the woman holding the prizes. Specifically, her attire—the standard blue camouflage uniform, adorned with a fire emblem on the sleeve.

Upon seeing the emblem, Varian’s palms grew slick with sweat, and his breathing turned shallow.

A mental switch seemed to flip, and before he could process the thought, he was plunged into a dark, void-like space. The only illumination sprang from a figure directly ahead: a girl.

She appeared like a solitary beam of hope cast against an ocean of shadow.

There she stood—the girl who had occupied his dreams since his mother had perished.

Her golden eyes fixed upon him with a storm of emotions he could not decipher. Rich brown hair cascaded to her waist. Fog still obscured her features, but this time, he could clearly discern her attire. It was the same blue camouflage uniform, coupled with the fire emblem upon her arm.

It was identical! It was the uniform of the Earth Imperial Defense Academy!

Varian stared at her, desperate to move. Once again, his body refused to heed his will. He ceased the struggle, remaining motionless as she drew closer, just as she had in every dream before.

She reached an arm's distance and extended her hands to frame his face.

In a pleading, sorrowful tone, she whispered, "Save me."

"Who are you?" The darkness dissipated, and Varian found himself staring at a familiar blue ceiling.

He realized he had returned to his bedroom. Shielding his eyes from the harsh morning glare, he called out to his comm, "What happened?"

"You lost consciousness during the ceremony. The caretaker bots followed standard protocol and transported you home," Isha, his AI assistant, responded from the device.

"Right. I dreamed of that girl… Sia again." Varian rubbed his temples, hoping he didn't sound insane.

These dreams had begun precisely on the day of his mother’s death, growing more frequent with time. He had initially assumed they were manifestations of trauma and regret. Yet, they had escalated from a weekly occurrence to daily, and recently, they happened multiple times a day.

Varian had initially concluded these dreams were a form of mental instability. He had even consulted specialists in mental faculties—Level 4 Telepaths.

Telepaths were awakeners of the Mental Path, having advanced through the first three levels; at the fourth, they chose the Telepath path over the Telekinetic path. They were renowned for treating mental afflictions due to the very nature of their power.

His visions were dismissed as a byproduct of PTSD. They could offer no insight into this girl he had never met in the waking world, yet who haunted him so persistently.

They even verified his neurological pathways were sound. Varian possessed doubts about their proficiency, yet he lacked the funds to approach a higher-tier doctor, those who had surpassed level 6—the Level 7 Psychics.

However, the cycle remained unchanged: they only manifested in sleep. Never had he fainted or experienced these visions while awake.

"I require another examination." Varian swung his legs off the bed and gazed out the window.

The twin suns hanging in the sky remained unchanged since he was a child. Only he had changed. He dreamed. He struggled. He failed.

He didn't know what he was striving for anymore. To be an Awakened? Guilt made him feel unqualified to try. To end his life? It felt like an ultimate insult to the woman who had traded her life for his.

"If only there was a path to make everything right, no matter how difficult the journey." Varian stared into the heavens and let out a weary breath.

Unbeknownst to him, his dragon bracelet pulsed with a subtle, alien light. The eyes of the dragon trinket flickered with alternating black and white brilliance.

[Divine Pathway System initializing 100%]

[Based on the law of Balance, the Host is granted a fragment of Truth]

The bracelet cast a gray glow, and before Varian could react, his consciousness was violently yanked back into the memories of a year ago.

It was that agonizing night. The ruined home, the blood-spattered room, and her final, fading presence. Varian watched his mother turn toward him. Her eyes reflected not fear, but resolution. Her lips moved, and she murmured a command.

This time, the sound arrived in his mind, clear and distinct.

"Save Sia."