Path of the Extra Chapter 401: Thank You, Little Sun

Ophanim. The uppermost tier Pollux had spoken of—a segment of the Third Divine Order, which itself was situated beneath the Divine Hierarchy. It was an overwhelming amount of knowledge for Jasmine to process at once, yet one fact immediately seized her attention. It all bore a striking, almost uncanny, resemblance to biblical lore. She hadn't even registered Pollux returning to his seat opposite her. Now, he rested with one leg casually crossed over the other, exuding an air of effortless elegance as he brought a teacup to his lips, as if their current discussion were merely a mundane afternoon chat. After a moment's hesitation, Jasmine ventured— "Are... are you an Ophanim, then?" Naturally, he was. What an idiotic question, the thought struck her a fraction too late. But Pollux let out a hearty laugh— "Hahahaha!" The sound left her utterly bewildered. "Certainly not," he replied, still finding it amusing. "As far as my knowledge extends, Ophanim are the most formidable and awe-inspiring beings in existence. The last time I encountered one, even I found it a struggle to prevent myself from fleeing with my tail between my legs." "...You?" Jasmine echoed, a note of disbelief coloring her tone. "Indeed. Me." Pollux’s smile persisted, but his voice was devoid of warmth. "There are exceedingly few Ophanim scattered throughout the universe. And you would be wise, little sun, to fervently hope that you never cross paths with one during your lifetime." Jasmine lowered her gaze, attempting to absorb this revelation. ...So, even someone as eccentric as Pollux was not an Ophanim? Lifting her eyes once more, she frowned and inquired with a touch more assertiveness. "Then what rank do you hold... and that devil—Lucifer?" Pollux's smile broadened. "I belong to the premier rank within the Third Divine Order: Seraphim. Lord Lucifer occupies a position of equivalent power." Jasmine's mind fixated on the word 'Seraphim.' Then, another statement of his resonated. "Equivalent power?" Jasmine repeated slowly. "You phrase it as if he is not also a Seraphim." Pollux grinned, revealing pearly white teeth. "I had anticipated this very point," he stated, setting his teacup down. "For you to grasp the true standing of Lord Lucifer, a fundamental understanding of our races is necessary." "Races?" Jasmine queried. Pollux nodded, unperturbed by her intense focus, and continued at a leisurely pace. "The lineage I hail from is known as Spirit. My specific subrace is Starblood—and, I might add, I am the sole remaining member of my kind." His eyes held a fleeting, distant expression. "Other subraces within the Spirit lineage also exist. Myrrhveils. Mournvires. Infernaris. Aravelins. Astraphanes... and, naturally, others besides." He recited them as if listing celestial bodies. "We Spirits constitute a major race within the broader Divine Race." "Divine Race..." Jasmine murmured, the weight of the implications beginning to dawn. Her astonishment was palpable, betraying her outward composure. "The Divine Race once encompassed numerous distinct major races," Pollux elaborated. "Elves. Fairies. Giants. Mermaids. Phoenixes. Dragons... and angels." "...Phoenixes... dragons... and angels?" Jasmine gasped, her breath catching. "W-wait—impossible. Dragons and angels are real? All those supposed mythological beings... they actually exist?!" She leaned forward, hands planted firmly on the table, a sudden flash of excitement illuminating her face so vividly it seemed to momentarily startle even Pollux. He blinked a few times, then a smile returned, accompanied by a nod. "I believe they once did," he affirmed. "Divine entities originating from the Divine Source." "Once?" Jasmine's initial excitement dissolved into a cloud of confusion. "Yes. Once," Pollux confirmed. "My birth was perhaps too late. As for the events that transpired..." His smile reappeared, tinged with faint amusement. "You shall discover the truth soon enough." His tone then shifted, becoming more serious. "Be aware, however, that the Spirits were inexplicably the sole divine beings to survive—for reasons unknown." Irritated by the sudden void in information, Jasmine could only offer a stiff nod. "So, are you suggesting Lord Lucifer was once part of one of the major races of the Divine Race?" However, contrary to her expectations, Pollux shook his head—his expression contorting with a palpable sense of revulsion. "This knowledge stems from a time prior to my own birth as well," he stated coldly, "but rumor has it that his abominable race—the so-called god-race—were, at one point, merely weak, unremarkable entities from the Void." Jasmine stared at him, utterly taken aback. "They originated from the Void Race. They were mere Void creatures, born from the Void Source." "...!". Pollux's gaze intensified, growing colder as he held her stare. "That is, until they inexplicably attained sentience. Strength. Power. Prowess. Lethality. Terror." He leaned back slightly, as if relishing the profoundness of his words. "They forged their own distinct race. Their own unique origin. Their own singular kind." A subtle smile graced his lips—a complex blend of reverence and mockery. "And what other designation could possibly befall such beings," Pollux murmured, "than the one signifying absolute supremacy?" "...God."

"Correct," Pollux affirmed, confirming her perception. "At least, that is what the ancient texts proclaimed—before my world was reduced to cinders. As for what the celestial bodies revealed to me..." His grin faltered. "It was somewhat distinct."

Jasmine tilted her head slightly to the side.

"The designation ’god’ was not bestowed upon them by any external entity; they claimed it themselves," Pollux elaborated. "They are not divine beings in truth. They are merely entities of immense power, capable of challenging other established races—such as the Divine Race and the Demon Race."

Jasmine found herself granted no opportunity to interject before Pollux continued his discourse.

"However, their nomenclature carried a degree of validity," he stated. "For a considerable period, no other civilization possessed the might to contend with them—certainly not with the sheer volume of formidable individuals within their ranks."

His gaze flickered once more, a momentary shift in his intense focus.

"Those ten deities you revere are recognized by us as the Ten Ancient Gods. To the broader populace of the god-race, they are perceived as their progenitors—the foundational Mother and Father. It was these ten that cemented their race’s fearsome reputation and instilled hesitation in any who contemplated defiance."

"..."

"The Ten Ancient Gods are all categorized under the same formidable rank: Anathema."

Pollux uttered the term with an air of nonchalance, as if it were a commonplace element of everyday conversation.

"Anathema holds an equivalent standing to Ophanim within the established Divine Hierarchy."

Jasmine’s throat constricted. The influx of information was overwhelming, arriving too rapidly—yet her mouth moved of its own accord before she could fully process it.

"A-anathema?"

"Just as we adhere to the Divine Hierarchy, the god-race maintains its own distinct ranking system," Pollux explained. "Though their aspirations may differ, they are ultimately unable to escape their fundamental origins. You are already acquainted with some of the nomenclature..."

He allowed for a fleeting moment, providing her the barest instant to absorb the unfolding revelations, before taking a measured sip of his tea.

Jasmine had barely drawn breath before he resumed speaking.

"Whereas we possess the Divine Hierarchy—under which you mortals inexplicably fall—the Void Creatures and the god-race each have their own respective structures. These are collectively known as the Profane Descent."

A subtle amusement tinged his voice.

"Instead of discerning three Divine Orders, they operate under three distinct Depths. It presents a rather ironic parallel, does it not? As we ascend through the Divine Hierarchy... they progressively descend."

"..."

"Within the confines of the First Depth, you will find: Beast, Monster, Demon, Abyssal, Monarch, Titan, Leviathan, and Defiled."

Then, without any discernible pause in his pronouncements:

"Corresponding to the Second Depth are: Fallen and Archfallen."

"..."

"And encompassing the Third and final Depth are: Cataclysm, Aberration... and ultimately, Anathema."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

A profound stillness finally descended upon the space.

Pollux released a soft exhalation, returning his attention to his tea, and murmured, "I concede that I have imparted a significant amount of information."

Jasmine leaned forward, resting her elbows upon the table, and pressed her forehead against her tightly clenched fists, teeth gritted in frustration.

"Ugh..."

The sheer volume of it all was staggering.

"Gods? Races? Hierarchies? Descents?" Her voice emerged strained and weary. "This... this defies logic! So the deities of decay, destruction, mortality—they aren't truly gods?!"

She registered Pollux letting out a sigh. Jasmine kept her head bowed.

"That is contingent," he responded with serene composure, "upon your personal interpretation of the term ’god.’ Do the other beings within the god-race qualify as gods? No. Do the Ten Ancient Gods hold the status of gods?"

He paused, letting the question hang in the air.

"Well... if you were paying close attention, you might have perceived a subtle pattern. Across the ranks cataloged within the Divine Hierarchy and the delineated Profane Descent, I enumerated precisely fourteen distinct levels in each."

This observation finally prompted Jasmine to lift her head, her gaze meeting his.

Pollux offered a knowing smile.

"I presume you possess sufficient intellect to deduce the nature of the fifteenth, and final, level?"

Jasmine stared intently at him, comprehension dawning.

"...God."

"Correct, you have surmised accurately once more. ’God’ is, in my estimation, the designation for the ultimate stratum."

"Then..." Her voice trembled slightly with renewed uncertainty. "They are genuinely not gods?"

"...It is a matter of both affirmation and negation."

"Cease your evasiveness!"

"Hahahaha." A light chuckle escaped Pollux.

"Compose yourself."

He carefully placed his cup down and adopted a more direct tone.

"God of Time. Goddess of Death. God of Ruin." His gaze held hers, unwavering.

"These are titles, not inherent states of being."

He tapped the surface of the table once, a sharp, decisive sound.

"Titles they attained by successfully navigating the culmination of their respective Astrium Paths."

A novel and unfamiliar term struck Jasmine’s understanding, once again flooding her senses and causing a sense of being overwhelmed.

"Astrium...?"

"My belief is that upon reaching the conclusion of the particular path each individual treads, the prestigious title of ’god’ is conferred upon them," Pollux continued, his explanation flowing smoothly.

"Perhaps this recognition stems from the fact that they were the very first to ever achieve such a feat."

His voice lowered subtly, adopting a more serious cadence.

"That is the reason there exists a Goddess of Death—because she traversed the Path of Death and, in doing so, eventually merited that specific designation..."

Pollux’s unnerving smile reappeared, subtle yet profoundly disquieting.

"...a concept that is rather chilling to contemplate."

"I..."

Jasmine found herself at a loss for further inquiry. The sheer magnitude of the revelations was immense—an intricate web of unanswered questions ensnared her mind, inextricably tangled.

And so, she voiced the most fundamental question that arose.

The simplest, most direct query.

In a voice that was both weary and subdued, she inquired,

"Why... are you revealing all of this to me?"

Pollux responded without hesitation.

"As a form of recompense, naturally."

"Huh?"

Jasmine found herself staring, utterly astonished. Then, Pollux’s gaze shifted, his eyes suddenly turning sharp and cruel in a way that sent her heart racing once more.

“A ‘thank you’,” he murmured, his voice low. “For how you’ve supported that thing you insist on calling your ‘little brother.’

Jasmine’s eyes widened in realization.

Of course. It all made sense.

How could she have possibly forgotten so swiftly?

This… this entire situation…

It was all because of Azriel.

“W-why? Why do you even care that I’m there for Azriel?” she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.

Her heart was pounding erratically; it felt as if her entire being was pulsing with a frantic rhythm.

“Because you are the one who finally managed to shed those stubborn masks of his, despite how desperately he clung to them when I tried to tear them away.”

“...!”

“Because you—in your earnest desire to help him—forced him to finally confess his deceptions. You cornered him, leaving him with no alternative but to face you, the sole point of stability amidst the tempest of chaos and pain raging within him.”

Pollux’s tone began to soften, becoming warmer.

Kinder.

Almost… tenderly affectionate.

And that shift alone filled Jasmine with a profound sense of dread.

“Thank you for becoming his anchor.”

Jasmine’s stomach churned with anxiety.

“Thank you for doing what I could not. Thank you for becoming his anchor…”

A brief pause followed, almost imperceptible.

Yet, it was laden with cruelty.

“...and in doing so, allowing me to tear away the person he cherishes most.”

“No…” Jasmine’s voice trembled uncontrollably.

Pollux’s smile remained fixed, unwavering.

“Thank you, little sun. Now, because of your love…”

“Don’t…” she pleaded.

“...everyone will finally witness the true nature of who he is.”

“Don’t do this! Send me back! Please!” Her voice cracked with desperation.

“They will know of the monster that has been lurking undetected amongst them.”