The Shepherds Are Dense

Chapter 134. A Version Understanding Three Years Ahead

Barton’s words piqued Aiwass’s interest, his brow arching.“…The Transcendence Path? Do you know what you’re saying?”

Knight’s true identity was likely a reserve soldier in the Light Cavalry Brigade, possibly a student at Avalon’s Military Academy.

From a traditional knightly family, with at least one direct elder as an armored knight, he’d mentioned possibly becoming an Air Cavalry member.

This meant he was new to the supernatural, yet to complete his first advancement, and his griffin was a full-priced purebred.

His family was among Avalon’s elite.

Even without becoming a transcendent, he could live comfortably.

Yet, this man now told Aiwass he wanted to pursue the Transcendence Path?

Aiwass’s heart stirred.

“Did you learn something?”

“I’m serious.”

Knight—Barton—spoke with utmost sincerity.

“It’s not a whim or rebellion.

I just learned some forbidden history with mystical power.

It made me wonder if we’ve taken the wrong path—if the Authority Path is meant to align with Transcendence.

If Authority’s essence is like power, then its core is control.

Power flows top-down, but it also shifts, like ministers’ positions rising and falling.

Without ambition to rise, how can one take their role seriously?

Top-down orders and bottom-up advancement—together, they form ‘power.’”

…Interesting.

Aiwass’s brow lifted again.

Barton wasn’t wrong, just ahead of his time.

Avalon fell in the final patch of the first major version, .

In version 2.0, players resolved issues in the Theocracy, earning the Pope and Saintess’s friendship.

In 3.0, Star Antimony’s self-destruction led to inevitable division.

Isabel, after defeating the Fallen Sky Division, gained immense public prestige.

With the new Theocracy’s aid, she assembled a team to reclaim Avalon.

After defeating bandits, traitors, rebels, and a figure who, once Star Antimony’s puppet, summoned the Shadow Sky Division, Isabel thwarted the Iris Kingdom’s plot, reclaimed Avalon, and restored the nation.

The reborn Avalon, purged of decay, was renamed the Blossom Kingdom of Camelot.

Aiwass recalled the CG after defeating the Shadow Sky Division, the final boss of version 3.4’s high-difficulty dungeon—one he didn’t skip, too exhausted to move.

On land corrupted by shadows, new buds sprouted, dead trees revived, and flowers bloomed.

The half-elf Isabel, still youthful, wore a white robe and a floral crown, holding a royal staff like her grandmother, Queen Sophia.

She stood on a vine-wrapped wooden platform, delivering a speech in a vibrant city.

As Camelot’s founder, Queen Isabel relinquished some royal power, transferring it to a cabinet and parliament, establishing a constitutional monarchy.

This reshaped the power structure.

Knightly families lost hereditary dominance; knights ceased being de facto armored nobles.

Avalon’s 400-year-old Authority-based system, centered on “law” and “royalty,” was dismantled, lifting bans on other Paths.

Only then did Authority Path transcendents realize it didn’t conflict with Transcendence.

Even the Silver-Crowned Dragon bore Transcendence traits, just as the Great Sage of Wisdom and the Twin Mirrors of Beauty held Balance traits.

The Pillar Gods weren’t pure Path embodiments, each with their own inclinations.

Mortals, with varied experiences, personalities, and talents, were even less likely to be “destined apostles” of a single Path.

Any two Paths could combine; even three-Path combinations, though rare, existed.

Authority and Transcendence were two sides of “power.”

Authority emphasized control, leadership, and willpower; Transcendence sought change, progress, and defiance.

Combined with Devotion’s elements, this system came alive, avoiding stagnation and decay.

Authority, Devotion, and Transcendence formed the vertices of Avalon’s triangle.

Isabel’s Beauty Path, outside this core, acted as a neutral royal gem, like an emerald in a silver frame.

This explained why the Silver-Crowned Dragon ignored Avalon’s fall—it no longer matched the knightly nation He envisioned.

The fire of renewal suited His will.

Barton’s insight was correct, a new consensus three years hence.

But now, two versions early, it’d be branded madness or heresy.

His idea lacked practical grounding.

Post-reform Authority Path professions like Sin Scholars or Ascension Warlocks, compatible with Transcendence, didn’t yet exist.

Transcendence’s mainstream was Demon Scholars and their Demon Avatar advancement.

Even including demon-possessed and Ritual Mages, few were “good.”

Aiwass, a Transcendence transcendent, admitted it was a path of villains.

For an upright, less cunning Barton, entering Transcendence now would see him exploited or destroyed.

Yet, his insight marked him as talented.

His presence here showed ambition for the Lance, refusing to surrender despite Alastair’s dominance.

Facing Alastair, he neither begged nor trembled, only asking one more question.

His unyielding spirit and defiance of the strong matched the Transcendence Path’s Ascension Warlock profession, ideal for Authority Path melee roles.

But that profession’s requirements were steep.

The Butterfly Sky Division, governing ascension, hadn’t been pulled down by the Ritual of the Ouroboros, making human transformation nearly impossible.

Should he give Barton a chance?

After careful thought, Aiwass chose to save him, not ruin him.

“When you ask that, you’ve already half-stepped onto the Transcendence Path.”

He spoke earnestly.

“There’s nothing wrong with it.

Humans, children of the Serpent Father and Eternal Self, are born with Transcendence and Love aptitudes.

Greed, ambition, desire—these drive human progress.”

He echoed the shadow demon’s words, repurposed.

“But the real question is, are you resolved to walk this path?

Have you chosen a profession, or is any Transcendence role fine?

Or are you just doubting Authority without a clear next step?

Have you considered what Transcendence transcendents face?

The conspiracies, exploitation, or harm to your family?”

Aiwass advised sincerely.

“If not, keep the idea but don’t advance to Transcendence yet.

Not for a few years.

Once your career stabilizes, if you still feel this way, then switch.

Few handle three Paths; most max at two.

You’re young.

You might want Transcendence now, Devotion later, Adaptation after, or Twilight in old age.

Leave room for your future self—don’t rush to dual Paths.”

Aiwass thought.