It was a monster with a human face and a beast's body.
It lay quietly on the ground, its two eyes the size of Ma Wen's fist. A worn-out iron sword was stabbed into the ground next to the monster.
Three paths slowly spread out behind it.
Each path seemed to lead to a different direction.
Ma Wen took a deep breath.
This was the final stage of the Path of Thorns.
The pain and fear had passed.
Next was [Choice].
…
"Hello, Ma Wen."
The monster spoke in the human tongue, but its voice was cold.
It sent chills down the spine of anyone who heard it.
Ma Wen did not know the monster's name, but he knew that it was here to protect this place.
Without his permission, there was no way to pass the final stage of the Thorny Path.
So he walked over and stood before the monster. "Hello, Mister."
"Mister? I like that title. " The monster scratched its back with its dragon-like claws. There were two pairs of sturdy wings folded up.
It appeared to be a very powerful creature.
"As a Nightwalker, since you have reached this point, it proves that you have the endurance to fight against pain and the willpower to fight against fear."
"But to inherit the Night Lord's legacy is not that simple."
"It is common knowledge that if you want to obtain something, you must give up something."
"Tell me your choice."
The monster's cold voice continued.
Every word it spoke sent chills down Ma Wen's spine, but he still slowly approached.
He walked very slowly, and his steps were steady.
"Choice? What kind of choice? "Ma Wen asked, despite knowing the answer.
In fact, he had seen a similar scene in a video released by a Nightwalker in his past life. He also knew what the three paths behind the monster represented.
That was where that Nightwalker stopped. He made his choice and failed.
After that, many people discussed what kind of choice they should make. But in Ma Wen's view, everyone's thinking had entered the wrong zone.
If he had been that Nightwalker or a more meticulous player, he might have been able to complete this stage of the quest.
In his previous life, he couldn't try it because he wasn't a Nightwalker. In this life, he could try to see if his choice was right.
So he kept getting closer.
…
Monster stared intently at Ma Wen. "I will tell you the meaning behind each of the paths behind me."
"You can't choose every path. You can only choose one path."
In the next second, starting from the leftmost path, clear and shocking images appeared in front of Ma Wen.
The first path was the Path of the Sage.
The end of this path was the ancient sages. They were willing to sacrifice themselves to protect Fernand.
Embarking on this path meant following in the footsteps of the Ancient Sages, shouldering the responsibility of protecting the entire Fernand world.
This was a very difficult path!
This was the path that the Night Lord had taken.
…
"The Path of the Sage. Will he choose that? "
Beside the stove, the two leaders of the Nightwalkers gazed into the distance.
O 'Brien could not help but ask.
They could see that Ma Wen had arrived at the fork in the road and was being questioned by the monster.
"I don't know." Sean's face remained impassive. "However, I don't think he will choose this path."
"This kid is definitely not a sage."
O 'Brien shrugged. "It's fine if he doesn't choose. Back then, I chose the Path of the Sage and failed."
…
"I refuse," Ma Wen said decisively.
"I know my place. I am not a sage."
Monster slowed down and a glint of light appeared in his eyes. "Very well. In that case, let me show you the second path."
The first path disappeared before Ma Wen's eyes.
Ripples appeared on the second path.
White River Valley, Riverbank City and a strange yet familiar port appeared before Ma Wen.
He saw the old butler. He saw many residents of the White River Valley. He also saw the guards bustling about.
"This is your territory. These are your subjects."
"If you cannot protect the entire world, then being able to protect a part of it is also good."
"Thus, the second path is the Path of the Sovereign."
The Path of the Sovereign.
It means that what you need to protect is not the entire continent, but your own territory.
All of your subjects are under your protection.
They live because of you. No matter what disaster they encounter, you must protect them.
This is the responsibility of a ruler.
Many rulers in ancient times had done this. They may not be considered sages, but to the people of their territory, they were Gods.
They were monarchs who single-handedly carried their territory.
Walking this path means that you must promise to protect your own territory for the rest of your life.
Ma Wen silently observed the scene before him.
Monster's voice resounded in his ears.
"Will you choose the Path of the Sovereign?"
…
"Will he?" O 'Brien asked again.
The old blacksmith could not help but roll his eyes. "How would I know?"
"I thought you were smarter than me," O 'Brien answered honestly.
The old blacksmith was speechless. After a while, he said: "He won't."
"Why not?" O 'Brien appeared surprised.
The old blacksmith sneered. "Because he has already made his choice."
…
"I refuse!"
Ma Wen replied.
And so, the second path disappeared before his eyes.
Monster looked at him with an unfriendly gaze.
"Oh, young Nightwalker, you are a selfish fellow."
"I am beginning to dislike you."
"However, out of duty, I must explain the third path to you."
"It seems you are prepared to choose this path. Indeed, this path is the easiest. However, it is also very dangerous to travel alone. You may think that you are very powerful, but one day, you will fall! "
The third path.
Ma Wen became a powerful ruler of the night, killing countless people.
He became the strongest person in the entire continent. However, he could only protect those close to him.
A few familiar faces flashed before his eyes. Anna, Vigny, Hathaway … and even Lola!
These were his closest friends.
The third path was the path of the strong.
Alone, constantly growing stronger, protecting a few people.
Perhaps one day, you will become a peerless expert. However, in the face of disaster, the only thing you can do is protect yourself and those close to you.
Then, you will watch as large numbers of innocent people die.
This was the lonely path of the strong.
…
"It seems he is going to choose the path of the strong."
O 'Brien said somewhat unhappily, "Isn't this a bit selfish?"
The old blacksmith sighed. "Can't you be a bit patient and wait for him to make his decision before talking nonsense?"
O 'Brien nodded. Then, he said in shock, "What?!"
"He actually refused again?!"
…
In front of the three-way intersection.
Ma Wen refused for the third time.
This time, he was very close to the monster. He was so close that he could even see the pores on the monster's body.
"I refuse this path."
He said.
The monster became angry. "You cannot!"
"This is the final stage of the path of thorns. You must make a choice!"
"Tell me, what is your choice? Otherwise, you will not be able to pass!"
Three paths reappeared behind him.
The Sage, the King and the strong.
However, at this moment, Marvin did something that made the old blacksmith and O 'Brien, who had been peeping on them, extremely shocked!
He charged forward and threw himself beside the monster. Then, he pulled out the iron sword.
"What are you doing?!" The monster appeared to be panicking.
"I am telling you my choice!"
Ma Wen raised the iron sword high up and leapt up. Then, he viciously stabbed down at the monster's head!
Stab!
The seemingly blunt iron sword pierced into the monster's head.
"That is … Go to hell!"
Following Ma Wen's outburst of curses, the monster began to howl in pain.
Its terrifying body began to rapidly shrink, turning into a small phantom. It was only the size of a fist, but it was firmly nailed to the stone by the iron sword.
"I want to walk my own path. Even if I have to make a choice, it is none of your business."
Ma Wen loosened his hand and said coldly.
In the next second, a brand new path unfolded in front of Ma Wen. He directly ignored the phantom that was howling in pain and quickly walked over.
…
Next to the stove, the old blacksmith and O 'Brien were stunned!
"I say, that iron sword has been stuck there for so many years, why didn't anyone find it!?"
"That motherf * cker is actually a phantom? How did Ma Wen see it! "
"Is this the right choice?"
Both of them were extremely shocked.
For so many years, no Nightwalker had ever passed the final stage of the Thorns Path.
The reason for that was because everyone had made their choice.
However, no one was like Marvin, who made a fourth choice out of the three.
Kill the monster and walk your own path.
This was the test that the Night Lord left for future generations!
…
Ma Wen continued along the path, and soon, a mountain appeared in front of him.
The Endless Mountain.
He looked up. The mountain was not steep, but he could not see the end.
Only by climbing over this mountain could he reach the Sea of Darkness where the warriors slept.
Ma Wen took a deep breath and began to climb the mountain.
This was the first time someone set foot on this mountain since the Night Lord left behind the Kingdom of Evernight.
Ma Wen climbed up step by step. Climbing a mountain was very hard work, especially when it was an endless mountain.
The strategy that he knew was actually only up to this point. Because no one could pass the Thorns Path.
Next, he would have to rely on himself.
"The Path of Thorns is a test of endurance, willpower, and decisiveness."
"So what is the test of the Endless Mountain?"
"It can't really be endurance …"
Ma Wen climbed for a while and looked up, but he still could not see the top of the mountain.
He was so tired that he had no energy left.
He gritted his teeth and climbed for a while. When his physical strength was finally exhausted, he was ready to take a break.
But at this time, he suddenly found that his hands suddenly became extremely rough.
These were not the hands of a fifteen-year-old boy.
There was a pool in front of him. Ma Wen reluctantly walked over and looked inside.
In the pond, a middle-aged man who had gone through the vicissitudes of life was looking at him with a shocked expression.
…
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