Sword God in a World of Magic

The jester chuckled a bit. "You know, that's what I like about you. There were plenty of ways you could have developed back when I brought you to this world, but I think I like the current iteration of you the most."

"You sacrificed everything else in your life. Only power is left."

"But because of that, you can't possibly sacrifice that as well. You already went all-in on power. So, if you lose now, you lose everything."

"Tell me, if you knew for absolute certain that it would be an absolute impossibility for you to ever reach the Ninth Realm, much less the Tenth Realm, what would you do?"

Shang didn't answer, but he didn't need to.

Both of them knew the answer.

However, Shang's mind wasn't thinking about such hypothetical scenarios.

The path forward might be extremely perilous and difficult, but it wasn't impassable.

As long as there was a chance, Shang would push forward with his entire existence.

"Alright, the rewards then," the jester said after a bit.

Shang didn't answer, but his head finally turned to face the jester.

"To be honest with you," the jester said with his trademarked smirk, "your power reached levels where there's only one reward left that would fit your score. It's basically the ultimate prize."

"However, I think that would be too restrictive for you. Accepting that reward would essentially lock you into one specific Path to Godhood, and I think it's better to give you more options."

"So, I've prepared three different rewards in total, but two of these rewards consist of two separate things, while the last one is effectively the thing I designed as the ultimate prize."

The jester's smirk widened. "And one more thing."

"I saw how hard you are trying to find a way forward, and I have taken a look at some of the potential Paths you have found."

"Many of them don't lead to Godhood, but it's impossible for you to know."

"But it would also be a bit boring to see you choose a Path that makes it impossible to reach Godhood. A game needs genuine danger to be exciting. What fun would this little game be if you never had a chance of actually coming for my head?"

Shang didn't answer.

"So, I've designed the three rewards with one of your theoretical Paths in mind each. You may choose which one you want."

with the first one," the jester said as

CRRRR!

a pedestal broke out of the ground, and Shang

what one of the things did, but he wasn't sure what the other

jester said as he walked forward to lift

jester was lifting was a small wheel

exactly like the Affinity wheel of the trial but

wheel up

world in it, making training in here just as good

the jester added with a chuckle. "You get free access

you want, and you don't need to be afraid of dying since you will automatically

a deep

why the God was offering this as

had already been worried about training his Fire and Ice

issues in the Training Rooms, but he couldn't possibly show the Keeper his Fire and

to

this reward to

he could train whatever he

said as he

what that

was a

on

choice," the God said. "It will start

does this mean for Sword?" Shang asked, this being the first time he had spoken up in a

black cube spun on the jester's finger, as he

have a second sword, but you will always only have one Sword,"

Shang only nodded.

what the God

could think of

both of these

CRRRR!

pedestal appeared

could see what one of them

lifted up one of the

was a small

the jester said. "I offered you