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."

the first one," the jester said as he

CRRRR!

out of the ground, and Shang could see

the things did, but he wasn't

said as

was lifting was a small wheel with some

looked exactly like the Affinity wheel of

up and

the outside world in it, making training in

chuckle. "You

want, and

a deep

exactly why the God

about training

Training Rooms, but he couldn't possibly show

able to always summon perfect training

reward to solve Shang's current

could

object of the first reward," the jester said as he put the small wheel

what that

was a

grip on

of your choice," the God said. "It will

this being the first time he had spoken up in a long

the jester's finger,

you will always only

Shang only nodded.

what

think of two of the possible Paths he

reward fit both

CRRRR!

a second pedestal appeared with two objects on

like before, Shang could see

lifted up one

a small

already know this one," the jester said. "I