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 he lifted his

CRRRR!

a pedestal broke out of the ground, and Shang could see two things

what one of the things did, but

jester said as he walked forward to lift one of

a small wheel with some

the Affinity wheel of the trial but

jester held the wheel up and showed

Mana from the outside world in it, making

more," the jester added with a chuckle. "You get free access to the Affinity

you want, fight whatever you want, and

a

knew exactly why the God was offering this

about training his Fire and

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

be able to

God had offered this reward to solve Shang's current

this, he could train

jester said as he put the

knew what

was a

on

said. "It will start at the

asked, this being the first time he had spoken

spun on the jester's finger, as he

sword, but you will

Shang only nodded.

what the God

black cube, Shang could think of two of the possible Paths

both

CRRRR!

second pedestal appeared with two

before, Shang could see what one of

jester lifted up one of the

was a small

this one," the jester said. "I offered you the same