Chương 301: A simple shift in perspective

And you are sure that I am not needed below?" Kite asked Amica even after having gotten himself seated atop a massive branch that extended out from an even more massive tree. The telekineticist didn't seem to share his worry though, rolling her eyes as this was the third time she had received the same inquiry.

"Kite. We will be fine. We got all of them. If any of those scattered berserk monsters they were controlling comes back, Léon will take care of them before the rest of us even get so much as a glimpse of a fang. I mean, you have already done more than your fair share. I would even dare to say that we all pulled our weight down there, even when things got a little bit out of hand," Amica finished while gesturing towards both herself and the Kite. Both of them had seen better days.

Even after the crystal wash, their equipment was torn up enough that it was still working to repair itself, and Kite had been forced to bring out a new set of clothing as the one beneath his armor had been thoroughly ruined by all that corrosive bile.

"And besides," Amica added.

"Might as well enjoy the view now that you'll take the last step."

"Amica, we can't be sure of that," Kite started protesting, but was cut off by a shake of his companion's head.

"We can't, but I do have sharper aura senses than you, so my hunch is better. Take your time." Then she descended, leaving Kite along high up on his branch with a view that was indeed impressive. Dense jungle stretched out for as far as the eye could see, but there was a great variety of heights among the trees.

Kite was currently seated in one of the tallest, but not by much, and it provided him a splendid view of the grand waterfall that was the lifeblood of the region as it poured out of an astral space and straight down into a great lake that had no doubt formed beneath from the aperture's presence. The local mana was dense and thick with life, and that was no doubt why the nature worshipping cult had set up their ritual here as they had attempted to infuse life into a rather vicious looking effigy.

Things have gotten a bit out of hand though as Kite and the team had gotten caught in the crossfire as another equally zealous gathering of essence users - exerting some control over local monsters - had decided to end their rivals. The whole mess had ended with not one but two subjugated groups of dangerous magic-users, a Gauntlet team that was rather banged up and Kite feeling as if his spirit was one step away from bursting. But in a good way.

Still, he tried not to get ahead of himself as he settled down and floated upwards, imprinting the beautiful vista in his mind's eye before gradually losing himself deeper into his meditations. His path was there, reaching out into the beyond, but in recent years even that mental imagery had started to change. Kite did not walk the path any longer, he was the path.

Or was at least part of it as it was of him, his mental perspective somehow feeling more all-encompassing than ever before as it felt like he could reach out from any part of the seemingly infinite road, molding whatever it came into contact with. Even the very world itself. And Kite and his path seemed to be glowing from within with currents of golden lights just beneath the surface, like a glow glimpsed far beneath thick ice.

Kite focused on that glow as he let the tempering of today flow through his whole being, and he liked to imagine that the light was coming closer to the surface. Close enough that it felt like if he only plunged his hand beneath the shining cobblestone, he would let it free. But then a thought struck him, or perhaps a half-formed insight rather. If Kite was the path and the path was him, then the surface was not something for him to breach, but instead something for him to open himself from within.

A simple shift in perspective, but one that would prove momentous for the rest of his life. The first stream of gold burst from below as the tiles and stones of Kite's path shifted at his thoughts, creating an opening that let light flow out like a golden pillar that stretched towards the infinite reaches of his mindscape.

Then came another, and then another, until similar ruptures could be seen all along the winding road no matter if you looked backwards towards the distant past or forward toward potential futures. And as they grew, Kite saw himself in those lights, because they too were him and he was them. He was the barrier, the protector of anyone and anything he desired. All of him and all of his path could be used in this manner, choosing what to let through and what to keep out.

It was control over life and of death through the simple yet absolute means of intervention, and it was something Kite reveled in. He was also resolute, steadfast; the ceaseless stride that recognized that victory did not need decisive action every time but merely the will to keep on working towards his triumph even through trial, tribulation and adversity. It was the unshakable result of a unified purpose and the strength Kite found through his bonds with the people important to him.

And it was his willingness to wade into the complex and the dangerous, trusting in himself and his path to see it through. He was the negation, ripples dying down around him rather than the opposite as he waded into the churning pond. There was his satisfaction in negating danger before it even existed, of being the equalizer who could strike even against those that thought themselves too high and mighty and bring them down to something that he might be able to affect.

There were so many out there using their tools of power in ways Kite did not agree with, and so he would take those tools away. And he was the void, nothingness bringing serenity of the mind while also being his ultimate tool for excising those parts of the world that were not compatible with his view of how things should be, erasing and removing to leave empty space for something better to form on the canvas of the world.

It was the herald of Kite's ambitions, something he had finally admitted to himself that he possessed in no small measure. Kite was his path, his path was him, and as the path itself was barely visible anymore beneath all the shining light, the mantra that had been with him for so long echoed in his mind, reinforced by the trials he had endured and expanded over the years by everything he had experienced.

"My path will not be shifted by the world, but will learn from it. And when it needs to bend, it shall do so to adapt. My path will not be cracked by the world, but will be tempered by it. And neither will those whom I choose to protect. I shall not allow it." My path will not be moved by the world, but will use it to gain momentum. It shall carry me through trial and tribulation, kingdom and dimension, ever growing. The world will be moved by my path, made indestructible by the bonds I forge.

They are mine to keep and nurture, for me to protect and seek shelter among. My path and I are one, and likewise are my bonds as we stride towards the heavens." Then, those words were all that Kite could hear as the imagined path before his mind's eye was gone, consumed by gold as the jungles, lakes and waterfalls around him in the physical world were likewise bathed in intense gilded light.

"Time to pay up, boys," Amica said with a smile as Léon and Ceasar - the former looking a bit sour while the latter just smiled - started producing coins which she deftly floated over to her own spatial pouch.

"I have to admit, I thought we would have at least another month or two," Ceasar noted while casting the occasional glance up towards the branch of the massive tree where Kite was still seated, shining like a beacon.

"At least my bet was somewhere close," he finished with a teasing smile towards Léon, who just gave his team member a flat stare.

"Well, you can't say that you are not surprised," the sniper shot back.

"I like Kite, I really do, but to have him outpace us like this. All three of us? It just did not feel reasonable."

"Even after being around him for the better part of a few years and hearing how he talks?" Amica retorted.

"All that talk of paths? All those metaphors? I have been to his homeland, you know. Many in that Kingdom are prideful douches, but boy, they sure know how to meditate and reflect upon things."

"I would have you know that my family has a great meditative technique passed down for generations."

"Results do speak for themselves," Ceasar could not help but prod, before holding up his hands in a placating gesture when Léon's glare was once more turned his way.

"But you know that there are individual differences too. Kite has fought like a man possessed during these last few years, and it didn't take long to notice that he is the introspective sort. What is it that he likes to say? The heavens have been kind to him." Looking up to watch the tree and the still radiating golden light, Léon could do nothing but shake his head.

"Looks like we should all start praising the heavens a bit more then. I can feel some stray monsters drawing near. I'll take care of them."

"Thanks and good luck. Call of you need help," Amica said while pointing up the tree.

"We'll stay here and keep watch over our dear golden boy as he gets settled in. I've heard that it can take a little while." When Kite finally opened his eyes, he was surprised to find himself beneath a starry night sky, the moons bathing the jungles in a different kind of subdued splendor than the radiant sun of day. He had been aware that time had passed, of course, but the exact amount had apparently eluded him more than he had thought while gradually taking in his environment with new senses.

All of his previous rank ups have come with a distinct sharpening and deepening of how his body and spirit made sense of the world, and gold rank was certainly no exception. The famously wide gap between silver and gold definitely made itself known, taking the whole experience to an entirely new level which left Kite feeling rather overwhelmed the moment he started surfacing from his meditative state.

The collective sounds and smells alone of the jungle had been enough to leave him almost petrified as he started acclimatizing, and opening his eyes hadn't even been an option yet as he let things sink in. Touch had come next, with Kite letting his hands roam the textures near him as he could feel all the details so much more minutely than even his previous superhuman levels, and as he decided to leave taste to another time, Kite had then proceeded to explore the world through his aura.

There he discovered that if he had thought that the leap in physical senses had been vast, they now felt rather paltry to the qualitative leap in his spirit. Carefully, he had let his aura expand a little bit at a time as he received so much more detail from it than ever before.

Amica and Ceasar were close of course, as was Glint - who was also going through a similar acclimatization process a bit further away at a location more suited to her - and in the distance Léon was dispatching some silver- and bronze-ranked monsters across great distances. As silver-rankers, his companions stood out like beacons, but it did not take much of a shift in focus to let Kite sift through the layers of his spiritual senses and find all the animals and other teeming life in the region. And his range…

Kite had to stop himself once he passed too far beyond this old range as he did not want to risk agitating some of the more powerful beings that no doubt resided in this part of the continent. Previously, Kite might have been able to cover most of a decently sized city with his aura if he projected it to its maximum while ignoring courtesy and convention. Now though?

Well, he would have to find out in some kind of controlled setting so as to not risk causing trouble for either himself or some poor normal-ranker that would not be able to handle that kind of spiritual pressure.

And finally, he opened his eyes to take in the starry skies above, the radiant pinpricks of light seeming much more numerous than he remembered as far fainter glows in the sky had become visible, and the landscape was similarly enhanced with colors and depth that stood out to him even when lit merely by the moons.

"Heavens…" Kite breathed, unable to help the wide grin of triumph and relief that split his face.

"Calling upon them does seem to have worked out well for you," he heard Amica calling from beneath the tree, her peak silver rank hearing up to the task at picking up his words even at that distance.

"Do you need some more time, or are you up for some company?" The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"Please, come on up. I believe that I have centered myself enough for now." Amica and Ceasar did not tarry, both flying up and throwing out a few glow stones that floated around them as they too settled upon the huge branch. Or, well, Ceasar did, while Amica was busy floating this way and that while inspecting Kite in the light.

"Well, well, well," the telekineticist eventually said with a distinct note of approval in her voice.

"Gold rank certainly did not fail you, Kite. Dragonfly will be most pleased. Woman's intuition."

"Congratulations are indeed in order," Léon said as he suddenly teleported onto the branch, leaning against where it met the great trunk of the tree.

"You have managed something that many, no matter their family, pedigree or foundation, will remain unable to achieve for their whole lives."

"It's almost unfair that you did it so quickly too," Ceasar added while clapping Kite on the shoulder.

"Fifteen years and change, no? Puts the pace of many quite famous people to shame there."

"That a star rises quickly speaks little of its eventual descent towards the ground," Kite countered, the humility of many old stories coming to mind, although the instinct to point that out did feel a little off to him now; like an old habit that he was unsure how much he still needed. Still, that was something to reflect upon later, as the celebration began in earnest.

As it turned out, Kite's teammates had not only bet on him eventually reaching gold rank, but Amica had even prepared quite the spread of food too.

Thanks to that courtesy, that first thing Kite ate as a gold-ranker was a delicately seasoned drumstick of his rank that was still steaming as Amica brought it out of a specially prepared spatial pouch that had kept it fresh, an experience for which Kite felt like he would forever possess a karmic debt to the woman as the juices and flavors exploding in his mouth confirmed that yes, there were indeed also new heights of flavor to be experienced.

Plenty more food and drinks followed, with even the sharp-eyed Léon taking part in the merriment even though it was obvious that he still kept a thorough watch of their surroundings. Kite did not even have the heart to point out that anything not a gold-ranked being itself - or a very stealth-specialized silver - would probably be unable to sneak up on them now that he had his new and improved senses under control, as he did not want to start trampling all over the sniper's role and deny him his tempering.

Hours passed this way, during which the group reminisced about a lot of the contracts which they had undertaken during the years as well as Kite - cheered on by Amica and Ceasar - trying out some basic exercises to get used to what his body was now capable of.

While his ascension to the next rank did provide the reaction speed and reflexes necessary to handle his new speed and strength, actually getting used to the fact that he could now accelerate to the point that the world became a blur as well as plow through a sizeable cliff using only his momentum and Implacable Motion was something else. WWJS: Congratulations! Your power [Implacable motion] has reached Gold 0. [Implacable motion] has gained additional effects. - Implacable motion - Special ability. Cost: None.

Cooldown: None. Current rank: Gold 0. Effect - Iron: Increased resistance to effects that hinder or impair movement. Effects that take hold will have significantly decreased duration, depending on the rank of the effect. Effect - Bronze: Movement may break through inanimate objects up to a certain threshold of durability based on your rank and the rank of this ability. Mana may be paid to temporarily increase the threshold based on mana spent.

Intent is needed for this ability to take effect, and it does not increase potency of attacks. This ability may not damage vehicles, equipment or similarly wielded objects. Effect - Silver: The increased resistance is extended to additionally cover all effects that lower the [Speed] or [Spirit] attributes. Effect - Gold: The increased resistance is extended to additionally cover hostile dimensional effects, such as teleportation, spatial warping of distances and the like.

This power now also confers increased damage and force to the first attack made after at least a short continuous movement. The additional damage and force is increased based on the distance of this movement. While there was no esoteric dimensional effects nearby for Kite to properly test out the power with his body at a matching rank, pulverising his way through the landscape did bring with it a certain kind of thrill that was only further enhanced by how his senses let him experience it all in great clarity.

Once, running through a mere log at early bronze rank had felt exciting enough, and now those memories felt like so long ago given how much Kite had changed both in power and - perhaps more importantly - in perspective. Over the course of his merry testing, Kite also found out that a gold-ranked mind did indeed learn quickly, and it only took an hour or two for Kite to feel that he had improved a lot.

In a way, it was like getting used to a new body even though it was also the one Kite had always had at the same time.

"Look at you, getting the hang of it," Amica cheered as he once more landed at the branch where the team still rested.

"I guess that the task group will be putting those new capabilities of yours to the test soon enough too. Or, wait… right. Wasn't it now that you were supposed to be heading home again?" Her statement was quite sobering for the mood, and Kite felt as pensive as he looked when he considered the future.

"I am honestly not quite sure exactly what the future will hold now…" he ventured.

"But I will need to head home at least for a while. Our next leave is coming up soon, and I will need to tell my family the good news as well as plan for the future. You all know what I will be part of facing back home, so…"

"Still though, it sure will be weird to continue without you," Ceasar said.

"We knew that it was a temporary arrangement, but it has been years. Only a small fraction of the long lives we will hopefully live, sure, but not an insubstantial part of the actual life we have lived so far."

"Don't challenge Fortune like that!" Amica protested, only half in jest.

"Do you know how fortunate we have been to have all four members live through such an extended amount of time with the task group?"

"While you are correct, Amica, there is also truth to Ceasar's words," Kite replied to both of them, also glancing at Léon to make sure that the sniper understood that he too was included in what came next.

"The three of you went from strangers - Amica excluded - to some of the comrades that I have fought beside the most in my life, right up there with my wife and close friends. We all knew that working with the task group would have us assigned to many different teams and contracts, rarely choosing our company as more ordinary adventurer groups are able to. Even so, it has been an honor to fight and grow at your side.

Although I doubt that this is goodbye or the last time we will share a contract, it still deserves to be said. Fortune truly blessed me with the opportunity of your company." Silence followed Kite's little monologue, and for a moment the only sound that was heard was that of the jungle waking up around them in the light of dawn. That was, until Amica's sudden exclamation.

"Aaaw, come here guys. Bring it in!" One burst of telekinetics later found the four of them crashing into one another in a chaotic mix of a group hug and team huddle. Even the normally more reserved and slightly aloof Léon had - as drilled into him by extended fighting alongside Amica - instinctually allowed the telekinetic pull before comprehending its purpose, but the fact that he did not teleport away did indicate that he wasn't suffering nearly as much as he let on.

"So, we might as well head back and see what the future holds then," Amica said upon releasing them, wiping a bit at the corner of her eye.

"No need to let the unknown get more of a hold on our hearts than it deserves. Better for us to seize the future. And I mean, it will probably be a bit of a trek back towards civilization anyway."

"Well," Kite said, getting a mental confirmation of readiness.

"I believe that you might be forgetting something in that regard." Before Amica could ask more, the lake beneath the waterfall in the distance suddenly erupted upwards in a massive geyser that cascaded upwards far enough to overtake the aperture from which the water originated before drifting out to all sides in a misty haze that caused the morning sun to refract into rainbow light.

And from that mist, Glint emerged with a dignified grace that should be impossible for her now gargantuan serpentine form, yet which she made look quite effortless. One toss her head sent sparkling water cascading off her now even more magnificent crown of crystal antlers, her words echoing out over the landscape.

"This young mistress is more than willing to head back. Let these lands be blessed, as they will forever bear the honor of being the first to witness me reaching even greater heights of splendor." As Kite entered Sir Ilmaril Thenston's office in the Port Singhni branch, the other gold-ranker had already risen from behind his desk and started crossing the room to meet Kite as he entered.

"So, the advance notice I received proved true!" the elven man greeted, his demeanor a bit more casual than any other time Kite had met him, Sir Ilmaril even clasped Kite's hand as he continued.

"On behalf of the task group, I wish to extend our heartfelt congratulations for your ascent to gold."

"Thank you, Sir," Kite replied, giving his usual bow of respect.

"It is still something I am working to get used to. But, if I may ask, how is it that you had already gotten word? I came here almost straight away from the portal platform."

"Only a small administrative hint. I tend to keep watch of the tallies of teams returning from contract, and as you were missing from your team when they arrived and the silver-ranked courier who had been tasked with sending you back sent word that he would require payment for another two portals from the same destination, it was not too difficult to put two and two together. He could send ten silvers after all, but only one gold with each portal. Come though, please take a seat.

You are giving off the sense of a man with questions, which isn't very surprising." It was an odd feeling for Kite to actually be able to sense so much of Sir Ilmaril's aura now, detecting so much more nuance to the stern control that had been his previous experiences. There was plenty to be found beneath the exterior, even though Kite suspected that the older and more experienced gold-ranker kept himself more open than usual to allow Kite some practice.

"So, we might as well get to the heart of the matter right away so I know how to plan for the future," Sir Ilmaril said once the pair was seated.

"You have now reached gold rank, Kite, a feat that many will never achieve. This means that your Adventure Society membership will need to be updated, of course, but there are also other changes of which you need to be aware."

"Such as?"

"For one, you are now one of the more powerful people in the world and among the top percentiles of Adventure Society members. No need to look so surprised. There are a great many gold-rankers around the world, of course, but this world is also quite vast.

Most of the Adventures Society's contracts are for silver-rankers and below, while gold-rankers like yourself and I need to either seek out more specialized tasks and positions or accept the fact that we will need to start braving the most dangerous places in the world if we want to keep pushing ourselves against monsters.

Some keep their aim set at diamond rank, continuing towards the peak while others start finding other pursuits, be they temporary or more permanent," Sir Ilmaril explained, the azure orbs that were his eyes locking on to Kite's as he leaned back in his chair and continued.

"What I am trying to say is that you have just found yourself with a lot of power and even more freedom, Kite. While a silver-ranker is definitely impactful, us golds are still a cut above. You have no doubt seen this already. So with all that power, the Adventure Society would much appreciate knowing at least a little bit of what you intend to do with it.

For example, should you wish to keep being part of task group Gauntlet - which, given your power set and excellent service record I dearly hope - we shall have to renegotiate and redefine your role with us, as you have now gone from specialized operative to a tactical asset in your own right. And should you instead want to seek other positions, be it in your homeland or in the wider world, we would also like to extend the offer of keeping close cooperation."

"Sir Ilmaril, I must admit that I am a bit surprised at your words," Kite noted, a bit taken aback.

"I had honestly not expected that much to change in regards to Gauntlet."

"That, Kite, is probably because you haven't realized yet just how much more powerful you have become and what that will mean for your place in this world," Sir Ilmaril chuckled.

"While you will still be expected to do as instructed during the monster surges, you should otherwise note how most people - including most of the Adventure Society - will now only be able to make requests and suggestions of you rather than give you orders. While this is mostly something that only time and experience can help you settle into, it should be noted that - should you keep being part of our roster - Gauntlet can help you settle into your new powers and capabilities.

As you know, plenty of our available trainers are gold-rankers themselves, and should be able to provide valuable insights. But that choice will be yours as I imagine that you have quite a lot on your hands now. Just making sure to update one's equipment alone…" His words left Kite in a pensive mood, and seeing that Sir Ilmaril seemed content to give him some time, Kite leaned back and took some time to properly think things through.

"It is as you say, Sir," he eventually began.

"I have had less than a day to really center myself and get a sense of my foundations. But I do believe that I can say with some certainty that I do not see myself leaving the task group anytime soon as long as you would have me. With that said though, I also have some rather important business back home to return to now that I am of a rank to be at the forefront of that conflict. Because I assume that you do remember our struggles with Discord.

Thus, I would first of all like to return home and reconvene with my family and friends. Get my bearings and stake out a course for myself during the two years to come. I can, of course, not be entirely sure that the timeline provided by the goddess Knowledge will hold, but I suspect that we shall never have a more educated estimate. That is why I would request some time before giving you a proper answer. If that is agreeable to you, of course?"

"It is indeed," Sir Ilmaril said, seeming pleased with what he had heard so far.

"And it does also seem like you will need to keep practicing when to ask for permission and when to simply state your intent too. But I am not worried, as I am sure you will grow into this new rank of yours just fine. I wish you a safe homeward journey then, as I am sure that your family will be even more pleased to see you. Rare is the occasion for one to bring good news of this caliber, after all. And once you are ready, task group Gauntlet will be pleased to hear from you."