Unholy Player Chapter 537 AXION - The Human Path

Kaelor sensed that peculiar familiarity as well, prompting him to shift his stare from the devices and curb the thrill surging inside. "That man... Is he one of us?" By us, he referred not to the Mechari kin, but to the Blood Path.

Rhys exuded an aura matching that of a Blood Path devotee bearing the [Vigor] stat, faint yet impossible to miss after enough time spent in its presence.

Each stat-focused Practitioner displayed unique characteristics that a keen observer could spot, revealing their Path or stat through subtle cues in stance, gait, and aura, like an embedded mark.

The [Will] stat linked to motion. Individuals with it excelled in swiftness, detectable by observing their stride, weight distribution, and how fluidly their form responded to thoughts.

[Physique], true to its title, concerned physical build. Those possessing it often showed bulkier muscles and more robust, weighty builds, even at rest.

Individuals with [Resilience] represented pure stamina. A skilled watcher could gauge their durability instantly, from the solidity of their posture to how they bore wounds.

Finally, [Sense] stat holders, though adept at masking traits, remained identifiable.

It showed in their scanning glances and seamless integration with the environment. They boasted superior situational perception and acutely honed senses, catching minor motions, audio variations, and atmospheric alterations.

Regarding [Vigor], it remained exclusive to Blood Path adherents thus far.

This stat connected to vitality and magnetism, imprinting a bizarre vibe. Its bearers typically radiated inherent charm, with enticing fragrances emanating and an intangible vital force detectable only intuitively.

Rhys, sharing this stat, made no effort to conceal such telltale signs, allowing the pair of Blood Path devotees to swiftly identify its presence in him.

Liora and Zephan appeared stunned too, marking their initial encounter with Rhys post his Practitioner awakening, the transformation striking them softly yet profoundly.

They nearly pondered if Rhys had joined the Blood Path when Henry intervened, dispelling the notion before it solidified.

"Permit me to present our youthful leaders to you." Henry's holographic drone floated, positioning itself to capture focus. He stressed 'young' deliberately, vital for the forthcoming reveal and the portrayal he aimed to construct.

"Here stands Selina, a talented youth from our ranks, presently undergoing preparation to serve as a devoted adherent to our sovereign."

Selina hadn't anticipated such an odd presentation, yet suspecting Henry's scheme, she complied by dipping her head in a composed, courteous bow.

Next, the drone approached Rhys. "And this youth goes by Rhys..."

Rhys arched an eyebrow at the 'young' label, puzzled by Henry's intent and disliking the sudden insertion into another's tale.

Admittedly, his appearance had youthened, particularly after hitting Rank 3 in recent months. By human years, he seemed aged, yet among Practitioners, he qualified as youthful.

Henry pressed on with the presentation seamlessly. "He just finished his regimen and earned the privilege of joining as a genuine disciple of our Lord."

Rhys offered a subtle nod in salute too, holding his head steady without implying inferiority to the Rank 4 visitors, demonstrating his grasp of courtesy protocols and his superior position.

"Follower?"

This instance, astonishment extended beyond Kaelor and Arvyn. Liora and Zephan echoed the term in astonishment, its implication striking everyone simultaneously.

In this realm, 'follower' held profound weight, especially when applied to one who had been an ordinary human shortly before, now manifesting as a Practitioner before them—the resonance landed forcefully.

For Beyond natives, ascending to Practitioner status relied solely on fortune. With luck, the Gods would acknowledge them, granting awakening as Practitioners and the honor of pursuing a God's Path, though most lived unseen.

Yet Henry's phrasing suggested a far more startling reality.

He described it as if Rhys had endured extended preparation, then received a Path as a culmination of that effort, awakened into Practice by their Ruler—like a structured procedure, not a divine fluke.

Could they truly possess the means to awaken Practitioners? How is such a feat conceivable?

As Liora and Zephan mulled those queries, Kaelor and Arvyn reached deeper, more disturbing realizations, their dread honing into conviction.

They possess an actual God... A living deity supporting them...

Blood Path adherents relied on the Blood God, dubbed the Crimson Sea's Master.

Though an archaic deity largely erased from memory, He remained divine and could bestow His Path upon completers of specific rites and supplicants via that Path, rewarding devotion with might in His perverse manner. However, even He couldn't awaken mortals into Practitioners. He only tainted existing Paths, aiding or compelling shifts to Blood, nourishing from the established rather than forging anew.

Thus, to them, this group claiming Central Region origins undoubtedly operated under a genuine God's patronage. Not a decayed one like theirs, but a vibrant entity exerting authentic authority, capable of forging destinies rather than merely twisting them.

Noting the stunned faces, Henry sensed his pulse quicken with strain, yet he maintained a calm voice, wary of betraying his high-stakes wager.

His strategy aimed to convince the Blood Sect of a divine backer for humans, paired with the misconception of Central Region provenance, instilling dread and caution in Blood Path practitioners toward humans.

Thereby, urges to assault them presently or later could be quelled, nipped in the bud before manifesting.

In this existence, might ruled all. Even feigning it sowed uncertainty in foes, prompting withdrawal, and such pauses frequently preserved lives.

Henry pursued another objective too.

He intended to unveil the AXION Path to Liora and Zephan, then disseminate it among Outer Region races, letting the concept proliferate via gossip as rumors often did.

Until now, humans had enacted a facade, leading others to assume Central Region origins tied to a secret endeavor, withholding details to evade refutation. This moment suited inventing that endeavor, a credible and majestic purpose to offer.

That purpose: humans had ventured to the Outer Region to propagate their AXION Path, offering mortals the opportunity to embrace their God's Path, converting strangers to comrades via redemption and vow. Henry devised this upon discovering the Blood Sect.

Upon realizing an entity with parallel aims existed—spreading the Blood Path and seeking their God's revival—he resolved to mold all humans into a comparable guise, a reflection familiar to this realm.

Rather than disclosing as extraterrestrials from afar intent on conquest, presenting an palatable narrative aligned with local lore proved wiser.

Naturally, perils loomed, the foremost being rival Path followers deeming them heretical, launching assaults to purge their Path as a worldly blemish demanding eradication.

Yet it constituted a necessary gamble for expansion, since remaining obscure and confined equated to gradual demise.

Should Henry sway Zephan and Liora to align now and persuade them toward the Path Adyr devised, it would herald a fresh epoch, elevating main Paths to five from four, rendering humans no longer enigmatic.

Enlisting these two Blood Path adherents would prove superior, given their deeper expertise here. Their aid would accelerate the dissemination of Adyr's Path and hasten comprehension of divine mechanics.