The Celestial Empress's hand was inches from Ethan's throat when the system activated.
**[QUEST COMPLETE: SURVIVED 24 HOURS WITHOUT BEING CLAIMED]**
**[REWARD: IMMORTAL PATH FULL INHERITANCE]**
**[INITIATING KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER]**
**[WARNING: PREPARE FOR INTEGRATION]**
Everything stopped. Not metaphorically—literally stopped. The Empress froze mid-strike. Nyx's shadow form hung motionless in the air. Even the energy swirling through the chamber ceased its movement, suspended like insects in amber.
Time itself had paused, and a presence materialized before Ethan. Not physical, but undeniably real. It looked like a human, but ancient, with eyes that had seen galaxies born and die. The last Primordial, or at least an echo of one.
"Ethan Reid." Its voice resonated through dimensions. "You have survived the trial. You have proven worthy of our legacy. Now comes the choice."
Three objects appeared floating in the frozen air. Each one pulsed with different energy.
"The Path of Power," the presence gestured to the first, a blazing star.
"Accept this, and you will receive combat techniques beyond imagination. The strength to crush armies, to stand alone against empires. You will be unstoppable."
The star called to something primal in Ethan. The desire to never be weak again, to never watch helplessly as everything burned.
"The Path of Wisdom," the presence indicated the second object, a book that seemed to contain infinite pages. "Choose this, and you will understand the fundamental laws of reality.
How to manipulate energy, bend space, even touch time itself. Knowledge is the truest power."
The book promised answers. Understanding. The ability to solve problems instead of just fighting them.
"The Path of Connection," the third object was simpler, a chain made of light that linked to form a circle.
"This grants the ability to bond with others, to share power and multiply it. You will never be as individually strong as the first path, never as wise as the second, but you will be able to elevate those around you.
To build something greater than yourself."
Ethan stared at the three choices. Each one promised a different future. Each one had a cost.
"Most choose Power," the presence said. "They always do. It's immediate, tangible.
But the strongest Primordials understood that power alone leads to isolation. Wisdom alone leads to detachment. Only Connection allows for true advancement."
"You're trying to influence my choice," Ethan said.
"I'm telling you the truth." The presence smiled sadly. "Ten thousand Reality Anchors received this choice across the ages. Nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine chose Power or Wisdom.
They all died alone, unable to replicate their abilities, unable to save their species or reality itself."
"And the one who chose Connection?"
"Founded the Shadow Moon Clan. Nyx is his descendant."
That explained a lot. Ethan looked at the frozen scene around him. His companions had fought to give him this chance.
Seris had betrayed her own mother. Lyra had stood against overwhelming odds. Senna had abandoned safety to help him.
He hadn't survived the last twenty-four hours alone.
"Connection," Ethan said. "I choose Connection."
The presence nodded, seeming pleased but not surprised.
"Then accept the inheritance, Reality Anchor. But know this—the path you've chosen is the hardest. Power can be wielded alone. Wisdom can be contemplated in isolation.
But Connection requires trust, vulnerability, and the constant risk of loss. Can you bear that?"
Ethan thought of Earth burning. Of being the last human alive. Of the loneliness that had nearly broken him.
"I can bear it," he said. "Because the alternative is being alone forever, and I've had enough of that."
"So be it."
The chain of light shot into Ethan's chest, and knowledge flooded his mind. Not overwhelming like he'd feared, but integrating smoothly.
Techniques for forming deeper resonance bonds. Methods to share cultivation insights. Ways to elevate others without diminishing himself.
And something else. A map, hidden in the depths of the inheritance. Locations where other Immortal Path systems slept, waiting for hosts from other species.
The Primordials' final gift, the ability to save multiple dying races, not just one.
Time resumed with a thunderclap.
The Celestial Empress's hand completed its strike, but Ethan moved as if he'd known exactly where she'd attack. He twisted aside, and his hand touched her wrist.
The resonance bond formed instantly.
The Empress gasped, her attack faltering as she felt the connection snap into place. "What—what did you do?"
"Invited you in," Ethan said. Through the bond, he could feel her shock, her confusion, and beneath that, her fear. Fear for her daughter. Fear of losing everything she'd built.
"You don't have to be my enemy. None of you do."
"Impossible." But her voice wavered. Through the connection, she was feeling what Ethan felt—his genuine desire to protect, and his exhaustion with violence. His desperate hope for something better.
"Mother," Seris limped forward, bloody but alive. "Feel the bond. He's not lying. He's not trying to manipulate you."
The Empress's expression cycled through emotions too quickly to name.
Then, slowly, she lowered her hand. "I don't understand. You have the power to fight me now. I can feel it through the connection. Why form a bond instead?"
"Because fighting you means someone dies. Probably me, but maybe you, and definitely my friends."
Ethan gestured to Lyra and Senna, both wounded from the battle. "I'm tired of people dying over me. There has to be another way."
Nyx reformed from the shadows, studying Ethan with those galaxy eyes. "You chose Connection. Of course you did." She actually laughed. "The Primordials would be pleased. Or horrified. Possibly both."
"What does this mean?" The Empress still looked uncertain, a strange expression on someone so powerful.
"It means," Ethan said, feeling the knowledge from the inheritance settling into place, "I'm offering an alliance.
A real one, not based on ownership or breeding programs, but on mutual benefit. I can teach the Immortal Path techniques. Not just to one faction, but to any species willing to learn. We can end the Voidborne threat together."
"Ambitious," the Empress murmured. "Naive, perhaps. But..." She looked at her daughter, at the resonance bond connecting them all.
"I will consider it. But first, we need to leave this station before it collapses entirely."
As if on cue, the chamber shook violently. Primordial or not, the structure had taken too much damage.
"Everyone grab on," Nyx commanded. "I can shadow-step us out, but we all need to be connected."
They formed a chain….Empress holding Seris, Seris touching Ethan, Ethan gripping Lyra, Lyra grabbing Senna, and Senna clutching Nyx.
"This is going to be unpleasant," Nyx warned.
The world dissolved into shadow and impossible angles. Ethan's stomach lurched as they traveled through spaces that shouldn't exist. Then, with a jarring snap, they emerged.
They stood on a barren moon, watching from a safe distance as the ancient Primordial station finally tore itself apart. The battling fleets ceased fire, apparently realizing their prize had escaped.
Ethan collapsed to his knees, exhausted beyond measure. Around him, his unlikely allies did the same.
"So," Princess Lyra said after a long silence. "What now, Reality Anchor?"
Ethan looked up at the stars, at the galaxy that wanted to own him, and felt the resonance bonds connecting him to the women who'd become more than allies.
"Now," he said, "we change everything."
The real journey was just beginning.