Zatiel mentioned it so casually that it seemed trivial, but Sophia's expression revealed the complexity of the matter.
"How could you so readily give away something as precious as a Path Technique?" Sophia struggled to comprehend why Zatiel would impart such a valuable technique to mere kobolds he had just met.
Sophia's reaction might have been a bit dramatic, but she wasn't wrong about the value of Path Techniques. These methods not only enhance one's strength but also provide guidance for advancing in rank.
Apprentices typically use meditation techniques to increase their energy, paving the way to reach rank 1. While this approach is the simplest and requires the least prerequisites, it's also the least potent.
Path Techniques, on the other hand, not only boost energy levels but also improve its quality. They also instruct in spells that best suit the individual. Although not absolutely essential for advancement, Path Techniques can resolve many doubts and guide one from one rank to the next, hence their name.
Their utility makes Path Techniques highly coveted among apprentices. It's rare to find someone above rank 1 without one.
"Calm down. The Path Technique I gave only reaches one level and will help them attain Pseudo-Magus status but no further. Its basis is in atavism, reverting to ancestral traits. It's particularly beneficial for kobolds with their dragon lineage, but useless for humans," Zatiel explained.
He wasn't concerned about being traced through the technique. While valuable, a technique that only leads to peak rank 0 wouldn't attract attention from powerful entities.
Sophia eventually calmed down after understanding the full context.
"Do you have one suitable for me?" she inquired, hopeful. A Path Technique could significantly boost her chances of becoming a Magus.
"Keep dreaming. If I had anything useful for humanoids, I'd have used it long ago," Zatiel replied, though not truthfully. In reality, he had access to humanoid-appropriate techniques, but they were ineffective for Sophia due to her energy's contamination.
As for Neo-Demons like Zatiel, the chaotic core naturally optimizes their energy, and altering the abyssal energy, one of the universe's prime energy sources, would be counterproductive. Thus, for him, such Path Techniques were irrelevant.
Sophia's disappointment was palpable. She had yet to realize that her own will had strengthened considerably during their time together, aiding her recovery.
Zatiel smiled, noting her resilience.
'Another step forward,' he thought, storing the minerals in his spatial sack and instructing the chip to navigate to their next destination.
"Let's go," he said, and together with Sophia, followed the chip's guidance.
In a distant part of the Wasteland, hundreds of kilometers from Zatiel, a group of about 50 Ogres marched under the command of five humans. This odd scene was notable because Ogres, typically known for devouring humans, were obediently following their orders.
Each human was clad in magical robes, their bodies radiating substantial energy.
"Alan, is all this force really necessary just to eliminate someone at peak rank 0?" asked a young black-haired man named Luis, eyeing the Ogres with a tinge of fear.
"You've heard Lord Erick's command. We're to eliminate that target without leaving any witnesses. Besides, our enemy single-handedly defeated a group led by a pseudo-magus," Alan, a solemn-faced man with white hair and small stature, responded. Despite his size, he exuded the most power among the five.
"Relax, Luis. Magi always deploy full strength, whether against a mouse or a lion," interjected a bald, burly man with a face tattoo, fiddling with a clown mask that concealed their group's presence. "Lord Erick's equipment ensures our ambush will be successful. Our target doesn't stand a chance."
Luis remained apprehensive, particularly about the Ogres. As the weakest of the five, he feared becoming their first victim in any potential uprising.
"Don't worry. Lord Erick has an agreement with their tribal leader. They'll follow our orders till the mission's end. We need their tracking abilities in this terrain," Alan reassured him, though his own concerns lay elsewhere. He suspected there was more to the mission's secrecy and the emphasis on leaving no witnesses.
None in the group were allies; they were together solely by command. Each was determined to maintain focus on the mission, regardless of personal misgivings.
"Problems, Alan?" asked Johann, the bald man, not out of concern for Alan but to ensure the mission's success.
"Nothing you need to worry about. Let's continue," Alan replied, concealing his suspicions as they moved on.