120: Ranger's Path

The bustling sounds of the night market gradually faded, and the air between Luigi and Topaz seemed to solidify.

"So," Luigi slowly put down the bamboo skewer, "you mean that the Interstellar Peace Corporation choosing to do nothing is actually the greatest benevolence towards Blue Star, or rather, humanity?"

Topaz shook her head: "Not doing nothing, but choosing a gentler approach. As the Chairman says, he is only responsible for bringing change, but humanity's future must be forged by humanity itself through trial and error."

She pointed to the bustling crowd in the night market, "Look at these people. How many of them escaped poverty because of the Interstellar Peace Corporation's technology? Ten years ago, the Emerald Principality was a region plagued by war and instability, but now it is one of the most prosperous nations on Blue Star."

"Perhaps in the eyes of some, they lost their sovereignty, but this was their choice."

"These two 'theys,' I think you understand the difference."

Luigi looked in the direction she was pointing. A simply dressed little girl was holding a steaming grilled squid, her face bright with a smile as she offered it to an old man beside her. On a tall building in the distance, a holographic projection was playing a public service advertisement for the Interstellar Peace Corporation, providing clean energy to impoverished areas.

"Change takes time," Topaz's voice softened, "just like the power of the path, it doesn't appear overnight."

Luigi was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked: "If I discover an Interstellar Peace Corporation employee doing something unjust, will you stop me?"

Topaz's eyes lit up, and she leaned forward slightly: "Oh? You're not afraid of the Interstellar Peace Corporation's retaliation?"

"I will fire my bullet," Luigi replied without hesitation, "even if the Interstellar Peace Corporation can easily destroy me."

These words stunned Topaz. Her lips slowly curved upwards, finally breaking into a brilliant smile: "Ha, I knew it! People who can walk this path are all excellent individuals."

Just then, Luigi felt the air around them suddenly grow heavy. The sounds of the night market seemed to be isolated by some force, and even time slowed down. Topaz's expression instantly turned serious. She quickly stood up and looked respectfully behind Luigi.

"Chairman."

Luigi turned and saw a tall figure wearing an amber mask standing by their table at some point.

Intricate patterns on the mask swirled under the lights, like living things. The person wore a simple black trench coat, but what was most striking were the eyes. Behind the mask's eyeholes, golden pupils seemed to contain endless power.

"Topaz, you've worked hard on this trip," the voice from behind the mask was low and powerful.

Topaz proudly lifted her chin: "Then my new ride..."

"Start construction, pick it up in a week." Chen Hao nodded, then turned to Luigi, "You just said that even when facing the Interstellar Peace Corporation, you would uphold your own justice?"

Luigi felt an invisible force probing his mind, but he met the gaze without flinching: "Yes."

"Even knowing it could lead to your death?"

"Death is not frightening," Luigi calmly replied, "what is frightening is turning a blind eye to injustice."

The golden pupils behind the mask contracted slightly, revealing an expression of approval: "Very good. It was indeed reasonable for that fellow to choose you."

"'That fellow'?" Luigi looked at Topaz in confusion.

Topaz blinked: "A... Pathstrider, he took a liking to you."

Chen Hao took a small metal box from his trench coat pocket and handed it to Luigi: "This is a gift for you. Open it."

Luigi took the box and gently lifted the lid. Inside lay a silver bracelet, its surface covered with intricate patterns.

"This is..."

"I call it a storage bracelet," the voice behind the mask explained, "it can fix certain items around you in particle form and reassemble them as they were when needed."

"I see you like carrying that revolver, so this will make things easier for you."

Luigi carefully picked up the bracelet. When he touched the revolver to the bracelet's surface, the revolver suddenly turned liquid, wrapping around the bracelet like a living thing, and then slowly dissipated. But he could feel that with just a thought, the revolver would appear in his hand.

The man in the mask nodded: "From today on, you are the first true Pathstrider in this universe." He said to Topaz, "Teach him some basic knowledge; it will help with the path's growth."

"Yes, Chairman." Topaz gave a playful salute.

The man's figure began to blur, as if merging into the night, eventually dissipating like smoke into the night market's lights.

"Is he always so elusive?" Luigi touched the silver bracelet on his wrist, its texture cool and smooth, "With that way of disappearing, is the Chairman of the Interstellar Peace Corporation also a Pathstrider?"

Topaz shrugged: "More or less. Things are a bit complicated here, and you wouldn't understand it now. For now, let me give you a general overview of the path."

"The path is the concretization of a certain philosophical concept, a metaphysical spiritual aggregate. For example, concepts like creation, destruction, life, and time can all be part of the path. The path you have embarked on is called 'The Hunt,' and its philosophy, simply put, is revenge, pursuit, and justice."

"Although it is just a concept, it still has a tangible manifestation, for example—"

Topaz extended her hand, palm upwards, and a cluster of blue-purple energy slowly condensed, "You can try to feel the energy flowing within you; that is the power of rules."

Luigi closed his eyes and followed Topaz's instructions to find that strange sensation. At first, it was complete darkness, but soon, he noticed tiny specks of light moving within him, like fireflies in the night sky.

"I see them..." he murmured, "blue-purple specks of light."

"Very good," Topaz's voice seemed to come from a distance, "now guide them to gather in your palm."

Luigi tried to control the specks of light with his mind. At first, they were like mischievous children, refusing to obey, but gradually, some began to gather in his right hand. When he opened his eyes, he found a small, flickering cluster of blue-purple flame floating above his palm.

"It worked!" He looked at the energy with surprise.

Topaz nodded with satisfaction: "Not bad, much faster than I expected." She snapped her fingers, and the flame in Luigi's hand suddenly transformed into a small arrow, flying into the night sky, drawing a graceful arc under the moonlight before dissipating.

"Strictly speaking, path energy isn't used like this, but this kind of practice can accelerate your control over it," Topaz said, "but to increase the total amount, it depends on how deeply you understand the path."

"The more and deeper you practice the path of The Hunt, the greater the power you can control."

Luigi asked curiously: "How do you know so much about the power of the path? I thought this was the first time it appeared in this universe."

Topaz's smile stiffened for a moment, but quickly returned to normal: "Practice makes perfect." She answered vaguely, clearly avoiding the question.

Over the next hour, Topaz briefly explained most of the path concepts and taught Luigi how to control the path's power.

From simple energy shaping to strengthening physical functions, and then to the creation of the most "path bullets." Luigi learned quickly, as if this knowledge had always been dormant in his blood, only needing to be awakened.

The crowd in the night market gradually dispersed, and vendors began to pack up their equipment. Topaz looked at the time: "It's about time, I should go back."

"Wait," Luigi called out to her, "I still don't know what to do next."

Topaz tilted her head, thinking: "This is the freedom of a Pathstrider. I told you, didn't I, that Pathstrider is a general term for those who embark on the path after their will meets a certain standard."

"'To resonate with the path through will, to interpret its philosophy through self. To forge one's own path on the road called the path, this is a Pathstrider.' This is the definition and evaluation of a Pathstrider left in the Interstellar Peace Corporation's database."

Luigi pondered, a vague idea forming: "I obviously can't be an ordinary person anymore. I want to travel around and see this world first."

"That's a good choice. Traveling and seeing more will also help clarify your path." Topaz was not surprised by Luigi's choice; it was clear from their previous conversation that he, who adhered to the philosophy of 'resistance,' was not suited to join the Interstellar Peace Corporation.

"Speaking of which, what identity do you plan to use to travel the world? You need a codename, right?"

Luigi blurted out almost without thinking: "Ranger."

As the word left his lips, he himself was momentarily stunned. But then he felt the particle-state revolver around his wrist warm slightly, as if approving of this choice.

"Ranger?" Topaz's eyes suddenly widened, and the beer glass in her hand almost slipped, "You... how did you think of that?"

Luigi looked at her overreaction in confusion: "It just came to me. What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

Topaz took a deep breath, seemingly trying to calm herself: "No, nothing... it's just..." She hesitated, then shook her head, "A very fitting choice."

Just then, a ripple suddenly appeared in the air. The figure wearing the amber mask reappeared, and an unusual light flickered in his golden pupils.

"Chairman?" Topaz stood up in surprise, "How did you..."

"Ranger..." The voice behind the mask carried a peculiar rhythm, as if savoring the word, "Interesting, very interesting."

Luigi felt those golden eyes piercing his soul: "Is something wrong?"

"Not at all." The man in the mask said softly, "It seems that the development of things is always full of coincidences and inevitabilities. Perhaps..." He paused, "I am witnessing a fated reappearance."

Topaz's expression became complex, and a hint of awe entered her gaze as she looked at Luigi.

The man wearing the amber mask raised his hand, and a golden badge appeared out of thin air, slowly floating towards Luigi. "Take it. When one day you encounter an unsolvable problem, someone will come to help you."

Luigi took the badge and found that it was engraved with a mysterious symbol, like a combination of many gems, with an arrowhead at the edge.

"Now," the man's figure began to dissipate again, "go your own way, Ranger Luigi Mangioni."

When his figure completely disappeared, Topaz let out a long sigh, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. Her gaze towards Luigi had completely changed.

"It seems I underestimated you," she said softly, "perhaps... I too can witness history."

Luigi gripped the badge in his hand, feeling the power it contained: "I still don't understand what you two are talking about."

Topaz shook her head, a mysterious smile on her face: "Some things, it only makes sense for you to discover them yourself." She took a card from her pocket and handed it to Luigi, "This is the Interstellar Peace Corporation's contact information. If you need help, you can contact me anytime."

Luigi took the card and found that it only had a simple star-shaped pattern. "How do I use it? Activate it with the path's power?"

"It's just a business card and a communicator; don't think of the path's power as omnipotent." Topaz turned and walked deeper into the night market, "Goodbye, Ranger Luigi Mangioni. I hope that when we meet again, you will have made a name for yourself across the universe."

Her figure gradually disappeared into the night, only her last words carried on the wind: "Finally, let me add, the number of Pathstriders is indeed very small; not even one person in millions may touch the path, and not one in tens of thousands of those who touch it may be able to embark on the road."

"The path is a lonely road, but you don't have to walk it alone."

Luigi looked down at the badge and card in his hand, glowing faintly in the moonlight. He took a deep breath, carefully put them away, and then looked up at the starry sky.

Between those distant stars, an invisible pair of eyes seemed to be watching him.

Luigi did not know that it was a gaze from the depths of the path. A great being, through the Door of Emptiness, was witnessing the birth of the first Pathstrider in the blank universe.

Luigi Mangioni, once a lone assassin, a warrior who betrayed his class, now a Ranger, had officially embarked on his path.

The clock tower in the distance chimed midnight, as if bidding him farewell. Luigi adjusted his collar and stepped into the night. He had once doubted the correctness of his actions due to the divisions in society; the letters from the public, to him, only confirmed that he was not wrong.

But after understanding the meaning and weight of the path, he was certain he was right.

The road ahead was long and unknown, but he knew he would never lose his way again.

Because justice will always be the brightest guiding star.