【Background Setting】Pathway (Strength System)

The Pathway is the core system of the Starry Abyss, with nearly everything revolving around it.

The origin of the Pathway comes from the initial Six Great Main Gods. After each Main God died, they left behind their Main Godhood empty.

These empty positions became contested by mortal beings.

The Pathway is truly a road to godhood.

The hierarchy of the Pathway is divided into 24 stages, represented by Greek letters from lowest to highest:

Mortal——Alpha (Αα), Beta (Ββ)

Alpha: This stage consists of the weakest mortals, but even at the Alpha stage, one can withstand 30 rounds of 7.62mm full-power bullets within 20 meters without fatal injury to non-vital areas.

Beta: Possessing strength surpassing all mechanized infantry of the atomic age, they can wear depleted uranium armor directly and have a general lifespan of 120 years.

Cosmic Citizen——Gamma (Γγ)

Gamma: In non-cosmic civilizations, they can easily influence the outcome of a battle. For comparison, it is like having an F-22 fighter jet with infinite ammo and fuel appear in World War II.

Transcender Level——Delta (Δδ), Epsilon (Εε)

Delta: In the cosmos, they can be considered as first-class athletes in quality, serving as the basic units of mercenaries, beginning to master the power of the Pathway. Their lifespan is significantly extended, generally to around 200 natural years.

Epsilon: Their bodies are greatly transformed by the Pathway, undergoing a first sublime transformation. Some individuals start to exhibit porcelain-like skin and begin choosing their own divinity.

Cosmic Warrior——Zeta (Ζζ)

Zeta: Zetas are the backbone of star warriors and the absolute core of cosmic mercenaries. Reaching Zeta is enough to be called 'Earthbound Deities,' capable of completely destroying the surface of a non-cosmic civilization planet.

Such Earthbound Deities are equivalent to the most basic infantry units in cosmic wars.

Ascender——Eta (Ηη), Theta (Θθ), Iota (Ιι)

Eta: Equivalent to tanks in cosmic wars. Warriors at this stage are the elite class in any civilization.

Theta: Equivalent to fighter jets in cosmic wars, although there is no significant change compared to the Eta stage.

Iota: Equivalent to missile destroyers in cosmic wars, representing the ultimate limit for most Ascenders and the highest level allowed by the Layer Abyss.

Demigod——Kappa (Κκ), Lambda (Λλ), Mu (Μμ), Niu (Νν), Cauchy (Ξξ), Mystic Kolon (Οο)

Ascenders at this stage theoretically should no longer continue surviving in the Layer Abyss. They need to break their limits in the lower Starry Abyss.

Starting from the Kappa stage, regardless of their previous species, Ascenders exhibit characteristics of the Starry Abyss Divine Race.

Kappa: Equivalent to the ecological niche of infants and juveniles in the Border Abyss.

Lambda: Occupies the ecological niche of teenagers in the Border Abyss.

Mu: Begins to enter puberty.

Niu: Divinity starts to differentiate. Previous knowledge and power begin to reintegrate.

Cauchy: Officially an adult, besides the basic natural original form, demigods possess a demigod stature no less than 200 meters tall.

Mystic Kolon: Enters middle age, with all power fully integrated and no longer subject to any laws of time and space. Their bodies stop aging.

Quasi-god——Pi (Ππ), Rho (Ρρ), Sigma (Σσ)

At this stage, demigods should enter the fourth layer of the Mass Abyss to engage in mutual combat, vying for the few available godhoods or using divine blood to achieve their ultimate pathway.

There is no clear distinction between these three stages, but each new stage allows the use of divine power to forcibly control lower quasi-gods of the same Pathway.

For example, a Sigma Order quasi-god in the Sovereign Pathway could freely control Pi/Rho stage quasi-gods.

In the absence of godhood, lower positions must unconditionally obey higher positions within the same Pathway.

However, if a lower main god possesses an empty godhood, even a Sigma stage main god cannot control or monitor the other's actions.

God Embracer——Tao (Ττ), Upsilon (Υυ), Phi (Φφ)

Quasi-gods who didn't succeed in the Mass Abyss battle will become God Embracers. Their path to the upper layers is cut off, but they can continue to increase their strength forever as God Embracers.

God Embracers are the most typical acquired deities, without the privilege of being called 'Sir [Name]'.

God Embracers & True God——Kai (Χχ), Psi (Ψψ), Omega (Ωω)

Kai: The Pathway at its ultimate refinement, truly mastering the power of the cosmos and opening up their supreme divine country in the Burning Essence and infinite void beyond the Starry Abyss.

Psi: Divine power completely replaces everything of the past, with the ability to link to the entire cosmos, theoretically allowing insight into past and future as time permits.

Omega: The ultimate Pathway.

The Omega tier divides into two scenarios:

God Embracer, Omega Stage——With time, they are gradually eroded by divine power and the Starry Abyss, eventually unable to resist the call of the Primordial Abyss, losing self-awareness. Stepping into the Omega stage for God Embracers is akin to entering hell; only those craving power would step into here.

True God, Omega Stage——The supreme king of the cosmos, capable of advancing further towards 'Main God'.

The Starry Abyss game system specifies: starting from level 0, every 20 levels, completing a promotion task will enable a transcending of hierarchical stages.

From the lowest Alpha Stage: lv.20

To the ultimate Omega Stage: lv.480

The levels in the Starry Abyss can infinitely increase, but beyond the Omega Stage, there will be no specific hierarchical effects and promotions, and attributes can grow infinitely.

The Starry Abyss initially holds six Grand Paths, corresponding to six Main Gods and six main attributes:

Destroyer: Strength——Explosiveness, attack speed, physical destruction effect, resistance to blows.

Mysterious: Will——Mental strength, powerful telekinesis, resistance to mental attacks.

Fine Artistry: Intelligence——Learning speed, mimicking and copying, self-innovation, capability in fantasy deduction.

Sovereign: Charm——Attractiveness to external matters, charm ability, affinity.

Redemption: Constitution——Life recovery speed, healing and being healed effect, various resistances, tenacity.

Raiding: Dexterity (Luck)——Precision of movements, movement speed, critical hit rate, and system-determined dependent values.