Path

The vessel cut through the waves as I kept a vigilant eye on the sea. What worried me most was the Kraken it could appear at will to take revenge on me. But the waters remained calm, and I sensed no threat approaching.

*

Name: Damocles

Age: 21

Strength: 30

Dexterity: 23

Endurance: 30

Intellect: 18

Charisma: 17

Defense: 32

Talents:

Son of Sparta – +1 to starting stats (innate strength)

Spartan – +3 to all stats (warrior's nature)

Mortal Will - [Hidden Effect]. You were born human one of the weakest among all races. Yet through perseverance and inner fire, you've transcended mortal limits. As long as that fire burns in your heart, you cannot be stopped.

Granite – +5 to defense. Doubled regeneration. Enhanced bodily durability; you age slower. Complete immunity to disease and resistance to poisons. When you crossed the mortal threshold, your body gained incredible regeneration and unbreakable fortitude. Grants Stone Resilience and merges with Immunity to Disease.

Death-Dodger – The thread of your fate was severed, yet you denied death. No power holds sway over your life any longer.

Evasion: 25% chance to avoid a fatal blow (survival instinct)

David – Bonus when facing stronger enemies (spirit of the small against giants)

Fleeting Shadow – +20% to stealth (shadow)

Cunning of Hellas – Tendency for deception and manipulation (schemer)

Warden of the Wild – Proficiency in navigation, stealth, and survival in forests (child of nature)

Tempered by War – +3 to combat skills. You are a living weapon. The mind of battle shields you from madness and bloodlust. Within you dwells not just a warrior but an ancient essence of war itself.

Abilities:

Combat Mastery – Level 24 (Passive): Increases Dexterity and Endurance by 26% during battle. Improves attack, helps spot enemy weaknesses, enhances defense and counterattacks.

Sword Mastery – Level 19: Your swordsmanship is highly refined.

Spear Mastery – Level 27: Your skill with the spear is beyond reach.

Smithing – Level 12: Your forge produces average-quality equipment.

Will Infusion: You can imbue objects with your will.

Furious Storm: A lightning-fast combo of three spear strikes. ⛨ 30% armor penetration.

Jagged Blades (Passive): +20% to bleeding. Wounds inflicted with your blade fester and resist healing.

Focused Strike: Striking enemies with your spear builds energy that can be unleashed for increased damage.

Spartan Phalanx (Active, while near allies): Increases all stats by 30%. In formation, you become part of a united front.

Debuff

☠️ Returned from the Underworld – "Nothing returns whole from the Realm of the Dead."You crossed a line from which none return. A part of you remains beyond. Now, you no longer feel pain as before. But other sensations have dulled as well. Joy, love, and laughter have faded. Fear no longer grips you but neither does it warn you. At times, you feel a coldness from within. Shadows of horrors haunt your dreams.(Effect? Suppressed by Mortal Will.)

Equipment (Artifacts):

Spear of the Century War – +4 Strength, +4 Endurance

Trait Acquired: Blood of the Fallen – This spear thirsts for blood. The more enemies it slays, the stronger it becomes.

Trait Acquired: Indestructible – strength and regenerationf Talos.

The spear has absorbed the essence of the Titans: Scalis, Talos.

[Hidden Effect]

Veteran's Helm – +5 Defense. Enhances will and spirit. Holds a fragment of the valor of every fallen warrior who wore it before you.

Shield of War – +7 to ∞ Defense. Its durability mirrors your resolve. You forged it from your own will and essence, tempered in flame. As long as your will remains unbroken, the shield can withstand any blow.

It was made for war, and lives only in war.

*

Now, my strength and endurance have reached their limit. But it no longer felt the same before, enhancements allowed me to break past the cap of twenty. Now, I had hit the wall at thirty.

I knew I was only a step away from reaching new heights. Perhaps Diogenes was right it was I who held myself back. My doubts, my thoughts, they only dragged me down.

Vengeance. I had spent many sleepless nights pondering how to return to the Underworld and extract everything Charon knew. If my search in Athens failed, the simplest path was to kill myself and descend once more into the realm of the dead. But time would be short the body cannot live long without the soul.

Finding an entrance to the Underworld is no easy task. If I killed Cerberus, Hades would know immediately. Then I would be forced to face him and every guardian of his domain. That would tear apart the very balance of the realm of the dead unleashing thousands of unburied souls upon the world.

I suspected Diana knew far more than she let on. But she kept her intentions and knowledge veiled. Not once in our conversations did she speak a name any name I mentioned was either confirmed or denied with a nod, or ignored in silence.

Force the truth out of her? I couldn't. She had helped me far too often. The thought of using power against her never even crossed my mind.

In all this confusion, I had nearly forgotten my true purpose to change everything. I had to protect Kratos's family.

For now, my abilities allowed me to mend broken bones and close some wounds. But to cure illness? Perhaps that knowledge lay in Athens, waiting to be claimed.

Yet all of this faded beneath the relentless pressure of emotions that whispered of revenge. I held them back with sheer will, but their echoes still reached me.

"Your soul is restless again. You know who you are, but not where to go?" Diogenes asked. He had a strange gift for reading people understanding them just by watching.

"More than ever," I replied.

"When the road is finally open, you don't know which way to walk? One thing is certain: you cannot take all paths at once," he said.

"That doesn't make it easier," I sighed.

"What matters more to you reason or emotion?" he asked.

"Reason."

"For now, yes. But how long will it remain above your feelings? We are humans fickle creatures," Diogenes said, rubbing his temples. "By the gods, I'm sick of this sea. I've been queasy for hours. When do we finally reach land?"

"Ugh..." I shook my head. He definitely had two personalities.

"Damocles, you haven't eaten," came a gentle voice. Callista approached and offered me a plate of food.

"No one offers me anything. No one loves me," Diogenes muttered, hugging himself theatrically.

"Thank you, Callista," I said, accepting the meal and ignoring Diogenes' antics.

"You're welcome," she replied softly, returning to her son.

"She's in love with you," Diogenes said, chewing a date. "When are you two going to bed together?"

"Old man, that's none of your business. Say one more word and I'll shave your beard off," I snapped at his utter lack of tact.

The ship was small, and though we were at the bow, our voices still carried. I saw Callista blush and quickly cover her son's ears.

"Don't touch the beard and I'm not old. I just look wiser with it," Diogenes muttered, stroking his beard.

Let the sea breeze carry away my thoughts, if only for a while. Life was simpler when all I had was a command... and a single, clear goal.