According to Faust's understanding, a "Path" was similar to a "Class" in a video game.
By performing actions that aligned with the class requirements and practicing the philosophy of the Path, one could obtain power and strengthen themselves.
To put it more simply: gain experience, level up.
The Path Faust inherited from his foster father was [Monarch of Dominion]. This was a heritage that could only be pioneered by the ruler of a nation, and a Path that only royalty could tread.
To put it bluntly, [Monarch of Dominion] was a top-tier choice among all [Hero] Paths. It was the Path almost any monarch of any kingdom would choose without hesitation, provided they had the chance.
Conquest, Rule, and Subjugation—the domains encompassed by these three were so extensive that as long as you were seriously getting things done, you could advance steadily.
Whether you were a bloodthirsty battle-maniac galloping across the sands or a gentle, sophisticated, and meticulous sage-king, you could walk smoothly down the Path of [Monarch of Dominion], and the enhancements were incredibly powerful.
To say something the "standard Path" users might not want to hear: [Monarch of Dominion] is truly "broken." Not only does it level up quickly, but its growth stats are high. Aside from the difficulty of qualifying for the job, it has almost no drawbacks.
[Um... Monarch of Dominion? It is indeed an excellent Path, especially for your ideals.]
Faust heard Mephisto's whisper in his ear. The Fairy's evaluation of [Monarch of Dominion] was also quite high:
[Most of the Tyrants in history were Monarchs of Dominion. This heritage was prepared for Tyrants from the very beginning.]
Faust said with pleasant surprise, "Because the Monarch of Dominion is strong?"
[No. It is because regardless of how mediocre one's natural abilities is, under the pouring of sufficient resources, a Monarch of Dominion will inevitably become powerful. Thus, it can mass-produce qualified antagonists.]
"...I knew it."
Faust now understood what Mephisto meant by "Destiny favors the Tyrant."
I bow to all you [Hero] Lords, [Sage] Lords, and [Savior] Lords! We [Tyrants] really shouldn't be using our faces to attack the soles of your shoes.
Under the governance of the Wheel of Destiny, there is a hierarchy of status among characters.
And the [Tyrant] is a "Silver-tier" destiny—stuck in the middle, unable to go up or down.
It is indeed much better than the inconsequential supporting characters or extras.
But no matter how strong you are, no matter what feats or results you achieve, your ultimate purpose is to serve as a stepping stone.
According to Mephisto, in Its memory, the stories of [Tyrants] being overthrown and subverted repeated constantly. The history of mortals, full of strife and blood, was merely the repeated performance of a single script.
Whether it was a warrior resisting oppression, a hero returning from conquest, or a wise king seeing through a conspiracy...
Once the [Tyrant] rises at lightning speed, what awaits him is the inevitable ending of being overthrown by these protagonists just as quickly.
[The only exception thus far is the Empire. The nation established by that Tyrant has endured for centuries. But this does not mean he overcame the Tyrant destiny; it is only because he was a Dragon Slayer.]
[The feat and achievement of slaying a dragon are enough for Destiny to bestow its favor, protecting his nation and descendants for a thousand years.]
Hearing Mephisto recount secrets rarely known to mortals, Faust's eyes lit up:
"In other words, the 'stepping stone' attribute of a [Tyrant] can be overwritten or canceled out? Not bad."
He did indeed want to become a Tyrant, but he couldn't stand actually being stepped on. Since there was a successful case, it wasn't an impossible difficulty.
However, glancing at his panel again, Faust couldn't help but say with regret:
"A pity my progress on the Path is still too slow."
Even though the scope of [Monarch of Dominion] was broad, he was still dissatisfied with his progress. The reason was that the three branches of the Path were not being utilized to their fullest.
The [Path of Subjugation] went without saying; there were no monsters worth subjugating within the borders of the Kingdom of Qingxi. As for ancestral enemies... they didn't exist; as a Prince, he had always been friendly to others.
If one had to split hairs, the Kingdom of Qingxi did have a conflict with the Empire. But as for going toe-to-toe with the Empire... are you even worthy?
The [Path of Rule] was the most successful route. Faust constantly held himself to the strict standards of a wise monarch, and the final results were very stable—perhaps a bit too stable.
[Subjugation is well and good, as is ruling, but neither compares to Conquest. Only Conquest is the shortcut to becoming an Overlord.]
"The Path of Conquest, huh..."
Faust looked troubled. Given the weak national strength of the Kingdom of Qingxi, there was no possibility of mobilizing troops externally. Surrounded by neighboring countries, the route of "pioneering the frontier" was also blocked.
[Why so glum? Is your attainment on the Path of Conquest not actually quite decent? You have even condensed a Trait.]
"Ahem!"
Hearing this, Faust coughed dryly twice and furrowed his brow in displeasure:
"You can see it, can't you? Are you asking just to mock me?"
Faust had indeed made some achievements on the Path of Conquest, and even condensed a Mystery Trait. However, as for this Trait...
[Innate Trait: Sovereign of Strong Desire]
[You have proven yourself to be the most masculine of males, the man of all women. Your existence makes them obsessed; you dominate their bodies and minds, greedy and insatiable. Such a state of strong desire deserves a blessing.]
[Blesses you with inexhaustible energy, a fatal attraction to the opposite sex, and a desire that never ceases.]
My god, a "Domain Master" of the bedroom!
Yes, Faust held "parties" with the noble ladies of the capital every day not just because the Prince enjoyed it, but for the more important purpose of grinding experience for his [Path of Conquest].
Conquering a nation is conquest; conquering specific individuals is also conquest. The two aren't even ranked differently.
The Prince hadn't tried to use personal charisma to win over his subordinates or act out some drama of "mutual understanding between monarch and subject," but the results were negligible.
The definition of "Conquest" was rather strict; simple loyalty was not enough. It had to be a total physical and mental dependence and submission, becoming a most faithful follower.
This couldn't be bought with high offices or rich salaries. One had to use both kindness and authority, exerting great control. The efficiency was simply too low.
Finally, Faust scoured the royal library and eventually consulted Yu Xuemu. Only from his Royal Sister did he learn of this "evil exploit" playstyle.
There was nothing to be said; to improve his attainment on the [Monarch of Dominion] Path, he was willing to do anything! Not to mention something like this, which he had no mental burden with to begin with.
It was just that having it listed as a meritorious achievement for commendation was somewhat embarrassing. If he were seizing territory as a conqueror and triggering this trait by unlocking "defeat CGs," that would count as a fairly glorious reward.
And this [Sovereign of Strong Desire] innate trait was also very hard to evaluate. Although the flavor text was "out there," logically speaking, it should be considered a top-tier Mystery Trait.
If nothing else, nearly infinite energy didn't just allow the Prince to challenge "anime-level volumes"; it also allowed Faust to be full of vitality and conduct high-intensity work continuously.
[Heh heh heh. Among the Human child, it is rare to see someone satisfy the Path of Conquest in this manner. But in a certain sense, you are gifted, aren't you?]