Path of Ascension (2025)

It's called The Path of Ascension because it's only wide enough for one. Matt plans to delve the rifts responsible for the monsters that destroyed his city and murdered his parents. But his dreams are crushed when his Tier 1 Talent is rated as detrimental and no guild or group will take him. Working at a nearby inn, he meets a mysterious and powerful pair of Delvers who give him a chance to join the Path of Ascension, an empire-wide race to ascend the Tiers and become living legends. With their recommendation and a stolen Skill, Matt begins his journey to the peak of power. Maybe then, he can get vengeance he seeks...

Matt will need a lot more power if he’s going to stay on the Path of Ascension. Luckily for him, he’s not afraid to take some risks. Alongside his bound pet Arctic Fox, Aster, he’ll leave the only world he’s ever known and travel to a new planet to explore never-before-delved rifts, each more dangerous and bizarre than the last. Inside these rifts lie rare and untouched treasures, traps, and more monsters than you can shake a sword at, but despite the remoteness of the planet, he’s far from alone–even if he makes it through the rifts in one piece, will he be able to survive the other delvers he meets?

What is the true price of power? Matt, Liz, and Aster continue on their Path of Ascension together, testing their skills to the limit against delvers from both the Empire and the republic. But despite his increasing abilities, Matt can’t forget about the subjugation of his home planet, or the rage he still carries within. Neither Matt nor Liz will be able to ascend to the next Tier on the Path until they confront their inner truths and form a Concept of what their power is meant to be.