Chapter 67: The Witch Pathway: Lore and Ranks

The first volume concludes here. This section outlines the lore and settings for the ‘Witch’ Pathway, intended to aid interested readers. Those uninterested may proceed directly to the next volume.

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The ‘Witch’ Pathway corresponds to the ‘Witch’ class and governs the Authorities of Femininity and Destiny.

It is incompatible with the Warrior (God of War) Pathway.

Men who enter this pathway will undergo a gender transformation. The process of advancement involves consuming self-concocted potions, with the exception of the Ninth Rank.

Ninth Rank: Witch

[Sixth Sense] This grants the most basic precognitive ability. When facing significant changes in destiny, such as impending death, a special intuition arises, allowing one to mitigate misfortune and death to some extent, though success is not guaranteed. There is a low probability of experiencing specific precognitive visions during advancement or sleep.

[Potion Mastery] Witches can sense the effects of drugs on the human body upon touch, giving them a significant advantage in studying pharmacology. A Witch’s blood can be used as a potion ingredient. When mixed with poison, the poisoned individual must drink a mixture of the same Witch’s blood and an antidote to be cured.

Eighth Rank: Diviner

[Divination] This allows one to divine an answer to a single question. It requires a ritual involving stargazing or star cards as a medium, yielding only a vague revelation. However, by using a magic mirror crafted by a higher-ranked Witch, one can perceive the divination’s visual imagery.

Retains all previous abilities.

Seventh Rank: Sorceress (Alice’s current rank)

[Charm Curse] This ability can be actively released. The Sorceress’s demeanor and voice will cause the target to develop an extra degree of favorability, even if they are an enemy. Those with strong willpower can overcome this effect. By kissing, the Sorceress can drain the target’s stamina, inflicting a Weakness Curse upon them, while temporarily strengthening her own physique.

[Voodoo Doll] The Sorceress’s fingers can briefly penetrate clothing and armor to extract a voodoo doll from the target’s body. (During this ritual, nothing physical can be touched except the voodoo doll itself.) Effects inflicted upon the voodoo doll will feedback to its owner. It can cause harm to lower-ranked individuals and ordinary people, non-lethal but reduced injuries to those of the same rank, and only pain to higher-ranked individuals. Alternatively, by obtaining the target’s hair or blood, a voodoo doll can be secretly crafted, though this will only inflict pain, not harm, on any target.

[Potion Specialization] The Sorceress can use her own blood to concoct the ‘Gender Transformation Potion,’ as well as ‘Joy and Pain.’ She can also make her concocted potions instantly evaporate, transforming into a toxic mist.

Retains all previous abilities.

Sixth Rank: Succubus (Duchess Patra’s current rank)

[Prophet] Passive precognitive senses will generate corresponding feelings; for instance, before an attack, one can preemptively feel the location and intensity of the pain. Divination no longer requires rituals and can be performed simply by using reflective surfaces such as mirrors, water, or crystal balls, allowing one to see images and hear sounds.

[Monster Form: Succubus] The user can transform into a succubus form, allowing for brief aerial flight. In this form, they can hypnotize and charm targets; the more intimate the contact, the stronger the effect, with the minimum requirement being eye contact.

[Dreamweaver] Usable in succubus form, this allows the user to weave dreams for sleeping or hypnotized targets. Dream material is sourced from both the user’s and the target’s memories. Pleasant dreams can enhance charm effects, while nightmares can cause mental corruption.

[Illusion] Usable in normal form, this allows for temporary alteration of one’s appearance and the impression given to others. Male Witches who reach this rank can temporarily revert to their original gender without needing potions.

Retains all previous abilities.

Fifth Rank: Harpy

[Monster Form: Harpy] The user can transform into a harpy, their hands becoming wings, allowing for prolonged high-altitude flight.

[Superhuman Strength] In harpy form, strength surpasses that of ordinary people. Sharp talons can easily lift a person for flight and pierce leather armor.

[Shattering Scream] In harpy form, the user can emit a shriek unbearable to ordinary people, capable of rupturing eardrums at close range.

[Illusory Song] The harpy form’s song can induce hypnosis, allowing for mental control or causing the target to fall asleep.

Retains all previous abilities.

Fourth Rank: Gorgon

[Monster Form: Naga] The user transforms into a gorgon, their legs becoming a snake tail.

[Superhuman Strength] In naga form, physical capabilities are comparable to large magical beasts. Claws can easily tear out a human heart, and the snake tail can crush bones. The body becomes tougher, capable of withstanding stronger impacts, and injuries can be quickly staunched.

[Petrifying Gaze] Usable in gorgon form. Once activated, any creature making eye contact will suffer a petrification curse. When used on higher-ranked targets, it cannot cause petrification but can induce a certain degree of paralysis. The petrification effect can only be removed by the user themselves.

Retains all previous abilities.

Third Rank: Banshee (Blood Red Queen Isola and White Queen Nafti’s current rank)

[Divinity] Possesses nascent divinity, significantly reducing reliance on food and sleep, extending lifespan, and greatly slowing aging. Gains enhanced resistance to negative effects such as curses. Can create dependents, directly transforming ordinary people into Ninth Rank ‘Witches’.

[Grand Prophet] Both divination and passive precognitive abilities can directly manifest as visions.

[Declaration of Misfortune] A nascent power of ‘Word of Law’. Declaring a negative effect upon a target within the domain will cause that effect to manifest on them. A single sentence can instantly kill lower-ranked individuals and ordinary people, gravely wound those of middle rank, cause partial damage to those of the same rank, and temporarily weaken a higher-ranked target’s beneficial effects, including their divinity.

[Monster Queen] Without full transformation, the user can simultaneously employ all mid-rank monster form abilities. The Illusion ability upgrades, allowing the user to transform into another person’s likeness by possessing a part of their body (typically hair).

[Potion Expert] Can concoct beast-transformation potions that turn people into succubi, as well as transformation potions that alter one’s appearance to resemble others. Can create magic mirrors with divination and communication effects, and Witch’s Dresses that change style to match the wearer’s physique.

Retains all previous abilities.

Second Rank: Prophecy

Unexplained.

First Rank: Grand Witch

Unexplained.

Coronation Rank: Goddess of Destiny

Unexplained.