"Mr. Nobody, first I want to remind you that I can’t search for information related to the transition to the First Step or the other Steps," Paymax noted. "I may be at the cutting edge of this world’s technology, but there’s nothing I can do in matters guarded by supernatural forces. Any attempt to access such information will inevitably leave a trace that will lead back to you."

Paymax had mentioned this before, but Mr. Nobody hadn’t paid it much mind. After all, for the past two years, he hadn’t made any attempts to advance to the First Step.

Paymax could find a dossier on practically any living being. Find out their name, biography, and even their darkest deeds.

He also had access to things that no one in Concord had ever spoken of. For example, the history and how things truly are in this world.

However, there was information he simply couldn’t access safely. Which isn’t surprising.

Concord is, after all, the territory of the Peak of Knowledge.

"I know, I know... It’s predictable, considering that the Path of Concord is the only accepted Path here."

"Let’s get back to what you mentioned."

Paymax pointed to the Bond column on the holographic board.

"Yes. The First Step of the Path of Bond is the weakest in terms of offense, but it’s indispensable when working in a team. Their abilities at this level are limited to extreme regenerative capabilities, strangely connected to blood... That’s the first thing. And the second is that those who reach it almost never leave the Commonwealth of Bond and remain there almost forever."

"The first and the second... Are you implying that these two things are connected to the transition to the First Step of Bond?"

"Exactly." Mr. Nobody snapped his fingers.

He put away the glass of milk, at which the cat gave him an expressionless look, and leaned toward the table. Moving closer to the board’s projection, he began writing keywords in the Bond column.

"Considering that the green area on your body, Paymax, covers a vast portion of the planet, as well as what Tasha and Patrick told me a long time ago... It’s safe to assume that the Path of Bond has the largest number of followers. And the reason for this is their method of entering the First Step."

He highlighted the word method on the board. Then he began to draw a simple diagram below it.

The First Step of the Path of Bond was a blood bond shared by all inhabitants of the Commonwealth of Bond. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Generally, most people reach this level at a more conscious age, but, in his opinion, even infants could attain the First Step.

"This most likely depends on certain circumstances," he highlighted the word ’circumstances’ and moved it slightly away from the main diagram. "The method of transitioning to the First Step of the Bond involves ingesting a drop of blood from their own Peak. Thus, all residents of the Commonwealth of Bond share a special blood bond that is nearly impossible to break, and they receive their superpowers... You could say that there’s a piece of their god in each of them."

"Meow..." the cat replied listlessly, looking down at the empty glass of milk.

The hologram of the planet let out an exaggerated silent whistle.

"An amazing resemblance to what’s in Concord." Paymax pointed to his temple, alluding to Neodeck.

"That’s not what we should be thinking about right now."

Mr. Nobody pushed the Bond diagram aside, leaving only the word circumstances nearby.

"Until today, I only knew of this method of transition. I have no clues about Fortitude, except for my revolver and memories of that old man Dum’s indestructible skeleton. As for Solitude—nothing but the Solitium, and it’s foolish to base our guesses solely on it. We’ll put Dream aside for now, and that leaves... Knowledge and Havoc. I learned a great deal about one of them yesterday."

...

The Havoc column on the board’s projection was filled with a detailed diagram describing the ritual for achieving the First Step. Opposite it was an empty the Dream column, and the word circumstances was written separately to the side.

"Okay, we have a detailed description of how to achieve the First Step of Havoc. And even the ritual’s end result—the Essence that the last survivor will absorb."

"Without getting into the details, schematically this almost completely mirrors the method of entering the Path of Bond," Paymax summarized.

"Correct, and, as in that case, the only thing that remains unknown is the circumstances." He highlighted that word again and placed it beside another identical one. "The important point is that the annihilation of one’s own lineage could be an artificial recreation of those circumstances. Or even a consequence leading to their manifestation... This is an important clue, but we can’t be sure of it yet."

"Mr. Nobody, I see where you’re going with this, but are these ’circumstances’ really that important? After all, the most important thing on the Path of Havoc seems to be this Essence, which allows whoever absorbs it to reach the First Step."

"..." The cat yawned silently and closed her eyes.

"I don’t dispute that, but on the Path of Dream, there is no Essence that anyone can absorb. It’s important for us to understand what kind of process results in the appearance of this Essence — that’s the key. Look further."

Mr. Nobody set the Havoc column aside and brought the Dream column to the center.

He began filling it in with a sequence of three steps.

"You’re right to note that the transition to the Path of Dream seems the most confusing and almost nonsensical... But without getting into the details, every Path has clear steps that allow you to take the First Step. You just need to figure out this pattern, and then understand what’s most important."

He finished with the Dream diagram.

First came the clue from his conversation with Marie.

"Afraid of taking the first step. Leaving everything behind."

Next was an arrow leading to the clue from Santi’s reward for winning the Selection.

"Leap of Faith."

Last was a phrase from the legends stating that anyone worthy can enter the Abode of Dreams. The chain led precisely to this, just as the Path of Havoc led to the Essence.

"To Soar."

"Doesn’t it remind you of anything, Paymax?" he asked with a smile.

"It’s... Without going into details, it almost completely mirrors the rituals of Havoc and Bond."

"True. As in other cases, we already have a detailed method for taking the First Step on the Path of Dream. Take the first step, jump, and soar. That’s it."

Mr. Nobody felt a strange sense of excitement and a surge of excitement.

He pushed the entire diagram aside, leaving only the word ’Dream’ and the third word, circumstances.

Next, resetting the board, an inscription shone in the center.

"The First Step."

He placed the word ’Dream’ next to it.

The three words circumstances were arranged around the main phrase, forming a triangle around it.

"...This is the true diagram of the ritual."

He exhaled, looking around in awe at what he saw.

"The First Step of Dream." This phrase was in the center, surrounded by the words circumstances.

"We already have the most important part." He pointed to the phrase in the center. "A detailed method for transitioning to the First Step of the Path of the Dream. All that remains are the mysterious circumstances present in the transition ritual on every Path. If I can learn the approximate circumstances of the ritual on at least one of the Paths... then the First Step on the Path of Dream will become possible. That’s my idea."

"Mr. Nobody... But how do you plan to find out these circumstances?" asked Paymax.

He smiled, glancing at the cat staring at him.

"Right now, I have two options. The first is to perhaps see it with my own eyes by embarking on a suicide mission to the Village of Fool of Baals... The second is to learn it from someone who knows what I do not. From the only person in Concord who lived under the previous Peak of Knowledge."

"...The Head of Southville."

Mr. Nobody nodded and approached the cat.

"It’s finally time to talk to Schrödinger, and also to enjoy the best coffee and pasta in this whole world. We’re going to the Southville underground, kitty... We’re going to New Italy."