The Path of Ascension Book 10.5: A LitRPG Adventure

The Path of Ascension #10.5

by C. Mantis

Echos can come in as many flavors as there are sources. They are all unique, but few more so than an Ascension.

Matt, Liz, and Aster are off to fight in a war their predecessors started two hundred years ago, but the Empire marches on, and so too do those whom the Ascenders affected.

Don't miss this special novella in this action-packed fantasy adventure that blends everything you love about LitRPG with Xianxia.

About the This is a mix between LitRPG and Xianxia. It's like a car that looks like a LitRPG with dungeons and skills, but the interior and engine are all Xianxia. It features a magic system and progression system that are logically and internally consistent, as well as realistic fight scenes and a rational MC.

Genres: Litrpg, Fantasy, Audiobook, Science Fiction Fantasy, Science Fiction

157 pages, Paperback

Published November 17, 2025

Reviews

[SVETLANA]

The Path of Ascension 10.5 by C. Mantis — 4⭐

A short transitional book that mostly shows how different factions, allies, and enemies react to Matt, Liz, and Aster’s Ascension after the events of the previous volume. The main Ascension itself was already covered earlier, so this novella focuses more on consequences, perspectives, and setup for future conflicts. It also gives a glimpse into the larger war between powerful factions and the dangers waiting for Ascenders in the future. Not exceptional, but still an enjoyable addition to the series and a useful bridge toward the next arc.

[Sean Chieves]

The Path of Ascension 10.5 by C. Mantis feels like the author casually decided to flex and drop a compact little novel that somehow packs in everyone’s perspective—friends, enemies, random bystanders, and the poor souls who crossed paths with Matt, Liz, and Aster and are still emotionally recovering. Seriously, the way this book jumps through viewpoints is insanely satisfying, because it doesn’t just remind you of old characters—it revives them, lets you see where they ended up, and then lets you watch them process the news of the trio’s ridiculous success like it’s the fantasy equivalent of seeing your old classmate become a billionaire overnight. Some reactions are proud, some are bitter, some are stunned, and some are basically, “Wait… THAT Matt? The Matt I met once??” And that’s what makes 10.5 so fun: it’s a victory lap that doesn’t feel lazy, it’s a world-building feast disguised as a side story, and it’s hilarious in how it highlights just how unreal Matt, Liz, and Aster look from the outside. C. Mantis deserves genuine applause here—because writing a “half book” that feels this complete, this exciting, and this emotionally rewarding is the kind of authorial overachievement that makes you put the book down afterward and just nod like, “Yeah. That was unfairly good.”

[Ian]

I start my reviews at 3 stars.

I liked this, but not amazing. Lacks our main characters, this is simply a lot of vignettes of people who have known Matt and Liz and their reactions to them being revealed as the new ascendors. I listen to this series, so I'm spelling that probably. Regardless - some of the reactions were fun, some where eh, but it was a nice way to give us glimpses of people we've met along the way (except in one case, which was funny/interesting enough).

In one case, I couldn't remember when/who the person was.

I wouldn't have minded a few more looks at the closest friends who'd gathered in the room for their party only to get surprised. They alluded to the reactions but I think I would have enjoyed to see those more firsthand.

Whatever, not necessary for the series read, but a fun outtake. I'd say give it a try.

[Shannon]

This book is basically everybody who even loosely knows Matt and Liz reacting to their ascension. There are a few titbits about other characters that may be relevant to the main story however you can pretty much skip 95% of this book and if I'm being honest you don't even have to read this to follow the main story as it was pretty boring

[Ross]

During the start of book ten I was looking for a section about people who knew the trio finding out that they were the masked Ascenders and was disappointed that they seemed to skip past it, this rectifies it in a deliberate and hilarious way, thank you for writing it my heart sung when I realised this is what I wanted then.

[John]

Nice little interstitial about some side characters

This short entry was about some of the side characters we saw along our MCs Path to Ascension. Some I did not recognize, but seeing the knock on effects of their ascension was interesting.

[Zeb]

Great assortment of short stories starting and wrapping up the first 10 books and paving the way for future installments.

[Mr. J]

A nice novella showing the impact of the Ascenders on the other people in the Realm.

[wissam]

it was fun seeing everyone they met Reaction to there Success ..

[Tyler Baez]

I love this style of book as another insight to the universe it takes place in but not directly following the main story line.

[Tony]

4.2