[cwillu]

“Path of least resistance” is a simplification of ohm's law, and that simplification simply isn't very relevant when dealing with voltages with 7-9 digits and tens of kiloamperes: at those voltages, even high impedance paths will have a non-trivial current (to lifeforms made of bags of saltwater).

And don't forget that an instantaneous discharge of 10,000A will also create a tremendous magnetic field which will immediately collapse, creating voltages that will induce eddy currents in conductors (such as the aforementioned bags of saltwater) that are near the main current flow.