Chương 70: Tevenny and Fate

On World Ranked 34, Tevenny Justice Loquitor sat quietly, listening as her grandfather addressed the gathering. Galvano Juice Loquitor, the current Grand Elder of Sept Verison Primera of the Aur Garde Fern, commanded attention with every word. Their people were well-known across the integration for their formidable prowess in telepathic warfare and mental affinity, despite their world's deceptively low rank in the integration standings.

This was only because they rarely participated in competitions, having already secured a future pact: a full migration to World Ranked 4, the Klonoan Zanthy world, scheduled to begin five years after the arrival of the system seeds.

"Now, everyone," Galvano said, his voice carrying with ease, "one final question to close today's session. What is one of the defining theories regarding Fate?" Tevenny was the first to raise her hand. Galvano smiled and gestured for her to rise.

"Tevenny, if you will." She stood, smoothing the folds of her skirt before addressing the gathered Aur Garde Fern.

"By the current understanding, the most widely accepted theory is that Fate Lines guide all lifeforms," she said clearly, gesturing as a shimmering image of a fate line materialized in the air before her.

"These lines act as threads, directing the course of a being's life. However, they are not absolute. Deviation is both possible and, in fact, frequently observed throughout a being's lifetime. The stronger one's willpower, the greater the deviation." Galvano nodded thoughtfully.

"And what occurs when a lifeform deviates from its original Fate Line?"

"From what we understand," Tevenny continued, "the force behind fate creates a new fate line when deviation occurs, altering the trajectory of that lifeform to such a degree that it can no longer return to its original path. The change is irrevocable." Galvano nodded in agreement and raised his hands to address the entire gathering.

"Are there any rules or laws that govern fate?" Tevenny returned to her seat, allowing the others to participate. A tall boy seated to her left was the first to raise his hand. At Galvano's signal, he stood.

"I believe fate is governed by probability protocols," the boy said.

"If the likelihood of an event occurring on a lifeform's timeline is high enough, fate will shape it into a focal point, guiding the lifeform to ensure it comes to pass. As Tevenny described, deviation occurs when the lifeform resists an imminent focal point and alters its course."

"Interesting theory, Ghos," Galvano replied, his tone thoughtful.

"However, your view has one glaring flaw. Fate lines are created at birth. Probability, as you've described it, requires existing data to make predictions. So, how would probability play a role before a single choice is made? Or are you suggesting that all events are preordained before birth?" Tevenny watched as Ghos struggled to process her grandfather's rebuttal. He was the type who believed every truth could be derived through calculation. That, with the right formula, all things could be understood.

She disagreed, especially when it came to the concept of fate. How could it be possible to calculate every possibility?

"I concede that I am currently unable to account for the creation of a fate line at birth," Ghos admitted before returning to his seat.

"Remember, this is all theory. There is no singular definition of fate or how it is determined. We must discuss and work it out for ourselves," Galvano said calmly. He fielded a few more answers from the group, but none seemed to offer a theory he found convincing regarding the laws and mechanisms behind fate. As Tevenny listened to the various theories being tossed around, her eyes shimmered faintly; she had quietly activated her bloodline ability. Around her grandfather, Galvano, a blue aura appeared.

It pulsed gently, warm and calm to the eye. He was a teacher, a scholar, someone who had never raised a hand in violence. His Aura was pure, untouched by conflict. Tevenny's gaze moved to the thread that extended from the crown of his head and reached upward, vanishing into the sky, his fate line. Or, as her bloodline called it, the thread of fate. She had been fortunate enough to encounter a bloodline gate shortly after reaching level 120 and stepping into the E-grade. Her bloodline was called Fate's Broken Sight.

It granted her two unique skills. The one she used now allowed her to see a being's Aura and their thread of fate. The second, far rarer skill, allowed her to touch a being's thread directly and glimpse into their future. However, that skill had strict limitations, and she had yet to meet the conditions required to activate it. While her first skill was active, fate threads surrounded her like strands of light. She could see when fate shifted, when alterations or deviations occurred.

She had witnessed many such deviations in her life, so many that she believed nothing fate-related could surprise her anymore. That belief was shattered during the latest Empire Meeting. Her thoughts were broken as her grandfather uttered a word that yanked her back to the present, one she recognized instantly.

"Anomaly. That is the Multiversal term for someone outside of fate. Another common term is fateless. However, this typically refers to a lesser-known variant, the will-less Anomaly. These are rare and rarely survive beyond the F-grade." This was the first time Tevenny had heard the term will-less Anomaly. She understood its implications. Will-less described those without ambition or direction. Individuals whose fate threads were frail and insubstantial.

Every person Tevenny observed had a different thickness to their thread of fate, and the more powerful the individual, the more prominent and vibrant the thread appeared. The clearest example of this had occurred during the Empire Meeting. When Tevenny first looked upon the number-one-ranked being in the Integration. Kilch'Kitz Novo'Fara. She had witnessed the thickest, most radiant fate thread she had seen up to that point.

His Aura had burned in a deep, blood-soaked red, revealing the immense violence he had wrought. It had been so intense to look at that she found it difficult to gaze upon him with her bloodline skill active for more than a few seconds. Later, when the Gods arrived during the finale of the Meeting, Tevenny attempted to activate her skill again. But this time, the system had blocked it, just as it had blocked her other skills.

She assumed the earlier observation of Kilch'Kitz had been permitted because her skill posed no harm. She merely observed threads and auras, but could not interact with them in any way. Still, she had activated her skill one final time before the Empire Meeting concluded. She'd noticed Feormere, seemingly talking to no one… standing near one of the outer walls, holding something in his hand. Curious, her eyes flared with her gaze of the beloved watcher. What she saw made her pulse skip a beat.

There were two invisible lifeforms standing before Feormere. Both bore fate threads that dwarfed even Kilch'Kitz's. Thicker, brighter, and more vivid than the brightest skylight. Their Auras radiated behind the system's forced suppression. She had convulsed and almost thrown up at the sudden sight she should not have seen. Her mind fractured for a moment before she regained her senses. By the time she had control of her senses once more, the trio had separated. The two invisible figures, gone.

Then, not realizing her skill was still active, she turned to gaze upon a walking Feormere and blacked out. A shiver crept down Tevenny's spine at the memory. In that brief, unforgettable moment she had looked at Feormere, she had seen two things. Firstly, he had no fate thread. None at all. There was simply… nothing. Secondly, every fate thread present at the Empire Meeting, without exception, had leaned toward him. Every single one. He was deviating them all, simultaneously, just by existing. It was astonishing.

Someone who stood outside the bounds of fate itself. Someone whose very presence distorted the threads of others. Someone beyond calculation. Tevenny's wandering thoughts returned to the present as her grandfather's voice rang out once more.

"Every once in a while," Galvano said, "there emerges an outstanding anomaly, one who deviates all fates they encounter. It is generally advised to avoid them where possible. A fate deviated by an anomaly can no longer be predicted. These exceptional beings are named after one particular title in the Multiverse: Celestial Panjandrum." The discussion continued, and theories swirled like leaves in the wind. Tevenny remained silent now, letting the others speak while her thoughts spiralled inward.

When the lesson finally concluded, she returned to her homestead. Her twin brothers and older sister greeted her as she stepped through the threshold. [Salutations, cherished sister,] her brothers said in unison, their voices smooth and synchronized in her mind. [Blessings, fratres,] Tevenny replied with a graceful nod. Her twin brothers were considered exceptionally handsome by their species standards, tall and lean, with long, dark hair that cascaded to their shoulders.

They had full eyelashes, sharp but soft features, and short antennae that curled slightly above their brows. Antennae structure being the distinguishing feature that separates the males from the females of the Aur Garde Fern. Their ears, ending in gentle points, looked almost Elven, but smaller, more subtle. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Tevenny turned as her sister, Valeri, entered and pulled her into a warm hug.

Their foreheads touched briefly in their customary greeting. Valeri looked nearly identical to her, taller by a sliver, with short blue hair in contrast to Tevenny's long waves, and a slightly more angular nose. [Tev, did you see the new competition on the integration pillar?] [I haven't, sister,] Tevenny replied with a curious smile as Valeri grabbed her hand and led her deeper into the house. They stopped in the chamber that housed their minor sept pillar. One of ten held by the world's top-ranked contenders.

[You are going to be so surprised.] Valeri said, eyes gleaming with excitement. Tevenny's curiosity spiked. She brought up the pillar's control panel with a thought and navigated to the competition listings. Her eyes scanned the usual categories, race, monster collection, monster hunt, until she saw something entirely new. Her brows lifted in astonishment. Integration Competition. Tides of Movement - Compete against the very best young dancers in the Multiverse in this once-off special event.

Total prize - 1 million integration points. [It's a dance competition!] Valeri practically squealed, clapping her hands in delight. Tevenny was too stunned to speak. This was the first competition she'd seen offering a million integration points. Before she could gather her thoughts, Valeri spun her into an impromptu dance, laughter echoing through the chamber.

After the excitement of the new event faded, Tevenny sent a brief message to the current rank one on her world before signing her name into one of the ten entry spots. There was no way she would miss this. Not because of the prize, but because she knew, with absolute certainty after what she had witnessed during the Empire Meeting, that this competition would attract one… human in particular. The only being who stood above all others in her eyes. Her future husband: Feormere. __ Joe sneezed.

A shiver crawled down his spine. He gave his head a shake.

"What's wrong?" Veda asked from her perch.

"Nothing. Just had a weird, ominous feeling for a moment, but it's gone now." He continued walking through the long corridor until he reached the door at the far end. He opened it, stepped inside… he rubbed his eyes in disbelief at the baffling sight before him.

"Sorry, I seem to have entered an alternate reality," he babbled, stepping back out and shutting the door. After a second, he cautiously reopened it. Nope… same scene. He ducked as something flew at his head.

"Shut your mouth, Farmer," Esha snapped. Joe straightened with a laugh, still stunned at the vision before him. Esha… warrior, hunter, and all-around menace, stood before him in a dress. A dress!

"Wow," he said, grinning. He raised his hands in surrender as she picked up something else… he realized, with some alarm, it was a Chinese teapot.

"Wait! I'm impressed! You look great!" he blurted out. Esha paused, eyeing him with suspicion before finally lowering the teapot. Joe exhaled in relief.

"Not another word, you hear me."

"Oh, child. You look wonderful. You really need to learn to accept a compliment," Veda chimed in gently. Esha flushed and turned away, muttering something unintelligible as she focused on Samira, who was still laughing uncontrollably.

"I just came to give you this," Joe said, handing a small box to Samira before backing away toward the door. He didn't wait for a reply and quickly made his escape, just in case Esha decided to weaponize more pottery. Naturally, he gave his friend one last glance before leaving. She did look good in a dress. Back in the hallway, Joe exhaled and started walking. His thoughts drifted as he moved, the sounds of laughter fading behind him.

Since arriving in Kunlun, Joe had been undergoing a bit of an eye-opening renaissance. It quickly became clear that his year spent living like a hermit, hunting Boss Beasts alone, had caused him to miss out on massive societal shifts. Changes that were no longer subtle, but deeply embedded. He'd seen early signs of it in Heliopolis. But here in Kunlun, the difference was stark. Society had transformed completely.

Gone was the old system, where power lay with the rich, where status came from wealth, education, and pedigree. The gulf between the privileged and the struggling had once been vast. But here… there were very few have-nots. Everyone had shelter. Everyone had food, clothes, and something to keep them occupied. Life's basic needs were met. Yet that didn't mean equality. The new society operated under a different rule: strength. Now, power wasn't measured in currency or connections.

It was measured in levels, stats, and might. Status came not from what you had, but from how strong you were. It didn't matter who your parents were or where you studied. Negotiation? Diplomacy? Those were outdated tools. Why negotiate when you could demand… or simply take what you wanted by force? This meant that society had become a lot more violent than before. Joe saw disputes settled not with words, but with fists. It wasn't unusual to see people brawling in the streets over trivial matters.

He still shook his head at the memory of a slim young woman beating a man twice her size with nothing but a shoe. The strangest part? After the beating, the man apologized, and the two walked off arm-in-arm as if it had been a perfectly normal conversation.

"This is normal," Veda had explained on their second day in Kunlun. Until the major powers solidified their control, people would fight and scramble for a place in this new world, one where strength ruled all. The strong lived and thrived. The weak did what they were told, or they were beaten until they complied, or worse. Joe was grateful to have avoided that chaotic time. He was practically an outside observer recently. Everyone recognized him by sight, much to his dismay.

At some point, tales of the strange Progenitor who roamed the cities wearing odd white sunglasses had spread through all the pillar cities. Naturally, Joe had no intention of ever taking the glasses off. They were as much a part of him as his smile. People rarely questioned him. His presence was accepted, even respected. He could go wherever he wanted, unimpeded. Still, Kunlun wasn't completely lawless. There were enforcers, officers assigned to keep the peace.

They only intervened when things got truly out of hand… which, in Kunlun, meant something a lot more dramatic than a simple street fight. Joe made his way to the room he shared with Corel. She was seated on a tatami mat, focused intently on her alchemy. She had gained another two levels in her profession and was on track to reach level 100 well before he did. She rarely went outside; people still weren't used to seeing a Voldura walking among them.

Joe quietly closed the door behind him so as not to disturb her concentration. Veda leapt from his shoulder and curled up on a chair in the corner of the room. Noticing the integration pillar floating beside Corel, Joe assumed she'd been checking it before starting her alchemy session. He approached her and gently picked it up. Corel twitched slightly but didn't break her focus. [Wait, don't check it yet.] - Corel. [Okay, but why?] - Joe. Corel didn't respond and continued crafting her pill.

So Joe simply sat down with his back against the chair where Veda lay and waited, relaxing in the quiet of the room. When Corel finished, she joined Joe and sat beside him.

"So… a new competition popped up on the pillar list. I think it's a trap, and you should not enter it," she said softly. Joe's curiosity immediately spiked. He had to resist the urge to check the pillar screen right then.

"What kind of competition?" he asked.

"Well…" Corel trailed off, her eyes suddenly widening as she stared at nothing. Joe recognized that look. It was something that had happened to him many times before. Corel's gaze snapped to him, filled with a mix of fear and uncertainty. She rubbed at her horns, then raised a hand to signal him not to speak. A moment later, she waved her fingers, and the familiar blue translucent quest screen appeared before him. He read it. Congratulations, you have received a new quest. Quest - Bonds of Fate.

The threads of fate have pulled you to bond with a man who was bound by another. This is a transgression against fate itself. Now, you must atone for your audacity. You will be teleported to the Eludian Empire, where you will work as a handmaiden for the Princess Rose Terravignion for ** Multiversal days. During these * days, you must win the respect and trust of the princess. Only then will your bond with the **** be complete.

Side Task: Show this quest screen to your bonded one to receive a slight boost in favorability with the princess. You will be teleported ten seconds after your bonded one reads this. Quest failure = Your bond of fate will be severed. Quest complete = No change. Good Luck.

"Fuck me sideways," Joe said, completely at a loss to how to respond. Corel stared at him incredulously, then vanished as the teleportation took her from the room. Joe remained seated, staring at the space she had just occupied. The system has removed Corel from the party.

"What happened? Veda asked, raising her head. Joe gave her a brief explanation of the quest.

"Good. I guess we won't be seeing her for a while," Veda said. Joe grimaced, suddenly remembering how much time he had lost travelling to and from Eludia before.

"Shit. Well, that messes with my plans."

"Aren't you worried about Corel?"

"Nah… I'll let the ladies sort out whatever it is they need to sort out. I'm sure it will be fine." He paused. Pondering. It should be fine… right? And then worry began to creep in. Joe pulled up the pillar screen, pushing his worry about Corel to the back of his mind. A new competition had appeared, and he needed to check it out. He quickly navigated through the menus, and the moment he saw it, a massive grin spread across his face. Without a second thought, he claimed one of the five empty slots.

He didn't even hesitate. The next few days passed without incident. Joe spent some time with Samira, who casually mentioned that Esha and Gao had seemingly vanished, and no one knew where they'd gone. Joe chuckled at that. Whatever was happening between them, it wasn't any of his business. Honestly, he was happy for them. During his wandering, he stumbled across a small shop that sold incredibly comfortable and durable clothing made from a fabric he didn't recognize. A strange blend of silk and cotton.

He picked up a Chinese-style outfit that he now wore proudly, feeling like a protagonist straight out of an old-school historical drama. The tailor also crafted him a sleek black suit and a few pieces of old English-inspired attire. On the third day after Corel's sudden teleportation, Joe prepped to leave the city with Veda. With no clear idea how long she would be gone, he had time to kill, and that meant he had time to push both his profession and classes to level 100.

He said farewell to Samira and asked her to pass along a goodbye to Esha and Gao when they returned. He still had the communication device Gao had given him. But he refrained from using it right now. Once outside the southern gate of Kunlun, he pulled up his mini-map.

"So where to?" Veda asked from around his shoulders, coiled comfortably.

"Something tells me if we head south, we'll find something very interesting," Joe replied with a smile. There was a strange, subtle tug in his chest. A mix of instinct, premonition… or maybe just excitement. Whatever it was, he trusted it.

"Don't do anything stupid. I'm going to take a nap. Don't wake me," Veda mumbled, her voice thick with drowsiness.

"Yes, Ma'am," Joe said with a salute and took off at speed. It was power levelling time.