Chương 93: A Divergence in Fate

As Joe and Felicia appeared inside the shimmering bubble, they were greeted by the other attendees of the Empire Meeting. Esha, Gao and Hakeem came over with smiles and sarcasm, clearly excited to be part of their first gathering of this scale. After a round of hugs and handshakes, Joe noticed the rest of the attendees pointedly avoiding them. It was the Divine Sword and his entourage, seven in total, meaning he'd brought guests. Joe ignored them, instead waving over the lone Voldura standing awkwardly at the edge.

"Norse Vasoray?" Joe asked. The young Voldura nodded stiffly.

"Join us, we're all friendly here." Norse joined with visible relief, exchanging introductions just as the bubble dissolved and the Empire Meeting began.

"This feast is amazing," Hakeem said through a mouthful, already cleaning his plate.

"It's pretty fantastic. I need to find out the recipe." Joe waved a hand to flag down one of the serving droids.

"Is there an ingredient list for this meal?" The droid beeped in affirmation, handing him a scroll listing the dishes and ingredients. Joe scanned it briefly before tucking it away. Leaning back, full and content, he allowed himself a moment of relaxation. Best of all, no challenges were allowed during the Empire Meeting. No bounty hunters, no interruptions. By now, Gao, Esha, and Norse had finished their meals and were mingling with attendees from other worlds.

The great hall was alive with movement, different races intermingling and trading words. All except the ten tables at the head of the hall. Those belonged to the top ten worlds, and they sat in a bubble of emptiness, shunned like a plague. Joe straightened as he felt a presence approach. He shot to his feet. It was someone he hadn't seen since the Tides of Movement competition. Tevenny Loquitor, Rank 3 of world 32, sat in a floating wooden chair. A black bandage covered her eyes and much of her face.

She was bald now, gaunt, her antennae cut short with burn marks scarring the tips. A thick scar carved down her cheek, and she was missing an arm entirely. The change in her appearance robbed him of words. He just stood there, awkward and frozen, until she smiled faintly and raised a hand. Her familiar gesture of greeting. The sight jolted him back into motion. He matched the pose, heat creeping into his face at his hesitation. At last, words formed in his mind.

"Greetings, Tevenny."

"Greetings, Feormere," she replied, her voice husky but steady. Joe conjured a flower into his hand and offered it to her. She hesitated, then breathed in its fragrance, her features softening as she accepted the gift.

"Thank you."

"I'm just glad you're still with us," Joe said with a respectful nod.

"How are things on your world?"

"They could be better. We are perilously close to the bottom." She gestured, and her sister Valeri appeared at her side, quickly shielding her bandaged eyes.

"Is everything okay?" Joe asked, concern sharpening his tone.

"It is your fate line," Valeri said, her voice clipped.

"I warned her this would put a strain on her, but she insisted on speaking with you." Joe blinked. His fate line? Catalina had mentioned fate in passing during their last meeting, but he still knew almost nothing about it.

"It's nothing for you to worry about," Valeri added briskly as she dabbed a cloth against her sister's face.

"Fate…" Joe muttered under his breath.

"There's still so much I don't understand."

"I can teach you," Tevenny said, gently brushing her sister's hand aside. Valeri reluctantly stepped back but hovered protectively close.

"What would you like to know?" Never one to refuse a lesson, Joe pulled up a chair and sat opposite her. Perhaps he'd stumble onto something important about fate, a rare gift, and one he wouldn't waste.

"Can you really see fate lines? What do they look like?" he asked, eyes bright with curiosity as their conversation stretched on.

"Yes. They look like stars stretched thin, branching like a tree," Tevenny explained, her hands moving animatedly as she traced the shapes in the air. For a moment, she almost seemed like the bubbly girl he remembered, enjoying the impromptu tutoring. But then her voice turned hoarse.

"Yours… your fate line is different." Her words dissolved into a violent cough. Valeri was immediately there, helping her sister and urging her to stop before she did more damage.

"Thank you, sister, but I am fine," Tevenny whispered once the fit subsided. Joe raised a hand apologetically.

"Sorry, that's on me. I pushed too hard. We can pause, if that would help." Tevenny began to shake her head, but Valeri cut in sharply before she could answer.

"Thank you, Feormere, we will gladly accept the chance to rest and continue this talk later. There is still plenty of time," Valeri said firmly, giving her sister a look that brooked no argument.

"Yes," Tevenny relented with a small smile, "Thank you for entertaining me. We will continue this later." The two alien women offered him a polite wave as they returned to their table. Just in time, too, as the next portion of the Empire Meeting began. The proceedings rolled on without much excitement. Representatives of the Multiverse Empires spoke at length, offering deals and opportunities to a chosen few. No gods appeared this time, and Joe quickly realized that Thropia was being largely ignored.

He had nothing to do but sit, listen, and wait. The lower-ranked worlds pleaded for safe transfers into the top ten, hoping to avoid extinction. Joe barely paid attention. What he did notice was the weight of stares on him from across the hall. It wasn't surprising; he hadn't appeared in months, and now here he was, casually seated as if nothing in the universe could bother him. Eventually, the final announcements wound down.

A notification slid into his vision, stating that a two-hour period of open discussion remained before the teleportation back to their worlds. Attendees were also free to leave early.

"See you later, dude," Hakeem said as he vanished. Gao and Esha had spent the majority of the session mingling, gathering information from anyone willing to talk. Joe made a note to ask them later what they'd learned. But first, he had unfinished business. As the crowd thinned, he made his way back to Tevenny's table, flashing through the greeting stance before sitting beside Valeri. He caught the faint blush that touched her cheeks when he sat so close.

"Did you not bring one of your bonds?" Tevenny asked curiously.

"Oh, Corel? No, she was busy. But I'll tell her you said hello," Joe replied before leaning in slightly.

"Earlier, you said my fate line was different. What did you mean by that?"

"I can show you," Tevenny whispered, extending her hand. Joe's eyebrows shot up as he quickly took her hand. At that instant, the voice in his head, which had been silent throughout the meeting, returned, echoing like a riddle across his mind.

'Gl vat, yuuu sar deti uitoisy,' At that exact moment, far away on world 18, an integration participant died inside a Gate, slain by a wolf-like Beast with fangs of golden bile. Also, at that exact moment, a strange wind blew across the mountains on a certain planet, in a galaxy far, far away. Three events, separated by distance but bound by something unseen, collided together in time. A ripple of causality stirred through fate itself. Joe's eyes began to glow as he held Tevenny's hand.

She activated her skill, Luminescent Sight of the Fallen Goddess. And in that instant… Joe felt something profound pulse inside him, and a spark formed in his mind. He immediately knew what to do, and for the sixth time, he activated his Bloodline ability…

"Eternal Moment." For the first time, Joe wasn't drifting above a scene in some cloudy ethereal form, nor was he in the half-conscious haze that usually accompanied his bloodline visions. He stood solidly, aware of every detail around him. He turned, expecting to see Rose or Corel, but neither was present. Instead, there was only one other figure, Tevenny. She appeared whole again, restored to how he remembered her before the scars and injuries. Both arms intact, her eyes bright and clear.

She was staring down at her hands in wonder, confusion etched across her face. When Joe gently placed a hand on her arm, she flinched in shock, then turned and noticed it was him. Her eyes brimmed with tears, wonder and sorrow mingling together. She tried to speak, but no sound came.

"I'm sorry," Joe said softly, sadness shadowing his gaze.

"This is just a vision… my bloodline skill." It took her a moment to comprehend, but then she closed her eyes, shook her head, and smiled faintly. She understood. This wasn't healing. Reality had not changed. Joe, however, felt something else. A prickling sensation at the back of his neck, the undeniable weight of a gaze on him. It was heavy, oppressive, like a hand pressing down from above. He glanced around, searching, but the chamber around them was empty. The watcher remained unseen.

He exhaled and finally turned his attention forward. Seven small cots lay in the centre of a vast marbled room with no windows. Bundles of blankets rested within them, each one gently rising and falling. Small globes of light floated lazily in the air, casting shifting shadows that flickered across the polished floor like skeletal dancers. The silence was thick. Nothing stirred beyond the glow. Joe's footsteps echoed sharply as he approached the nearest cot. He leaned forward, peering inside.

A tiny baby lay swaddled within, its skin a soft shade of blue, its eyes closed, large fangs peeking from its small mouth. It slept peacefully, chest rising and falling in a tender rhythm. The sight was strangely comforting. Innocence radiated from the child, so pure and untainted that Joe felt as though he were watching a sibling nap, fragile and perfect. He moved to the second cot. This child was different. Its body was covered in coarse yellow-brown fur, a mane circling its small head.

Bushy brows furrowed even in sleep, and sharp teeth pressed against its lip. Its face was a blend of human and lion. It yawned, stretching out one tiny arm before settling again. But where the first child had stirred comfort, this one unsettled him. Watching it breathe, he felt as though he were staring at a Beast in its infancy, something wild, powerful, and dangerous, simply biding its time to grow. He moved to the next cot. This one held a small, feather-covered infant.

At first, Joe thought it was simply swaddled, but then he realized a pair of oversized wings was wrapped tightly around its body, shielding it from view. Its head bore human-like eyes, though its face was dominated by a curved beak. Recognition jolted through him, Kilch'Kitz. It was a Corthegian child, though not the infamous number one ranker. This one was female.

Her eyebrows were slim and neat, her beak tinged pink at the tip, and an overly long tongue lolled from her mouth as drool dripped freely across her tiny face. A wave of platonic warmth surged into Joe's chest at the sight, as if the baby radiated unconditional affection. But just as quickly, the oppressive feeling of being watched intensified, sharper now. He flinched and glanced up. For an instant, he caught the flicker of a form suspended in the air above. A Corthegian. Watching.

Joe shook his head, confusion swirling. Who were these children? Why was he seeing them here, in this strange place? Why had his bloodline triggered the moment Tevenny tried to reveal his fate line? Nothing made sense. He turned to the next cot… then froze. Inside lay a human baby. Brown-skinned, tiny fists curled, its features unmistakable. It was him. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Everything shattered.

The vision collapsed into blackness, and Joe hit his knees as pain ripped through his body. It felt as though his very blood were aflame, burning him inside out. His head snapped back, and a scream tore from his throat, so loud the entire hall shook. Stone cracked, droids fell, sparking from the ceiling, and every being around him crumpled unconscious under the force, everyone except one Corthegian. Through the haze of agony, Joe dimly sensed movement. A figure blurred toward him, faster than his eyes could track.

Something seized him, lifting him into the air like a child. He choked, his mouth suddenly full, something long and slimy forced inside, writhing like a living worm. A gush of thick, salty liquid slid down his throat. His mind reeled in horror. What the hell? His heartbeat thundered in his chest, but slowly steadied as an unnatural calm seeped through him. He realized he was being held in a crushing embrace. Whoever it was dwarfed him in size, keeping his feet suspended above the floor.

Then the horror clicked into cognizant understanding. The thing filling his mouth wasn't a worm. It was a tongue. He gagged and struck wildly at the being's shoulder. The iron grip relented, lowering him until his boots touched stone again. The slick tongue slithered free at last, smearing his chin and face in thick drool before retreating. He dropped to his knees, coughing and spitting, his face dripping with saliva. Above him, the massive Corthegian loomed.

"Oh my god! Did you… have to shove your whole tongue… in my mouth? Why the hell… ack, did you do that?" he sputtered between ragged breaths. Laughter answered him. He looked up at the towering Corthegian. At first, he didn't recognise her, then memory clicked. He'd seen her once before, at the Tides of Movement competition.

"You are welcome, brother, that was a close one," she said, arms folded with a wide grin. Her beak clicked as she licked it, and Joe shuddered. He needed to calm down, but anger and confusion warred inside him. With a grimace, he pulled a towel from his storage and began wiping what felt like a gallon of slimy drool from his face and mouth. The Corthegian watched the entire process without blinking. When he finally looked around, he spotted Tevenny slumped in her chair, her sister dabbing gently at her face.

Relief coursed through him; she was okay. Still, he didn't understand what had happened at the end. The image of that baby seared his mind. Him. That made no sense. Why was he among the children of other races? What had he just seen?

"Fuck," he muttered, dropping onto the floor. The Corthegian strode over, her talons clicking against the stone. I should probably thank her, he thought reluctantly. She had helped him recover from that agony. But did she really need to shove her entire tongue down his throat?

"Thanks," he said half-heartedly.

"I enjoyed it, brother. Let me know when you need more." Joe coughed, wiping a fresh trickle of drool from his mouth.

"Please, never again." She threw her head back and laughed raucously.

"What's your name, anyway?" he asked, resigned.

"Gale, and you are Joe… or do you prefer Feormere?" Her eyes glistened with amusement as she laughed again. How the hell did she know his real name? Who was this enormous bird-woman? Still dazed, he turned to check on Tevenny, only to see her vanish in a shimmer of light with her sister. His chest tightened with frustration. He still hadn't seen his fate line. That chance was gone. With regret gnawing at him, Joe closed his eyes and clicked on the Empire Meeting notification.

In the next instant, he was gone, teleported back home. __ Gale lingered a moment longer, the memory of her brother's bloodline vision still burning in her mind. His bloodline was unusual, tainted, twisted in ways she had not expected. The puzzle that was Joe only grew more complicated. And that voice inside him… she had heard it too, when she followed him into the vision, altering it with her own bloodline to reveal their beginning, their birth. She had to tread carefully.

His mind was fractured, anger simmering just beneath the surface. If she pushed too hard, too soon, she risked losing him, and with him, her only chance of saving herself and her siblings. Why did everything have to be so complicated? Her head bowed, shame washing over her. She was failing them, and the cost of failure was more than she could bear. A single tear slid down her cheek before she vanished in a shimmer of light. __ It took Joe a couple of days to even begin processing what he had seen.

There was no denying it, the last baby was meant to be him. But where was that? Was that a vision of the past? Was that a real event? Was he… The thoughts tumbled through his mind. Did that mean Elise, his mother, wasn't really his mother? Her face rose in his mind, clear as the day she'd died. Elise. The woman who raised him, who loved him. No. He clenched his fists. Don't be an idiot. She is, and always will be, your mother. Still, the questions spun in his mind like a storm.

All he wanted to do was curl up and disappear, but there were things to do, people depending on him. He didn't have the luxury of breaking down. He thought about the Corthegian, Gale. Her name was Gale. Why did she feel so familiar? Was she one of the babies in that room? Was that why she'd been there, to see him? To watch him? He would have to find her again, one way or another. She knew him somehow, but why didn't he know her? Too many questions, with no answers in sight.

The warmth of his bond stirred on his chest. Corel was near. He looked up just as she appeared, her step faltering at the sight of him. Concern softened her face, but she didn't speak. She simply walked over and wrapped her arms around him. Joe let himself sink into the embrace, grateful for her silence. It was a long time before he finally let her go.

"So, what do you think it means?" Joe asked, after catching Corel up on the events of his most recent bloodline vision and its unsettling aftermath. She shook her head.

"I'm not sure. Maybe it was just someone who resembled you as a child. What if it wasn't a memory or even a real event, but a vision of some kind?" A vision… the thought hadn't crossed his mind. He had always assumed his bloodline visions were real events or fragments of memory. But what if they were symbolic instead, representations of something he didn't yet understand? The possibility eased the storm in his chest. Maybe he was overthinking it. He shook his head and let out a quiet laugh.

"Thanks. Let's put it aside for now. I don't understand it, and no point torturing myself about it. Let's focus on what I can control. I signed up for the treasure hunt in a few days," he said with a small smile.

"How did things go with the clans?" Corel rubbed his arm gently before exhaling a long sigh.

"They are idiots. But they were happy you signed up. Fear has taken them, and they worry about the future. Still… I'm teaching them to relax." Joe grimaced. He had seen her "teaching" clanmates before, and it was anything but gentle. He silently offered a prayer for whichever poor souls were on the receiving end. At least she had never turned that side of herself on him. Catching him staring, she arched an eyebrow. Joe quickly raised his hands.

"You do whatever you think is best. None of my business."

"Business?" she asked, brow furrowed.

"Erm… I just mean the clans are your domain," he said with a wink. Her cheeks coloured slightly before she turned her face away.

"Yes. They are." She coughed softly, then continued.

"Now, regarding the clans…" She spent the next hour catching him up on Volduran politics until at last everything was sorted, and they could finally relax. Naturally, that peace didn't last. A knock sounded on Joe's doorframe, though calling it a door was generous. His house had no actual doors, only mana barriers keyed to those he allowed through. With a thought, he gave permission, and the four brats filed inside.

"Glad you could join us," Joe greeted as the four took seats in his lounge area, a space filled with wide couches buried under pillows. His home had grown with the house skill. Spacious enough now that the lounge alone could comfortably seat twenty people.

"Wow, it's so comfy in here," Shanna murmured, her gaze wandering over the towering bookcases stuffed with volumes and pictures that lined the walls. Most showed animals of all kinds, with a few depicting sprawling fields of crops.

"It's a lot bigger inside than it looks from the outside," Travis observed.

"It's a Tardis," Joe quipped. Travis nodded slowly in understanding.

"I love these couches. Can we get some for our rooms?" Shanna asked.

"Does that mean you plan to stay?" Joe leaned forward, watching her carefully. He had asked them here to discuss that very matter.

"Yes," Shanna said brightly, looping an arm through Travis's. Joe arched an eyebrow at the gesture, which made her blush crimson.

"Yes. Four Eyes and I talked about it. Oh my god, this place is basically heaven… How could we not want to stay? Can we choose one of the kittens?" Travis adjusted his glasses, his voice steadier.

"We would like to stay, if you'll have us."

"Locke and I go where the Seeker goes," Meris added firmly. Locke gave only a grunt in agreement. Joe felt the familiar ding at the back of his mind. He didn't know whether to sigh or laugh. The system clearly wasn't giving him a choice. Once he'd met them, it was only a matter of time before they became his responsibility. Damn system. He clapped his hands together.

"Great!" He turned to Corel.

"Have you changed your mind?"

"No." Joe slumped in defeat. He was tempted to simply ignore her refusal, but in truth, it wasn't a real problem. If anything, having others around the house might make Corel less inclined to drug him at random, as she occasionally enjoyed doing. He chuckled softly.

"Well, Corel has so kindly prepared four rooms for you inside the house, so you can grab your things and move in today," he waved his hand, granting all four permanent access to the house.

"Really? Can I sleep with the Seeker?" Meris asked eagerly.

"You are welcome to join me and Joe in our room," Corel said with a calm nod.

"Wait a goddamn minute," Joe blurted.

"No, you are not joining us in my room. Rel, why don't you…" He stopped short as Corel pulsed a sharp wave of irritation through their bond. He winced.

"Never mind, but no. I'm sorry, Meris. We've prepared a separate room for you all."

"Can I share with Meris?" Shanna asked, raising her hand like a school kid.

"With Meris? Really?" Joe said, blinking in surprise.

"Yes," Shanna replied with a firm nod.

"That is fine with me. We can share with the Seeker," Meris said brightly, turning toward Corel.

"Seeker, would you join us?" Joe pinched the bridge of his nose. Meris's fixation on Corel was beyond him.

"No, my place is at Joe's side. Bedside…" Corel's lips curved into a small smile.

"He smells really nice when he sleeps. Like flowers and oil see…" Joe groaned loudly, cutting her off before she could finish. After showing the brats to their new rooms, Joe retreated to the back of the house and sat beside his pond. The quiet lapping of water steadied his thoughts. Excitement stirred in his chest. It had been far too long since he'd participated in a competition, and his strength had grown immensely since then. He was no longer the man he had been. So much had changed.

He pulled up his status screen, letting himself bask in the reflection of his growth: Status Name: Joseph Theodore Caldwell Age: 29 (30 in Multiversal years) Race: High Human (Grade E+ - Rank 0) Alignment: High Human (Thropia) Heritage: Path of Light (Golden Heritage) Class: Absolute Farmer(Unique Class 0) Level 138, Absolute Space Farmer(PseudoUnique Class 0) Level 138 Professions: Nature's Halo(Legendary Class 0) Level 156 Bloodline: Light of the Eternal Spark(Purity 10/10) (Grade E+, Hidden Grade - Unawakened) Titles (100% Max) (1% Bloodline): World (43) Progenitor; Integration Forerunner Skills General Skills; Mana Focus(Passive)[100%].

Aura Shout[100%]. Multiversal Translator. Basic Cooking[100%]. Party. Natural Identify[100%]. Mana-Sight[100%]. Mana-Manipulation[100%]. Mana Blast[100%]. Aura Control[100%]. Fated Wings Basic Form(Magic)[38%]. Flying Falcon Basic Form(Rare)[26%]. Class Skills; Diabolical Quarterstaffmanship[100%]. Basic Farming[100%]. Seed Flick[100%], Seeds Will Grow[100%]. Mana Stream[30%]. Rapid Strike[100%]. Mana Wave[100%]. Mana Seed Sowing[63%]. Mana Ploughing. Space Jump[100%]. Mana Crop Management[100%].

Farmer's Constitution(Passive)[100%]. Farmer's House[20%]. Farming Perdition[38%]. Beast Communication[30%]. Profession Skills; Nature's Barding[100%]. Nature's Guidance[30%]. Nature's Paradise[100%]. Nature's Keeper(Passive)[100%]. Nature's Touch(Passive)[100%]. Nature's Step[20%]. Nature's Alchemy[100%]. Nature's Flourish[100%]. Nature's Whisper[40%]. Nature's Grace Basic Form[100%]. Nature's Harmony[100%]. Nature's Botany[20%]. Nature's Embrace(Legendary)[1%]. Mana Quelling[14%]. Nature's Rage[12%].

Bloodline Skills; Eternal Moment. Light of Uriel. Light Affinity. Space Affinity. Light's Guidance. Dao Sight. Stats Strength: 3702 (200) Agility: 4928 (620) Vitality: 4769 (520) Endurance: 5565 (200) Wisdom: 5863 (60) Intelligence: 8052 (80) Luck: 208 Hidden Stat: Dao Knowledge - 2719 Hidden Stat: Aura Power - 300 Free Points: 0 System Credits: 1, 600, 943, 210 He now had over thirty-six thousand stat points in total, minus his gear. Plus, he was rich. He was very, very excited about what to do next.