Chapter 119 - What It Means To Challenge Beginning
"What the fragment?!" Kyros finally cursed as he confirmed that the notifications that appeared were true.
The powers of Fate were changing, and the sinister arm that felt was pushing them down disappeared.
"What did grandfather do?!" Kyros cursed out loud and drew the curiosity of Diana and Martha.
It was then that they could feel it.
"What\'s that?"
"Is that... Fate?" Martha asked. She had been talking about it to Scarlet and had learned of the various experiences and subtle sensations that Fate gave off. Although Martha never experienced these sensations no matter how she tried, now it felt quite strong.
---
Life Purging Trial Passed!
Mezal Steele has successfully subverted Fate!
Rewards:
Bloodline Life Limiter has been halted for twenty days.
Fate Challenger Level increased!
---
Fate Bloodline Blessing
Fate Challenger bestowed to all members of the Steele Family.
Fate Challenger sub-jobs available!
---
Kyros was amazed.
"Fate has sub-jobs?" Kyros was confused.
Kyros decided to open up the details of Fate Bloodline Blessing.
---
Fate Bloodline Blessing
Nothing is stronger than family. Harnessing the sheer will of Dominic Toretto, the Steele clan, and all who pledge loyalty through the Temple are bestowed with the powers to grow and sense Fate\'s will.
Fate Challenger Job Progression tab, Fate Challenger Job Prerequisites unlocked!
---
"Wow. Your family is going to be so strong soon!"
"This makes sense. If I am to fight to the End, I\'ll need more than just a few allies! The goal of this Temple is to help me build a kingdom! Perhaps a world even!"
"All to challenge this being called Beginning and End... I know that the Ancient Gods, the Greater Gods, and even the Fallen are all following the powers of Fate and Destiny. That\'s why the traitors targeted Fate and collaborated in such secrecy that her powers were subverted. Or so they thought..."
"Right. Fate clearly knew that she would die and allowed it to happen. This Temple is proof of it. In short, Fate was preparing beyond the petty war of the Ancient Gods and the Fallen."
"Then I have to build up my team! The Coven, my family, everyone else should be Fate Challengers!" Kyros then willed his controls to access the newly accessible tab that appeared on his screen.
---
Kyros Fate Challenger Level 4
Path of Foresight
Clairvoyant Level 2
Path of Molding
Empowerer Level 3
Path of Combat
Protester Level 8
---
Fate Abilities-
Nephilim Temple Shroud
Heart Shroud
Mind Shroud
---
"Foresight, Combat, and Molding. The three paths of Fate? Do you know what the paths of Fate are?" Kyros read.
"Nope. I only know of the Nine Paths of Pain."
"Weeb." Kyros shook his head.
"Thanks!"
"I thought that\'s an insult?"
"It is. But I\'m into that stuff."
Kyros expression grew sour.
"Kyros?" Diana approached.
"Are you alright?" Diana asked.
"Oh. He is. He does that quite so often. The Coven thinks it\'s cute." Martha added.
"Erm... Sorry mom. But you see... my connection with the Temple shows me quite a lot of stuff. So please ignore my odd expressions when I\'m synched to it."
"But you do that during odd times. When we\'re running, killing, and sometimes while you\'re watching us drink blood." Martha frowned.
"Just ignore my strange expressions." Kyros frowned and dove back to his thoughts.
"That was awkward." Calaminus shook his head.
"You!!!" Kyros wanted to strangle Calaminus.
"So what exactly are these Paths?" Calaminus asked.
"If an Ancient God doesn\'t know about it, how should I?"
"INT stat. I\'m sure you can figure this stuff out. Since the start, I think you have always exceeded Ancient Fate\'s expectations. A being like you can\'t be gauged, after all. I\'m sure that the current rewards and blessings you are enjoying have been a step ahead. So tell me what I don\'t know."
"I do have an impression. Path of Foresight should be the power within Fate Challenger to help me foresee the future. It makes me have the ability to guess what Fate will do. I\'m sure my Grandfather has a high level of this. Show Path of Foresight description." Kyros then ordered.
[Access prohibited. Information stored within the Library of the Nephilim level 1.]
"Oh. It seems you\'re right. Anyway, I can already understand what it entails. If Grandpa managed to defeat Fate, it means he has a high level in the Path of Understanding. I have Clairvoyant level 2. Which could mean that Grandpa either has the same level or should be around three to four levels lower."
"That\'s quick maths, yo. Two minus three or four would be negative."
"Not unless two is actually twelve."
"Bruh. That\'s some smart math."
"I meant that Clairvoyant is the next stage! There should be a weaker version that maxes out to level ten." Kyros cursed.
"Oh. I get it! Like those Resistance Skills. Lesser Resistance maxes to level ten, and then becomes Greater, and then when it maxes out again, it can be Superior."
"Exactly. So Grandpa\'s level should range somewhere between the ninth level of the weaker version of Clairvoyant to my current level."
"What about Molding?"
"It should be what my father has. He has the ability that breaks Fate\'s limitations in becoming a researcher or teacher. He built the Steele family all the way to Duke level in my past life. And Uncle Aron should have a high level of Path of Fighter. Grandpa should have a little bit of Building and should have an equal amount between Foresight and Fighting."
"And you have high fighting? That doesn\'t sound right."
"Correct. My abilities as a Heretic Teacher and Charm should make me a strong Builder. I assume that Builder and Foresight are on the second stage of these Paths. While I am on the eighth level of the first stage in fighting."
"What about those interesting abilities? I only know Heart Shroud and Mind Shroud. Those are powerful magic that allows even the gods and fallens to fail and discern what is in your heart and mind. But, of course, in this case, it also blinds Fate and possibly Destiny."
"It definitely affects Destiny. Defeating the Blood Calamity\'s chosen carrier of her blood proves that Destiny couldn\'t read my mind. Otherwise, it would have known my abilities to resist Soul attacks. I guess that the Temple Shroud means that Fate can\'t see what I\'m doing inside the Temple."
"But wouldn\'t it have seen you being attacked by the Temple\'s Seal? You only achieved Fate Challenger when you defeated the trial inside the mountain. Then if Temple Shroud wasn\'t active, it would have known that several Spirit Blasts were torturing you!"
"That\'s different. I was sealed then, remember? Even you couldn\'t see it with your power. So what\'s the earlier memory you drew from mine."
"It was already in a forest. I didn\'t get a glimpse of this Temple. I assumed that it was because you were still too feral to remember anything."
"Have a little more confidence in yourself. You probably remembered the exact time I was out."
"Probably. But when I saw you, I was already cursed. So I thought my power was just weak."
"No. The Temple must have had a failsafe protocol. If I couldn\'t break out of that Seal by my own strength at a certain time, it would shoot me up to this mountain region. The Blood Calamity wouldn\'t also be released. Since the Temple has powers that involve spatial storing, it would have moved the entire mountain when it kicked me out."
"I see. If those monsters finally defeat the golems, the Temple would teleport itself to a far-off space with most of your powers. And since you would be disconnected from the Temple, you wouldn\'t have a chance to unlock a huge of your god-like powers."
"Exactly. I have to train my Coven now! And I have to inform my father and uncle! They need to use this period of being outside to train in Fate!"
"How? Fate has removed its Life Limiter and Apathy of Fate! How can you train in it?"
"Foresight can\'t be trained right now as it requires my team to understand and sense what Fate is doing. But the Molding and Combat Paths should be possible."
"What are you planning?"
"Mother... Aunt Martha." Kyros suddenly stood up.
"Erm... I know I\'m your aunt, but it sounds strange. Especially since I\'m used to addressing you as Lord Kyros." Martha cringed.
"Coven. Can you hear me?" Kyros called out as he ignored Martha\'s reaction.
Kyros\'s voice was heard all over the place.
"Lord Kyros! You\'re there! I feel something. I thought it was constipation, but I think... I sense Fate." Hemsey communicated.
"Me too!" Hunter added.
"Lord Kyros. I feel the workings of Fate. The town that I have entered feels... lucky." Grugnyr sent his message.
"Lord Kyros, what\'s happening? Why all of us all of a sudden? I thought this was Scarlet\'s special power?"
"I\'ll explain it later. But for now, I have some commands for all of you. I need you guys to raid an orc outpost. Preferably, you are to attack one that belongs to the Foreshire Kingdom. Grugnyr, as for you, I need you to look for people who can be our allies." Kyros explained.
"Attack an outpost? Lord Kyros, I thought the plan was just to harass some orc to make them see humans."
"Yes. But now, Fate has bestowed us the power of Fate. And you have to build it! My mother and Martha should have a high level in Fate Combat. You all, except Grugnyr, will fight the outpost to train in that. Mother and Martha will use that opportunity to grow in another ability called Fate Molding. Mother, Martha. You two should train the Coven and help them reach their limits and awaken the dormant power of Fate in them. Grugnyr, you will be focused on Fate Molding. I\'ll tell you the details separately."
"Lord Kyros. Attacking an outpost... that would force us to fight people that are on the level of Lady Martha!" Hunter cried out.
"Exactly. Since Fate won\'t bring life-threatening problems to us, we are going to make life-threatening problems for ourselves!" Kyros declared.
Meanwhile, in a realm too far to be measured by distance...
A large orb continued to give out a strange purple color that filled the entire chamber with its light.
A tall man stood in front of the large orb.
"I end my turn." He muttered in discontent.
The orb flashed, and the power it emitted grew dim.
Still, the man could see Kyros moving about.
"Strange... How did he do that? And here I thought his death was certain!" The man complained.
"And that Mezal. My powers didn\'t have time to build its traps, and it was immediately shut down. Now I can\'t hear his voice too! By the time Fate ends her turn, I won\'t be able to hear most of them!" The man shook his head.
"Are there problems, Destiny?" A strange figure made of air and dark matter floated nearby.
"Of course there are. Is Beginning so easy to defeat?"
"You failed to kill him? You were too impatient! You should have probed more of his powers before making a killing move." The dark being scoffed.
"I was. That\'s why I didn\'t involve the gods and fallen yet. Relax. Destiny is certain. It will happen! Just wait and see. Let me enjoy this chess game. This is what it means to fight Beginning after all."