In the sand, between the dunes, Amon and his group stood inside a hollow. Two wormlike creatures lay dead around them, but the larger one, about three times their size, remained in the middle of the hollow. Its body was covered in flowerlike buds that kept spraying greenish-yellow dust into the air.
Luckily for the mercenaries, the wind was blowing from behind them, carrying most of the dust away, though not all of it.
Amon carried Catalina on his back. The woman had already used her magic and been knocked unconscious by it, so he kept a safe distance, staying out of the thin veil of yellow-green dust that was growing thicker despite the wind as the giant wormlike beast continued releasing more of it.
The three mercenaries stood in front of him, closer to Amon than to the creature. Amanda was nearest, with Eric and Leon positioned ahead of her.
The rest were nowhere to be seen, and since I did not particularly care about them, I did not bother checking Amon’s memories.
“They will die if I don’t help them,” Amon whispered into my mind. “I can easily kill this creature even with my magic, but if you want to turn them into your believers, this is the best time.”
I considered his words.
Hastily converting humans was not something I wanted to do. But these four did not seem tied to any god, even if they spoke of the God of Rain or whatever deity they believed in. I had never heard of such a god, and after using Guidance on them, I had not been warned that I was trying to peek at something that belonged to another deity.
Converting them felt safe.
But did I want that?
I already had too many unresolved issues to take care of. Was creating another one truly a good idea? And for whom? Bronze Rank humans?
But that spatial magic…
Catalina was the only reason I hesitated. Her magic, despite her limited talent in wielding it, felt truly powerful. In the right hands, it could become a game-breaking strength.
I glanced at Amanda just as she fell to one knee, her skin turning green.
Fuck that. Who cares if they are weak? Who cares if their talent is limited? I’ll forge their fate myself. I’ll change their destiny.
I made the decision.
My indecisiveness be damned. I needed to be more proactive, to take everything into my own hands.
“Help them if they pledge themselves to me,” I whispered into Amon’s mind. “You can use my power.”
He grinned, excitement plain on his face, as he placed Catalina down on the sand and flared his mana just enough to push the yellow-green dust away from him. Even when he stepped into the cloud of thick poisonous gas, the dust never managed to reach him. The mana of a Platinum Rank was an impenetrable barrier against it.
“Hear the will of my Lord,” Amon roared, raising both hands into the air. He used his mana to amplify his voice until it seemed to shake the dunes themselves. “You have grown with the idea that humans are destined to struggle. That your birth somehow decided the limits of your reach and desires. You have been shackled by the very rules those in power set for you.”
He paused, surging his mana forward to shield all three humans. The effect was immediate. Their bodies loosened, their breathing steadied, and their heads turned toward him.
Amon smirked.
“My Lord can break those shackles. He can create a new path for you. But first, you must make your decision. Accept Him and ask for His help, or pray to your gods and receive salvation from them.”
The three stared at him, each with a different expression. Amanda’s eyes teared up as she sank fully to her knees, hands extended toward Amon. Leon frowned and clenched his jaw, avoiding Amon’s gaze, while Eric simply lowered his head.
I expected a divine link to form, at least with Amanda. She was clearly praying for my help, for Amon’s protection.
But nothing happened.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“Help us Lord, please,” Amanda rasped.
[Amon confirmed Amanda’s wish is genuine. Skill ‘Granting Wishes’ activated.]
Golden divine energy flared around Amon, dispersing the cloud of dust entirely.
It enveloped all four mercenaries, even Catalina, who lay sprawled on the sand, unconscious.
“Verde, I’ll tweak her wish a little,” Amon said, a mischievous edge in his voice.
His hair had turned white, and the third eye appeared on his forehead as he stared at Amanda’s extended hand, his fingers moving as though he were adjusting something only he could see.
Amanda straightened while still kneeling. She stayed unmoving, eyes rolled back until only white remained, and murmured something too quiet for me to hear.
I felt the drain on my divinity, though it was not nearly as severe as I had expected. Either Amon was good at using my power efficiently, or the low ranks of these humans had reduced the cost.
Then, for the first time, I felt a connection form.
It was nowhere near as strong as what I had with the Velmoryns, but it was tangible nonetheless. I could sense Amanda now, even glimpses of her emotions, as the golden divine energy covering her body swirled toward her left hand and condensed into a symbol.
A golden mask split in half.
The left side was darker and smiling, while the right was pale and emotionless.
Once Amon was done with Amanda, he turned away, ignoring the two men in front of him. Catalina rose from the ground as golden energy surged toward her, enveloping her entire figure before sinking into her body.
The drain on my divinity intensified as Amon began changing something within her. I tried to sense what it was. Was he trying to increase her power? Her mana reserves? Was he blessing her?
No.
It was not that simple.
I could feel that something about her was changing, though the sensation came more like instinct than understanding, as if Catalina’s very essence had been altered.
As I tried to figure out what Amon had done, her body descended gently onto the sand. The golden divinity swirled toward her left hand and shaped itself into the same mask symbol.
The symbol of the God of Many Faces.
And then, a golden window flashed before my eyes.
[Congratulations, Verde!]
You have gained insight into the Authority of Probability and Causality - one of the most powerful domains that remains unclaimed.
What is fate? Is it a predetermined path that cannot be altered, or a current that bends before sufficient will and power?
Only you can discover the answer.