Ch 14

  Matt felt an overwhelming urge to groan at the brazen attempt to force him to subordinate himself once again to another—this time, the request coming from whoever, or whatever, was behind that deep, resonant voice. He longed to shout in defiance, yet it was peculiar—he could easily raise his voice when it meant protecting his own life, but he found it nearly impossible to do so when another’s well-being was at stake. A rising sense of frustration built within him as he sensed the invisible presence simply waiting for his reply. He understood that if he wanted time to begin moving again, he had no choice but to respond.

  After taking a steadying breath and calming his turbulent thoughts, Matt gathered the few sticking points he had and delivered his response with measured determination. “You say that you wish to earn my trust, yet I don’t even know your name or exactly what you are. And what exactly does your help entail?”

  “Tempormr,” the deep voice replied in a tone both deliberate and enigmatic, “as for what I am, suffice it to say that I am neither human nor anything remotely akin to it. Should you survive this period and return to your world after it has been transformed, I will ensure you have the chance to see me and understand. As for my assistance—I am limited to observing; I’m forbidden from sharing intelligence on what others are doing. Nevertheless, I can offer you one thing with ease: the ability to distort time during those critical moments when your life hangs in the balance.”

  “Got it—you’re the god of time.”

  The voice chuckled softly. “No, I only possess the ability to manipulate time’s flow to suit my purposes. Still, I suppose even that might be viewed as godlike power by your kind, and some of my contemporaries do like to be seen as deities. It’s truly boorish how most of those on my level conduct themselves.”

  “Then why not try to destroy them? I don’t know what powers they hold, but time does seem overwhelmingly potent to me.”

  “It is, but when one acts alone, it’s incredibly challenging to confront adversaries who have alliances specifically formed to counter you.”

  “Is that why you’re reaching out to me?”

  “Yes. I am not one to lavish anyone with vast resources or unfettered aid—I’m too selfish for such extravagance. Instead, I seek those who understand the value of keeping what they earn and who are willing to exchange limited assistance on fewer restrictions than any other of my kind would demand in return for their loyalty.”

  For the first time, Matt paused, the true implications of the exchange settling in. If he was right, this deal might be one he could enter into without significant difficulty. Yet, certainty would only come from further inquiry.

  “Are you saying that all you require in exchange for your aid is that if I grow in power enough to help fight those on your level, you’d call on me when the time came?”

  “There would be a few more requirements,” admitted the voice, its tone laced with a blend of gravitas and casual indifference, “but they merely consist of making your allegiance known, in the manner and at the moment I deem appropriate.”

  Matt couldn't find anything inherently terrible about those terms, though a few details worried him as he formulated his response.

  "That doesn't sound too terrible, but I want three caveats. First, you must never force me to betray another. Second, if I believe carrying out your order undermines my own interests, I can refuse it. And lastly—tying into that second point—you must provide me with some form of aid or incentive every time you ask something of me."

  "If you demanded that of any others of my power, they would destroy you for your impudence at the first opportunity,” retorted the voice. “However, I appreciate you leveraging my greed against my desire to make you my puppet. Very well, I’ll agree to the second and third caveats in principle, but the first needs an addendum: betrayal will happen if you entwine yourself with those who would move against me.”

  "Then I can only be made to act against them if they actively work against you, with no ambiguity whatsoever."

  "You can’t be entirely clear about it, but I doubt you'll face many challenges given your inclination to seclude yourself. That said, you'll still need to venture out and grow powerful if you ever want your existence to truly matter—and that will require you to interact with others."

  "Great, though let's worry about that after I manage to survive this world."

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  "Ha, fool, you'll be removed from this world before long; once you hit E rank, I'll ensure that your growth isn’t stunted by a lack of challenges."

  "Any chance you could find my bobcat, Bob, and send him here to serve as my fighting companion in that case?"

  "No, but I'll trade my aid in reuniting you with him when you leave this world—assuming he survives—if you agree to find one other person to join you in following me during your time here."

  "Are you saying I just have to pick someone and get them to worship you or something? I thought you didn’t want to be seen as a god."

  "I eagerly await the first time a follower of another on my level dares to speak with you. However, yes—that is close enough to what I require from you. But you must limit it to one person; the more fates you try to entwine with your own, the less effective it will be."

  "Kind of like how when more of us work together to kill the same target, the experience we gain is divided among us?"

  "No, that’s merely simple math—nothing is lost, just split among collaborators. What I speak of is far more complex and cannot be quantified. Some of us are simply blessed by fate, and those around us are drawn to that blessing. However, the more you attempt to entwine your fate with others, the more you risk being dragged away from your own destiny, potentially losing fate’s favor. At F rank and below, trying to entwine more than one person with your fate would be foolish and might even render you worthless to me—at which point, I will abandon you."

  "Got it—loyalty only goes one way in this relationship, but do you really have to make it sound like you're suggesting I should get married or something?"

  "No, that's absolutely not the case. You must avoid that until your blessing from fate has grown strong enough that having a child won't ruin you."

  "What!?"

  "You'll quickly discover that most who attain my level rarely have children or commit fully to relationships with others. Of course, we indulge ourselves when the mood strikes, but as soon as one starts having children, the climb becomes exponentially more difficult. There are many factors behind this, but one of the biggest is that a portion of your fate becomes irrevocably intertwined with that of your child."

  "Even if I end up as a deadbeat dad?"

  "Fate is one of the most elusive and unpredictable aspects of our reality. If you consider time to be omnipotent, then fate stands as its formidable counterforce."

  "So, are you saying that if I ever find a path that involves fate, I should take it without hesitation?"

  "Not at all—avoid it at all costs. Most of those who tread such paths become bound to fate’s capricious whims in a way that renders any attempt to overcome it futile. Remember when I told you that you were doomed to die without my aid? In that moment, you defied fate and twisted it to your will. It is that very will which enables one to conquer fate."

  "So, is that the spirit stat I've been observing?"

  "Before I can explain further, I need you to pledge your loyalty to me."

  "Fine—as long as you don’t betray me or ask me to betray someone else except in the most extraordinarily severe circumstances, I will remain loyal according to the value of the rewards you offer. Now I feel more like a mercenary than anything else."

  "You are, and you will soon realize just how much you have gained by agreeing to this. For now, let me delve into what lies beyond the so-called stats. Will, fate, and luck all lie outside of them, and yet can still be quantified by the system if you unlock them. Though they are intricately interwoven in ways that could take years to fully explain—so much so that they may seem like different names for the same force. Simply understanding that they exist is enough for now, as we move on to discussing your stats. First, consider the physical attributes, the most straightforward ones: strength, dexterity, durability, and stamina. These four combine to determine what your physical body can endure. Even if you possess the strength to hoist a massive boulder, it matters little if your body isn’t durable enough to support the extra weight. Similarly, your stamina defines not just how long you can hold it, but also how well you can raise it overhead without injuring your more vulnerable parts of your body.

  "As you stand at this moment, I’d advise you to concentrate on boosting your dexterity to better match your strength. The path of regeneration will help narrow the gap between your durability and strength, while stamina will become less critical until you face prolonged battles. However, should you continue orchestrating scenarios that lure enemies to fight on your behalf, stamina will certainly prove its worth in those extended conflicts.

  "Now, let us discuss spirit and mind, which are somewhat less tangible aside from their role in manifesting magic. Yet, when it comes to inspiring others, swaying hearts to a cause, or achieving various feats beyond physical might, they play a crucial role. This is precisely why you should seek out someone capable of compensating for any weaknesses in your mind when you set out to recruit the individual I wish for you to recruit."

  "I thought I had the right to choose who they are and that it was completely up to me?"

  "You do, but I'm just letting you know that addressing your many weaknesses is always a good way to find those with whom you can work effectively."

  "Who said anything about working with them? I just plan on getting them to the point where they can stand on their own if needed. After that, they can go off and do whatever they want."

  "First, you should reach the point where you can stand on your own. You will need several allies before you can truly stand independently, and even then, others will be necessary for one thing or another. A general can't both plan a battle and gather the necessary intel to do so effectively. They rely on others to support them, just as I'll rely on you to handle things that are convenient for you but would be troublesome for me."

  "Got it. Prioritize being able to manage them. Now, what else can you tell me about my stats, particularly how much punishment I can take right now?"

  "Do you know why the path of regeneration was open to you from the start?"

  "Because I used leveling to fully heal both times I have."

  "No, you healed because you had the potential to walk the path of regeneration. It's in your bloodline, though even I don't know for sure which one you possess. Still, those with natural regeneration are rare. Now, I've said enough for today. I'll offer more information when I want something from you. For now, I will accelerate time for the three you've rescued to let them recover from the drug in their systems. Just be aware that nothing is without side effects, and they will each need to overcome these on their own."