Determinism.
According to Determinism, if one were to rewind time, and the events of the world were to replay themselves, then the results- and the way in which they occurred- would remain unchanged.
However, according to Determinism, in order for the events to remain unchanged, then so too must all the conditions and states of the universe.
Determinism is not the same as fate.
Determinism states that if one were to rewind time, and redo their own actions with the new knowledge that they had acquired, that this would be considered a change in the initial conditions and state of the universe, and as such would drive the universe onto a completely different path.
Fate says that no matter what you do, no matter how many times you rewind time, no matter what changes, that certain things will always happen.
Determinism, on the other hand, states that under the same conditions, the exact same result will always be achieved, for there is no reason for anything else to be achieved.
Indeterminism is the philosophy that if time were to be rewinded, even assuming everything in the universe were the exact same as the first time, that it would be possible for a different result to occur.
This result has nothing to do with logic nor reasoning, for according to Determinism, things happen exactly because of the logic and laws of the universe.
The only thing which defines an indeterministic scenario is random chance.
The roll of a dice for example.
One might think that if they were to roll a pair of dice and rewind time and re-roll the same pair of dice, that there might be a different result.
However, what if one's hand motions were exactly the same as beforehand?
Determinism does not state that the dice roll would remain the same even if the motion was different, but rather that if the motion was exactly the same, that the end result would also be the same.
Indeterminism is the pure application of randomness to an event which would otherwise have a determined outcome.
It is the taking of an event which has already been decided, and allowing it to be redecided arbitrarily without any laws or rules governing that which is has been redecided.
----
"So? Which one will it be? Should we just storm the city and force our way in this time, or are you going to play nice and try to make friends, wasting both of our time?"
"Of course we're not going to storm the city!! What am I, a barbarian!?"
"I mean, you did it last time with the fishmen. And it got you results. You didn't have to deal with any of the usual foolishness."
Claire and Clarice bantered back and forth as they made their way to the stables to pick out a carriage.
"No. This time I'm not going to barge in and take control. I'm just going to scout right now anyways! I'll need to make some allies either way to get into contact with the leaders."
"Or you could just take over the city and be done with it."
"Of course we can't just do that!! If we did that, wouldn't everyone hate us and want to rebel? We'd be nothing more than tyrants at that point!"
"You're point?"
"What?"
Claire seemed to be looking at herself in confusion.
"We already are tyrants."
"Ehh.... no, I don't think we are...."
"Then, enslaving multiple cities of people isn't tyranny?"
"I mean.... we're not treating them like they're slaves. They're just our citizens. Even Theo seems to care for them.... though I'm not sure if he cares for anyone who isn't his citizen...."
"See? If you take them over, then they will become our slaves and thus the antiheroes will put forth concern for them. It's a win win. We're doing the right thing here."
"But.... even so..... I can't just walk in there and take them over without at least getting to know them."
Clarice seemed to let out an annoyed sigh.
"Fine. Do what you want. I'll be waiting for your anger to boil over, and then I'll do things my way."
"Please don't!! I won't let my anger boil over this time!!!"
"Haha.... we'll see what happens. Oh, by the way, have you actually figured out the truth behind your skills, and what it means to be the Determined?"
"The truth? What it means to be the Determined?"
Claire at this point had arrived in the stables, and looked around to see the multitude of carriages. Each and every one of the carriages now had a flag on it- one which showed a demonic hand, crushing a heart which represented the world. After looking through her options, Claire decided after all to take the same one as before- the one which granted her the title of the 'Vampire Queen' when she had visited the fishmen.
Loading herself onto the carriage, Claire continued speaking with Clarice.
"What do you mean?"
"In your right hand, you hold the power to determine that which has not been determined. In your left hand, you hold the power to redetermine that which has already been determined. Do you actually understand this? I used my power once before on Kota, but there are conditions. I can only use my power so freely like that if I've taken over more than half of you."
"Oh, really? What did you do at that time?"
"I set him on a path of failure and humiliation."
"Ehhhh??? Then, you mean that the reason why he rejected the offer of the antiheroes was because you redetermined his fate to happen that way!?!?!?! How could you!!!!"
"Haha!! As much as I would like to say that I did that, that isn't the case. He would have rejected them either way, no matter what I did. I merely guided his fate so that he would be in those scenarios, and he made all the decisions leading to his failure on his own."
"I see.... but, how do you actually use your power? What do you do?"
"I set conditions."
"Conditions?"
At this point, Claire had whipped the jet black steeds pulling the carriage, and she was off, riding her way through the Dictatorship.
"I'm too weak to talk anymore.... you don't hold enough hatred within your right now....."
Claire's demonic side, which had only covered her left hand and a small part of her arm, retracted so that it only covered her left hand.
"Wait!! Explain these conditions to me!!"
"You'll figure out soon enough. I'll be there when you need me. Later."
Claire was left alone, riding through the city.
'Hm? Is it just me, or am I actually kinda lonely when I can't talk to her? Are you kidding me? Am I actually lonely because I can't talk to my evil side? Maybe I really am going nuts....'
Claire traveled through the first set of walls of the dictatorship, and as she waved to one of the lizardmen manning the portcullis, it opened for her. She traveled across the first poison moat, and was now in the southern sector of the city- the farming district.
The district now had its own set of walls, where many lizardmen were stationed and manning some of the flame cannons set up by Ashley and Garett.
Evil eyes could be seen floating all over the place around the walls, prepared to petrify any enemies.
Inside the walls, many lizardmen were also manning farming plots, producing vegetables and other produce for the nation.
Looking around, Claire could not help but smile.
Just a few days ago, the lizardmen who came here were terrified and filled with tension, but after the banquet the antiheroes held, they were all now happily working.
Truly, they had a way of dealing with people.
One moment the people would be driven into the depths of despair, believing that all was lost as the antiheroes took over in a bout of chaos.
The next, they would be offered a hand, and in that glimmer of hope was the shining faces of angels who were here to save them.
"It really is amazing.... maybe their methods are correct.... but I still don't want to just go in there and take over...."
Claire found conflict in even her pure angelic heart as to what was really 'right'.
She came to the end of the farmland and another portcullis was opened for her.
There was no road or highway in this direction. This was obvious, as the antiheroes were the only ones creating highways in the monster realm. Even the humanoid monsters seemed to stick to their own towns, so there was no need for roads here. But the antiheroes were working to introduce such things.
Claire could feel the bumps and twists of the plains she rode on, but she did not mind.
'It really has been a bumpy road to get here.... but I suppose if the road were smooth, then I wouldn't have been here in the first place. Sometimes, there are things that are out of your control. People always try so hard to control everything.... so hard to determine every little detail in their lives.... but you can't do that.'
Looking down sadly, Claire remembered once more about her installed memories.
'Were they really nothing more than lies? Am I really just a 10 year old with a 20 year old mind? I clearly remember being killed on that day, but... it seems so distant. No.... I shouldn't be thinking about this. I have a mission to fulfill. I need to look forward, not back. I need to continue helping the people in front of me.'
And so, Claire set off for the ratmen village to the south.
----
"This is..... amazing...."
"I can't even believe that this is me...."
"If only Erasalis could see us like this.... I'm sure he would have been proud of our thighs...."
The three birdmen were flexing their muscles after having the power within them be awakened by Trevor's ability.
Arlo did not look impressed, and was looking back at them with an annoyed face.
Their muscles had not changed a bit from before. Trevor's ability granted power on the target, but it did not in any way shape or form change their physical appearance. In some cases, this created a great disparity in the apparent strength of the target, and the actual strength, such as with Oraguth, who appeared to be skin and bones.
With the birdmen, who were already quite built in the first place, the disparity still existed, as physical strength could only take you so far, however they did not appear by any means to be weak, so they wouldn't be underestimated.
Of course, the same went for Arlo.
"We have a mission to perform. Enough flexing."
The three birdmen stood up straight, saluting to Arlo as he said this.
"Of course, mission leader Arlo!"
"We will put every effort of our beings into the success of this mission for the sake of our masters!"
"Without a doubt!"
Arlo sighed, but cracked a light smile.
"You know, it's kind of amazing, isn't it?"
"What is?", Yirald asked.
"Just a few weeks ago, our tribes were about to go to war with each other. If it weren't for their excellencies, perhaps we would be fighting each other at this very moment. But here we are, united under one flag, and even going together to complete a mission for their excellencies. Even the monster kings and the seven hosts have never attempted something like this."
The birdmen nodded in unison.
"You're right, Arlo. Perhaps we would have fought each other, had it not been for their excellencies. How terrifying it was at that time to face them, but after coming into their fold.... I can hope for nothing more than for everyone to come under them. I hope that our leader too comes to his senses and submits to them.", Yirald stated.
"That would be best....", Fergo lamented, clearly concerned.
Relu merely nodded.
Arlo turned to the three with a kind smile.
"I'm grateful that my people have submitted themselves to the antiheroes. Rocko clearly came to the right decision. I hope that for the sake of your people as well, that they too will come into the fold."
"Arlo....."
"Thank you...."
Looking forward, Arlo proudly stuck out his chest.
"But for now, we have a mission to fulfill. Lets get to it, boys."
"Yes!"
Arlo and the three birdmen loaded themselves into a certain carriage- this one with the appearance of infernal rock. It seemed to flow with lava, but this was merely decoration, and of course it had the flag of the Dictatorship rising high, showing all who this carriage belonged to. The four proceeded along the same route that Claire went to the south.
The insectoid village was located directly south of the dictatorship, whereas the ratmen village was further south and slightly to the east.
"I wonder if everyone there will be like lady Berith....", Relu wondered out loud.
"Surely not, right..... I hope they are more like Sir Coran.....", Fergo replied.
"Only one way to find out.", Arlo stated as he gripped his spear.
----
Four humans walked down the ghoulish pathways of the Dictatorship, surrounded by buildings made of flesh, bones, and organs.
Of these four humans, one was a tall male with brown hair that was spiked up as if he had used gel. He wore a dark blue labcoat which covered his entire height, and underneath it was a dark brown pair of leather armor.
As this male cheerfully walked down the streets with his hands in the pockets of his coat, a young girl stood next to him chattering nonstop.
This girl had bobbed blonde hair, and wore a red cape on her back. At her side was a sickle, and she wore a dark green set of leather armor.
"I can't wait!! Our first actual mission for their excellencies!! We have to do our best and scout out this village, and hopefully we can convince them to join our cause!"
"They're snakemen though. We should be careful."
The one who said this was a shorter male with blonde hair that went down to his shoulder length. He wore a white buttoned shirt with frills on the edges, and tight black pants with dress shoes. At his side, was a metal whip.
"I know that! But isn't it kinda.... adventurous! Isn't this the whole reason why we became mercenaries in the first place? I've always wanted to go on an adventure into unknown lands like this, but the monster realm has always been too dangerous.", the blonde girl exclaimed.
A girl with long, straight, red hair who wore a set of armor that looked almost like components to a robot- with LED lighting and everything- seemed to be staring blankly at her two hands.
On her side was a wand which had orbs on both ends, but she could not help but continue to stare at her hands.
"What tier do you think we were raised to?", the tall male asked.
"9th.", the red haired girl responded promptly. "We've become 9th tier beings."
"Eh?"
The blonde girl looked back and forth at the two as they had their conversation in confusion.
"9th tier? 9th tier!?!?!?!"
These four people were Lance, Charlotte, Pierre, and Melody.
"I can tell by this energy. We're all around the same strength right now.", Melody stated calmly.
However, in her mind, she was anything but calm.
'Truly.... truly, it was the right decision to follow them.... to think that they can create beings of legendary power with the flick of their fingers.... and that this level of power is nothing more than a joke to them. I wouldn't be surprised if someone were to tell me that they could destroy the world on a whim. I'm glad I decided to become their parasite!!! I will spread the infection far and wide, to all peoples of the earth!!'
"Ehhhhh!?!? Then, you mean that all four of us are of 9th tier strength!?!?!?! How is that even possible!? Are you telling me that each of us is as strong as a hero?!?!", Charlotte exclaimed in disbelief.
Melody nodded curtly.
"Then.... then with just the four of us, we would be able to face the four heroes head on even if they were to all fight us?!"
"Mhm."
"That's insane....", Lance said. "Are you really sure about that Melody?"
"Why don't we try it out?", Pierre suggested.
"Oh! Yeah. We can try out our new powers once we get out of the town.", Charlotte agreed.
The four walked through the Dictatorship until they came to the stables.
They chose a carriage which was pitch black, made from wood, and loaded themselves onto it. There were 2 seats in the front, and a window which could be opened so that the people sitting inside could speak with the drivers.
Lance took the drivers seat, and Charlotte sat next to him. The other two took seats inside.
The four traveled now by carriage to the gates where they were allowed out of the central sector of the city. After crossing the poison moat, they were now in the eastern sector, which was the sector of industry.
Factories lines the streets, and many lizardmen seemed to be diligently working to produce all sorts of items, goods, and materials.
"Wow...."
"It's quite something, this city.... and to think that only one wall existed when we first got here.... now there are two layers of walls, and five sections."
The four could not help but look in awe at every single bit of this city.
"I'm so glad we came here.", Charlotte said quietly. "It's just been one amazing thing after another. I can't help but think about how insignificant everything else in the world is compared to their excellencies...."
Melody nodded with a smiled.
"You're right."
"They said that they were humans in a past life.... from another world.... didn't they? Just what type of world did they come from? Were things like this commonplace?", Pierre said in awe.
"Who knows...", Lance responded.
"Anyways! Let's get to this mission!", Charlotte exclaimed.
"Yeah!", Lance replied.
And so, the four made their way to the final gate, where they were allowed out.
As they entered the fields and began their journey, Lance opened his cape and tossed a few potions to each of the people.
"It's an improved version of rations, potion style. A sip of that will keep hunger and thirst away for an entire day. His excellency and myself worked on it together."
"That's amazing, Lance....", Charlotte whispered.
"It wasn't really me. I just gave him the basic idea, and he improved it 100 times over."
"I see.... but still! Ideas are worth something, right? That's what gives us worth! We can give ideas to their excellencies, and they can improve them!"
"I suppose that's right. And we've been working on a whole bunch of stuff recently. I got a lot more goodies where that came from.", Lance said proudly, excited to show off the new potions and trinkets.
The four rode off into the horizon, the flag of the Dictatorship rising high above the carriage.
They would eventually come across a desert, before reaching the snakemen village to the east.
----
"So are we going to create those highways then now?", Samantha asked.
"Indeed.", Trevor replied.
With the flick of his finger, the antiheroes appeared at the North gate of the Capital of the Dictatorship.
"Please remove the dirt from this area, Gary."
"Got it."
Garett placed his hands on the ground, and in an instant, a large cube of the soil simply disappeared from existence, turning black and then withering away.
Garett then did the same thing, eliminating dirt such that a stairway was created into the small room, and the four descended.
"Now watch and learn. I'm going to test out my new skill to see how this works.", Trevor said while pulling back an arrow in his bow.
There seemed to be a large amount of energy gathering around the arrow, before Trevor let go.
[Ultimate Arrow]
A flash of energy appeared and disappeared within a moment.
A tunnel was created that seemed to span miles in an instant.
"And with that, this tunnel leads all the way to the entrance to the lizardmen village."
"Wow. I'm so impressed."
Ashley sarcastically clapped with dead eyes.
Trevor laughed it off and teleported the four to the opposite end of the tunnel, where Garett touched the ceiling, removing the dirt from that location as well, creating an exit.
When they exited, they were just inside the walls of the lizardmen village.
A number of lizardmen were walking about working or doing their regular business, however on seeing the antiheroes pop up from the ground so randomly, they all bowed to the ground.
"Y-your excellencies!?! What are you doing here!?!?!"
"Please do not be alarmed.", Samantha said with a gorgeous smile. "We were merely creating a connection between our villages. Don't mind us, and get back to work."
"Ah, right away, your excellency!!"
The lizardmen seemed to flush with fervor, overtaken by the charisma of the demon who ordered them to continue working as they ran off.
"And now to finish this tunnel off...."
Trevor pulled back another arrow, and let it off once more, spiraling in the direction of the fishmen village.
Another beam of energy thrusted through the soil, which disappeared in an instant, creating a tunnel to the fishmen village.
"Now we just need to line these tunnels with supports. Gary, I think you know what to do here."
"Of course. Leave it to me."