The ones who ignore the other threads and stick to their unique path are called [Defyers]. These individuals remain true to their path while constantly refining it by any means possible. They both learn from and ignore the other threads that try to weave themselves into their path, making the process of becoming a [Defyer] both simple and impossible.
After all, it takes a lot of resolve to hold oneself accountable and stay true to one's path when the future is filled with uncertainty. Yet even after crossing every hurdle, it's still a gamble that might or might not pay off.
These threads of defiance are unpredictable and are prone to entering various [Hubs] due to their erratic weaving pattern. Defyers are the sole reason [Hubs] can become a chaos of unforeseen possibilities.
Once the [Thread of Defiance] enters a [Hub], deities are forced to take drastic steps, powers get distorted, and victory becomes anyone's birthright. In such hubs, a mortal can challenge a god and emerge victorious.
At this meeting point, where infinite threads converge to change or recreate their paths, a single thread of defiance can entangle everyone's fates.
This is one reason why [Foreseers] try to sever or influence the thread of defiance to become part of their thread as soon as they find one. The longer they wait, the harder it becomes to keep track of the thread. Its slender form, ability to shrug off other threads trying to attach themselves to its weave, and the system shroud make it nearly impossible, even for the leader of a [Das Sar].
As time passes, individuals can find other ways to shroud their path with titles, artifacts, or control over the thread.
Weavers of the [Sian Ru'nic Faction] are prime examples of defyers who can cloak their thread of time before reaching godhood. They have ventured so far into taboo territory by creating unique classes that not only complemented their skills but defied the rule of gods that they became prime targets of every Order in the multiverse. This led to the creation of a [Forced Hub] where the [Sians] were hunted down to extinction.
[Forced Hubs] are easy to create, as one only requires knowledge of their thread and every other thread they have come across. Next, with a bit of manipulation, all the threads collide, creating a [Forced Hub].
Easy in the sense of the triplets. The challenging part, by their standards, is finding [Natural Hubs]. These are formed by minute energy spikes within the three threads of karma, destiny, and fate. The triplets separated the core thread into smaller fragments because of these occurrences.
A thread is the interaction between energies, and the friction between various threads weaving and clashing against each other creates a rupture that forces threads to converge. Revenge is one of the most common ruptures which pull far away and unknown threads into a Hub.
Lachesis kept all of this information at her fingertips, ticking off each possibility as she tried to find the Defyer. A basic knowledge of these topics is required when activating the [Third Eye]. Also, her sisters would taunt her for centuries if she got this wrong, and she didn't have the energy to deal with that.
It was better to expend some energy now and enjoy centuries' worth of peace. They did grow stronger by challenging each other at every turn, but she neither liked the process as a mortal nor as an immortal, especially as an immortal.
Lachesis found the thread of defiance long ago. That brat, Adam, struggled to cling onto the mortal thread, so all she had to do was follow her thread, which was now connected to Adam, and from there, follow his thread.
He stretched a strand of his thread thin, trying to keep up with the thread of defiance.
"That mortal already forgot about him," Lachesis chuckled to herself.
Immortals have very few means to stimulate themselves, so she understood why her sisters were so hyped up. Defyers and threads of defiance are one of the top-tier entertainment for gods. It's like watching a reality show, where a mortal challenges and has odds to win over a god. This is the first time a Noor had been targeted, nonetheless.
"He parted with a part of his soul," Lachesis remarked.
"I told ya this unique integration was going to be fun," Atropos's hair flared with excitement.
"Why do you think I invested so much?" Clotho snorted.
"Got a champion yet?"
"No! Still waiting on a suitable initiate," Clotho said and turned to spot Atropos's smile, almost splitting her head in two. "No way! You already did? Share the mortal with me." She pounced on Atropos for more, eager to peek at her champion.
"Get off me. No one can survive two bonds. He will be split in two," Atropos teased, withholding the information just a bit longer.
"Oh! So it is a HEee. Show me..." Clotho squealed, eager to see the chosen mortal.
The gods squabbled and fought like kids, taking quick jabs, each punch condensed with enough energy to drench a universe in bad karma. Yet to each other, they were nothing but a love tap.
Lachesis felt too old to join them, though as a child she opened her eyes a fraction of a second before her sisters, claiming the eldest spot. She was content with observing and enjoying the spectacle from a distance, but her smile soon sank into a frown as a fragment of her soul scoured farther, her frown deepening the deeper she dove into the thread of defiance.
Defyer never attained the highest echelons of godhood, as a single thread could never contain such immense power. No matter an individual's strength, they cannot contend with an entire Order that is better prepared or holds higher ranks.
A leader among the [Noor] possesses the ability to engage in combat with a lower [Order] under specific conditions. However unlikely the possibility, any misstep could result in death. This is neglected because the [Noor], wields omnipotent control over the [Thread of Time], and ensures every move is executed with utmost precision.
This scenario still leaves any lower [Order] with the opportunity to trap and confine a leader, unless the leader exercises caution every millisecond and remains vigilant over their thread. Sneak attacks were rendered impossible when the system developed a new technique, enabling individuals to cloak their threads from prying eyes.
The triplets had never paid much attention to the system until it surpassed them in their domain, sparking their interest. They dispatched their top rankers, integrating into the system, hoping to seize control. Like others, they deceived themselves into believing they could, but upon realizing it would lead to conflict with the rest of [Das Sar], they promptly withdrew.
They had been members of [Das Sar] since a child devised a ladder. What began as a simple children's game transformed into a celestial bloodbath. Suddenly emerging from the unknown, the child confounded even the most brilliant minds across the cosmos, giving rise to a [Forced Hub]. This enigmatic figure became the nexus, a hub akin to a black hole, drawing in every thread within the cosmos.
Lachesis found herself compelled to develop a skill capable of severing threads. This arduous process spanned a million years, involving an exhaustive study of the Thread of Defiance. The research nearly cost her life, but thanks to her sisters, they sacrificed a million years of their lifespan to save her. Even then, it was the mercy of the Defier that spared their lives.
This exemplifies the power wielded by a Defyer.
They may grow as powerful, or even surpass, the might of a god. Yet due to inadequate support, their Hubs eventually overwhelm them, or they fall victim to the misfortune of facing an entire Order.
The Thread Of Defiance possesses an uncanny ability to evade detection, often appearing in front of its target, claiming its life instead. Even the least powerful Order can effortlessly target and eliminate a Defyer, provided they locate the needle in the cosmic haystack and possess extraordinary luck during the confrontation. A parallel scenario unfolded when a Defyer nearly cleaved the triplets into six.
The optimal approach to handling a Defyer is to refrain from engaging them and hope they don't cross your path. The technique that Lachesis mastered, an essential element of the Thread of Defiance, is also considered a Defyer's most significant shortcoming.
Fixed in their path, Defyers disregard every other thread attempting to connect. Achieving this requires dismissing any bonding experience, a task easier said than done. As loners who prefer solitude, they remain impervious to love, revenge, or hate, simply shrugging off such emotions and continuing on their solitary journey. This disposition offers numerous chances for others to target the Defyer repeatedly, as the Defyer either forgets or disregards the notion of seeking revenge, deeming it unworthy of their time. But once they latch onto any such emotion, a connection is established, exposing them to tracking.
Lachesis's skill leverages a facet of the Defyer's ability to utterly forget an individual, be they friend or foe. By erasing their existence from her mind, she conserves energy, severing the path of energy transfer that links them through a thread, while the other person must expend four times the usual energy to maintain the connection.
A mental block potent enough to forget an encounter is deemed implausible, given the immense value memories hold in evoking emotions. The manner in which a Defyer dismisses an experience remains a mystery to the triplets. Therefore, Lachesis devised a mental block to imprison the memories, emulating the defiance equivalent of a shrug.
Struggling to reestablish a thread lost within her memories, Lachesis traced the connection between her sisters and that enigmatic figure, Adam. The backlash compelled her to shut her eyes tightly, yet she persisted, tracing Adam's Thread of Time until it intersected with the Thread of Defiance.
Adam clung to that thread, fueled by a simmering desire for revenge harbored by the Defyer. Once he released it, neither she nor Adam could penetrate the shroud of the system to locate him.
Unable to establish a connection through conventional methods, she resorted to a Commandment of Life. Soon, a new thread emerged, linking her with the Thread of Defiance. Although the commandment drained her lifespan by a millennium every second, she persevered, determined to unravel the sense of dread shrouding her heart.
═─┈─{═2/4═}─┈─═