Kael Ardent leaned back in his chair, staring out at the opulent garden surrounding the Ardent family estate. His fingers absentmindedly traced the rim of the teacup before him, his mind far from the peaceful scene that lay before his eyes. Instead, his thoughts were occupied with a figure that he had long known but never truly confronted—the man who would one day rise to stand above them all.
Robert Voss.
Kael's lips curled into a bitter smile. He remembered the moment he first encountered the name when he read the novel during his past life, a name that had stuck with him as the embodiment of destiny itself. In that fictional world, Robert was the quintessential hero—the golden boy, the one destined for greatness, born with all the advantages one could possibly dream of. Heir to the prestigious Voss family, his rise was certain, inevitable, practically ordained by the heavens.
The very idea of Robert Voss irritated Kael. It wasn't just his overwhelming power or his noble bloodline that gnawed at him. It was everything Robert represented: the pure, unyielding force of fate bending to his will.
In the story, Robert had been blessed from birth with a Heavenly Physique, a rare and powerful body imbued with life laws themselves—one that granted him not only incredible regenerative abilities but also the power to manipulate the very essence of life. It was called the Vitalis Sanctum, a physique that allowed him to heal from even the most grievous of injuries in moments, to draw upon the vitality of the world around him and emerge from any battle unscathed. Trees would bloom in his presence, animals would calm, and even the land itself seemed to resonate with his every step. It was no wonder he had been hailed as the child of destiny, the one who would bring about an age of peace and prosperity.
Kael almost laughed at that—peace and prosperity.
To those unaware of the world's machinations, Robert was a beacon of hope, the shining light in a world filled with darkness. He was the chosen one, the hero around whom the narrative revolved. But to Kael, who now lived in this world with the advantage of foresight, Robert was little more than an obstacle.
An obstacle he intended to crush.
As Kael reflected on the novel, he remembered how Robert's path to power had been laid out so perfectly. He would face challenges, yes, but they were merely stepping stones meant to elevate him further. No matter what opposition arose, the world would conspire to favor Robert, ensuring his eventual triumph. Allies would flock to his side—loyal friends, powerful warriors, and, of course, the harem of beauties who would fall for his righteous charm.
Kael scowled at the thought.
The world had already bent once to Robert's whims, ensuring that every treasure, every powerful figure, and every opportunity would land squarely in his lap. But Kael had no intention of letting that happen again. Now, with his own knowledge of the future, the script would change. He would steal those opportunities for himself. He would claim the treasures that were meant for Robert, and as for his so-called allies and harem… Kael smirked. They would serve a different master soon enough.
He thought back to the specifics of Robert's physique—the Vitalis Sanctum. It had been one of the most overpowered aspects of the hero's character. Not only did it make Robert incredibly difficult to kill, but it also allowed him to enhance the strength of those around him. In one pivotal battle, Kael recalled, Robert had been surrounded by injured comrades, each one on the verge of death. With a simple burst of his life energy, he had healed them all in an instant, turning the tide of the battle and securing his victory.
It was disgusting how easy everything had come to Robert. Even when facing seemingly insurmountable odds, he always managed to pull through—because the story demanded it. Because the world itself was rigged in his favor.
But that was before.
Now, Kael knew better. The world wasn't some simple story with a neat, predetermined outcome. It was malleable, subject to change. He had already altered the course of events with his own actions. He wasn't the same naïve reader who had once accepted Robert's rise as inevitable. This time, Kael would make sure that fate bent in his favor, not Robert's.
He took a sip of tea, the bitter taste grounding him as he considered his next steps. Robert hadn't yet reached his full potential. In the novel, it wasn't until much later that his Heavenly Physique truly manifested its full capabilities. That meant Kael still had time. Time to maneuver, to weaken Robert's position before his power became overwhelming.
From what Kael remembered, Robert was still in the early stages of cultivation, honing his Vitalis Sanctum. Despite his talents, he was vulnerable now, still growing into the role that destiny had carved out for him. Kael could use this period of weakness to his advantage.
The thought filled him with dark satisfaction.
Kael leaned back in his chair, his mind already whirling with possibilities. The Voss family was powerful, one of the most influential clans in the region, but their influence had its limits. The Ardent family, though less favored by fate, had its own strengths. His father had trained him well, and with his foreknowledge of the world, Kael was already playing a game that no one else even realized existed. Robert Voss might be the one destined to rise, but Kael would be the one pulling the strings behind the scenes.
Of course, Kael couldn't afford to move recklessly. Despite his disdain for Robert, he wasn't foolish enough to underestimate the future patriarch of the Voss family. Robert's strength, once fully realized, would be nothing short of terrifying. The Vitalis Sanctum was more than just a physical boon—it was a key to unlocking powers that defied even the highest cultivators. Robert had the potential to rise through the cultivation realms faster than anyone in history, and once he reached a certain point, there would be no stopping him.
But Kael had one thing Robert didn't: knowledge.
In the novel, Robert had always been the hero, guided by fate, but fate had no answers for the man who knew how the story unfolded. Kael would carve his own path, stealing every advantage that should have belonged to the so-called hero.
The power. The allies. The treasures.
Kael would take them all.
Robert Voss might have been blessed by the heavens, but Kael had been reborn with a mind sharpened by the experiences of two lives. And in the end, it would be his cunning, not Robert's heavenly physique, that decided who stood victorious.
Finishing his tea, Kael's eyes narrowed in thought. The pieces were moving, and soon the game would begin in earnest. He would need to act swiftly, carefully positioning himself in the right circles to ensure he could dismantle Robert's rise from the shadows.
Kael smirked. Robert's journey may have been written in the stars, but Kael Ardent intended to rewrite the heavens themselves.
As he stood, the breeze whispered through the garden, the world seemingly unaware of the brewing storm.