I stared at the floating screen before me, my heart hammering in my chest. My mind raced. Altering the script of this world? It sounded too grandiose, too far-fetched. But given everything that had happened—the reincarnation, the memories of someone else's life suddenly crashing into mine—maybe this was the next insane thing I had to accept.
The choice was simple, laid out as though it were just another decision in a game. Yes or No?
What did it even mean to alter the script? I didn't know, but the very existence of this system made it clear I wasn't just some random noble kid in this world. There was more to this than fate dropping me here by accident. Sovereign of Fate, the screen had said. I wasn't sure what that meant, but it felt... important.
I didn't have time to be afraid. This was an opportunity, one that could mean the difference between being a helpless spectator and someone with control over their destiny.
I extended my hand slowly, hesitating for a second before pressing Yes.
The moment I made the choice, the screen flickered and disappeared. For a brief, heart-stopping moment, nothing happened. I half-expected some catastrophic event to unfold immediately—maybe the room collapsing, or some god-like figure descending from the heavens to explain the rules of this twisted game. But nothing of the sort came. Only a faint, almost imperceptible shift in the air around me. It was subtle, but I could feel it. Like a weight had lifted off the world itself.
Then, I heard a sound—a whisper, so faint it could have been my imagination. But it wasn't just a whisper; it was many voices, all speaking at once. I turned my head, expecting to see someone there, but the room remained empty.
"What... the hell?" I muttered, taking a step back.
The voices began to clear, becoming more distinct, but only slightly. I could make out pieces of sentences, fragments of dialogue, and thoughts that didn't belong to me. It was like... like I was hearing the future, or at least possible futures. Was this the "script" the system had mentioned?
I closed my eyes, trying to focus on the voices. The more I concentrated, the more distinct they became.
"Ryuji must die."
"He will never be strong enough to protect us."
"The Valorian family will fall."
My blood ran cold. These voices weren't random. They were the voices of people in this world—people whose futures I was now hearing. But more than that, they were predictions. Possibilities. These were snippets of fate.
I took a shaky breath. The voices faded into the background, and another screen appeared in front of me:
[Fate scripts available: 10,324]
Current path: [Ryuji Hayashi, destined for betrayal and death by his closest ally at age 18.]
Betrayal. Death. By someone close to me.
It took me a moment to fully process it, and when I did, I felt my stomach turn. My fate in this world was already decided: to be stabbed in the back by someone I trusted. I didn't know who, but the idea that someone close to me was already fated to betray me... it was almost too much to take in.
I clenched my fists, my mind racing. This was what the system meant by "fate scripts." It was like the world was following a predetermined path, and I was just another pawn in it—until now. Until I was given the power to see it, to change it.
And if I could change it... if I could prevent my own death, then I would have control over my own fate for once. No longer bound by a script written by some cosmic force.
I had no idea where to start, but that didn't matter. I wasn't going to sit around and wait for someone to drive a dagger into my back. I wasn't going to die just because some mystical "script" said so.
Would you like to alter the current path?
Another choice. This one was even easier than the first.
"Yes," I said aloud, my voice firm, determined.
Immediately, the screen dissolved, and another set of voices surged forward—this time louder, clearer. Different paths, different choices. My head throbbed as dozens of potential futures flooded my mind. I gripped the edge of the bedpost to steady myself.
Alteration options for "Betrayal and Death":
Prevent the betrayal by strengthening your bonds with your closest allies.
Warning: This will require significant manipulation of events and actions over the next four years.
Eliminate the betrayer before they strike.
Warning: This will result in unforeseen consequences.
Accept your death, but manipulate the circumstances to ensure your legacy lives on.
Warning: Limited influence over post-death events.
Three paths. All of them dangerous, all with consequences I couldn't fully understand. But one thing was certain: I wasn't going to roll over and accept my death. That wasn't an option.
Eliminating the betrayer? That sounded simple enough, but the warning about unforeseen consequences made me hesitate. What if killing them only made things worse? What if the betrayal was inevitable, like a curse that would only shift to someone else?
The first option, though... strengthening bonds with my allies. It seemed the least violent and would allow me to find out who my betrayer was before making any rash decisions. I could learn, manipulate events, and change my fate without shedding blood—at least for now.
"I choose option one," I said firmly.
The voices quieted, and the weight on my chest eased.
Fate path altered. New directive: Strengthen your bonds with your closest allies. Current script modified.
The screen disappeared, and silence filled the room once more. But I felt different. Lighter. I had taken the first step in rewriting my fate.
I didn't know how long I had before everything caught up to me, but I had one goal now: survive. And to do that, I would need to figure out who my real friends were—and who would one day try to kill me.
I took a deep breath and walked toward the door. If I was going to change my fate, I needed to start now.