New Game+

The broadcast sent back to Earth was that of surprise and shock.

Everyone in the Orbital had heard of the news and was startled as the most unexpected development occurred.

The Earthlings, Haresha, and Perrolom had entered into an alliance!

Such an alliance was unheard of, but no Presider dared to attack the unified fortress which was now built over the remains of Render's fortress.

"We've killed a Top Tier and now have two allies. Our arrival on Earth will be as planned. The Orbital will be entered as the access of these Presiders to this Orbital will end. They will be forced to find places to move out of their fortresses. Gather all defenses to the key locations to halt the invasion. As for our friends, prepare a place for them."

The message shocked everyone, and even the Principal was surprised at the development.

On the seventh day since the death of Render, Cecilia finally received a message from Dormin...

"I am quite disappointed in you, Cecilia..." Dormin suddenly contacted as Cecilia was on her Throne.

"And your constant disconnection to the Throne is quite troublesome..." Dormin sighed.

"Principal! I..."

"Save your excuses. I know your losses weren't exactly great, either. You nearly died in that. It seems that the Earthlings have a certain ability to challenge Fate. Things have changed, and even the future I saw is far from what it is. I cannot underestimate the ones that the Lost Primordial has called..." Dormin spoke.

"Principal, I didn't know...!"

"Of course, you didn't know. I thought that they would do as they should have. In my vision, they would be very slow and make a big move only at the end. But it seems there is someone among them that I cannot 'see.' His presence and actions are unseen through Fate. Is there any among them like that?"

"There is one like that...! Vender! He is the same person who had been broadcasting that strange story. He is very bizarre. He doesn't have any sense of proper timing of things and is generally-"

"Weird... That makes perfect sense. He is outside of the flow of Fate. A being that is not part of Fate's calculation. I see. So that's why it's difficult. Two Presiders who are not Conquerors yet stand as if they are one. They have powers that allow them to move against the Counter Fate forces. This is very difficult..."

"Shall I kill this man called Vender? They trust me enough to be among them. I will do it if you can assure my safety when I succeed. But if I am to be left alone..."

"Oh? Is this a dying Presider's way to force a Principal to move?" Dormin chuckled.

At once, a coiling sensation began to threaten Cecilia. She didn't know how, but she started to have a premonition that she wouldn't live long.

But she knew this was going to be the challenge. They told her this would be the case. And if she wanted to be of use to them, she had to make a stand.

Disregarding all fears that urged her to be quiet, Cecilia spoke out.

"P-Prince... Prince Dormin! I may be on the verge of death, but I will never allow myself to be thrown down!"

Dormin frowned and tightened the reigns that were subduing her.

The power of Fate began to enforce Death on her.

She was weak and not even protected by Universe Energy.

But despite the attack, she kept speaking.

"Do you think that I don't know of the power that Porrelom and Haresha have? They talked about it to me! And now more than ever, they found a way... to resist you! We may be ants right now, but I know they have been moving outside of your possible visions! This means I am not one of the tools you can use. I am one of the tools that you can use! I have lost, and I am not a Conqueror! But seeing these two who are not and still have found a way to fight gives me hope!" Cecilia exclaimed.

"Hope? You? A dying piece of flesh? You who cannot even master Universe Energy? You have hope?" Dormin laughed as powers on the Throne attacked her.

It was a bizarre form. The energy and elements that would serve Cecilia was now fighting against her!

But as the pain and terror surge, Cecilia recalled the last flight they had where death was certain. She recalled the terror that her frail body had to endure against Seeker and Lynd, who both showed her the true extent of their power.

And because of these things, Cecilia fought back.

"You... called me! Kill me... if you want! But... they trust me now! I may... have failed! But I succeeded... in gaining their trust!" Cecilia shouted.

Dormin frowned.

With a snap of a finger, Cecilia's consciousness was absorbed by the Throne and brought to a strange place.

Before she was Dormin.

But this was no dream or vision; Cecilia's soul was pulled out and brought right before Dormin!

Unlike before, when he was often just moving out and about, he was now serious, and a massive throne room surrounded him. He wasn't just seated on a Throne, but he had a chamber where his powerful presence sat and was contained to be in the three dimensions.

"Where?" Cecilia was amazed.

"Interesting. It seems that you have improved in your temperament since our last call. You've gotten stronger... This is very suspicious. Tell me, Cecilia, have you betrayed me?" Dormin looked at Cecilia.

At that moment, the power stored within her was coming out. It was a lie, a lie stored in her, which she would pass.

"Not yet." It was as if Lowengren was standing before Dormin. Two words came out, and Dormin was surprised. He could tell that Cecilia was telling the truth.

"Not yet?" Dormin asked.

At once, the pressure vanished, and Cecilia felt a great relief.

"Speak." Dormin impatiently ordered.

"You are still my ticket to survival in this place. In my state, I don't dream of becoming a Principal. But I will reach the Top Tier as long as the benefits are sure. If you assure me of survival and can help me get out of this place without harm and reimburse my expenses, I can kill Vender!"

Dormin was silent at first and finally decided.

"What a tempting option. But no. I will not have you kill him."

"You... won't? But isn't he...?"

"I was a Presider much like you, Cecilia. This isn't my first fight without my sight. Conquerors are not tied down to defeat in such cases. While it's rare for Presiders to put me in this state, this is easier than a fight with a Principal. If I let them grow, and devour this power, then I shall have my chance to reach Prime!" Dormin answered.

"Then... what will you have me do?" Cecilia asked.

"Ah... Your desperation is showing. You are still too green, Cecilia. You talk big, but you need me more than I need you!" Dormin laughed.

Cecilia's expression soured.

"Nevertheless, the guts to speak to me like that is very interesting. I see that you picked a few tricks from both Earthling and those who are Counter Fate. Fine. I shall have you serve me still."

Cecilia sighed a great relief when she heard this.

"The battle will continue on Earth. When we arrive there, a great war will break out. The moves of Destiny dictate that the time of the Horsemen will come. Four powerful foes that could challenge and kill Presiders will appear. And that's where we will move. I cannot see the future of the directions where Fate will lead them. But those Destined to conquer and move to and fro the Earth can be useful. We need to create our own Horsemen of the Apocalypse!"

"And I will be one of these... horsemen?"

"Why should I trust someone who just said she would betray me?" Dormin laughed.

"Principal! You know what I meant! Give me the greatest benefits, and I will fight for you!"

"And you shall fight for me. Using you to keep the future aligned with what is fated is useless. So, right now, you will help us make our destiny! Find out from the humans who would be the Horsemen! And if you do that, I will give you gifts to help you return to Presider."

"Presider? How?!" Cecilia exclaimed.

"I will make you my daughter. That gives me the right to bestow Presider-level tech. You will be my Fated Daughter, and the laws will allow me to give you that power."

"I accept!" Cecilia did not hesitate.

"Good. Until next time." Dormin's voice vanished.

Cecilia collapsed from her Throne.

She was trembling from the pressure of standing up to a Principal. It was a powerful and deadly sensation, and she did her best to resist it.

She slowly got off her Throne and stumbled down.

WARP!

Rai stood in front of her.

"So he finally contacted you. Lowengren." Rai called out, and another portal was opened.

"Good job staying alive." Lowengren praised.

"...I can't believe that I did it!" Cecilia was amazed.

"Well?"

"He plans to use Destiny. The Four Horsemen. He has plans with them!"

"Tsk... We out-fated him. And so he goes to use Destiny..." Seeker appeared.

"And Vender?"

"He... wants to use Vender to make him stronger."

"Perfect..." Seeker smiled.

"Is this it? Do we finally have a shot at surviving this calamity?" Gardo asked.

"No. But we managed to make him change tactics. We made him lose out of Fate, and now, we must deal with Destiny."