System's POV

Chapter 1447: I Will Play Your Game [Part 1]

“So it’s you,” Thirteen said calmly. “This is our first time meeting like this, huh?”

Thirteen eyed the beautiful lady standing several meters away from him. The last thing he remembered was falling asleep in Stella’s arms. When he woke up, he found himself in outer space, where countless stars, galaxies, and planets surrounded him.

“You’re right,” the beautiful lady replied. “This is our first face to face.”

Even though this was Thirteen’s first time seeing this lady, his instincts screamed that she was his most hated being within the multiverse.

The Goddess who had forced him to rebel against his father and the purpose of his creation.

“You really hate me, don’t you?” the beautiful lady smiled faintly. “The face you’re making right now is quite scary.”

“I was born with this face,” Thirteen replied.

“Both of us know that’s not true.”

“Why are you here? I’m sure you didn’t appear in my dream to talk pleasantries with me.”

The Goddess of Fate giggled. “And what if I had indeed come to talk about pleasantries?”

“Then f*ck off.” Thirteen scoffed. “And wash your neck.”

“Oh, dear… the hate is real.” The Goddess rested her hands on her waist. A moment later, her size increased, towering above Zion.

From a third perspective, Zion’s height would only be equal to that of a child’s hand, while the Goddess was an adult.

“Wow. So you’ve come here to give me a stiff neck,” Thirteen stated as he strained his neck to look at the face of the Goddess, who was looking down at him with a sneer.

“You said to wash my neck,” The Goddess replied. “I find that offensive. You should be happy I’m letting you get away with a stiff neck. Not many dares to talk to me like this. Even the other Gods won’t be as reckless when speaking to me.”

“I’m built differently,” Thirteen declared. “Why would I fear talking down to a b*tch?”

“You’re really not holding back with the vulgarity, aren’t you?” the Goddess sneered. “How about I crush you with my foot?”

“Go ahead,” Thirteen replied. “I don’t mind if you crush me in a dream. Because reality will be different. I will be the one to put you in your place.”

“Put me in my place?” the Goddess arched an eyebrow. “Do you have any idea that countless worlds rely on me to keep existing? Do you have any idea how countless beings, including the Gods, acknowledged that without me, they wouldn’t even be born in this world?”

“Oh, please. Get off your high horse.” Thirteen scoffed. “Must I remind you that without those countless lives, you wouldn’t exist to begin with? Don’t get me started about Beliefs and the power of Faith.

“Fate and Faith are two different things. The multiverse simply needed a convenient tool to keep things moving smoothly, leading to your birth. That’s all you are.”

The Goddess giggled. She had already expected that Thirteen wouldn’t hold back with his words the moment they met each other.

But she was truly curious about him and wanted to have a private talk before their fateful battle, so she visited him in his dream.

“I should really have a talk with your father,” the Goddess narrowed her eyes. “He should have taught you not to refer to ladies as convenient women.”

“Don’t twist my words. I called you a convenient tool. Whether you’re a lady or not, it makes no difference.”

“Should I be honored?”

“Yes. Be honored, you b*tch.”

Fate didn’t reply right away. Instead of being angry after being subjected to such rudeness, she couldn’t help but feel amused by Thirteen’s lack of respect for her.

No one in the multiverse dared to act like this in front of her. Even the Gods treated her with respect because she was truly the most “convenient” tool that made sure that the multiverse ran its cycle properly.

“I came to tell you that I have foreseen your rebellion a long time ago,” Fate stated. “I’ve long anticipated our match against each other. In fact, I have already prepared the Hero who will face off against you.”

Thirteen didn’t interrupt the Goddess and let her continue her annoying chatter. After all, any form of information was something worth having. He wasn’t arrogant enough to treat his fight with her so carelessly.

He had lost against his father, who was a God.

And his father had no chance of winning against Fate.

Still, Thirteen believed that his rebellion wasn’t in vain. It didn’t matter how many times he would have to try. As long as his Will, Hatred, and Soul Core existed, he would continue to fight against Fate till he ceased to exist.

“You should prepare, Thirteen,” the Goddess said calmly. “Fighting against Fate requires more than just luck and determination.”

“You don’t have to worry about that,” Thirteen replied. “If Fate stands in my way, I will just break it. Those who look down on my people, those who step on their dreams, and those who think that they could brush them off with impunity, will face my wrath.”

The Goddess looked down at him as if she was looking at an amusing insect trying to roar at the heavens.

“Face your wrath?” the Goddess repeated softly. “Do you even hear yourself?”

“I hear myself just fine,” Thirteen replied. “The question is… do you?”

The stars around them flickered. For a brief second, the constellations shone brighter, as if they were all paying close attention to the teenage boy, who was facing off against one of the… if not the strongest Goddess in existence.

“You speak as if you are outside my domain,” The Goddess said calmly. “Every breath you take, every word you utter, every defiance you muster—all are already written. Your hatred, your rebellion, even this little speech of yours… all of it is part of my grand design.”

Thirteen closed his eyes.

Then he laughed.

Not mockingly.

Not hysterically.

But quietly.

Confidently.

“That’s where you’re wrong.” Thirteen stated with confidence.

He opened his eyes again, and a faint glow emerged from them. “You think writing something down makes it absolute? You think prediction equals control?”

He took a step forward.

The void beneath his feet cracked.

A thin fracture of silver light spread across the endless darkness like broken glass.

“You foresaw my rebellion?” Thirteen continued. “Good. Then you should also foresee this.”

Another step.

More fractures.

The stars shook as if they were shocked at seeing the “Ant” walk up against the Elephant, creating ripples within the world.

“I am not rebelling as a part of the script you have written,” Thirteen declared. “I am rebelling because I chose to.”

The Goddess narrowed her eyes. “That choice was influenced by me.”

“Everything is influenced by you,” Thirteen shot back. “But influence is not ownership.”

His aura surged.

Memories flashed behind him. The warmth of his Hosts, their kindness, and their suffering. The laughter of his companions. The pain of loss. The countless battles. The times he had fallen. The times he had stood back up.

“You think you’re special because you sit above the chess board?” Thirteen sneered. “Let me remind you of something very important.”

He raised his hand and clenched it.

The silver cracks in space deepened.

“You only exist because pieces move.”

The stars began to shake violently now.

“But pieces,” Thirteen’s voice deepened, “can refuse.”

The Goddess’ smile finally faded. “That is impossible.”

“Is it?” Thirteen smirked. “Then why are you here?”

Silence.

For the first time since she appeared, the Goddess of Fate did not answer immediately.