"The Guardian won't be here till they arrive," Freya informed.

"I am aware, we are not challengers and so she has no clue we are here even," Alan shrugged.

"Can I ask why we are positioned on different corners of the area?" Freya questioned, glancing at the surroundings, a barren rocky landscape, four cliffs of stone rising high above the ground.

The two of them stood on one of the cliffs, another occupied by Kristine and Snow, the opposite side to them by Blitz and Thunder. Frost stood on the one directly in front, alongside Blaze and Fim. Crystal stood near the center, strolling around and kicking small rocks to keep herself occupied.

"Just for the dramatic effect," Alan laughed. "We are not here for a serious battle, the most I want is to test how Crystal will fare against Kesshō in an actual fight. It would be better if the Guardian doesn't interfere, but even if she does we can always kill her first."

"I feel like you are a bit obsessed with those two," Freya sighed.

"Perhaps," Alan mumbled. "Trust me, if you saw what I did, you would also be."

"You have not explained what it is you saw, but I highly doubt it includes playing around with those two." Freya shook her head as she tugged on her bowstring.

"I am playing around just for now," Alan informed. "Going for the kill while The Creator is around would be a death wish."

"You believe you will be able to kill the one who kills him?" Freya inquired with a tilt of her head.

"Yes," Alan replied. "If he dies, then I would be certain of one thing. He wanted to be killed by her, for two reasons. Primarily, to start that war again. Secondarily, he is testing her in some way I am not certain of."

"Your obsession with those two," Freya sighed. "I do sometimes wonder whether you truly love me or not."

"Quite the tangent you got there," Alan scoffed. "Regardless, one thing I am quite certain is that the war will start, one way or the other, and Crystal will certainly be selected to participate in it. This is a good opportunity to test whether she will be able to win against Kesshō."

"What if she can't?" Freya inquired.

"Don't forget she isn't using the weapon she will be using in the war, the bow you have there," Alan sighed.

"Right, the bow you made your enemies retrieve, knowing very well we could have easily gotten it ourselves," Freya sighed.

"I did not have much intention for killing them back then, I found them interesting, but now it's different," Alan mumbled. "Once The Creator is out of the picture, we will be going for the kill. If she lives, then we can be certain that nothing else will soon enough."

"She might be dangerous, but I doubt she has the will to do anything of that extent." Freya mumbled, her ears standing up suddenly.

"We will find out soon enough." Alan turned towards the center of the area. "Fancy meeting you here," he called out.

"How did you even get here?" Kurai questioned, the small figure of his companion clinging to his black coat. His blue eyes darted around, surveying the area as his hands tapped his all black clothes at several spots, readying hidden weapons as it seemed. He turned around, glancing at Crystal with a confused expression, standing some distance away.

"Right," Alan mumbled, "you haven't met her yet."

"I have I believe, I don't think she would remember though." Kurai replied, showing no signs of wanting a fight.

"I expected you to be much more furious on seeing her," Alan sighed.

"I have no reason to be, she is not under my care and never has been, you are free to do as you will with that clone of the girl you have been using to fulfil your selfish desires of world domination." Kurai responded as he turned towards Alan, leaving the girl to keep her attention on Crystal.

"You should have taken her under your care instead of the calamity you are raising," Alan replied. "I am sure she would have lived a much happier life, and this world would be far safer without that thing as well. While one of those things couldn't happen, I am certain I will make the other happen."

"I would love to see you try," Kurai scoffed.

"It seems to me you both are forgetting in whose presence you stand." A voice announced from above everyone, drawing their attention to it.

The owner of the voice appeared to be a girl, possessing long white hair down to her knees, and blue oceanic eyes that shone brightly. A black tiara sat atop her head, outlined by gold with bright blue sapphires embedded in it, a blue cyan butterfly accessory in her hair right beside the tiara. Two gold earrings hung from her ears, ringing quietly as she turned her head from side to side, the braid of hair beside her right eye also swaying a bit, a patch of hair almost covering the eye.

Her outfit consisted of a long white dress, a golden lining running from her waist to her stomach, diverging into a triangular chestplate above her torso. The long white sleeves of the dress showcased golden vine patterns, a flower right above her wrists, the center of the flower consisting of a sapphire. Three oval sapphires rested on the chestplate, hung from a necklace. A white cloak slung over her shoulders, fluttering behind her in the wind as she descended. A pair of white shoes materialized under her feet as she reached the ground.

"Hello, miss, I believe you are the lord of this domain?" Kurai inquired with a greeting.

"A correct assumption," the girl replied.

"Might I ask your name?" Kurai questioned.

"Why the politeness? Were you not here to kill me?" The girl questioned with a scoff.

"Not necessarily, I did promise Kesshō she won't have to fight in the next battle. I intended to persuade you with a chat to grant her the ability," Kurai answered.

The girl looked at him for a few moments, turning her gaze to the ground a few moments later. "Niko," she mumbled.

Alan gestured to Freya with a shake of his head. Freya lifted her bow, an arrow materializing in her hand as she pulled on the string. She released the arrow towards Kurai's head, attempting to get his attention.

"That's a nice name." Kurai complimented, instinctively tilting his head to the side as the arrow whizzed past it.

"Don't forget us, you might not be here to fight her, but we are here to fight you," Alan announced.

"I don't believe our two companions are very eager for a battle." Kurai replied as he turned to Kesshō, bringing everyone else's attention to her as well.

She stood right in front of Crystal, both of them simply looking at eachother. Kesshō possessed strands of black and white in her pink hair, unlike Crystal's all pink hair. Kesshō's right eye also happened to be a bright blue, a darker crescent visible on the side in her irises, unlike Crystal's both pink irises without any special details. Kesshō spread all four of her wings, Crystal spreading her two bright pink phoenix wings in response. Kesshō raised her nine tails beside her, followed by Crystal raising seven similar tails, though not the same. Kesshō's tails felt different, their movements more controlled and independent.

"Crystal, we were not here for making new friends," Alan sighed.

Crystal looked at him as she tilted her head, seemingly not understanding what else they could have been there for.

"Lay your arms to rest, my domain is no battlefield for you fools," Niko commanded.

Raising her bow in front Freya shot an arrow at Niko, the arrow whizzing right past Niko's head, even though she did not move a muscle. "Huh?" Freya gasped. "That should have been right through your head."

"I am not your ally, Celestial, if you value your mostly worthless existence then leave." Niko ordered, her child-like appearance and voice failing to match her threats.

"I did not expect such harsh words from a child that recently became a Guardian," Alan laughed. "Why are you so mad at us? Might it be due to your parents who forced you into this? Who sacrificed you to the past Guardian?"

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

"I am thankful to those fools if anything. The Guardian taught me much, he taught me that the only limits of a being are what they consider to be their limit," Niko snarled. "I am mad at you barbarians for killing that Guardian who devoted his life to raising us."

"He should've accepted the new rule. His god has been long dead, and the new god has his own atrocious vision for which he created that living calamity. He should have accepted the offer of us Celestials, the mortals who will overturn the rule of these 'gods'." Alan announced, unsheathing his sword and preparing for battle.

"Your plans are far worse than I ever expected," Kurai sighed. "A new god has already been born, whether you accept her as a god or a living calamity is for you to decide, the taste of victory is a taste you will never experience on either path." He declared while unsheathing his own katana and preparing to fight.

Kesshō activated her Demonic Eye of Destruction, preparing to fight as she pressurized everyone there. Crystal stepped away from Kesshō, unsheathing her katana and preparing to engage, her ears standing straight in alarm. Kristine and Snow prepared their spells as Thunder and Blitz prepared their arrows, the three from behind also preparing to charge in.

The battle begun as Freya released her first arrow, aimed directly at Kurai. Kurai dodged to the side, the arrow changing its direction in the air and turning towards him. As the arrow came close to nearly piercing his arm, Kesshō kicked it away, her scales resisting any damage the arrow could have dealt. Kurai charged forward as Kesshō turned around and unsheathed her katana, parrying a vertical slash from Crystal.

"Imbeciles," Niko spat.

Everyone turned to her as they felt the energy surge in the environment, all of their weapons shattering like glass the same moment. They all looked at the shards of their weapons, the only two which remained being Kesshō's katana and Freya's bow.

"Legendary weapons," Niko scoffed. "My master made the vast majority of them. The 'World Shatterer', the bow of the Phoenixes, the only one capable of handling the arrow they created. And the 'Blade of Everlasting Flames', the katana, providing nothing more than a slight boost to fire-based abilities of the wielder."

"Your master's prized possessions I assume?" Alan questioned as he looked at her, his eyes narrowed and his fists clenched.

"Bottom of the pile, his prized possession was the blade, 'Laerhimos Oymirutes', the strongest weapon to ever exist," Niko answered. "I do not have it, his prized pupil inherited his treasury, and the duty to present that blade to the most skilled sword user to ever exist, someone capable of using it to its full potential."

"I did truly despise your master." Alan mumbled, disappearing from his position.

"Have you ever wondered, what is the probability of your punch being so slow that a slug would be able to dodge it?" Niko questioned, smiling at the fist right in front of her face, barely inches away.

Alan's eyes widened as he looked at his hand, being unable to move it. Niko smiled at him as she gently pushed his hand to the side, walking away from it and towards Kurai. She stood in front of him, looking him up and down. Freya took aim and released another arrow while Niko remained distracted, the arrow whistling right past her head and from between the gap in Kurai's arm and his torso, embedding itself in the ground behind him.

"What do you think would be the possibility of something like that just happened?" Niko questioned as she turned to Freya.

"Nearly zero," Freya mumbled.

"Incorrect," Niko replied, "the answer is a hundred." She smiled as she walked past Kurai and picked the arrow, throwing it towards Freya. The arrow blasted through the pillar she stood on, causing her to spread her wings and glide down. "Now, what is the probability of that debris falling upwards?"

Freya's eyes widened as she realised it, failing to dodge as a giant boulder collided with her legs launching her upwards and smashing her into the barrier of the domain. Flames licked the boulders before a torrent of fire exploded through them, taking the shape of a bird and flying right towards Niko.

"What is the probability your attack won't be able to harm me?" Niko mumbled as Kurai dashed away, the bird smashing into Niko right then, causing an explosion and pushing everyone to the side.

"That has to have–" Freya cried out in triumph, cut short by a fist that knocked into her face, sending her flying into the pillar Kristine and Snow stood on, destroying it instantly.

Reality Manipulation... Alan sighed in his mind. No, it's weaker, she is only influencing the outcomes, not the process. Probability Manipulation can't be used this frequently, but what she is using only fits it. The only reasonable assumption would be she somehow got lucky enough to remove the time limit. She is basically a god now, stronger than the Goddess of Chaos everyone worshipped. He retrieved a dagger from his coat with his other hand. It's still a branch of Reality Manipulation, and so it shares the same weakness.

"You are far too pathetic for this battle, there is only one here who might stand a chance at defeating me, and even she is not yet skilled enough to do so." Niko informed as she dusted her dress.

"How old even are you?" Kurai gasped.

"Nine, and being a Krystallite and a demi-god, I will be for a very long time," Niko answered.

"How long have you been a Krystallite for?" Kurai questioned, seemingly surprised.

"Five minutes perhaps, I only found out such a thing even exists when I witnessed these two right here," Niko answered, gesturing to Kesshō and Crystal.

"Why are you capable of using Reality Manipulation?" Alan questioned, breathing heavily as he sat down, the ground near him covered in blood, four hands floating in the air nearby, cut from the wrist down. It sure hurt, but this should still be enough. Now, seeing how arrogant you are pretending to be, correct me and let your guard down.

He glanced to the side, seeing Crystal and Kesshō standing a short distance from each other. Kesshō's eyes were locked on Niko, attempting to understand her abilities from the looks of it. Crystal's eyes wandered onto Alan from Niko, just for a moment before she turned back, her right hand reaching behind her back.

"Its not Reality Manipulation, and thank you for confirming my doubts, you truly are utterly uneducated and barbaric," Niko spat. "As for my ability, it's called Probability Manipulation, very close to Reality Manipulation, but the two are fundamentally very different. Reality Manipulation is to force your imagination into the real world, it requires a strength of will and imagination stronger than the fabric of reality itself.

"Probability Manipulation is to persuade the fabric of reality to follow the command you have issued, to increase the probability of something impossible to possible, and then to something that will certainly happen. You need to gain the trust and favor of existence itself to gain such a power, and for some reason unknown to me, I have been born with this. The Guardian helped me surpass my own limits. Afterall, I only believed for such an ability to work in games, a limitation set in my mind by my 'parents' who used me for that very purpose."

Now, for the final blow. Alan sighed in his mind as he tightened his grip on the dagger. "It truly makes me wonder why you haven't killed us yet, do you enjoy torturing those caught in your trap so much?" He questioned as he cut his hand off again, standing up from the ground and glaring at Niko, blood dripping from his wrist onto the ground.

Niko's gaze shifted to the ground, her mouth opening and closing as she pondered over it, her blue eyes focused on the red blood. She turned around on hearing a footstep, a blade charging for her neck just as she did. Her eyes widened as she glimpsed the blade, Crystal's narrowed eyes glaring right at her as she thrust the spear with all her strength. A tear glistened at the corner of Niko's eyes as she closed them and clenched her jaws.

She is powerful, but her mind is weak. Just making someone suffer this much was enough to make her question herself and lose all confidence and focus. Alan sighed, knowing very well what would happen now.

A giant rocky hand grabbed the blade of the spear, pulling it in the ground as it retreated where it emerged from, knocking Crystal off her feet. Another rocky hand emerged from the ground near it, hitting Crystal's head as she fell and sending her flying towards Alan, who caught her using his one hand and body. Niko breathed heavily as she looked to the side, towards Alan and Crystal.

"Well this is quite unexpected." Alan mumbled as he gently brushed his hand against Crystal's head. "Don't worry, you did great."

"It's fine, don't worry, you are not torturing them, this is not even what they deserve, they have done far worse and deserve similar," a voice reassured, emanating from a pillar of stone that rose from the ground. The pillar broke apart, revealing a girl similar in looks to Kristine.

"Chikyū?" Kurai gasped.

"Not the same one," Chikyū replied, "I know about it all still."

"You know them?" Niko questioned as she turned to Kurai.

"Yes, I do." Chikyū answered as she turned to Alan, slamming her foot on the ground as she did. Everyone in the domain appeared standing around Alan, everyone except Kurai, Kesshō, Niko, and Chikyū. "Niko, can you please get them out of here?" Chikyū requested.

"Freya." Alan sighed as she released an arrow towards Niko.

Niko nodded as she turned to the group, glimpsing a black line in the air at that moment. Before Niko could react a slender leg kicked the arrow away, landing right in front of her. Kesshō bared her fangs and hissed at the group, spreading her wings as blue-pink lines shot through her body towards her chest. Pink glowing lines glowed towards Crystal's neck as she charged her own breath attack.

"Let it happen, we weren't here to kill them anyways," Alan sighed.

"What do you think..." Niko mumbled to Kurai, "is the possibility her attack will kick them out of this domain?"

Kesshō unleashed her breath attack, Crystal also unleashing her own, having decreased it's power by a great amount. The two breath attacks collided halfway, Kesshō's blue-pink flames mixing with Crystal's lighter pink flames. Kesshō's breath attack plowed through Crystal's with relative ease, blowing up as it hit the group, no trace of them remaining as the flames died down.

"What do you think of that?" Freya questioned, surveying the surroundings which appeared to be a forest. She only found Alan and Crystal beside herself, the others nowhere to be found.

"I can see why The Creator has visited that world so many times," Alan laughed. "That power, truly unbeatable by most. Only someone with True Reality Manipulation could ever hope to stand a chance against that, she is basically a full fledged god already."

"Do you think we should return?" Freya inquired.

"No requirement for it currently," Alan shrugged. "It's a branch of Reality Manipulation, meaning it takes a heavy toll on the body. I have already figured out how to counter that. If we do ever encounter her again, we can easily kill her."

"Very well." Freya sighed as she pushed herself to her feet. "The others will return to Celestia soon enough, we should go as well."

"Crystal?" Alan called, making her look up from the ground where she lay. "What do you think of your sister?" He questioned.

"She finds her interesting," Freya answered.

"Don't you think she is just a perfect weapon?" Alan sighed. "Made to kill in every way possible, to kill anything and everything."

"Her body is," Freya interjected, "her soul is far too kind for something like that."

"Her soul is also made for the same purpose, the kindness is a shackle to restrict her from going on a rampage. I am very certain The Creator planned that as well while creating her," Alan scoffed.

"How does one create a soul?" Freya mumbled.

"A Greater Guardian might be able to, they guard the realm of souls afterall." Alan shrugged as he got up, lifting Crystal from the ground in his arms.

"Should I start the preparations then?" Freya inquired.

"Yes, we will receive the news soon enough on when this war starts." Alan shrugged as he summoned a portal to their side. "First, let's return to Celestia and help her prepare for this."

Freya nodded as she followed Alan through the portal, the distortion closing behind them.