"Imbeciles," Niko spat.
Everyone turned to her as they felt the energy surge in the environment, all of their weapons shattering like glass right that instant. They all stared 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 Oymiryutes', 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 swordsman, 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, 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 whistled right past her head, from the gap between Kurai's arm and torso, embedding itself in the ground behind him.
"What do you think? What would be the possibility of something like that happening?" 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 travelled slowly, barely having the power to peirce anything. Hitting the pillar Freya stood on the arrow blasted through it in an instant, startling Freya as she spread her wings to glide down. "Now, what is the probability of that debris falling upwards?" Niko questioned.
Freya's eyes widened as she realised it, failing to dodge as a giant boulder collided with her legs slamming her upwards and 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 straight 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, shattering it entirely.
"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, I will be for a very long time," Niko answered.
"How long have you been a Krystallite for even?" Kurai questioned.
"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.
"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 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 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."
"It truly makes me wonder why you haven't killed us yet, do you enjoy torturing those caught in your trap so much?" Alan questioned as he cut his hand off again, standing up from the ground and glaring at Niko as blood gushed from his wound.
Niko's gaze shifted to the ground, her mouth opening and closing as she pondered over it, the red blood reflecting in her blue eyes. She turned to her right 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, prepared for the attack.
*He only wanted to disrupt her mental state, both Reality Manipulation and Probability Manipulation have the same weakness afterall. They can't do anything when they can't think clearly,* Kurai realised, knowing very well what would happen now.
A giant rocky hand grabbed the blade of the spear, pulling it back into the ground as it retreated from where it emerged, 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 breath heavily as she looked to the side, towards Alan and Crystal, her hands shaking.
"It's fine, don't worry, you are not torturing them. This is not even close to what they deserve, they have done far worse and they 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 at the same time. 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.
Niko nodded as she turned to the group, glimpsing a black line in the air as she turned to them. 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.
"What do you think," Niko mumbled to Kurai with a smile, "is the possibility her attack will kick them out of this domain?"
Kesshō unleashed her breath attack, Crystal also unleashing her own at the same time. 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 once the flames died down.
If you can't tell, she is a pacifist, she dislikes violence and uses her ability in a mostly peaceful manner." Chikyū informed as she distanced herself from the other two, Niko following behind her.
"I can tell, Kesshō is like that as well on some occasions. She likes to fight only when the other person is skilled, and when there's no one supervising her." Kurai sighed as he glanced at Kesshō.
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"From what I am aware, she killed nearly four hundred dragons, two hundred phoenixes, over ten thousand weaker monsters, and two regional gods in the time she spent in the last world." Chikyū mumbled as she stared at Kesshō. "It escapes how she is even allowed to exist."
"She really has killed a lot of stuff," Niko murmured.
"They attacked first." Kesshō growled as she kicked a rock.
"Fair enough," Kurai sighed. "As for you–" he turned to Niko– "what do you want to do now?" He questioned.
"What does that mean?" Niko inquired as she tilted her head.
"They are still technically challenging the guardian of this world, which would be you, so he is asking if you wish to fight, or you will just give them the ability they seek," Chikyū explained.
"This world would collapse soon enough either ways, I have no problem giving anyone the ability," Niko shrugged.
"Shouldn't you be worried about staying here in that case?" Kurai questioned. "When a world collapses, so does the domain of the guardian of that world, there is no telling what would happen if you remain here when that happens."
"There is still time for it, and the guardian's domain will remain," Niko replied. "The relation between a world and it's guardian's domain is similar to that of a planet and it's moon, the only difference that the planet is replaced with a universe, and the moon with a galaxy. Once the world collapses the guardian's domain will have nothing to remain connected with, and it will simply slingshot into the unknown. what happens next is something no one knows."
"You sound like you intend to find out," Kurai mumbled.
"Not in the slightest, the ley lines connecting the guardian's domain to the world remain even after the world collapses, along with that the world's Ley Lines connecting it to other worlds. These Ley Lines remain for a long time afterwards, and so it won't matter even if I am a little late. Afterall, Ley Lines are what enable the use of the World Travel skill," Niko explained.
"Suit yourself," Kurai sighed. "What do you intend to do after the world collapses? Chikyū won't be there to protect you, not this one at the very least."
"The other ones won't be either," Chikyū sighed. "They have other matters to handle, none have the time to look after a child."
"I can take care of myself," Niko argued.
"Not at all," Kurai interjected, "you almost died just now that easily, you are still way too weak mentally."
"I am aware of that." Chikyū mumbled before Niko could speak. "I am trying to better prepare her for the world, but there are no guarantees. The best way to train mental fortitude would probably be mild exposure to certain type of events, but it feels far too cruel for a child. She already studies much to have some level of preparation for most events."
"Should I assume my guess on how her ability works is correct then?" Kurai inquired.
"Considering its your guess, I believe it would be." Chikyū nodded.
"Enlighten me." Niko cut in with a smirk.
"As you said earlier, Probability Manipulation works by convincing reality itself to bend to your will. The possibility of what event you wish to change decides what will be used in the ability" Kurai explained. "I have only ever seen lower levels of Probability Manipulation, and they manifest as a simple coin toss between two outcomes or a dice roll. A cooldown is enforced to limit the use of such a powerful ability, one which varies based on the magnitude."
"Yes, that is a limitation," Niko nodded.
"Logically speaking, the ability is near absolutely useless for combat due to its reliance on sheer luck," Kurai shrugged. "Afterall, you can't always get the perfect roll, or even use it multiple times during the same battle. Alongside that, there is no upper limit to what the roll would be with. As I said earlier, it could be a coin toss, or a six sided dice roll, or a billion sided dice roll, all depends on what you use it for. And so, to overcome the shortcomings of your ability, you found a loophole in the restriction and the ability's functioning."
"A loophole?" Niko inquired, tilting her head, her eyes slightly widened.
"Your ability is still a form of Reality Manipulation, and so the user's imaginations are the limitations set on the ability, except things like the cooldown," Kurai replied. "If you can imagine something, you can roll a dice to make it happen. Would really be a shame if you decided to remove the cooldown, wouldn't it?"
"How did you put that together so quick?" Niko gasped. "It took me four years to even come up with it."
"Considering you are just a kid, and mostly peaceful, I don't expect you to come up with such a trick even. I am surprised you even figured it out. It suits people who rely on tricks to win, like me." Kurai bowed slightly. "That aside, I do have a question to ask you in that case."
"What is it?" Niko inquired.
"What was the roll for removing the cooldown?" Kurai questioned. "Probability Manipulation is a powerful ability, and removing the cooldown should be the most impossible event possible."
"A trillion die with a trillion sides each, I needed the maximum number possible to remove the cooldown," Niko explained. "Everytime it failed it went in a cooldown of half a day."
"Well, now that you do have such an overpowered ability, I have a suggestion for you," Kurai sighed.
"And what is that?" Niko inquired.
"What is the probability Niko is immortal?" Kurai mumbled, everyone's eyes widening on hearing it. "As I mentioned just now, as someone who relies on tricks to win, I would have done this first."
"It feels wrong though," Niko mumbled.
"Nothing to feel wrong about, you don't have to do it so you won't have to worry about dying, it's simply because I might need your help in the future," Kurai explained. "As for why I might need your help in the future, I have no intention of explaining, and you have no need to worry about. Most things of this sort tend to slowly resolve themselves."
"Tell me," Niko demanded.
"No, I don't trust kids to keep secrets, and you seem like someone who would spill them the second they make a friend anyways," Kurai shrugged.
"You do realise I am technically the strongest thing alive," Niko mumbled.
"You aren't, trust me. Probability Manipulation might be powerful, but it's simply a lesser, cheap imitation of Reality Manipulation," Kurai informed. "Both have the same weakness as well, the second the enemy diverts your attention to a different matter you lose the battle, though the immortality I suggested might protect you, but it will only save you from normal attacks. There are many attacks which will kill you even if you have the immortality granted to you by Probability Manipulation, only Reality Manipulation has been known to be capable of granting true immortality."
"I know just how many limitations my ability has, I have experimented enough to know," Niko sighed. "Even then, there are very few capable of overcoming it unless they catch me by surprise."
"So, do you think you would've won?" Chikyū questioned.
Niko stared at Kesshō, both of them assessing each other. "Not in a thousand years," Niko mumbled.
"Why do you think so?" Kurai inquired.
"I can defeat most beings easily, but not a weapon made to slaughter anything, no matter how strong or close to immortal that thing may be," Niko shrugged.
"Good, it's best to know your limits," Kurai smiled. "Well then, we will be going now, there is something I need to do."
Niko nodded and raised her hand towards Kesshō, a circular, blue sigil glowing on her palm. The sigil's mark appeared on Kesshō's forehead for a moment, glowing bright pink before disappearing. "All done, you may leave." Niko waved to the two.
"I would still suggest you to rethink this," Chikyū advised.
"Why is that? You don't want us to leave?" Kurai inquired with a smile.
"No, I simply don't think she is strong enough to defeat that thing." Chikyū informed, glancing at the ground.
"I have seen him as well, she can win with some help," Kurai shrugged. Kesshō shrugged as well, not knowing the answer herself. She walked to Niko, wrapping her arms around her and burying her head in her clothes, Niko being just slightly taller than Kesshō.
"What is this assumption based on?" Chikyū questioned. "Appraisal? Or experience?"
Kurai looked at her for a few moments, thinking something. "Appraisal," he answered.
"Do you really think Appraisal wouldn't show you incorrect details just to lure you into a trap?" Chikyū stated the possibility.
"Yes, I have considered the possibility," Kurai replied. "Even so, if he has revealed himself and laid out a trap like this, I can only think of him doing so as a challenge. He knows me well enough to know I won't fall for it if he attempted to lay a trap, but this seemed more of a challenge than anything."
"Don't underestimate him," Chikyū warned.
"I am not underestimating him, I am well aware just how he has been pulling the strings from behind, and just how he has caused both of my students to suffer," Kurai grunted.
"I can understand his reason behind exterminating the Midnight Wolves, they are far too powerful, but I can not see the purpose behind leaving one, and with blue eyes at that," Chikyū sighed.
"I don't know either, but I know it's important enough for him to reveal himself in order to keep her alive," Kurai mumbled. "That aside, how did you learn so much about him? The connected knowledge of all Primordials?"
"No, this is my own contribution to that connected pool of knowledge," Chikyū replied. "You see, after the Guardian died and left Niko as the next Guardian, The Creator came here to meet her, and the other kid. He did meet the other kid many times before, to train him on request by the previous Guardian, but that day he came to take that kid away, and also helped Niko better understand her duties as a Guardian. He frequents this place, comes to check on her nearly every five days."
"So, you have learnt much about him in that time," Kurai observed.
"Yes, but the previous Guardian told me much more, and suggested me to trust him, but never more than I would trust a former enemy made an ally by circumstance," Chikyū informed. "He also told me The Creator has some grand plan he is working towards, something connected with some trials and some war, I am not aware of the details however."
"That is intriguing, but why are you telling me all of this?" Kurai inquired.
"Its simple, I wish to put my faith in the one The Creator himself feels afraid." Chikyū informed with a bow. "The Empress, the first Spirit Wolf in an untold amount of time."
"You place your faith in her, and yet you doubt she could win," Kurai sighed.
"He is a different kind of monster, I simply request you to be careful." Chikyū bowed her head.
"We will," Kurai reassured. "Kesshō?" He turned to Kesshō, finding her and Niko still locked in an embrace. "Can we go now?"
"Sorry, she is just too soft." Niko mumbled as she released Kesshō.
Kesshō waved to the two as she walked to Kurai, standing beside him, her eyes focused. Kurai nodded to her as she raised her hand in front, the pink sigil glowing again on her forehead, mostly hidden behind her hair, as space distorted in front of her. Golden, blue, and purple lines of energy emitted from the distortion as it slowly took the shape of an oval, the inside of it being a completely black veil, the edges still distorting and carrying several bright lines of energy. Taking a deep breath both stepped forward, walking through the portal to face their opponent.