Interlude - Fixing These Unfair Scenarios: Chapter 1
Lauren Hayes stared at the glow of her computer screen, her fingers idly hovering over the keyboard as she glanced at the clock in the corner. 4:36 PM. Almost there. Almost free. But even those last twenty-four minutes stretched on endlessly, as if time itself was conspiring to keep her trapped in the monotony of her office job.
The faint hum of fluorescent lights overhead, the occasional tap of keyboards, and the muffled chatter of her coworkers created a dull ambiance, one that she had long since grown accustomed to. It was the same every day, an endless cycle of emails, reports, and meetings that held no real significance to her. She completed her tasks efficiently, never falling behind, but never feeling engaged either. It was just work—nothing more, nothing less.
Friday should have brought some sense of relief, a light at the end of the tunnel. But even that thought was muted. It wasn’t as though the weekend held grand adventures or thrilling plans. No, for Lauren, it was simply an escape from the rigid structure of office life. A reprieve where she could indulge in the one thing that truly excited her—reading web novels. And tonight was special. The final chapter of ‘Surviving These Unfair Scenarios’ was being released. A not-that-popular series she had stumbled upon by chance years ago, one that had ensnared her with its intricate world and compelling characters. A series that she had both loved and hated in equal measure.
She exhaled slowly and forced herself to focus back on the document she was reviewing. The numbers blurred together, just another set of data she had to check before submitting her report. It wasn’t difficult, just tedious. Her mind drifted despite her best efforts. ‘B-Synchro’, ‘Charisma 999’, ‘Urban Knight - Return of Legends’, ‘A Bio-Weapon’s Rhapsody’... she had so many updates to catch up on. But nothing mattered more than ‘Surviving These Unfair Scenarios’ tonight.
Her phone buzzed slightly, and she glanced down to see a message in the office group chat. Someone had suggested dinner after work. A small gathering, just the usual group going to a nearby restaurant to unwind. It wasn’t that she disliked them. They were decent people, friendly enough, but she had no interest in socializing after a long day. The thought of forced conversation, of pretending to be engaged in meaningless small talk, made her feel exhausted before she had even left her desk.
She typed out a polite excuse.
“Sorry, I have something planned tonight. Maybe next time!”
A few messages of understanding followed, and with that, she was free of any obligations.
By the time the clock hit 5:00 PM, Lauren had already shut down her computer and grabbed her bag. The office felt suffocating, and as she stepped outside, the fresh air was a welcome contrast to the sterile environment she had just left. The streets were alive with the usual end-of-day crowd—businesspeople hurrying to the subway, students laughing as they walked in groups, and the occasional street performer trying to catch the attention of passersby. Lauren moved through it all, detached from the rush, her pace steady and unhurried.
As she passed by a shop with large glass windows, she caught a glimpse of herself in the reflection. She stopped for a moment, adjusting her bag over her shoulder as she took in her appearance. Fair skin, neither strikingly beautiful nor forgettably plain. She was somewhere in between, the kind of person who blended easily into a crowd. Her dark eyes held a quiet sense of exhaustion, framed by hair that fell naturally past her shoulders, slightly tousled from the day. Slim, of average height, dressed in work attire that was functional rather than stylish. There was nothing remarkable about her, but she had never minded that. Being unremarkable meant not standing out, not drawing unnecessary attention. It suited her just fine.
With a small sigh, she continued her walk, catching the usual bus home. The ride was uneventful, just the faint murmur of conversations and the rhythmic hum of the engine. The city blurred past her window, lights flickering on as the sky darkened, signaling the start of the evening. Each stop brought her closer to the comfort of home, the one place where she could truly unwind.
But as soon as she stepped into her apartment, everything changed. The moment she locked the door behind her, she was no longer just another office worker. This was her sanctuary, her escape from the real world.
She tossed her bag onto the couch and made a beeline for her bedroom, quickly changing into her most comfortable pajamas. Loose, worn-in fabric that felt like a second skin. Next came the snacks. She rummaged through her cabinets, grabbing a bag of chips, a soda, and a chocolate bar—her essentials for a night of uninterrupted reading.
With everything set, she settled into her couch, tablet in hand. The glow of the screen reflected in her eyes as she opened her reading app, scrolling through the list of updates. Her heartbeat quickened slightly when she reached ‘Surviving These Unfair Scenarios’. The final chapter was there. The culmination of everything. Her fingers hesitated for just a moment before tapping it open.
Her mind raced as she recalled her complicated relationship with the series. She had adored the worldbuilding, the depth of the characters, the intricate dynamics that made the setting feel alive. But the plot itself had often frustrated her. There were so many things she disagreed with, so many moments she had wished had played out differently. As the story progressed, it had taken a turn for the tragic, and while she appreciated a good emotional payoff, it had felt almost cruel at times.
The protagonist was one of her favorites of all time. She had spent hours drawing fanart of him, imagining alternate endings, ways the narrative could have been more forgiving. He had suffered so much, and each chapter seemed to push him further into despair. And now, with the previous chapter’s devastating cliffhanger—the protagonist mere moments from victory, all his allies dead, the main villain revealing that every hardship had been part of his plan from the very beginning—she couldn’t help but brace herself for disappointment. She hated that kind of cliché. She feared the ending would be hollow, unsatisfying. But she had to know.
Lauren exhaled, steadying herself. There was only one way to find out. She tapped the screen, and the words unfolded before her, drawing her into the world once more.
As she read, the woman took occasional sips of her drink and absentmindedly grabbed a few chips, the salty crunch barely registering as her attention remained glued to the screen. The experience was a whirlwind of emotions, each line pulling her deeper into the story’s conclusion. She laughed at the protagonist’s rare moments of defiant humor, tears welled in her eyes as each character met their fate, frustration bubbled in her chest when things spiraled further into tragedy, and fear crept along her spine as the tension built to its climax. An hour passed in what felt like mere moments, her surroundings fading into irrelevance as she devoured every word, her heart pounding with anticipation and dread.
And then—she reached the end.
The protagonist had done it. He had won. But at what cost? Every single one of his companions had perished, their sacrifices permanent, with no chance of resurrection. His other allies, those who had risked everything to go there and help him, were gone. The once-villainous woman, who had fought to redeem herself and had been the closest thing to a love interest, had sacrificed herself for him. Even the main antagonist, who had a valid reason for everything he had done, had been struck down by the protagonist’s own hands.
The fight was over. The system’s rulers, the so-called Patrons who had orchestrated everything from the start, congratulated him and offered him a reward. A prize for his suffering. But he simply stood there, empty and unmoved, uttering the final words of the novel.
"It’s done. But it wasn’t worth it."
Lauren’s breath caught in her throat. A second later, her frustration erupted in a loud, incredulous scream.
"What?!?!"
How could the author end it like this? After everything? After all the trials, all the pain, all the endless struggle—this was the conclusion? The protagonist lost everything, achieved his goal, and was left with nothing but hollow victory?
Fury burned inside her as she threw a nearby pillow against the wall, gripping her tablet with both hands as she scrolled furiously down to the comment section. She wasn’t the only one who felt this way.
[@Architect_of_Fate: How could the story end like this? What happened to the promise the team made when they got out of the system? It all means nothing??]
[@Gilgamesh: Yes!! What the hell was that? Was there really a need for such a depressing ending? That rule about not being able to revive anyone with the final wish feels completely forced!]
Lauren’s username was Architect_of_Fate, and Gilgamesh was the only other person who had consistently commented alongside her. Most readers had either dropped the novel or resigned themselves to its bleak trajectory. The author rarely responded to comments, but they had seen evidence that he read them. She knew this. And yet, she couldn’t stop herself from pouring out all of her frustration, typing rapidly, venting her thoughts to Gilgamesh as they both ranted about how unjust the ending had been.
Minutes turned into half an hour as their discussion continued, anger cooling slightly as their back-and-forth eased the tension. Lauren sighed, rubbing her face as she finally started to relax. But then, something unexpected happened.
[@Author: That’s just how things happened, I’m just narrating them. What were you expecting?]
Her eyes widened. The author had responded.
[@Architect_of_Fate: A better ending, maybe?? There was no need to wrap things up like that. It makes Drake’s entire journey feel pointless!]
[@Gilgamesh: Exactly! You know a bad ending can ruin an entire story, right?]
The discussion reignited, their frustration spilling into their replies as they countered the author’s reasoning. It wasn’t just about the ending—it was about everything that had led up to it, all the wasted potential, all the missed opportunities for a more satisfying resolution.
And then, after a brief pause, the author sent a message that caught both of them off guard.
[@Author: So, you think you could write a better ending?]
Lauren hesitated. She had never thought of herself as a writer. She loved web novels and devoured them daily, but imagining her own? That was something entirely different. But in the heat of the moment, she didn’t stop to think. She simply replied.
[@Architect_of_Fate: Of course, I could have done a better job! I could have improved the whole story from the very beginning!]
[@Gilgamesh: Same here! So many unnecessary elements, so many wasted themes that could have led to better outcomes!]
Silence followed. No new messages appeared. The comment section remained frozen for several seconds, and Lauren felt her frustration begin to wane as reality set in. She didn’t actually believe what she had just said. She enjoyed reading, sure, but writing? She had never even attempted it. That was just her irritation talking.
With a sigh, she clicked the comment box, ready to type an apology for her outburst. But before she could, a new message appeared.
[@Author: If that’s what you believe, then prove it. Show me that it’s possible to change fate within a story.]
Lauren blinked.
That was… strange. What kind of response was that? Was the author messing with them? She shook her head and began typing her reply, but before she could hit send, a blinding white light engulfed her vision.
Her body tensed, panic surging through her as her surroundings disappeared in an instant. The tablet slipped from her fingers, and her breath caught in her throat. The light swallowed everything.
And then, her room was empty. The snacks remained, half-eaten. The screen of her tablet flickered, waiting for a response that would never come.
—————
Lauren instinctively shut her eyes as the blinding flash of light overwhelmed her vision, the intensity leaving spots of white in her mind even after it had passed. A few moments later, she hesitantly cracked them open, blinking rapidly as her sight adjusted. But what she saw before her made her freeze, every rational thought in her mind coming to a screeching halt.
This couldn’t be real.
The world stretching out in front of her was something out of a dream—or more accurately, something out of ‘Surviving These Unfair Scenarios’. It was an expanse unlike anything she had ever seen, a domain of incomprehensible scale and surreal beauty.
Celestial structures, grandiose and towering, spiraled into an endless sky filled with shifting constellations, floating masses of land suspended as if gravity had no meaning. Ethereal rivers of liquid gold flowed in unpredictable directions, twisting into the air and cascading into waterfalls that never seemed to hit the ground. The air carried an unnatural weight, thick with an energy that made her skin tingle.
And then there were them…
Patrons. The very beings that had orchestrated the protagonist’s suffering, the omnipotent entities that oversaw the system of trials and tribulations. They were everywhere. Some looked human—beautiful and regal figures with glowing eyes and flowing garments. Others were monstrous, bearing forms that defied comprehension—limbs that folded in ways they shouldn't, bodies composed of stardust, or shifting masses of darkness that seemed to distort the space around them.
A few resembled animals, enormous and imposing, their presence radiating sheer power. And yet, despite their vast differences, there was an undeniable camaraderie in the way they moved and interacted, their conversations filled with casual amusement rather than hostility.
Lauren’s breath hitched. She knew this place. The Patron’s Domain. It had been mentioned only a handful of times in the novel, described as an unapproachable realm beyond mortal understanding, a place where the ones who played with fate resided. But it had never been fully detailed—just brief, vague descriptions, hints of its existence left to the reader’s imagination.
But she wasn’t imagining this. Her pulse pounded in her ears as the absurdity of the situation sank in.
“This is impossible. This isn’t real.”
Her fingers clenched at nothing, nails digging into her palms as she tried to ground herself.
“I was just reading a web novel. I was in my apartment. I was—”
Her thoughts spiraled into panic. Her breathing grew unsteady, her chest tightening as her mind raced through every possible explanation. A dream. It had to be a dream. Or a hallucination? Maybe she had passed out from exhaustion?
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
“Maybe I died—”
No, this wasn’t death. This wasn’t some vague, surreal dreamscape that blurred at the edges. Everything was too clear, too crisp, too overwhelming to be anything but real. The realization sent a sharp jolt of terror through her, freezing her in place.
She swallowed hard.
“If this is real… then that means…”
Her eyes darted downward, and she caught sight of her reflection in a pool of floating silver liquid. The sight staring back at her sent another shock through her system.
This wasn’t her.
Her hair, once dark and unremarkable, had grown longer, now cascading down her back in elegant waves. The color had changed, lightened to a soft silvery hue that shimmered under the strange light of this world. Her eyes—no longer the simple brown she had known all her life—were now a striking amber, practically glowing.
And then there was the rest of her. A black crown of ethereal flames hovered above her head, flickering but never fading. She wore an intricate outfit, far too extravagant and revealing for anything she would have chosen herself—a flowing, deep-cut ensemble that clung to her form in a way that felt both unnatural and powerful.
And her body… She looked like a model. No, more than that—she looked inhumanly flawless, as if sculpted to perfection. She ran her hands over her arms, feeling the difference in her skin, the unfamiliar smoothness, the lack of imperfections. It wasn’t just an upgrade. It was as if she had become something else entirely.
Her breath caught in her throat. She had become… a Patron.
The realization hit like a tidal wave, and for a moment, she couldn’t hold it in. A loud, ecstatic scream burst from her lips, making a lot of heads turn.
Lauren immediately clamped her hands over her mouth, but it was too late. Several nearby Patrons turned their attention toward her, some raising brows in mild amusement, others tilting their heads in curiosity. She had clearly drawn more attention than she had intended.
One of them, however, took immediate action.
A colossal figure slithered toward her, the movement both smooth and intimidating. A massive serpent, its body long enough to coil in impossible patterns, loomed closer. Three heads rose, each one distinct yet identical in their piercing, glowing eyes. Wisps of dark miasma floated around its form, dissipating into the air with every breath. The sheer presence of the creature sent a chill down Lauren’s spine, her instincts screaming at her to run.
All three heads spoke in unison, their voices reverberating as if echoing from different planes of existence.
"Are you alright?"
Lauren jumped, a strangled yelp escaping her throat as she took a stumbling step back. Her mind short-circuited as she tried to process the fact that a giant talking three-headed snake was addressing her like some concerned neighbor. The panic, the shock, the sheer absurdity of it all—she couldn’t hold back her reaction.
Her mouth opened before her brain could catch up.
"Y-Yeah! I’m fine! Totally fine! Not freaking out at all!"
The serpent heads blinked in eerie unison. Lauren forced a shaky laugh, waving her hands frantically.
"Just—just had a moment! You know, first-day nerves!"
For a moment, the three heads observed her in silence, then, as if deeming her explanation sufficient, the massive serpent simply nodded and slithered away, leaving behind only the lingering scent of something ancient and foreign.
Lauren exhaled in relief, her legs nearly giving out beneath her. What the hell was happening?
She barely had a moment to compose herself before another presence made itself known.
A much smaller figure appeared before her, contrasting sharply with the imposing form of the serpent. She looked humanoid—almost like a child—wrapped in a soft, oversized hooded cloak. But it wasn’t the girl-like appearance that stood out the most.
It was the enormous tail extending behind her, ending in the head of a wolf.
Lauren stared and the wolf’s head blinked.
"Well, you’re certainly an interesting one."
The small Patron said in a voice far too mischievous for comfort. Lauren blinked, still slightly on edge, but she managed to keep her reaction in check this time. The small Patron before her, with her oversized hooded red cloak and the massive wolf head at the end of her tail, was certainly strange, but after the three-headed serpent, nothing seemed too absurd anymore. The girl’s golden eyes studied her curiously before she finally spoke.
"It’s not often we see new ‘constellations’."
She mused, tilting her head slightly.
"Which world are you from?"
Lauren stiffened. Her mind raced. Should she be honest? But before she could think of a way to deflect, her mouth had already betrayed her.
"Earth!"
She blurted out. The girl’s expression didn’t change immediately, but after a second, she furrowed her brows, looking genuinely puzzled.
"Earth? Never heard of that world. Are you sure?"
Lauren hesitated.
"I… yeah, I’m sure."
She replied, trying to sound more confident than she felt. The Patron crossed her arms, her wolf tail raising its head slightly as if scrutinizing her alongside its owner.
"You do know that for a Patron to be born, it requires the energy of a world whose scenario has reached rank SS+, right? If there was a world named ‘Earth’ that had reached that level, I’d remember it."
Lauren’s stomach dropped. That information had never been explicitly mentioned in the novel, but it made sense. The higher the scenario rank, the more significant the world in the cosmic hierarchy. But Earth? Earth was just… Earth. There was no way it had ever reached some cosmic ranking system.
The girl’s piercing gaze remained locked on her.
"What’s your name?"
Lauren panicked. She had already slipped up by mentioning Earth. Giving her real name felt like an even worse idea. Her mind spun in circles, grasping for anything, and the first thing that came to her was—
"Architect_of_Fate!"
She blurted out.
"And yes, I’m new!"
The moment the words left her lips, she wanted to curl up and die. It was ridiculous. It sounded like the kind of username an edgy teenager would use on a gaming forum… Because it actually was. But it was too late to take it back.
The girl raised a brow. There was a long pause where she simply stared at Lauren, her expression unreadable. Then, suddenly, she burst out laughing. Lauren’s face burned as the Patron wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
"That’s a good one."
She chuckled.
"You don’t need to be so tense. You might not know this since you’re new, but almost no one here takes things seriously."
She waved a dismissive hand.
"Maybe there is an Earth somewhere out there. Who knows? There are too many worlds to keep track of, anyway."
Lauren released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. So she wasn’t about to be interrogated further—thank god. The Patron straightened, looking her over once more.
"Well, since you’re new, you probably don’t know your way around. Lucky for you, I’ve got nothing better to do right now. So how about a little tour?"
Before Lauren could answer, the girl grinned.
"Oh, almost forgot. My name’s Dreaming_Tyrant."
Lauren almost choked.
“Dreaming_Tyrant?!”
Her entire body tensed. That name—it wasn’t just some random Patron. Dreaming_Tyrant was one of the few Patrons in ‘Surviving These Unfair Scenarios’ who had actually helped the protagonist. Unlike the others, she hadn’t simply observed for entertainment—she had become a fan of his struggle, intervening in subtle and then direct ways to push him forward.
She had been important, a game-changer when things had seemed utterly hopeless. Dreaming_Tyrant tilted her head.
"Hm? What, you’ve heard of me?"
Lauren’s mind reeled. This wasn’t some minor Patron, this was her. The Patron who had altered the story in ways no one else had. She swallowed hard. At this point, it was better to just roll with it, so she forced a stiff smile.
"No, it just… caught me off guard."
Dreaming_Tyrant shrugged.
"Well, that’s fair. Anyway, let’s get going!"
And just like that, Lauren found herself being whisked away.
The word small had absolutely no place in describing the tour that followed. Dreaming_Tyrant was relentless, dragging Lauren from one end of the realm to another. Hours passed, yet she felt no exhaustion. Instead, she was in a state of constant awe.
The Patron’s Domain was a place beyond comprehension, filled with towering structures that bent and twisted at impossible angles, shifting landscapes that defied the very laws of reality, and floating islands that housed celestial palaces. Entire continents rotated like clockwork in the sky, while bridges made of stardust connected lands that shimmered with divine light.
Everywhere she looked, there was something new, something strange, something that should have been physically impossible. And yet, none of it felt unnatural. It was as if the realm itself operated under a different set of rules—rules dictated solely by those who resided within it.
But there was one common theme among nearly every location they visited… Gambling.
Betting arenas, game halls, massive stages with shimmering projections showcasing the events of lower worlds—nearly everything revolved around competition and wagers. Dreaming_Tyrant explained it casually as they moved through the crowded pathways, greeting fellow Patrons with a wave or a smirk as they passed.
"You’ll figure it out soon enough."
She said, leading Lauren past what looked like a grand coliseum where several Patrons were placing bets on an ongoing battle below.
"When you’ve been alive for eternity, things get really boring. That’s why all of us pass the time by watching the lower planes. Betting on them, influencing their outcomes—it’s the only thing that keeps us entertained."
Lauren’s stomach twisted as she watched a projection of a battlefield unfold before her, the figures fighting below eerily familiar. They were the scenarios from ‘Surviving These Unfair Scenarios’.
Of course… The Patrons weren’t just background figures in the novel. They were the ones controlling everything. Watching. Manipulating. And now, she was one of them.
Lauren swallowed hard, barely registering Dreaming_Tyrant’s words, too absorbed in what she was seeing on the screen in front of her. The small Patron had led her to an unassuming little booth, where only a handful of Patrons had gathered to watch an unfolding scenario.
Some were humanoid, others grotesque, and at least one had apparently fallen asleep, their form slumped in a seat, snoring softly. Compared to the massive betting arenas they had seen earlier, this place felt almost forgotten.
Her gaze snapped to the screen, and what she saw made her breath catch.
"Group 1030b."
Her eyes widened in shock. That designation—she knew that designation. It was the cast from ‘Surviving These Unfair Scenarios’! She leaned forward instinctively, searching for familiar faces. Could it really be them? Dreaming_Tyrant grinned, clearly enjoying her reaction.
"Looks like you’re catching on quickly, and since I like you, let’s make it official. Here—"
A small notification appeared in front of Lauren.
[Received: 100 Influence Points]
"Consider it a welcome gift."
Dreaming_Tyrant added cheerfully.
"You can use them to… well, you’ll figure it out."
Lauren barely heard her. Her attention was locked onto the screen, where she recognized the setting immediately. A ruined city, crumbling buildings casting long shadows over scattered survivors. Armed men moved in tight formations, escorting a small group forward.
It was the beginning, the very first mission of the protagonist and his team. The moment that started everything.
Lauren couldn’t tear her gaze away as she watched the events unfold exactly as they had in the novel. The interactions, the cautious conversations with the survivors of the Phantom World, the atmosphere of tension before the inevitable ambush. And then it came—the critical moment. The Undead Empress appeared, leading a surprise attack on the group. Just like in the story, Teo, one of the early allies, was moments away from using his Plot Device, the McGuffin, which would…
Lauren frowned. Something had always bothered her about this scene.
“Why did some users suffer penalties when their potential dropped into the negatives, but others didn’t?”
Without thinking, she voiced the question aloud. The other Patrons glanced at her, some with mild confusion, as if she had asked something obvious. Dreaming_Tyrant, however, merely chuckled.
"Oh? I’m surprised you know about that."
She tapped her chin before explaining.
"Punishments aren’t automatic. When someone’s potential gets dangerously close to the negative threshold, the system starts putting them in Punishment scenarios. Hitting negative potential doesn’t force a punishment—it just means we can apply one if we feel like it."
Lauren processed that.
"So… Teo should have received a punishment at this moment."
The moment she spoke, a new notification flashed before her eyes.
[Request Accepted: 20 Influence Points have been used to punish user "Teo de Leon" for reaching negative potential.]
Lauren froze.
"Wait. What?"
The reaction from the other Patrons was immediate. Some let out amused whistles; others cheered as the scene unfolded. On the screen, Teo suddenly stopped, his body stiffening just before he could activate the pendant. The delay was fatal. Before he could react, the Undead Empress struck, her spectral claws piercing his form.
The blood drained from Lauren’s face as she watched in horror… Teo was dead.
Lauren barely had time to react before the focus shifted. Another user—Adam Scholar—managed to snatch the pendant, activating it before the Empress could finish her rampage. The relic pulsed with eerie energy, and before Lauren’s stunned eyes, Adam absorbed the entity completely, taking on her power.
Lauren’s mouth fell open.
This wasn’t how the story went. Teo was supposed to use the McGuffin, survive, and transfer the ‘Mark of the Damned’ onto Adam. But now? Teo was gone and Adam had absorbed an absurd power boost. Lauren let out a strangled yell.
"What?! That—That’s complete bullshit! He changed race and kept the mark?!"
A deep, rumbling voice answered her from the side.
"Agreed."
Lauren turned, her eyes landing on a towering Patron watching the screen with crossed arms. His form was entirely black, his body shifting like an absence of light itself. His head was shaped like that of a lion, regal yet menacing, and atop it rested a striped headdress eerily similar to those worn by Egyptian pharaohs.
"That was a terrible outcome, dull, uninspired. A setback for the narrative."
He said, voice carrying the weight of disapproval, and before Lauren could respond, another notification flashed.
[Request Accepted: 150 Influence Points have been used to grant user "Adam Scholar" the title ‘Luck’s Last Laugh’.]
Lauren stared in disbelief. This wasn’t the novel anymore. It wasn’t just a passive retelling. It was alive. And she had changed it.
A flood of emotions rushed through her, overwhelming and chaotic. Panic gripped her chest as she processed what had just happened—Teo was gone, erased from the narrative, something that should have been impossible. Her mind screamed that this wasn’t how it was supposed to go.
Teo should have survived, should have used his Plot Device, and should have sneakily transferred the ‘Mark of the Damned’ to Adam, who would suffer from the mental damage and, incapable of bearing the pain, would opt for the ‘I give up’ option alongside Leila, thus both being transported to Team Abyss. But now? The balance of the story had shifted in an unforeseen way.
She forced herself to breathe, but her thoughts continued to race. Had she just doomed the protagonist’s journey? Had she set in motion a ripple effect that would completely derail the plot she had known so well? But amidst the storm of emotions, something deeper stirred—an undeniable thrill.
She had always imagined what it would be like to fix the parts of the story that had frustrated her, to guide events toward a more satisfying outcome. Now that she was here, actively shaping the events of a world she once thought was static, she realized the terrifying weight of that responsibility. But rather than paralyze her, it set something alight in her chest.
Then, a thought surfaced, sending a shiver down her spine… The author’s words.
"Show me that it’s possible to change fate within a story."
Lauren inhaled sharply, gripping the edges of her sleeves as she steadied herself. That was it. That was the true meaning behind everything. She had spent years as a reader, powerless to change the outcomes that had left her bitter. But now she wasn’t just reading anymore—she was inside the story, and she had the power to alter its course. Maybe, just maybe, she had screwed up with her first action. Maybe she had already begun unraveling the delicate threads of the narrative. But did that mean she should stop? No.
This was only the beginning. Her eyes locked onto the screen, onto the two most important figures in this unfolding drama.
Drake Shaw, the protagonist, the one meant to endure suffering, to struggle through impossible odds, to emerge victorious despite all the hardship, and Adam Scholar, the main villain, the enigma, the wildcard whose fate had just been altered in a way the original story had never intended.
A slow realization settled over her, followed by a rush of something exhilarating. She had changed something that was supposed to be unchangeable. She had disrupted the flow of a story already written. But wasn’t that exactly what she had always wished for? The ability to step into a world she loved, to reshape it in ways that made sense to her? And now, for the first time, she wasn’t just a passive observer. She wasn’t at the mercy of an author’s decisions.
She was part of it now. A smirk played at her lips as the excitement fully sank in… If fate was truly in her hands, then it was time to start giving it a little push for the better.