Yutsuki, Erica, and Gifford finally stabilized a few hours after midnight. Marty decided to leave the rest of their care to the maids and instructed them to inform him if anything strange occurred. To make it seem like he was a normal person, Marty decided not to sleep his regular four hours, at least not outwardly.
After giving it a couple of minutes of thought, he decided to stay in this world and let everything play out. The new form of magic, which he speculated to by mana based, would be valuable to learn, and he wanted Yuutsuki to gain strength so she would be safer once she was back on Earth. With this decision, Marty went back to Earth to pick up a few things.
He used Dimension Door to go directly into his bunker. On a table in the room where he appeared, there was a small case. Inside the case was a ring that had arrived only a couple of days earlier. The ring was more in the style of a band with a smooth purple crystal embedded within it. Even though this ring appeared only somewhat unique, it was extremely precious. It was a gift from Mr. Smith, a thank you for Marty’s Ring of Understanding. In Marty’s eyes, it was even more valuable because it was a storage ring. This particular storage ring was one of the many brought back by David, one of the current strongest people on Earth. The ring had a pocket space of 10^3 feet to store things. It was one of the larger internal space among the rings Mr. Smith had.
To place or retrieve items, one would extend their soul or mind into the ring. Naturally, this meant that the average person would not be able to use it. For Marty, this wasn’t a problem.
The only other rules were that living things could not survive in the ring, and food would last longer as the internal space was technically a vacuum. Marty had already played with the ring but had set it aside as he had other things to do. Now Abducted again, it was an excellent excuse to take it for a run in the field. After spending an hour gathering various essentials and gear within the ring, Marty prepared to go back. However, he paused as he realized that he had a slight dizzy spell. Compared to the feeling of emotional tiredness that he felt if he overused Emotion magic, this was pure mental fatigue. Taking note that excessive use of the storage ring would exhaust his mental strength, Marty spent some time to gather himself before using Dimension Door to go back to the Kingdom of Regnum.
Cali, who waited in his room to inform him if someone needed to enter, gave a slight smile as a welcome when he appeared. After giving Cali a light pat on the head, Marty exited out into the dining room where he found the three others as they finished up a late breakfast. However, when he saw the three of them, he immediately froze in place, and his jaw hung loosely. The reason was that he could tell that the three of them had Rank 5 Ki.
[Where is the justice in this? I only obtained Rank 2 Ki in Camelot, and I had to work quite hard to get to their level.] He thought bitterly.
If anyone in Camelot heard his thoughts, they would immediately roll their eyes. Rank 5 Ki was something that most in Camelot could never reach in their lifetime, yet he had only taken a short few weeks, and he wasn’t satisfied.
Marty concluded as to why there was such a vast difference between his experience and theirs. Compared to Albion, this world had much more Ki present. Even though there was no direct way to take Ki in from the outside, it undoubtedly affected the speed that Ki could be increased. This could further be seen by the notable increase in Ki when Marty put his Ki into the bodies of the girls back home.
“Onii-sama, thank you for taking care of Yutsuki last night,” Yutsuki said with a smile before she continued. “You need to hurry up and eat something. The King mentioned that we would go meet someone called Oracle after we ate.”
Marty nodded as he joined the small talk.
...
Roughly an hour later, the four of them slightly shock as the cart rumbled down a path towards a building on a nearby ocean cliff. They were escorted by a well-armed cavalry and traveled in a decent amount of time.
“So, what can you tell us about the Oracle?” Marty asked the driver, who was a high ranking soldier.
“The Oracle is a priestess who lives in the temple on the ocean cliff. Besides the Oracle, a few maidservants, and the Oracle’s successor, there are rarely any others there. The Oracle herself is a prophet of sorts. Though not always coherent and sometimes in riddles, she does have the ability to see the future. Thus far, the three major prophecies that the Oracles gave us came true. They foresaw a drought, war with the Devils, and the fall of a periphery kingdom. Besides telling the general future, young noble children will be taken to the Oracle, where she will designate what we refer to as a class for them. This class represents the style of fighting that they will be most adept in. Things like a knight, archer, or mage are some of the options. This is the reason why we’re going, figuring out what class suits you four the best.”
“Why does this oracle sound familiar?” Gifford asked with a ponder.
“There is a similar legend in Earth’s Greece. The Oracle in Greece was said to be able to tell the future. However, there was a reason to believe that the Oracle was high on the natural gas that spilled up through the temple, which caused her prophecies.”
“So, we’re going to see a crazy person?” Erica asked, which immediately brought a cold look from many of the escorts.
“Naturally not,” Marty said, ignoring the gazes to defuse the situation. “Because the Oracle on our world was said to be able to perceive the future, it’s very likely that this one will truly be able to. From what I have observed, these worlds appeared to have some connection with myths or stories. Even though the Oracle is based in reality and we have no evidence that she could predict the future, the fact that it was believed that she could is enough. In other words, we can’t say for sure; stranger things have happened.” Marty replied with a helpless shrug.
...
The caravan finally made their way to the temple that had many similarities to a Greek structure. However, it must have been ancient and preserved in such fashion as the kingdom itself was more of a combination of Greek and medieval design. As they enter the temple, Marty noted that there was a smell of the ocean as well as minute traces of natural gases.
After entering the center of the temple, the guards remained as the four of them were led into the temple depths by two maidservants. Marty felt a jab of pain to his side as Yutsuki pinched him for paying attention to the maidservants whose clothes left little to the imagination. Marty could only smile helplessly and chastised himself internally. When it came to women, he had previously been quite immune to their charms. However, ever since he returned from Camelot, he couldn’t help but notice a tiny seed desire that appeared whenever he saw a beautiful woman. It was a feeling that made him slightly afraid because it wasn’t something that was a conscious thought.
In the depths of the temple, a large room lit only by a few candles appeared before them. There was a slight fog in the air, as if the ocean fog would never disappear here. Within the light mist, a form began to move. Its movement was graceful and fluid as it approached them quickly. As a sheer knee-jerk reaction, Marty’s inner eyelids immediately closed as two dainty hands covered his eyes. Those delicate hands belonged to Yutsuki, who had accidentally used her Ki when she had blocked his sight. Yutsuki did not do this for no reason. In front of them, a gorgeous woman appeared. Her clothing could barely be considered as such as it was a thin piece of cloth that wrapped around her entire body that resembled lingerie as it was almost entirely see-through.
When she saw them, she gave them an extremely seductive smile, which caused Gifford to swallow audibly.
“Hehe,” she giggled mischievously as she looked at them, quite amused at their reactions.
Marty gently brought Yutsuki’s hands down, smiled at her, then locked his gaze on the Oracle’s face. The Oracle was surprised when she saw his completely limped eyes. Men would typically ogle her as much as they could whenever they saw her. However, after giving it a second thought, she realized it wasn’t too surprising given that it was him, and the body wasn’t hers.
“This is the first time I’ve ever had to do this for a group of grown adults.” The Oracle said as she glanced them over them with a smile. “Do you have any questions, or should I begin?”
“Please begin,” Marty said after a couple of seconds of silence.
“Very well.” She said as she seductively moved towards Gifford. “Tell me, little man, when you fight, would you rather destroy your enemy or protect your allies?”
Gifford thought about it for a little bit as fighting never really crossed his mind. “I would rather protect.”
She gave him a smile and a nod. “So long as you remember that, you will become a knight with no equal in this world. So long as you make your friends wisely, you will go far beyond.” The Oracle said before moving in front of Erica. “A flexible, precise body with a quick reaction. With a short blade in each hand, you will become a ghost on the battlefield. A rogue with few peers.”
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Erica nodded as the Oracle moved and confronted Yutsuki.
She looked at Yutsuki deeply before she gave a slight sigh. “An unparalleled archer whose aim will always fall true. ‘Tis a pity you tied your future to your beloved; ‘tis a pity it has sealed your Fate. Will you break free from the tether of Fate? You will not be able to go it alone and will need each other.” The Oracle said solemnly before her eyes lit up suddenly. “If you can break your Fate, you truly will become an unparalleled archer. Gods will fall, and worlds will tremble in fear at the sight of your arrow.” The Oracle continued as her voice became louder and echoed throughout the room as if imbued with magic power.
Yutsuki only looked back at the Oracle in a dazed expression before glancing at Marty with blushed cheeks. Though she was shy, she was not without wisdom as she understood what the Oracle had said. [My beloved? A pity I had tied my future to him? Even if I die, I’ll never regret it. Is it not my Fate that is bad, but his? No matter what, I will help him.] Yutsuki thought as she steeled her resolve.
A flash of happiness could be seen in the Oracle’s eyes as she saw the physical changes in Yutsuki’s face before she stood in front of Marty. She looked deep into his eyes in silence for some time before she began to speak. “Pitiful; If I had to describe you with any single word, it would be pitiful. In the past of your future, you died in your wife’s embrace even though you had the strength to save her, though you could not remember. Now you lost your fiancé though you had the power to prevent it, though you could not have known.
“But it was Fate she would die; It is Fate that you will lose; It is Fate that you will die; It is Fate that all the people you love and care for will die. But, this time, can you break Fate?
“The first time, you fell to corruption. The second time, corruption changed your future. The third time, can your changed future finally break you out of Fate’s clutches? If it doesn’t, will you get a fourth time? How many chances will you get before your luck runs out, and you no longer have the possibility to break Fate?”
Marty looked at the Oracle as his face paled; the blood drained away. His body shook as it felt frigid. “What should I do?” He asked, hoarsely.
“This, I cannot say; I do not know.”
Marty stood there, petrified. His brain was completely blank. For a short time he didn’t move, he didn’t breathe, he didn’t even think as the weight of inevitability pressed down on him. Then, he felt warmth. A small dainty hand was pressing against his. From there, a wave of warmth began to spread up his arm. At the same time, two weightless arms hung around his neck as he felt Cali hugged him from behind. Though her body had no heat, he couldn’t help but feel an incredible sense of warmth and comfort that spread throughout his whole body.
[So what! What thing is Fate that dares to decide the people I love will die? What thing is Fate to kill my Freyja? This damn Fate, I will break it!] Marty thought as his fear and trepidation turned into righteous anger. His eyes turned into a Red Dragon inlaid with specks of gold as an incredible pressure filled the entire room. A defiant, angry growl spread throughout the room before Marty relaxed as a smile filled with confidence appeared on his face. No matter what would come his way, he would take it head-on. Until then, he could only get stronger to protect what he wanted to protect. “You should tell me what class best suits me now.”
The Oracle bloomed into a bright smile as she looked into his firm eyes. “A mage without equal. One who will learn and invent faster than any of them before him, no matter what system of magic you study; so long as you try.”
“Is that all?”
“Naturally not. So long as you break Fate… So long as you break Fate…” The Oracle seemed to become incoherent as her vision became blurred, and she focused off into the distance. Above the temple, thunder clouds began to form from nothing, and a proud Golden Dragon made of thunder briefly appeared in the sky. The stagnant air in the room began to swirl violently centered on the Oracle as a whirlwind. Her eyes suddenly regained focus as they turned silver and locked on to Marty’s. Her voice became grave, and it echoed not only in the room, not only in one’s mind but in the depths of one’s soul. “So long as you can break their Fate, they can break yours. If your Fate breaks, your life will be in constant peril. The threat of death will hover over you like a guillotine. You will be outside of Fate, not within its control!
“So long death does not grasp you; you will exceed the peerless assassin of the past. Your enemies will never sleep easy at night knowing that you could be out there, shrouded in the darkness!
“So long death does not grasp you; you will exceed the peerless fighter of the past. On the battlefield, your enemies will tremble in fear of your sword, of your weapon, as it reaps life wantonly!
“So long death does not grasp you; you will exceed the peerless mage of the past. Your spells will boost your allies, crush your foes, and shock and awe the world!
“So long death does not grasp you; you will become a peerless knight whose shield will protect your ever-increasing number of ‘treasures.’ You will protect them from their enemies, from sadness, from pain, and they will do the same!
“So long death does not grasp you; you will exceed the peerless blacksmith of the past. The weapons you make will reap lives like wheat, and the armor you make will cause your enemies to despair!
“So long death does not grasp you; you will exceed the peerless doctor of the past. You will heal wounds as if by magic, and even death will retreat at your whims!
“You will assassinate to protect; you will fight to protect; you will cast spells to protect; you will exist to protect!
“You will become the origin of things, the myriad of things, the devourer of things, forever changing, and continually strengthening!
“Numerous gods will become your friends, more will become your enemies, and worlds will be dyed red with the blood of your blade!
“You must always remember to insist! You must never forget to protect! You must never forget that hope exists as long as you live! You must never forget that you are not alone! They are your strength!
“Slayer of gods whose will dominates nigh all!” As she finished speaking, her eyes suddenly became dull, and she stepped forward, exhausted.
Marty couldn’t help but feel more confused by the sudden prophecy; Assassin? Blacksmith?
Gifford turned to look at Marty before he smiled. “This is perfect. A knight, a rogue, archer, and mage. We have a full party.” He said with a laugh.
Marty looked at him, slightly confused. He looked at Erica, and then he looked Yutsuki. From their expressions, he quickly realized that only he, Cali, and Yutsuki had heard the final prophecy of the Oracle. Marty felt a cold sweat at the thought that this Oracle could be an incredibly powerful being before he regained his senses. “Then I expect you to look after me in the future.” He said politely.
“You too.”
Marty looked back to the Oracle, breathing heavily in front of him. Her eyes locked onto his, and he became quite surprised. When he entered, he couldn’t sense anything from her an emotional level. But now, he could feel inextricable happiness coming from her and even some shyness which confused him. “Miss Oracle, is there anything else?”
“No, you can go.” She replied with a smile and a different voice.
After stressing words of thanks, they all turned to leave the room. As they left, Marty, who was in the back of the group, suddenly felt an embrace from behind as he felt two large orbs press against his back and two slender arms wrapped around his body. “One more thing.” The Oracle whispered into his ear. “Welcome, Dracul.”
...
As the caravan left the temple, the form of the Oracle could be seen hiding behind one of its pillars. After they had nearly gone out of sight, her eyes closed, and her body shivered as a white light exited from her body. The white light congealed next to her before it formed into the shape of a person. However, the word ‘person’ could not accurately describe her. This woman was gorgeous. No matter what your definition of beauty was, if you did not agree that she was beautiful, you’d be mocked as a blind person. Even though Marty would hate to admit it, he would recognize her to be the most beautiful person he had ever seen without question. She had an aura that made her seemed less like a human and more like a humanoid with a presence that could only be described as godly. She appeared ghostly because it was only her soul and not her body. She continued to watch the caravan as it left. As she watched, her beautiful features began to change as she aged.
“Goddess Cassandra.” The Oracle exclaimed in worry as she prostrated herself.
“Get up, child.” Cassandra said with a gentle smile as she helped the Oracle up. “I’m all right. Coming to this world in this time goes against heaven’s will. I spent tens of thousands of years, creating this mystique that goes against heaven’s will; goes against Fate.”
“Why?”
“Why? Because I have lived a lonely life. I regret not knowing love. Now that I stand at the top of the heavens, I find myself alone, not having a liking for the few of my peers that still exist after the war. So, I used my ability as a Sibyl to ask the heavens, who would be my beloved. It was then that I found out that in the future, I would never find him. Only in the past would he exist. But I cannot change the past. So I asked the heavens, who could change the past? The heavens told me, only a man who had already died could.”
“He can change the past?”
“So long as he breaks his Fate, he can change the past; change the Fates. Rather, instead of changing the past, he will change his present, which will change my future.”
“Is he so amazing?”
“Incredibly amazing,” Cassandra said as she rolled her eyes. “Not only is he the person who can change the past, but he’s also the person who can become my beloved.”
“What? Really? Then why don’t you tell him now?”
“And do what? Use your body? I don’t have any feelings for him, and he currently will not accept me. He has yet to become polyamorous and will never accept me if I do anything now. Bah, why does my beloved person have to be a womanizer? But if he doesn’t accept them, he will not be able to break Fate and will die. Sigh, it is cheap for that little man.”
“Are you sure he will be able to break Fate?”
“Not at all, though I can say his chances increased from nigh impossible to unlikely with my intervention. His chance will come soon, though it must be done more than once. Girl, many thanks for your help.”
“Not at all goddess, it is my honor.”
“Good. Now I will stimulate the other half of my mystique, which will send much information to my past self, though I should not truly be able to see it until my future changes through him. Otherwise, I will truly disappear at this moment.”
As she resigned herself, her body and soul form began to age even further. “Little girl, goodbye. Little man, I hope to see you again.” With a flash, the rest of her soul left this world; left this reality before going back from where it came.
Marty gazed at the sky as a flash of white streaked across. While he was quite surprised, he couldn’t help but make a wish. [I wish to break this Fate. I wish not to let anyone control me. I will be the master of my Fate.] He turned around and looked towards where the temple was. “Many thanks, Oracle of Regnum.”
End of -103