Pov: Vik
Louriel: "You know about chosen ones. Remember that whenever a chosen one faces challenges in their story, the world helps them through fate. For example, if Lin Chen were to face death in a fight, the world would create a situation that lets him escape with only some injuries. However, this has its downsides. Chosen ones have levels and limited luck. Once that luck runs out, the protagonist becomes just another normal person. Typically, a protagonist's luck doesn't run out until they finish the story meant for them."
I processed the information she shared; some of it I already knew. But she kept talking, so I let her continue.
Louriel: "Then you show up and disrupt Lin Chen's fate by giving Lu Xiaoran a chance to fight back. This forces Lin Chen's luck to burn out early to handle Lu Xiaoran. Even now, his luck is making him get stronger earlier than his story's timeline. If things keep going this way, Lin Chen might end up defeated by Lu Xiaoran. This outcome would cause Lin Chen's luck to disappear. Once that happens, I or even you could take his destiny as a reward, making our own destiny stronger and upgrading our level as chosen ones."
Her plan sounded malicious to me. I was confused by terms like usurping destiny, so I asked, "I still have questions. Why do you need to take the destiny of another chosen one? And why use my disciple? With your power level, you can do it yourself."
She smiled at my question and said, "Vik, there are hidden things that most people don't know. My plan involves some of that information, so listen closely. Every chosen one or protagonist has a certain amount of luck that makes them luckier than most people. But tell me, Vik, is luck enough to determine someone's future?"
Vik: "No. I believe luck is important, but it isn't enough to decide someone's future."
Louriel: "Exactly. That's why a chosen one has something more important than luck. It's intangible, but we often call it fate. Every person has a predetermined fate, at least until something disrupts it. Unlike luck or destiny, which can shift, fate is not measurable, at least for most of the universe."
"When a chosen one dies, their luck may vanish, but their fate remains. This usually happens when a chosen one dies of natural causes. You hear stories about legendary heroes protecting cities or people. After they die, having completed their story, their fate remains, making their legends stronger. Some sword or shield left behind might still protect a region. This shows that it contains fate that lasts beyond the chosen one's death."
"This fate, like everything else in the universe, fades over time, usually absorbed by the world. As the world absorbs that fate, it becomes stronger. You could say our current world is experiencing this; it's getting stronger by absorbing the fate of such chosen ones."
She explained this with the tone of an experienced professor giving a lecture. Then she smiled and said, "As for your other question, why use your disciple?," she sighed and looked at the barrier around us. After confirming it was still intact, she continued, "You know, all the actions of chosen ones or the system are set up by some entities called higher beings."
I nodded, and she continued, "Those higher beings created the systems and chosen ones. They also made rules binding specifically chosen ones like us. I don't know all the laws, but one states that one chosen one cannot kill another chosen one. Even if they defeat or humiliate each other, they can only fight until something forces them to stop. Even if you could kill another chosen one miraculously, you wouldn't gain their fate, as it would either return to the main system space or be absorbed by the world. If you try this, you would be hunted by other chosen ones, losing your identity as one of them. Even worse, you could be hunted by the heavenly dao of this world or plane."
"This is to ensure that chosen ones don't fight each other, starting a race where they hunt each other to become stronger. So, to bypass this, I thought of you. You're one of the few who can change the fate of a villain destined to be killed by a chosen one. If everything goes as planned, your disciple will defeat and kill Lin Chen; that's something that has only happened a handful of times in the universe's history. After that, both of us will be able to collect Lin Chen's fate, making us stronger."
"Once we have enough fate to elevate us to chosen one level 4 or 5, we can do anything, even break free from the control of higher beings. With enough luck and will, even the most impossible things can happen. So tell me, are you with me on this plan?"
After hearing her offer, I was silent as I considered all the information she had given me. To gain a better understanding, I asked the system, which replied.
System: "Host, her offer is genuine. With her plan, you can grow stronger, and it will also help me get revenge on that bastard Devouring system who framed me."
The system's response was mostly driven by its desire for revenge, but I thought for a moment and then smiled. I said, "I don't know much, but I think I can trust someone from Earth. I will help you return to your family."
Hearing this, she smiled. Still with some questions in mind, I asked, "By the way, Louriel, why did you put up that barrier while we talk?"
Louriel: "Oh, I set that barrier because when you discuss topics like fate, heaven, and higher beings, you attract their attention. This is a kind of taboo. If the heavenly dao learns that we are planning to hunt fellow chosen ones, we could be in trouble. This barrier is something I created after researching many forbidden spells and techniques. It even keeps our systems from hearing our conversation since I cannot fully trust the system."
If this barrier stops even our systems from hearing us, then how can I interact with my system? I thought I should inform Louriel about this, but first, I checked with the system.
It replied, "Host, I'm already blocked by the main system space. In a way, I'm currently a dead system. That's why this barrier doesn't affect me, or I should say I'm not a target for it."