Fate's Reversal: The Divines Return

After accompanying Kassandra back to her home, Kaiden pondered on the couch. He thought about how he struggled to withstand TerrorAssault pressure and the powerless situation he was put int. Then he compared it to the fact that his father had solved his problem effortlessly. Not to mention, it was done covertly. It was unknown that Michael had even entered the hidden facility of RestockeD and rescued TerrorAssault's family.

'Power is a necessity! Without it...you are simply prey.'

Gritting his teeth, Kaiden dėsɨrėd strength at a more rapid pace. However, what he was unaware of was releasing their aura on this planet came at a small price for mȧturė Ascendants. Furthermore, they were limited to just the peak of the Divine Prospect Realm. While they were strong, they were also stifled.

The light pitter-patter of her shapely feet were heard as she approached Kaiden. Wrapping her arms around his neck, locking them on his ċhėst, Kassandra pressed her cheek against his. As a result, Kaiden's stern expression lightened. In turn, the previous cold look of Kassandra completely faded. Once again, she was opening her heart allowing herself to feel warmth, something she was slightly scared to do.

"Honey, what are you thinking about? I can feel your indignance." 

"Mmm...it's aggravating to think about but, I'm weak. I have realized this truth but this doesn't prohibit me. Rather, it incites me to dėsɨrė growth." professed Kaiden.

"Don't worry baby, anyone who stands in our way will just end up regretting it." sweetly smiled Kassandra.

Looking into her eyes, Kaiden nodded as his holowatch chimed. 

'Doot Doot Doot'

The ring continued until Kaiden addressed it. Tapping a few buŧŧons, Kaiden looked at the screen. It was a call he had been looking forward to for 2 days now. On his screen was the mȧturėd face of Ethan Larsen—TerrorAssault.

"First off, I want to start by saying sorry for the inconvenience I have caused your guild. I'm aware that your member will fall into a temporary state of regression. I also know my verbal apology would do nothing to amend this."

Nodding, Kaiden silently looked at Ethan Larsen who continued to speak. The aftereffects of the previous battle wouldn't be small at all. There was also the fact that his Level had reduced to 20. It was only a matter of time before the Lv.50 Squad Dungeon Castellan's Labyrinth opened.

"Secondly, I want to wholeheartedly thank you for reaching out to your father. Thanks to you…" exhaling, TerrorAssault paused before resuming. "Thanks to you...I am now able to see my family every day after 6 years...Thank you...thank you…" his voice choked with emotion.

6 years passed by in a flash. Each year that passed, it became exceedingly hard for Ethan to see his family. Before this matter, it escalated to the point where he was denied the option. As a result, he went into hiding, biding his time. But now, that problem was history—it had been solved.

"Thirdly, I seek to join your guild. I will redeem my image and personally help you on your path to the top. As per agreement with your father, I will swear a Blood Oath with you. I will meet you at your residence later to perform it.

As stated earlier, for Michael to move, a condition had to be met—he needed to become his son's subordinate; a highly trained and extremely dangerous bodyguard to an extent.

"Lastly, I will be personally training both you, the lady behind you, and your entire guild in the ways of Inhuman Control. Rather than training, I should call it informing you. It is up to you to find your unique attribute as it varies between individuals. I will simply explain the theories of practices and what the realms actually are. Prepare sufficient VitaShakes; they are the only reason we have unlocked evolution so quickly."

He was privy to the secret of VitaShakes a secret which many didn't know until this day. And it was also the reason people possessed varying talents and potentials.

"Okay, I will meet you later at my residence and as for your mistake...I'll let your actions speak for themselves. A trained individual such as yourself should understand that words alone are meaningless. You will need to gain the acceptance of the guild. Although they were unaware of you being there...I can't deceive my brothers and sister's trust." slowly replied Kaiden.

"Granted. It is only right I do that. Once again, thank you." said Ethan as he ended the call. There was a look of genuine happiness in his eyes. The weight pressing on his shoulders had been removed. There was a newfound radiance in his eyes.

"It seems him returning to his family did wonder for his mindstate. He seems to be complete again. That vacancy in his eyes is gone." uttered Kassandra. .

When they were approached by him in-game there was an atmosphere of pure gloom. Moreover, his eyes lacked any sense of happiness. It was like looking into a lifeless machine.

"Yeah, we'll see what these changes bring about. Who knows." nodded Kaiden. 

"That's true but I have a problem…" 

Towards the ends, her words fell to a murmur as she whispered into Kaiden's ear. Her tone became seductive and enchanting as an emotion of dėsɨrė sparked through Kaiden. Sweeping her off her feet, he bolted into the room. Within moments, pleasurable mȯȧns and grunts were heard emanating from the room door.

….

Arriving home, Kaiden gazed at a lanky figure stood ramrod straight next to the front door. His face was resolute as he stood with a trained posture. Of course, it was Ethan, here to perform his earlier claims.

"How do we go about this? I've never heard of a Blood Oath," muttered Ethan.

Raising his eyebrows, Kaiden was also shocked. He didn't know how to do this. He had never even heard of the term Blood Oath until Ethan brought it up.

"Uh...I thought you were privy to the method? I have no idea. It looks like we'll have to bother my father."

Entering the house, Kaiden approached his dad. 

"Dad, what is a Blood Oath and how do you perform it?"

"Ah, that's right. My mistake. I'll perform it for you two." 

Changing into his Ascendant form momentarily, Ethan was utterly shocked. He knew Michael possessed crimson wings. However, he was unaware of someone possessing horns. Of course, Michael never disclosed his identity as an Ascendant, neither did the others.

"Horns…? What the-"

Ignoring his question, Michael grabbed both Ethan and Kaiden's right palm. Surprisingly, a cut opened upon both their palms as he stared at it. It was paper-thin yet it didn't close as a thin thread of blood began to surface.

"Repeat after me," said Michael glancing at Ethan.

"With my blood as the essence, I swear upon my corporal soul to uphold my oath. My subservience is undying and my loyalty faultless. With my words as the contract, let my fate forever rest in the hands of my controller. I, Ethan Larsen, propose this Blood Oath Contract with my soul as the basis."

Repeating the words, a crimson chain shot from his hand, piercing his ċhėst, exiting his back and entering his forward. Surprisingly, there was no pain accompanied by the piercing.

Placing his finger on Kaiden's forehead, Michael transmitted some information. "Accept his oath in this fashion."

Nodding, Kaiden spoke the words. "I, Kaiden Smith-

Interrupting Kaiden, Michael shook his head. "No, you must speak your true name; repeat after me—Kraezel Mykiel Salazar."

Gawking, Kaiden cleared his throat, speaking the name his father told him. "I, Kraezel Mykiel Salazar, as the master of this Blood Oath accept the subservience of your soul. With my will as the command, your fate now rests in my hand."

A crimson chain shot from Kaiden's palm into Ethan Larsen's mind as a result. As the chain resided in his mind, it changed into an obscure inscription. However, Ethan Larsen felt waves of dread when he focused on its appearance. Moreover, instructions flowed into his mind informing him what he could and couldn't do.

*Doot Doot Doot*

Looking down at his wrist, another message notification appeared on both Kaiden's and Ethan's holowatches. As a result, Kaiden ordered him to go home and prepare.

[Alert: Attention all users, <World's Destiny: Redemption> will be back online in 1 hour! We welcome you to enjoy the many upgrades and also changes brought along with the expansion pack—Sigma: Coming of Second Life! As the world around you becomes more realistic, welcome the advent of your second life! Furthermore, as stated before, anyone inconvenience caused by the abrupt update has been dealt with by awarding adequate recompense.]

'An hour...finally! We are going back there. However, I shall never look at it the same again.'

Sitting cross-legged, Kaiden breathed lightly as he regulated his thoughts; an action which brought order and clarity to what he needed to do upon returning. Soon after, it turned into him executing the Art of 16 Quintessential Harmonic Cycles. And as he did so, his thought vanished into nothingness as he focused on himself. Just like that, in what felt like an instant, an hour passed.

….

Laying in the GRVIP, Kaiden tapped the sequences of buŧŧons as the startup initiated by the closing of the hatch. With everything properly situated, he closed his eyes preparing himself for the journey. As his consciousness ȧssimilated with the machine, a new message from an archaic yet digital sounding voice was heard.

[Reconnecting with <World's Destiny: Redemption>. The world of Sanctoria awaits you.]

And while its voice echoed, Kaiden's thoughts muttered one thing.

'SIGMA...'