Divine Path System

Chapter 1759: Letter from Logos

[When I first met you, you were a stubborn, impulsive teenager in deep depression.

You hated the world. But you hated yourself more.

After knowing 'I' was responsible for your mother's death, at least in a way, you were furious. If you could've killed me then, you would have.

What a bad, bad master.

I helped you so much, yet you almost killed me on our first meeting.]

Her voice was not mechanical. It was a little cold, a little coquettish and a little arrogant.

Varian was smiling without realizing it and he kept going.

[Slivers have a different world view than people. It should've been difficult to understand before, but as a peak rank 2, you should know.

We don't see the world as a mortal does. We see it through our paths.

I see the world as a play between order and chaos, will and circumstance, plans and fate.

That's why I chose you.

You've wondered a lot of times about this. 'Why me?'. Was it just a lottery? I'm the sliver that can see fate, I don't believe in lottery.

But in your case, I tried to. Because the fate I saw showed me only a terrible end.

As this letter reaches you, I assume the battle with God Emperor ended.

And you lost.

If you won, I'd have shattered this letter myself and celebrated with you.

It wasn't supposed to happen that way. The fate was clear. If you changed it, I'd have been as surprised as joyful.

But could fate be so easily defied?]

At those words, Varian thought of the abyssal Cyris. Her 'fate' didn't allow her survival, much less the revival of abyssal race. Didn't she defy fate?

[I used to wonder, universe is all there is, with six fundamental rules. Fate is the estimate from these rules.

How can anyone even defy fate?

If a precise machine can measure every little thing and calculate, it can indeed predict the future.

Civilizations couldn't build a thing like that due to natural limitations imposed. But the universe could. And it did. I call it fate.

Perhaps the real fate was different from what I understand. Maybe it's not so determinate and was perhaps more relaxed, with more flexibility.

Maybe.

But even then, it has a strict set of outcomes. A range of possibilities. Beyond that, nothing should be possible. That's what the entire calculation tells you.

There were times when things went even beyond my calculation. But I believe it's because I couldn't see the full fate than because that fate itself being defied.

I know this all the well because I am the sliver of order and chaos.

Fate was absolute.

Yet, I hoped to defy fate.]

Varian exhaled. Fate was a heavy word. He always tried to think it's his own will. But now, he was a little shaken.

[I saw two futures, no matter what I did. I've been seeing them for a long time now. But they got more and more concrete with each passing day.

Both futures only showed darkness.

One was chaotic darkness, with nothingness. The unending night of hell.

The other was a despairing darkness that devoured everything. The eternal purgatory.

You should be able to guess what they represent now.

The victory of God Emperor would create extreme order, a world where the living are mere puppets to fulfill his vision of peace. A rigid world without any dynamism.

The victory of Architect would result in extreme chaos. All of the universe would be broken down. There'd be nothing left to salvage.

So, I sought you, the variable. Someone who could defy fate. You can achieve what's not even supposed to happen.

You're the one with a chance to go beyond chance all together!

God Emperor has been planning for so long. No matter what plans I make, what advice I give, he'll come for you when he senses it's time.

He's not so stupid to let you surpass him. Unfortunately, this was inevitable. God Emperor defeating you was always a certainty in my mind.

You always thought your destined battle was with the God Emperor.

No, Varian. It never was. You couldn't win against him. He wouldn't wait.]

Varian exhaled deeply, mind unsettled. Logos talked a lot about his so-called destined battle, his destiny and the future.

If he's supposed to be defeated by the God Emperor anyway, then what's the point? What even was that destined battle?

[The destined battle is not with God Emperor, but against this fate.

You will be dying after the defeat.]

How did she know?

[To help you have multiple divine paths, I influenced your origin. Once the God Emperor separates us, your origin will suffer. The backlash is fatal.

I don't know how origin can be healed. Well, not until you healed Aurora.

But even then, I'm not sure you could heal yourself that way. It's going to be way more dangerous. And you wouldn't have the slivers.

So….then what?

Then you'd despair.

Whatever plan God Emperor was planning would've succeeded and he should be making his final moves.

You, having lost at your highest and dying, would be despairing.

And I don't want you to despair.

Varian, it's not over until it's truly over.

I don't know how you can do it. But I truly believe you can defy this fate.

Do not accept what the world threw at you. Bend your fate to your own will.

I know you've lost everything.

The slivers are gone, your divine paths must've started falling and your own life is about to extinguish.

But do not give up.

You were not special because you had the slivers. You had the slivers because you were special.

I chose you from countless others.

You and only you.

Varian, I trust you. So, trust yourself.]

Even though he enjoyed life, the last spark of hope had long gone, leaving only darkness.

Now, in that darkness, a spark was born.

A small, defiant spark of hope that by its own self fought against the vast darkness.

"You're right. I am a warrior. I cannot die giving up."

As he stood up and turned to the workshop, he noticed a small addition at the bottom of the letter.

(Samsara here~

Sorry for not discussing this with you in advance. I was afraid it'd affect your state of mind and make things worse.

Anyway.

Var, I believe in you! No matter what, you can do it! I just know it!)

Samsara's cheerful voice rang and Varian chuckled, a little amused but mostly thankful.

(+1 for all useful things Logos said. It's too long for me, hehe~

I don't usually agree with her stupid and arrogant words. But hey, even a broken clock is right twice a day. She's worse than a broken clock. She's right only once.

And that's this time.)

Varian sighed in exasperation, these two absolutely got along 'well'.

(Anyway, anyway, the main point.

You better, no, no, she's corrupting me. What I mean is that you're going to win.

And after you win, Logos will wear that maid uniform.

She just promised now. Hey, speak up!)

[Y-Yeah…as long as you win.] Logos' voice was filled with absolute shame.

(See!) Samsara exclaimed. (This stupid sliver that mocked you all the time will soon be your maid.

You can whip her when you're happy to increase your happiness.

You can whip her when you're sad to decrease your sadness.

You can whip her when you're excited to be more excited.

You can whip her when you're bored to get rid of boredom.

Think about it. A cold and aloof maid calling you master with a pitiful face while you whip her.

Ahhh~

Of course~ If you don't want to do it yourself, I can do it for you.)

[You little….Varian, whip her with me. As long as you do that, I'm happy to be whipped everyday.] Logos said seriously.

'…When did I agree for this stupid whipping?' Varian rolled his eyes.

The picture Samsara painted wasn't so bad. But why this whipping? And Logos, had she also gone crazy to ask for whipping?

"But Logos, you better keep your word. I am so petty that I'd want revenge for all our conversations." Varian burst into laughter, startling Isadora who arrived. A smile broke out on her face and she clenched her hands behind her back.

Finally, he's happy from the bottom of his heart.

She gently held him and said. "The surprise is ready."

Varian pulled her into his arms and said . "I want to do some research. I'm already at the worst anyway. I don't want to go down without even trying."

There's something magnetic about his words and the way he spoke them.

Was it his confidence? Was it the hope in his eyes? Was it the fighting spirit brimming from his very soul?

Isadora didn't know. But she felt herself falling for him once more, even harder.

"Yes!" Her eyes were sparking.