Fate's Fear

In the deep quiet of dusk, while stars shimmered gently above and the winds whispered through the Arc family's estate, a ripple tore through space—a gentle but absolute rupture in reality itself.

From it stepped a being robed in celestial silk, threads woven from timelines themselves. His feet never touched the ground. Around his neck glowed a symbol: the Crest of the Supreme Lord of Fate.

Reina and Mina immediately stood up, blades ready. The air had become too calm, as if holding its breath. But before they could act, the figure bowed deeply.

> "Please… I come in peace. I am merely a voice. A servant. A messenger."

Inside, Ryu stepped out from his meditation chamber. His presence—casual, barefoot, yawning—radiated raw gravity.

The emissary flinched. He hadn't even sensed Ryu until he stood there.

Ryu glanced at him. "You came from Fate, didn't you?"

The emissary straightened, but his eyes trembled.

> "Y-Yes. The Supreme Lord of Fate has... requested an audience."

Reina narrowed her eyes. "Requested?"

> "Yes," the emissary said carefully. "No... demanded of himself. He... wishes to make a truce. An... alliance."

Ryu raised an eyebrow. "Truce?"

The emissary swallowed. The air grew heavier as Ryu's gaze slightly sharpened.

> "The Lord of Fate... has seen many endings," the emissary said. "But with you… your thread is black. Unreadable. A true Singularity."

> "He believes that when the time comes, the enemy you fought—the God of Consuming Echoes—may return again. Worse, not alone."

> "He believes only you... may be able to stop what's coming."

Mina stepped forward, suspicious. "And he's scared. Isn't he?"

The emissary didn't speak.

His silence was louder than any scream.

Ryu tilted his head. "He wants an alliance, huh? Then what does he offer?"

> "Protection. Information. Guidance. His entire fateweaving archives. Even the Threadforge, the artifact of reality weaving…"

Ryu thought for a moment. "And what does he want in return?"

> "Only this: when the time comes... do not stand against him."

Silence fell.

Even the winds stopped.

Then Ryu smiled—a calm, amused smile.

> "Tell him this…"

He stepped forward. The stars above flickered. The emissary stumbled back.

> "I don't make alliances with people who tried to erase me."

> "But—"

> "That being came through the cracks of this world. Someone summoned him. And you want me to clean it up while pretending you were never involved."

> "I protect my family. My people. This world. Not your system."

> "But… if he's willing to kneel and speak honestly, maybe I'll listen."

The emissary's knees buckled. Not out of fear of Ryu's words—but the authority in his voice.

The voice of one who once defied fate... and won.

---

Back in the Hall of Fate, the emissary knelt once again.

> "He said he may listen…"

The Supreme Lord of Fate was silent.

But his trembling hand closed his many eyes.

And in a whisper even his own throne could barely hear, he said:

> "May the threads have mercy on us…"

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