Chapter 400: The "Process" Already Underway!
Luke smiled happily as he watched Edelweiss stammer in panic, unable to form a proper sentence.
Of course, he understood what she was thinking. Even for someone from Northern Europe, making a decision about such a sensitive matter required tremendous courage.
She wasn't just trying to understand his perspective; she also felt a pang of guilt for failing to satisfy him.
Many different factors had combined to create the current situation.
Luke had no intention of embarrassing her further, especially with Sara still listening nearby.
So he followed Edelweiss's words and changed the subject.
"You once told me that the power of fate had difficulty affecting me, right? You reached that conclusion after using your Desperado power."
"This causal interference was probably Shinomiya Amane's doing. I don't believe his ability controls fate and causality better than yours."
"But as you just said, I really was affected. Why?"
Luke's tone became somewhat serious.
Amane himself was not worthy of much attention, but fate and causality were high-level powers that could not be underestimated.
If Luke truly could not resist the ability, he would need to change his strategy for tomorrow's match.
The change of subject made Edelweiss sigh in relief. She forced her exhausted body to shift into a more comfortable position before explaining to Luke.
"Amane's ability is different from the power possessed by Desperados."
"Although their forms and final results appear similar, it isn't as simple as one being a superior version of the other."
"Desperado power, especially at my level, often skips the entire process and reaches the result directly when manipulating fate or causality."
"For example, I usually use fate to directly lead an opponent to the scene that should exist after our battle."
"In other words, a fate in which their defeat is already decided."
As Edelweiss explained, she glanced lightly at Sara, who was still sitting on the floor.
This information was not particularly secret. Every Desperado, as well as anyone who had encountered one, knew about it.
Therefore, she had no reason to hide it from Sara, who had already heard of these things.
"For example, imagine a swordsman whose swordsmanship is no weaker than mine, but who isn't a Desperado."
Luke immediately knew whom Edelweiss meant.
He also understood why she had worded it as an example.
Everything before this had been general information, but what followed would involve Luke's true strength.
That was why Edelweiss avoided mentioning his name directly.
Luke appreciated her consideration, but honestly, he felt it was unnecessary.
Sara was involved in Rebellion's plan, so it was impossible for her not to know that Luke had defeated Edelweiss.
Even if the matter was blurred with claims of coincidence, luck, or Edelweiss holding back, Luke would still be the first person anyone thought of once this topic arose.
Besides, Luke did not care much about exposing his strength.
Revealing one's power was different from exposing a weakness. Luke currently had almost no clear shortcomings, so he was not afraid of being targeted.
As an agent of the Main God Space, he understood that once a method had been used, it could no longer be treated as a hidden trump card.
That was why Luke prepared new trump cards after every major battle.
As for abilities that were no longer secret, exposing them was hardly a problem.
Still, Luke did not interrupt Edelweiss.
He quietly sat beside the bed and listened to her explanation of the current situation.
"If that swordsman fought me, it would be difficult to say whose swordsmanship and strength were superior."
"No matter how small the chance, both of us would possess the possibility of victory."
"But that would only be true if I didn't use my Desperado power."
"Even if we could normally defeat each other, as long as my opponent wasn't a Desperado, I could pluck the strings of fate."
"The battle would skip directly from its beginning to the result of their defeat."
"That is how Desperado power acts upon fate and causality."
After speaking for so long, Edelweiss paused briefly.
She was already extremely tired, and speaking continuously was close to the limit of what she could manage.
Still, the current issue needed to be handled first.
Luke had to understand the situation he was facing.
After resting for a moment, Edelweiss continued.
"Amane's ability is different. He can't reach the level of a Desperado."
"Even this simplest application of fate and causality is beyond what an ordinary Blazer ability can achieve."
"Amane cannot skip the process when interfering with causality, nor can he weave any result he wishes like a Desperado."
"He merely chooses a direction."
"Then causality guides every development along the way, pushing events as close to that chosen direction as possible."
"But that is precisely why he can influence you."
Edelweiss looked deeply at Luke.
After thinking for a moment, she asked him a question.
"Do you know why one Desperado usually cannot influence another Desperado's fate?"
Edelweiss had explained this to Luke before.
It was extremely difficult for a Desperado to interfere with another Desperado's fate.
Only an overwhelming difference in their realms and strength might make it possible.
That was exactly the same situation as when she tried to influence Luke.
"Once someone becomes a Desperado, they have broken free from the fate of this world."
"But that doesn't mean the Desperado themselves has disappeared from the world."
"I am a Desperado, but when another Desperado searches the river of fate, they can still find an individual named Edelweiss."
"That 'Edelweiss' is me, yet it also isn't me."
"She is Edelweiss the Blazer, not Edelweiss the Desperado."
"If someone manipulates the fate of Edelweiss the Blazer and skips every step, the destination they reach is Edelweiss the Desperado."
"The target has already become someone different, so the desired result naturally cannot occur."
"Therefore, the interference fails."
"But if the process still exists, the situation becomes slightly different."
"The interference will still fail when judged by the final result."
"However, before reaching that result, the process itself truly will be pushed in the chosen direction."
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