"In this world… people don't fear death.They fear living without power."
The city never truly slept.
Even at dawn, the lower districts were already awake—not by choice… but by necessity.
Steel doors slammed open.
Boots echoed across broken streets.
Voices barked orders.
People moved quickly.
Too quickly.
Because hesitation—
Meant losing everything.
Up above, the Citadel stood.
Cold.
Distant.
Untouchable.
It was judgment.
Control.
Fate.
And today—
Fate would decide everything.
A World That Doesn't Forgive
Down here… no one cared who you were.
Only one question mattered:
"What is your Fate?"
Without power—
You were prey.
With power—
You chose who lived… and who didn't.
Kael Veyron understood that better than anyone.
He didn't grow up safe.
Didn't grow up loved.
He grew up surviving.
Food wasn't given.
It was taken.
Trust wasn't built.
It was broken.
And weakness—
Was a death sentence.
Flashback
Cold rain fell over the alley.
A younger Kael stood alone.
Hungry.
Tired.
A man approached him.
Eyes sharp.
Intent clear.
He didn't speak.
Didn't need to.
Kael didn't run.
He couldn't.
So he waited.
Watched.
And when the moment came—
He moved.
Not stronger.
Not faster.
Just earlier.
The man hit the ground.
Kael didn't look back.
From that day—
He learned:
"Hesitation is death."
End Flashback
Assignment Day
Thousands gathered beneath the Citadel.
Silent.
Waiting.
At the center stood the Fate Monolith.
Names echoed.
One after another.
"C-Rank – Fate Nudge."
Small reaction.
"B-Rank – Fate Shift."
Murmurs spread.
"A-Rank – Fate Sever."
Gasps.
Fear.
Respect.
That one meant survival.
Kael watched everything.
Every face.
Every reaction.
Because he understood something simple:
This wasn't about power.It was about staying alive.
"Kael Veyron."
The name echoed.
He stepped forward.
Calm.
Steady.
But inside—
Something tightened.
So this is it…
After everything…
I still end up like them.
He didn't stop walking.
Because stopping—
Was death.
The platform loomed ahead.
Three figures stood there.
Watching.
Judging.
"Proceed."
Kael placed his hand on the Monolith.
Silence.
A second passed.
Then—
Nothing.
A murmur spread.
Then—
The light flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Violently.
A crack spread across the surface.
The air shifted.
[Fate Code: …][…][ERROR DETECTED]
"An error…?"
"That's impossible…"
The light destabilized.
Then—
[Fate Code: NULL]
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Final.
"No fate…?"
"A defect…"
Darius stepped forward instantly.
Killing intent surged.
Solen's voice cut through the silence:
"Marked for deletion."
The words echoed like a verdict.
People stepped back.
Some looked away
Others whispered:
"Another one gone…"
"No fate… he was dead the moment he was born."
Kael stood still.
So this is how it ends…
No anger.
No panic.
Just a quiet realization.
Then—
A blade cut through the air.
Fast.
Clean.
Cold.
Darkness.
DEATH
Silence.
Nothing.
Then—
A voice.
"…You died."
Kael's consciousness flickered.
"…Then why am I still here?"
A figure appeared.
Distorted.
Incomplete.
Watching.
"You are not chosen…
A pause.
"You are an error."
Kael didn't flinch.
"…Then fix it."
Silence.
Heavy.
Then—
"Correction… denied."
A moment passed.
Then—
"Alternative granted."
Something shifted.
Cold.
Sharp.
Not pain—
Something deeper.
"Zero Fate System… initializing."
(Secret – Only for the reader)
"Primary Directive: Control the Host."
RETURN
Air rushed back into his lungs.
His body moved.
Alive.
But no one noticed.
Because to them—
He was already gone.
The world had moved on.
Kael slowly opened his eyes.
Different.
Silent.
Watching.
Hidden.
"I died…"
A pause.
Then his gaze hardened.
"But this time…"
His eye darkened slightly.
"I won't just survive."
A breath.
"I'll take control."
And somewhere—
Deep within him—
Something watched.
Waiting.