Lucien Voss sat in the dim-lit conference room, the large monitor before him displaying real-time data from his network of spies. The system had given him the tools to bring down anyone standing in his way — from the so-called "heroes" to the so-called "gods" of this world.
But today was different.
He'd crippled Yun Tao, one of the so-called Sons of Heaven destined to rise above the masses. The mountain heir's plot was disrupted before it could even begin. Lucien leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled.
"One down. Too many more to go," he muttered.
---
> [System Notification: Yun Tao – Fate Thread Severed.]
[Destiny Absorbed: +4,500]
New Skill Acquired: Fate Shatter
Next Target: Kai Zhang – Stealth Approach Recommended.
Probability of Failure: 20%
---
Lucien's eyes gleamed with cold satisfaction. The Son of Luck had been fooled, his seemingly unshakable fortune turned to dust. Yet, there was still one more pest to deal with. Kai Zhang. The businessman with knowledge from past lives, who had already interfered with his plans once.
It's time to finish what I started.
---
Meanwhile, Kai Zhang sat in his high-rise penthouse, furiously scrolling through his system updates. His world had been on fire ever since his encounter with Lucien. He had felt it — a sudden shift, a loss of luck.
For a moment, he could almost swear he felt a presence creeping through the city, waiting to strike again.
"Kai Zhang," he said, half-laughing, half-gritting his teeth. "I can't let that bastard win. Not again."
> [System Update: Destiny Value Dropped by -3,000]
[Fate Fragmentation Detected.]
New Mission: Outsmart Lucien Voss – Locate the Source of Fate Disruption
Reward: Skill – Future Sight (90-Minute Window)
---
Kai Zhang's grip on his phone tightened. He wasn't foolish. Lucien was the true mastermind, the villain who should have been taken down in the final pages of the original story. But now, the roles had flipped.
He wasn't the protagonist anymore. He was the prey.
He needed more power. He needed to move faster.
---
Lucien's Network — Nightfall
His eyes flicked to the hologram before him, where the dark blue outline of Kai Zhang's Destiny Thread flickered weakly.
> [Target Kai Zhang: Destiny Decay – 65% Chance of Fatal Deviation]
[Recommended Action: Strike Preemptively.]
Lucien smirked. "Let's see how he handles the pressure."
He tapped a few keys on his console, and the coordinates of a meeting popped up.
It was time to set the trap.
---
Five days later – Voss International Headquarters
Lucien's eyes remained locked on the skyline outside his office. He had long since stopped caring about public perception, about the company's image. What mattered now was his control over everything. His destiny, rewritten, was waiting.
The elevator doors opened.
Anna Mei stepped out, her steps determined but wary. After her encounter with Lucien — when he saved her from that demon — she had found herself drawn to him, despite everything she knew.
"You know," Anna said, her voice cool but firm, "I'm starting to wonder if you're playing your own game... and I'm just an unwilling piece on your board."
Lucien turned slowly to face her, his cold, calculating smile spreading across his lips.
"You're not a piece, Anna. You're an opportunity."
Her brows furrowed. "What does that mean?"
Lucien stepped closer. "You have ambitions. I can help you achieve them. And in return, I can use your skills."
---
> [System Update: Anna Mei – Favorability Increased: +45]
[New Trait Unlocked: Collaborator – Allies with high favorability will aid you in critical decisions.]
---
Anna's eyes flashed with something new — curiosity. "What's your endgame, Lucien? What's the real reason you're offering this alliance?"
Lucien leaned in just slightly. "To make sure the world bends to my will."
Her gaze narrowed. "And you're using me as a stepping stone, aren't you?"
"Not just you," he said softly. "Everyone."
---
Meanwhile, far below in the city's heart…
Kai Zhang's new plan was in motion. His network of spies and hackers had pinpointed Lucien's every move, every weakness. But the more he dug, the more he realized the man wasn't human.
The fate system he had was beyond what any protagonist had access to. The odds were stacked against him.
The encounter was inevitable.
---
Final Thoughts of Lucien Voss:
The pieces were moving. The world's fate was crumbling at his fingertips. Kai Zhang was still too far from understanding. Anna Mei would prove useful. And there were more, many more to be broken.
Lucien Voss wasn't the villain of the story anymore.
He was the king.
And soon, everyone would bow before him.
---