The Deceitful One



Bryan's heart began to beat at high speed, he was so alarmed that he wasn't able to realize when someone had sneaked up behind him. And not just him, even Benny was unaware of this person.

He abruptly turned around and got into a fighting stance as he gazed at this newcomer. But when he laid eyes on the person, he was overcome by a feeling of insignificance. He felt as if he was staring straight at the universe. In front of the grand cosmos, a human could only be as insignificant as an ant.

The person's presence was so vast and majestic, Bryan had never seen or felt anything like it before. He involuntarily lowered his gaze from the person. Strangely enough, he felt that looking at this person directly was sacrilegious.

He clenched his fists as his body began to tremble in fear. 'Who is this woman!?' He began to have this absurd notion in his heart that he must kneel down in front of her. Her very presence demanded absolute respect and worship, almost as if… she was a God!

Even Benny who has always had a flippant attitude toward everything was now extremely solemn. He stood in front of Bryan as if protecting him, and nervously transmitted a mental message, 'Bryan… she's dangerous.' The aura that the woman in front of her was naturally emanating, reminded him of Uncle Octopus.

Seeing the little cat trying to protect Bryan, the woman smiled faintly. She then looked at Bryan who was drenched in blood from head to toe, the three gaping holes in his torso, and then at the signs of battle in the cemetery as well as the woods in the distance.

She looked at Ron's tombstone and then back again at Bryan, and asked, "Do you feel at ease?"

Surprisingly enough, Bryan knew exactly what she was asking about. He sneaked a glance in her direction and saw that she was wearing a white dress, the color of her hair and eyes were silver, and her face was the most beautiful that he'd ever laid eyes on.

For some reason, he felt as if he'd met the person before. However, before he could ask her that, he felt that he should answer her question first. In front of her, he felt a sense of inferiority just like how a mortal would in front of a deity.

He thought about his answer for a very long time and then finally answered, "No…."

"Oh?" The silver-haired woman was amused. "Why do you say so?"

"Ron was probably used the same way as I was. We were both pawns in that man's game," Bryan's shoulders slouched ever so slightly as he felt a layer of grief wash over him.

He thought he'd feel good after killing Ron and becoming one step closer to avenging everyone. But he felt worse than he'd expected. He felt lost.

Hearing Bryan's answer, the woman smiled. "Looks like there's some humanity left in you, after all."

Bryan was greatly taken aback. He could clearly understand the underlying meaning of the woman's words. He couldn't help but think in alarm, 'Does she know about my dream creature physique!?'

Sensing Bryan's apprehension, the woman replied gently, "You need not worry. I bear no ill will."

Bryan still didn't believe her; he looked at her dubiously. Then, the woman waved her hands and three cards appeared in front of her. "If I really wanted to harm you, I wouldn't have guided you in the past."

When Bryan laid his eyes on the three cards, his eyes widened in sheer disbelief. These three cards were something that he had seen a long time back in Damascus. At the time, he thought that it was some sort of gimmick, but the more time passed, the more he realized how profound it was.

The first card depicted a figure kneeling down on the ground with their head in their hands, In the background, there were dark clouds and a grim reaper facing their back toward the figure.

Bryan mumbled, "The Mourning…." This card prophesied the death of Detective Watson. His eyes began to tear up and his body trembled ever so slightly as he viewed the next card.

The second card depicted a baby sleeping soundly on a bed made of white feathers, the background had illusory clouds, stars, and multicolored rainbows. Bryan muttered in a daze, "The Dreamer…."

That card represented the power of dreams and imagination. But more importantly, it prophesied Bryan's connection with the Dreamworld and how he would become a dream creature.

And last but not least, the third card depicted a white serpent forming a circle and eating its own tail. Bryan spoke in a daze, "The serpent of infinity, Ouroboros…"

A long time back in Damascus, an old homeless lady that he had happened to meet on the streets had offered to read his fate. At the time, Bryan thought that it was just a hoax and played along.

But as more time passed, he came to realize how everything that the old woman had foretold in the fortune cards, had come to pass. Everything but the last card, The Ouroboros.

That could only mean one thing: the prophecy revealed by this card was yet to happen!

By now, Bryan had understood that the old woman in the past that had shown him his future was none other than this woman in front of him. He looked at her with complicated emotions and asked, "Who are you?"

The woman smiled. "You can address me as Lady Fate."

Bryan muttered her name in a daze. However, he still couldn't understand one thing. And that was why would someone of her stature choose to even help him.

He thought about the words he wanted to say but no matter how he thought about it, it would come across as rude. And that was the last thing he wanted to do against such a powerhouse.

Seeing Bryan's conflicted expression, Lady Fate asked, "You're wondering why I decided to help you in the past?"

Bryan nodded awkwardly. Lady Fate continued, "It's because I want your help in the future."

Flabbergasted, Bryan asked, "How can someone like me even help you?"

However, Lady Fate didn't reply, she simply smiled in a profound manner. Bryan couldn't read her and threw this thought to the back of his mind. He thought, 'At least, she's not forcing me to do anything…'

He then thought of something else. Had he paid attention to the fortune cards in the past, could he have averted the tragedy that befell his teacher? His eyes reddened as he thought about it.

"Could I have… prevented my teacher's death?" He asked, heartbroken.

Lady Fate shook her head and smiled faintly. "Something's are meant to be, Bryan. No matter what you do, they will always come to pass. I call them nexus points in one's fate."

"Nexus points?" Bryan asked, puzzled.

Lady Fate continued, "Of all the futures that I'd seen, James Watson had died in all of them. It wasn't something that could have been changed, not even by me."

"I see…." Bryan replied gloomily.

A few moments later, after having calmed his emotions, he looked back at her and asked, "Why did you show yourself now?"

Lady Fate smirked. "Well, I was waiting for you to conclude your business."

"I see…" Bryan smiled bitterly, "So, you've always been watching me…." He couldn't help but think about how weak he was. He felt as if he was back in time when he was still a kid and was dancing on the palms of Sean Marx.

"The foundation of any relationship is trust. I don't expect you to trust me outright, especially after what you've been through. But I implore you to try. I shall not force you." Lady Fate spoke solemnly.

Bryan felt confused, he still didn't understand what a mere Rank 2 like him could provide to her. Hence, he respectfully asked, "Why are you going to such great lengths? Someone of your level could have just forced me to do your bidding."

Lady Fate smiled. "Like I said, I will need your help in the future, that is why I'm willing to be your benefactor now. And forcing others is beneath me."

Bryan thought for a very long time, trying to come to a decision. In the end, his eyes shone with resolve. He felt that if he had such a powerful backing, then surely he would be able to get lots of resources to advance.

He looked at the woman and nodded. "Thank you for giving me this chance. Uhm…what exactly do I need to do?"

"Right now, nothing. You're still too weak." Lady Fate said. Hearing this Bryan's eyebrows couldn't help but twitch. The next moment, she added, "However, that being said…."

Bryan gulped in anticipation as he waited for the woman to speak. Lady Fate continued, "There is a secret organization that I founded at the beginning of the 4th Era which still stands to this day.

"It is an organization convened by me and all its members are powerful, like-minded Transcendents that I have personally chosen over the centuries.

"I want you, Bryan Lombardi, to join this secret society."

'A secret society!!' Bryan thought in disbelief. Ever since he became a Transcendent, he had heard a lot about secret societies that were hidden in the shadows and secretly manipulating and trying to control the world.

And today, he was given an invitation to join one. More importantly, it was a secret society that was convened by someone whom he thought to be a deity. Furthermore, it was an organization that was almost 1600 years old!

Bryan gulped involuntarily as his eyes shone with a hint of excitement. He asked, "What is the name of your secret society?"

Lady Fate's lips curled up into a smirk. "The Illuminatos."