Lucien Voss stood before a massive digital map of the world, each glowing point marking key players in his game. The "protagonists," the heroes of the old world — they were scattered across the globe, each one with a thread of fate tying them to a greater purpose. But to Lucien, they were nothing more than puppets, waiting to be snipped from the strings.
A soft knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.
"Come in," he said, without turning around.
Anna Mei stepped inside, her presence as sharp as ever. Her eyes, however, were more calculating than usual. Lucien had seen her slip into the game, using her charm and intelligence to carve a path through the corporate underworld. But now, something was different. She was no longer a tool.
She was a player.
"You called for me," she said, stepping closer. Her voice was steady, but there was an edge to it now. "What's your next move?"
Lucien glanced over his shoulder, his eyes glimmering with cold amusement.
"The world is a chessboard, Anna. And I'm about to checkmate."
She raised an eyebrow. "By doing what, exactly?"
Lucien's smile widened. "By taking down the last of the 'sons' who think they can reshape fate. We'll start with the one closest to us: Kai Zhang."
Anna's expression hardened. "You're going after him?"
"I'm not just going after him," Lucien said, turning fully to face her now. "I'm going to destroy his empire and make him watch as everything he built crumbles."
---
> [System Update: New Mission – Destabilize Kai Zhang's Empire]
[Recommended Action: Disrupt Financial Markets, Public Image, and Supply Chains.]
[Time Frame: 72 Hours]
Reward: Skill – Fate Erasure (Temporarily delete a protagonist's predetermined path).
---
Lucien's eyes glinted with anticipation. Kai Zhang had built his fortune on a fragile web of connections and corporate maneuvering. One slip, and everything would come crashing down. Lucien wasn't just going to pull the rug out from under him — he was going to set fire to the entire house.
"We'll start with the market," Lucien said to Anna, who was already pulling up her tablet to analyze the financial trends. "I have a few inside sources who'll help us trigger a collapse in his most vital holdings."
Anna nodded, already typing rapidly. "And after that?"
"After that," Lucien replied, voice cold and steady, "we'll leak the evidence of his dealings with the underground syndicates. Let the media tear him apart."
Anna glanced up at him. "And when it's over, what do we do with him?"
Lucien's smile turned dark. "We watch as he falls to his knees. And then we finish him."
---
Meanwhile, in Kai Zhang's Headquarters — The Dragon Tower
Kai Zhang was pacing, his mind working in overdrive. The Fate Thread was twisting again, but this time, the disturbance felt like a storm. The markets were unstable, and rumors of a financial collapse were sweeping through the city like wildfire.
His systems flickered. Something was wrong. But he couldn't pinpoint it.
"Damn it," he muttered, checking his data. "Lucien. This has to be him."
---
> [System Notification: Market Unstable – Kai Zhang's Holdings Targeted]
[Fate Fragmentation Detected: Timeframe Reduced to 48 Hours]
---
Kai's heart raced as his phone buzzed with incoming calls from his top advisors, all of whom were in panic mode. But amidst the chaos, something else was lurking in the shadows — an opportunity.
> [Mission Update: Use your allies to stabilize the empire]
[Subtask: Secure external investments from unclaimed markets.]
Reward: Skill – Quantum Shift (Temporarily reverse a single event in time by 15 minutes).
---
Kai set his jaw, determination hardening in his chest. He knew Lucien Voss would never fight fair. It was time for a counteroffensive.
He picked up the phone and dialed a number.
"I need everything," he said. "All our resources. We're going on the offensive."
---
Lucien's Network – Three Hours Later
The night had fallen, but Lucien had already set his trap in motion. The markets were beginning to shift, companies were scrambling, and within hours, Kai's financial empire was on the brink of collapse.
But Lucien was patient. He didn't need to rush. This was a game of precision. Each move was a calculated step toward his inevitable victory.
"Everything is in place," Lucien murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
> [System Notification: Kai Zhang's Fate Thread Reversed Temporarily – Probability of Survival: 75%]
[Event Shift Detected: Kai Zhang's emergency moves successful.]
Counter-Action Recommended: Double Down on the Sabotage.
Lucien narrowed his eyes. So, Kai had managed to buy some time. It wasn't over. It was just getting started.
---
The Next Day – Kai Zhang's Counteroffensive
Kai Zhang stood on the rooftop of the Dragon Tower, the city sprawled out before him. Below, the world was in turmoil, but above, it felt like he had a chance — a small one, but a chance nonetheless.
His allies had made their moves, securing deals with rival corporations, securing funding from untapped markets. The plan had worked… for now. But Lucien wasn't done. And neither was Kai.
---
> [System Update: Kai Zhang's Luck Surge – Destiny Value Restored: +2,000]
[New Mission: Crush Lucien's Network – Cut Off His Allies.]
---
The countdown had begun. The battle for dominance was no longer about who would rise. It was about who would survive.
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