Chapter 724 Walking With The Oracle [Pt 3]
"This world… H'Trae… is meant to be inherited by the Elves."
Rey already knew that the world had a certain bias towards the Elves. Despite their non-violent culture, they were still incredibly powerful. They also had such hubris that was backed up by the world's preference towards them.
He was constantly told to help them, and it was only when he was on their side that his Alignment became a 'Good' Variant.
'Does that mean Good and Evil are decided by one's tendency to aid the Elves and not Harm them? Are things really that simple here?' He didn't know anymore.
From what The Oracle just told him, everything else was pointless.
"Everyone else will perish?" He asked, just for confirmation, and he watched as The Oracle affirmed his words.
"Everyone else will perish."
Rey was supposed to believe her. After all, she had been correct about the 'path' that opened up which allowed him to save Ciela. She was also correct about plenty of other things, and she even seemed sincere and impersonal about the whole thing.
He knew she certainly wasn't lying.
But, even then…
"I can't believe it. I don't think the future is as set in stone as you believe it to be." Rey mumbled to himself.
"Are you saying I saw wrong?"
"No." He stared hard at her as he gave the only response he could. "It's simply that I intend to change that future you saw."
Rey believed in his own free will, as well as the power of decisions. If a person knew the future and did his best to change it, one of two things could happen.
He could inevitably arrive at that future… or he could completely change it.
For example, if a person knew he would die in a car accident, then he could simply stay at home all day and call sick at work. By doing so, he would have changed that future… though it was possible that a car crashed into his home and killed him, despite his attempts to prevent the accident in its entirety.
Either way, Rey didn't think the man's death in the latter case amounted to the same future as with the first scenario if he just entered his car and died in the car accident.
The future had changed somehow, and his death happened in a different fashion.
"If I know enough, and I take the proper actions… I'm sure I will be able to change the future enough to save as many people as possible."
A lot of people were probably still going to die, but if he could preserve the majority—saving as many as he possibly could—that would be more than enough as an accomplishment for him.
No, not just him. It would be the best outcome for H'Trae.
"And do you think those who designed this game will let you alter that future that has been preset?" "...."
"One of the benefits of playing a game is that one doesn't know the final outcome. They do not know if they will win or lose. But this… this one is different. It's less like a game and more like a story. The ones above already have an end in mind, and your defiance will alter it."
"...."
"Do you truly believe they will stay still and let you interfere?"
After being silent for so long, Rey smiled as he confidently placed his hand on his chest and responded with as much boldness as he could muster.
"I don't care for them. Cowards who arbitrarily set up the worst possible outcome for a story and leave us to live out their mess… I can't be bothered with them."
Was he scared of those high up? The ones who had even more authority than The Oracle? Yes… yes, they frightened him.
But weren't they functionally nonexistent in this world?
They contributed nothing to H'Trae, and all they did was set up the world—dooming most of its residents to destruction.
"If they haven't interfered thus far, I don't expect them to do anything of note. And even if they do… I'll think of something once I get to that point."
If he and everyone else in this world were fated to die, the very least he could do was try his best to help as many people survive. And if the ones above had a problem with it and finally descended from their high place, then things couldn't possibly be worse than total annihilation.
That was his current position.
Perhaps this was all blind stubbornness—the kind expected from an immature teenager who had very limited experience of the world.
But Rey truly clung to his words, refusing to let them go no matter what.
The Oracle saw that as she listened to him speak, and it made her chuckle—no, even laugh—very loudly.
"You could be correct… after all, you are The Singularity that even I do not understand." Her laughter still echoed as she uttered those words and smiled very longingly at him.
"I hope to witness this future that you will create from the depths of my successor's consciousness."
"You could also help, you know? Tell me everything about the future—no, maybe just the important bits—so that I can do my best!"
The Oracle shook her head slowly and sadly as she heard this.
"Rather unfortunately, I can not. My memory has reached its utmost limit, and other than what happens at the very end, I have no knowledge of whatever happens after now."
"What? Damnit!"
"I would have also liked to bless you with my Skill [Clairvoyance], but your limited memory and weak body will not be able to properly utilize it in any meaningful way."
"Isn't it SSS-Tier?"
"That does not matter in the face of your [Doppel]."
"You can see the future with [Clairvoyance], can't you? In that case, even if it is seconds, or minutes, or hours into the future… I am sure it will help me out in some way. Please… give me the Skill!"
The Oracle smiled and nodded at Rey upon hearing his resolute request.
"Very well, Rey. Consider this my contribution for the future you wish to create."