Why did Nick ask for the prophecy?
It seemed like an unnecessary risk.
The reason was simple.
If one knew the future, even if it was an uncertain future, one could prepare for it.
If the prophecy turned out to be true, Nick couldn't escape his death.
However, that allowed him to plan for his eventual death.
He could create contingency plans for humanity during his eternal absence.
And if the prophecy weren't true, it wouldn't matter anyway.
After all, it wasn't true.
In that case, it might as well be the ramblings of a random drug addict.
'I have to prepare for my death.'
'The False Prophet's prophecies only have a 50% chance of becoming true, but what if I actively work towards its prophecy becoming true?'
'In that case, there will be a final battle.'
'The worst-case scenario would be that there is no final battle.'
'That would mean that I have already died.'
Nick remembered the False Prophet's words.
"Many times, your destiny is your desires."
"Why fight against something you want to happen?"
'So many people sacrificed their lives for humanity.'
'I will not be different.'
'I do not wish to die, but that doesn't matter.'
'If it helps humanity, I will be glad to give my life.'
'As long as it increases humanity's chances, I am fine with it.'
For some reason, after hearing the False Prophet's prophecy, Nick felt lighter.
It was like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
As Nick looked at the world, he realized that millions of Hatchlings were born.
The False Prophet had been a Mid Adversary, and its death spread an incredible amount of Zephyx across the world.
'This is a lot, but I need more.'
'Everything is prepared. It's time for the final part of my plan.'
Nick went into the underground and started to conjure powerful materials.
It took weeks for him to do so, but he managed to create a Containment Unit that could even contain a Peak Adversary.
When he was done, Nick left again.
He would need to take a small risk, but the payout would be worth it.
After creating the Containment Unit, Nick moved towards Aegis' headquarters.
This time, he didn't disguise himself.
He appeared as Julian Winter.
As soon as he came close to Aegis' headquarters, his ability deactivated.
The Champion had noticed him.
"I am here for another trade," Nick spoke from a distance.
Deep inside Aegis, the Champion was looking at Nick.
He knew that the Trickster only showed itself when it wanted to be found.
Sadly, the Champion didn't know what to do.
What if the Trickster wanted the Champion to call all of the Shields so that another Specter could destroy their stronghold?
But what if the Trickster expected that the Champion wouldn't think of that?
The Champion believed he could catch the Trickster.
After all, the Champion was already a Late Shield, and he had become much more powerful.
Meanwhile, the Trickster was just an Initial Adversary.
But what if he attacked the Trickster and failed?
The Trickster might retaliate.
Even more, the trades with the Trickster had turned out very well in the past.
Should he try to capture the Trickster?
But what if the Trickster expected that?
So, should he not try to catch him?
But what if the Trickster expected that?
Whenever the Champion interacted with the Trickster, things always went its way.
The Champion felt frustrated and helpless.
He felt like, no matter what he did, he would fail.
There were only wrong choices.
"What do you want?" the Champion asked while pacing around his office.
"I have demonstrated my power within the last five years," Nick said. "I did this to prove to you that Aegis can't stop me as long as I want to damage Aegis."
"I spread the rumors about the Right Arm."
"I found Specters for the cities and delivered the information to the Left Arm."
"I created false leads for the Inferno and the Icestorm. There is no secret Adversary. That was all me."
"I also worked with Death to attack your newest member."
"And I damaged your image in the eyes of the normal people."
Nick chuckled a bit.
"I even fed you a fake relic a couple of years ago. The Tinkerer believes she is making progress, but she is actually learning all the wrong things."
The Champion grew enraged when he heard that.
He had noticed that Aegis was practically falling apart in the last five years.
"I also freed all of the Specters in the strongholds and killed the False Prophet," Nick added.
"I can do whatever I want, and you can't stop me."
"However," Nick added, "how many people have actually died? How many casualties did I actually cause?"
"A couple, but for what I did, there might as well be none."
The Champion gritted his teeth.
This was the worst part.
The fact that the Trickster could cause so much suffering without even endangering anyone represented a high degree of control.
It was like killing a Specter versus containing it.
Containing it was much more difficult.
Nick was essentially containing Aegis instead of killing it.
If he could exhibit so much control that he caused this much suffering without killing a lot of people, it also meant that he could cause a lot of death.
"What do you want?" the Champion asked again.
"I am open for a trade," Nick said. "The reason why I demonstrated my control is to show what happens if you renege on the trade after I fulfilled my part."
"Since this trade will be bigger than the previous ones, I will fulfill my part first. Otherwise, you might not believe me."
"You are also free to decline the trade, but then, I would have to advance via a different route."
"I will grow more powerful. You have no power to stop me. However, you have agency over how I grow more powerful."
"Do you want to hear my offer?" Nick asked.
The Champion remained silent for a while.
"Speak your offer."
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