The Day Destiny Opened Its Eyes
It took a few minutes before the trio finally found a monster trail.
The forest had grown quiet.
Too quiet.
Even the insects had gone still, as if the woods itself were holding its breath.
Leon crouched beside a patch of disturbed soil, brushing aside fallen leaves. His sharp hunter's eyes traced broken twigs, claw marks, deep indentations in the earth.
At first, his expression was neutral.
Then his brows slowly drew together.
Victor noticed immediately.
This was not the trail of a small creature.
The footprint was large.
Heavy.
Too deep.
Something powerful had passed through here.
"It would seem today is not a good day to hunt stone rabbits," Leon said lightly, rising to his feet. "Let's return to the village."
His tone was relaxed.
Too relaxed.
He might fool Videl.
He could not fool Victor.
The man was worried.
Deeply.
Victor's curiosity sharpened like a blade.
What kind of beast makes the best hunter in Kanal Village uneasy?
"Why?" Videl protested. "I really wanted to try hunting something. Are we going to try again tomorrow?"
Leon opened his mouth to answer—
The ground trembled.
A deep vibration rolled through the soil, through their boots, through their bones.
"ROAR!"
A thunderous bellow tore through the forest.
Birds exploded from the trees in a black cloud.
Leon's expression changed instantly.
He drew his bow and notched an arrow.
"The two of you, run back to the village and call for help!" Leon shouted. "Tell them it's a Red Bear—and it's an adult! Go now while I distract it!"
"Uncle Leon, I won't leave you here!" Videl cried. Her voice trembled. "Victor, say something!"
Victor was staring ahead.
Not in fear.
In anticipation.
"Damn it, kids! Leave now or we'll all die!" Leon barked.
The roar came closer.
Branches snapped.
Heavy footsteps crushed the undergrowth.
Leon had no more time.
"Here, Videl, catch!"
He hurled his dagger to her.
She barely caught it.
And then it appeared.
A massive red-furred bear stepped into the clearing.
Four meters tall.
Its muscles bulged beneath thick hide, eyes burning with savage intelligence.
It roared again, shaking leaves from the trees.
Videl froze.
All her earlier courage vanished.
Her hands trembled.
Victor, however, studied the beast calmly.
Interesting. I wonder how it tastes.
Leon fired.
The arrow streaked toward the bear's eye.
The Red Bear swatted it aside.
It lunged.
Leon tried to dodge—
Then remembered Videl standing behind him.
The claws descended.
Leon clenched his teeth.
Time slowed.
Sorry, Anna… I'll see you in the next life.
His vision darkened.
—
Victor whispered a sleep spell.
Leon collapsed instantly.
Victor grabbed his father and dragged him aside.
Good. He'll think he was struck unconscious.
The Red Bear roared when it lost sight of its prey.
Its gaze locked onto Victor.
"Heh. What are you looking at, teddy bear?"
The beast blinked—
Then flew backward.
Victor's kick detonated against its stomach.
He had reinforced his legs with wind magic and [Boost], amplifying his physical strength to the level of an intermediate mage.
In his previous world, such beings could slaughter knight squads.
"Damn it! This body is still so weak!"
The bear survived.
Victor grinned.
"Well, bad news for you. Now I have to beat you to death. Killing you instantly would be too flashy."
He turned briefly to Videl.
"Hey, Videl. Didn't you want to be a hero? Then why are you standing there shaking? Didn't I already teach you how to fight?"
He charged.
Videl watched, stunned.
Her heart burned with shame.
She had talked about being a hero—
Yet froze when danger came.
Leon lay unconscious because of her.
Tears welled in her eyes.
Then another roar sounded.
Not from the Red Bear Victor was fighting.
A second bear burst from the trees.
Smaller.
Two meters tall.
Its cub.
It charged straight toward Leon.
Videl stopped hesitating.
She cast [Boost] on herself.
[Enhance] on the dagger.
She ran.
The cub swiped.
She redirected the claw—
But was smashed backward by a headbutt.
Pain exploded through her body.
The bear charged again toward Leon.
Victor sensed everything.
His playfulness vanished.
He crushed the adult bear's skull.
Then turned—
But Videl moved faster.
Her body suddenly blazed with light.
Mana erupted from within her.
Victor halted mid-step.
His eyes widened.
She felt invincible.
She swung.
A torrent of mana erased the cub and the surrounding trees.
A crater replaced them.
Videl collapsed.
Victor stared.
He knew that light.
The Awakening.
The power of heroes.
In his past life, every hero possessed it.
A tenfold surge of mana for one ultimate strike.
He had killed countless wielders of this power.
He approached Videl slowly.
His expression darkened.
"So you became a hero after all…"
His hand rose.
He could end her now.
Spare her a fate bound by divine manipulation.
Yet his arm trembled.
His chest tightened painfully.
Memories surfaced—
Her laughter.
Her stubbornness.
Her tears.
His closest companion.
Not a hero.
Not a pawn.
Videl.
His fingers curled.
He lowered his hand.
"Hmph… it seems my heart has turned human as well. Weak. Soft. Annoyingly compassionate."
A slow, dangerous smile formed.
"Fine. Then as your friend, I'll help you break free from destiny itself. We'll follow the script—and rewrite it."
He looked down at her unconscious face.
"I won't let the gods control you."
Then—
A mechanical voice echoed inside his mind.
Ding. Host detected. System activation requirements met.
System unlocking… 1%… 7%… 25%… 52%… 70%… 88%… 97%… 100%.
Victor's eyes narrowed.