A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Chapter 752 A Timely Awakening - II

The dragons in the projection flew towards a deep valley within the Celestial Path mountains, then began to savagely tear into one another as if driven mad!

"The Celestial Path mountains, or rather, the dragon race... has undergone some unknown, monumental change," Ravenna whispered.

"Perhaps this second wave of the dragon calamity isn't as simple as Ansel surmised. Fate may have set something unknown in motion."

Neither of them had heard Ansel mention anything about a dragon uprising. In the originally predicted future, this bizarre event had not occurred.

"We need to tell Ansel about this immediately!" Seraphina exclaimed, her spectral wolf's paw crushing a dragon's skull with a casual swipe. After days of intense battle, she displayed rare excitement. "This might solve... No, wait. Even if we know this, it doesn't really solve anything, does it?"

The excitement on the young woman's face deflated as quickly as it had appeared. "This might actually put Ansel in a difficult position. If he learns about something in the Celestial Path mountains, should he go there or stay to protect the western lands? And if fate chooses this moment to release Evora... Oh!" Seraphina's face suddenly filled with shock and wariness.

"Could this be fate deliberately toying with Ansel?"

"...Your newfound brain saves me considerable time."

Ravenna nodded, having intended to explain further. "That's why we should wait until the Evora situation is resolved before informing Ansel. We can't burden him further."

Seraphina froze momentarily upon hearing this. In that instant of distraction, a distant dragon's breath engulfed her, instantly freezing her into an ice sculpture.

Almost immediately, the ice shattered. Without her spectral wolf even moving, Seraphina merely raised her arm and threw a punch. The sheer force generated a shockwave that tore through the dragon, carving a deep furrow in the dragon corpse-strewn earth. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire

"Are you... still thinking about that matter?" Seraphina asked, slightly furrowing her brow.

She didn't oppose Ravenna's viewpoint, but rather than dwelling on such concerns, Seraphina preferred to focus on the present and how to resolve Ansel's problems.

"It's no longer a matter of thinking, but of certainty."

Ravenna turned to face Seraphina, her usually impassive face now bearing a grave expression that demanded Seraphina's full attention.

Ravenna's words and actions painted a vivid picture of her frustration and growing certainty about fate's machinations. Her usual calm demeanor gave way to a rare display of anger and resentment, reflected in her beautiful purple eyes.

"Do you have any sense of fate, Seraphina?" Ravenna asked first.

"...Huh?"

Seraphina paused, then shook her head after a moment's thought.

"Even though I can see it clearly through Ansel's memories, if it were just me... how could I possibly sense something I can't feel or touch?"

"If it weren't for Ansel, I wouldn't even believe such a thing existed in this world."

— Indeed, it is precisely because fate adheres to rationality that, even when aware of Its existence, it remains exceedingly difficult to discern which thread It has manipulated within this framework of reason... Even with knowledge of Its presence, who in this world, save for Ansel, could engage in a battle of wits and stand against It?

"Me… too."

Ravenna's voice lowered, carrying more... discontent compared to Seraphina's bewilderment.

"We don't have Ansel's rich experiences and awareness in opposing fate, so most of the time, even if we're on guard, it's difficult to recognize if we're being used by fate or how we might be affecting Ansel."

"...My inability to unravel that question's solution was definitely linked to this very issue."

Was it merely unfounded anxiety, or the subtle manipulations of fate itself? Ravenna found herself unable to discern, clinging to the hope that Ansel would unveil the truth. Yet, his responses consistently indicated no cause for concern.

Nevertheless, Ravenna harbored a lingering doubt in the depths of her heart—had they inadvertently become Ansel's shackles and prison?

"Upon witnessing the draconic carnage in the valley... I gained certainty."

The scholar, once devoted to the path of transformation, metamorphosed into a merciless instrument of slaughter, as if venting the unprecedented fury and hatred gleaming in her exquisite violet eyes.

"It's all too convenient—Ansel resolves the Dukes' dilemma, only for a second dragon calamity to erupt; Evora's timely appearance, yet perpetual elusiveness; the relentless accumulation of pressure on Ansel; and the hidden machinations behind this draconic plague."

"Convenient... convenient... an endless parade of conveniences!"

Her murmurs caused Seraphina's countenance to darken further. The spectral beast behind her roared skyward, unleashing waves of crimson-black murderous intent that surged forth like a tempest, devouring and rending all surrounding dragons.

"No matter how plausible it may seem, deliberate... remains deliberate." Ravenna's gaze bore into Seraphina's eyes, as if transmitting her inner inferno.

"Seraphina, even if we cannot perceive it, It exists tangibly, driven by potent subjective aims, callously manipulating everything to achieve Its ends."

Bang — !

An infinite array of iron-grey particles coalesced before Ravenna, manifesting a colossal cannon muzzle. A torrent of grey energy perforated the battlefield for nearly a kilometer, thundering as if to expel every ounce of her pent-up anguish and discontent.

"Our perception of fate is woefully inadequate, rendering it nigh impossible to empathize fully with Ansel's plight. We... overlook certain aspects that Ansel could never disregard."

That is, the hatred of fate.

Even before Ravenna could articulate it, Seraphina's temples throbbed with protruding veins. Comprehending Ravenna's implication, an infinite tide of remorse and fury surged within her, each punch and kick she unleashed nearly conjuring hurricanes from still air.

"When we believed Ansel aspired to better himself, we fixated solely on that notion, presuming we understood his sentiments, convinced he harbored such thoughts. Yet, we neglected the deeper obsession that consumed him."

"...No, 'neglect' is insufficient. Rather... we underestimated its gravity."

Ravenna closed her eyes, whispering, "We grossly underestimated the significance of Ansel's struggle against fate."

Both Seraphina and Ravenna, like Ansel, endured tumultuous lives manipulated by fate, undoubtedly harboring hatred towards it.

Yet, they failed to maintain this enmity consistently… for Ansel never sought to exploit their shared antipathy.

Ultimately, Ansel chose to save and accept them, rather than viewing them as mere instruments.

Consequently, Seraphina and Ravenna predominantly felt Ansel's love, its warmth overshadowing their resentment towards fate's machinations. This allowed them to move forward and let go—ostensibly a positive development.

However, this very progression left them unable to viscerally experience fate's cold cruelty as Ansel did. Rescued and embarking on new lives, how could they sustain an ever-burning rage against fate?

Before contemplating the struggle against fate, they prioritized Ansel's and their own lives, seeking mutual happiness.

Thus, they yearned for Ansel to reclaim what he had lost, rejoicing in his progress and willingly dedicating themselves to his cause. Their paths aligned with Ansel's—what greater bliss could there be?

Yet, in disregarding fate, they inadvertently overlooked… Ansel's attitude towards it.

While they lacked a tangible grasp of fate's influence, what of Ansel?

The child who, by fate's design, slew his own mother; who once descended into such madness as to nearly drive his father to death and consume him; who extinguished his innate goodness and forsook his ideals; who languished daily under fate's torment, enduring constant anguish; who spent six interminable years in hopeless despair, unable to envision a future…

Could he truly relinquish all this?

Only upon directly experiencing fate's glacial will did Ravenna suddenly awaken to this reality.

Fate was no ethereal, formless entity, but a force with an unequivocally clear purpose, deliberately decimating Ansel's life to achieve its ends.

No matter how reasonable it might appear, it remained intentional—and it had intentionally destroyed everything Ansel held dear.

Who in this world had the right to ask Ansel to forsake six years of blood-soaked hatred and fury? Who could justly extinguish the fire that had consumed him for six years, ignited amidst his suffering?

They sought to bestow upon Ansel a life of happiness, but could merely reclaiming what was lost erase the agony and despair etched into his very bones and soul? Could it truly nullify all that had transpired?

"I was right, Seraphina."

Ravenna spoke wearily in a low voice:

"We've become Ansel's prison."

"Ansel's current anguish doesn't stem from indecision between the Western Kingdom and Evora, but rather..."

"It's his inability to choose between us and his fight against fate."

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