Far from the dark forest Damien now called home, in a grand city of white marble and gold banners, a massive crystal began to glow ominously in the heart of the Temple of Fate. The clerics surrounding it exchanged confused looks as the Oracle stepped forward, her eyes already glazed over in a trance.
"Another deviation…" she whispered, voice trembling.
A priest nearby leaned forward. "What changed this time?"
She turned to him slowly, dread etched across her face. "The Horned Wolf Matriarch lives. That wasn't supposed to happen. The Hero was meant to gain the Fang Skill from her cubs… but that future is gone."
Silence fell.
"The timelines are diverging earlier than expected," she continued. "Much earlier. Ten years before the Hero's birth, someone… no, something is shifting fate."
---
Back in the forest, Damien was busy testing out his new passive skill. Fangs of the Forest gave him the ability to boost his damage against beasts and, more importantly, to emit a faint aura of forest dominance. Most weaker monsters began avoiding him, recognizing the mark left by the Matriarch.
He'd gained two levels and felt the change—his movements were smoother, his control tighter. Still, there was something nagging him.
"Timeline deviation," he repeated, recalling the system's warning. "That means I'm not just in the story… I'm altering it."
> "Affirmative. You have deviated from the preordained novel structure by saving a flagged 'sacrifice' character."<
"Will that come back to bite me?"
> "Uncertain. But future interactions may differ significantly."<
"So the main character's rise might be affected…"
Damien had once read this novel for fun, following the protagonist through his grand journey. He knew certain key characters, villain arcs, and game-breaking items—but now, everything was fragile. He was too early in the timeline, like waking up before a play begins and accidentally knocking over the set.
And if fate noticed… who knew what would come after him?
"Alright," he muttered, stretching his slimy form. "Let's keep moving. I need strength. If I'm not supposed to be here, I'll survive anyway."
---
Meanwhile…
In a deep underground chamber, a masked man stood over a glowing tablet. He wore black robes stitched with red thread, his fingers adorned with rings etched in ancient runes.
"The reading changed again."
Another figure, cloaked in shadow, responded, "Another variable?"
"Yes. A new presence. One outside the written fate." He narrowed his eyes. "It's small… insignificant, perhaps. But…"
"But?"
The masked man's lips curled. "Even a pebble can change the flow of a river."
---
Back to Damien…
He'd found a new clearing, one filled with mushroom-type monsters. They were weak but numerous. His Devour talent had gotten sharper, allowing him to dissolve enemies more efficiently. With every bite, he gained small traces of energy.
> "Level up."
"Level up."<
Soon, he hit Level 5.
> "New Ability Unlocked: [Mimic – Lesser Form]"<
"Mimic?" he perked up. "I can copy things now?"
> "Host can temporarily assume the physical traits of devoured organic matter. Limit: 30 seconds. Cooldown: 5 minutes."<
"That's huge…"
He thought of the cubs, the wolf, the mushrooms. Possibilities began swirling.
But just as he was celebrating, the ground shook. Loud thudding. A roar.
> "Warning: Mid-boss approaching – Forest Ogre (Lv. 12)"<
Damien froze.
"Of course."
---