"Sometimes I begin to wonder whether we truly have any control over our actions at all."

As he flipped through a set of screens with camera angles from all over the world, Trevor thinned his eyes, running simulation after simulation within his mind.

Scenes of people happily living within their own cities, scenes of armies headed off to war, scenes of monsters and humans alike awaiting orders, scenes of empty grasslands and deserts, scenes of the ocean, scenes from every corner of the world.

"Do we truly make our own decisions? Or are they set in stone, completely decided before we even make them? For example, take this young man over here. He is in love with this girl and is currently fretting over whether or not he should approach her, yet his own experiences combined with his timid personality would suggest that he will turn away without making an effort."

Samantha leaned in to take a look at the scene which Trevor clicked to, witnessing a young man who was hiding behind a wall as three girls had a leisurely chat.

The young man breathed in a deep breath and appeared as if he was about to step out from the wall, yet on seeing the girl and her friends he quickly turned away, hiding himself.

Walking off with his head slumped, the man decided to quit- exactly as Trevor had predicted.

"Based on the character of a person and the conditions of a given scenario, they will always act a certain way. If the scenario was changed for example- say the two friends of the girl were not present, perhaps this young man would have had enough courage to step forward. Yet even then, he would be too timid to say anything. According to my analysis on him, he would have fumbled with his words but been unable to say that which he wished to say before walking off, only to confuse the girl and leave emptyhanded."

Tapping from one screen to another as he played past scenes of the same young man in many similar scenarios, Trevor let out a sigh.

"Regardless, the fact remains that if the conditions are the same, that the same result.... will always come about. And if the same result will always come about based on the conditions that exist, then the conditions which come about in of themselves... are already determined, before they have even happened. It is a loop. One of extreme complexity, yes- but a loop nonetheless. And it is perhaps because there are so many complexities in the universe, that we fail to see this, for even slight differences may impact the results. Yet for someone such as myself.... who can see each and every complexity within this universe...."

Closing his eyes, Trevor deepened his tone.

"The only thing I see in a man is a massive array of 'if, then' statements."

With a light grin, Trevor chuckled to himself.

"Now what do you think, my darling? Which would have been worse? If he had stepped forward and been unable to accomplish anything, or the situation which just occurred? Or perhaps even if he had gathered his courage, made the attempt, and been rejected?"

"Hmm.... well, I think it would be worse to try and fail then to waste time trying at all. After all, if you're going to do something, you'd better succeed."

"Exactly. What is the purpose in attempting if failure is inevitable? However that brings up another question. Is such failure truly inevitable? Even if it is not, there is no way to predict whether it is, for whether or not one will fail is not known until the action of failing has already been completed. After all, it could have been exactly the opposite. That success was inevitable."

Sitting back, Trevor folded his hands in front of him as he changed the screen back to the present feed of the boy, who was now bent over, holding his head in anguish.

"If my information is incomplete, then I must make assumptions within my parameters, however a single small change will completely change the entire path of the universe. Therefore, I must run millions of simulation to have even an idea of what will happen. But the question is, is there one single path which reality MUST take?"

Trevor and Samantha found themselves both smiling as they watched the boy in anguish, holding in their laughs at his pain.

"Truly pathetic, isn't it? No matter which way he went, he would be subject to suffering. If only he could throw out such feelings of love.... yet that would be to change that which is. And a normal human cannot do that."

"Where is this?", Samantha asked.

"The Empire. I was just browsing through footage when I came across this and found it interesting."

"Hmm.... so I guess humans in this world really are just like the ones in ours. Looks like we really are the only ones who are different."

"We are no longer human, after all. It's only obvious."

"Of course."

Tapping his hand on his armrest, Trevor looked to the sky.

"My question..... I believe finally has an answer."

With a grin, Trevor nodded to himself.

"There is only one possible path for the universe to take. We live in a state of determinacy. We cannot know or predict this path, therefore to us it appears as if there is not a single path. However, the very existence of the Determined and the Indeterminant are enough to shift this path to a different one."

"Shift the path?"

Samantha looked at Trevor with confusion, plucking her eyelashes as she glanced at him.

"Well, imagine that there is a single timeline which the universe is destined to follow. The Determined.... I believe I have found out her ability. Her true identity, that is."

"Oh? And what is that?"

"If there is a single timeline which the universe must follow, then imagine a number of parallel lines. When the Determined performs any action or sets any condition, she essentially switches the Universe from one line to another. There is no connection between each line. They are parallel. They will never connect. Yet with her action, it is as if we mysteriously have been transported to a different line, and thus the timeline of the universe will unfold according to a different series of events."

Glaring at her nails, Samantha took out a file and begun to sharpen them.

"Sounds complicated. My IQ isn't up for this conversation."

"Is that so? Well I'm going to talk anyways."

"I'll listen either way. I'm not gonna try to understand though."

Leaning forward, Trevor grinned as he pushed up his perfectly rectangular glasses.

"This leads me to a prediction on the Indeterminant."

"Hmm...."

Continuing to file her nails, Samantha kept one eye on her hand and the other on Trevor.

"The Indeterminant connects those lines together so that nobody knows which path the Universe will take. And the result..... is completely random."

"Random?"

The camera then switched to footage showing the fight between Kyle Ruthobold and the other three- particularly a scene where Oscar had restored the earth to it's previous state after it had been destroyed in a line of energy.

"He makes the universe completely unpredictable for a single moment, then he alters the probability so that whatever he wishes to happen will occur with 100% certainty, and every other future will have a 0% chance of being selected. However that is not my greatest concern when regarding the Indeterminant. The fact of the matter is.... within all this footage we have obtained...."

Trevor thinned his eyes.

"There is not a single incident of him being hit with an attack. No.... rather, there is not even a single moment in which he has ever been attacked."

"What does that mean?", Garett asked, looking over to Trevor.

"This may be my own pessimism clouding my judgement, and if it is, then that would be desirable. However.... it is possible that he is ensuring that the universe is set on a path where nobody is able to attack him. That is, if any attack does happen to land, the universe switches to one in which it did not."

Closing out of the screen, Trevor let out a sigh as he stroked his hair back.

"The reason why I investigated this in the first place was because I was curious as far as some scenarios in which I couldn't seem to properly predict things. I now understand why. It is the work of the Determined, throwing me off. Of course, it is not her fault. She knows what she is doing better than I am, at least now. Therefore.... we will watch and see what she comes up with. Even so, I have no intention to halt my plans. We move forward. Any future which she switches us to will be one in which victory is assured."

With this, the slab which was carried by the golem lizardmen continued forth, making it's way through the rocky plains.

The four were left in silence, readying themselves for a battle.

For it was one in which the element of uncertainty was present.

----

"The plan is a simple one. We march with our armies, headed for the cities of the antiheroes. We meet them in an open field if possible, defeating them in standard combat. If it is not possible, then we will siege the cities."

Huberos turned to the three before him, explaining his own thoughts to those within his carriage.

The roof had been ripped apart and so he was reluctant to disclose such details, but he decided that if someone could hear him from here then the plan was already likely compromised.

"I would like to first engage these antiheroes and the Determined in conversation. After all, if they let something slip I might be able to use my ability on them. Even if they do not, I would like to hear it from their mouths themselves. How they were able to defeat Envidia."

"Question. Do you think they would taste good?"

"Please be serious, Gormand. I am trying to formulate a plan here."

"I am being serious. I need to know how they should be cooked once we defeat them. What race are they anyways?"

"I would assume that they are demons, though there is no direct record of this within the prophecies.", Huberos replied with a twitch in one eye. "Now can we get onto the important details?"

"Mmm.... maybe I should boil them? Nah, I'm thinking barbeque. Ok. It's settled."

The hand of Huberos began to twitch as Gormand continuously spit out his own opinion, completely ignoring those around him.

"Envidia held the ability to obtain anything which another held, so long as her jealousy remained. Furthermore, her jealousy towards her own sister was so great that destroying such jealousy would be impossible without first killing her sister. Now, this leads to the question- did the antiheroes go after her sister first? If that is the case, how did they obtain such intel? Or perhaps they merely slaughtered all who got in their way, and by chance happened to slay Evelyn first? If not, then they must have found another loophole around Envidia's ability. However.... I have some suspicions."

"Suspicions?"

Apathia opened one eye, looking up at Huberos.

"What suspicions?"

"Lustia left the first meeting without a second thought. She didn't hold an ounce of interest with the antiheroes that night. Which leads me to believe that while unlikely.... she may have been bought."

"Bought? Lustia? There's no way, Huberos.", Gormand stated. "She can charm people to her will. There's no way someone could buy her. One look and she can buy anyone."

"That is exactly the case. However, what if there were someone who was resistant to her charms? You all know of Lustia's physical weakness even after her promotion to the position of Host, no? Furthermore, given that through contact all Hosts are made aware of the pain of each other, she holds some of our own memories within her. Therefore knowledge of our particular abilities may have been disclosed."

The four sat in silence for a moment, however Apathia broke the silence by blowing her hair out of the way, only for it to fall back down, once more covering her face.

"I'm sick of hearing. Shh."

"Too lazy to even think? Just like you. Fine then. I will figure this out on my own."

"I said shh."

The four continued to ride through the rocky plains, however it was at that moment that a man landed on top of the roof, looking in through the crevice which had been created.

"Lord Huberos, it would appear that our armies are approaching a set of individuals..... they do not appear to be friendly either. There is a..... set of thrones being carries on the backs of.... I believe those are lizardmen? They are headed straight for us. From what I can see there are two demons, an elf, and a spirit. Furthermore, the seat in the center of the structure appears to be empty, although it seems that it is reserved for someone of high ranking."

"Is that so?"

Huberos looked up at the butler while placing his hand to his chin in thought before grinning.

"Halt all carriages. Tell all dragonic men to line up in formation. Tell the same to all plantmen. They are to form a unit and prepare for battle. As for you three...."

With a wave, Huberos stepped up, slicking his hair as he opened the door to the carriage.

"With me. We are to see who they are, and if they pose a threat, we are to eliminate them."

----

"And there they are. Right on queue."

Standing up with elegance, the tie which Trevor wore fluttered in the wind as he looked on to see a line of carriages as well as a unit of dragonic demons flying through the air above them.

"Those are the Hosts, eh?", Ashley stated. "Well, I already had a feeling that I'm not gonna do much here, so maybe I should just duck out?"

"You are to do no such thing. Your presence is crucial, even if you will not do anything.", Trevor stated quickly.

"Ehh.... ah well. Maybe I'll get to watch something interesting then?"

"I'm certain of it."

Placing his hand on her head, Garett rustled the messy hair of the spiritual girl, invoking a light smile as she fiddled with her fingers.

"Hehehe...."

As the two forces approached one another, Trevor looked to Ashley with a grin.

"Why don't you start out with a full assault? I'd like to see exactly how they deal with such a thing. If my own simulations are correct, their only option will be to play that card. And from there.... I can bait them into a number of actions."

"Sounds good."

And with that, Ashley stepped forward, hovering just in front of the platform which the antiheroes sat on.

Raising her hands up like a ghost and slapping them down, chaos ensued.

A number of explosions occurred, covering the rocky field.

The dragons who were mid flight slammed to the ground, kicking up rocks and dust as they landed violently.

Carriages were hit and the entire field was covered in dust.

"Ehh.... I can't see them anymore. I guess we're a bit far away. Let's get closer."

"We're currently on the way. Keep them like that until-"

"Nah. Don't feel like it."

It was then that Ashley jumped back into her seat, closing her eyes.

"You know..... I don't feel like doing anything right now."

Glaring back, Trevor pushed up his glasses with a grin.

"So they've played it. Exactly as expected. Should I say well played? It is certainly a powerful move, and a direct counter to our origin here. Not many would be able to stop this little ball of fury like that. However, there is one small detail which makes this move a terrible one."

The elf slicked back his hair, allowing the toes on the bracelet which he wore to graze his head.

It was at that moment that his eyes went thin with arrogance.

His smile wrapped around his face, almost wrapping from pointed ear to ear.

"The fact that I forced you into such a move, and have been playing under the assumption that you would use it that way from the start."

----

"Understood. We will ha-"

Ferdinand could not even finish replying to Huberos before something happened.

An aura.

A massive amount of energy engulfed the area, forcing each and every person to the ground.

Ferdinand fell from the roof, landing within the carriage on his stomach. Huberos fell backwards and lay on his back, unable to move.

The other three were stuck in seated positions, unable to even lift a finger.

'What... is this?'

Huberos looked over to the three who were unable to move, wondering in his mind who could possibly be producing such a pressure.

However, his question was answered immediately as soon as he came to a realization.

'So they are the antiheroes.... after... all.....'

The pressure was enough to make Huberos want to throw up, however pain was something which he was accustomed to.

Pain was something which he had lived with.

Pain was something that Huberos and the other two within this chariot knew better than anyone else in this world.

And so, even as excruciating as it was, Huberos was able to smile.

"A..."

Choking out that single letter, this was all he could manage to muster.

The sounds of explosions rained around the group as the dragons around them were forced to the ground under a gravity which had been increased a thousand fold.

The groans of pain of the dragonic demons could be heard from within the carriage, however Huberos paid this no mind.

"I got it."

Speaking these words, the magenta scaled dragonic demon leaned forward.

Overcoming the massive pressure with sheer strength, her lime hair fell straight down under the immense gravity.

'I..... never wanted to do anything ever again.....', she thought.

And then, as a result of leaning forward, the girl fell to the ground, planting her face into the floor of the carriage.

'But.... it looks like I don't have a choice. So bring it on, antiheroes.'

Lifting up her hand with immense pains, the girl pointed a finger.

[Removal of will]

And at that moment, the gravity which covered the landscape had been released.

Standing up, Huberos brushed himself off, biting his lip as he swirled his hair about.

"How.... irritating. To think they would have a magic user with that much raw power..... it is beyond my imagination."

Holding his hand to his head, the demon shivered as he reached for the plant girl who was still sitting in her seat, wide eyed.

"Are you alright, my dear general? It must be quite the shock, no?"

"Shock.... you say?"

Tera stared at Huberos with immense fear.

"What..... was that?"

Turning forth with resolution, the demon grabbed a handkerchief from his pocket, wiping his lower lip of blood before he spoke.

"That was a mere fraction of what we are to face. Yet there are no worries to be had. For the more powerful they are..... the greater their egos are."

Grinning, Huberos grabbed the hand of the woman, helping her to stand up.

"I am the Host of Pride. It is my purpose and my very duty to stand tall in the face of opposition. No matter how far above me they are."

Jumping up, Huberos made his way onto the roof. He was quickly followed by Gormand who carried Apathia in his arms, though she was now fast asleep.

Turning back to the woman, Huberos held out his hand to which she jumped up herself, grabbing onto it.

The four looked around them to see that the dragons were slowly getting up from the fall, mostly uninjured though shaken.

A number of carriages had been bombarded as well, revealing the plantmen inside, yet they too were powerful enough to survive such assaults.

Stepping forth, Huberos took in the situation and nodded as he fixed his tie.

"For I will not allow anyone to look down upon me."