Chapter 2: Manipulating Probability

n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

His hand trembled, and he clicked the first option. Another list appeared beside the earlier three containing all of his stats.

Stats were everything in this world. Every human strived to raise his stats to evolve into the next rank, to get their new skills. However, it usually costs a bit of money to see your stats.

[Vitality: 5]

[Strength: 6]

[Agility: 7]

[Intelligence: 7]

[Mana: 0]

He sighed when he saw that he was back to square one. His stats haven’t changed by a lot since his admission. His agility was raised by one after one month, probably due to all the chores Julian made him do.

His vitality was always below average because of how poorly he was nourished in his earlier years. Vitality usually represents resilience and regeneration. Strength and Agility were self-explanatory, and intelligence was about perception and memory retention.

As for mana, it was the quality that separated mages from warriors.

The fact that he was so weak bummed him. Countless years of training and farming crystals, and he was back at square one.

He closed the Stats tab and clicked on Characters. There was a single input, and it had the picture of the person he had just told to fuck off.

[Name: Julian Mackay.]

[Fate Meter: -36]

[Relationship: Hostile.]

He was confused by the number shown on the panel. As he asked the system, the tutorial resumed.

[Interaction with characters is essential to change your fate. Their Fate Meter shows their effect on the world and the user and whether it will be positive or negative. The higher the number, the more fate points could be obtained from the person.]

Nikolai took a deep breath as he tried to calm his mind. There was a slight possibility that he knew what this system was, but he wasn’t sure.

He clicked on the last option, and the panel confirmed what he had hypothesized. The Princess of the Elves kept asking him about the method to change ‘fate.’

[The chosen event: None.]

[Probability: -]

[Fate Points invested: 0.]

[New Probability: -]

[Fate Points: 1.]

[Note: Each fate point increases the base percentage of probability by 100%.]

Nikolai could see another bottom at the bottom that had [Manipulate Probability] and was glowing. He was now sure that this was what the princess wanted, the ability to manipulate fate.

‘Choose event: The world ending now.’ Nikolai wanted to test something, and the words in the panel changed.

[The chosen event: The World Ending.]

[Probability: 0.0000….000001%]

[Fate Points invested: 1.]

[New Probability: 0.0000….000002%]

[Fate Points: 0.]

[Manipulate Probability]

The zeros were so many that they filled the panel. The world ending at this moment was near impossible. Even if Nikolai wanted to use his points now, he wouldn’t change anything. The only thing happening would be the 1 after those zeros becoming 2.

Nikolai took out a coin from his pocket and held it in his hand. He then changed the event again and saw the changes. If he flipped it, he would either get heads or tails.

[The chosen event: Getting tails.]

[Probability: 50%]

[Fate Points invested: 1.]

[New Probability: 100%]

[Fate Points: 0.]

[Manipulate Probability]

Nikolai closed the menu with a crazed grin on his face. He gripped the coin tightly as his whole body shook.

‘With this power, I can rule the world. Then, I’ll take revenge on those that tormented me in the past. Every. Single. One.’

The killing intent filled his mind as he remembered every person that wronged him in his past life. One of them was Julian, and he was sure to take revenge.

While he was standing in front of his locker, someone bumped into him from behind in a rough manner. With how thin Nikolai was compared to them, he was slammed into the metallic door of his locker.

“Oh, sorry I didn’t see you there. Be careful where you stand.”

The academy of Rohan was renowned throughout the world. Thus, getting into it wasn’t easy. Sons and daughters of influential families trained for years to get a spot at the academy.

Each of these people was a superhuman that transcended common sense. Yet, in their midst, to the dismay of every student, a mistake existed. This mistake was Nikolai Yaran, a befitting name for someone who got in through sheer luck.

For this reason, in his past life and most likely the present one, people in the academy hated him. Otherwise, they treated him as if he didn’t exist.

The three entered, glanced at Nikolai with disgust, and went to

“Woah, be careful there, Nikolai.” Luke patted him on his shoulder. He was half a foot taller than Nikolai. “You don’t want to get hurt.” He said with a smile. Nikolai turned around to see who this person was. Rows of panels appeared in front of him.

[New Character: Luke Oslin.]

[Fate Meter: -23]

[Relationship: Dislike.]

[Choose response in ten seconds.]

[Dialogue: Apologize.]

[Dialogue: Thank you, I’ll be careful.]

[Action: Stay silent.]

[Action: Strike him.]

“Apologize.” Nikolai had the mind to stay silent since he knew Luke would beat him up. However, he didn’t want to be the same as before. Glaring at the tall youth in front of him, Nikolai was at least half a foot shorter.

Luke’s expression was of shock before rage passed on his face for a second. Without saying anything, he grabbed Nikolai by the throat and slammed him into the locker’s wall.

This forced the breath out of his lung as Nikolai wheezed. Luke brought his face close as he said with a vicious expression.

“Dare to say that again, punk.”

“Leave him be or suffer Mr. Heartwrath punishment.” A voice interrupted Luke from the end of the locker room. When Nikolai glanced at the person, he found a person he didn’t recognize. It was a youth with short-cut hair and a serious face.

“A teacher’s pet as always, Marcus.” Luke retracted his hand, and Nikolai slumped. As he gathered his breath, Luke walked out, and a panel appeared in front of him.

“Are you alright?” Marcus offered Nikolai a hand to help him stand up. Nikolai looked at him with confusion because he didn’t remember this person or this encounter before.

‘Luke is a lackey of Julian, so did he attack me because I told Julian to fuck off?’ Nikolai grabbed Marcus’s hand and stood up.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. You’re the one who stood up for yourself. Strength is a variable, but a backbone is hard to get.” Marcus’s fist touched Nikolai’s shoulder in encouragement before he walked away.

[New Character Entry: Marcus.]

[Fate Meter: +16.]

[Relationship: Acknowledgement.]

Nikolai noticed that the last name wasn’t written this time. Luke and Julian were people he knew the names of, so it was recorded. The system recorded the other information.

He went out of the lockers and headed toward the field. There, he saw Mr. Heartwrath, who he was reminded of his name. After all, it was such a long time ago, and they didn’t have significant interaction.

“Before we go to the buses, I’ll have you make teams of three people. You’ll be working together to hunt today, even if the monsters are too easy for you.”

“What if someone doesn’t want to team up?” Luke raised his hand. “Or if no one wants to team up with them.” He glanced at Nikolai. Julian had a smile on his side.

“If anyone wants to train individually, then they can do so. However, I need to remind you that death isn’t uncommon in this academy. Do you remember the papers we made you sign?” Mr. Heartwrath grinned. “If it’s someone no one wants to team with, I’ll be training them myself. That will be all.”

Nikolai remembered this event now. He was left without anyone to team up with. In the end, Luke and Julian teamed up with him. It wasn’t even training, but torture.

They pushed him to fight monsters alone and told the teacher it was his own decision to get stronger. In the end, he couldn’t leave the bed for two days.

“Nikolai, let’s team together. I don’t think you have anyone else who wishes to team up with you.” Julian came over with a wide smile.

The other students knew what was happening, but they ignored the situation. Everyone pretended to be busy or left with their teams. There were a few who looked with a helpless expression at him but didn’t do anything.

It was then that Nikolai saw someone come from behind Julian, walking in his direction. From the look on his face, Nikolai can already tell what was about to happen.

“Nikolai, what are you waiting for? Our team is ready.” Marcus said and then greeted Julian as if he didn’t see him there.

“Nikolai has already agreed to be a part of our team,” Luke said with a frown. “Walk away, pet.”

“Sir!” Nikolai raised his hand and shouted. “Can I train alone today?” He couldn’t allow Marcus to fight these two in his place. This was his battle, and it was no one else’s business.

Mr. Heartwrath looked at him for a moment with confusion. He studied Nikolai with his thin frame, baggy eyes, and unkempt black hair as if he was trying to decide whether he was sane.

“You told me that I need this training, so I trust your words. I’ll be careful and make sure to survive until the end.”

“You know every team needs to submit proof of killing one monster, right?”

“Yessir.” Nikolai breathed in and out. “If I couldn’t make it, I’ll just take the supplementary class.” Mr. Heartwrath went silent before nodding.

“I guess you’ll be killing yourself today, Nikko,” Julian said with a smile. “I’ll be entertained.”

He then walked away with Luke as they joined Julian’s other lackey to form a team. Marcus looked at Nikolai with doubt and confusion.

“There’s a very thin line between bravery and foolishness,” Marcus advised.

“An even thinner line between death and strength,” Nikolai answered. “We become stronger by challenging ourselves. Thank you for trying to help me, but please let me solve my problems.”

Nikolai left Marcus, who was shaking his head, and headed toward the bus alone.