The forest of Oakhaven was no longer a home. It was a buffet of dying echoes.
Kyle had spent the last twelve hours moving like a predator through the shadows. He didn't just walk; he "glided" through the threads of the forest. The [Ghost-Walker] trait made his footsteps silent, leaving no prints in the mud, as if the world was forgetting he existed.
He had scavenged a Level 15 Shadow Wolf and a group of low-level bandits. His stats were climbing, but his "Humanity" stat—a hidden metric he could feel but not see—was plummeting.
[LEVEL: 9]
[NEW ACTIVE SKILL: 'FATE-RIP' (Level 1)]
Briefly sever the connection between a target's soul and their physical body. Cost: 50 Fate Units per second.
Kyle stood on a ridge overlooking his old village. It was a graveyard of ash. In the center, the Silver Church had set up a ritual site. He could see it—a massive, swirling vortex of white light designed to "cleanse" the area.
But Kyle saw the truth. It wasn't cleansing. It was a Causality Vacuum. They were sucking up the residual fate of the dead villagers to power a grand spell.
And in the middle of that vortex, suspended in cages of silver light, were his mother and father. Mia was missing.
"They are using them as batteries," Kyle hissed, his star-shaped pupil pulsing with black light.
[MISSION: THE HARVEST OF THE CHURCH]
[OBJECTIVE: INTERRUPT THE RITUAL / RETRIEVE THE PAUSED THREADS.]
[REWARD: ??? / EVOLUTION OF THE CRIMSON EYE.]
Kyle descended the ridge. He didn't go for a frontal assault. He was a scavenger, not a warrior.
He found the ritual's "Anchor Threads"—four massive beams of energy connected to four High Priests kneeling at the corners of the village. These priests were Level 30+. One hit would turn Kyle into dust.
"The bigger the thread, the easier it is to trip over," Malakar's ghost whispered.
Kyle crept toward the first priest. He used [Fate-Rip] not on the priest, but on the ground beneath him. He severed the "Fate of Solidity" from the earth.
The ground turned into a bottomless liquid. The priest, caught in a deep trance, didn't even realize he was sinking until the mud reached his chin. The ritual thread flickered.
"Intruder!" a guard shouted.
Ten Silver Knights charged toward Kyle. He stood his ground, his small hand outstretched.
"You think your armor protects you?" Kyle's voice was cold, echoing with the power of the void. "Your armor has a fate of its own. It was forged to protect... so I will tell it to crush."
He grabbed the air and twisted. Using his new skill, he manipulated the "intent" of the silver armor. The metal, once a shield, suddenly turned inward. Spikes grew from the interior of the visors. Chestplates collapsed like tin cans.
The clearing was filled with the sound of screaming metal and breaking bones.
Kyle walked through the carnage, his eyes fixed on his parents. He reached the center of the vortex. He saw his father's face—frozen in that last moment of bravery. He saw his mother's tears, turned into crystals of static time.
"I'm here," Kyle whispered, touching the silver cage.
[WARNING: RITUAL CORE IS UNSTABLE. EXPLOSION IMMINENT IN 60 SECONDS.]
He had to choose. He could take his parents' threads and run, but their bodies would be destroyed by the explosion. Or he could try to "Scavenge the Ritual" itself.
"I'll eat it," Kyle decided.
He didn't just grab a thread. He opened his Crimson Eye wide and inhaled.
The massive vortex of white light, the energy of a hundred dead souls, was pulled into his left eye. His vision turned white. His brain felt like it was being fried in oil.
[CRITICAL OVERLOAD!]
[CRIMSON EYE EVOLVING...]
[NEW CLASS DETECTED: FATE-DEVOURER (UNIQUE / GROWTH TYPE)]
The explosion didn't happen. The village went silent. The silver cages vanished. Kyle's parents fell to the ground, still "paused" but safe.
Kyle stood in the center of the ruins, his hair turned snowy white from the stress, his left eye now a dark, swirling nebula of crimson and black. He looked at his hands. He didn't feel like a boy anymore.
He looked toward the horizon, where the main Church cathedral stood. He could see the thread of the High Bishop—a golden, arrogant cable that stretched across the world.
"I'm coming for the rest of you," Kyle whispered.
An Important Message from the Author of "Fate Stealer" to My Dear Readers: Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reaching this point in the novel! Kyle's journey has begun to take a darker and more complex turn, and we are now on the verge of events that will completely change the concept of power in this world. Why is your support important now? Novels on the Webnovel platform live and grow thanks to reader interaction. The more interaction there is, the greater the chance of the novel being shown to millions of other readers. How can you support Kyle on his journey of revenge? Comments: Tell me what you think about Kyle's transformation? Do you think he will completely lose his humanity? I read all your comments, and they motivate me greatly! Power Stones: These are the true fuel of the novel. Your daily votes help us climb the global rankings. Add to Library: Make sure to add the novel to your library to receive notifications about upcoming chapters as soon as they are released. Kyle broke the laws of fate for his family, so will you support him in his confrontation with the Silver Church? The next chapter will be a big surprise regarding Mia... Stay tuned! — With love, your author