The phrase "If fate wants, then who will stop us?" expresses a mix of confidence, defiance, and surrender to destiny.
It means if destiny has already chosen a path for us, it as if something is meant to happen, not matter the outcome.
Then no force, not people, not obstacles, not enemies, not the world can prevent it from happening.
It is almost as if fate itself is pushing events forward, and all resistance is pointless.
But in simple words it is said that if the fate wants, then nothing in this world can stop it, no matter how many times a being tries.
"They can never overcome their fate, nor can they run away from what is already written for them."
Then again I'm not a normal being, now am i ?
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"Raizel… what are you doing here?"
'Hm?' Raizel turned around and saw Sunless.
He was in a terrible state.
Dark circles shadowed his eyes, his hair was a complete mess, and his body trembled uncontrollably. Blood dripped from his hands and legs, the wounds deep and vicious.
The fact that he was still standing at all was nothing short of remarkable.
His sword hung loosely in his hand and it was stained with dark crimson blood.
'Self-harm.' Raizel understood immediately, the wounds source
'He's resisting the tree's mind control.' To Raizel this was nothing sort of impressing, it was more like disappointment watching the child of shadow trying his hardest to resist the mind control.
'And to think that he will become one of the strongest saint.' He couldn't help but just shook his head.
Then suddenly, Sunny clutched his head and right before Raizel's eyes, he drove the blade into his own leg.
'Ohh~How amusing…' Raizel's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression calm, almost detached.
"Ahhh—!"
Sunny let out a sharp scream, his body shaking violently.
"Huff… huff—!!"
He was drenched in sweat. His already pale face turned even paler from the pain, yet he continued to endure, he bite his lips as he desperately trying to hold on to his sanity.
'So… fate has finally intervened.' Raizel has been wondering when Sunny would appear.
After all, he was about to take something from him something very precious from him.
'Something he doesn't even realize he has…' a small unnoticeable smile formed on his face.
'But when he would would come to know, i wounder what sort of reaction he will make.'
And for that Raizel can wait as long as it takes.
"R-Raizel… huff… t-the… huff… t-tree… this damn tree—!"
Sunny tried to speak, but the words failed him, as if they couldn't even reach his throat.
'Poor boy, must have suffered a lot.' Raizel after finally taking some pity for him, decided to speak.
"I know what you wish to say," Raizel said calmly.
He turned back toward the egg and summoned his sword.
"So go and warn others."
He briefly glanced at Sunny and his voice turning icy cold.
"I will take care of this." he briefly pause as his eyes as his eyes turn crimson.
"Am I clear… Sunless?"
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Sunny(pov)
"Am I clear… Sunless?"
Sunny flinched.
Shock spread across his face.
'He knew…? since when? and how?...'
Sunny couldn't believe his ears.
Did Raizel had known all along what was happening ?
'Then why…?'
Why had he done nothing?
Why let our comrades suffer?
Why let them get control of this damn tree?
Sunny clenched his fists, to the point that they started bleeding as his nails were digging deeper, anger rising within him.
But he forced himself to calm down.
'Later… I'll ask him later.' Maybe it was his heart telling him that he can't do anything to Raizel, or maybe it was his rational side speaking for him.
'First, I need to warn the others.'
He turned and began to leave.
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Raizel(pov)
Watching Sunny leave, Raizel didn't said anything, after nothing much needed to be said.
'I have already given the instructions and now the rest is up to him.'
His attention was already fixed on the egg.
After a brief moment of thought, he made a decision.
Instead of essence, he is going to use something more powerful.
'Aether.'
Raizel then channel the aether on his palm when slowly he pour the at the egg.
First, the egg resisted, it tried to stop the foreign energy entering inside it.
But Raizel sensing this applied more force without hesitation.
'Try resisting this then.'
The egg had no choice but to accept it.
As the energy flowed into the shell, fine cracks began to spread across its surface.
'Is it hatching already?'
Raizel narrowed his eyes, about to observe further, when suddenly, he felt it.
A presence.
Again.....
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"I thought I told you to leave."
Sunny stood there with his sword drawn, his hands trembling more than ever. His head was lowered, as if he didn't want Raizel to see his face, yet his lips kept moving—muttering the same words over and over like a broken chant.
"Hand it over… hand it over… hand it over…"
Raizel raised an eyebrow as he observed him, his gaze sharp and calculating. There was something clearly wrong. This wasn't just exhaustion or pain.
'It's almost as if he's being controlled.'
There weren't many creatures in the Dream Realm capable of controlling a Sleeper's mind so completely. The thought formed quickly in his mind.
'Is it the Soul Devourer?'
Before he could dwell further, Sunny suddenly moved, his body snapping forward as he swung his sword toward Raizel with reckless force. Raizel reacted instantly, catching his wrist mid-strike with effortless precision, stopping the blade inches away from his face as if it weighed nothing.
Sunny struggled, his arm shaking violently as he tried to push forward, but Raizel's grip was absolute. With a simple motion, Raizel shoved him back, sending him sliding several meters across the massive branch.
Even then, Sunny didn't fall.
He steadied himself, his feet grinding against the bark as he regained balance, before slowly lifting his head. The fury in his eyes was unlike anything Raizel had ever seen before—raw, unfiltered, and almost inhuman.
"HAND IT OVER!"
Sunny roared at the top of his lungs and launched himself forward again, faster and more desperate than before. His blade cut through the air in a wild arc, followed immediately by another strike, then another—each one driven by pure instinct rather than technique.
Raizel remained calm.
He tilted his head slightly as the first strike passed by his shoulder, stepped aside as the second barely missed his chest, and deflected the third with minimal effort. His movements were precise, controlled—completely opposite to Sunny's chaotic assault.
'His eyes…'
In that instant, Raizel noticed it, a faint flash of gold flickering within Sunny's gaze.
'Fate… or weaver'
Their were two names that settled in his mind.
He don't know if it is the weaver trying to get in his way, or fate.
Then without hesitation, Raizel stepped forward, closing the distance in a single smooth motion. Before Sunny could react, Raizel struck his wrist, loosening his grip, then followed with a sharp push to his chest.
The force sent Sunny stumbling past him and straight into empty air.
For a brief moment, everything went silent.
Then Sunny fell.
"…!"
Mid-fall, clarity returned to his eyes as he realized what had happened. Panic replaced rage as he twisted his body, desperately trying to grab onto something. A branch, a tusk, anything—but his hands found nothing.
His body slammed into the branches below, once, twice, multiple times, each impact knocking the breath out of him as he continued to fall.
Just before he could hit the ground someone caught him.
"Sunny! Are you alright?!"
Raizel looked down at the person with complete indifference, his expression unchanged, his eyes cold.
'Him again…'