The Cycle of Fate

Chapter 166: Forewarned is Forearmed

The "Fate Hunter" has two main abilities:

The first is to amplify the corresponding fate stream, meaning that the target's fate in the immediate future becomes inevitable. This can be done quickly, but only affects events within the next ten seconds. The more suitable the environment, the higher the success rate of turning a possible future into reality.

The second ability allows the hunter to exchange a portion of the target's fate with stored fate. If not prepared beforehand, they would need to kill the enemy to harvest their fate, or use their own fate in exchange. Compared to amplifying an imminent fate stream, this takes more time and prevents further attacks, which can cause vulnerabilities.

At this moment, Guillaume Bénet, in a multi-person fight, clearly does not want to exchange fates. He plans to amplify the fate stream of Lumière Lee's female companion, affected by the "Abyss Demon Flower's" paralyzing gas, and make that fate a reality.

Of course, as the woman in the black hood had not yet shown signs of drowsiness and would not fall unconscious in the next ten seconds, Guillaume could only accelerate the process, pushing things towards the worst possible outcome.

This is also why he hasn't affected Lumière Lee's fate streams yet.

—The main reason he doesn't dare to swap fates with Lumière is that altering a significant fate stream or turning a minor one into a major thread could invite disastrous consequences. Making Lumière trip or fall, affecting a minor future event, would be fine without incurring a backlash from fate.

The silver river surrounding Franca reflected in Guillaume Bénet's pale eyes. He discerned a self-entwined silver symbol within the stream and reached out to grasp it.

Just then, Franca lifted her head, revealing her moist red lips and smooth neck, previously hidden under her hood's shadow.

For some reason, this sight caused Guillaume's heart to race, a wave of heat stirring within him, reminding him of his past encounters with courtesans on Wall Street—yet none of those memories were as alluring as the half-exposed face before him.

Guillaume's thoughts briefly scattered, only to quickly refocus.

Seizing this fleeting opportunity, Franca, who had been forewarned of the "Fate Hunter's" abilities by Lumière, ignited silent black flames from within, while her exterior was coated in thick frost.

Invisible threads retracted, layering the frost with visible hues, forming a large cocoon.

Seeing this, Guillaume Bénet merely smirked, showing no sign of disappointment.

If the "Fate Hunter's" powers were so easy to guard against, they wouldn't be called "Fate Hunters"!

Moreover, once a target's fate stream is amplified or fate exchange begins, even using a substitute cannot break free.

Guillaume lightly flicked his wrist, starting to amplify the chosen future.

But at that moment, he sensed that the fate river of the hooded woman became unusually illusory—so illusory that it seemed fake.

Fake!

Guillaume's attempt to amplify the fate stream failed abruptly. The giant cocoon shattered, the condensed frost crumbled, and the silent black flames turned into fleeting light.

But within this protective cocoon wasn't Franca—it was a mirror!

During Guillaume's brief daze caused by the "Pleasure Witch's" charm and his own negative emotions, Franca, not under mortal threat, had proactively used the "Mirror Substitute" to take her place, wrapping it in black flames, frost, and webs to deceive the enemy.