Beast Gacha System: All Mine-Chapter 196: Miscalculation

After a great many unexpected things, Ruby had come to accept that she should no longer expect events to unfold exactly as they had in the future she remembered. The timeline had shifted, splintered, rearranged itself in ways her visions could no longer reliably track.

But even with that uncertainty, she knew that certain things would remain constant.

Arkai Dawnoro’s death had been the only significant deviation so far. One prophecy, proven wrong. One life, inexplicably preserved. And even with the emergence of that miraculous healing potion, a variable she hadn’t accounted for, it wasn’t enough to build a new framework upon.

One change did not a new world make. Not yet.

Perhaps this timeline had diverged because of small things. A butterfly’s wings, beating differently. Ruby knew she herself had changed many details since her childhood. Words spoken, choices made, paths taken or avoided. And that fake, Cecilia Araceli, with her years of playing Saintess, had no doubt altered countless threads with her charade.

But Ruby could still fix things. She hadn’t done anything terribly wrong, after all. Every action she had taken, every decision she had made, was rooted in strong reasons and justifications. She was still the true Saintess. She was still the one who saw.

This announcement from Arkai Dawnoro, for instance. She had predicted its content. It would be one of two things. Perhaps both.

First, he would address the chaos following Mount Saede. The situation in his territory, the escalating feud between the Delanivis and Vasiliev houses, and an update on Anton Vasiliev’s condition. He might even use the platform to further accuse Arzhen, publicly, formally, of crimes committed.

Which led to the second possibility. Arzhen’s fate. Anton had, after all, granted Arkai full authority to judge the matter.

But Ruby wasn’t worried.

Even if they condemned Arzhen, even if they pronounced judgment, it wouldn’t matter. By the time Arzhen returned, and he would return soon, she felt it, he would bring with him the forged weapons. The Dragon Lord’s bones, shaped into instruments of world-changing power.

And when he did, Ruby would announce the prophecy. She would tell them all that it was necessary, that it was right, that the Dragon Lord’s passing was meant to serve a greater purpose.

She would guide a ceremony to honor his memory, to appease the dragons, to weave the narrative so tightly that no one could question it. Even Anton Vasiliev would forgive his son. Even the doubters would fall silent.

After all, Arzhen had told her himself. He hadn’t attacked his father. Which meant Nikolas had either lied about not sending people, or the Lion King had attacked both sides, sowing chaos to make them tear each other apart.

Arzhen was kind. Of course he wouldn’t attack his own father. Even in the previous life, his father had died of illness, and Arzhen had been so distraught that he’d turned cold to her for months.

So now, with world-shaping power forged from dragon bones, and with Ruby’s guidance, Arzhen would prove himself. He would prove her. The undeniable Saintess, whose visions pierced through lies and revealed truth.

No one would ever stop her from becoming what she was meant to be, the most important person in this world, for a long, long time. No one would doubt her. No one would dismiss her. No one would dethrone her or use her for their agendas ever again.

That was why she wasn’t worried.

Today’s announcement would have nothing to do with her success. It was an obstacle already passed. The world just didn’t know it yet. This was the joy of knowing the future. She planned ahead, and everything still worked out.

The announcer’s voice cut through her thoughts.

"His Majesty, Black Wolf King, Lord Alpha Arkai Dawnoro—"

Ruby looked up, her expression composed, her smile ready.

And then she saw her.

A woman. Standing beside Arkai Dawnoro. Tall, elegant, draped in black and gold that caught the light like scattered stars.

Chains adorned every inch of her, hair chains, neck chains, body chains, chains that whispered and gleamed with each step. Dark red markings traced across visible skin, ancient and powerful. A veil obscured most of her face, leaving only lips painted the deepest red visible.

Who...?

"—and his Luna, Lady Sees!"

Ruby’s smile froze on her face.

Something was wrong.

Something was very, very wrong.

The whispers started immediately.

Like Ruby, no one in the great hall seemed to have expected this. The murmur rippled through the assembled guests like wind through wheat, quick, hushed, impossible to contain.

Luna?

What do you mean, Luna?

Arkai Dawnoro had refused to take a Luna for years. Decades. Everyone knew this. He had been approached by every eligible noble house, every ambitious beast clan, every kingdom hoping to bind itself to his power through marriage. And he had refused them all, politely but absolutely, until the offers had simply... stopped.

And now this? 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Before the speculation could solidify into something more disruptive, Arkai’s voice cut through the murmur. It was warm, carrying effortlessly to every corner of the hall.

"It is a pleasure to receive you all, my beloved guests, on this day." He paused, letting his gaze sweep across the assembled faces. "My beta just informed me that most of my invitations went through. Almost everyone attended. Even His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince also graced us with their presence." Another pause, weighted with meaning. "Which is... quite rare."

"I understand," he continued. "I should have extended my plea for help for Mount Saede much earlier. Like I did with this invitation. This way, all of you would have had enough time to prepare. And even attend."

His lips curved, not quite a smile, but the suggestion of one. His stern, cold visage made the expression something unexpected. It did the opposite of making him look friendly. After all, his words were all... sarcasm.

"Pfff—wahahahah!"

The laugh exploded from Qinryc Lukas. The Prime Minister of Cassia doubled over, one hand clutching his chest, the other waving helplessly in the air as if to say stop, I can’t breathe.

As if on reflex the rest of the hall joined in. Awkwardly. Strained laughter rippled outward from the Prime Minister.

"Oh, my God." Arkai sighed. "Don’t tell me only you understand the joke?"

"Oh, Your Majesty!" Qinryc gasped between laughs, finally straightening, his sharp eyes gleaming with amusement. "You are so very funny. We all know you never needed help. Look at you! Alive and well! The volcano couldn’t even burn you."

He wiped at his eye, still chuckling. "What? Do you want us to receive your wrath because we mistakenly thought you needed help and sent a whole army for a... ’rescue’?"

He laughed again. Chief Hettor’s deep chuckle rumbled through the hall. And this time, others joined with more confidence. Even the Iondora Emperor’s lips twitched, the barest suggestion of amusement on his iron features.

And then, deliberately, everyone’s eyes began to drift. Toward Dorian Delanivis.

The lord stood rigid, his expression carefully neutral, but a flush creeping up his neck gave him away. He had, after all, been one of those who had brought an army instead of aid. Believing the death prophecy, trying to seize power over the north in the vacuum of his... ’absence’.

"You are the scariest beast alive now," Qinryc declared, his voice carrying to every corner of the hall. "Conqueror of the Northern Volcano. We just didn’t want to even assume you needed help, okay?"

He strode forward, arms open, and Arkai met him halfway. They embraced, amicable clasp between two men who understood each other perfectly.

"Bless you, my Lord," Qinryc murmured, loud enough for those nearby to hear.

"Thank you for coming, Lord Lukas." Arkai shook his hand, and for a moment, the two of them shared a look that spoke of old understanding and new alliances.

Immediately, the dam broke.

People surged forward, not quite crowding, not quite mobbing, but definitely pressing. Praises and blessings filled the air like birds taking flight.

What a miracle! What a triumph! The Wolf King, favored by fate itself!

All of them wanted their chance. All of them smelled opportunity. Because it was true. Arkai Dawnoro had walked into the mouth of a volcanic hell and emerged without a scratch. To save his people. Such noble sacrifice. Such mythic power. What did that make him now? What couldn’t he achieve?

The hungry eyes gleamed.

But before the tide could reach him, before the first sycophant could utter their carefully rehearsed flattery, Arkai raised one hand.

The crowd stopped.

"Lord Lukas," Arkai said, his voice carrying easily over the sudden silence. "I want you to meet my Luna."

He turned, gesturing with that same elegant hand toward the woman who had stood quietly at his side throughout the exchange. The woman whose presence had, until now, made people hesitate. The woman whose identity was a question mark hanging over the entire space.

Finally. Finally, she was being formally introduced.

"This is Sees. The Dragon’s Physician."

Silence.

A deeper silence than before. The room full of powerful people realized they have just been handed a piece of information they cannot immediately process.

Dragon’s... Physician?

Ah!

The Dragon’s Physician. The one Arkai had announced as the person who saved Anton Vasiliev from the brink of death. The mysterious healer who had accomplished what no one else could.

This woman.

The woman in black and gold, draped in chains and magic, her face veiled, her lips the color of blood.

She smiled.

Her full, deep red lips curved upward. The expression reached no other part of her face, hidden as it was behind silk and enchantment, but it was felt.

She stepped forward, one pace, and curtsied. A fluid, graceful movement that set her chains whispering against each other like wind chimes in a storm.

"My Lord." Her voice was low, musical, carrying the faintest accent that no one could place. "We finally meet."