"Fuck!"
Alvin watched as several Runes flashed across The Ancient One's forehead. They had appeared for only an instant, but how could he fail to recognize the Runes in his own pocket?
Alvin held back the urge to ask The Ancient One what level she was, and stared in bewilderment as his cheat appeared on someone else's head...
Those identical Runes came from the same place as his own cheat. That confirmed for Alvin that his arrival in this world definitely hadn't been a coincidence...
As for The Ancient One's "theory of choice," it no longer mattered much to Alvin at this moment.
Little Ginny, peering at The Ancient One from outside the window, had made everything click for Alvin...
Forget "Fate" or "freedom." I'll live and fight the way I want. As long as everything is my choice, that's enough!
I chose this path. There are a thousand branches along the way, but I'll choose only the one that brings happiness to the people I care about...
If there's no path, I'll carve one out with my Battle Axe!
The Ancient One paid no mind to Alvin's outburst. Smiling, she said, "It looks like you recognize these Runes. Odin meditated beneath the World Tree for more than a hundred years, and he recognized only 99 Runes...
"These aren't within his knowledge. Do you know what they mean?"
Alvin looked at Odin with some admiration, then smiled and said, "I don't know that many—only 32...
"Those five Rune phantoms that appeared on your forehead just now—I only know that they're called Zad, or 'Zod.'
"As far as I know, these Runes can make something 'indestructible.' I haven't quite figured out the details yet. I did use one once, though, and then a solar explosion destroyed it...
"What do they represent