After a long, dreamless sleep, Takeshi stirred awake, his body heavy and sore. He blinked against the dim light, slowly adjusting to his surroundings. The soft mattress beneath him felt unfamiliar, as did the quiet warmth of the room.
His eyes drifted to the bedside, where Nyx sat slumped forward, her head resting on folded arms. She looked as though she had been there for hours, watching over him.
"Nyx... hey," Takeshi croaked, his voice hoarse but steady. "Wake up."
Nyx stirred at the sound of his voice, her eyes fluttering open. She blinked at him, momentarily dazed, then straightened up, brushing her hair back.
"You're awake... finally," she murmured, her voice a mixture of relief and exhaustion.
Takeshi glanced down, frowning as he noticed the change in his clothing. "Where are we? And... what's with these clothes?"
"We're in the final dungeon," Nyx answered, stretching her stiff arms. "When you collapsed, I carried you here. There was a magic circle at the entrance—stepping on it teleported us straight into this room. Your old clothes were torn to shreds, so I found these and changed you."
Takeshi rubbed the back of his neck, still processing the situation. "I see... thanks."
Silence lingered between them, broken only by the faint hum of the room's magic. Slowly, memories of the orc fight returned—his power, the green aura, the way time itself had felt... different.
"What happened after I blacked out?" he asked.
Nyx's expression softened, her voice low as she recounted the final moments of the battle. Takeshi listened quietly, piecing together the fragments until the full weight of her words sank in.
After a while, he sat up and swung his legs off the bed, standing despite the lingering ache in his muscles. He wandered around the room, drawn to the strange artifacts neatly arranged along the stone shelves.
One item, wrapped in thick, aged cloth, caught his eye. Curious, he unwrapped it, revealing a sword that seemed to pulse faintly with power. Runes glowed along its blade, the craftsmanship unlike anything he'd ever seen.
"Looks like I just found my new weapon," he muttered, replacing his worn sword with the gleaming relic.
His attention then drifted to a small, iron-bound box, half-hidden behind the sword's pedestal. He forced the old chains apart and opened it, revealing a sleek, black gun. It radiated a dark, ominous energy that sent a shiver down his spine.
Instinctively, he aimed at the stone wall and pulled the trigger. A burst of black energy tore through the wall, sending dust and fragments flying. He fired again—and again—the gun showing no sign of needing to reload.
The sharp noise stirred Nyx, who came rushing in, her face tight with alarm. "Takeshi! What the hell are you doing?"
"Testing this," he replied, holding up the gun. "Infinite ammo. Pretty handy, huh?"
Nyx sighed, placing a hand on her hip, but couldn't help the small smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
Then her gaze shifted. "That door..." she whispered, pointing to a stone slab at the far end of the room. Faint pulses of mana leaked from its edges.
Takeshi approached, testing the handle—but it wouldn't budge. A narrow slot beside the knob caught his attention. Without hesitation, he drew his new sword and slid it into the slot, twisting carefully.
A sharp click echoed through the room, and the door eased open, revealing a large chamber bathed in an otherworldly glow.
At its center stood a massive mana crystal, pulsating rhythmically like a living heart.
Cautiously, Takeshi stepped forward and placed his hand against the crystal's surface. The moment his skin made contact, light exploded outward, filling the room with blinding radiance.
When the light finally dimmed, glowing text materialized in the air:
"Dear Adventurer,
Congratulations on conquering my dungeon and overcoming the trials I set before you.I am Chronos, God of Time.
Your strength, your resolve, and your determination to protect your companion have not gone unnoticed. As a reward, I grant you the power to bend time itself.
But beware—this power is as dangerous as it is potent. To prevent it from consuming you, its true form has been sealed under a skill called 'The Ultimate.' Only by strengthening your body, mind, and soul will you be worthy of unlocking its full potential and claiming the title of The Divine One.
Everything in this room is now yours. Use it wisely, and I shall watch your journey from the heavens. Good luck."
As the words faded into the air, Takeshi lowered his hand, stunned.
"So... all this belongs to us now?" he asked, turning toward Nyx.
"That's what it seems," Nyx replied softly.
Takeshi exhaled slowly, sheathing his new sword. "Then we'll rest here tonight," he decided, his voice steady. "And prepare for whatever's coming next."
Nyx nodded, her expression calm, though a flicker of hope shone in her eyes.