The steady beeping of the hospital machines echoed faintly as Chakra sat upright, staring at the faint glow in front of his eyes.
He had spent hours trying to make sense of what had happened — the voice, the window, the ticking heartbeat that didn't belong to him yet pulsed in rhythm with his own.
Then, without warning, the translucent window flickered back to life.
[System Update: Relic Synchronization Incomplete.]
[Artifact Status – Sealed.]
[Reason: Host's level insufficient.]
His heart skipped a beat.
"…Sealed?" he muttered softly.
[To unseal the Artifact, Host must complete assigned Quests and increase Synchronization Rate.]
[Failure to comply may result in permanent lock.]
A nervous breath escaped his lips. "So… this thing wants me to prove myself?"
As if in response, the window changed again—lines of blue light forming symbols that pulsed softly.
[Because you have been chosen as the Successor of Time, temporary abilities have been granted.]
[Skill: Temporal Halt (E-Rank)]
– Stops time for 30 seconds within a limited radius.
– Cooldown: 5 minutes.
– Proficiency: 0.0%
[Skill: Temporal Reflection (E-Rank)]
– Creates a sealed combat dimension allowing confrontation with a past opponent.
– Usable once every 30 minutes.
– Proficiency: 0.0%
He froze.
His eyes widened as he reread the lines again and again. The words didn't fade. They lingered, tangible, undeniable.
"Stop time… fight a past opponent…?" he whispered. "This isn't a dream."
His pulse quickened. The memories of the labyrinth flashed behind his eyes — the monster's claws, his blood on the cold floor, and the moment it turned to ash.
No. This was real.
Every line of text, every faint hum from the stopwatch lying on the bedside table… it all felt alive.
A soft smirk touched his lips. "If it's real… then let's test it."
He reached for the stopwatch, the metal cold against his skin.
"System," he murmured. "Activate second skill."
The response came instantly.
[Skill: Temporal Reflection – Activation Confirmed.]
[Choose Opponent.]
A new window appeared.
Names began to form — or rather, just one.
[Available Opponent: Labyrinth Beast.]
His fingers trembled slightly. That thing had nearly killed him. The thought of facing it again twisted his stomach with unease.
But then, a quiet resolve replaced the fear.
He couldn't stay weak forever.
"I'll do it," he said, voice low but firm.
The instant the words left his lips, the world vanished.
Darkness.
Cold, vast, endless.
He stood in an empty void that pulsed faintly with light — the same light that had once surrounded the stopwatch in the darkness.
And then came the growl.
Low, familiar, haunting.
The beast appeared, towering and grotesque, its red eyes gleaming like burning coals. The same monster that had crushed his ribs and bathed in his blood.
[Quest Generated.]
[Defeat the Labyrinth Beast.]
[Reward: Skill Rank Up (Temporal Reflection) + 2 Stat Points.]
A deep breath steadied his trembling hands. "So this… is my test."
He gripped the sword that appeared at his side — the same battered blade he had used before. Its weight felt heavier now, but his resolve was unshakable.
The monster roared and charged.
Chakra barely managed to dodge, the wind pressure alone sending him sprawling across the dark ground. He rolled to his feet, slashing instinctively. Sparks flew, the blade scraping across its thick hide.
The monster swung its claw. He raised the sword to block — the impact shattered the weapon instantly, sending him flying backward.
Pain shot through his entire body. His vision flickered.
"Dammit—!" He spat blood, pushing himself up. His knees trembled.
The beast's next strike tore into the ground beside him, dust and shadow erupting like a storm. Chakra's chest burned, his breath ragged. Fear clawed at the edges of his mind.
He couldn't win like this.
He knew it.
And yet, something deep within him refused to yield.
His gaze flicked toward the stopwatch, glowing faintly in his hand. "Thirty seconds, huh…"
He whispered the words. "Temporal Halt."
[Skill Activation: Temporal Halt – 30s Remaining.]
The world froze.
Everything stopped—the roaring beast, the falling dust, even the flicker of shadows in the void. Time itself stood still.
He stumbled forward, clutching his bleeding side. His movements felt sluggish, but he forced himself to act. With trembling hands, he picked up a shard of his shattered sword and drove it deep into the creature's neck.
[20s Remaining.]
He leaped back, panting. The monster's form shimmered faintly in suspended motion, frozen mid-snarl.
[10s Remaining.]
He closed his eyes, gathering every ounce of strength left in him. When time resumed, he knew the fight would resume — and likely end him.
But he had one chance.
[3… 2… 1…]
The world snapped back.
The monster roared in agony, black blood erupting from the wound. Chakra didn't hesitate. He dashed forward, seizing the shard still buried in its neck and driving it deeper with a scream that tore his throat raw.
The beast convulsed, howling, its body cracking, decaying — until at last, it crumbled into dust once more.
Silence fell.
Chakra collapsed to his knees, panting, drenched in sweat and blood. His vision blurred, consciousness fading again.
Then the window appeared.
[Quest Complete.]
[Rewards Acquired.]
– Skill "Temporal Reflection" Rank Increased to D.
– +2 Stat Points Earned.
[Returning Host to Original Space.]
His body dissolved into light.
When he opened his eyes, he was back in the hospital room.
The same sterile air. The same hum of machines. But his body… it was whole. His wounds were gone. Not even a scratch remained.
He stared at his hands, trembling.
Everything he had experienced—the battle, the pain, the monster's roar—was real.
He could still hear the faint ticking of the watch on his bedside table.
"…I actually did it," he whispered, half in awe, half in disbelief.
[System Notice:]
[Welcome back, Successor.]
The faint sound of ticking filled the room again—gentle, constant, eternal.
And for the first time since the world had changed, Chakra smiled—not in fear, but in determination.