The streets outside the hospital felt quieter than usual.
Or maybe it was Chakra who had changed.
The breeze that brushed against his face carried a strange calmness, one that hadn't existed before. His wounds were gone, his steps lighter, but his heart — that was heavier than ever.
He walked through the narrow streets until he reached a small, dim apartment building. The elevator hadn't worked in years, so he climbed the stairs to the fifth floor, each creak of the wood echoing through the silence. When he finally unlocked the door, he was greeted by the faint scent of dust and memories.
It was small — barely enough space for a bed, a desk, and a cracked window. But in the corner, sitting neatly on the shelf, were two framed photos. One of his father, holding a blade with pride. The other of his mother, smiling gently as if her warmth still lingered in the air.
Chakra's gaze softened. "I made it out alive," he whispered, almost as if telling them.
He reached into his pocket and took out the watch.
Its surface was dull now, just like any ordinary timepiece. The runes that once glowed had faded completely. Only its quiet ticking reminded him it wasn't something from this world.
That night, he didn't sleep.
He sat cross-legged on the floor, staring at the sealed watch under the dim light of a flickering bulb. The system window floated faintly in front of his eyes whenever he focused.
[Skill: Temporal Halt (E) → Proficiency: 68.7%]
[Skill: Temporal Reflection (D) → Proficiency: 17.2%]
[Quest Active: "Defeat the past phantom until victory becomes certain(5/10)"]
Every use. Every repetition. Every struggle.
He could feel it — how each drop of sweat, each gasp of breath was feeding into those numbers.
"Just using it… increases proficiency," he muttered. "So I just need to keep pushing."
He clenched his fist.
For the first time, the word weak didn't feel permanent. It felt like something he could outgrow.
The next morning, Chakra found himself standing in an open clearing behind his apartment complex — a patch of abandoned land littered with concrete debris and rusted metal. It was quiet enough for him to train unnoticed.
"Alright," he breathed, glancing at the watch. "Let's try again."
He raised his hand.
[Skill: Temporal Halt (E)]
Activating…
The world shivered.
The air stilled. The wind froze mid-gust. Even the drifting dust hung motionless, glinting in the sunlight like trapped stars.
For thirty seconds, Chakra stood in silence within a frozen world.
But the strain was unbearable. The moment he exhaled, pain exploded behind his eyes — a pressure that made his knees buckle.
He gasped, falling to one knee as the world resumed its motion. Birds flew. Leaves rustled. Time flowed again.
[Proficiency increased: +0.9%]
"Still too much," he panted, wiping sweat from his brow. "But… progress."
He pushed again and again, stopping time until his vision blurred and his pulse roared in his ears. Each attempt left him weaker — but stronger in resolve. Each failure added something unseen.
By sunset, he lay on the ground, staring at the sky painted gold and crimson. His mind ached, but his heart burned with quiet satisfaction.
And then, a faint sound echoed in his mind.
[System Notice: Temporal Signature Detected…]
[Warning: Other Successors Active.]
Chakra sat upright instantly.
"Other… Successors?"
The words faded before he could even ask what they meant.
The screen blinked once — and vanished.
He stared at the sky, feeling something stir inside him — a mix of curiosity and unease.
He wasn't the only one chosen.
But by who?
And why him?
A week passed. His body had changed.
His reflection in the cracked mirror looked stronger — eyes sharper, posture straighter. The frail boy who had once been mocked for his weakness looked a little less breakable now.
It was time.
He slipped on his jacket and headed toward the labyrinth.
The entrance stood at the city's edge — a massive rift carved into the ground, its swirling blue depths humming faintly. The labyrinth that once symbolized death now symbolized ambition.
Hunters and explorers gathered around the gates, registering their teams, preparing their gear. Most ignored him — as they always had — but this time, Chakra didn't care.
He walked straight toward the entrance, holding his worn identification badge.
"Solo entry, rank E," he told the officer at the desk.
The man raised a brow. "Solo again, huh? Didn't you barely make it out alive last time?"
Chakra gave a small, calm smile. "That's why I'm going back."
Before the officer could respond, a group of people in dark gray coats approached — their badges marked with the insignia of IRO.
"Excuse us," one of them said, stopping beside Chakra. "We're from the Labyrinth Management Division. You were the one who entered Gate-47 last week, correct?"
Chakra tensed slightly. "Yeah."
The woman leading the group nodded, tapping on her tablet. "We were monitoring mana fluctuations in that labyrinth. Something… strange happened during your exploration. Mind answering a few questions before you go in again?"
Her tone was polite, but her gaze was sharp — analytical. Like she could see straight through him.
Chakra's hand instinctively brushed against his pocket, where the watch rested.
"Sure," he said, forcing his expression calm.
They led him to a side tent filled with devices and holographic maps.
One of the IRO technicians pulled up a projection — a massive spike of energy recorded inside the labyrinth the day Chakra entered.
"This signature doesn't match any known artifact or relic," the woman said. "Do you remember anything unusual?"
Chakra hesitated. The memory of the monster crumbling into ash flashed in his mind. The godly war. The stopwatch glowing in his palm.
He shook his head. "No. I was injured early. I didn't see much before I fainted."
The woman watched him for a moment longer — then sighed softly. "Alright. Be careful in there. If you notice anything unusual again, report it immediately."
He nodded. "Got it."
As he stepped out of the tent, the world felt… heavier.
He knew they wouldn't stop watching him. Not after that kind of energy surge.
But that didn't matter.
He turned his gaze toward the swirling depths of the labyrinth entrance. The same dread he'd once felt was still there — but now, it was joined by something new.
Determination.
He reached into his pocket and touched the sealed watch. It was cold to the touch — yet he could feel it pulse faintly, like a heartbeat.
"Let's begin again," he whispered.
And with that, Chakra stepped back into the labyrinth — this time not as the boy who barely survived, but as the successor of something far greater.