[Location: Space-Time Chamber]
[?:?? ??, ??? ??, 134827, AP]
Nepheria's heart pounded in her chest, the adrenaline coursing through her veins as she faced off against Eve, their swords clashing in a symphony of steel. The battlefield seemed to blur around them, the shouts and clashes of the ongoing battle fading into a distant backdrop.
With a swift, calculated strike, Nepheria lunged forward, her essence-forged sword gleaming with ethereal power. She could almost taste victory. The anticipation of a triumphant strike filled her senses. But in that very moment, Eve's movements defied the laws of physics. With a movement that seemed almost otherworldly, Eve evaded the lethal arc of Nepheria's blade.
Time seemed to slow as Eve's counterattack was unleashed, her fist finding its mark on Nepheria's vulnerable gut. The impact sent shockwaves through her body, the force throwing her through the air. Nepheria's world became a whirl of disorienting motion, each collision with the ground sending jolts of searing pain through her.
Finally, her battered form came to a halt, gasping for breath, every inch of her body aching. She clenched her teeth, determined to stand up and continue the fight. But her body protested, as pain radiated from every sinew of her body.
"Cough, cough, cough" she rasped, the taste of blood on her lips. With every cough, the sharp pain in her gut seemed to echo through her. But she refused to yield, her indomitable spirit pushing her to her feet. She knew, however, that it was too late.
Before she could even fully regain her footing, Eve was there, a force of nature. In an instant, Eve's clenched fist smashed Nepheria's head as her body limped down and blood flowed out of her headless body as Nepheria's once more world fell into darkness, her vision consumed by an explosion of pain and searing light. The world around her seemed to warp and distort, the last vestiges of her consciousness fading into nothingness.
And then, all was still. The spacetime chamber returned to its quiet symphony. The clash between the two of them had done huge damage to the spacetime chamber. But in that space, where Nepheria's lifeless body lay, something extraordinary happened. As Eve's essence moved to restore her body once more as she became whole again, the grievous wound on her neck sealed shut, the once-splattered head reattaching itself seamlessly.
As Nepheria's body restored itself once more, she suddenly disappeared from her position, reappearing kilometers away from Eve's location. Nepheria grew more vigilant this time, prepared to defend herself against Eve's relentless attacks.
"Hmm, that should be enough for your level 10 training" Eve remarked, her presence suddenly beside Nepheria causing her to startle. The chamber around them seemed to pulsate with residual energy, echoing the intensity of their practice.
"Finally, it's done" Nepheria exhaled in relief, her muscles relaxing as she heard Eve's voice confirming that their training was over. She stretched, feeling the ebb of fatigue mix with the rush of accomplishment.
"Here, take this" Eve said, a ragged book materializing in her hands before she tossed it to Nepheria. The book's pages seemed to whisper secrets of forgotten lifetimes, and its worn cover bore witness to ages long past.
"A book?" Nepheria's curiosity piqued as she caught the weathered tome, inspecting it with interest. It felt ancient, its presence heavy with the weight of knowledge.
"Yes, a book. It will greatly aid you, for it contains most of your memories from your past lives in every cycle" Eve explained, emphasizing the importance of the book she had just given. Nepheria's gaze shifted from the book to Eve, a mixture of gratitude and wonder in her eyes.
"Thank you, but I'll read through it later" Nepheria responded, a space beside her opening up. With practiced ease, she tossed the book into the spatial storage, a pocket of her own creation. It vanished into the hidden depths of her personal sanctuary, awaiting the time when she would unravel its mysteries.
"So, how are we going to get home?" Nepheria inquired, turning to Eve for guidance on their return. The chamber seemed to shimmer around them, the boundary between their training ground and the rest of the world waiting for Nepheria's command.
"Use your essence. It's similar to how you instinctively teleport during combat" Eve instructed, demonstrating with her own teleportations around the spacetime chamber. Each displacement does not even leave ripples in the fabric of reality.
"Is that so? Then let me try" Nepheria said determinedly, focusing her energies to manifest in a different location. Her senses tingled with anticipation, her mind seeking the connection between her will and the essence that coursed through her.
"Woah, is this place?" Nepheria said that as reality shifted around her, Nepheria found herself standing on a vast plateau. The landscape stretched out before her, as she could feel the breadth of existence. The winds whispered secrets of ancient times, and the sun hung low, painting the horizon in a canvas of fiery hues.
"You've arrived in the wrong place. Try again" Eve's voice sounded beside her, a patient but encouraging tone. Her mentor's presence was a steady anchor, guiding Nepheria through the process.
Taking a deep breath, Nepheria steadied herself, committing to the task with renewed resolve. The essence within her surged, responding to her call and intertwining with her intent.
"Fuhhh, there!" she declared, the world around her warping and shifting as she focused even harder. With a shimmering pulse of energy, she found herself back in her familiar surroundings, her essence humming in harmony with the spacetime fabric.
"Finally, I did it!" Nepheria's triumph was evident in her voice as she reappeared in the familiar surroundings from before, her confidence in her newfound ability shining through. The sense of accomplishment was palpable, a testament to her growth and determination. As she saw Nathalia still sitting in the same position as when they just left.
"Wait, it's already done?" Nathalia said as her eyes widened in astonishment.
"Yes, and I'm home," Nepheria replied with a sense of contentment, as Eve calmly settled into a chair and transformed herself into a book once more.
"But it's only been for less than a second," Nathalia observed, trying to wrap her mind around the staggering concept of time dilation.
"Yes, but for me, it's been over who knows how long. I stopped counting somewhere around 500 gogoolplex years since I reached the middle of my first-level training," Nepheria explained, a distant look in her eyes, as if lost in the vast expanse of her own experiences.
Nathalia was rendered momentarily speechless. The sheer scale of what Nepheria had undergone was beyond comprehension. It was as if she had existed in a realm where time danced to a different tune, where moments stretched into eternities.
"What?" was all Nathalia managed to utter, her voice tinged with awe.
"But first, can I have dinner? I haven't eaten ever since I started training," Nepheria said, bringing the conversation back to the practical needs of the present moment. Her words were tinged with a touch of humor, as she seemed to have become more mature, but she is still the same Nepheria, as her mundane necessities of life remained important for her.
As they made their way to the dining area, Nathalia couldn't help but steal glances at Nepheria, her mind still grappling with the unfathomable experiences her sister had just described. It was a reminder that there were depths to Nepheria's abilities and experiences that went far beyond what Nathalia could ever imagine. She had grown up more than her big brother and big sister. Nathalia felt a little proud that her little sister had become even more mature than her and Vernon. They laughed around the table as they enjoyed the food that Nathalia had prepared for Nepheria.