A deafening explosion tore through the heart of the theater, sending shockwaves of destruction in all directions. The resplendent hall, once filled with the echoes of sorrow and hope, was transformed into a nightmarish scene of chaos and devastation. Smoke and debris filled the air, shrouding the audience in a veil of confusion.
Panicked cries and desperate screams reverberated throughout the theater as disarray consumed the once-tranquil space. Flames licked the walls, devouring curtains, wood, and intricate designs with insatiable hunger. People stampeded toward the exits, driven by a primal fear of the rapidly escalating inferno.
The magnificent stage, where moments ago a mesmerizing dance had unfolded, was now a blazing inferno. The dancers who had graced it were nowhere to be seen, and the enchanting melodies had given way to a cacophony of chaos.
Figures draped in dark, foreboding robes, each bearing a blood-red cog insignia emblazoned across the back, had silently infiltrated the theater. They positioned themselves discreetly throughout the grand hall, their shrouded forms resembling haunting specters observing their unsuspecting prey.
Concealed in the shadowy embrace of their enigmatic attire, these cloaked individuals watched the bustling crowd with an air of sinister intent, as if they were orchestrating a macabre ballet, waiting for the right moment to strike. Their presence loomed like a malevolent specter over the theater, casting an ominous gloom over the once-vibrant surroundings.
"What… are those guys?" Silas asked as he quickly began to recover. He rubbed his nose a couple of times before hopping out of Emily's grip and stretching his eyelids with a couple of wide blinks. "Damn, that shit woke me up."
"It's an illegal stimulant, Necros. It's made from the compression of diseased mana."
[Accessing Restricted Database…]
[Data Restricted]
"It's restricted data? Damn, how much is restricted in this city?"
"It's mostly because you can only get diseased mana from a diseased person. Compress a corpse hard and long enough and you're bound to get a milliliter of Necros at most." Emily's face crumpled into a disgusted grimace. "Can't imagine how many died for there to be so much. It may become more after turning into a gas, but even then… not by much."
"So what now? I doubt our guy is still here."
"Nah, he's here. His heartbeat is off the charts. Even more so compared to the others. I'm sure he's their target."
"That's your reason?"
"Ask your steam what a Time Glyphstone is," Emily explained before slowly backing up, trying to rewire her connection with Glover who was presumably in the area if he was going to do his intended job.
[Accessing Restricted Database…]
[Item - Time Glyphstone]
[Description: A mystical catalyst, marked with intricate symbols and glyphs, that activates an individual's potential to become a Temporalkeeper, granting them their first link class in time manipulation. This stone imparts essential knowledge and abilities, allowing them to wield the power of time, from temporal alterations to localized freezes. Temporalkeepers serve as guardians of temporal balance in the realm, and the time glyphstone symbolizes their unique abilities, bestowing the responsibility of maintaining the delicate web of time on those with the potential to bear it.]
.
"Temporalkeeper, huh? Sounds useful."
"Of course it is. In the history of the world, there have only been a few hundred. That jewel is so rare that countries would wage wars against each other just to get them. "
Amidst the chaos and soot-filled air, a handsome man emerged, his tuxedo now smudged with ash and dirt. His dark hair was tousled and disheveled, framing a face marked by intensity. Around his neck hung a small silver jewel, glistening like a clear diamond, suspended from a substantial chain. With a determined look, he blended into the panicked crowd, swiftly navigating the tumultuous scene as he sought refuge from the surrounding turmoil.
The cloaked figures, their blood-red cog emblem adorning their garments, quickly identified the man with the sparkling jewel as he tried to disappear into the crowd. With uncanny agility, they leaped over the fleeing spectators or deftly weaved their way through the chaos, moving with singular intent. In a matter of moments, they had closed the distance and detained the man, their steely grip firm as they sought to get some answers.
"Oh, shit… shit, shit, shit. Kid, we gotta move. We can't get caught up in this."
"What?"
"That guy is dangerous. I'm not tryna' get caught in the crossfire."
"Who is-"
'Oh wow, the big man's here. You two support me, I'll handle this,' Glover's voice reconnected with their communication system in an instant and the calmness within his tone was almost creepy.
In the midst of the chaos, the detained man slipped from the clutches of his assailants. As they reached out to seize him, he dissolved into thin air, leaving nothing but a ghostly wisp of cold wind swirling through their empty hands. In an instant, he reappeared just beyond the frenzied crowd, his form solidifying as the figures who had held him moments ago crumpled lifelessly to the ground.
From what could only be described as a delayed reaction, the assailants and their heads lay severed. Grotesquely separated from their lifeless bodies, their eyes had been frozen in that same struggling state as when they reached out toward their target.
"The only person bold enough to wear such an expensive and priceless jewel would of course be somebody who wielded such godly power. The power to control time."
The figure's icy gray eyes suddenly snapped towards Emily and Silas, their gaze a paralyzing force that sent shivers down their spines. Frozen in fear, the two of them found themselves locked in a petrifying moment as those piercing eyes seemed to bore into their very souls.
"Emily, I thought you would have known better," The man's mouth crinkled into a sadistic smile, and his hand, revealed to be coated in the blood of those assailants, vibrating at a supersonic speed. "How could you get caught up in this mess? Was it Glover?"
In an unsettling and arrogant tone, the figure's voice cut through the blazing chaos, echoing with an eerie confidence that sent a chill down the spines of Emily and Silas. Each word dripped with a chilling assurance, making it clear that they were dealing with someone who believed themselves to be not only in control but also utterly nothing but superior in every sense.
"So what if it was me?" Another voice cut in, in an instant, the sound of a whistling breeze ripping through the theatre. Every. Single. Fire… was extinguished in an instant. The only thing detectable even so much as resembling that burning element was a trail of smoke rising from a man's cigar.
The time-wielding man's eyes narrowed as they locked with Glovers who stood on the railing of the top balcony. Glover's eyes almost seemed to peel back the lenses of his sleek sunglasses, where a mesmerizing blend of technology and mystique had been carefully molded.
The mechanical steampunk aesthetics became apparent upon closer inspection, with the bronze cog and pipe-filled mechanical eyes harboring a curious secret. For within each eye resided a quartet of amber pupils, perfectly arranged like four radiant jewels gleaming against the backdrop of his pale skin.
"Boy, did you know… In the wake of every blaze, the world is left with the mark of ashes. For the ashes are I, for I am the ashes of aspiration."