February 5th

Somewhere in London

The night was heavy with rain, its rhythm a somber melody against the rooftops of London. Shiki found himself amidst this storm, pursued relentlessly by a cadre of assassins whose determination seemed as unyielding as the downpour. Each desperate leap from one building to another was a bid for survival, their encroaching presence a grim reminder of his plight.

Shiki thought to himself, "This is the twelfth time this month. Peace seems like a distant dream now..."

A sigh escaped his lips, the melancholy of his circumstances etched into his expression. He knew these relentless pursuers would not cease until he was no more. His only recourse, it seemed, was to eliminate them first.

Suddenly, Shiki found himself cornered at an intersection, the assassins forming a formidable circle around him, their masked faces devoid of mercy. The rain-soaked streets glistened under the dim streetlights, casting an eerie glow on the scene.

One of them broke the silence, their voice distorted behind the mask. "There is nowhere left for you to run..."

Shiki met their threatening proclamation with an unruffled demeanor, his eyes reflecting a blend of weariness and resolve. "Honestly, I was hoping for a non-bloody day. But it seems you don't quite understand..."

"Underestimating your opponent is never wise, kid." the assassin replied.

Shiki smirked, "Well, the thing is... you guys are actually... REALLY WEAK."

Provoked by his audacious claim, the assassins lunged at him, their determination now fueled by anger.

Shiki sighed, "I apologize for this...

Memories: Sands of Time..."

In a swift, fluid motion, Shiki activated his ability, "Memories: Sands of Time."

"Sands of Time," Shiki's unique ability, granted him dominion over the temporal flow. It enabled him to manipulate time in myriad ways—halting it, slowing it down, accelerating it, reversing causality, journeying to the past or future, even altering the aging process of himself and others. His power extended to control over the range and area of effect in various applications.

As Shiki wielded his ability, the assassins disappeared, their very existence erased as he altered the cause of their being.

Shiki muttered, "Once again, I apologize. But you'll were trying to kill me anyway..."

A wave of sadness and guilt washed over Shiki as he pondered the weight of his actions.

Without further delay, he quickly left the scene, seeking a safe haven to reach out Nashimi.