Lin Xiao decided to ask the system, his voice laced with urgency, "What the heck is happening right now?"
The system responded in its usual monotone, devoid of any concern for the chaotic scene outside,
[Timelines are unravelling due to the river of time. I suggest the host not worry; it will fix itself on its own.]
Lin Xiao's eyes widened in disbelief. "Timelines... unraveling?" he muttered, his mind racing to catch up with the system's explanation. How is that even possible? He thought about the silhouettes outside, the ghostly figures from different eras blending into one, and the eerie pulse of the light that seemed to warp the fabric of reality itself.
He needed to know more. "What is this river of time?" he asked again, his voice firmer this time, demanding a proper answer.
The system, as monotone as ever, replied, [The golden light that Host saw is the river of time, the manifestation of the time law. It governs the flow of time across all timelines, connecting past, present, and future. The current disturbance is caused by external interference.]
Lin Xiao's shock deepened. "The river of time?" He recalled the golden light in the sky
The thought of something so powerful, capable of bending and manipulating time itself, sent a chill down his spine.
"So that... that was the river of time," he murmured to himself. The mere concept was staggering. A force that dictated the course of time across the entire cosmos had just appeared before him, and now it was causing timelines to unravel.
It was no wonder he had seen people from different eras and even machines—time itself was collapsing, merging together in a tangled mess.
Lin Xiao's mind whirled with questions. Who or what had caused this?
He turned back to the window, his gaze drifting over the ghostly figures still wandering aimlessly through the streets. The system said it would fix itself, but how could he just sit back and trust that? What if things got worse?
"System," Lin Xiao said cautiously, "How long will it take for everything to return to normal?"
[The estimated time for the river of time to stabilize is unknown. It depends on the scale of interference.]
Lin Xiao sighed. Of course, it's unknown. He rubbed his temples, trying to calm his racing thoughts. This was too much, even for him. First, the weird visions from his family, now the very fabric of time itself was being distorted before his eyes.
How do I even begin to deal with this?
Lin Xiao stood frozen by the window, his thoughts racing as the reality outside twisted like a fever dream. Ghostly silhouettes continued to move aimlessly through the streets—people from different timelines, some dressed in robes from ancient times, others in futuristic suits or covered in metal plating.
Robots clanked by, their metallic limbs echoing in the distance, while non-human creatures with glowing eyes prowled in the shadows. It was like watching a time-lapse of history unravel in front of him.
As Lin Xiao pondered his next move, the air around him suddenly grew heavy. A chill swept through the room, causing him to shiver involuntarily. The walls of the house seemed to warp and bend, as if struggling to stay grounded in a single point of time.
"System, what should I do?" he whispered, unsure if even the system could offer him any guidance.
The system's response was as mechanical as ever, [The Host's best course of action is to remain indoors until timelines stabilize. Any interference may lead to further disturbances.]
Lin Xiao gritted his teeth, frustration building. "Stay indoors? That's it?"
He glanced outside again. The figures were becoming more erratic, some of them flickering in and out of existence as if they couldn't maintain their form in this fractured timeline.
He couldn't just sit and wait for something to happen. His family was asleep, and Xiao Bai and Little Blackie were still unconscious. He wasn't sure if they'd wake up soon or if the river had affected them in some way. He felt a responsibility to protect them, but he had no idea how to stop time itself from unraveling.
Suddenly, the house began to shake violently, as if an earthquake had struck. The light outside pulsed even more erratically, casting strange shadows through the room. Lin Xiao staggered back, his eyes wide in alarm.
"No..." He thought, as a deep, echoing sound reverberated through the air.
Without warning, a rip appeared in the center of the room. It was small at first, barely visible, but it began to grow, stretching wider with every pulse of the light outside. It looked like a tear in the very fabric of reality, a dark void that seemed to absorb everything around it.
"System!" Lin Xiao called out in panic. "What's happening now?"
[Host is advised to remain calm. This is a temporal tear caused by instability in the timelines. It may lead to alternate dimensions or points in time.]
Lin Xiao's heart raced. An alternate dimension? A different point in time? He had no idea what lay beyond that tear, but one thing was certain—it wasn't something he wanted to get sucked into.
The tear continued to widen, and Lin Xiao backed away, instinctively trying to distance himself from it. But just as he did, something stepped through the tear.
A figure emerged, cloaked in shadow, its presence commanding and unsettling. It wasn't like the ghostly silhouettes outside—it was more solid, more real. The figure looked humanoid, but its form was distorted, as if it didn't quite belong in this world.
Lin Xiao felt a wave of cold fear wash over him. He had seen many strange things in his time, but this—this was something different. The figure seemed to exude power, its very presence warping the space around it.
The figure's eyes, glowing with an otherworldly light, locked onto Lin Xiao. It didn't speak, but somehow Lin Xiao could feel its intentions. It wasn't here by accident. It had come for him.
Before Lin Xiao could react, the figure raised a hand, and a ripple of energy shot through the room. The tear in the fabric of reality grew even larger, threatening to engulf the entire house. The figure stepped closer, its movements slow and deliberate, as if savoring the moment.
Lin Xiao braced himself, knowing he had only moments to act. He couldn't fight this thing—not directly. But he couldn't let it reach his family or his cats. He had to do something.
Thinking quickly, Lin Xiao activated his Shadow Steps skill, his body dissolving into shadows just as the figure reached out toward him. He reappeared across the room, keeping his distance from both the tear and the figure.
The figure paused, tilting its head as if intrigued by Lin Xiao's escape. It didn't pursue him immediately, instead seeming to study him, its glowing eyes narrowing.
Lin Xiao's mind raced. "What is this thing? Why is it after me?"