His mind was spinning, not just from the chaos of being flung through the river of time but also from the sheer magnitude of the beings he had just encountered.
The strange calm in their voices as they spoke of the future, as if his life and death were just another point on their infinite timelines, sent a shiver down his spine.
But there was no time to dwell on it. The river was carrying him somewhere, and all he could do was try to prepare for whatever came next. "Flowing backwards, against the tide of time, where would he end up?"
As Lin Xiao drifted, he felt something stirring deep inside him. The Temporal Resonance was still active, and though the river tossed him around, he was starting to feel more in tune with its flow.
If he could just understand how this river worked, maybe he could control where it took him—or at least prevent himself from getting lost in its endless current.
As Lin Xiao floated through the massive golden river, he clenched his fists, determined to take control of his situation. The sensation of being swept along helplessly by the current gnawed at him. He focused his mind, calling upon the Temporal Resonance to steady himself, trying to guide his movements through the chaotic flow of time.
"I have to control this," he muttered through gritted teeth, focusing on the river's energy. "I can't just drift forever."
The river seemed to pulse in response, the current shifting around him as he attempted to assert his will. For a moment, Lin Xiao felt as though he was succeeding.
He could feel the direction of his drift slowing, the energy around him bending to his will. A glimmer of hope sparked in his chest—perhaps he could direct the flow and escape this endless drift through time.
But just as he started to believe he had control, the river surged violently. The currents became chaotic, swirling around him like a storm. Lin Xiao's heart pounded as he fought to keep his balance, but the more he tried to control the flow, the worse it became. The once gentle drift turned into a violent torrent, tossing him like a leaf caught in a hurricane.
"What's happening?!" Lin Xiao gasped, struggling to stay afloat. The golden waters roared around him, the light of the river growing brighter, almost blinding. He suddenly remembered the words of the giant figures he had heard from earlier:
"Do anything... and it will affect everything."
Panic gripped him as the weight of their warning sank in. "Was this what they meant? Had his attempts to control the river thrown everything into chaos?"
The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning—this wasn't just a river of time, it was the very fabric of time itself, and every action he took had consequences far beyond his understanding.
"Stop! I need to stop!" Lin Xiao shouted, releasing his hold on the Temporal Resonance. But it was too late. The river had already reacted to his interference, and now it was spiraling out of control. He was no longer floating gently; he was being dragged along, twisted through alternate realities and timelines at a breakneck speed. Everything around him blurred, timelines colliding and fracturing in his wake.
Lin Xiao tried to remember the faces of the giant figures—those ancient beings who had seemed so calm in the face of the chaos. They had mentioned his potential, the differing futures they had seen for him. Did they know this would happen? Had they foreseen his struggle?
As the current tossed him further and further into the unknown, Lin Xiao's thoughts raced. His vision became disoriented as he saw flashes of alternate worlds, pasts, and futures colliding, merging, and unraveling.
Cities were built and destroyed in seconds, people aged and died in the blink of an eye, and entire realities were born and erased as the river continued its chaotic surge.
"Calm down!" he shouted to himself, trying to clear his mind. "Just stop thinking, stop acting! Maybe… maybe I need to let go."
He took a deep breath and, instead of fighting, he tried something different—he surrendered. He let the river guide him, releasing all control.
Almost instantly, the wild torrent began to ease, the chaotic currents smoothing out, though they still moved swiftly. The unbearable pressure around him lessened, and the intense flashing of alternate timelines began to dim.
Lin Xiao floated quietly now, still moving through the river but with a growing sense of peace. Perhaps the giants were right—maybe his actions, even his thoughts, could disrupt the flow of time itself. In a river this vast, even the slightest ripple could lead to untold consequences.
Lin Xiao decided to close his eyes because it brought a sense of peace.
Lin Xiao opened his eyes slowly, his body feeling weightless as the sensation of the river faded. He blinked in disbelief, his heart still racing from the chaotic journey.
The golden glow of the time river was gone. Instead, he found himself lying on a soft surface, surrounded by the gentle sounds of waves crashing nearby.
Confused, Lin Xiao sat up and looked around. He was no longer in the river but on a vast, desolate beach.
The sand beneath him was strange—not the golden hue of ordinary beaches but a deep, bluish-silver that shimmered in the light.
The sky above him was a gradient of colors, shifting from pinks and oranges to deep purples, like the remnants of an endless sunset.
The sea surrounding the beach was unlike any ocean he'd ever seen. The water was an almost translucent blue, so clear it looked like liquid glass. Yet, in the depths of the sea, something stirred. Ripples formed on the surface, despite there being no wind.
Lin Xiao stood up slowly, trying to get his bearings. The beach stretched endlessly in both directions, but there were no signs of life—no birds, no people, just the rhythmic crash of the waves. The place felt surreal, as if it existed outside of normal reality.
"Where... am I?" Lin Xiao muttered to himself. He rubbed his eyes, half-expecting to wake up from another strange dream or illusion. But the cold breeze that brushed against his skin, and the sand beneath his feet, felt far too real.