Xavier walked slowly through the ancient ruins scattered around them, carefully following Lisa. The morning sunlight pierced through the cracks in the ruins, illuminating the remnants of destruction that once symbolized the grandeur of this world.
Xavier's fascination with this world deepened. After hearing Lisa's explanation the previous night, his curiosity could no longer be contained. "Lady Lisa, last night you mentioned something about time being everything in this world. What did you mean?" Xavier asked with a puzzled expression.
Lisa stopped and looked at Xavier with a serious gaze. "In Artevia, time isn't just about how long someone lives. Time is the source of power. Here, people use their time to fight, survive, and even access a power called Age Energy, or as the inhabitants of this world call it, Chrona."
Xavier was stunned hearing Lisa's words. "Chrona? So time works like fuel?"
Lisa nodded. "Exactly. The more time you have, the stronger you are. However, the way to collect it varies—some do it by hunting Ghouls, while others steal time from others."
"Isn't this Chrona more like Mana, Ki, or Chakra often told in novels or comics?" Xavier muttered to himself, still in disbelief.
"By hunting and killing Ghouls, you'll gain Chrona, which comes from their life essence. The stronger the Ghoul you face, the more Chrona you'll obtain."
"But Lady, how can someone steal time from another person?" Xavier asked, bewildered.
"It's the same as hunting Ghouls. If you encounter someone stronger, Xavier, and manage to end their life, the Chrona they have accumulated over their lifetime will become yours," Lisa said, her face filled with sadness.
Xavier was taken aback. This world was not only foreign, but it was also cruel. A person's life heavily depended on time, and worse yet, time could be stolen.
Shocked by Lisa's words, Xavier felt his skin crawl, as if he knew what lay ahead for him.
Xavier looked back at Lisa with fear in his eyes. "What happens if someone loses all of their time?"
Lisa gazed at Xavier with sorrow in her eyes. "They vanish, Xavier. There's no heaven or hell awaiting them. They disappear without a trace, as if they never existed. That's why in this world, there are no funerals—only sadness and memories of those who once lived."
Xavier shuddered at the thought. This world was far more brutal than he had ever imagined. "This world is worse than any history, mythology, or novel I've ever read," Xavier muttered to himself.
"Though I don't know what your world was like, Xavier, here you must become stronger. A strong Chrona will always be a target. Outsiders like you, known as Reincarnators, are often seen as threats by the native people of this world."
Xavier trembled. "Reincarnators? Does that mean... there are others like me living here?"
Lisa looked at him sharply, confirming his suspicion. "Yes, that's correct. Outsiders like you are called Reincarnators. They are souls chosen by the gods and brought here. Most of you are considered a threat, because you've been blessed with immense power by the gods. And you are summoned to fight."
"What? Fight? For what purpose?" Xavier asked, his eyes widening.
Lisa let out a long sigh before answering, "Your purpose is to defeat the Demon Emperor who rules Hollow Grim and stop the destruction of this world. But it's all just a ruse by the gods. They only use you as entertainment. You are nothing more than gladiators fighting for their amusement."
Xavier looked at the ruins surrounding him, remnants of a once-grand kingdom now reduced to bitter memories.
"So, all of this is the result of the Reincarnators' battles?"
Lisa nodded slowly. "These ancient ruins were once a kingdom. That kingdom was destroyed by the battles of the first generation of Reincarnators."
"Every 1,000 years, the gods send 100 Reincarnators to this world, and it's been 10,000 years since the first generation was sent. You are part of the 10th generation."
"The battle between the 100 Reincarnators, seeking the strongest, is called the Battle of Paradise."
Xavier gazed at Lisa with a serious look.
"As I suspected, my situation must be the work of the gods. In every book I've read, you always torment humanity," Xavier muttered in both fear and frustration.
Xavier's expression shifted to a more serious one. "What happened to the Reincarnators in the previous generations?"
"None of them survived or even won the Battle of Paradise."
Xavier's emotions swirled with sadness, anger, and fear. In a soft voice, with his head bowed, he asked, "How long has it been since the 10th generation's Battle of Paradise began?"
Lisa paused for a moment before answering. "It's been a year since the Battle of Paradise started, and you... are the 100th Reincarnator."
Xavier stood silently, processing all of the information. "So, there are already 99 others who were summoned before me?" he asked, feeling overwhelmed.
Lisa lowered her head. "Yes, and they're scattered across the world of Artevia. Xavier, I don't know why, but you were summoned a year later than the others after the Battle of Paradise had begun," Lisa added.
"The other Reincarnators have been here for a year, growing stronger and gaining enough reputation to be known throughout Artevia."
"One of the strongest Reincarnators, named Eldra, the first to be summoned into this world, has already destroyed the kingdom my husband came from and has taken control of its lands."
"The battle between the Reincarnators has already begun. You're in the middle of the Battle of Paradise, Xavier."
Xavier remained silent, confused, and feeling a deep sense of guilt toward his savior. But before he could express his regret, three Ghouls, giant wolf-like creatures with completely decayed faces, suddenly attacked Lisa from behind with incredible speed.
"Watch out, Lady! Behind you!" Xavier yelled in panic.
However, Lisa, fully aware of the approaching Ghouls, merely smiled faintly.
Lisa raised her hand toward the Ghouls, whispering, "Sky Technique: Fire Burst."
In an instant, the three Ghouls were incinerated by a beautiful flame, leaving Xavier awestruck and amazed. "Who exactly are you, Lady Lisa?" Xavier muttered to himself.
Lisa looked at Xavier gently. "That was just a small part of what can be done with Chrona," she said with a smile that seemed capable of anything.