The Shifting Fortress (Chrono-Realm)
The sun rises over the crumbling fortress. Aiden stands on the freshly repaired west wall, watching the villagers work below. They seem more energetic, more hopeful than before. With the supplies he recovered in the last episode, construction is picking up pace. But Aiden's mind is elsewhere.
Aiden (thinking):
"The Timekeeper's Shard… the visions I saw. This world is more than just a game, but how deep does it go? And what's this legacy I'm supposed to uncover?"
His thoughts are interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps approaching. He turns to see Lina, the scout from before, running up the steps to the wall, breathless but alert.
Lina:
"Keeper, we've spotted something strange in the forest. A bright light, coming from the old Temple of Time. We haven't seen any activity there in years."
Aiden (frowning):
"Temple of Time? It's been in the game forever, but I thought it was just a decorative ruin. No quests were ever linked to it..."
He pulls up his menu, checking the new quest he unlocked after defeating the Hobgoblin.
[NEW QUEST: The Timekeeper's Legacy]
Objective: Investigate the Temple of Time and uncover the Timekeeper's Legacy.
Reward: Unknown
Difficulty: ??? (Recommended Level: 5)
Aiden (thinking):
"Level 5, huh? I'm still only Level 3. Guess I'll have to be careful."
He looks back at Lina, who's watching him expectantly.
Aiden:
"Thanks for the tip. I'll check it out."
Lina (nodding):
"Be careful, Keeper. There's something eerie about that place. People say it's cursed."
Journey to the Temple of Time
Aiden sets off alone into the Verdantwood Forest once again, this time heading toward the Temple of Time, a ruin deep within the woods. The trees grow denser as he travels, their twisted branches forming a natural canopy that blocks out most of the sunlight.
As he walks, Aiden reflects on how real everything feels—the way the forest smells, the crunch of leaves underfoot, the faint chirping of birds in the distance. This isn't just a game anymore.
Aiden (thinking):
"This place feels like it's alive. Whatever happened when I was pulled into this world, it's no ordinary glitch. There's a reason I'm here, and it all seems to lead back to this Timekeeper."
Eventually, Aiden reaches a clearing. In the centre stands the Temple of Time, a massive, crumbling stone structure covered in vines and moss. The air around it feels different—charged with energy, like the calm before a storm. A faint, glowing light pulses from deep within the temple.
Aiden (whispering):
"Here we go. (Thinking) Exploring a new ruin which I haven't explored even in my previous world can be dangerous, so I need to be more careful but… (Smiling) I can believe in my blade."
He steps forward cautiously, pushing through the overgrown vines and entering the temple.
Inside the Temple of Time
The interior of the temple is vast, the stone walls adorned with faded murals depicting strange scenes—great battles between gods, and figures manipulating the flow of time itself. Dust fills the air, and the faint glow from the relic Aiden carries seems to grow stronger as he ventures deeper into the temple.
Suddenly, the ground beneath him begins to shake. Cracks form in the stone floor, and a deep rumbling sound echoes through the temple. Aiden draws his sword, his heart pounding.
Aiden (thinking):
"Of course it couldn't be this easy but what the hell am I supposed to do here! Is it some kind of a boss battle?"
A set of ancient, weathered stone golems emerges from the walls, their eyes glowing with the same light as the relic. They move slowly at first but pick up speed, their stone limbs creaking as they approach Aiden.
Aiden (gritting his teeth):
"Guess it's time to put my new abilities to the test."
Facing the Golems
The golems lumber toward Aiden, their massive fists swinging down with heavy force. Aiden rolls out of the way just in time, the stone fist smashing into the ground where he stood. Dust flies up in a cloud, but Aiden doesn't lose focus.
He activates Time Distortion - Slow, and immediately the world around him slows to a crawl. The golems' movements become sluggish, their attacks easy to predict. Aiden moves swiftly, targeting the cracks in their stone bodies with precise strikes from his sword.
Aiden (thinking):
"These things are tough, but slow. As long as I keep my distance and use Time Distortion wisely, I've got this."
His strikes weaken the first golem, but as the effect of Time Distortion fades, the second golem charges at him, faster than he expected. It slams its fist into the ground, sending a shockwave of energy that knocks Aiden back against the temple wall.
Aiden (wincing):
"Ah.. Okay, that hurts."
Realizing he needs more than just brute strength, Aiden glances around the temple and notices a series of glowing runes on the walls. They're pulsing with the same energy as the golems—and the relic in his pocket.
Aiden (thinking):
"Those runes… they're linked to the golems. If I can disrupt them, maybe I can stop the golems from regenerating."
He makes a quick dash toward the nearest rune, dodging another slow swing from the golem. Using his sword, he strikes the rune, causing it to spark and flicker. Aiden notices the changes in the glowing pattern of golems' bodies. The nearest golem staggers, its movements becoming erratic.
Aiden:
"Just like in the games… target the weak spots to minimize its movements ."
With renewed determination, Aiden repeats the process with the remaining runes. As the last one shatters, the golems collapse into piles of rubble, their energy dissipating.
Aiden (panting):
"I'm getting better at this."
The Timekeeper's Legacy
With the golems defeated, Aiden makes his way to the heart of the temple. There, he finds a massive stone altar, and resting atop it is an ancient, glowing hourglass, filled with swirling blue and gold sands. The energy coming from the hourglass is palpable, making the air hum with power.
As Aiden approaches, the Timekeeper's Shard in his pocket reacts, glowing brightly and vibrating in his hand. A deep, echoing voice fills the temple, resonating through the stone walls.
Voice (booming):
"The chosen-one has arrived. You bear the shard of the Timekeeper, but do you understand its power?"
Aiden spins around, looking for the source of the voice, but sees no one.
Aiden:
"Who's there? What is this place? Why have you brought me here?"
The voice continues, ignoring his questions.
Voice:
"The hourglass before you controls the flow of time. Only those who understand the delicate balance can wield its power. Prove yourself, and the legacy of the Timekeeper will be yours."
Suddenly, the hourglass begins to glow more intensely, and a new notification appears in Aiden's interface.
[New Ability Unlocked: Temporal Shift]Allows brief manipulation of time. Slows enemies or speeds up the user's actions for a short period.
Aiden (smiling):
"Now we're talking."
But the hourglass isn't done yet. The sands inside begin to swirl faster, forming an image—a vision of a vast, dark army marching through the forest, their leader a shadowy figure with burning red eyes.
Aiden (narrowing his eyes):
"Who… or what is that?"
The vision fades, and the voice speaks once more.
Voice:
"The balance of time is at risk. Forces beyond this world seek to manipulate it for their own gain. You, Keeper of the Base, must stop them."
The hourglass dims, and the temple falls silent again. Aiden stands there, staring at the now dormant relic.
Aiden (thinking):
"A vast army… a shadowy figure… I need to get back to the base. There's more at stake here than just defending a fortress."
The Shadow Approaches
As Aiden exits the temple and begins his journey back to the fortress, the far-off view of the forest seems more strange and eerie. Dark clouds gather on the horizon, and in the distance, the shadowy army from Aiden's vision moves silently through the trees, their footsteps leaving the ground scorched.
At the head of the army is the Shadow General, the same figure from the vision—tall, cloaked in darkness, with burning red eyes that pierce through the night. He pauses, turning his head as if sensing something.
Shadow General (whispering):
"The Timekeeper's chosen… he is awakening. But he is too late. The end of time draws near."
End of Episode 3