The clocktower reached its final revolution, its arms aligned as the dark sky dazzled in response, and young and old ran amok. The loud bell rang to mark another end of the year, and a festive carnival filled the city's streets, where all gathered and waited. A parade most wondrous marched, and amid all its wonders, a single scholar remained indifferent, reading at ease.
"January 1st is certainly my favorite date. No investors are nagging me. No elders dismissing my leisureliness, and most of all," he remarked, taking a sip of tea. The young lad retrieved his right hand from the book's embrace and fixed his monocle.
"I get to immerse myself in reading! Nothing excites me more than gaining knowledge. Now, where was I?"
This dapper-looking lad was none other than the well-renowned youngest scholar in the world, Zayn Houren. Despite his age, Zayn had accumulated wealth everyone yearned for, owned a company, and was even a young entrepreneur. Yet his yearning was not for fortune nor fame but for the vast knowledge he had yet to grasp—one of which was the Chronos Codex.
"Chronos Codex: Theories of Temporal Dynamics? By Dr. Elias Veron. So, this is the last book? Guess I'll restock once I finish."
Zayn wasn't sure about the book at first; most of the scriptures he read before had some inkling of his past, yet this one had none. Regardless, he dismissed it as his usual habit of zoning out upon acquiring a fresh literary work. As he began to read, the book entailed theories of time, their application, and man's perception of such studies.
"Time is both relevant and irrelevant. A linear period and a cyclic event. Moving forward and affecting our lives while the other remains encircled? Yet, with each revolution comes a different speed, vibe, and feeling, making it more irrelevant as it persists. No matter how much time comes to pass, you remain in the confines of a loop, and with each revolution, sparks anew. The past doesn't predate the present, and the present could never hope to decipher the vast unknown future."
As the pages turned and the unread section grew thinner, time passed quickly. Just as he was about to place the book onto his pile of comprehended scriptures, an unknown letter slipped from its pages. It was baffling, for he had meticulously explored the book's nooks and crannies and never once spotted this singular letter.
"To my dear successor?" The envelope bore no name nor address, but it was clearly meant for the person deemed this "Successor."
Zayn had never been one to pry into others' circumstances, but this letter intrigued him. Although the scripture he read had been confusing, even for him, it motivated him to seek out its author. Ever persistent in deciphering knowledge, Zayn felt that reading this letter could provide a clue to the author's whereabouts.
[Greetings, young lad or lass.
I am Dr. Elias Veron.
If you are reading this, then the book has acted once again, and all hell is about to break loose. Time is nearing its end.
I am sorry to say that you have been chosen as the successor of this cruel and arduous fate, and I can only wish for your success.
This book, which you have read, is no more than an invitation, and the contents you've studied are the experiences I amassed.
I beg of you, never lose hope. No matter the pain, loss, or numbness—don't waver. Keep moving forth.]
"An earthquake?"
Suddenly, his mansion trembled as a strange force plagued the city. Zayn ducked under his table and spotted the book dissolving. Shock, confusion, and fear overtook him as the cover and pages vanished, leaving a trinket in their place. A broken pocket watch, ticking in reverse, hovered in the air before striking his head with enough force to knock him unconscious.
"Oh, this is the candidate of this world. Not too shabby. A little built, knowledgeable, and smart. I hope he survives for a while."
"Who are y—"
The pocket watch quickly hid itself in Zayn's pocket, avoiding the presence of an unexpected visitor who had appeared in his home. Moments later, Zayn awoke in a dark and humid corridor, surrounded by countless others. The aching in his body intensified, feeling as though his mind would shatter. Then, a voice echoed in his head.
[Zayn Houren...
You have been chosen as the herald of time. As such, you are bestowed with its blessings.
This pain you feel is but a process of transfer.
May your journey be smooth, for all I can offer is my wish for your triumph.
The task you must accomplish is to thwart this world's end, for its tragedy may result in the end of all time.]
"Welcome dear candidates!"
"Kyaaah! Mo- monster!!!" A woman yelped in the crowd whilst the strength of her legs grew weak
"I don't want to die, I don't want to die, I don't want to die," One man ran to the opposite side till his face slammed through an invisible wall.
"I don't want to die a virgin!" Some grew insane and took all of his clothing and rushed to find a woman to get laid in the face of absolute fear
The already frightened men and women screamed in horror and those who remained calm could no longer hide their emotions. As this humungous eldritch figure revealed himself from the darkness drew closer everyone screamed in horror. But the figure couldn't care less, it brandished this horrific form till he grew bored of their expression and displayed a well-suited appearance.
"I apologize for that gruesome display. Most of you candidates tend to act all haughty so I only did so to solidify my role. I have no name, but most dubbed me the interviewer,"
As the entity had spoken, no one dared to interrupt it, for upon seeing its true form, their instinct told them to never defy this beast. It then informed them of their situation, that they were the selected candidate of their worlds and were sent here to be candidates. Them having the highest chance for godhood for all the deities have died, and their universe would perish if none ascended to take their place.
"All of you present are candidates for godhood. Chosen to be the best of your world. Doing so will have higher chances of one finally ascending,"
Although this world offers fortune and fame for anyone brave, it's also a living nightmare reeked with death. Each day, millions of candidates perish, and right after, another interview will be held to test if they are worthy of the world. Having heard of this every one of them including Zayn thought that this whole thing was no more than a game of death.
"Also to make sure I can evaluate you all to the highest degree. The first question I'll ask, all of you will do it alone. Good luck everyone,"
The floor they once stood collapsed, and each tile they stood on had a tunnel leading and separating them from one another. The interviewer's question was in the form of a challenge; Zayn's question was what he would do if he fell into a maze full of traps. The walls contracted with every second and each he takes is either safe or a contraption to trigger a trap which he failed.
"Bluargh!!!"
Blood splattered upon stepping to the wrong tile which caused a javelin to be launched and left a lasting mark on his throat. But as he felt his life flashing before his eyes, he noticed the blood he spat on the ground hovering in the air. The horrendous pain in his throat subsides and he sees the javelin going backward and everything up to his deadly fumble is restored.
[The blessing of 'Return to zero' has triggered in the presence of your demise.
You only have 2 remaining charges for today.
You've been returned to the point of time before you carelessly stepped on the tile.
Time will once resume in 10 seconds.]
The voice he'd heard before manifests itself, and in the suspended time, his gaze shifts from left to right as he scouts the maze. In front, he saw a wall containing symbols similar to the markings of the titles; he then looked at the tile he fumbled and found it to be excluded. Once time had finally flowed once again, his foot once again touched the trap but this time he ducked avoiding the javelin
"Fast-forward,"
[The blessing of 'Fast-forward' has graced you entirely!
For the next 3 minutes, your perception of time has been tripled.
Since this is an active blessing a portion of your Divine power has been spent.
10 Divine power has been utilized to grace your body with the blessing.]
Upon chanting a line transferred to his noggin a rush of power alien to him had circulated throughout his body. The shifting blades, the collapsing walls, and the rising spikes were slowed down as he felt his perception of time tripling. Although it aided him in escaping death, his body held him down, and even in that state of enhanced perception of time he met death for the second and third time.
[The blessing of 'Return to zero' has triggered in the presence of your demise.
You have 0 remaining charges for today.
You've been returned to the point of time before you carelessly stepped on the tile.
Time will once resume in 10 seconds.
Congratulations dear candidate!
You successfully passed the interviewer's first 'Question'!
The corridor will collapse if you dare try to rest.]
"What in the world did I get myself into?"
Battered and grazed from the traps made his energy spent and yet he has no choice but to march forth. As the door leading to the next question opens, he hears a whiplash from the dark as a blade grinds the walls. The feeling was surreal, his head flew from his neck as the light reflected a well-sharpened cutlass and the killer eating his body.
'So, this is how I die? Oh well. At least I did my very best,'
[You've suffered a lethal attack.
There are no charges left in the previous blessing for you to use.
You've died.
However, the task you were assigned has yet to be accomplished.
The relic 'Faulty pocket watch' has awakened its blessing, 'Regression.'
The blessing of 'Regression' prevents you from dying, you will be returned from the start. May your next cycle be successful]
"Welcome dear candidates!"
"Kyaaah! Mo- monster!!!" A woman yelped in the crowd whilst the strength of her legs grew weak
"I don't want to die, I don't want to die, I don't want to die," One man ran to the opposite side till his face slammed through an invisible wall.
"I don't want to die a virgin!" Some grew insane and took all of his clothing and rushed to find a woman to get laid in the face of absolute fear
"Didn't I just die?" As the watch finally ticks violently the young scholar finds himself at the beginning of the hell he went through and there lies the watch which was the cause of his return