Chapter 1: The Boy Who Doesn't Belong
Elias stood by the street corner, watching the crowd hustle past him, each person moving with purpose, their faces determined, as though they all had somewhere important to be. He, on the other hand, felt like a ghost—a silhouette moving among the living, invisible to the world.
In this society, where time was both the measure of life and the currency of power, Elias was an anomaly. While everyone around him carried the invisible weight of their lifespan—the number of years they had left, the potential for growth—they carried a precious gift: the ability to cultivate their Chrono Rank based on their time affinity. But for Elias, there was no countdown. No number hovering over his head, no timeline of life guiding his steps. The world had no place for him.
Elias was nothing.
Born without a predetermined timeline, he was seen as nothing more than an aberration—a flaw in the system. At first, his parents tried to hide him, as if keeping his existence a secret would somehow prevent the inevitable rejection he would face from the world. But even hiding him hadn't worked. The testing was inevitable.
The test, given to every child at birth, would determine how long they would live and what their potential would be. It was a measure of everything—how strong, how important, and how valuable they were to the world. But when Elias was tested, the result came back with a cold, chilling message: No fixed lifespan detected.
And just like that, his life was marked as unnecessary.
A soft gust of wind blew through the street, rustling Elias's dark hair. He looked down at his hands, the same hands that had been rejected by the world. He clenched them into fists, feeling a slight surge of energy—not from some innate power like the others around him, but the raw, untapped time energy that flowed through him, albeit erratically. It was like trying to control something wild and unyielding. Something dangerous.
He had discovered the time manipulation abilities in small, accidental bursts. A slight pause in the world around him when he was about to be hit by a runaway cart. The ability to rewind a conversation by a few seconds when he had accidentally revealed too much. But each time, the power felt like an anomaly—something that shouldn't exist. And each time he used it, he feared the world would see that. He feared it would come after him.
Elias pulled his coat tighter against the wind. If only they knew what was within him. But how could they? In a world that placed such importance on longevity, the idea of someone with no future was incomprehensible. They saw him as weak because he was timeless, and they wanted nothing to do with him.
The world didn't understand him. He didn't even understand himself.
The clock tower in the distance chimed, signaling the passing of another hour. Elias stood still, listening to the sound of time ticking away, each moment slipping through his fingers, irretrievable. It was like hearing the echo of his own heartbeat in a world where everyone else had a rhythm—but his own seemed silent, unseen.
A figure brushed past him, the aura of Chrono energy palpable in the air. Elias looked up briefly, noticing the faint glow around the figure's wrist—an indicator of Chrono Rank. The world's judgment was written on everyone's skin. His lack of a timeline would always make him invisible.
He wasn't supposed to be here. But somehow, he was. And he had no choice but to figure out how to survive in a world that didn't want him.
But perhaps, he thought, there was a way to change that.
As Elias turned to walk down the street, he couldn't shake the thought. If he was truly an anomaly, then maybe he had the power to be something different. Something the world had never seen before. A power beyond time.
But that would mean he had to unlock it first.
Elias's footsteps echoed through the quiet alley as he walked away from the busy market. He passed by vendors calling out their wares, children laughing, and couples chatting, completely unaware of his presence. It was like he was living in a different world altogether—a world where time passed differently for him, where every second felt heavy and unfolding moments never seemed to belong to him.
The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the alley. Elias leaned against the stone wall, trying to shake off the strange sense of unease that had been growing within him. The feeling that something was about to change had been gnawing at him all day. His life, which had always been a constant struggle, was about to shift, though he couldn't yet see how.
He closed his eyes, taking a slow breath. His thoughts were scattered, but one thing was clear: he needed to figure out his powers. If they were really his, as the mysterious voice had hinted, then maybe, just maybe, there was more to his existence than just being a mistake. Maybe he wasn't doomed to be this empty vessel wandering through a world where he didn't belong.
But before he could dive deeper into his thoughts, a sound reached his ears—a low hum that reverberated in his chest. It was like the ticking of a clock, but it felt… different.
His heart raced, and the air around him seemed to thicken. The pulse of energy that had always been beneath the surface suddenly began to surge. Elias gasped and took a step back, feeling the familiar yet unsettling tingling sensation in his fingertips.
For the first time, it was different—stronger. He looked down at his hand, and in the fading light, he could see time itself warping around him. His breathing quickened as shadows flickered and the world slowed around him.
The clockwork hum intensified in his mind. He wasn't just slowing time—he was summoning it.
And then, without warning, a voice echoed in his mind:
"System initialized. Welcome to the Timeless System. Your journey begins now."
Elias froze, the world still in motion around him. The Timeless System? His heart raced, the realization slowly sinking in. This was real. The power he had felt before—this was the source. It wasn't just an accident, or some quirk. It was a system, a force that had been waiting for him to awaken.
The voice continued, calm and mechanical, filling his mind with knowledge he didn't fully understand.
"Lifespan: Unbound. Chrono Rank: 0. Time Energy: Unrestricted. Objective: Unlock the true potential of time. Rewards granted for time manipulation and milestones."
Elias shook his head, struggling to comprehend. Chrono Rank? Time Energy? He didn't know what any of it meant, but it all seemed to connect back to the strange gift—no, curse—that had defined his life.
"System activating your first task: Manipulate Time for a small duration. Success will grant rewards."
Elias frowned, trying to focus. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to do, but the sensation in his hands felt too strong to ignore. Closing his eyes, he reached out, letting his instincts guide him. For a moment, he felt the time around him stretch—the seconds slowed, the air became denser, and the world felt like it was holding its breath.
With a mental push, Elias compressed the time in front of him, watching as the world around him accelerated—a passing car whizzed by so fast it looked like a blur. When he opened his eyes again, he could see the full span of time unfolding, everything in front of him in fast forward. The small clock in the alley had spun through several hours in the blink of an eye.
It worked. He had done it.
"Task Complete. Rewards Granted: Time Energy (+10). Chrono Rank Upgrade: 1."
The voice spoke again, and Elias's heart nearly skipped a beat as he felt a surge of power flood through him. The Chrono Rank had upgraded. He wasn't sure exactly what it meant, but it felt like a significant change. His body hummed with energy, as though every part of him had been enhanced.
Elias stood there, stunned by the experience, unsure of what to do next. The weight of the world was suddenly lighter, and for the first time, he felt as though he could control it. Time was no longer just a distant concept—he was part of it now. He controlled it.
But Elias quickly realized that his journey had only just begun. He had no idea what kind of world he was stepping into, nor what consequences this unbounded power might have on him. For now, all he could do was take one step forward.
He walked deeper into the alley, the sound of the clock ticking in his mind, echoing the beginning of his new life. And though the world didn't understand him, he was finally beginning to understand himself.
The alley stretched before him, the faint hum of the world still vibrating in the air. Elias took a deep breath, the weight of what had just happened settling over him. His pulse quickened, and the urge to understand surged through him. The Timeless System had granted him abilities he had never even dreamed of, but the world around him was still a mystery.
He needed to know more.
As Elias walked, the Chrono Rank notification echoed in his mind again:
"Chrono Rank: 1. Power Level: Weak. Time Energy: Unrestricted."
He had unlocked Chrono Rank 1, but what did that mean? His heart pounded in his chest as he tried to recall the details from the system's voice, the cryptic words that danced in his head.
Chrono Ranks. Elias had heard of them before, but never truly understood. People from all walks of life had Chrono Ranks—these were rankings that represented how well someone could manipulate time. The higher the rank, the more powerful their time-related abilities. But Elias knew there was something off about this system.
His mind began to run through the possible details:
Chrono Rank 1 was for those who had just begun to tap into time energy—the beginners, the ones who could slow time or speed it up by a small fraction.
Chrono Rank 2 to 5 were the intermediate levels—those who could freeze time for short moments or manipulate it in combat.
Chrono Rank 6 to 8 were for advanced manipulators—those who could rewind time, create time loops, or pause time in larger sections of the world.
Chrono Rank 9 and 10 were for the elite—those who could control time in entire areas or even alter the flow of time to their will. These were the masters, the leaders in the world of time manipulation.
But Elias was different. Chrono Rank 1 was all he had, and he didn't understand how to move beyond that. The power he felt, the time energy that surged within him, seemed to defy the traditional rules. He wasn't bound by a timeline—so how could the system even apply to him? He should be an anomaly, someone who didn't fit the mold.
Yet, here he was, with access to powers beyond any normal Chrono Rank user. His connection to time was somehow unrestricted. Free.
He walked through the crowded city streets, but everything around him seemed so slow. He could feel the pulse of time, like a faint hum, surrounding every person and object, but none of it reached him. He was different.
In this world, time was everything. The wealthiest people, the most powerful factions, they all had control over time energy—but they were limited by their lifespan. The longer you could live, the more time energy you could accumulate, which meant the greater your potential to manipulate time. It wasn't just about how powerful you were now; it was about how long you could manipulate time, and thus how much more powerful you could become.
Elias, however, was untouched by those limitations. He had no fixed lifespan—no one could predict his end. He wasn't bound by time.
This made him an outcast. He didn't belong in a world ruled by time laws. As far as the world was concerned, he was a mistake—a living, breathing anomaly. And while others fought to cultivate their Chrono Ranks, Elias didn't need the same kind of training. His powers were limitless, tied to the fabric of time itself.
Suddenly, the world around him seemed to pulse, as if it was aware of his thoughts. The system had spoken, and for the first time, Elias felt a sense of clarity.
"System update: You are unique, Elias. You are not bound by the limitations of time. You are beyond the Chrono Ranks. Your journey will take you to places no one has ever reached."
Elias stopped in his tracks, standing in the middle of the bustling city. The system's words sank in. It wasn't just about manipulating time—it was about understanding it, controlling it without restriction.
He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on the feeling of time surrounding him. As he reached out with his mind, time bent around him—he could feel it, the subtle shift in the air, the warmth of time wrapping around his hands. He wasn't just controlling time; he was becoming part of it.
For the first time in his life, Elias understood that he wasn't just another person struggling to fit in. He was something else entirely.
But just as quickly, the weight of his situation came crashing down. Elias wasn't the only one who had control over time. The world was full of powerful people who feared those like him. They would come for him. They would want to use him or destroy him.
Elias had to be careful.
But for now, he couldn't help but smile, just a little.
For the first time in his life, he didn't feel empty.
The streets felt different now. Elias's mind buzzed with the newfound knowledge he had just unlocked, the weight of it heavy in his chest. He could still feel the lingering sensation of time bending to his will, as though it was always at his fingertips, ready to be shaped, ready to be controlled. But with this power came an undeniable truth—he was not meant to have it.
He kept walking, moving through the city with no particular destination, trying to process the magnitude of what had just happened. The world felt like it had slowed down, as though it was aware of his every step, every breath. His heart raced as the Timeless System echoed in his mind again.
"Lifespan: Unbound. Chrono Rank: 1. Time Energy: Unrestricted."
That message had become a part of him now, a constant reminder that he was outside the boundaries of everything. Everyone else had a timeline. They were born with a clear path, a limited amount of time, and in return, their Chrono Ranks and abilities grew according to how long they could live. But Elias? He had no timeline, no future to rely on. And for some reason, that made him feel even more alien than he already was.
The Chrono Ranks were the key to everything in this world. People with longer lifespans could cultivate and harness more time energy, growing more powerful as they lived. A person who could live for 10,000 years would be able to manipulate time far better than someone who could live for only 100 years. And yet, Elias didn't belong to any of that. His power wasn't tied to his lifespan. The more he thought about it, the more confused he became.
He had no idea what his true potential was, nor did he understand the consequences of his limitless power. Could he grow stronger? Could he push the boundaries of his abilities? And more importantly, would the world allow him to?
Elias snapped out of his thoughts when a figure stepped into his path, blocking his way. The man was tall, his body cloaked in a long black robe, with a faint glow around his wrist. His Chrono Rank was visible, and Elias immediately noticed the faint aura of Chrono Energy surrounding him.
"You are him, aren't you?" the man asked, his voice calm but laced with a hint of curiosity. His eyes were sharp, studying Elias carefully, as though he was trying to figure out what made him different from all the others.
"I don't know what you mean," Elias replied, his heart racing. He took a small step back, trying to size up the stranger. The man's aura felt powerful, almost as though he had complete control over time itself.
"You're the one," the man said, his eyes narrowing. "The one who's outside the timeline. The one who doesn't belong."
Elias froze. This was exactly what he feared—the world would start to notice him, and not in a good way. He hadn't been careful enough, hadn't realized how quickly the world would react to his existence. He wasn't just a misfit—he was a threat to the established order.
"What do you want from me?" Elias asked, his voice steady despite the knot in his stomach.
The man smiled, but it wasn't a friendly smile. It was the smile of someone who knew more than he let on, someone who had seen what Elias was capable of.
"You're a rare one," the man said, circling Elias slowly. "In a world that thrives on time, a being without a timeline is something extraordinary. You're not bound by the rules, but that also makes you dangerous." His gaze flicked to Elias's hands, where a faint trace of time manipulation could still be seen swirling in the air. "I don't know if you fully understand the power you have. And if you don't, then I'm afraid you'll either destroy yourself or become a pawn for those who would use you."
Elias clenched his fists, feeling the familiar pull of time energy just beneath his skin. He knew that the man wasn't wrong. He didn't understand his own power, not fully. He could bend time, could slow it down, speed it up, rewind moments. But could he control it?
Before Elias could respond, the man raised his hand, and in an instant, time itself seemed to ripple around them. Elias felt the change immediately. The world around him paused, freezing in place. The sounds of the city—the voices, the footsteps, the hustle and bustle—all stopped. Elias stood there, frozen, trapped in the frozen moment.
The man was still moving, unaffected by the time freeze. He smirked, walking past Elias as though he were walking through a ghost.
"You see," the man said, turning to face Elias, "you have no idea what you're up against. Time manipulation isn't just a tool; it's a weapon. A weapon that's both too dangerous and too valuable for anyone to ignore."
Elias felt the weight of the man's words sink in. He could feel the time energy pulsing inside him, but now, for the first time, he was truly aware of the dangerous potential he held.
The man's smirk faded as he stepped closer, his voice lowering to a warning tone.
"Be careful, Elias," he warned, his eyes glowing with an unsettling intensity. "If you don't control it, it will control you. And the world won't stand for someone like you."
With that, the man stepped back, and Elias felt the world snap back to life. The sounds returned, the city resumed, and the world continued as if nothing had happened.
But for Elias, the world had just changed forever. He wasn't just an anomaly anymore—he was a dangerous force that could reshape the world if left unchecked.
Elias stood there, the weight of the man's words pressing down on him. His mind raced, trying to process everything that had just happened. The encounter in the alley had changed him. It had revealed something deeper than just the strange powers coursing through his body—it had shown him the danger of being different in a world ruled by time.
He couldn't keep hiding. He had to understand what he was. More importantly, he had to learn how to control what had been thrust upon him.
The city around him seemed unaware of the gravity of his situation. People continued with their daily lives, unaware of the time anomaly walking among them. Elias, however, couldn't shake the feeling that time was not just something to be manipulated. It was a force. A power. And now, it was a part of him.
He walked through the city, trying to push away the lingering sense of unease that had been building since the man's warning. There was a feeling, a kind of uneasiness, deep within him, urging him to be cautious. There were forces out there—people who wanted to use him, and those who wanted to destroy him. He had already felt their presence once, and it was clear that they would come again.
He needed to get stronger. Faster. Smarter.
But he had no idea how to even begin training. Sure, his Timeless System had granted him powers, but it didn't come with a user manual. There was so much he didn't understand about his own time energy, and it seemed like every step he took led to more questions.
He needed guidance. He needed someone who could teach him what it truly meant to control time.
But where could he find someone like that? Someone who didn't just see him as an experiment or a weapon to control?
The answer hit him with sudden clarity: the academy. The place where the most powerful time manipulators gathered. The place where the elite were trained.
It was also the most dangerous place for someone like him.
But he had no choice. It was the only place where he could learn and understand his abilities in full. He couldn't keep wandering through life, aimlessly running from the unknown. He had to face the truth: if he was going to survive, he needed to learn how to fight back.
As he walked past the academy's towering gates, a shadow moved in the corner of his vision. Elias turned quickly, his instincts flaring. But the shadow was gone before he could make out its shape.
Was it the faction he had just encountered? Was it someone else?
He couldn't be sure. He couldn't trust anyone.
The uncertainty gnawed at him as he took a step forward. The world was closing in, and Elias had to make a choice: stay in the shadows, where it was safe but meaningless, or take the first step toward understanding his powers and discovering what his place in the world could be.
Elias stepped forward, walking past the academy's entrance with a newfound resolve.
The journey had begun.