Chapter 4: The Price of Power
Elias stood quietly in the secluded spot he had chosen for his training. The academy was behind him, its walls now a distant memory. In the peaceful silence, he took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the decision he had made to leave. But now, it was time to face the reality of his power.
He had always known that his abilities were unlike anyone else's. His ability to manipulate time had grown exponentially in just a few days of training, but something inside him told him that there was more to learn—more to discover about himself. His connection to time wasn't normal, and every time he tried to control it, it felt as though the very fabric of time itself responded to his will.
Suddenly, a soft glow surrounded him. The air shifted, and an unfamiliar sound echoed in his mind, signaling the arrival of his system.
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System Notification:
Congratulations, Elias. You have now mastered the basic principles of time manipulation. Your Chrono Rank has advanced, and you have achieved the proficiency of a 200-year-old time manipulator. Your understanding of time and its manipulation has deepened significantly. Continue your path of mastery to unlock even greater potential.
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Elias's eyes widened slightly. He had felt it before, a surge of power, a deep understanding of time that went beyond his years. But now, it was official. The system had recognized him, confirmed his growth.
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System Panel:
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Name: Elias
Age: 18 (No fixed timeline)
Chrono Rank: 1 (Basic Time Manipulator)
Time Mastery Level: 200-Year Proficiency
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Abilities:
Time Manipulation:
Control the flow of time within a localized area. Can slow, accelerate, or freeze time for short periods.
Current Proficiency: *200-year-old manipulator. Can manipulate time more freely in shorter bursts.
Time-Accelerated Healing:
Accelerates the healing process within a set timeframe, restoring physical injuries over a brief period.
Current Level: Basic Healing (Can heal small wounds rapidly. Further development required for more severe injuries).
Time-Skewing:
Ability to alter the perception of time within a localized area, causing enemies to feel slower or disoriented while Elias moves at a normal pace.
Current Level: Beginner Level.
Time Combat:
Manipulate time during combat, using it to predict opponents' moves or speed up Elias's attacks, creating an edge in battle.
Current Level: Novice. Needs further training to fully control in combat situations.
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System Message:
Congratulations, Elias. You now possess the prowess of a 200-year-old time manipulator. Your potential for time manipulation grows exponentially with each passing day. Continue your training to unlock deeper aspects of time manipulation and explore the infinite possibilities it can offer.
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Active Skills:
Time Acceleration:
Instantly accelerate time within a localized field (5 minutes of time is accelerated within 1 second of real time).
Time Freeze:
Freeze time for a brief moment (5 seconds max), halting all movement and events within a localized area.
Cooldown: 2 hours.
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Passive Skills:
Chrono Awareness:
Heightened awareness of time-related phenomena. Allows Elias to sense and predict shifts in time around him.
Currently Passive. Activation possible with higher Chrono Rank.
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Mission/Quest:
Main Quest: Master Time Manipulation.
Objective: Unlock higher Chrono Ranks and increase mastery of time manipulation abilities.
Reward: Unlock new time-based skills, improve Chrono Rank, and gain access to time manipulation artifacts.
Sub Quest: Discover the Source of Your Power.
Objective: Learn the true origin of your ability to manipulate time outside the timeline.
Reward: Unlock hidden potential and gain access to unknown abilities.
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Elias stood still as the panel faded away, his mind racing. A 200-year-old time manipulator—the words still felt surreal. But there was a sense of satisfaction in knowing that his self-training was beginning to bear fruit. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to his abilities—something deeper, something beyond the panel's simple acknowledgment.
As the glow faded, Elias looked around the vast open world before him. His mind wandered back to the academy. He had left it behind, but he knew that the path ahead would be filled with challenges, both from within and from those who sought to control time.
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I've only just begun. If I can manipulate time the way I am now, imagine what I can do with more training, more knowledge... I'm not bound by time, and that makes me a force they'll never understand.
Elias took a deep breath. There was no turning back now. The world was his to shape.
The air felt thick with anticipation as Elias crept through the silent corridors of the academy. The hour was late, and the academy was cloaked in shadows. Every step he took was measured, silent, and precise. He had spent hours planning this, waiting for the perfect moment to break into the restricted section of the library. The books within its walls held the key to unlocking his true potential, and now they were within his reach.
Elias had always known that his powers would set him apart. His ability to manipulate time had grown exponentially, and with the academy's focus on rank and age-based power systems, he knew that his lack of a fixed timeline made him an anomaly—something to be feared and controlled.
But tonight, Elias wasn't running from anything. He was taking control.
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Elias pushed open the heavy door to the restricted section. His Chrono Rank 1 had given him a basic understanding of time manipulation, but the knowledge within these books could push him far beyond where his training had taken him. He had studied the library for days, knowing that this night would come. There were secrets within the academy that they didn't want him to learn.
He moved quietly, making his way toward the farthest corner, where the ancient tomes were hidden. These were books that spoke of advanced time manipulation techniques, time artifacts, and powers that were far beyond what the academy taught.
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This is it. These books will show me what I need to become stronger, faster—more powerful. No one will stop me. Not tonight.
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Elias reached for the first book—a dark leather-bound tome, its cover adorned with mysterious symbols. He stuffed it into his bag along with a few others, each one brimming with forbidden knowledge.
Just as Elias turned to leave, the quiet was shattered. Footsteps echoed down the hall. His heart skipped a beat. He hadn't anticipated this. He quickly assessed the situation—he was too close to the exit, and the guards were too far away. But there was no time to waste.
Using his time manipulation, Elias activated Time Freeze, freezing the world around him. He moved swiftly, pausing only to check the hallway. The guards, now completely frozen in place, were nothing more than statues. Elias's breath quickened. This was his chance.
I can't stay here. I need to get out.
Elias moved at an incredible speed, using Time Acceleration to boost his movements. With every step, time stretched forward, and the academy's walls seemed to bend in response. But just as he reached the exit, he heard the soft hum of energy—someone was coming. Someone who could manipulate time.
As he stepped into the open courtyard, Elias saw them. A group of academy guards, but these weren't ordinary guards. They were Time Manipulators, each one capable of manipulating the flow of time to fight. They weren't just using swords or conventional weapons—they used time constructs: shields, blades, and barriers made from the very fabric of time itself.
The lead guard raised his hand, and time around Elias began to slow down, his movements becoming sluggish. The world around him seemed to stretch, the space between each heartbeat widening.
They can control time too... but I'm not like them. I won't let them trap me.
Elias's eyes flashed with determination. With a thought, he activated his Time Acceleration, speeding up his own movements to the point that he became a blur. The guards attempted to strike, but Elias was already behind them, his blade cutting through the time constructs they created with ease.
The lead guard swung a time blade, a shimmering sword made of pure temporal energy. As the sword swung toward Elias, he slowed time around him, dodging the strike with a mere sidestep.
He quickly retaliated, using his Time Combat technique to predict the guard's next move. Elias manipulated time to make his strikes faster, overwhelming the guard with rapid, calculated blows. The guard stumbled back, shocked at how effortlessly Elias was dismantling his defenses.
Elias ducked under another time blade, the attack coming so fast it left a trail of shimmering time behind it. He responded by accelerating his own movements and delivering a swift, targeted strike to the guard's chest, knocking him out cold.
Another guard attempted to freeze time around Elias. This was a dangerous move, as freezing time would completely trap him in place. But Elias was prepared. He triggered a time reversal—a technique he had only just begun to master. The world around him flickered, and the guard's time freeze failed. Elias was still moving, but the guard was left frozen in place
I don't know how long I can keep this up... I need to finish this fast.
With his time manipulation, Elias launched into a series of quick slips through time, dodging every attack while slowing and accelerating the flow of time around him. The guards' attacks became predictable, their movements sluggish as they struggled to keep up. With one final blow, Elias delivered a time-powered punch to the lead guard, knocking him unconscious.
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Breathing heavily, Elias stood in the midst of the fallen guards. His clothes were torn, and sweat clung to his brow, but he was unscathed. His Chrono Rank 1 had no official standing among these more experienced time manipulators, but his lack of a fixed timeline had allowed him to outmaneuver them.
As Elias stood there, catching his breath, he could hear footsteps approaching—more guards, possibly with higher ranks. Elias didn't hesitate. Using his Time Freeze one last time, he made his exit from the academy grounds, the gates of the academy closing behind him as he disappeared into the night.
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This is only the beginning. If I want to get stronger, I need to learn everything they're keeping from me. I won't be stopped.
Elias woke up with a jolt, his body aching from the events of the previous night. The fight with the guards, the narrow escape—it all felt like a blur now. He was lying in a small, dimly lit room, the floor hard beneath him. He pushed himself up, groaning as the weight of exhaustion pulled at him.
His surroundings were unfamiliar, the room small but safe. There was no sign of the academy guards, no indication that he had been followed. The only sound in the room was his own breathing, ragged and shallow.
He took a deep breath, attempting to steady himself. The fight had been intense—too intense for someone at Chrono Rank 1. He had never felt so alive, yet so exhausted, in his entire life. The way time had bent around him during the battle… it was as though he had tapped into something greater, something he had barely understood.
Suddenly, his hand brushed against his side, and he felt the familiar weight of the books he had stolen from the academy. He smiled, relieved that they were still intact. The knowledge within them was too important to lose. He carefully pulled them out of his bag, opening the first one to glance over the pages. But something strange happened.
A soft glow emanated from the books, and before he could react, the system notification appeared in his mind.
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System Notification:
Congratulations, Elias. Your abilities have undergone significant improvement due to your experience in battle. You can now create Time Constructs, the ability to form tangible constructs made of time energy. Use them in combat, defense, and manipulation.
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Elias blinked, the words taking a moment to fully sink in. Time Constructs. The concept sounded unfamiliar, yet when he focused on it, a small, abstract image began to form in his mind. Tangible constructs made of time energy. A feeling of eager excitement surged through him. The fight had been a catalyst for growth, and now his body and mind were adapting at an accelerated pace.
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This is... unbelievable. I never imagined I'd improve this much in such a short amount of time. I really am changing.
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Elias focused, his hand outstretched in front of him. Slowly, the air around him seemed to shimmer, distorting as if time itself was folding. A small construct of light and energy appeared—an orb. He watched in awe as it floated before him, its surface a mix of shimmering gold and purple, as if it contained the essence of time itself.
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Time Constructs... I can shape them. Manipulate them. But how far can I go?
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Elias extended his hand, concentrating on the orb, pushing it outward. It obeyed, growing in size as he focused more intently. The orb began to shift, transforming into a blade, sharp and ethereal. It wasn't made of any material he was familiar with, but it felt real—solid, powerful, and sharp.
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I can shape the flow of time... into weapons. Into shields. Into anything I need. This is incredible. It feels... limitless.
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The blade hovered in front of him, and with a quick motion, Elias dismissed it, watching as it disappeared into thin air. He was still amazed by how easily it had formed, and how much control he now had over the Time Constructs.
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System Notification:
Time Constructs are unique to your abilities. With more experience and mastery of time manipulation, you will be able to craft larger, more complex constructs. The more time you dedicate to understanding and harnessing your power, the more formidable your creations will become.
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Elias stood up, his body still weary from the fight, but his mind sharper than ever. Time Constructs would be invaluable in battle. He could use them to defend himself, to attack, to outwit his enemies. His newfound power had unlocked another level of his potential, and he could feel the strength flowing through him
I need to keep improving. The world won't wait for me to catch up. I need to stay ahead of them. No more hiding.
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As Elias began to focus on his next move, he noticed something strange. The books—they seemed to be glowing even brighter now, the pages opening as if on their own, as if the knowledge within them were calling to him.
Time manipulation was no longer just a skill—it was his lifeline. It was his way to survive in a world where time was the ultimate currency, the ultimate weapon. And now, with the ability to shape Time Constructs, he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
I'm not just learning time manipulation. I'm becoming it.
Elias stood in the quiet of the abandoned building, sweat beading on his forehead. He had been training for weeks, pushing himself beyond his limits, but every day felt like he was just scratching the surface of his power. At Chrono Rank 1, he had the strength of a 200-year-old time manipulator, but it was still a fraction of what he knew he could achieve.
His abilities had grown exponentially. Time manipulation had become second nature to him—he could slow and speed up time, create Time Constructs for defense, and even experiment with time acceleration. But Elias was a perfectionist, and he knew there was still more to learn. More power to unlock. It was time to take his training into a real-world scenario.
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Reading through the stolen books from the academy, Elias came across something that caught his attention—Time Dungeons. Places where time itself was distorted, designed to challenge those who wielded time manipulation powers. The trials inside the dungeons were said to test a manipulator's abilities to their limit. The books described Rank 1 Dungeons as the starting point, intended for beginners.
Elias had been curious about the Time Dungeons for some time, but now, he was determined to experience them for himself. This was the next step. The Rank 1 Dungeon seemed the perfect place to start. It would challenge him without overwhelming him, a place where he could sharpen his skills further.
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He knew the Rank 1 Dungeon would be filled with time distortions, but nothing he couldn't handle. At Chrono Rank 1, with the strength of a 200-year-old time manipulator, Elias was confident. But his confidence wasn't the result of overestimating his power—it was about understanding time.
Time Dungeons weren't about brute strength. They were about control, using time to overcome obstacles and adapt to whatever distortions the dungeon threw at him. Elias had read about time puzzles, temporal monsters, and unpredictable shifts in the dungeon's structure. But he knew that with his level of control over time, he had the advantage.
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Elias arrived at the entrance to the Time Dungeon, a shimmering portal that seemed to bend and stretch with the flow of time itself. As he stood in front of it, the air around him became heavier, more charged. The very fabric of time was warping, and he could feel it—this wasn't just another physical space. It was a place where time itself held sway.
A soft hum filled the air as the portal flickered. A message appeared in his mind.
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System Notification:
Entering Time Dungeon (Rank 1). Your mission is to survive the trials, learn, and emerge with knowledge and experience. Time-related distortions will occur.
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Elias stepped into the portal, his heart racing with anticipation. As he crossed the threshold, the world around him shifted. Time seemed to bend at his will, and yet, he felt the tug of the dungeon's power, urging him to adapt.
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The environment inside the dungeon was unlike anything he had ever seen. The landscape constantly shifted, with time-warped creatures and temporal anomalies everywhere. The ground beneath his feet aged and cracked, only to heal itself moments later, as if the dungeon itself was in a constant state of flux.
Monsters made of distorted time appeared, flickering in and out of existence as they moved. These creatures weren't bound to the rules of time as Elias understood them—they existed in a state of constant flux, their bodies not entirely formed, as if their very nature was a manipulation of time itself.
Elias wasn't afraid. He raised his hand, and with a swift movement, he summoned a Time Construct—a shield made of pure temporal energy. The shield materialized in front of him, glowing with a soft, golden light. He felt the power of time within it, the essence of manipulation itself. He braced himself for the creatures to attack.
The first creature lunged at him, its form flickering as it distorted the air around it. Elias stepped forward, using his Time Acceleration to move faster than the creature could react. He swung his hand, and a Time Blade materialized, cutting through the creature's shifting form. It dissolved into the air, as if it never existed.
More creatures emerged, but Elias was ready. He fought using his newfound Time Constructs, creating barriers and blades made of time itself to defend and strike. Each movement was fluid, a dance of temporal manipulation. He didn't need to think about it—he was one with time now. The dungeon, though dangerous, was just another puzzle to solve.
The creatures were relentless, but Elias was faster. The dungeon's constant shifting only seemed to slow the enemies down, while he moved with ease, dodging and attacking with precision. Time itself bent to his will.
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Elias continued through the dungeon, each step more calculated than the last. His control over time deepened as he learned from every encounter. This was no longer just about survival; it was about understanding how far his abilities could stretch.
With each passing challenge, Elias became more certain of his path. The Time Dungeon wasn't just a trial—it was a lesson in mastering his own power. He had always known that he wasn't bound by time, but this experience was showing him just how limitless he could become.
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As the Rank 1 Dungeon came to a close, Elias stood victorious. The monsters had been defeated, the time anomalies overcome. He had passed the trial, and now, he understood his abilities better than ever before.
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System Notification:
Congratulations, Elias. You have successfully completed Time Dungeon (Rank 1). Your abilities have grown. You are now closer to understanding the true power of time.
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Elias smiled, exhausted but satisfied. He had taken the first step. The dungeon had been a challenge, but he had come through it stronger, more confident. And as he exited the dungeon, he knew this was only the beginning.