Damian sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the glowing screen in front of him.
[Skill Acquired: Temporal Acceleration (E-Rank)]
The words hung in the air like a whisper from another world, but the weight behind them was very real. He had just altered time. Even if only for a second.
His fingers twitched with anticipation. He needed to understand this power—how it worked, how far it could go, and what the cost was.
Damian stood, stretching his limbs. His body still felt light, as if his muscles had been subtly enhanced. His heart pounded in his chest, but it wasn't fear—it was excitement.
He turned to the cluttered apartment around him. The air was still. The only sound was the faint hum of the refrigerator and the distant honking of Lagos traffic outside.
Let's see what this can do.
Taking a deep breath, Damian focused. He recalled the sensation from earlier—the thickening of the air, the way sounds warped, the way his body felt out of sync with time.
Activate: Temporal Acceleration.
The world shifted.
Everything around him slowed. The dust particles floating in the sunlight became sluggish. The dripping faucet stretched out each droplet, the sound dragging unnaturally.
His own movements felt completely normal.
His breathing, his heartbeat—everything about him moved as if the world hadn't changed at all. But it had.
Damian took a step forward. His foot hit the ground faster than expected. He nearly stumbled.
It doesn't just slow everything down—it makes me faster.
He grinned. This is insane.
He dashed toward the kitchen, moving like a blur. The room wasn't big, but with his enhanced perception, it felt like he had all the time in the world to react.
A thought struck him. He grabbed an empty plastic cup from the sink and tossed it into the air.
Then, he activated his skill again.
The cup froze in midair—or at least, it seemed to. It was still moving, but at a snail's pace.
With sharp focus, Damian reached out and snatched it effortlessly before it could fall.
He released his skill.
The world snapped back to normal.
The cup was already in his hand, as if teleporting there. The sound of the faucet dripping returned to its usual rhythm.
His stamina bar flashed in the corner of his vision. [Warning: Low Stamina]
Damian stumbled back, breathing heavily. A sudden wave of exhaustion crashed over him, making his knees weak.
Damn… that took more out of me than I thought.
Sweat dripped down his forehead. His hands trembled slightly, his body adjusting back to normal.
So there's a limit.
He wasn't sure how long he had used the skill—maybe five or six seconds in total? But it had drained his energy fast. If he wasn't careful, he could pass out.
He needed to train.
Damian gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand straight. The rush of power had been exhilarating, but without control, it was nothing more than a party trick.
And in this world? Strength meant everything.
---
Training Begins
Damian didn't waste time. If his ability worked the way he thought it did, then reflex training would be key.
He filled an old plastic bottle with water, set it on the table, and gently pushed it off the edge.
As soon as it started falling—
Activate: Temporal Acceleration.
The world slowed again.
The bottle tumbled through the air at an almost painful pace.
He reached out, snatched it, then deactivated the skill.
Snap.
Everything resumed. The bottle never hit the floor.
Damian exhaled. Good.
Now, speed.
He ran from one end of his apartment to the other, activating the skill in bursts. The first few tries, he stumbled. His body was moving too fast, and his muscles weren't used to it.
But after a few attempts, he adjusted. His footwork became sharper, more controlled.
He could feel it—his body adapting. Getting stronger.
Ding!
---
[Skill Proficiency Increased: Temporal Acceleration (E → E+)]
Effect: Slightly reduced stamina drain.
---
Damian smirked. It's leveling up.
So that meant if he kept pushing himself, he could use it for longer. Maybe even enhance the effect.
He wasn't just training for fun.
He was training for survival.
---
Unexpected Consequences
After two hours of intense practice, Damian collapsed onto his bed, drenched in sweat. His stamina was completely drained, his limbs felt heavy, and his head throbbed.
But he was making progress.
Still, something nagged at him.
Every time he used his ability, there was a strange after-effect.
A lingering sensation.
It felt like… the world wasn't quite right afterward.
Like time itself resisted being tampered with.
Damian frowned, staring at his ceiling. He had only just awakened his powers, and already, there were hints of something deeper.
He turned his head to the glowing system interface.
What else are you hiding from me?
For now, he had no answers. But one thing was clear—
This power was only the beginning.
And he was going to master it.