Chapter: Echo of Time
The next level of the Sky Kingdom was a realm where even time itself seemed to twist in fear. Clock towers floated in space, each hand pointing to a different moment in time. As Kael stepped forward, the past and future began to blend together.
A figure appeared before him.
Her hair was made of the gray dust of time, her eyes flowing like the grains of an hourglass. She was one of the oldest beings of Heaven:
Samira – The Pulse of Time.
— "Welcome, Kael. You haven't died yet, but you've already died thousands of times... I've seen them all."
Kael remained calm.
— "If you're the one who carries the scent of death... then let me introduce you to life."
The battle began.
Samira bent time, reversing Kael's steps. The sword he had just swung a moment ago suddenly turned back toward him. At that moment, Celestial Perception kicked in. Feeling the vibrations of Heaven, Kael used the skill Iskandir had left him to recognize the direction of the attack and dodge it.
Then he raised his hand to the sky. His palm glowed. He called a star.
"Meteor Shower."
A tear of light opened in the void, and meteors began to fall from the sky. Samira stopped time, halting the movement of the stars. Everything froze for a few seconds. But in that instant... Kael entered one of the stars and became invisible.
When time resumed, Kael emerged behind Samira and struck her back with a fist imbued with star power.
Samira screamed in pain.
Her body cracked like broken hourglass glass, but she smiled.
— "Still don't understand? This battle is with your past."
In an instant, Kael's vision went dark.
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Mental Realm – Traps of the Past
Kael relived the days he spent with his grandfather and grandmother in his childhood. But these scenes distorted each time. Once, his grandmother turned into a monster; another time, young Kael was killing his own mother. Reality and illusion blurred together.
Kael dropped to his knees, clutching his head.
— "This isn't real! This isn't me!"
Samira's voice echoed from the void:
> "What about Elira's voice? Did I make that up too?"
Kael began to cry. Elira's joyful laughter suddenly turned into a scream. The walls of his soul shook. But at that moment... a light pierced the darkness.
Celestial Perception activated again.
And Kael realized something: this mental realm was not real, but it was being fed by spiritual energy. Soul Thief kicked in. He absorbed his own mental pain.
That moment he realized: His weakness was his emotions, but these emotions were also his strength.
He cut through the darkness and rose. A star exploded in his mind.
And in the mental realm, Kael found Samira and attacked her soul directly.
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Reality – Final Strike
As time flowed again, Samira staggered. Kael gathered his last strength and sent a signal to the sky.
"Star Seal!"
A giant star responded to Kael's call, falling from the heavens and crashing down on Samira. The surface shattered. The Pulse of Time no longer beat.
As Samira's eyes slowly closed, she whispered:
— "Not me... you've destroyed time…"
Samira's soul was absorbed.
And Kael gained a new power: Temporal Rift
This ability would allow him to slow down time for a limited period, or even stop it for a brief moment.
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End of Chapter
Kael now possessed three divine abilities: Star Command, Soul Thief, and Temporal Rift.
And his journey continued... for the enemies ahead were even stronger.
And ultimately, Avelon.
The essence of true darkness.