Episode 283
“An experiment to create an immortal?”
Most of Harvey West’s experiments revolved around resurrection, revival, and bodily enhancements.
“Was that madman Harvey’s goal all along, to create an immortal being?”
Zeke tried to access Harvey West’s experimental data, but just like with Richmond, he was restricted by access limitations.
“Damn it… If only I had found all three holy relics, I could have earned the title from Lord Hoshgar.”
Finding all three relics would have granted him the title of Archmage’s Blessing as a quest reward, potentially giving him administrative access to the Tower of Infinity.
“I need to dig deeper into Harvey West.”
The next day, Zeke left the central branch of Nirvar and resumed his journey to execute his next plan.
Before seeking out the druids of Aten, he intended to visit the Temple of Chronos to activate his mother’s watch.
Zeke followed the map to the temple’s marked location to update his authentication key.
The coordinates pointed to a spot in the city of Aten.
To his surprise, the location turned out to be a museum.
“A temple of Chronos in a museum?”
It wasn’t entirely unexpected, considering there was a dragon slayer’s sanctuary beneath the academy library and a security vault key in the Valhalla library.
Zeke slowly entered the museum.
Aten, a city on the eastern peninsula of the northern continent, had long been recognized as a duchy even before the Holy Empire, boasting a rich history and a proud citizenry.
The museum was designed to showcase Aten’s extensive history at a glance.
Zeke wandered through the museum, searching for a path to the Temple of Chronos.
“I thought I’d be able to connect to the system, but there’s nothing.”
He explored every floor, even the attached restaurant and gift shop, but found no clues.
Despite spending the entire day at the museum, he couldn’t locate the entrance to the temple.
By closing time, he was still empty-handed.
“I thought finding the authentication key would be quick, but I’m stuck here.”
He double-checked the coordinates, but they clearly pointed to this museum.
Frustrated, Zeke took out the watch.
It remained motionless, unresponsive.
“Will something happen if I activate this?”
Sitting in a corner of the museum lobby, Zeke let a drop of blood fall onto the watch, just as he had when he first activated it.
At that moment, a security guard approached him.
“It’s closing time! Please exit the premises!”
Resigned to return the next day, Zeke stood up.
Just then, a message appeared before his eyes.
[Coordinates confirmed]
[Temporary activation initiated]
[Transporting to designated time-space coordinates]
Startled, Zeke looked around to see the guard frozen in place, as if turned to stone.
“Has time stopped?”
The watch in his hand flashed, and its hands began to spin backward.
“What the…?”
A low hum filled the air as the hands spun faster, and the world around Zeke began to move.
But instead of moving forward, everything was rewinding.
Zeke remained still as time around him rapidly reversed.
“My God…”
Zeke had vaguely associated Chronos’s power with prophecy, but the watch controlled time itself.
Time rewound swiftly, and the museum reverted to its state from decades before it opened.
The watch hands gradually slowed and stopped.
Drip!
A single drop of water fell from the ceiling in front of Zeke.
He stood there, momentarily stunned by the drastically changed surroundings.
“Is this some kind of hologram?”
Using his dragon’s eye, Zeke surveyed the area. Astonishingly, he was in the real world, not a hologram.
He had traveled back decades to before the museum’s opening.
In disbelief, Zeke exited the museum.
Outside, the cityscape of Aten from decades past unfolded before him.
“Traveling back in time… What kind of power is this?”
Shocked, Zeke attempted to walk toward the city, but an invisible barrier stopped him.
[You cannot exceed the boundaries of the permitted timeline.]
[Exceeding the timeline’s boundaries may result in existential erasure due to karma’s restrictions.]
The power to manipulate time came with limitations.
“Crossing this boundary could erase me… I suppose if I wandered around this era talking about the future, it would disrupt the flow of time.”
Karma seemed to act as a safeguard against such disruptions.
Reflecting on the scale of karma’s power, Zeke recalled the golden city of Blanca, where Hades was held.
“Ancient civilizations wielded karma with such freedom. It’s more intriguing to wonder what they couldn’t do.”
The sudden disappearance of these advanced civilizations remained a mystery.
The scriptures claimed that the creator god punished the cities for humanity’s corruption, but Zeke, privy to untold stories, suspected a connection to the constellations.
“Perhaps Arina, a descendant of Luvern, might know something. I’ll have to ask her next time.”
Zeke re-entered the museum, activated the coordinates, and searched for the temple entrance.
If the watch had brought him to the past, the temple might exist in this timeline.
Yet, the system still failed to locate the entrance to the Temple of Chronos.
“What on earth is going on?”
As Zeke pondered, he sensed a presence behind him.
He concealed himself with stealth and observed the newcomer.
A robed figure, face hidden, emerged slowly into the museum lobby.
“Seems like a woman… A mage, perhaps?”
She didn’t look like a worker involved in constructing the museum.
As Zeke watched the suspicious figure in the unopened museum, something suddenly flew toward him.
Thwack!
An arrow embedded itself in the pillar beside him.
Zeke rolled backward, evading the attack.
“Did they see through my stealth?”
Only the evil eye of the abyss could pierce his stealth.
These might be mages from the past abyss, so Zeke drew his dagger and moved swiftly.
Whoosh!
He planned to capture the female mage for interrogation to uncover their identity.
Just as he approached her, the air shimmered, and a shadowy figure appeared.
A masked figure in black swung a sword at Zeke.
Clang!
A short, oddly-shaped sword clashed with Zeke’s dagger.
Whoosh!
Zeke retreated, throwing his dagger at the masked figure.
Clang!
The figure, now wielding a second sword, deflected Zeke’s dagger.
The dual-wielding figure assumed a defensive stance, eyeing Zeke warily.
“Not an ordinary foe… Judging by the movements, could they be from the northern rangers?”
Zeke readied himself with daggers in both hands.
The masked figure tossed their swords into the air, spun, and hurled a hidden weapon at Zeke.
Zeke deflected the projectile with his dagger and slid forward.
Seeing the figure protect the female mage, Zeke aimed to capture her first.
But the figure leaped, caught the swords mid-air, and deftly redirected their attack toward Zeke.
The figure’s sword traced an arc, descending upon Zeke.
Crash!
Zeke parried the attack with his dagger and unleashed the chains of the soul at the figure.
Whip!
The chains flew like a serpent, aiming to ensnare the figure.
But the air shimmered again, and the figure vanished, reappearing behind Zeke.
Whoosh!
The figure’s sword struck Zeke’s back.
Clang!
Zeke’s dragon scale armor deflected the blow with its tough hide.
The startled figure retreated, and Zeke seized the moment to activate the dragon’s claw.
Slash!
The dragon’s claw raked across the figure’s chest.
Bleeding, the figure staggered back.
Then it happened.
A hum filled the air as the female mage, who had been observing, cast a spell.
White light emanated from her body.
“A flash spell?”
As Zeke prepared to dodge, the mage extended her hand, casting the light toward the masked figure.
“What?”
Zeke was taken aback as the light enveloped the figure, healing their wounds.
“Is that… healing?”
The magic of light from the Lubern clan seemed like a form of healing, but its effects were several times more potent than ordinary healing.
“Using light magic… Could she be from the Lubern clan?”
Zeke was taken aback as the female mage extended her hand toward him, murmuring a spell.
“Debuff.”
Zeke felt his body grow heavy. In that instant, a familiar sensation washed over him, reminiscent of when his skills were restricted in the inverted tower.
“My infinite stamina is gone. So is my healing factor.”
Dodging the attack of the black-clad figure, Zeke somersaulted backward. His agile evasion left the female mage visibly startled.
“He’s definitely debuffed, so why is he moving like that?”
As she signaled with her eyes, another arrow flew toward Zeke.
Swish!
Zeke deftly deflected the arrow with Anexi’s dagger. Their coordinated attack was impressively synchronized.
“If I keep testing them, I might end up in trouble.”
Zeke sheathed Anexi’s dagger and drew Bahamut. The air around him shifted as he gripped the sword. The female mage tensed, preparing her magic. The black-clad figure’s body shimmered with light.
“Don’t kill him. We need to capture him.”
The figure nodded, advancing toward Zeke with dual swords. Buffed, his senses, stamina, and recovery had all improved. Yet, as he stood before Zeke, sword in hand, he froze.
Zeke took a single step forward, sword raised.
Thud!
The sheer force of that step made the black-clad figure retreat, sweat beading beneath his mask. Zeke pointed his sword at him, an invisible aura enveloping not just the figure but also the female mage and the hidden archer.
Within the domain of Zeke’s Astral Sword, escape was impossible. The figure’s hand trembled as he spoke to the mage behind him.
“Miss, escape while I hold him off.”
His voice carried the weight of impending sacrifice. The female mage shouted back at him.
“Don’t say such ridiculous things!”
Zeke addressed them both.
“Don’t resist needlessly.”
The tension in the black-clad figure heightened. He turned to the female mage.
“Remove your hood and show your face.”
Grinding her teeth, the female mage muttered under her breath.
“Of course… He’s one of those sent from the Abyss.”
She had mistaken Zeke for an agent of the Abyss. At that moment, Zeke extended his hand, unleashing the Sacred Flame.
Whoosh!
The highest tier of light magic, the Sacred Flame, appeared, startling the female mage.
“Th-that…?”
Zeke spoke to her.
“I’m not from the Abyss. I’ve revealed myself, now show me your face.”
Hesitant, the female mage slowly removed her robe. Seeing her face, Zeke felt his heart skip a beat.
“That person is…”
The female mage looked at Zeke and spoke.
“My name is Laura Agamemnon. I’m the head of the Eastern Division of the Dawn Council.”