497 Gathering Powers
POV Marcus:
Under a shroud of swirling dust clouds, dark silhouettes crept forward with ghost-like silence. The night was eerily still, punctuated only by the soft, muffled sounds of their steps weaving through a desolate landscape of dust and ash. Pausing a mere hundred meters from the seared, crumbling remnants of an ancient castle's wall, the tension among them was palpable.
Marcus, his armor hidden behind the dark cloak and his gaze piercing through the murk, could barely make out the outlines of his target. "The dust conjured by the mages will shield us long enough to prepare magic formation," he whispered to himself, the weight of the task making him both excited and worried.
Turning to the figure at his side, a mage with his pointy hat, white beard, and weathered black cloak, Marcus's armored fist gestured with determined resolve.
"Merlin, ready the focusing crystal. We will blast them."
Acknowledgment came with a mere nod from the mage, who, with a flourish of his ring, summoned a massive red gemstone into existence.
Its dim glow was muted by the thick dust clouds, casting eerie shadows on the ground. Around it, masked mages congregated, their robes rustling against the ash-covered ground, forming a circle charged with silent anticipation.
"Shield-bearers prepare the defensive line."
Emerging from the dust-like tanks clad in iron, the shield-bearers took their positions. Encased in thick, bulky armor that blended with the surrounding darkness, they stood immovable, their tower shields etched with glowing runes.
With his forces arrayed before him, Marcus allowed himself a moment of satisfaction, reminiscing of the old time when he futilely fought against their monstrous king, mistaking it for a wyrm. 'It has been such a long time since I led a raid—well, a successful one.'
"Merlin, unleash our fury upon those traitors," he commanded, his voice a low rumble against the stillness of the night.
At his word, the mages lifted their staffs, and the air crackled with mana. A vast magic circle, red and glowing, flared to life beneath them, the gemstone at its heart pulsing with a threatening light.
POV Vesuvius:
Bathing in the anomaly of time and space, Vesuvius could sense both elements seeping into his soul and body. 'Refining one's power isn't enough, I must fully grasp it and feel it.' Luckily for him, it wasn't his first time dealing with the two elements, and he already had ways to deal with them. For the space, he already had his space magic, and for the time elements, he still had the mysterious skill sealed during his metamorphosis.
Ding!
//
You have unsealed the sealed skill: Chronokinesis (LV 1)
//
Your ability Chronokinesis (LV 1) has leveled up to Chronokinesis (LV 2)
The new level two effect was unlocked:
Danger Sense: The power to instinctively sense threats in advance. //
The sensation of temporal currents swirling around Vesuvius intensified dramatically. What once felt akin to airy whispers now surged with the palpable force of water currents, enveloping him in waves of time itself.
Eager to explore the limits of his newly unsealed power, Vesuvius marshaled his resolve, attempting to channel mana for a rudimentary spell. Yet, despite his efforts, the spell unraveled, leaving him unable to work within the broken time around him.
He wasn't surprised, as he already expected such a result. 'My affinity is far from strong enough to overcome the blackhole's time-breaking effects.'
Even with the failure, his heart would have pounded with joy if it hadn't frozen in time, as he could already imagine the potential of his new powers. He would finally have the right to stop being passive and actively take his fate into his own claws.
Meanwhile, in some unknown place:
POV The Dragon God:
A luminous streak of divine energy, golden and pure, pierced the endless night, its path illuminated by ephemeral flashes of draconic wings—a spectacle of gold and brilliance. Propelled by an urgent force, this celestial comet hurtled forward with increased fervor.
'Time?' Sensing the stirrings of a new affinity within their lineage, the divine essence surged, driven by the stark realization that moments were slipping away all too quickly.
'The new dragon king must be crowned successfully.' Even after all the years, they couldn't help but feel sorrow, rage, and guilt. They have abandoned their descendants and children, sleeping for countless years, only to wake up and witness their slaughter. The specter of what could have been—if only they had been vigilant—gnawed at their essence with relentless fervor.
'At least if I wasn't so reluctant then...' Their remorse deepened, tainted by memories of inaction and a stubborn refusal to seek aid from their siblings and suppress the treacherous mortal gods in time.
'The step from lord-level to king-level is too big.' They repeated themselves, gathering their resolve for the upcoming battle. They knew the dangers of the awakening, especially now, without the support of the four.
'My siblings will help, but I can gather more help.' It was one thing to ask for the help of their siblings, but to seek help even from the extended family was even more pathetic. Even with the guilt, they wouldn't ever lower themselves so much as to beg them for help.
Emerging above a diminutive world, the golden aura paused, its radiance cloaking the globe in a celestial embrace.
"Come out! Do what I want, or I will beat you up! I know you are hiding here, you old demon!" Even though they wouldn't beg, they still decided to get help with their fists and breath!