The Chrono Ascendant
Chapter 3
Morning sunlight streamed through the apartment window, casting long golden rays across the worn wooden floor. The city outside buzzed with its usual rhythm-car horns, conversations, and the distant rumble of trains. It was an ordinary day for everyone except Kael.
He stood before the bathroom mirror, staring at his reflection. His face was younger, free of the scars that had covered it in his previous life. His black hair was slightly messy, and his blue eyes looked calm on the surface but behind them lay ten years of war.
He splashed cold water across his face and took a deep breath,"I've really come back..."
The memories still felt vivid. Every battle, every loss, every regret lingered in his mind as though they had happened only yesterday.
Suddenly, a familiar metallic chime echoed inside his head and A translucent blue screen materialized before him.
---
[Chrono System Notification]
Analyzing User Status...Synchronization Complete.
Hidden Tutorial Unlocked.
---
Kael frowned, "A tutorial?"
In his previous life, no one had ever mentioned a Chrono System. If this power had existed before, it had never revealed itself to anyone else. More words appeared.
---
Tutorial Quest: The First Step of Fate
Every journey begins with a single decision.
A Temporal Fragment has appeared nearby,locate it before it is corrupted.
Time Limit: 2 Hours
Reward:
+1 Level
100 Experience
Beginner Temporal Storage
Failure: Temporal Fragment Destroyed.
---
Kael's eyes narrowed, "A Temporal Fragment..."
He had never heard of such an item before.
The quest map expanded, displaying a glowing blue marker less than two kilometers away. It was inside Riverside Park. Without wasting another second, Kael grabbed his jacket and rushed out of the apartment.
---
The streets were filled with people hurrying to work, students chatting with friends, and vendors opening their shops.
None of them noticed the faint silver cracks flickering in the air but Kael did.
His newly awakened Chrono Vision revealed distortions invisible to everyone else. Thin strands of blue light stretched across the city, converging toward the park like rivers flowing into the sea, "So this is what the system wants me to find." He quickened his pace.
As he entered Riverside Park, the sounds of the city gradually faded. Birds sang in the trees, children laughed near a fountain, and joggers followed the winding paths.
Everything looked too peaceful. Kael slowed his steps. His instincts, sharpened by years of battle, warned him that something was wrong.
Near the center of the park stood an ancient oak tree surrounded by a small flower garden. Above it floated a tiny crystal no larger than a marble.
No one else reacted to it. People walked straight through the area as if it didn't exist.
The crystal emitted a soft silver glow, and countless miniature clock hands rotated within it. "So that's the Temporal Fragment",He reached toward it. The moment his fingers were inches away, the air trembled.
A low growl echoed behind him and Kael spun around. Standing beneath the shade of another tree was a creature unlike anything this era should contain.
It resembled a massive wolf, nearly twice the size of a lion. Black smoke drifted from its fur, and crimson eyes glowed with murderous intent. Long claws scraped against the pavement, leaving deep grooves in the concrete.
People continued walking nearby, They couldn't see it. "An Astral Beast...", His expression darkened. Monsters weren't supposed to appear for another three months, "History is changing already."
The beast lunged and Kael threw himself to the side just as its claws slammed into the ground, shattering the pavement where he had been standing.
A wave of dust exploded into the air.
He rolled to his feet, breathing steadily, "I don't have a weapon..."
Another roar shook the park. The Astral Beast attacked again, faster than before.
Kael ducked beneath its swipe and drove his fist into its ribs.
The impact barely made the creature flinch.
Instead, the beast swung its tail, sending Kael crashing into a nearby bench.
Wood splintered beneath the force and Pain shot through his back, "Damn..." At Level 1, his body was far too weak.
In his previous life, he could have killed this creature with a single strike. Now, surviving would be difficult.
The Astral Beast stalked toward him, baring rows of razor-sharp teeth.
Kael forced himself to stay calm, "Think."
His eyes scanned the surroundings.
The Temporal Fragment still floated above the old oak tree. Then an idea flashed through his mind, "If it's made of temporal energy..."He sprinted toward the tree. The beast roared and chased after him.
At the last moment, Kael leaped into the air and grabbed the glowing crystal. A surge of silver energy rushed into his body. Time seemed to freeze. The world fell silent and brilliant blue screen appeared.
---
[Temporal Fragment Absorbed]
Reward Granted
Skill Unlocked: Time Step (F Rank)
Time Step: Instantly move up to five meters in any direction.
Cooldown: 10 Seconds.
---
Kael smiled, "Perfect timing."
Time resumed and The Astral Beast was already within striking distance. Its claws slashed toward his chest.
"Time Step." His body vanished in a flash of silver light.
The beast's attack struck empty air. Kael reappeared behind it.
Without hesitation, he kicked the monster's hind leg. The creature stumbled forward.
Before it could recover, Kael activated Time Step again the instant the cooldown ended, appearing directly above the beast.
Using all his strength, he drove both feet into its neck.
The beast collapsed with a pained howl. Dark smoke poured from its body as it slowly dissolved into countless black particles.
Silence returned to the park and a cheerful chime echoed in Kael's mind.
---
[Enemy Defeated]
Astral Beast Slain
Experience Gained: 120
Level 2 Reached
Reward Received: Beginner Temporal Storage
---
A small silver ring materialized in his hand.
The system explained its function immediately.
Temporal Storage: A pocket space where items could be stored and retrieved instantly.
Kael slipped the ring onto his finger. A satisfied smile appeared on his face, "My first battle..."
It had been far from easy but it proved one important thing-He could grow stronger again.
As he turned to leave the park, he failed to notice a hooded figure watching from the rooftop of a nearby building.
The stranger's golden eyes followed his every movement, "So..." A faint smile appeared beneath the hood, "The Chrono System has finally chosen its master."
The figure stepped backward into a ripple of distorted space and vanished without a trace.
Far above the clouds, the tiny crimson eye opened once more and this time...It blinked.
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