Seventy years ago, the world as humanity The cosmic balance of the universe shattered, causing dimensional tears across the fabric of space. Mysterious 'Gates' forced themselves open all over the Earth. From the dark depths of these Gates, terrifying monsters poured into human cities, bringing nothing but blood, chaos, and destruction. Modern weapons and bombs were useless against them. Earth was on the brink of extinction.
But with the apocalypse came a miracle.
The strange cosmic energy leaking from the Gates began to alter human biology. A fraction of humanity awakened supernatural abilities. These individuals, known as 'Hunters', became humanity's ultimate shield, fighting the monsters and sealing the Gates. Over seven decades, the world adapted. A new society was born from the ashes.
Amidst this new world of powerful heroes and terrifying monsters lived Hero.
Hero was a fifteen-year-old high school student who stood out, quite literally, due to his unusual hair—a messy blend of pitch-black and stark white streaks. He had no family, no wealth, and no background. Left at an orphanage as a baby, Hero had to learn to survive on his own. To pay for his school fees and daily expenses, he worked long hours as a part-time clerk in a dusty, old convenience store.
However, Hero had a secret. He was a deeply religious boy, but with a bizarre twist.
Back in the orphanage, the caretakers had taught the children to pray to God. But young Hero, who was still learning to read, accidentally misread the holy books. Instead of praying to a traditional deity, he accidentally started praying to the 'God of Time'. For years, without realizing his mistake, Hero offered his daily prayers to 'Time', believing it to be the ultimate creator.
It was just another ordinary day. Hero was standing behind the counter of the store, organizing the shelves. But today, the air felt strangely heavy. A cold shiver ran down his spine.
Ting.
The bell above the shop door didn't ring, but suddenly, the space next to Hero distorted. When he blinked, a man was standing right beside him.
Hero gasped, jumping back in shock. His heart hammered against his ribs. The man had appeared out of thin air, completely bypassing the automatic glass doors.
"Who... who are you?" Hero stammered, gripping the edge of the counter.
The stranger didn't look at him immediately. He was dressed in clothes that seemed to shift like shadows, and his aura was completely unreadable. Slowly, the man turned his head toward Hero, his eyes widening in genuine astonishment.
"You do not possess the authority to know my name yet," the stranger replied, his voice echoing with an eerie calmness. Then, he leaned forward, narrowing his eyes. "More importantly... can you actually see me?"
Hero frowned, confused by the question. "Of course I can see you. You're standing right in front of me. Why wouldn't I?"
The stranger stared at Hero for a long moment before a low, amused chuckle escaped his lips. "Fascinating. Truly fascinating. No one in this realm should be able to perceive my existence. I only came to this world to rest for a brief moment, but now... I think I will stay a bit longer to explore this world with you."
The man smiled, a mysterious glint in his eyes. "Since you can see me, I suppose I can give you something to call me. You can call me... Time."
Hero blinked, completely baffled. "Time? That's a really weird name."
"Do not say that," the man chuckled, shaking his head. "In a way, I am the name of this very universe."
"What do you mean by that?" Hero asked, his suspicion growing. "And why did you say no one else can see you?"
The man, who called himself Time, tilted his head. "Because I am a spirit. A spirit that exists beyond the comprehension of ordinary mortals."
Hero's breath hitched. A spirit?!
In the modern world, every child knew about spirits. High-ranking Hunters—the absolute powerhouses of humanity—often formed contracts with powerful spirits to gain unimaginable strength. If this man was truly a spirit who could hide from the entire world, just how terrifyingly powerful was he? And why was he standing in a mundane convenience store, talking to a penniless fifteen-year-old boy?