As those red eyes opened, the first thing everyone felt was fear.
Not normal fear.
Not hesitation.
Not doubt.
Primal.
The kind that froze your body before your mind could react.
A few cadets staggered back. Some dropped their weapons.
Others couldn't even move.
The creature didn't attack.
It didn't even look at them.
Its head tilted slightly. Its body shifted, as if it was aware—not of them, but of itself.
"What the hell…" someone whispered.
"FORMATIONS!" Leon's voice snapped through the paralysis.
People moved. Barely.
I stood still for a moment longer.
My hand twitched.
Azeor.
The corrupted blade.
If I used it, it would definitely give me an advantage.
But if I lost control, I wouldn't just die.
I'd drag everyone else down with me.
"…Fuck."
Not yet.
Leon stepped forward, summoning his sword.
Solais.
It burned with a radiant golden light, pushing back the suffocating pressure.
I narrowed my eyes.
Theia.
So she's already interfering.
Seems like even the goddess wants her champion to survive.
The creature finally moved its head.
Slowly.
It turned toward us.
For the first time—
It acknowledged us.
And in that moment, every instinct screamed the same thing.
We are prey.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
That gaze locked everyone in place.
My heart pounded.
If no one moves, we die.
"…Damn it…"
I stepped forward.
"Chrono?" Nia's voice shook.
"Stick to the plan."
Leon's eyes narrowed.
"You're going in?"
"If we wait any longer, it'll pick for us."
Irina clicked her tongue.
"Don't die before I get my turn."
Liam spoke calmly.
"We'll support you."
I nodded slightly.
Then I walked.
Each step heavier than the last. The pressure increased with every inch I got closer.
My instincts screamed at me to stop.
To run.
To survive.
But I kept moving.
"Come on…"
The creature watched.
Still.
Then—
It vanished.
My eyes widened.
Too fast.
A blur.
Instinct took over.
I ducked.
A blade-like arm tore through the space where my head had been.
The air split. A shockwave burst outward.
The ground flickered violently.
"There it is!"
"NOW!" I shouted.
Leon reacted instantly.
"Shields up!"
A barrier formed behind me as the creature reappeared, already swinging again.
I pushed back, barely dodging.
Too fast.
Irina's flames shot forward, redirecting its motion.
"Over here, you freak!"
The creature turned toward her.
"Keep moving!" Liam shouted. "Don't let it lock onto one target!"
Cadets scattered.
Running. Baiting. Surviving.
Another strike.
Another miss.
Each time, the ground flickered more.
Tiny cracks forming.
"It's working!" someone shouted.
But no one felt relief.
Because now it was fully awake.
And hunting.
The creature vanished again.
A cadet froze.
Then dropped.
Silence.
"What just happened?"
A shockwave hit a second later.
"He's gone…"
"STAY MOVING!" Leon roared.
Too late.
The creature reappeared in a group.
Another strike.
Gone.
A barrier shattered instantly.
Screams filled the room.
"NO!"
Irina lashed out with flames.
"Don't freeze, idiots!"
But fear spread.
Another cadet ran blindly.
The creature appeared behind him.
Gone.
"It's picking us off…" Nia whispered.
"It's not even trying…" Liam added.
This wasn't a fight.
This was slaughter.
Another cadet fell.
"…Damn it…"
The formation broke.
"REGROUP!" Leon shouted.
But panic had taken hold.
I clenched my fist.
This is exactly how it happened.
One by one.
"…No…"
"Stick to the plan!" I shouted.
"Forcing it to attack is the only way out!"
Another crack formed.
Bigger this time.
It's working.
But more will die.
The creature reappeared again.
Closer.
Faster.
Stronger.
And this time—
It was aiming at me.
Its blade swung.
No time.
"…Future Trace."
The world froze.
Everything stopped.
The creature.
The cadets.
Even space itself.
Only I moved.
I surged forward, forcing my body through the next moment.
This wasn't true time stop.
It was prediction.
Execution.
I twisted—
Time resumed.
SLASH.
Pain exploded through my arm.
My left arm was completely cut off.
But I was still standing.
The creature's attack continued—
And struck the room.
CRACK.
For the first time, the white space broke.
A fracture spread like shattered glass.
"There!" Liam shouted.
"It worked!"
The crack widened.
Light poured through.
"That's our way out…"
The creature turned again.
Unharmed.
Unstoppable.
But now—
We had a chance.
"The crack—GO!"
Everyone ran.
No hesitation.
Just survival.
Cadets rushed through the fracture one by one.
"Move! Move!" Irina pushed them forward.
"Don't stop!"
Liam guided the last few.
"Keep going!"
I moved forward, vision blurring.
Almost there.
Then—
"…Nia?"
She was still inside.
Too slow.
The creature moved.
Appearing behind her.
Its blade rose.
She turned—
Too late.
"A-ah—"
Everything slowed.
"NIA!" Liam screamed.
No.
I stepped forward.
The time element that I had been practicing for a week
"…Stop."
The world stuttered.
The creature froze mid-swing.
Nia stood inches from death.
Pain surged through me.
"…Move…"
She didn't react.
"MOVE!"
She snapped out of it.
Ran.
Through the crack.
Gone.
Time snapped back.
The creature's swing missed—
But it didn't stop.
It twisted instantly.
Shot forward—
And slammed into the fracture.
CRACK.
The opening shattered.
Then sealed.
Like it was never there.
Outside—
I saw them.
Leon.
Irina.
Liam.
Nia.
"CHRONO!"
Then—
Nothing.
Silence.
I dropped to one knee.
Pain exploded in my head.
Blood ran from my nose, ears, eyes.
The time elements after effects
"…a-ah fuck it hurts …"
That took too much.
I looked up.
The creature stood between me and the exit.
Its red eyes locked onto mine.
No distractions.
No escape.
Just me.
I let out a shaky breath.
"…Great I'm dead"
The creature stepped forward.