"What the hell is the God's Bane?" I asked, staring at the completely new interface—a stark, jarring glitch in my perception.
I didn't understand any of this.
[Searching for available response under the pre-programmed comments in timestream]
This.
This was freaking me out.
Why does it feel like everything I have done, every carefully crafted plot, is merely a an anicpated move in some grand scheme?
[Ding!]
[The God's Bane is the one who stole the records and rewrote reality in their favor. The enemy of all gods who now suffers eternal torment under the divine laws of causality. 'The one who bears a curse'.]
What… that makes no sense.
Stole the records.
What are the records?!
[Ding!]
[Do not ask of the records, for those who sort the records will see through time and space and find you if you come of it's knowledge]
I sighed.
This was becoming impossibly complicated.
"Haaah… haaah… haaah," I panted, my lungs burning as I plunged deeper into the cursed forest, desperate to escape.
I didn't know where Leon had taken that creature, and I didn't want to know.
I just wanted to find the damn spirit, merge with it, and get the hell out of this forsaken world.
BOOM!
I looked up, dread coiling in my gut.
Oh god.
There was Leon.
A few tears marred his clothing.
That wasn't good.
He held a spear, its shaft gleaming.
A bright, almost blinding light pulsed from its tip, focused into a golden beam.
My gaze followed the beam's trajectory.
The creature.
Wait.
Something was wrong.
Had it… mutated?
"Oh no," I breathed.
Fuck me.
The thought had barely formed when…
[Time drag activated]
Zuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuum!
An immense pressure slammed into me, crushing the air from my lungs.
I looked up again.
Eyes.
I don't know why, they didn't even look like eyes, but the moment my gaze locked onto the creature, my mind recognized them as such.
[Estimated time captured]
[0.3 seconds]
[Reality has now been deleted]
[Rewind to 0.0 seconds]
"Haaah! Haaah! Hhaaaah!" I collapsed, coughing blood that splattered on the muddy ground.
Fuck.
Am I dying?!
"How?! You were supposed to pull it to you based on my calculations! Did I not account for all variables?!"
I looked up at Leon, who unleashed the beam of concentrated light towards the creature. But his expression…
That bastard.
How does he do this? How can his brain calculate possibilities with such speed and efficiency?
He'd appeared at the precise moment to make me spot him.
His posture, everything, had instinctively made me follow his attack, to what he was fighting, and then boom! I thought of the damn creature.
Wait.
Was that it?
Did he want to change its target to me then escape?
Smart bastard.
"ARGHHHHHHHH!"
I crumpled, trembling.
This was bad.
My body was breaking apart.
[DING!]
[It seems there has been an error in timeline calculations]
[Reanalyzing criteria for prompting evolution in user]
[Goddess of life CAN NOT currently see user as user is in the domain of an elder god]
[User used keyword]
[Timeline was in accordance]
[All conditions are met-]
[DING!]
[It has been detected that user's internal breakdown is due to wrong calculations on user's strength in current timeline]
[User did not meet supposed strength as predicted in calculations]
[DING!]
[Adjustments will now be made]
"Agh," I forced myself to stand, the ground tilting beneath me.
I couldn't even focus on the pop-ups, not with Leon undoubtedly concocting new ways to ensure I truly took his place this time.
"Damn it," I hissed.
I held my chest, wiping the blood from my lips with the back of my hand.
Then, I ran.
My body was in critical condition.
As things stood, I didn't think it could withstand the mana flow reversal process.
I might just die on the spot.
"HAAH," I heaved, still running, my lungs screaming for air.
Manifesting a healing potion, I chugged it down.
I couldn't estimate how quickly the effects would kick in.
And based on how fast everything was moving, seconds felt like hours.
Anything could happen in the blink of an eye.
[DING!]
[Usage of Time drag has now been tied to users current mana capacity and current capabilities]
[A status has now been created for user to monitor growth]
[Endeavor to grow stronger, as user WILL NOT survive next timeline event at current strength]
[Farewell, user]
"WAIT! I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS, YOU FUCKER!" I screamed, but…
The interface was gone.
Damn it.
"Haaah…. Haaah… Haah," I panted, my vision blurring.
Oh crap.
My body was breaking down fast.
Instantly, I manifested rejuvenation and mana regeneration potions.
Simultaneous intake of so many potions was disastrous for my already damaged mana core, but I was out of options.
BOOOM!
"Here we go again!"
This time, my instincts screamed one word.
Duck.
….
Golden tickets and Gifts.
My hands are aching, but I think I can keep going.