Suddenly, a heavy silence descended over the battlefield. The Dark Elf shivered, a sense of unease crawling down his spine. His eyes darted toward Takeshi, whose aura had begun to glow with an intensity that seemed otherworldly. The very air around him felt charged, rippling with energy as his mana surged. Time itself seemed to bend, slowing to a crawl before halting completely in the area surrounding Takeshi.
"Impossible..." the Dark Elf muttered, his voice trembling with disbelief.
Desperate, the Dark Elf summoned another whip from his Celestial weapon, lashing at Takeshi with frenzied strikes. But the attacks were futile—each stroke evaporated into nothingness the moment it entered Takeshi's frozen domain. The battlefield felt surreal, like a distorted dream where Takeshi was the only one moving freely.
"You might be right that I'm human," Takeshi said, his voice echoing unnaturally in the stillness. "But know this… I'm no ordinary human."
With a shout that reverberated like thunder, Takeshi roared, "Chronos, Resonate!"
The ground beneath him trembled violently, cracks spreading outward as debris spiraled into the air. The sheer force of his power sent shockwaves rippling across the battlefield, pushing back the fog and scattering nearby rubble. His mana spiked to unimaginable levels, saturating the area in a golden-blue glow.
The Dark Elf's body froze, paralyzed in place by the overwhelming force. Takeshi's hand rested on his holstered gun as he calmly uttered, "Fourth Hour: Fuse."
A sudden surge of mana enveloped the weapon, its barrel shimmering with radiant energy. In an instant, Takeshi fired, the bullet piercing through the Dark Elf's shoulder and pinning his foot to the ground. Without hesitation, he dashed forward, his movements a blur. His blade lashed out, striking the Dark Elf's body with precision and ferocity, each slash drawing blood and further weakening his opponent.
The Dark Elf roared in pain and frustration, his composure shattered. "This is… impossible!" he spat, his eyes wild with rage. "A mere human dares to overpower me?!"
Takeshi didn't respond, his focus unwavering. But before he could finish his assault, the Dark Elf unleashed a deafening scream, a surge of power erupting from his body. Takeshi's time-altering skill cracked under the strain, the frozen space around them shattering like glass.
The Dark Elf, consumed by rage and desperation, charged toward Takeshi with unbridled ferocity. His movements were erratic, each strike heavier and more reckless than the last.
Takeshi clenched his fist, steadying himself as he raised his hand. "This isn't even a fight anymore..." he murmured. With calm determination, he chanted, "Third Hour: Distortion."
The air around the Dark Elf twisted and warped. His movements slowed to a crawl as though he were wading through thick syrup. The once-agile warrior staggered, his limbs sluggish and unresponsive. Eventually, his body gave out, collapsing to the ground with a dull thud.
Takeshi approached his fallen opponent, his footsteps echoing in the eerie stillness. He raised his gun, pointing it at the Dark Elf's head. "It's over," he whispered, pulling the trigger.
The sound of the gunshot shattered the silence, and with it, the sky above began to clear. The battlefield, once engulfed in chaos, returned to calm. Takeshi exhaled deeply as his aura dimmed, his body reverting to its original form.
He turned and made his way back to the base, where Nyx and the other elves were finishing off the last of the enemies.
Takeshi descended from the sky, landing in front of Nyx, who immediately rushed to him and wrapped him in a tight embrace.
"Thank goodness you're okay," Nyx said, her voice trembling. Tears welled in her eyes as she held onto him. "I was so worried. The whole battlefield went silent, and I thought you… I thought you were gone!"
Takeshi managed a tired smile, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I'm alright now. Don't worry, okay?" he said softly.
She nodded, wiping away her tears. Moments later, the four elders approached them, their faces lit with gratitude.
"Thank you, Nyx and Takeshi, for aiding us in this battle," Geiros said with a bow. "We wouldn't have triumphed without your help. You've saved us all. Thank you!"
"It's not a big deal—" Takeshi began, but his words faltered as his vision blurred. Exhaustion overwhelmed him, and his body gave out.
Nyx caught him just in time, gently lowering him to the ground.
When Takeshi finally awoke, he found himself lying in bed, Nyx and Akari sitting by his side. Their faces were filled with worry, but relief washed over them as his eyes fluttered open.
"Takeshi!" Akari exclaimed, her voice a mixture of joy and concern.
"You had us worried," Nyx said softly, brushing his hair from his face. "You need to rest."
Takeshi nodded weakly, a small smile forming on his lips.