The cavern shook like a dying heart.
Molten rivers boiled. Runes shattered. The Sleeper—its chest rising like a mountain, its ribs splitting the stone—stirred for the first time in eons.
Elara stumbled, clutching her wrist. Her timer screamed:
[0 Days : 02 Hours : 59 Minutes]
Her voice cracked. "I can't… I don't have time left, Aelric!"
Aelric's grin was painted in blood, his corrupted veins spreading into his eye, turning half his face black. His timer still glowed, steady at [10 Years : 8 Months]—but unstable, glitching, as if mocking the god.
He roared at the Sleeper.
"Wake up or stay asleep—I don't care! I'll end you either way!"
---
The Awakening
The Sleeper's golden mask split open, revealing an endless abyss of teeth and eyes swirling in void. Its voice thundered across the cavern.
You dare? You are fragments. I am eternity. Every second you breathe is my gift.
Elara collapsed to her knees, screaming. Her timer drained faster now. [2 Hours → 1:47 → 1:32].
The System stuttered with static:
> [Final Trial Rule Expanded.]
The Sleeper's Awakening accelerates all mortal clocks.
At zero, life is forfeit.
Elara gasped, clutching her chest. "I'll be gone before the fight even ends—"
Aelric crouched beside her, grin sharp despite blood running down his face. He whispered, "Then hold on. I'll buy you more time."
---
Battle Commences
Aelric's corrupted arm exploded outward, black tendrils forming into a jagged blade of obsidian. With a feral roar, he charged the Sleeper, slashing across its golden mask. Sparks of black fire scattered as the god reeled back.
Elara's eyes widened. "He's hurting it…"
The cavern walls cracked, molten rivers rising like serpents as the Sleeper countered. Hands of molten stone reached for Aelric, claws large enough to crush towers.
He dodged, pipe clashing against stone claws, each strike echoing like thunder. His grin widened with every blow.
"Come on! I thought you were a god! Hit harder!"
---
The Sleeper's Counter
The god's abyss-mouth opened, and time itself bled out. The chamber froze. The lava hung midair. Elara's heartbeat slowed, her timer collapsing at impossible speed.
[1:32 → 0:15]
Her eyes filled with tears. "No—please, not like this—"
But Aelric moved.
While everything else froze, he alone stepped forward, corruption blazing. His timer flickered wildly, glitching between years and seconds.
[10 Years : 8 Months → 00:12 → 99 Years : 00:00]
He laughed like a madman. "Nice trick. Too bad time doesn't like me either."
He smashed his corrupted blade into the god's mouth, shattering rows of abyss-teeth. The cavern resumed motion, lava crashing down, the Sleeper's voice howling in fury.
Lawbreaker… you twist my gift into mockery…!
---
Elara's Last Hour
Elara stumbled to her feet. Her timer now burned at [0:59]. Just under an hour left.
She screamed at him, tears streaming. "Aelric! Stop—if you keep pushing the corruption, you'll become one of them!"
He only grinned wider, eyes glowing crimson. "Maybe. But if I do, I'll drag a god down with me."
---
The Offering
The cavern shook. A rune split across the floor, light blazing upward. The System announced:
> [Alternate Condition Detected.]
Sacrifice of Shared Time may wound the Sleeper.
Elara froze. "…Shared time?"
The meaning hit her like a knife. She grabbed Aelric's corrupted arm, pressing her glowing wrist against it. "Take mine. If this is the only way—we'll share what's left."
Her timer plummeted. [0:59 → 0:30 → 0:15].
Aelric's eyes widened. For the first time, his grin faltered. "…You stupid girl."
But the corruption surged, drinking her time, fusing it with his own. His black veins blazed with light. His corrupted blade grew, monstrous and jagged, tall enough to pierce the cavern ceiling.
He roared. "Fine! Then let's kill a god together!"
---
The Strike
He leapt—higher than any human should—and drove the blade into the Sleeper's chest.
The god shrieked, the cavern collapsing, molten rivers exploding outward. Its heartbeat faltered, stuttering into chaos.
Impossible… you cannot unmake the clock…
Aelric twisted the blade deeper, blood and void spilling from the god's wound. His grin returned, savage and unstoppable.
"Watch me."
The Sleeper convulsed, golden mask cracking, abyssal eyes dimming.
---
The Collapse
Elara's timer burned red. [0:00:05].
She collapsed, vision fading, whispering his name. "Aelric…"
He turned, eyes glowing wild, corruption consuming his body. For a heartbeat, he wasn't smiling—he was desperate.
He dropped his weapon, grabbing her hand. "Not yet. You don't get to leave yet."
The System glitched violently.
> [Law Broken.]
One timer has reached zero… but anchor detected.]
Override in progress…
Elara gasped as her timer froze at [0:00:00]. Still alive.
The Sleeper howled in rage as its body crumbled, dissolving into molten void. The cavern fell silent.
---
Aftermath
Aelric stood over her, his grin sharp again—but his body was broken. Half of him was no longer human. His corrupted side pulsed, black veins glowing, spreading down his chest.
Elara whispered weakly, "You saved me… but at what cost…?"
He laughed, coughing blood. "Cost? I don't pay costs. I just take loans."
Behind them, the Sleeper's body collapsed fully, its voice fading.
This is not the end… clocks cannot be broken forever…
The chamber fell silent.
---
To Be Continued…