Beam——!!
Fooisshh—
Another False Rival has been disintegrated.
Not a single sign of the Rival can be made out.
It's not like they are not aware of the Rival's position but it's too volatile and chaotic, even if they find one version of them, it is clear at a glance that they are not the original target.
But to look for the orginal in this vast realm, is very difficult, the timelines will keep expanding, while the Rival can do so freely for not being a Transcendental being, they cannot.
At the level of a Transcendent, time itself becomes a deadly concept to play with. Very few even dare to do so, and even among them, those who do so frequently are maniacs who might not even be originals anymore.
That is the terror of Time, and this weak thing has angered it, because of it, they have been trapped in a game of 'Cat and Mice' as Time claims, if the Mice escapes then it's their turn to replace them as the Mice, and a new Cat would be introduced.
But compared to that Rival, they can easily encounter their doubles, triples or even &=-+!.
To fail here, is to forfeit their individuality and be trapped eternally in a game of 'Cat and Mice'.
But here the countless ever-increasing mice are also their bane and shield against the Cat.
Though they would never let the situation spiral into that outcome.
Not long after they find another False Rival, but this time, they have an Idea, why not let the weak Rival face the terror of a Double.
...
I walk, still clenching my fists so hard, I can practically feel the last of my strength draining from this alone.
It's been exactly 32 hours since this whole chase started, my next way out should be Road 33, if I am careful, I can probably open a passage to it using my guesswork.
I have been running this entire time mapping and trying to make out the exact spot where it would appear, at first I thought 'why not jump to a iteration of the future with exactly 33 O'clock and leave through there'
But something that obvious has already been destroyed by Golden Eye, long ago.
I thought maybe it would prepare a trap or something similar like usual, but to completely take away any immediate escape route, either they are thorough or terrified of failing whatever condition Time has imposed on them.
Nom Crunch
The last piece of the energy bar enters my system, though whether it could make me run for another hour is doubtful, it did help me come this far.
Now, I have to wait or run for this entire hour. It's gonna be the most intense one, the Eye is probably about to drop it's trump card right now.
"Huu..."
Step
My eyes narrow.
Step Step Step
I check my heartbeat rate on the digital bracelet under my left hand.
[110 bpm]
Its at standard range for now. Though if I was about to panick, I would already know, but looking at it this way, makes me feel much more in control.
All I have to do is maintain a balance or lower it down accordingly if the numbers get too high.
Step Step Step Step Step Step...
Hoh... So that's what it intends to do.
In my way, I can see at least see 5 humans, all carrying roughly the same appearance as me, just that a few look injured, some covered in blood, and only one looks in the best possible condition, even better than mine.
There is no sign of the Golden Eye, it seems it has finally started.
As I have encountered my doppelgangers, it should have also alerted it's own doubles, it's in hiding right about now, but I can't count on this stalemate for much long.
It's getting dangerous, I'll have to finish this fast.
I plunge my hand inside the toolkit, mirroring me, the four other me's do the same.
The last one, doesn't even bother and just stands there expectantly, as if waiting for a show, that is about to air in a few minutes.
I feel a cold sheen on my fingertips and pull it out immediately.
Ting~
An aluminium bat.
Just a moment ago, I was about to be hit, if not blocked at the last second— by a Dart Gun.
Next, three more long ranged weapons show themselves.
The me in the middle, was the one who fired at me.
Immediately after blocking it, two more ranged attacks fly my way—
The me in the left corner of the Road, snaps the scissor on his hand.
I duck and the board behind me is slashed upto 3/4th of his length.
Before I can make any new move, the second attack lands on me, it's a red target, that attaches itself on my neck.
"Fuuckk..."
Using the bat as a shield I delfect the darts that the first one keeps shooting, while making as much distance from the five as possible, especially the Scissor holder who has a range of 15 meters.
Stop-
I change my direction midway and slowly creep away from the five this time, until I feel a boundary line, and immediately thrust my aluminium bat outside it.
It starts glowing, like a star, the brightness feels blinding but atleast it helps me in covering their vision.
I take it back inside, and check it's condition— it's been chipped in countless places, whatever it was, it damaged everything inside and out, like high intensity radiation.
I can't go north any further. This seems to be as far as my I can go, anything beyond it will be pulverized.
Likely beyond this, every iterated Road is being watched by atleast one Golden Eye.
Alright, let's pick up the pace.
I open my clenched fist— revealing the small compass in my hand since the start of this operation.
The compass shows me three directions, depending on the possibility and risks that I might have to take.
But to activate it, and use it as a true paranormal Artifact, one has to hold it exactly at the beginning of an event, and it only works for a single event, at a time, it won't work in a new event.
After that, just leaving it there could alone show you possible directions, but the more you travel around the event point and cover, the greater the possibilities it will show you.
The three possiblities are divided into-
Good | Neutral | Bad
This is the first level.
If you run around more while holding it, then it will show you new possibilities with an elevated rank, according to your choices, and your feats from using it before so far-
If you pass a certain threshold, then you will get to have the second level possibilities-
Great | Perfect | Terrible
There's another level, but I am never gonna make it reach that point.
The possibilities this time are around the second level.
Great Choice: It's simply a very easy way forward, depending on my choices so far and my own personal ability, a straight forward and safe path is shown to me.
But my goal is to get the Artifact. I can't stop at just escaping from here.
Perfect Choice...
Hah... Let's do it, the time is approaching fast.
[32:35:56 OST Sun-Moon Age]