Chương 107: A New Timeline

Xia threw open the gigantic purple gate before her. An instant later, she found herself in a completely black room. There were no walls, no ceiling, and no floor. Only absolute darkness. The only thing she could distinguish was herself, as though reality existed only as far as her presence reached. She looked around. There wasn't a single point of reference. The silence was so profound that it was almost deafening. She began to walk. The only sound was the echo of her sandals' heels resounding through the void.

"This should be the dimension created by the Mages of Dawn…" she murmured.

"From here, they judged those who dared perform rituals capable of breaking the laws of the world and the universe". She continued forward, guided more by instinct than by sight. After several steps, a second door appeared before her. It was different from the first. Entirely golden. Motionless. Solemn. Xia opened it. Beyond the threshold stretched a blinding white expanse, completely white, devoid even of shadows. The grass was white. The sky was white.

She tried to look toward the horizon, but the light was so intense that she couldn't make out anything. The only thing she could see was a massive, perfect magic circle standing at the center of that space. It, too, was white. Without hesitation, she stepped inside it.

"This spell can only be cast by someone who possesses a power capable of transcending all logic and every limit. A power that borders on the divine". This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Her voice echoed through the silence, as though the place itself were listening.

"Anyone else would die the very instant they set foot here". She took a deep breath.

"But even someone capable of casting it…has limits". She raised her head.

"The timeline I create will last only a few minutes. It may differ from the current one by only a single condition. Only one. And that condition must remain within the bounds of possibility". She slowly clenched her hands.

"I can't ask for invincibility. I can't ask for the impossible. I can't even ask for what I truly desire". She paused briefly.

"But asking that the Legendary Sword of Time won't function within the new timeline…that should be allowed". The silence remained absolute.

"The new timeline will collapse shortly after its creation. It will merge with the current one and the condition will cease to exist. The sword will function again". She lowered her gaze. Her heart was beating faster and faster.

"There's only one real question". She closed her eyes.

"Will Felicity and the others be able to stop Lancelot during those few minutes?" She remained motionless for several moments. Then a faint smile appeared on her face.

"They've always relied on me". She took a slow breath.

"Now it's my turn to rely on them". She raised both hands toward the sky and traced a triangular symbol through the air. The immense white expanse trembled violently. An instant later, a pillar of pure, devastating white energy struck her head-on. The pain was immediate. Absolute. It wasn't physical pain. It was something that transcended every earthly experience. It couldn't be compared to fire. Nor to being flayed alive. Nor to any other torture imaginable.

Being burned alive would have been less than one billionth of what she was experiencing. It was a pain capable of shattering the mind and annihilating anyone's will. But Xia was not just anyone. Her determination and ambition were great enough to endure it. She screamed. Her eyes wide open. Her mouth stretched in an inhuman scream. Her body twisted as every fiber of her existence was forced beyond its limits. She had always endured pain. Thanks to her regeneration, she had suffered fatal wounds countless times.

And yet, that torment still tore screams from her that seemed to come from the very depths of her soul. But that immense price was not paid in vain. The new timeline was created. Its only condition was simple. Within that timeline, Lancelot's Legendary Sword of Time would not function. Felicity looked around, suddenly alarmed.

"Where the hell did Xia go?"

"I don't know", Leah replied, confused.

"She was right beside me a moment ago". Lancelot gave a faint smile.

"Your mage friend has abandoned you". His voice remained calm.

"She was the only one I truly considered dangerous. As for the rest of you… you'll be little more than a pastime". Felicity wasted no time. She drew both swords and dashed forward. A barrage of wind slashes tore through the air. Lancelot deflected them without difficulty, taking a single step back. But Felicity didn't slow down. She continued pressing him, blow after blow, never giving him the slightest chance to breathe. Lancelot managed to block almost every attack. Almost.

One blade pierced through his abdomen, opening a deep wound. Blood immediately began to pour out. He staggered back, gritting his teeth.

"With a wound like this, I could lose consciousness". His decision was immediate.

"I'd better rewind time and avoid it". He activated his sword. Nothing happened. The smile vanished from his face.

"What…?" He slowly lowered his gaze to the blood that continued to flow.

"Why…nothing happened?" Felicity advanced once more. Her blades were already poised to strike again.