He ducked into the darkness, the sounds of pursuit close behind. The alley twisted and turned, forcing Lucian to slow his pace to avoid crashing into walls. His lungs burned, legs screaming with exertion.

"We've got him cornered!" A voice called out, too close for comfort.

He pressed on, desperation lending him speed. He turned yet another corner and was met with a towering wall, blocking his path. The guards were closing in, gripping their spears tightly as they approached him. Trapped and with no escape, he had only two options: fight or die.

Lucian tore off the dress, casting it aside as he drew his dagger. The weapon felt small and inadequate in his hand, a poor match for the guards' heavy armor, shields, and long spears. He knew his odds were grim, but he refused to surrender without a fight.

One of the guards spoke up. "Give up now, and you might just live to see another day."

Lucian remained silent, his jaw clenched as he raised his dagger in defiance. The guard shook his head, a sneer twisting his lips.

"You're not going to win this, boy. You're outmatched and outnumbered. Don't be a fool."

The guard's words filled Lucian's own thoughts. He was at a severe disadvantage, and the chances of emerging victorious were slim to none. A sense of despair threatened to overwhelm him, the reality of his situation sinking in like a lead weight in his gut.

But just as all hope seemed lost, Lucian felt a sudden presence, a familiar ache in his head that signaled the nearby presence of a god. His eyes darted upward, searching the rooftops until they landed on a figure standing at the edge, arms folded and gaze locked on him.

It was Kyra, his eyes glowing yellow in the darkness. Lucian felt a tug at his mind, Kyra's voice echoing inside his head.

"Use your time-slowing ability. It's your only chance."

Lucian shook his head, responding through the mental link. "I can't. I'm not in god mode. It won't work."

"You can do it in this fight. Just concentrate, and you'll be able to use it for a few seconds. Trust me."

"Will my body able to handle the power?"

"Yes, only for a few seconds. So use it wisely."

Lucian hesitated, doubt creeping in. He had never used his power outside of god mode before, and the idea of relying on it in such a critical moment filled him with uncertainty. But as the guards closed in, he realized he had no other option.

Taking a deep breath, he focused his mind, reaching for the well of power within him. As the guards lunged forward, their spears aimed at his heart, he felt a sudden surge of energy, his eyes flashing yellow as the world around him seemed to slow to a crawl. Time stretched and distorted, the guards' movements becoming sluggish and exaggerated. Lucian could see every detail with startling clarity - the flex of their muscles, the glint of light on their armor.

Moving with a speed that defied reality, he ducked under the first guard's spear, the weapon passing harmlessly over his head, then he pivoted, dagger flashing out to slash at the guard's exposed wrist before time returned to its normal state. The man cried out in pain, his grip on the spear faltering.

"How…how is that possible," asked the other guard, shocked at what he saw. "There is no way that a human can move that fast."

Lucian stood frozen, his eyes fixed on his weapon in his hand. The world around him seemed to blur as his mind grappled with what had just transpired. He had never been able to access his time-slowing ability outside of god mode before. It shouldn't have been possible, and yet here he stood, having just done the impossible.

His gaze drifted upward, seeking out the figure on the rooftop. Kyra stood there, motionless. He offered no words, no explanation for what he had done. His face remained an impassive mask, revealing nothing of his thoughts or motivations.

Why was Kyra helping him? Wasn't he supposed to be allied with Aristos? The pieces didn't fit together, and Lucian found himself struggling to understand the larger game at play. Was this all part of some grander scheme? Or had Kyra's loyalties shifted for reasons he couldn't fathom?

The young warrior's thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind, each question leading to a dozen more. But as quickly as the doubts had come, Lucian pushed them aside. Now wasn't the time for questions or second-guessing. He was in the middle of a fight for his life, cornered by guards who would gladly see him dead or imprisoned. Whatever Kyra's reasons, whatever game was being played behind the scenes, his intervention had given him a chance at survival.

Lucian tightened his grip on the dagger and refocused on the immediate threat before him. Only one guard left, and he was regaining his composure, readying himself to attack once more. He could worry about the larger implications later. For now, all that mattered was getting out of this alive.

He shifted his stance, muscles coiled and ready to spring into action. The newfound power thrummed beneath his skin. Lucian didn't fully understand this ability, didn't know its limits or how long it would last. But he knew one thing with absolute certainty: he would use every advantage at his disposal to survive this fight.

The guard raised his shield, positioning his spear at the ready. Lucian stood his ground, eyes locked on his opponent. He knew he couldn't afford to make the first move. Patience was key.

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With a guttural battle cry, the guard lunged forward, thrusting his spear towards his chest. Lucian's muscles tensed, his body reacting on instinct. He dodged to the right, the spear's tip whistling past him. Using his momentum, he circled his opponent, looking for any weak spots in the guard's defense.

The guard pivoted, keeping the boy in his sights. "You're quick, boy," he growled. "But you can't dance forever."

Lucian didn't waste breath on a response. He needed to conserve his energy and focus on finding the right moment to strike. The power Kyra had unlocked within him thrummed beneath his skin, but Lucian held back. Using it too soon could be disastrous.

The guard pressed his attack, lunging forward with a series of quick thrusts. Lucian backpedaled, sidestepping each strike by mere inches.

"Stand still and face me like a man!" the guard roared.

Lucian's lips curled into a humorless smile. "And make it easy for you? I don't think so."

He knew he couldn't keep this up indefinitely. The guard's armor protected him from fatigue, while Lucian could feel his muscles beginning to burn. He needed an opening, a split-second chance to turn the tables.

The guard overextended on his next thrust, leaving his flank exposed for a heartbeat. Lucian's eyes widened. This was it.

He reached deep within himself, calling upon his power. The world around him began to slow, colors becoming more vivid as time itself seemed to stretch. The guard's movements became languid, his spear inching through the air like it was moving through molasses.

Lucian surged forward, dagger raised for a killing blow. But something went wrong.

The slowing effect vanished as suddenly as it had appeared. Time snapped back to its normal flow, leaving Lucian disoriented and off-balance. The guard's spear, no longer slowed, grazed his shoulder. Pain exploded through his arm as the blade bit into flesh.

He stumbled, dagger clattering to the ground as he clutched his injured shoulder. Warm blood seeped between his fingers, and he gritted his teeth against the pain. What had happened? Why had his power failed him?

"Not so nimble now, are you?" the guard sneered, advancing on Lucian's prone form.

He tried to summon the power again, but it slipped away like smoke through his fingers. Panic began to set in as he realized he was truly defenseless. There was no time to dwell on his failed ability or Kyra's disappearance. He needed to act, and fast, or he'd be joining the dead in a matter of seconds.

His eyes darted to the right, catching sight of the fallen guard's abandoned weapons. The spear and shield lay tantalizingly close, offering a lifeline in his desperate situation. Lucian's brain warred with itself – should he prioritize defense and go for the shield, or take a chance on offense with the spear?

Before he could make a conscious decision, the remaining guard let out a roar and charged forward, his own spear aimed at his heart. In that split second, Lucian's body moved on pure instinct. He threw himself into a roll, narrowly avoiding the guard's thrust. His hand closed around the shaft of the fallen spear as he came up into a crouch.

Without thinking, without aiming, Lucian hurled the spear with all his might. The weapon whistled through the air, its trajectory imperfect but driven by desperation and luck. Time seemed to slow as he watched its path, his breath caught in his throat.

The spear found its mark with a sickening thud, burying itself deep in the guard's eye socket. The man's battle cry turned into a choked gurgle as he staggered backward, his hands rising to clutch at the shaft protruding from his face. Blood streamed between his fingers as he collapsed to his knees, then fell face-first onto the alley's filthy cobblestones.

Lucian stood frozen, his chest heaving as he struggled to process what had just happened. The guard's body twitched once, twice, and then lay still. The alley fell silent save for his ragged breathing and the distant sounds of the city.

He took a step forward, then another, until he stood over the guard's corpse. Blood pooled around the man's head, seeping into the cracks between the stones. Lucian stared, his mind reeling as the full weight of his actions crashed down upon him.

"I... I killed him," he whispered. "He's dead. I killed a man."

His hands shook as he ran them through his hair, smearing blood – his own and the guard's – across his face. Lucian had trained for combat, had prepared himself for the possibility of taking a life, but the reality of it was so much more visceral and horrifying than he could have imagined.

The guard's unseeing eye stared up at him, accusing in its emptiness. Lucian felt bile rise in his throat. This man had been alive moments ago – a person with thoughts, feelings, maybe even a family waiting for him to return home. And now he was gone, snuffed out by his own hand.

"It was self-defense," he muttered, trying to convince himself. "He would have killed me. I didn't have a choice."

But the words rang hollow in the silent alley. Choice or not, the weight of a life taken would be his to bear. He should move, should flee before more guards arrived, but his legs wouldn't obey. He remained rooted to the spot, grappling with the enormity of what he had done.

For the first time since this ordeal began, Lucian felt truly alone. Kyra had abandoned him, his newfound power had failed, and now his hands were stained with blood.

"What have I become?" He whispered to the empty air. "What am I going to do now?"

"What else are you going to do?" A familiar voice cut through the silence, startling Lucian from his stunned reverie.

He whirled around to find Kyra approaching him. The god's face was unreadable as he placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I killed him," Lucian said, his voice cracking. The words felt heavy on his tongue, as if speaking them aloud made the act more real.

Kyra's grip tightened slightly. "That you did," he said. "And you did what you had to. To survive. There is nothing wrong with that. You were just defending yourself."

Lucian shook his head, fighting against the logic. "There must have been another way. I could have... I don't know, knocked him out, or..."

"There was no other way," Kyra cut him off. "Death is part of life. This guard was your enemy. He would not have hesitated to end your life. You did what you had to do."

Lucian's gaze drifted back to the fallen guard, his stomach churning. "Is this... is this how it always feels? To kill?"

"Taking a life, though many may find it despicable while others pleasurable, becomes necessary if you want to live in a world like this. It's not meant to feel good. The fact that it troubles you speaks to your humanity."

A thought suddenly struck him, and Lucian turned to face the god. "Are you... are you going to stop me from escaping?"

"I'm not."

"But why? Aren't you supposed to be working with Aristos? Why help me at all?"

"I’m not helping you. I’m simply not meddling with human affairs. Like I’ve said before, whatever you do is irrelevant to my true goals."

"And what goals are that?"

"My goals are my own. I don’t need to tell you anything, my friend."

Lucian's mind reeled with questions, but he knew there wasn't time for a lengthy discussion. "What about my ability? Why did it fail me?"

"Your power is unstable. Your time slowing ability is too powerful to handle by your human form, but that doesn’t mean you can’t control it," Kyra explained. "It will take time and practice to master. Don't rely on it too much."

Lucian nodded, glancing at the alley's entrance. "I need to go. More guards could arrive any minute."

"Then go," Kyra said, stepping back. "But remember this moment. It will not be the last difficult choice you'll have to make."

With a final nod, Lucian turned and began to run, leaving the scene of his first kill behind.