Nolan was completely bewildered.

The story he had just heard wasn’t at all what he expected, let alone the strange offer that had been presented to him.

His mind was trying to process every detail, but confusion was taking over—there was just too much information.

The story of the apprentice, her isolation, the betrayal, and that fateful wish to go back in time to save her master…

Even though he didn’t have a physical body, he felt like he was drenched in sweat from everything he had just experienced.

A lively female voice interrupted his thoughts.

“I hope you’ll live up to our expectations, Nolan,” she said, with an almost teasing tone, “and… that you’ll have lots of kids, of course.”

Before Nolan could respond, a male voice cut in, coldly.

“You’re overstepping,” he reprimanded his companion.

Despite the rebuke, Nolan barely heard it.

Again, even though he didn’t have a physical form, he could feel tears welling up in his eyes, but he held them back, refusing to break in front of these strange entities.

“Enjoy your power,” the female voice said, this time softer, almost a whisper. “We’ll meet again.”

Before Nolan could say or do anything else, the void around him disappeared.

The white surroundings vanished in a blink, and suddenly he was back in his room, regaining consciousness.

Reality hit him immediately.

Something cold pressed against his throat.

When he opened his eyes, the first thing he noticed was a knife against his skin.

Next to him, standing completely still, was a hooded figure dressed in black.

The threat was clear.

With a jolt, Nolan realized that time was frozen.

Without wasting another second, he quickly moved, dodging the knife and rolling off the bed.

His mind was buzzing with rage.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

He had barely processed what he had just gone through, and now he was under attack again.

And the worst part… if that man had gone through with the attack…

‘Damn it, was all that crap actually real?’ Nolan thought, frustrated.

He couldn’t stand it.

Furious, he raised his fist and, in one swift motion, punched the assassin square in the jaw.

When Nolan’s fist connected, he felt an unexpected force—far more than he had ever felt before.

The assassin was launched toward the ceiling with brutal speed, crashing with such force that the sound echoed through the room.

The dagger clattered to the floor with a metallic ring.

But Nolan didn’t have time to think about what had just happened.

Something else caught his attention.

There were two more figures, hidden in the shadows of the room.

They were dressed in the same black cloaks as the first assassin, and both seemed ready to strike.

‘So there were more of them...’ Nolan thought.

Without hesitation, Nolan slowed down time again.

Everything around him moved in slow motion as he advanced toward the nearest one.

With a precise movement, he slid the knife across the assassin’s throat, cutting the skin with terrifying ease.

Time continued to flow slowly as blood spurted from the wound.

But the second assassin reacted quicker than expected.

As Nolan’s knife slit the first one’s throat, the second was already in motion, raising his weapon to strike Nolan from behind.

However, Nolan used his ability again.

Time froze once more, allowing him to dodge the attack, and with a swift turn, he sliced the second assassin’s throat as well.

Stopping time now felt different…

It no longer felt so heavy...

Everything was much smoother.

He felt more at ease every time he paused time in the world.

It was as if…

Time itself now belonged to him.

The sound of metal hitting the floor filled the room. The three assassins lay motionless.

Nolan’s breathing was heavy, but he had won.

Even though he had gained this new power… it still tired him.

But between that and being dead…

Suddenly, he heard noise from outside.

Voices.

One of them sounded familiar.

The princess was calling for the guards, her voice filled with urgency.

Nolan rushed to the door, opening it quickly.

The prince was outside, fighting two guards.

The scene was chaotic, but Nolan didn’t hesitate for a second.

He sped up, slowing time once again, and lunged toward the nearest guard.

In a calculated move, he drove his knife into the enemy’s back, aiming directly for the heart.

The guard barely had time to react before he dropped dead to the floor.

The other guard, surprised, turned toward Nolan, ready to strike.

But the prince took advantage of the opening and finished him off, driving his sword through the man’s chest with a deadly thrust.

Everything went silent for a moment.

The healers and the princess, who had witnessed the scene, seemed shaken by what had just happened.

Despite being used to seeing fatal wounds because of their profession, the speed and brutality of the fight had left them in shock.

However, after a few seconds, they regained their composure.

“How are you, Nolan?” asked the prince, wiping the blood off his sword.

The princess, still nervous, looked at him expectantly, waiting for his answer.

Nolan, breathing heavily and still feeling the adrenaline coursing through him, glanced around.

For a second, he looked at the bodies, the chaos, and then lifted his gaze toward the prince.

“Where is Emily?” Nolan asked directly.

Even though the girl in the story from that world didn’t look like Emily, it was obvious that it was her.

It had to be her.

But… why had Emily done something like that in that world?