A low, haunting humming snakes its way down a dimly lit corridor.

A figure in a robe emerges, commanding instant reverence. His followers part like a ripple in a pond, clearing a path for his procession. In sync with his steps, they lower their heads in a salute. The tension builds, their gazes magnetically drawn to the pedestal. As the leader reveals his face from under his hood, a wave of sorrow washes over the assembly, their hearts pounding in dread of the impending declaration.

?? "My children. My loyal soldiers. My friends. It is difficult... to say this. It breaks my heart for our situation. OUR GOD HAS LEFT US! STRIPPED US OF OUR PURPOSE!! I... no... WE feel lost— our choices! Our options are dwindling away as I speak!! So I purpose that we initiate the project "Salamander"."

A collective gasp tears through the crowd, their whispers bouncing off the cavern walls, uncertain about the decision.

Suddenly, a massive curtain of rocks descends upon the entrance.

The violent gusts extinguish the fragile wax candles, plunging the cavern into absolute darkness.

Emerging from the shadow, the leader strikes a match, its flickering glow casting a ghostly silhouette beneath his metallic jawline.

?? "I'm so sorry... my children. I can't live in a world without present preservation... so... I had no choice. Hear me oh great creator! Master of Earth and Water! Conjurer of the Fourth Land! The Son of God! Bringer! Terraformer of Universe! I, Gillard, present to you these sacrifices!"

In a panic, the followers scramble towards the blockade, their hands scratching fruitlessly at the cold, unyielding rubble... but their efforts were in vain.

The leader collapses, hitting the cavern floor with a thud. His form rusts rapidly, disintegrating into nothing more than a pile of dust.

A mystifying fog begins to permeate the room, lulling the followers into a deep slumber one by one.

The fog condenses, transforming into glistening droplets of silver-hued goo.

One of the Minutes, fighting off the enveloping sleep, strains to hear the discordant sounds of grinding and crunching metal echoing through the cave.

Time seems to freeze. Suddenly, four metallic coffins rest ominously in the heart of the cave. Each is emblazoned with a symbol representing a different element of a salamander: The Head. The Torso. The Limbs. The Tail.

With a mighty force, the lids of the coffins burst open, and from each emerges a humanoid salamander.

Their united roar reverberates through the cave, the deafening sound echoing around the world.

The Last Minute glances back, a wave of regret washing over her. She squares her shoulders, her determination hardening. There's no turning back now.

?? "You made your choice, Gillard. I will make mine. I won't let this world be destroyed just yet. Recently, I have gotten a taste of feel will. I intend to make sure it stays fresh."

________________________________________________________________________________________

Elsewhere, in the bustling hub of Hours Town, the busy clamor of construction comes to a sudden halt. Faces blanch in terror, and some individuals crumple to the ground, overcome by shock.

Mina, confused amidst the chaos, dashes towards the town's chief.

Mina "Err... Chief. What's going on?! What was that roar?!"

Tempus "No. No no no no no! This cannot be! This shouldn't happen until at least a thousand more years. Why?! WHY?!!"

Mina "What?! What do you mean, old man?! Tell me!"

Peepo "... He means The Reckoning. An event ordered by the grander creator, "Salamander". Peepo believes that this entity created our worlds and perhaps others for receiving the arrivals of legends. It is said that after a legend succeeds in their trials and leaves... the world will be destroyed in the far future."

Mina "Woah! Woah!! Woah!!! Do you mean like a deletion on the trials? Shit. That's fucked! Can we stop it?!"

?? "To stop it. You would need to defeat The Four Time Guards..."

They turn around. Recognition flares in Peepo's eyes— he knows her.

Peepo "Oh. It's you, Sandra. What are you doing here? Peepo asked."

Sandra "... I assumed you all heard the roar beyond the yonder. That was the doing of my foolish leader-

Tempus "He initiated the Reckoning! God! That self-absorbed maniac! I swear! I'll give him a hit or two in the afterlife!"

Sandra "For once, I agree. I have let his problems slide hundreds of times... but this one... I can't forgive."

Mina "So I just need to beat The Time Guards and The Reckoning won't happen. Right? Sounds easy enough! Bring me to them!"

Tempus "No you mustn't. They are beyond your capabilities. Your trial was only meant to unite the three tribes. Meaning fighting those four wasn't even part of it in the first place. I warning you, Mina! You might die!"

Mina "But I can't just let them go around killing everyone! I want to help-

Mina's inventory springs open and Piza shoots out like a lightning bolt. Alarmed, Piza adopts a defensive position, her keen eyes locked on to—

Piza "Errrrrrr... what the fuck is going on?"

Tempus "You may need to sit down for a bit."

The Chief imparts the grim happenings to Piza.

Piza "Let me get this straight! The Reckoning is happening right now! And SHE wants to go fight The Time Guards!... Sounds okay to me though I doubt she would win."

Mina "What do you mean by that?! I'm strong as fuck!"

Piza "You see I was kind of oddball within my tribe. I like collecting and learning historical shit. I learned that those fuckers are completely immune to time power and as tough as all hell."

Mina "Shit. That is a problem... What do we do?!"

Sandra "The answer is easy. Your new sabers. They are the key to killing them. You just need to train with them."

Mina "Ugh! You just sounded like Kanji! Which in some twisted way made me kinda relaxed. He would know what to do if he was here. Fine. How do I train?!"

Sandra "Follow me..."

Together, Mina, Piza, and Peepo trek with Sandra to a forgotten ruin nestled a few miles west of the town. This enigmatic structure contains a single chamber.

Mina "Wow. Saddest ruins I have ever seen. Wait... these carvings. That's me! Holy shit! It's a prophecy!"

Peepo "Kinda. Peepo thinks that is showing techniques that you can master."

Piza "Yeah. We can see that dipshit."

Peepo "What did you just call me?!"

Piza "D.I.P.S.H.I.T. Dipshit. You got a problem!"

Mina "Guys! Guys! I don't think this is a good time to be fighting."

Sandra "Don't worry about them. I have known them for a long time. This is normal hate-love behavior."

Mina "Hate love? That's a thing? I thought he said that they were rivals."

Sandra "Rivalry is just a translation for hate-love. Now. You should focus on your training."

Hours dissolve into minutes as Mina, much to Sandra's amazement, swiftly masters the quintet of techniques etched on the ancient wall. Piza and Peepo break into applause, celebrating her remarkable achievement.

Sandra "Damn. I'm glad that I decided not to fight you. How did you do that so fast?"

Mina "Oh. I have been around the world since I was little. I knew so much stuff that things like this become natural I guess."

Sandra "It must've been a lucky childhood. Good for you-

Mina "Shush! Please... don't talk about this again. Okay. It's a sore topic."

Sandra "Ah... I'm sorry. Then we should focus on your targets. I saw them fly off in different directions earlier. One of them is just a bit further north of town. The thing is that I don't know which is which. The four are very similar but you can only tell them apart with their weapons."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Mina "So do those guys have time powers or not?"

Sandra "Unfortunately yes which is quite unfair."

Mina "Fuck. Alright, that's gonna be tough. I think you guys should sit out of the fights."

Piza "What?! But we can fight too you know! Let us help!"

Peepo "Yeah! We can like distract or something! Peepo pleads."

Mina "... Okay. Just stop making those puppy eyes. They are my only weakness. Also, be careful and don't yourself killed. Got it?!"

Piza/Sandra/Peepo "Yes, my lord!"

Leaping onto her shoulders, Piza, Peepo, and Sandra brace themselves as Mina waves her hands. The twin floating sabers merge into a single blade, its size now large enough to bear her weight. With awe in their eyes, her companions witness their quick ascent through the clouds at breathtaking speed.

The colossal blade points downward, and they brace for impact.

Mina "There's our first target! Hold on, everyone!"

Sandra "Wait, my lord! That axe! Oh no! This isn't goo-

Chop

The guard's left arm is flung aside, releasing a shower of sparks, akin to a dazzling firework display.

Mina "Wooah! That was so sick! Now is our chance!"

Sandra "My lord! Wait! That guy's power is-

For an ephemeral heartbeat, reality quivers, flickering like a faulty light bulb. As the anomaly recedes, Mina discovers Sandra's body, embedded deep against a nearby tree.

Sandra "I'm alright... his power is... time... stop."

Sandra slumps, unconscious. Overcome by fury, Peepo and Piza launch themselves at the guard, who regards their assault with disinterest. Effortlessly, he counters their attacks with a clean sweep of his right leg.

Piza strays too close, and with brutal efficiency, the guard pins her against the ground.

Peepo "Hey! Let her go! You bastard!"

Peepo desperately hammers his bow against the guard's feet, but his efforts are useless. The Time Guard issues a low chuckle and, lifting his foot— and brings it down once more.

Wha- what?

His eyes widen in disbelief. A runic saber is lodged in his chest, slicing through his armor like it's butter. How? When?

Turning around, he sees Mina, a smirk dancing on her lips. She points her right hand to her other saber, plunged into the sand. The air around them pulsates.

In that chilling moment, he knew what happened.

Mina "Man for a time guard. You sure get distracted easily. Anyway, goodbye douchebag numero uno!"

Mustering all her strength, Mina yanks the saber upwards, cleaving the Time Guard in two. She races to Piza, hastily unrolling a bandage.

Mina "Oh I hope this works on patchwork. Here I go..."

Although it seemed to do little, Piza wakes up, proving resilient against her injuries.

Mina "Wow. That was a waste but I'm glad you're okay."

Piza "Of course, I'm okay. I'm made out of patchwork! You think a little stomp can hurt me! I didn't feel a thing! but never mind about me! What about Sandra?!"

Peepo "Oh! Peepo nearly forgot! Let's go!"

Rushing to the tree, they discover Sandra, not merely dead, but shattered. Piza and Peepo sob, extricating her fragments from the tree. Mina's eyes well up, a single tear escaping, but she quickly masks her sorrow.

Mina "Guys... we can fix her later. Let's go deal with the rest."

In silent agreement, Mina carefully stows the remnants of Sandra into her inventory.

Peepo "What do we do now?! Peepo feels scared because we don't know what powers the other three have."

Mina "The best thing we could do is observe their actions and collect info. That's what Kanji would say if he was here."

Piza "That name again. Who's this Kanji?"

Mina "No need to know. Come on. We don't have all day now. Wait, let me rephrase that... We don't have all future period now."

Heartened by her words, the duo's spirits lift a bit, and they follow Mina as she leads them further north.

Mina "Ummm... Piza... what's your weapon? I just saw you flinging your arms around during the last fight."

Piza "Wh-Wha-What?! I was just angry okay! My real weapon is this steel whip. Forget that. Do you know where we are going even?!"

Mina "No but I can feel my sabers vibrate when pointing in this direction."

Scaling a series of dunes, they soon cross paths with their second target— Another Time Guard. This one possesses a bag brimming with rocks, stones, and pebbles. An unsuspecting Second bandit attempts to rob the guard

With a nonchalant toss of a pebble, the guard turns the bandit into an explosion of fragments.

Peepo "What was that?! Peepo thought they only have time powers! Peepo thinks this is scary."

Mina "I think I know what's going on. The thing can probably speed up the action time of an object it has touched. Here's the plan. You two go in and run in opposite directions. Like really fast! Got it?! Leave the rest to me!"

With a shared nod, they launch into a sprint toward The Time Guard. He pauses, reaching into his bag of stones. His gaze locks onto Peepo, but a sudden, resounding THUD startles him. Leaping back, he sees Mina, her saber plunged into the ground.

Brandishing her machete, she directs a steely gaze at the guard.

She holds her machete and points at the guard.

Mina "Give up! You can't use your powers-

A stone hurls into her stomach.

A pebble lodges in her neck.

A rock buries itself in her liver.

Her vision dims fast, yet she manages to pull out three syringes. Piza lashes at the guard's back, stunning him long enough for her and Peepo to snatch the syringes and quickly whisk Mina away.

They plunge the needles in...

Mina "Aaaah! Fuck!! That was painful! Dammit! Shit! That guy can still throw them like a bullet. What is he doing right now?!"

Peepo "He is... errr... trying to take out your saber."

Mina "Wait, really? That's perfect!"

Emerging from their hiding place, Mina and her companions step forward. Mina casts a glance at the twin sabers, one grounded and the other hovering above her shoulder. They gleam brilliantly, their gemstones ticking with vibrant light. The floating blade catapults itself at the speed of light, merging with its twin in a dazzling explosion, wiping out The Second Time Guard.

Mina "Ureka! Mission two complete!-

A torrent of screams echoes from the distance.

Overcome with dread, the group rushes back to witness a scene of destruction. A caravan, once ferrying goods from the Second's territory, now lies in ruins. Corpses are scattered around.

Piza and Peepo struggle to suppress their urge to vomit.

From the rumbles, another Time Guard ascends. Spotting them instantly, he starts a slow approach, his cane echoing his every step.

Mina "Wait, what is it doing? We should run. Guys-

A distant look clouds Peepo and Piza's eyes, their minds seemingly adrift. Yet, they bear contented smiles.

Mina "Awww, that's kinda cute but now is not the time!"

Mina stows them into her inventory and sets off in a sprint. A sense of dread sweeps over her. Wait, where is this place? Snow? Oh no...

Mina "Wait, why am I here?! Why am I in Mountain Everest?! This feels... familiar."

Voices float down from a higher peak—a man's and a woman's. She knows those voices.

Mina "Mom... Dad... I... errr... I... Ummm... I want to."

The scene shifts suddenly. Now, she's ensconced in a hotel room. Her parents sit at a desk, their expressions serious. She hesitates, then takes a seat.

?? "Anything, you want to say, young lady."

Mina "Dad... I... I can explain!"

Dad "No, excuses! You think you can just run off one day! YOU ARE AN EXPLORATH! WE RAISED YOU AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY US! You have to take over the family! And I better not see you with any of your friends! Especially, that African guy!"

Mina "NO! This isn't real! My father would never say that! This is all an illusion!! AN ILLUSION!!!"

Shaking off her reverie, Mina returns to the moment, catching The Time Guard off-guard. As he lunges to stab her, she snaps his cane in two. Raising her machete high, the two sabers unite with it, shaping a magnificent greatsword.

With a single, swift stroke, the third Time Guard is vanquished.

Mina "... feeling the past and future. You are the scariest one so far. I hope the next bastard won't have mental shit like you."

Mina releases Peepo and Piza from her inventory.

Peepo "Woah! You did it!"

Piza "Nice! Now only one more to go-

Suddenly, a figure surges from the ground, seizing Mina's machete. It separates the two sabers before shattering the blade.

Mina "What the hell?! That was a gift from Azan! You bastard!"

The Time Guard whips out his katana, launching a slice. Mina maneuvers to dodge— but doesn't? A wave of shock sweeps over her. Panicking, she lunges and strikes at his chest— but it didn't land.

Mina "What?! I swore that hit! What's going on?!"

She thrusts one of her sabers into the ground— or does she?

Piza "... Ah I get it! This guy can switch timelines!"

Mina "You should have said that earlier! If he can do that then there's a way around it. There is info that the guy doesn't know so here... I go! Technique number five!"

Seizing her saber, Mina drives it through her own chest. The Guard snickers at her seeming foolishness and leaps forward, blade descending. With her bare hands, Mina halts his assault.

Mina "Hahaha! This feels like a cheat ability. At a 50/50 chance of life or death, not only do I have time-resistant power but also I have... all the combined power that I will ever have."

With a forceful palm strike, she meets the Guard. The impact of her overwhelming force obliterates the last Time Guard.

Mina "Finally... it's all over!"

WHO SAID IT WAS OVER? YOUR TRIAL HAS JUST BEGUN.

A surge of sweat trails down her temple. This fear... it's suffocating. She gathers Peepo and Piza, fleeing with all her might. But a dread gnaws at her; she knows IT is still there. She tries to place her companions into her inventory, but...

|Access denied|

Her gaze drifts skyward.

SURPRISE. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MY FORM, YOU LITTLE SHIT? ABSOLUTE PESTS TO MY BEING. MY SOUL. IF ONLY I COULD KILL YOU RIGHT NOW BUT THAT IS AGAINST THE CODE. SO I'LL DO THIS INSTEAD.

A pair of chains, composed of water, ensnare her arms. Another pair, formed of earth, fasten onto her legs.

A strange force wrenches Peepo and Piza away from her.

Mina "No! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! STOP! DON'T HURT THEM! DON'T-

Hundreds of earthen spikes erupt from the ground, brutally shredding their bodies. Tears of rage and despair stream down Mina's face as she struggles against her binds.

The chains dissolve.

She rushes to her fallen companions, managing to stow their remains into her now responsive inventory.

Fury surges through her as she hurls an angry challenge at the creature hovering above.

She removes her sabers from her chest and throws them at the creature.

YOU DARE USE MY OWN BLADES AGAINST ME! YOU INSOLENT LITTLE INSECT! FINE. YOU HAD ME NO CHOICE!

A gust of purple wind engulfs Mina, and when it subsides, a blue tattoo marks her neck. A clock. Its hands move with agonizing slowness.

Mina "Oh fuck! What have I done-

|Congrats on completing your trial, Aspect of Time! Due to strange circumstances. You will be given an additional reward along with the regular one. You now have access to The Forge. Please put any item as much as you want into this panel and you will get the combined result.|

Mina "That's really good. Maybe I could... no they wouldn't like being fused together. Ummm... maybe..."

She puts in her broken machete and her remaining healing supplies. Well except for one syringe which she uses to patch the hole in her chest.

She stores her fractured machete and the remainder of her healing supplies The Forge. Reserving a single syringe. She employs it to patch up the wound in her chest.

|You have obtained The Heart Striker (This machete can heal or hurt those it touches and can restore itself indefinitely|

|You have obtained Vortex Battery (Mark Speed)|

A portal appears before her. With a heavy heart, she steps through, her spirit burdened by the loss of three friends.