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(Chief's Perspective)

The cold wind swept across the night sky like invisible blades, cutting through the stillness. The breeze hit my face, dragging me back to reality... to this damn reality. I looked down at where my arm is; despite having been severed, I was able to recover it. Every time I tried to move it, the ghost of that limb forced me to remember her... that damn warrior. Frustration has consumed me since that day. How is it possible that she... a mere warrior... left me in this state?

I could see these disgusting bandages covering my entire body. My subordinate managed to speed up the initial healing and removed my severe injuries, almost performing a miracle by restoring my arm and other damaged parts of my body. But he told me my body would still need time to fully recover. The bandages would help stabilize the wounds and prevent infection during that time. However, since I wasn't treated immediately, the scars will remain until the day I die...

Damn it! I still don't understand. How was I unable to control the situation? How did everything fall apart so quickly? She did whatever she wanted with me, as if I were nothing more than a spectator in my own battle. At no point did I feel I had control of the fight, and that's what bothers me the most.

I broke a small wooden table that was next to me.

Never, in my entire life, had I lost a battle. Never. And now, for the first time, I find myself defeated... and in that moment, I was mutilated. All because I let my guard down. I thought that having part of the power over time would make me invincible, and it did... until that day.

What the hell is the point of this power if any random warrior could surpass me?

I looked at my arm, as if the answer were hidden within it. I had it all... or so I thought. The power of time... what a farce! It is nothing more than an empty title, a lie I told myself and believed. I always knew this power had limitations, but I never thought those limitations would destroy me like this...

I wish... I wish this power could grow, evolve, like the others. But no, this damn ability is stagnant, tied to a mediocre fate... just like me.

My thoughts evaporated in an instant when I heard applause behind me.

Unknown: Wow, Chief, you seem very thoughtful lately... Ooh... you don't look so good, Chief.

A mocking voice said from the shadows.

I looked at the man hiding in the darkness of the balcony's corner.

Chief: Morvan... It's you. Let me remind you, you also had your face burned...

Morvan: Jo... That must have really shaken you for you to use my name. Though I'd recommend you keep a cool head, Chief. As for my wound, I can heal it at any time, but I like scars; they make someone look more imposing and terrifying.

He said this while pointing to his burned face.

But, upon seeing my expression, he changed his mind.

Morvan: Although, if it bothers you, I can wear a mask.

He snapped his fingers, and a mask appeared on his face. After that, Morvan looked me over.

Morvan: I must give Kaldor credit; he managed to prevent you from completely losing your arm and parts of your body. You look a bit deformed and with a lot of scars overall, but the important thing is that you're whole, Chief. By the way... why is your hair a little white?

Chief: It's the consequence of using an ability I shouldn't have...

Morvan: I see... Aging, huh?

After that, Morvan yawned and walked away.

Morvan: Well, remember that what matters is the current situation, Chief, not our wounds.

He's right... I need to carefully think about everything that's happened. We suffered more losses than I had anticipated in the plans; that showed me two things. First, it wasn't a bad idea to come to this world after all. Second, despite the first point, the plan has completely stalled.

We've lost Azrael, Vespera, and Selene. Despite their incredible strength and power, they're dead. And Anshul is injured. This is quite serious; our goal is nearly impossible to achieve at this point...

What can I do?

Morvan started tossing a severed girl's head in the air, playing with it.

Morvan: Apart from your appearance, you also look quite worn out, Chief. I guess age doesn't come alone...

As he said this, I could feel his awful grin without even looking at him.

I'm aware that he says those things just to irritate me further.

Morvan: I suppose things aren't going the way you want...

Chief: I'm not in the mood for your jokes. You've got something in mind, don't you?

Morvan started laughing.

Morvan: I didn't think you'd want to turn to my advice. Well, I don't blame you; the situation calls for it. I have no problem giving you my advice; after all, I've had my fun thanks to you, Chief.

As he said this, he stopped playing with the girl's head and held it by the hair with one of his hands.

Chief: You don't seem very different from Nekros when it comes to entertainment.

Morvan: Oh, of course there's a big difference... and that is that I'm not crazy.

As he said this, he began to observe the head he was holding in his hand.

Certainly, his actions didn't lend much credibility to his words...

Morvan: Well, Chief, I suppose you didn't expect to have so many casualties in the attack against the Lunaris clan and in capturing the Dream Discerner.

Morvan jumped to the edge of the balcony to get a better view of the moon.

Morvan: However, don't let the casualties blind you. You and I know how difficult it is to kill the Moon Priestess and her Guardian. I would say it was a stroke of luck to eliminate both with only two casualties and one injured... Although, I suppose it's two injured if we count you... And if we add myself, we would be three injured... Anyway. As for the camp, it was successfully destroyed, and the Dream Discerner was captured. However, Azrael's death shouldn't have happened, in my opinion. That only tells us that there are strong beings hidden in this world that should not be underestimated.

Morvan conjured an object and threw it to the ground from where he stood.

Morvan: I would say the best thing right now is not to proceed with the original plan.

Chief: Are you suggesting we surrender? I didn't think you were that cowardly.

Morvan chuckled a little.

Morvan: I never said we should surrender. I just said it would be best not to follow the original plan.

Chief: You know that if we change the plan, nothing we've done will make sense. I don't understand why we shouldn't stick to it. It's true we had casualties, but if we try, we should be able to succeed.

Morvan: Certainly, if you try, you could succeed... but you could also fail. I'm sure the casualties we suffered reflect that continuing to move forward in the same way isn't a good idea. That's why I suggest changing the summoning.

This surprised me.

Chief: Change the summoning? There's no one stronger than our lady, you know that.

Morvan: That's true...

As he said this, he threw the girl's head onto the object on the ground.

Morvan: But we can summon someone close to the mistress, someone who is on par with her power... You know very well that we need a powerful reinforcement to keep moving forward. You also know that the Empire almost drove us to the brink of extinction. That's why we are so short-staffed.

Morvan stepped down from the edge of the balcony and traced a seal on the floor. The head began to float.

Morvan: In this way, we will have the help of someone strong enough to fulfill the original objective: to summon the mistress.

A body started to form around the girl's head, and after a few moments, it opened its eyes, but without life or emotion.

Morvan: You'll have a great ally on your side, and the chances of fulfilling the plan will increase dramatically.

As he said this, he took the girl by the shoulders, referencing the summoning you were supposed to carry out.

Jefe: How can you guarantee that this summoning won't betray us or that it will even be loyal to the mistress?

Morvan: Maybe we could summon the mistress's right hand. It was a being without many ambitions, as far as I remember.

Morvan began to inspect the girl carefully.

Morvan: We can try to control it if it gets out of hand. But, well, even if it sounds simpler in words, it's not easy to gather the resources for the summoning; I'm sure you are aware of that.

Jefe: That's true. I still wasn't exactly sure how I was going to summon the mistress given the current state... The good thing is that we have the Dreamer captured. What do you suggest?

Morvan smiled.

Morvan: Some time ago, you informed me that your scouts detected the arrival of one of the knights of the Order of Light in this world. Who knows what he is doing here, but the important thing is that the empress sent him alone.

Jefe: I'm sure you know that trying to kill one of those knights is madness in itself. What use would it be to kill them?

Morvan: Nothing is immortal in life... that's what I believe, and it's not necessarily about killing them. Though it doesn't matter if you do, we know that if killing one of them were easy, we wouldn't be discussing this. What really matters is their body; you know this world still doesn't have enough magic for any powerful ritual. However, the body of one of the knights of the Order of Light is a different matter: they are beings that possess pure energy.

Chief: I see where you're going with this.

The Chief stood up, looking up at the sky.

Chief: We need to focus on the knight and then on the ritual, taking advantage of this world's lack of resistance.

Morvan: Exactly. Doing this in Eldoria wouldn't be as easy due to the sacred alliance. Fighting multiple races at once isn't something the mistress's surviving army can handle right now. But thanks to the Empire's ambition to invade another world on their own, we might have a great opportunity. You can't waste it; focus on what's in front of you.

Chief: Does the empress know we are here?

Morvan: It doesn't seem to be the case. If she were, she would be making suspicious moves. Although I believe she is aware that several beings have crossed the portal to get here, still, stay cautious.

Chief: At some point, she will find out. We must act before she realizes.

I started to feel a little relief; I could already see the future more clearly.

Chief: Did you see anything that seems potentially dangerous for us here, aside from the eliminated targets?

Morvan: The empire's wizards are scattered in various places across the continent; apparently, they are searching for something, which is quite unusual. I thought they came to conquer this world. I suppose the empress has her priorities.

Chief: What could be more valuable than conquering this world for that empress?

Morvan: Who knows? For now, it's good that they're distracted. As for the humans, they haven't been exterminated yet; they're hiding somewhere like rats and can't even defend themselves against the wizards, so they won't be any resistance later on. Regarding potentially dangerous races, I haven't detected any yet, but it's best to be cautious. You know that just as we and the animals of our world passed through, any race could have crossed over, like the Lunaris clan.

Chief: You should have been more careful when causing that chaos in the portal...

Morvan: Mmm, I'm not a perfect being... Sometimes I make mistakes...

Morvan smiled as if he said that just for the sake of it. It was somewhat suspicious... Whatever... It doesn't matter.

Chief: Do you know how the situation is on the other side?

Morvan: Unfortunately, we lost communication with our men in Eldoria. We are basically without reinforcements, and we don't know if they can hold on until we return.

Chief: So we just have to succeed to solve all our problems...

Morvan: Hmm... By the way, Chief, what exactly happened to your arm? It's hard to believe that someone managed to injure you without you being able to avoid it, given your power...

The chief looked at his arm, recalling his fight.

(Flashback)

Night had fallen over the forest, illuminated only by the red light emitted by the moon. A haunting spectacle that reflected the fierce struggle about to take place between Umbra, the Vigilante of the Lunaris clan, and the man everyone referred to as the Chief. The air was thick with tension, and the silence of the forest was broken only by the echoes of the impending battle.

He, a man of unsettling calm, watched from a prudent distance. He knew that Umbra was not a foe to be taken lightly. Although he felt no real concern, he was determined to win; he knew that would resolve everything. He invoked his Chronomantic Sword, preparing to prevent any disaster. With the sword in hand, he became the embodiment of temporal power. His eyes, cold as ice, reflected an unyielding confidence.

Behind him, the necromancer Vespera was reciting a dark incantation to stabilize the catalyst. The Chief had ordered him to make the dead continue advancing, instructing him to focus on stabilizing the catalyst so they could push toward the heart of the clan once it was achieved. He would personally deal with the Vigilante. Vespera followed the orders, sending the dead forward before encasing himself in a shield and concentrating on the ritual, oblivious to the conflict that was about to unfold.

Umbra, shrouded in her shadowy mist, began to move gracefully among the trees, as if she were dancing. Her scythe in one hand, she was ready to unleash her power upon her adversary. The Chief, a cold and calculating man, waited with his Chronomantic Sword drawn, his eyes fixed on the dark figure approaching. He had to protect the necromancer Vespera, who was performing the dark ritual, and he would not allow anyone to disrupt their plans.

The tension in the air intensified as the two combatants met. Umbra lunged fiercely with her scythe, but the Chief blocked it effortlessly, using his agility and speed. The Vigilante, undeterred, employed her ability to manipulate darkness, creating illusions that confused the Chief as he tried to anticipate her movements. However, his serenity and control kept him steady.

The battle raged on, each strike echoing in the silence of the forest. Umbra moved swiftly; her poisoned daggers glimmered in the darkness as she tried to find an opening. In the midst of her aggressive onslaught, she lunged at the Chief with fierce determination, but he was not an easy opponent. With a skillful motion, he halted time around him, becoming the only entity capable of movement. Umbra, caught in the temporal distortion, found herself in a precarious situation.

The man moved, accelerating toward her in an instant; in a swift motion, he sliced her in half.

However, Umbra, trained to face adversity, had already anticipated that he would use some move or ability, as she had seen how he killed her men. Before attacking him directly, she activated her ability to create illusions, causing her shadow to attack him instead of herself. The Chief found himself cutting only Umbra's shadow, frustrating his attempts to harm the Vigilante.

With this, she realized that she couldn't attack him without being cautious of the power to stop time around him. It would be her end if she made a mistake; she had been very clever to use an illusion to test her abilities.

Umbra: Is that all?

Umbra asked with a challenging smile as the dark mist swirled around her, confusing him.

The air of the forest was thick with tension. The red moon shone ominously over the trees, casting unsettling shadows on the leaf-covered ground and over the corpses. The Chief was attacked by illusions one after another without pause.

After a while, Umbra, the strongest of the Vigilantes of the Lunaris clan, was breathing heavily; her heart raced in her chest. Seeing her companions lying lifeless around her didn't help her mental state much. Now, only she stood among the darkness, determined to confront a person she had categorized as monstrous.

The man, noticing her condition, smiled.

Chief: This will end soon, Vigilante. You should understand that the customs and way of life of this mediocre clan were their downfall.

The man announced, his calm voice echoing in the silence of the forest.

He was aware that prolonged fights were not his strength, but given the circumstances, his victory was assured.

Umbra, understanding what he meant, took a step forward, her scythe glinting in the moonlight. The darkness around her began to swirl, forming a cloak that partially concealed her.

Umbra: Even the moon has a shadow, a part that never sees the light. You are the same. You revel in your own brilliance, but you've ignored the shadow growing behind you. And when it finally catches up to you... it will be too late.

She replied, her voice firm, though she knew that each word was an empty declaration to the man.

Both charged into combat at the same time. The blade of the Chief's sword sliced through the air with a sharp sound as it sought the first strike. Umbra, with feline agility, moved to the side, evading the attack and countering with her scythe, its black edge cutting through the mist that surrounded her.

However, the Chief would not be so easily defeated. He decided to use his Temporal Vision. His eyes flashed with a supernatural glow, and in an instant, he saw the immediate future. He anticipated Umbra's movements as she made a swift lunge with her scythe, and he prepared to dodge.

As she advanced, the image of the future became reality. Her attack grazed past him, but determined not to let the opportunity slip away, he unleashed a precise strike with his sword. The blade gleamed with a timed brilliance, and Umbra barely managed to deflect the blow, feeling the wind of the slash close to her face.

As the battle intensified, so did the tension. Umbra was fighting not only against her enemy, but also against the fatigue that was beginning to accumulate in her body. She had to face her own fears and the despair that had taken over her mind after witnessing her comrades fall. However, her determination kept her standing.

The Chief began to use his Temporal Slash, creating rifts in the fabric of time that altered the reality around him. Umbra was forced to jump and roll on the ground to evade the slashes that not only affected her body, but also the very flow of the battle. Every time his sword cut through the air, it seemed to blur the boundaries of time, creating moments of confusion.

Aware that she was losing the advantage, Umbra took a moment to think. She needed a plan, something that could give her a chance. She realized her energy was growing weaker with each passing moment; something was draining her magic and power, and she needed to act quickly.

Umbra began to analyze everything she had observed since the battle started, but she still lacked enough information to complete her plan. She decided to sacrifice a few more seconds in the fight to confirm some things she needed to know about the man standing before her.

She resumed her offensive, and in a swift move, she lunged at him.

While fighting the Chief, Umbra carefully observed his combat style. She may not have been the strongest in her clan due to Mizuki's arrival, but she was undoubtedly the smartest. The Vigilante was clever and analytical, able to read the small signals in her opponent's behavior. During the first exchanges, she noticed certain patterns in the way the Chief used his abilities.

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By watching closely, Umbra realized that after using his Temporal Pause ability, the man needed time to recover before he could use it again. The intensity of his concentration during those moments gave Umbra an opportunity to strike. Noticing that after pausing time, he appeared fatigued and vulnerable, she began to suspect that there was a limit to the duration of his power.

By observing his reactions, Umbra noticed a change in the Chief's attitude and speed after using certain abilities. For example, when he used Temporal Rewind, the man was forced to reposition his body, and upon returning, he seemed dazed for a brief moment. This momentary vulnerability allowed Umbra to deduce that there was a time factor associated with his temporal manipulation ability.

Umbra had faced other adversaries with similar abilities in the past, which allowed her to understand that every power comes with a cost. Remembering her experiences, she realized that it was likely the man had limitations on the use of his abilities, especially in a prolonged battle.

However, he must have been confident due to the circumstances; he was aware that something was gradually draining the Vigilante's power, and that there would come a point where she would simply die if the battle dragged on.

Umbra decided to adopt a strategy of attrition instead of attacking relentlessly, even though it would affect her more than the Chief as the fight continued. She focused on deflecting his attacks and observing the Chief's reactions. When he used powerful abilities, Umbra noticed that each use seemed to drain him, so she began to design her strategy around those moments of weakness.

She had to be extremely careful, because if she made even a single mistake, she would be caught in the Chief's ability, and that would be the end.

Umbra also noticed that every time the Chief used his chronomantic sword, he couldn't use his temporal abilities immediately afterward. There was a brief pause between each use, which gave her the chance to calculate her movements. By being mindful of these moments, she was able to anticipate his behavior and find opportunities to strike.

Through these careful observations and her accumulated experience, Umbra deduced that the man was not invulnerable and that his abilities were subject to limitations. That's why he fought so cautiously; his powers must have had a high cost. This cunning and analysis during the battle led her to execute her final plan to achieve her goal.

In the last exchange, their weapons clashed, and Umbra stepped back from the Chief to a safe distance.

The air in the forest remained charged with tension. The red moon illuminated the scene, creating a haunting spectacle that reflected the fierce struggle between Umbra and the Chief.

They looked at each other for a moment; this was going to be the last exchange they would have that night.

As if by instinct, Umbra understood this. For a moment, she glanced at the moon... She hated its keen insight at that moment. It troubled her to know that she was aware of the end of the road. She wished she could be like a normal person and die ignorant, unaware of when she would meet her end.

But... As was her personal desire, she was going to fulfill her duty as a warrior until the very end. At some point, duty had become a burden she had imposed on herself out of fear of the actions of her past.

At some point, she had wanted to leave it all behind and do what her heart desired. However, the fear of being judged by her ghosts terrified her. Perhaps it would have been better to be tormented for eternity; she would have felt much better receiving what she deserved than continuing to endure that annoying feeling she had carried her entire life.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

When she opened her eyes, an aura began to glow around her. In an instant, she vanished. The Chief shuddered as he saw her fade away. Suddenly, he felt her presence behind him. Realizing she was right behind him in the blink of an eye, he tried to use Temporal Pause again, surprised that she could move so quickly despite being exhausted and pushed to her limits. Umbra used her ability to create dark mist around her. The darkness enveloped him, and for a moment, he lost sight of Umbra. He made several cuts through the mist, but he couldn't reach her. Since his ability couldn't last much longer, he deactivated his Temporal Pause.

It was the perfect moment.

Adrenaline coursed through Umbra's veins as she, desperate not to let her chance slip away, drew a poisoned dagger. Her face showed fierce determination.

Umbra: (Whisper) Now...

She murmured to herself as she concentrated the little energy she had left, using the mist as a distraction. With a quick motion, she launched several attacks with her illusions. The Chief activated his Temporal Vision to see a few seconds into the future. Umbra attacked relentlessly, pushing her strength to the limit. The stress of the situation was reflected on the Chief's face as he saw the Vigilante giving her all.

When Umbra's attacks ceased and the mist began to dissipate, the man deactivated his Temporal Vision; he was exhausted. At that moment, Umbra threw several poisoned daggers at him, which emerged from the last wisp of evaporating mist. The daggers, hissing like snakes, flew towards the man, who, blinded by confusion, could barely react in time and had to dodge them with his physical abilities, as upon deactivating his skills, he cannot reactivate them immediately, and because I used two different skills in a row, one after the other, this left him without those abilities for a while and also made him a bit exhausted.

He quickly stepped back to distance himself from the Vigilante and recover.

However, in doing so, he lost sight of her... Where is she? he wondered, stressed.

In an instant, the Vigilante appeared from above and attacked him with her scythe. The Chief attempted to use Temporal Pause, but his ability couldn't activate... Even though he should have been able to use it again... Why? Because of this and the confusion of the moment, he had to dodge the scythe with his physical abilities. Still recovering from the initial impact, he managed to evade the attack with a quick movement, feeling the breeze of the steel close to his face.

The Chief took a big leap back, trying to buy time.

Umbra: (whisper) Eight...

The Chief kicked the Vigilante, but she managed to block it with her sickle, though she was sent flying away from the boss due to the force of his kick.

Umbra took advantage of being pushed away by the Chief due to his kick, and as soon as she touched the ground, she grabbed her sickle and threw it at the Chief with all her strength, but he barely managed to dodge it.

Umbra: (whisper) Nine...

Without giving him time to rest, Umbra threw several poisoned ones at him.

The Chief spun to the side to dodge them, then moved away to buy time.

With the last of her magic, Umbra created as many illusions as possible and surrounded the Chief in an instant, leaving no escape gap to finish him off once and for all.

Umbra: (whisper) Ten...

The Chief regained his abilities and, amidst his stress, used Temporal Rewind to return to where he had been before and escape the situation.

The Chief retreated to where he had been before, but before he could react, he saw Umbra's scythe... What the hell? Umbra's scythe was right in his path as he moved back... Impossible... thought the Chief.

Time seemed to freeze in a terrible instant for him. The edge of the scythe sliced through the air and, in a precise movement, severed his arm. The expression of surprise and horror on the Chief's face was indescribable; he had never lost a fight, let alone a part of his body. Despair began to fill his heart.

In that moment, the Chief realized what had happened: one of the daggers had grazed his shoulder, wounding him. Apparently, the dagger contained a poison that was rapidly spreading through his body. The Temporal Rewind ability he had wanted to use was affected, as the poison limited his capacity to manipulate magic, impairing his abilities.

But... the most terrifying part was that Umbra had calculated how long he could rewind with his ability and how long the poison would interfere with his powers. She forced him to retreat to his last position... She didn't aim the scythe at him, but at where he had been ten seconds ago. That's why she made him move so much...

She knew that, due to the panic, he would use his rewind to the maximum... which is ten seconds...

How the hell did she manage to make the poison last only ten seconds, just like my ability? It's impossible for someone to do this in the middle of a fight...

Unable to reverse the damage, fear began to creep into his calculating mind.

He, now engulfed in unprecedented confusion and stress, realized that he had underestimated his adversary. Despite his powerful abilities, his calculating mind was starting to cloud. The poison had left him somewhat disoriented; he knew he had to act quickly.

Umbra, now exhausted but filled with determination, saw the only opportunity she had to fail. She hadn't managed to kill him... Her calculations weren't accurate, apparently... A little more to the right and she could have pierced his heart...

A scream of pain and surprise echoed through the forest, making the leaves tremble.

Because he had used his Temporal Rewind ability, he couldn't use it again until the corresponding seconds had passed. That is, no matter how hard he tried to use his ability again, he wouldn't be able to recover his arm.

He tried to think... His mind was clouded... He couldn't think clearly. As victory seemed within reach, Umbra, feeling the weariness beginning to take its toll on her as well, realized that the price she would have to pay for failing her only opportunity would be high. The Chief, despite his loss, would not give up easily. She had landed a decisive blow, but she knew the battle was not yet over.

In the heart of darkness, she also struggled with her own weakness, while the Chief, now desperate and furious, was willing to do anything to regain control of the situation.

However, the Watcher did not give up until the end. With her sharp mind, she knew that anything could happen, regardless of what she thought.

With a battle cry, Umbra threw a knife at him, the black blade slicing through the air at high speed. Still recovering from the initial impact, the Chief managed to dodge the attack, feeling the breeze of the steel near his face. Desperate, Umbra drew a poisoned dagger, determined to end the fight once and for all.

The Chief's calm began to fade in the face of his situation's reality. He had never experienced defeat, and now he was up against an opponent who had managed to leave him vulnerable. Anger and stress began to rise within him, clouding his mind and weakening his control.

Umbra, feeling confidence flow back into her, lunged at him with the poisoned dagger, but fatigue was starting to accumulate in her body. With a defiant shout, she attempted to attack again. The Chief, now desperate, tried to use his skills to regain control, but the poison had left some kind of aftereffects, and his movements were becoming slower.

The Chief barely managed to dodge Umbra and then moved away from her.

Umbra, amid her exhaustion, threw another dagger. The poison from the first impact still lingered in a small part of the Chief, who realized he had to act quickly. Time was not on his side, and stress was pushing him to his limit. With one last effort, he used his Temporal Pause to stop time again, but he was no longer as focused as before. The dagger halted an inch from his chest, and he understood that, despite his abilities, the battle was not in his favor.

The temporal skills that once dominated the battle now seemed less effective. Every movement he made to counter Umbra felt slower and clumsier. Temporal Absorption and Temporal Cut did not seem to have the same effect; he was too distracted and distressed.

Taking advantage of the confusion, Umbra moved swiftly, launching a new offensive. The little poison that remained began to course through the Chief's veins, making him slower and less precise. The chaos of the battle grew, but he continued trying to regain control.

In a critical moment, Umbra found her opportunity. She lunged forward, and the Chief, in a desperate attempt to escape the situation, used a resource he didn't want to employ due to its high cost. Changing the past: he was in a blank space that allowed him to revert events a few seconds back, thanks to the power of his sword. But there was a problem: he could only go back ten seconds.

He desperately tried to return to the moment when his arm was cut off, but he couldn't; he was just outside the limit of his ability. Frustrated by the situation, he let out a scream of rage.

Not even with his ability could he avoid losing his arm... and he would have to face the consequences of using that ability later.

Chief: Why did I take so long to use it? Damn you, filthy Vigilante!

Filled with rage, he rewound time to a moment when the Vigilante was lunging at him amid her mist. He walked towards her, who was still, and in four quick movements, he cut off her arms and legs.

Then, he let time continue its course.

The dismembered body of the Vigilante fell harshly to the ground.

Umbra: (whisper) I see... So you could change the past... What a shame that all your abilities only last ten seconds...

Murmured Umbra, exhausted but satisfied, as she smiled and watched the Chief crumble before the reality of his lost arm.

However, Umbra's satisfaction would not last.

The Chief, still disoriented and filled with fury, prepared to make the Vigilante suffer until she bled to death, using the little power he had left. Without warning, a temporal distortion enveloped her, and Umbra had finally been defeated. However, when the Chief was about to begin his torture, he realized that the Vigilante was dead. It was impossible; she had committed suicide before he stopped time...

It can't be...

He let out a scream of frustration that echoed throughout the forest.

He deactivated his ability and began to stab his sword into the dismembered and lifeless body of the Vigilante.

Chief: Damn!

But when he pierced her heart, something began to glow within her body, and a magical explosion erupted from the corpse, pushing the Chief backward and making him fall onto his back, staring up at the red moon.

Chief: Ah...

There were no words to express what he felt.

He tried to use his power, but he had run out of mana. He wouldn't be able to recover his arm or remove the burns caused by the magical explosion.

In the distance, he heard Vespera calling him as she approached; it seemed she had finished the ritual to stabilize the catalyst...

.

.

.

In the final moments before taking her own life, as life faded from her, her thoughts focused on the victory she had achieved over her adversary. In her last moments, she saw the Chief's expression, filled with desperation and stress, a reflection of the first defeat of his life. The red moon shone brightly above them as the battle came to an end, echoing the struggle between light and darkness in the heart of the forest.

In those final moments, as she fell, Umbra managed to gaze at the moon. She never truly understood why the goddess had bestowed her blessing despite her past actions. She knew very well that she wasn't going to win from the moment she failed her only chance. She realized her situation as she reviewed everything; she was not weak, but she had to acknowledge the cunning of the enemy. The attack had been very well planned, and she understood that giving it her all was the best option.

Umbra: (whisper) A whole life protecting others... But I never protected my own heart...

A silent tear rolled down her cheek as her voice faded.

Umbra: (whisper) Maybe... I wasn't as strong as I thought...

With one last breath, the echo of her regret resonated beneath the cold red light of the moon.

And so, in the midst of darkness, the forest fell silent as the red moon continued its vigil. Watching the scene, it witnessed the tragedy that had unfolded between Umbra and the Chief.

(Umbra's Past)

From the moment she was born, Umbra was different. She did not cry like the other babies. Her large, silver eyes, dark as the moon and the night, seemed to absorb everything around her, as if she understood more about the world than a girl her age should. The elders of the Lunaris clan said that the moon had bestowed upon her a unique gift, but with it came a destiny filled with suffering. Her mother, still weak from childbirth, looked at her daughter one last time before succumbing to complications. It was the first loss in Umbra's life, but it would not be the last.

Her father, shattered by the death of his wife, could never look at Umbra without feeling resentment. To him, his daughter was the reason for his pain. Although he cared for her and protected her as his duty required, he never offered her love or comfort. Umbra grew up in a cold home, where the warmth of a smile or a hug was something that existed only in the stories told by the elders.

At an early age, Umbra proved to be a prodigy. She was a curious child, with bright eyes that absorbed knowledge at a speed that astonished even the greatest scholars of the clan.

At five years old, while the other children played, she was already studying the ancient texts of her clan, fascinated by the mysteries of darkness. She learned to manipulate shadows with a terrifying ease that even the adults could never achieve. The other children feared her, whispering that the darkness within her was not natural. The adults looked at her with a mix of respect and fear, knowing that the girl was destined for something great; however, no one knew how to approach such an intelligent, different child.

Darkness always comes with a huge price. That's what the oldest scholars of the clan used to say.

However, Umbra did not care. What she desired most was not knowledge, but acceptance. She dreamed of having friends, of feeling the warmth of companionship, and of hearing kind words that never came. Jealousy grew in her heart each time she saw other children laughing with their parents or playing carefree. Her mind, always so quick and sharp, could not help but wonder: Why not me?

At eight years old, she began training as a warrior of the clan. Her ability to learn combat tactics and manipulate shadows made her stand out quickly, but that only isolated her further. The other children saw her as someone different, someone too powerful, someone to be feared. And she, with her heart already hardened, convinced herself that being alone was her destiny.

Despite her brilliance, Umbra was born and raised in a constant state of war.

At twelve years old, tragedy struck her clan. In an ambush by an enemy clan, the Lunaris suffered a great loss. Her father, who was leading the defense, was killed before her eyes. As the warriors fell around her, Umbra, paralyzed by fear, hid in the shadows. It was the first time she felt that terror, that sense of being completely powerless. When the battle finally ended and her clan was decimated, guilt consumed her. She felt she had failed. If she had been braver, if she had used her abilities, perhaps she could have saved her father; maybe she could have changed the fate of her people. She had the power to do it...

That night, under a full moon, she swore she would never hide again. But that oath only increased the weight on her young shoulders.

image [https://img.wattpad.com/a43b9f1fec67c4a20238275bded91874e998ee94/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f31505671466f4768526b447437673d3d2d313438333030353537372e313766646263366237666466623833643335323533353431363339362e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

At thirteen years old, Umbra had already surpassed all the clan's masters in shadow manipulation and military strategy. She was given the responsibility of leading missions and defenses for the clan at a young age, a burden she took on with a strong sense of duty. However, the constant pressure and expectations placed upon her began to take their toll. Although her intelligence and combat prowess earned her the respect of her peers, she gradually became isolated, unable to fully trust anyone.

Years passed, and Umbra became the leader of the Vigilantes of the Lunaris clan, the youngest and most powerful member. But despite her status, the emptiness in her heart only deepened. The guilt over her father's death and the coldness with which her clan treated her followed her every step. She had sacrificed her entire childhood to protect her people, but she always felt it was not enough, that she could never redeem herself.

At twenty-one, one of the darkest moments of her life occurred during one of the most brutal enemy incursions her clan had faced. One night, under a blood-red moon, the enemies unexpectedly attacked her village. The Lunaris were outnumbered and overpowered. Desperate to protect her people, Umbra made a risky decision: to use an ancient forbidden darkness ritual she had secretly studied. This ritual could grant immense temporary power but required a sacrifice.

The ritual worked. The shadows of the moon rose like an army of their own, devouring the enemies one by one. However, the cost was high. To activate the full power of the ritual, Umbra had to sacrifice the lives of several of her own clanmates, those who had trusted her as their leader. She had no time to warn them or seek another option; she knew that without that sacrifice, the entire clan would be annihilated. The victory was swift and devastating, but when it was over, the horror of what she had done crushed her.

What remained was not a glorious victory but a field of bodies, including those she had sacrificed.

image [https://img.wattpad.com/720a72a8e14142a5daba68a51f309ba6214e41b4/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4d386d6b585a6d5244302d6b57413d3d2d313438333030353537372e313766646434323530336137663833343835393530313938303631382e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

Although her clan survived, the death of so many warriors at Umbra's hands left an indelible stain on her soul, filled with remorse and loneliness. At that moment, she became the guardian of the clan, the protector of the secrets of the moon and darkness; however, since that day, the distance between her and her people grew. No one else knew the cost of the ritual, apart from the scholars who had died, either from the various sieges the clan had suffered over time or from old age. She knew she could never confess what she had done, that the price for her people's survival had been too high. Umbra bore that secret like an unbearable burden.

From that moment on, coldness and isolation became her constant companions. She considered herself unworthy of forming bonds with others, fearing that her presence would only lead them to death. She distanced herself from everyone, even those who revered her, believing she did not deserve their respect. The weight of the sacrifice crushed her, and in her darkest nights, under the moon that had always protected her, she wondered if she would ever be free from the guilt that consumed her.

Though she became one of the most powerful warriors of the Lunaris, she no longer fought for love of her people but for redemption. She felt she had to protect her clan; otherwise, everything she had done would be in vain. But in her heart, she knew she could never do it. She had lost the ability to love, to trust, and lived with the constant fear that one day her secrets would be revealed.

Over time, Umbra perfected her skills until she became one of the deadliest warriors in the clan's history. However, the weight of her past decisions haunted her in every battle, and each life she took in combat only reinforced her regret. Despite being admired and feared, Umbra could never forgive herself for the lives she had sacrificed to save her people.

Umbra, the child prodigy, had achieved everything her clan could have expected from her, but at the cost of her own humanity. She knew that her life was destined to end in tragedy, that she did not deserve redemption or peace. Yet, she remained resolute, willing to give her life to protect her people; at least, that was how she conditioned herself to keep living, even if it meant accumulating more pain and sacrifices.

Every battle was a reminder of the lives she had taken, of the faces of those she had lost. But she also knew that if she were to die one day, she would do so with the hope that, in the end, she could find peace in the darkness that she had dominated for so long.

Every night, under the moon, she remembered the faces of those she had betrayed to secure victory. She vowed to herself that, no matter the cost, she would protect the Lunaris until her last breath, regardless of the consequences. She knew that death always lurked nearby, and deep down, perhaps she hoped it would come soon to free her from the guilt that tormented her.

The years passed, and Umbra returned to her former position as Leader of the Watchers, for a girl had been born who far surpassed her; the Goddess chose her as the Guardian of the Clan.

On a full moon night, she looked at her reflection in an ancient river. She looked tired; she was no longer at her best and was beginning to notice white hairs in her hair. Little by little, she realized that she would be unable to fulfill her vow.

She was ordered to train the girl born into the main family, Mizuki. The reason was simple: there were hardly any talented people left in the clan to instruct her, and those who remained were starting to age or had already died.

Umbra trained Mizuki throughout her adolescence. After just a few years, the young girl managed to surpass her. In their last fight, Umbra tried to keep up with Mizuki, but she simply couldn't. She managed to hold on until the end, but she understood that was her limit. She, better than anyone, understood her own body; her sharp mind revealed to her that the seconds of delay between Mizuki's reactions and her own were growing larger every day.

The power of that girl was truly incredible. It would be impossible to defeat her at night due to her Gift; even she was no match now.

In her final years, Umbra faced increasingly powerful enemies, aware that her end might be near. But for her, the only thing that mattered was to fulfill her final vow: to protect her clan, even if it meant sacrificing her own life. What she did not expect was that, in her final battle against the Chief, she would not only give her life but also leave an indelible scar on her enemy, fulfilling her word to the very end with her intelligence and sacrifice, which were her most powerful weapons.

.

.

.

A few days before the clan was attacked, Umbra was in the Moon Clearing, contemplating her benefactor in the sky.

Unknown: She is truly beautiful, isn't she?

Umbra didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Just by hearing his footsteps, she could identify him.

Umbra: I believe my lady Artemis is far more beautiful.

The man chuckled softly.

Unknown: You should be careful with what you say. I don't think your goddess would like to hear that from one of her warriors.

Umbra: Perhaps... What are you doing here, stranger?

Unknown: I was enjoying a beautiful view a little while ago, with a... kidnapper? I think... Well, never mind. I was on my way back to the temple assigned to me and saw the Moon Clearing. It caught my attention, so I decided to detour to see it... By the way, you are Umbra, right?

Umbra: Wow, you're quite perceptive for a stranger.

Unknown: I heard about you from Mizuki. You're almost a legend in this clan.

Umbra: I see... My lady shouldn't have wasted her beautiful voice talking about me.

Unknown: You're a bit... odd.

Umbra: I've never been told that in all my years of life.

Unknown: Really? You look quite young.

Umbra: I am one of the oldest in the clan. Even our goddess cannot stop the passage of time for her warriors.

Unknown: Huh? One of the oldest? How many years does a warrior of the clan live, on average?

Umbra: I think between 150 and 300 years... Of course, if they aren't killed before then.

The man stood there, mouth agape.

Unknown: 150 years is already too much! I suppose it's thanks to your powers that you've lived so long, right?

Umbra: That may be the case...

Unknown: Did you never have a partner throughout all these years? Though, if I'm not mistaken, I think I've heard that the Watchers cannot have offspring due to their positions.

Umbra: An offspring... I see, that way I could have protected the clan even when I'm no longer around...

Unknown: Uh... I don't think an offspring is just for protecting the clan...

Umbra: What else would an offspring be for, then?

Unknown: Well... for many things, like to be happy, for example. When I had my son, my life was filled with happiness.

Umbra: I see... But, who would be interested in an old warrior like me?

image [https://img.wattpad.com/0b114a7b8a35b918c9f22c0542d9af02a253027d/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f733336544b2d7a76677a463152513d3d2d313438333030353537372e313766646263373834633633323566333839383335303734363138342e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

The man looked at me as if he couldn't believe my words... Does he like old women?

Unknown: So you consider yourself ugly because of your... old age?

Umbra: Isn't that so?

Unknown: I'll spare you my opinion on that question... Good night.

The man turned around and began to walk away.

Unknown (whispering): I am a faithful person...

After that, he continued down the path he had come from. How strange... I could smell the essence of Nocturnia on him. There were also strange markings on his body...

I processed and analyzed all that information in a few seconds...

I see... I think I understand why Nocturnia would be with this man...

I took out one of my daggers, manipulated the poison, and replaced it with one that would only make him sleep for a while. I threw it in the direction he had gone, and seconds later, I heard something fall.

I got up and went to check on him. He was completely asleep. I retrieved my dagger, which had lodged itself in a tree. I had thrown it in such a way that it just grazed him, making the poison take effect. I didn't want to hurt him, just to put him to sleep.

I looked around to confirm that there was no one within miles.

Good... No witnesses, no crime...

I started to remove his clothes...

.

.

.

That day, Umbra cast a spell to erase the man's memories. After finishing her business, she left him near the path he had come from, ensuring that he would be standing until he regained consciousness.

The man opened his eyes, somewhat confused, but continued walking as if nothing had happened.

Umbra felt happy; she had perfectly calculated how much to erase from his memory so that he wouldn't feel that something strange had occurred on his way back.

She also felt satisfied for daring to do something new...