Chapter 6 - Temporal Saber

A burst of light erupted from within the tree shelter turning the dark forest into day, blinding all wildlife within fifty meters. Critters scurried away as static electricity foamed out from within the tree. The life like energy tossed leaves and debris high into the air with gale force winds violently speeding the debris in a whirlwind around the tree. The protective bark surrounding Kai slowly ripped apart by the twister. Screams from the nearby creatures were drowned out from the roar of the wind and debris beating on the forest. A second burst of blue light instantly chilled the air and shattered the tree around Kai, adding to the debris in the vortex. The bright light in Kai’s hand intensified; momentarily stopping time. The seal dulled as Kai’s body flickered with life. Large branches thumped and crashed all around as the winds instantly died out. The sound of leaves, twigs, and dirt rained down upon the devastation.

The cold chilling wind ran down Kai’s body as he fought to open his eyelids. The taste of dirt slid along his lips. The smell of leaves and dirt almost choked him as he felt a blanket of pressure on top of his body.

‘Did someone bury me?’ Kai thought as he slowly opened his eyes.

Kai sat up looking at his body completely covered in dirt and branches. The sunlight penetrated the leaves allowing him to see a huge clearing. Tightly in his grasp he felt the seal, realizing he was not back in Immersion laboratories. Kai checked his wounded back only to find out there was no pain and only a small hole on his black t-shirt. He realized new life had entered his body as he felt physically great. He jumped up on his feet patting off the dirt and noticed his backpack and equipment were nowhere near him, but realized he was at his non existent tree shelter. A prompt appeared revealing his updated status screen. He processed all the information in an instant with the help of his [Critical Thinking] skill.

Kai ArzeilTitle: NoneClass: ScholarLevel: 2EXP: 24%HP: 570 / 570Mana: 600 / 600Defense: 60Strength: 62Stamina: 74Luck: 5Agility: 62Intellect: 47Wisdom: 15

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Crit Mod: x 3Magic Crit Mod: x 4Resistance: 50% Mental-Based AttacksSkills: Critical Thinking(Passive); Survival Regeneration(Passive); Reality Comprehension; Self-Reality Alter; Phaseshift

“What the hell happened? This is crazy!” Kai looked down at the seal in disbelief and activated [Reality Comprehension].

Destroyer Phased Seal - 30% Power remaining. Attribute: Phaseshift, Energy Manipulation. Origin undetermined; Artifact grade prison.

‘Did this thing save my life?’ Kai asked himself, but the thought of Sylvia suddenly entered his mind.

Kai ran back to Sylvia’s tent, hoping she was there and found her backpack in the same location. It had been rummaged through with the food and first aid kit lying nearby. Kai searched his surroundings with [Reality Comprehension]  and found the covered tracks of the marauders.

• Three marauders carrying an additional body. Timestamp: 1 day ago

‘Rambo can’t compare to these guys.’ Kai thought as he was admiring their ability to cover tracks while burdened down.

Kai gathered Sylvia’s things and placed them back into the backpack, then ran off in the direction of the tracks worrying about Sylvia’s wellbeing. Twenty minutes into the run, he noticed he wasn’t getting tired and his breath was steady. The events that kept him thinking of Sylvia started to fade as it dawned on him why he wasn’t getting tired. His physical and mental attributes were boosted, and his thoughts focused on the last skill.

“Is this what I think it is?” Kai said as a large shadow darkened his path.

Kai’s gaze on the ground moved up to see tree bark in his face. The tree didn’t smash against him as he tried to stop. He felt light and full of energy as he saw darkness for a split second with his body tumbling several meters on the other side. His joints ached and every muscle of his body felt like taking a nap, even his tongue felt heavy. He moaned rolling onto his back noticing that the backpack was on the other side of the tree. Staring up at the tree canopies, Kai took another look at his status window again. He focused on the two new skills [Phaseshift] and [Survival Regeneration] as detailed additional prompts were provided.

[Phaseshift] - Allows dematerialization of body to move through matter at level one. Extensive use and calisthenics will reduce side effects. Tessa’s yoga class would have come in handy.

[Survival Regeneration] - Passive healing that will quickly mend light injuries. Grants immunities and high resistance from harmful substances. Built-in feature will alarm you with a prompt when in danger.

The sound of Kai’s rustling reached the sensitive ears of one of the Void’s most unique predators. It’s eyes were icy white with gold pupils, almost luminescent. The frame was that of the endangered White Siberian tiger, except this predator was two times larger than a full grown male. The tracks were light as static electricity lingered. It raised its head looking in Kai’s direction as the electrical charges underneath her distributed the shift in weight. Small lightning bolts erupted around her spiked blue fur, silver fangs and paw prints trailing behind her. The beast stared at the strange human for a moment. The electrical discharge faded away as it walked away once it realized Kai was no threat.

Kai looked up questioning the silence of wildlife as he caught sight of a massive shadow passing by.

• Temporal Saber: [Lvl:90] - Adult female heading back home to the north . Luck increased by 1.

‘Holy crap, That’s powerful!’ Kai thought as he questioned why he received an additional luck point. He also noticed how the direction of the marauders and Temporal Saber were one in the same.

Kai went back to pick up the backpack and took the time to stretch for five minutes. He decided to follow after the Temporal Saber, but maintained enough distance to not be within sight of the beast.

The beast instantly noticed the pursuer and took a veering right off the current course towards Sylvia. Kai instantly thought his luck had turned for the better and allowed him to completely avoid the creature. Kai picked up pace once again and ran at full speed after Sylvia.

‘How far did they take her?’ Kai wondered as he ran for another straight hour, but also took the time to enjoy the drastic changes to his body by joyfully plucking small leaves along the way.

[Danger] - Attack from your right!

Kai was freaked out from the prompt and instantly looked right, only to notice nothing there.

“What’s wrong with this prompt is it playing games with me?” Kai said noticing a slight shiver in the direction and activated [Reality Comprehension].

• Temporal Saber: [Lvl:90] - Killing anyone foolish enough to follow them back home.

Swaying amongst the leaves the Temporal Saber camouflaged with the surroundings almost perfectly by changing the color of it’s fur.

Kai began identifying parts of the beast starting with the silver fangs and gold eyes that looked to be floating in mid air. Kai activated [Self-Reality Alter] just in time, leaving his image behind to get it’s head viciously ripped off along with most of his upper body. He made it off to the side as he watched his body being vividly torn to shreds in front of him.

The beast walked away heading back north again, after confirming the death of her stalker.

“What am I not even delicious enough to eat, just going to leave me ripped to pieces like that?” Kai sarcastically said to avoid being overwhelmed with horror.

“It will most likely be best to reactivate [Self-Reality Alter] every twenty minutes to avoid the same instance repeating itself. Plus this way I can literally be right beside the super beast without her noticing.”

Kai ran after the Saber getting a closer look at her. Kai felt not only fear but awe at the pure elegance the mighty creature withheld. The Saber suddenly came to a halt and began sniffing the ground.

‘Huh, why did it stop all of a sudden? Wait, can she smell me?! No way that’s impossible.’ Kai looked at the location she was sniffing at and immediately activated [Reality Comprehension].

• The scent of marauders masked by another strong scent specifically aimed at fooling the nose of Temporal Sabers.

Electrical discharges erupted from the creature as one set of deep paw prints were left behind. The Temporal Saber took fast to a new level as her entire body looked like lightning shooting across the forest.

‘Whoa, what’s with this scent mask from the marauders. This seems like preparation for a trap and Sylvia must be nearby!’ Kai took some food from the backpack and quickly ate to be in his best condition, recovering the lost mana throughout the run.

Kai took shelter behind foliage and a tree south of the camp as he peered his head trying to make out what the situation was like.

Treehouses intricately positioned all over with connecting wooden bridges allowed for a community high in the trees. The view would’ve been spectacular for Kai, however bodies of both humans and marauders were littered among the ground and upper levels. Added to the horror over forty marauders were scattered looting and skinning Temporal Sabers.

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‘This is horrible. These marauders killed an entire tribe of humans to obtain sabers as pets.’ Kai spotted an array of cages holding infant sabers no larger than three feet to the shoulder. Any non infant Sabers were killed in traps and skinned of their pristine blue fur.

Kai found Sylvia located next to the cages on the far end of the camp where the bulk of the marauders were currently situated. He noticed Sylvia was bound at the waist laying down on her side.

[Reality Comprehension] - Sylvia[Lvl: 4] - Conscious. Mana depleted due to sedation. Formulating escape plan. Mildly dehydrated and hungry.

‘Found her! She seems to be okay.’ Kai focused on a way to rescue her while deep within his thoughts he questioned how she raised her level yet again. He looked up in front of him identifying the previous Saber on the attack, rushing forth in anger towards the marauders.

Crackling bounced from tree to tree as marauder howls filled the entire area. Large indentations on the trees showed where the Saber had last stepped. Zigzagging between trees the Saber mauled several marauders in her path. Instead of eating them whole they were left behind with massive body slashes. Their internals were burnt to a crisp upon impact, keeping all bodily fluids from seeping out.

The marauders gathered in front of the cages frantically attempting to setup a trap between themselves and the berserking Saber. “Arm the trap!” One of the marauders frantically took hold of his spear placing it directly against an infant sabers neck. The marauder yelled in a mixed euro-asian dialect that Kai could not understand, but the saber seemed to understand as she paused her attack.

• Temporal Saber language translation process pending.

Kai paused as well since there was no longer any distraction. ‘Crap, I have no idea what he said.’ Kai changed direction as the saber moved slowly towards the cages.

The marauders scattered to surround the saber while Kai positioned himself in Sylvia’s line of sight. Sylvia’s cheek rubbed against the ground as she tried to see what was going on. In the corner of her eye she saw a hand wave above a bush. She looked around surprised trying see if anyone else noticed the waving hand followed by Kai’s head.

Kai’s hand and arm signals were very confusing telling her to stay at where she was at. Kai ducked back under the bush and looked at the saber as the trap started clicking. Kai stared at a three foot tall cylinder anchored to the ground. The rapid clicking stopped and a cubed device connected to the cylinder released a pulse of air. Kai felt a very quick breeze extend swaying the leaves around him.

‘What, it didn’t do anything.’ Kai thought, but the marauders sprinted towards the saber. The saber stood without reacting in a stupor as a net was cast over her.  Kai viewed the net with his comprehension power.

• Energy Net: Composition of silver and nylon diverting energy to anchor points.

• Saber disoriented.

‘I need that sabers help to free Sylvia.’ Kai sped from behind the bush at the cylinder trying to grab and toss it. Pain sheared through his muscles as it didn’t budge an inch.

• Cylinder imbedded 10ft into the ground. Requires 500lbs of additional force to move.

Kai desperately looked around and saw the metallic iron box with several cables connecting to the cylinder. He quickly grabbed the box and with all his strength lifted it off the ground. The cables tore as the feather weight box flew over his head, making him almost lose his balance. He quickly glanced back at the marauders.

The closest marauders heard Kai’s movements and yelled. “The trap’s turned off, Kill the saber quick!”

Kai jumped for his life dodging three flying spears and landed flat on the ground. He lifted his head seeing instead of being closer to Sylvia, he jumped in the opposite direction. He looked and two more spears were blaring in his face. In an instant he saw one spear go through his head sticking into the ground. The spear remained wobbling inside his head as he stood up in fear. Another spear flew through his ghost-like chest as Kai looked down in wonder.

• Phaseshift activated due to instinctive reflex.

Kai ran away behind cover away from Sylvia not willing to find out how long his phaseshift ability would last. The roar of the saber stopped him in his tracks.

The saber swung her claws along the net ripping out half of the grounded anchors. Lightning flashed around her disintegrating parts of the net and killing a dozen marauders. Grunts and yells erupted as all the marauders focused back on the saber.

Kai takes this chance to double back to rescue Sylvia. Baby squeals catch his attention as three marauders start to murder the sabers. Deep anger filled his heart as the marauders stabbed their spears into the infant sabers. He picked up a spear and rushed the closest marauder impaling completely through his back.

The short scream of agony alerted the closest marauder by the cage who turned and dashed at Kai with a short sword. Instead of withdrawing the spear, Kai let go of it as a novice warrior would in shock of taking another life. “Kill him!” The two marauders immediately roared while both charged with sword in hand.

Kai became scared and before he could come to his senses white lightning shot across from the side and scorched the first marauder. The Gnoll fell to the ground body totally crisp with a awful smell of burnt meat. Before Kai could look at the origin of the lightning, the head of the furthest marauder flew five meters diagonally over the cages from him. The saber’s bloodied paw squished the marauder’s body as it stood on top.

“Ah!” Was Kai’s frightened reaction as the flying head stopped rolling with it’s unaware eyes staring back.

“Kai!” Sylvia shouted managing to remove the gag from her mouth.

Kai ran to Sylvia going around the saber. The saber ignored him with an empty lifeless gaze towards the cages.

“Sylvia are you hurt?” Kai untied her bound hands and feet.

“No, just a little dizzy. But I can manage.” Sylvia rubbed her bruised wrists as she got up with the help of Kai.

A loud metallic clang got their attention. They looked on as the saber’s form changed shape and color with its fur compacting upon itself. The figure of a woman stood standing in front of the cage, her body covered in black graphite armor. Straight black hair draped over her shoulders as she opened the latchless door.

“She was that big thing? That’s impossible.” Kai approached the woman as she brought out a baby saber. Sylvia followed by his side and saw the saber with a mortal spear wound.

“Sylvia can you help the baby cub?”

“I don’t know, but I don’t think it will be enough.” Sylvia tried to cautiously approach with her hands held up.

The woman turned her head towards Sylvia with her eyes glowing white and static electricity dancing around her eyelashes.

“If you let me, I may be able to help the cub.” Sylvia paused waiting for her response.

“If it is possible help her.” The woman’s desperate voice carried well.

Kai activated his Comprehension on Sylvia’s bright yellow aura growing around her hands as she touched the cub’s head.

• [Healing Essence] Lvl:2 - Allows time to rewind to heal an injury. Current level encompasses 200 seconds for self injuries and 20 seconds for others.Unsuccessful due to, too much time passing by.

Sylvia backed away knowing she was not able to keep the cub from death. Only buying the cub a few more seconds of suffering. Kai looked at their faces which were depressed. The thought came back to him when he was on the verge of death. Remembering his tight grasp of the seal he ran anxiously towards the backpack hidden in the bushes.

“Where’re you going!” Sylvia shouted.

Kai didn’t respond and quickly took hold of the backpack only to toss the contents out as soon as he arrived back besides Sylvia.

“Place the cub on the ground, hurry!” Kai held the seal in front of him activating his power.

• Destroyer Phased Seal - 30% Power remaining. Possible to transfer life force by phase shifting with the cub. Artifact grade prison.

“Okay here goes nothing.” The seal and Kai’s body became transparent as his hand eased into the cub’s body. The cub and Kai seemed to slightly disappear into another plane of existence. Within this existence the remaining energy created a electrical vortex of darkness. The sky darkened as energy intermixed with the phaseshift vortex. Electricity seeped out of the vortex into Sylvia and the woman’s reality. Energy pulsed back and forth between Kai and the cub. The wound on the cub closed as the breathing became strong and regular.

Sylvia stared in wonder as blue electricity ran in and around Kai’s body, his silent screams were evident by his mouth and facial gestures. A bright glowing white light emanated from the seal engulfing Kai and the cub for several seconds. Sylvia turned away as the woman continued to stare at them.

Kai back away from the cub as they both returned to reality. The seal within Kai’s hand disintegrated into nothingness. Kai fell to the ground in pain from every muscle in his body feeling sore. The cub opened her eyes and looked up at her mother. The woman swiftly dropped down to embrace her as tears flowed out.

Sylvia leaned over Kai making sure now to touch him as electricity still surrounded him. “Are you okay?”

“It hurts.” Kai rolled over onto his back. “Did it work?”

Sylvia smiled at him for the first time since they met. Kai wondered if she was actually smiling or laughing at his pain.