Chapter 4

Silence filled the air for a moment before Moryo continued his walk, now face to face with Roimelos and Tolimos, only a few steps away. Roimelos spoke confidently:

"Why do you refuse to become a servant to the World Sages?! If you join us, you’ll live a peaceful life!"

Moryo looked at Roimelos, his smile unwavering, and then spoke quietly, but filled with bitterness:

"A peaceful life? What happened when we became servants to your rulers? My friends are all dead... and there’s only one left, and even now, I don’t know how he is."

Tolimos responded decisively:

"You will die because you chose to live outside the control of the Sages!"

Moryo stared directly into his eyes and said in a calm but firm voice:

"No... I won’t die because I rejected your rulers. I’ll die because I was free, because I chose revenge!"

They all stood still, their eyes on Moryo, and his eyes on the group of mages before him. The air around them grew tense, and everyone was prepared for the upcoming battle.

—

In a fleeting moment, one of the sorcerers from the crowd lunged at Moryo, attempting a direct punches. Moryo smoothly stepped back, his hands in his pockets, evading the strikes with fluid movements akin to a dance. Every punch met only air as Moryo swayed effortlessly, a faint smile playing on his lips as if he were enjoying the game.

The man’s frustration grew with every failed attempt, and in a sudden burst of anger, he threw a powerful punch toward Moryo’s face. This time, Moryo didn’t retreat. Instead, he caught the man’s fist firmly. Their eyes met—Moryo’s cold, unyielding gaze clashing with the man’s shocked expression. In an instant, Moryo pushed the man’s fist with terrifying force, sending him crashing into a nearby house wall. The wall cracked under the impact, and blood streamed down the man's face like a river bursting through a fissure in the rocks.

Moryo stared at him coldly for a brief moment before Tolimos intervened. Tolimos clapped his hands together with a resounding boom. The echo reverberated through the surroundings, causing the ground to crack, and the soundwave surged toward Moryo like a raging storm. Taken aback by the sheer force of the sound, Moryo quickly covered his ears, but the pressure was overwhelming. He was sent flying like a ragdoll caught in a hurricane, crashing into another house and leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.

Roimelos began advancing with measured steps, each one exuding an aura of dominance, while the crowd followed hesitantly behind him. At the forefront, Tolimos marched with resolute strides, as if walking toward an inevitable fate. The area was engulfed in a heavy silence, broken only by the rhythmic sound of footsteps—like war drums heralding the approaching storm.

When they reached Moryo, who was still embedded in the wall, Tolimos spoke in a low yet firm voice:

"Is this all you’ve got, heir?"

Then, with a hint of disappointment, he added:

"I expected more from you."

Moryo slowly lifted his head, his gaze cold as the dead of winter. He showed no hesitation or emotion. As he steadily rose to his feet, one of the sorcerers suddenly charged from the crowd, aiming a punch at his face. But just as the blow was about to land, the man’s fist stopped mid-air—frozen as if it had struck an invisible barrier. The sorcerer stood there, stunned, eyes wide in disbelief, staring at Moryo, who remained still and composed.

A furious voice erupted from the crowd:

"You bastard!"

Another sorcerer, more reckless than the first, rushed forward, his palm outstretched toward Moryo. Energy rapidly gathered around his hand, glowing like a volcano on the verge of eruption. He unleashed a laser-like spark toward Moryo, but just like before, the attack halted abruptly, frozen mid-air, with the sorcerer himself paralyzed in place.

Moryo finally lifted his gaze, his eyes gleaming under the glow of the suspended spark. He looked directly at Tolimos and, in a calm yet defiant voice, said:

"What are you talking about?... I haven’t even started."

Roimelos' face twisted with fury, and he growled with disdain:

"You wretch!"

His fist ignited with a brilliant blue spark, crackling like gathered lightning. In an instant, he dashed forward like an arrow, moving so fast that the very air seemed to recoil. His eyes burned with rage, and his fist was aimed straight at Moryo’s face. Moryo, however, remained still, his gaze locked onto Tolimos, who stood silently, observing.

But in a split second, the frozen spark beside Moryo shifted in an unpredictable trajectory. It shot toward Roimelos like a launched thunderbolt, consuming him in an instant. His charred body collapsed to the ground, smoke rising from the blackened cracks that covered his skin. Blood seeped from his burned flesh, pooling into a dark puddle around him.

The crowd trembled, and panic swept through the area. Someone muttered in a hesitant voice:

"President Roimelos... he..."

But the words never fully formed. Everyone stood in horror, staring at his smoldering corpse, unable to believe what they had just witnessed. Meanwhile, Moryo remained still, his cold eyes fixed on Tolimos, whose expression remained unchanged—calm, eerily composed, as if the storm had yet to begin.

In a quiet voice, laced with an underlying menace, Moryo murmured:

"Everyone will die by my hands... I have nothing left to lose! I was marked for death ever since the Ronda incident. My fate is sealed—death is inevitable. So... I will not allow myself to die before I bring down this entire world order!"

Moryo’s tone was steady, yet brimming with rage and despair. His words carried the destructive resolve of a man who saw no path forward but chaos.

Tolimos responded in a quiet, mocking voice:

"Fool... that’s all you are, Moryo. Do you really think your lives hold value? To the World Sages, you are nothing more than insects they can crush whenever they please."

A heavy silence followed—one that weighed like tons of iron. Moryo and Tolimos’ gazes clashed, digging into each other’s souls. Neither moved, as if time itself had frozen around them.

Moryo’s expression gradually hardened into an icy mask, void of any emotion. His mind drifted far away, back to the words of his master, Sbyam. Those words echoed in his head like a distant bell.

—

Flashback (16 years ago)…

In a simple hall at the Sorcerers' Academy, the seven-year-old child Moryo sat on a small wooden chair, his features displaying a level of indifference beyond his age. In front of him stood Sbyam, his charismatic teacher, wearing a confident smile.

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With a playful tone, Sbyam called out:

"Oii! Hey, kid!"

Without looking at him, Moryo coldly replied in a childish tone:

"Who are you calling a kid?"

Sbyam chuckled lightly, as if Moryo’s response had impressed him, then said with a teasing smile:

"Do you see any other kids here?"

Moryo’s face twisted in annoyance, and he slowly turned his head toward Sbyam, clearly expressing his displeasure. Meanwhile, Sbyam continued to laugh softly, placing his hand over his face to hide his smile, as if it were just a game to him.

With a tone of childish anger and disgust, Moryo asked:

"Why did you bring me here?!"

Sbyam tried to stifle his laughter, then straightened up, speaking with a smile that mixed confidence and mockery:

"I brought you to the Sorcerers' Organization to take you away from your clan!"

A look of confusion appeared on Moryo's face as he calmly asked with curiosity:

"Take me away? Why?"

Sbyam continued, his confident smile never leaving his face:

"When you were born into this world, you became the heir to the Raipozi Clan. The heir to the Time Technique! And of course, your clan won’t leave you alone once they discover this. They worship power, especially the heir who possesses the three strongest techniques in the world of magic."

Moryo stared at him for a moment, then responded with childish indifference:

"But… I don’t feel like I have the technique you’re talking about. And who will teach me how to use it? … You?"

Sbyam chuckled lightly again, as if Moryo’s response amused him even more, then replied with clear sarcasm:

"Me? Training you is not my job! The one who will teach you is Master Surichi. As for me, I have more important matters with my friend Brylo."

Moryo sighed, clearly expressing his frustration. But Sbyam didn’t give him a chance to respond, and with a tone of mockery tinged with a warning, he added:

"By the way, every clan has its own unique technique, one they hide from others. We call it the 'Innate Technique.' You need to understand it and dive deep into your own strength to find it, kid!"

Moryo fell silent, unable to grasp the depth of Sbyam’s words, while Sbyam’s mocking smile remained on his face. The latter turned swiftly, hands in his pockets, and walked confidently toward the door. Before leaving, he cast one last glance at Moryo, his smile a blend of sarcasm and confidence, then exited without saying another word.

Moryo was left alone in the room, Sbyam’s words echoing in his mind like riddles with no answers.

—

In the present...

Moryo stood still in a strange calm, his mind swirling with thoughts. He murmured internally, his voice filled with confusion and wonder:

"Time Technique... a technique to control time. First: the Stoppage Technique, known as 'Time Seal.' It is a technique that the heir sorcerer can use, in contrast to the usual method of controlling the technique. But..."

His sharp eyes were fixed on Tolimos, who stood in front of him with certainty and readiness. Moryo continued his thoughts:

"Because of the 'Time Seal' technique, the heir cannot use the 'Healing Technique.' Both techniques rely on the same fundamental principles. But why?"

A distant memory flickered in his mind, Sbyam's words echoing like a far-off echo:

"By the way, every clan has its own unique technique, one they hide from others. We call it the 'Innate Technique.' You need to understand it and dive deep into your own strength to find it, kid”

Confusion crept into Moryo’s mind, and he wondered inwardly:

"The Innate Technique? What did he mean by searching for it in the depths of my power? Could it be connected to this riddle?"

In front of him, Tolimos had begun charging his fist with electric sparks that danced cautiously, preparing to strike. Yet, Moryo remained lost in his questions:

"Why can't the heirs of the Time Technique use the Healing Technique? Is this really impossible? Or is there something hidden that has yet to be revealed?"

In an instant, it seemed as though time itself slowed down. The green spark within him began to awaken, moving like pulses, slowly traveling through the depths of his body, as if searching for something lost.

Moryo suddenly opened his eyes in astonishment, his pupils widening in pure amazement. He thought to himself, and the spark of understanding began to glow within him:

"I’ve found it... the Innate Technique! Yes... yes! It’s the 'Time Manipulation' technique."

The green spark shone brightly in his eyes, like a living flame that danced with new power. Tolimos, who had been preparing to attack, noticed this change. He froze in place, a mixture of shock and fear appearing on his face. He murmured in disbelief:

"No... it can't be. Will he really do it?!"

In a swift motion, Tolimos turned his body and shouted in panic:

"RUN! He’s about to create his realm!"

The crowd trembled and began to retreat, their faces etched with astonishment and fear. The green spark continued to glow and flicker in Moryo's eyes, who whispered in a soft yet sharp voice, like the edge of a sword:

"Realm Expansion : The Time Realm!"

Immediately, the area surrounding the clan was surrounded by a transparent barrier, resembling molten glass, and everything fell into a deadly stillness. The movement of everyone ceased, frozen in place like stone statues, their features rigid and their gazes empty. Moryo was the only one moving, with angry green sparks flashing sharply in his eyes, as if a wild energy was manifesting in his gaze.

In a fleeting moment, Moryo moved with the speed of lightning, leaving a trail of glowing green energy behind him. He made his way toward the destroyed house of Nicola, and from the rubble, he carefully carried Hyona and Nicola, as if they were fragile glass pieces. Then he picked up Mr. Oda and took them all outside the transparent barrier, gently laying them on the ground. They resembled silent dolls, completely frozen.

Moryo stood still, gazing at them for a moment, his silence heavy with thoughts, before turning his back and returning inside the barrier.

Inside the barrier, Moryo stood facing the terrifying stillness. Everyone was frozen, as if time itself had stopped. He thought calmly, as if his mind was conversing with him:

"I did it... I created my realm! And now, it’s time to use the Innate Technique, right?"

He clasped his hands together, and green sparks began to dance around his fingers, rising like a small storm. Slowly, he started to separate his hands, with noticeable difficulty, and between his palms, a small orb began to form, radiating a strong green glow. The sparks around it danced like small serpents in a violent whirlpool.

As Moryo focused on the orb, his thoughts swam deep within his mind:

"Time Manipulation... right? Now that my power is awakened, it seems simple. A tear in the fabric of time... then pushing the present backwards. But... how does this fabric really work?"

The orb continued to grow in size between his hands, as though it was pulsating with life. The energy surrounding it grew more intense, filling the air with a sound like distant thunder. Moryo continued to ponder, as though trying to unravel the mysteries of the universe itself:

"Time is not just a sequence of events... it’s an interconnected web, a fabric that binds every moment and every possibility. When I manipulate time, I am simply toying with the order of these threads... distorting its weave. But... what if, instead of weaving, I untangle the knots?"

Sparks fell from the orb, striking the stone ground, leaving behind small cracks as if giant hammer blows had landed. The sounds from the sparks were like the screech of lightning, piercing through the eerie stillness. Moryo continued his contemplation, his eyes fixed on the glowing orb:

"If I press on the fabric of time, and gather all the threads into one point... I will create an unstable entity. A point that holds all possibilities, all moments. That point becomes... a time explosion."

Slowly, Moryo raised the orb towards the sky, his hand trembling under the weight of the immense energy. In a fleeting moment, the transparent barrier contracted and vanished, and time returned to its natural flow. The green orb now glowed like a sun in the middle of the area, its overwhelming green light engulfing everything.

In the area, Tolimos watched the scene. The green light reflected on his face, his eyes wide with terror and astonishment. He stood frozen, as if his mind was trying to comprehend what he was witnessing.

As for Moryo, he kept his hand raised towards the orb, controlling it as though it were an extension of himself. His thoughts were firm and clear:

"I’ve sealed my realm. And now, this orb... it contains a time that is shattered and decayed. If I release it here, it will surely destroy everything."

The moment was charged with terrifying energy, and the silence that blanketed the area felt heavy, as though it was the calm before the storm.

The crowd stared at the massive green orb floating in the air like a vicious monster, its glowing sparks sending silent screams that weighed heavily on their souls. The faces were filled with astonishment and terror, and soon the area descended into utter chaos. Everyone was screaming and running in every direction, trying to escape the impending fate.

As for Moryo, he stood firmly amidst this rising hell, his eyes fixed on the orb, which moved slowly under his absolute control. Inside, a battle raged within him, but he appeared calm, as if the surrounding chaos didn’t concern him. He thought coldly and with resolve:

"But this isn’t easy. Time resists. It’s a balanced system, and every attempt to change it causes ripples. These ripples... are what I can exploit. If manipulating time means restoring balance, then destruction means letting the fabric collapse on itself. I’ve turned the Innate Technique 'Time Manipulation' into a ball; within it, time collides to become pure devastation."

Moryo began lowering his hand slowly, and the orb moved in harmony with his gesture, as if it were a plane responding to its pilot’s commands. With a simple motion, he sent the orb toward the heart of the area.

The orb shot forward with insane speed, leaping like a hungry beast, devouring everything in its path. The old houses, once witnesses to generations long passed, crumbled under its destructive force. The stones melted like candles under unbearable heat. Inside the houses, human bodies vanished as if they never existed, leaving behind the screams of children and women filling the air.

The orb crushed everything, dissolving existence itself, while Moryo watched the scene with cold calm, as though witnessing a theatrical performance. His thoughts continued to flow amid the sounds of destruction:

"This orb now contains everything that could have happened... and everything that didn’t, all packed into a single moment. But it bears the weight of eternity itself. If I release it without restraint, it will devour the past, the present, and the future in absolute chaos."

The orb continued its relentless destruction, leaping between the houses like a merciless demon. As it neared Tolimos, who was watching the catastrophe in shock and terror, he couldn’t move a muscle. His eyes, wide with fear, reflected the glowing green flames. He thought, in an internal whisper as if speaking to himself:

"What is this? Is this the power of a god?"

But fate did not grant him more time for thought. The orb struck him, and in an instant, he vanished. No trace. No sound. As if he had never existed.

The hungry orb continued its curse on the area, crushing the houses, the earth, and even the air itself. Everything shattered beneath its weight. And when Moryo raised his hand one final time, the orb began to crack, its explosive sparks bursting from the fissures.

Suddenly, the orb exploded with a tremendous blast, shaking the earth violently and lighting up the sky with a red explosion like flames. A shockwave surged across the horizon, leaving absolute destruction in its wake.

As the light dimmed and the glowing clouds faded, the land that was once the clan’s territory became a desolate desert. Nothing remained but sand and ruin. The calm winds began to sweep through the place, gathering the remaining dust and scattering it into the horizon.

Moryo stood amidst the silence, gazing at the shattered land with a solemn stillness. There were no distinguishable features on his face, as though his body existed, but his soul was elsewhere.

The silence was broken by a hesitant and astonished voice—Hyona's:

"What... what happened?"

Hyona approached Moryo with heavy steps, her eyes wide with terror, staring at the desert that had, just moments ago, been a thriving home. Words stuck in her throat, but her shock was evident in every movement.

Behind them stood Oda and Nicola, staring at the devastationin silence. They were like statues, stunned and incapable of expression. No words could describe what had happened.

Above, the moon illuminated the place with its soft silver light, as if it were the only witness to what remained of this destroyed scene.

End of Chapter.