The icy potion slid down his throat. The power of time pierced through flesh and blood like countless thorns, reaching straight into his soul.
In that instant, the world fell silent.
The giant axe swung by the Hill Giant hung in midair. The Balrog Flame Demon's blazing breath froze in place. The greedy flames in the Bewitching Demon's eyes solidified into ghostly green phosphorescence. The Mid-rank Legendary Succubus figure rushing into the distance froze...
Everything came to a standstill. Only consciousness rose.
Kyle's will was lifted by an invisible hand, piercing through the barriers of space until a boundless, radiant river of light unfolded beneath his feet.
Countless tributaries intertwined with dreams like silver threads, branching and merging, carrying whispers of every possibility.
As he looked down upon the endless river of time and space, an invisible tremor came from deep downstream.
In an instant, the entire river quivered gently.
A phantom figure slowly emerged from the surging vortex of time. Wherever Its footsteps fell, fine golden ripples spread across the river of time and space. When It came to a stop, the power of time and space gathered around It.
It raised Its head and looked at Kyle.
The moment their gazes met, Kyle saw countless versions of himself making choices in countless tributaries. Yet on every path, the sword in his hand had swung for his lord, never changing.
Suddenly, light blossomed. All possible futures unfolded at that moment, then ultimately returned to stillness.
The world had never seemed so real, yet so illusory.
It took a step, leaving the time and space where It stood, while countless versions of It retreated into the possible time and space of the future.
Standing before Kyle, It raised a hand and lent him a trace of Its own power.
Kyle