Bullet Time, Constraint Time, and the Acheron Moment

"Bullet Time refers to the period when a Quicksilver can enter a high-alert combat state. Each Quicksilver has a different duration they can maintain this state… you already know this, right?"

Hesta nodded.

"Good," Chiba continued, "Even after entering Bullet Time, the Quicksilvers can't just slack off. We need to maintain this state—it's like when you're fighting someone, you have to keep your fists clenched."

As Chiba demonstrated, Hesta also clenched her fists. But in an instant, Chiba suddenly drew her gun again and fired at a distant target.

The deafening roar of the bullet leaving the barrel caught Hesta completely off guard. She instinctively covered her ears—though it was too late.

Chiba chuckled, "But there are always unexpected things that make people forget to 'clench their fists,' just like your reaction now. Maintaining Bullet Time is the same. For Quicksilvers, however, if we forget to maintain our state, we'll quickly fall out of Bullet Time and enter Constraint Time."

"Constraint Time…" Hesta murmured, repeating the word.

"Think of it like a car. Once it's started, you can hit the gas to accelerate or steer with the wheel anytime. But if it stalls midway, you have to spend time restarting it. During that process, your car is no longer a nimble driving tool. Unless the engine restarts, you can barely do anything with it—it's the same for a Quicksilver's body.

"After entering Constraint Time, Quicksilvers become weak and powerless. During this period, forget about fighting, it's even difficult to stand on their own.

"For example, if a Quicksilver's Bullet Time is about 10 hours, and during a battle, they choose to rest temporarily after no more than 5 hours of continuous operation, they will then typically experience a period of weakness lasting from 10 to 20 minutes.

"During this time, they can't do anything. Only after this Constraint Time ends can they re-enter Bullet Time—we call this situation 'Incomplete Constraint Time.'"

Hesta pondered, "And there's also 'Complete Constraint Time'?"

"Yes," Chiba smiled, "Using the same example, if that Quicksilver has been working continuously for more than 5 hours, when they stop again, they will directly enter 'Complete Constraint Time.'

"Complete Constraint Time is generally half the duration of Bullet Time. It doesn't matter if the Quicksilver worked for 6 hours, 7 hours, or 10 hours; when they stop again, they'll have to lie down for a full 5 hours before they can move."

Hesta furrowed her brow in thought, "I see."

"Have you ever thought about how the length of Bullet Time is determined?"

Hesta tilted her head slightly, "Through some… extreme tests?"

"Haha, pretty much," Chiba laughed, "The so-called Secondary Special Training involves active Quicksilvers in a controlled environment dispatching Chelated Beings to newcomers who haven't undergone their 'Second Awakening.' In battles against Chelated Beings, the new Quicksilvers' 'Bullet Time' will naturally awaken. Others are responsible for timing from the sidelines."

"…Until the 'Bullet Time' fails?"

"It's more than just failing," Chiba said softly. "When approaching their own limits, a Quicksilver's abilities will experience an extremely intense burst, enhancing their original Bullet Time by 20 to 150 times. But this usually only lasts for tens of seconds to a few minutes, at the cost of self-destruction—after it ends, the person will suffer severe bleeding and systemic organ failure, just like when a Chelated Being dies naturally.

"That final burst period is the Acheron Moment," Chiba said softly. "And the calculation of Bullet Time is from when you enter 'combat state' until the 'Acheron Moment' arrives."

Hesta suddenly spoke, "Is this… why the base has the regulation that 'Bullet Time must be higher than 4 hours to participate in combat'…?"

"Mhm." Chiba said softly, "Excluding some extreme values, the average time for a small team of about 5 Quicksilvers to hunt a Chelated Being is 57 minutes. A Bullet Time of less than 4 hours is too dangerous on the battlefield. Never mind the Acheron Moment, but even entering Constraint Time means that forget about Chelated Beings, even a five or six-year-old child could easily slit your throat with a knife."

It was only now that Hesta suddenly understood many things that had happened in the past—for instance, the night Ligo participated in special training, she had been admitted to the base's underground hospital due to severe injuries.

Thinking of this, Hesta suddenly realized something, "…But Chelated Beings usually only survive for two weeks to a month. How does the base ensure there are enough Chelated Beings available for training? Are they captured on the spot?"

"Ah ha, that's content with a higher security clearance," Chiba said with a smile. "If you're willing to ponder it, you can think about it yourself, but don't let a third person know any of the information I've told you today—can you do that?"

Hesta nodded solemnly.

"Back to Shawn, listen," Chiba continued, "His Bullet Time is 4 hours and 55 minutes, with an intermittent Constraint Time of 22 minutes. In other words, if he enters Bullet Time and you interrupt him, you'll have at least 22 minutes to do whatever you want."

"But how do I—"

"Generally, the stability of Bullet Time is related to the combat will of the person involved. Do you remember the question I asked you last time?"

Hesta fell into thought.

Chiba continued, "As for the specifics of what to do, you figure it out yourself."

"…Understood."

Chiba let out a light breath and looked towards the target in the distance, "Do you want to practice a few more rounds today? I have to send you back in an hour."

"Does Miss Chiba have other plans this afternoon?"

"Not really, but Molly only approved half a day for me." Chiba shrugged. "As you can see, it's a special period, and your photos are all over outside. It's really inconvenient to have you tagging along with me all day."

Hesta's gaze deepened as she thought, "Then can we practice today? I can go explain to Ms. Moly."

"Sure." Chiba smiled, "I'll go get a few more boxes of ammunition."

Inside the base, in Sophie Moly's office, Liz looked at Ms. Moly opposite her with a shocked expression. She stood up, her voice sounding somewhat agitated, "Why are you suspending the investigation into Shawn right now?"

"We will definitely pursue this matter to the end," Moly said calmly, looking at Liz. "But we really haven't found any evidence on his equipment, have we?"

"But you also believe that the power outage and missing surveillance footage in the grammar classroom were Shawn's doing—"

"Yes." Moly said gravely, "But continuing the investigation now will only be exploited by those with ulterior motives."