In the courtyard, Alistair was sparred with Uncle Takai to hone his combat skills.
"Your ability is quite fascinating," Takai said, sidestepping an attack from [The World] and knocking the spirit back with a casual flick of his wooden staff.
"It's more than just fascinating," Alistair grinned. Mana surged through his rings.
DOOM!
The invisible ripple expanded. The world turned grayscale. Takai froze mid-motion.
"You won't dodge this one."
[The World] lunged at Takai, its fists wreathed in Alistair's newly learned fire mana. It threw a haymaker.
THUD!
The "frozen" Takai suddenly blurred into motion. His staff ignited like a thermal lance, thrusting directly into the spirit's solar plexus.
"Wait, WHAT?!"
Alistair froze in shock. Because he lost focus, [The World] dissipated instantly under Takai's strike.
DOOM.
"Ugh!"
The backlash of the spirit's destruction hit Alistair like a physical blow. He clutched his head and collapsed, the "Time Stop" shattering. Takai immediately cast a cooling mental restoration spell to soothe Alistair's throbbing brain.
"That ability of yours... the cost is high. It's a double-edged sword, but the effect is undeniable," Takai said, stopping the spell once Alistair could stand.
"Uncle... how could you move? And you hit so hard!" Alistair rubbed his temples.
"Why wouldn't I be able to move? Your ability isn't 'Stopping Time.' You're just accelerating yourself to such a degree that everything else looks still. It's an illusion of speed. Though I'll admit, I didn't hold back enough on that last thrust." Takai leaned on his staff.
"Acceleration?" Alistair was floored. The skill description from the watch he'd absorbed specifically said "Time Stop."
"Did you really think it was Time Stop? Think about it, boy. Manipulating the fundamental rules of time requires an astronomical amount of mana. Accelerating one's own body is far more efficient and realistic." Takai looked at Alistair with a weirdly judgmental look, as if he'd been watching too many cartoons.
"Oh... is that so?" Alistair felt a bit embarrassed for being "debunked."
"It's a common mistake for someone from this era. But make no mistake—this ability is very strong. Top-tier, even."
"..." Alistair stayed silent. He wondered if his "cheat" was malfunctioning or if the Ring had "adapted" the skill to the local world's physics.
"While it's not true Time Stop, it still touches upon the 'Laws of Time.' It's a terrifying power." Takai saw Alistair's silence and thought he was discouraged.
"So it's Time Acceleration?" Alistair asked. It made sense. To save mana, the Ring had converted a "God-tier" rule-breaking power into a "High-tier" physical acceleration that achieved nearly the same effect.
"It seems to be unlimited acceleration," Takai added.
"Unlimited?" Now that was a word Alistair liked. Anything with "Unlimited" in the description was usually broken.
"Yes. I'm honestly jealous of the things you've managed to get your hands on. If you ran into a dark mage, they'd probably try to suck the memories right out of your skull to steal your secrets."
Takai evaluated Alistair's other powers. "Your 'Spirit' summon is good, but dangerous. If a specialist destroys it, you lose your ability to fight instantly. But combined with your 'Acceleration,' it's nearly invincible. I only broke it because I've studied Time Laws before. Against anyone else below a certain level, you're untouchable."
"How fast can I go?" Alistair asked, feeling a bit better.
"It's not a question of physics, but of Magical Laws. Theoretically, magic can push you faster than light, but that's a different realm of existence entirely."
"Wait, there are two sets of theories?" Alistair was confused.
"Of course. But for now, focus on your Talismans. The Ox seems to touch upon the 'Law of Strength.' As you get stronger, its ceiling rises. Keep training your body. When the Gates open, you'll encounter 'Anti-Magic Zones' in the other world. There, only your raw physical power will matter. Your Talismans seem to function even without mana, which is very interesting."
"The Horse is even more absurd. That level of healing is unheard of outside of High-Tier Saints. The only weakness is that it can be sealed. And don't forget to study my spells! I'm a big deal in the Fantasy World—don't you dare embarrass me by failing the basics!"
"I got it, I got it. Look, I already used your 'Flame Shroud' earlier. I'm a fast learner," Alistair boasted.
"True. Your mana control is... suspiciously perfect. Almost oily smooth. Do you have a hidden item for that too?" Takai tapped Alistair's head. "Well, you win this round. You forced me to use a bit of my hidden power. I wonder what your grandfather was thinking, letting a kid with this much potential wander around without him..."