"If you are a spirit, then how can I..." Hero's words were abruptly cut short as the world beneath his feet violently shattered.
A deafening crack echoed through the convenience store as the concrete floor groaned under sudden pressure. Shelves erupted, sending canned goods and instant ramen raining down. Within seconds, a piercing, mechanical wail tore through the air—the dreaded, city-wide alarm that signified only one thing: A Gate Break.
"Warning to all citizens! A Gate Break has occurred in Sector 4! Please evacuate to the nearest underground bunkers immediately!" the automated broadcast bellowed.
Hero's face drained of color. He turned to bolt toward the bunker, but before he could take a single step, the ceiling shattered. Shards of concrete and glass rained down as a massive, monstrous silhouette slammed onto the floor, right in front of the counter.
Emerging from the dust was a terrifying creature known as a Leanpart—a C-Rank beast dreaded for its speed, which clocked at twice the speed of light. It possessed two jagged horns, a whip-like tail, and razor-sharp claws dripping with a deadly poison. A single scratch from those venomous talons could kill an ordinary human within five minutes.
Adrenaline surging, Hero dove under a heavy wooden display table, pressing his back against the wall. His heart hammered violently against his ribs.
Suddenly, Time appeared, looking utterly nonchalant. "Mortal, what exactly are you doing beneath this flimsy piece of wood?"
"Shh! Keep your voice down!" Hero hissed, his eyes wide with terror. "That's a high-ranking monster! If it spots us, I'm dead! Please... you're the most powerful being, right? Help me!"
Time let out a soft, enigmatic chuckle. "Yes, I am. But my true existence is so absolute that if I were to unleash even a fraction of my power here, not only would this world perish, but the surrounding universes would crumble like dust. You cannot fathom the weight of my strength."
"Then what am I supposed to do?! It'll kill me if I don't get out of here right now!" Hero panicked as the monster drew closer.
Time raised a single finger. "I cannot directly fight for you, but I can guide you through a technique of my own creation. It is a power so absolute that without my explicit permission, no being in existence can learn or wield it. It is called Distraction."
Time leaned closer. "Even at the beginner stage, it possesses fifty levels, and master level is beyond your comprehension. From Level 1 to Level 14, it is considered practically nothing—as if it doesn't even exist. However, in your world, even Level 4 is a monumental feat that would take a lifetime to learn. But because you are weak, my special authority will allow you to immediately access Level 2. Tell me, do you wish to learn it?"
"Yes! I want to learn it!" Hero desperately cried out.
Right at that moment, the Leanpart roared, its massive claws smashing the wooden table into splinters. Death was staring Hero in the face. Using his sharp instincts, Hero rolled away just in time, pressing his back against the far wall.
In that exact split second, Time explained the method of the Distraction technique, and the knowledge perfectly integrated into Hero's mind. Because of Time's divine permission, the skill instantly unlocked. Hero immediately understood its mechanism: to intercept an enemy's attack, absorb its force, reflect it, and redirect it back at the source with twice the original speed.
The Leanpart locked its predatory eyes onto Hero again. In a flash of blinding movement, it lunged, its venomous claws cutting through the air at twice the speed of light.
But this time, Hero didn't flinch. He braced his stance and thrust his hands forward.
Swoosh—!
The moment the monster's lethal strike reached him, Hero executed Level 2 of Distraction. He cleanly caught the strike, flipped its trajectory, and reflected the kinetic energy directly back at the Leanpart with twice the velocity!
Flash—!
A localized shockwave erupted. The Leanpart's own devastating attack rebounded cleanly right beneath its chin. With a sharp slash, its massive head was severed from its neck, and its gargantuan body crashed heavily onto the floor, lifeless.
Silence enveloped the ruined store. Hero fell to his knees, panting heavily. He had just annihilated a C-Rank monster barehanded.
"Thank you..." Hero gasped, looking up at Time.
Time gazed down at the boy, a mysterious glimmer in his eyes. "I think you have barely scratched the surface of this world. When you venture out into this realm with me, you will face dangers both small and cataclysmic. Therefore, to ensure your survival, I shall grant you knowledge of another skill..."
Time smiled faintly.
"[Blaster]."