*Ba bump* *Ba dump* *Ba dump*

The rest of the pillars which had risen were blocked by other shields of condensed mana accurately formed right where they were needed to stop it. 

*Tic* *Toc* *Tic*

John’s daggers began to glow. The sounds of clock ticking could be heard. In that moment, Zestari felt a chill go down her spine.

“Sacred Treasure Release… Partial Awakening.”

—————————————

“So, he’s really gone huh…” Muttered the bright sword as he stared at the wine in his mug

“Feels like it all happened just yesterday.” Said the guild master before chugging down what was in his.

The loud and heavy gulps showed along with the smile and relief on his face showed just how good it was. 

“Haha, yeah…” The bright sword muttered before getting up. “It’s getting late, I don’t want to keep her waiting.” He added as he also chugged down the rest of the wine in his mug.

“You really don’t. Women can be scary when they’re worried.” The guild master said with a smile as he motioned for more.

The bartender got the message and poured some more in his mug

“She’s still shaken up from what happened, so there’s nothing I can do.” Said the bright sword as he let out a sigh

“Haha, must be nice to be young.” 

The guild master took another gulp before getting up and giving the bright sword a handshake. 

“Tell your sister that I said that I won’t let anything happen to you, or anyone in this village. So she won’t have to worry anymore.” Said the guild master with a determined look in his eyes.

The bright sword could feel just how heavy the weight of his words were and just how much it would take to carry them. 

“Even when drunk you’re still able to make that face. As expected of you, Hugo.” Said The bright sword.

“It’s been a while since I heard my last name… I nearly forgot it. Sagard”

“Yet you somehow remember mine…” 

“How could I forget?” The guild master asked with a smile

The bright sword, Sagard. Let out a sigh before turning towards the entrance. He did so to hide the smile in his face.

“I’ll see you later. Make sure you don’t get too drunk and cause any trouble.”

“How old do you think I am?” The guild master asked as he let out a laugh.

Sagard raised his hand to motion a wave as he glanced back before he leaving.

***

As he walked along the dimly lit empty roads, thoughts ran through his mind.

‘I’m really back… If it wasn’t for that person… John, I would’ve…’ 

He continued to walk without paying attention to his surroundings, he was completely absorbed in his thoughts. 

Because he was possessed by that evil spirit, he had caused many lives to be lost and done things which no man should ever do. 

“Roads are empty… People are still afraid to come out ever since that happened… Because of me, the people are still worried and afraid… Even if I was possessed, I have committed unforgivable sins…” He muttered as he stopped in his tracks. “Great Lord… Will I… Will I truly be able to be forgiven for my sins…?” He questioned as he gazed upon the cross on his necklace

Just as he asked this, his eyes widened as they gazed upon the beauty which stood ahead of him.

Long white hair and eyes which glowed in resonance with the feathery white wings on her back. A golden halo floated just inches away from her head.

“A-An Angel?” The Bright Sword muttered in disbelief.

Sagard knew he had drunken a few mugs but not enough for him to be hallucinating to this level. She was literally lighting up the roads, right ahead of him. He couldn’t believe his eyes.

She wore unusual battle Armour made from a metal which he also couldn’t recognize. On top of that, she carried a large battle Axe on her back. It’s size was larger than her entire frame and yet there wasn’t a hint of struggle on  her face. A strange glowing unrecognizable mark could be seen on her shoulder. 

Was he really awake? Was he in a dream? Was what stood in front of his eyes, truly real?

The young lady had a determined look as she gazed up at the sky. However, before he even realized it, she had disappeared.

“W-What was tha-“

The bright sword’s eyes widened as he was interrupted by a voice which came from behind him.

“Evil detected.”

Confused, before the bright sword could even react to what he had heard.

*Slash*

Everything went blank.

—————————————

John’s consciousness returned and he suddenly got up. He let out heavy pants as he moved his head around.

He could feel a strong breeze, as a familiar feeling swept up from below. The platform he had made was moving, and at a fast rate too.

His eyes widened beneath the blindfold as he realized what was happening. They were falling.

“Gravitas.” He muttered calmly 

In that moment, the platform suddenly stopped in it’s tracks, inches away from the top  of one of the trees beneath it.

John then placed his hand on his head as he felt surges of pain flow through it. He had a killer headache.

‘What… What happened?’ He wondered to himself 

He then turned his head towards the others who were fast asleep. He was the only one who was awake.

‘Did Zestari do this?’

Thinking about such made him recall what happened during the fight when they were training. He clenched his hand into a fist and squeezed it tightly after doing so.

“I… Lost… Again…” He muttered with a cold look. 

He then took that fist and pulled it back before swinging it right at his face.

*Smack!* 

He punched himself once, and then again.

*Bam!*

And again.

*Bash!* 

And he repeated such until pools of blood began dripping down his face. 

“Fuck…” 

—————————————

Inside of John’s consciousness, Zestari stood there dumbfounded. 

‘What? What was that’ Zestari thought to herself in disbelief. ‘How did that happen?’

In that moment, where John released his sacred treasure. The golden sacred chains who were making their way towards John had slowed down to the point where they had eventually come to a stop.

The colors in the room had changed into gray along with the feeling of air around them. The sounds of the clock ticking had stopped as a magic circle with the design of a clock had appeared behind John. It had been roughly his size in diameter. 

Lastly, the cold and overwhelming pressure that had been coming out of John, who’s eyes seemed to drift away.

Time had come to a stop. That was what had happened. She was certain of it. Yet before she even realized it. All of that suddenly disappeared. Time resumed itself, the clock behind John disappeared and the golden chains had begun to move again. 

John who had been levitating suddenly stopped and the force of gravity which Zestari had been using on him overpowered him causing him to slam straight down onto the pillars which Zestari had made.

*Pierce* *Pierce*

John remained motionless both before and after getting pierced by the pillars. It was only then that Zestari had realized what had happened.

“He fainted…?”

She quickly appeared beside him to check and her suspicion was correct. He was out cold. On top of that, his mana pool was empty. 

He had used up all his magic. She couldn’t believe it. When was the last time which he had used it up? When was the last time which he had fainted from not paying attention to how much magic power he had left in him?

It was when he first came to this world. Back then he would run out of mana easily due to the seal Zestari had placed in his body. And yet now, even after he released the first seal. He still fainted, after only a second.

Just how much magic power did that one move use? But more importantly, just how was he able to do it?

“That was a first…” Zestari muttered. A smile then followed up, forming itself on her face as she then said. “But this confirms it.” She added as she stared at the daggers which he still held onto tightly despite having fainted.

‘Those daggers… They’re not regular sacred treasures… That’s a divine relic, an artifact which belonged to the god of time. The artifact which could freely manipulate time, Chrono.’

“How? How did such an artifact end up in that dungeon? how was John the one who was able to find it? Could it be fate? After all, he’s the only human who would be able to use it. Any other person would have died in John’s situation after using that much mana…” 

Zestari then looked at the ceiling before a smile was formed on her face. ‘Perhaps, we do stand a chance of survival.. Although it’s small.’