Chapter 18: Chronos
Apostles: Apostles are beings that represent a supreme entity such as the laws themselves, giving them full authority over that law and even creating rules to govern that law. Being an apostle isn't limited to living beings alone but also to the non-living; even a book could stand a chance at becoming an apostle.
And since the cultivation method to becoming an apostle does not exist, it is not considered as a Dao. Those that want to walk this path are considered blind.
Saerah had just perished at the hands of the Reaper, her celestial fragment slowly fading from the field.
Time had paused, and even the Reaper could not move. The cloaked figure stood in front of a majestic being in crimson armor. Its face was also covered with a crimson helm that had intricate patterns and spikes on every edge up to the back of his head.
It had a little chat with the cloaked man and vanished like he was never there, leaving not even the slightest trace of mana. Even the air wasn't aware of his coming and going.
The cloaked figure turned to the Reaper, who had broken free from the time pause.
Seeing the immense aura coming from the figure and the infinite mana, the Reaper knew this being was an Apostle. Not wanting to take any chances, the Reaper created multiple fusion laws wrapped with the Law of Time and Fate, determining when and where they would strike.
In a blink, the attacks landed, cracking the fabric of time and space, leaving a hole in the universe. At the same time, reality began breaking. The Reaper cared less and was focused on the Apostle.
He had just gotten himself a body and wasn't planning on giving it up. When the aftermath of his attack subsided, the Apostle wasn't there, but he was sure the attacks had hit him with full precision.
The Reaper, now focused, had his mind set on two things: breaking the time barrier and defeating this Apostle.
His mind was in deep thought. Sending his consciousness across the field, he locked his intent with the supreme Law of Emotion, sending psychic waves to find any trace of the Apostle.
Inside this state, a green transparent ring formed around him. Seeing this, he jumped from that space to another, but the ring found him there as well.
"This is not good," the Reaper said to himself, jumping from one space to another before he stopped and released the Law of Destruction on a large scale, claiming half of the third and second rings of the Wild Capital, as well as half of the outer walls, leveling the forests.
The destruction went slowly but steadily, and if anyone had lost their lives there, they probably wouldn't know.
The Reaper finally calmed down. He had just put half of Li Fen's mana reserve into that blast. Annoyingly, the destruction started reversing, slow at first, then suddenly all the damage was undone, as well as the destroyed arena, the dead gods Brial and Saerah, and the avatar of the Celestial God Brimel.
Green rings with intricate patterns formed around the Grim Reaper, trapping him and sending his consciousness into the void, bringing Li Fen back to his own body.
The Reaper tried escaping, but this time his efforts were futile—almost like the Apostle had been playing with him and suddenly got bored.
The surroundings returned to normal, but the lost lives of the countless beings in the tournament were not brought back.
And even Time has its limits when it comes to other supreme laws. Prime Aris's soul still remained in the void, though his minced body was now intact.
The time barrier was lifted, and Saerah left the scene quickly. Brial recognized the power of an Apostle and knew whatever that being was, not even Saerah could have stopped him.
Brimel located Aris's body and, in grief, took it with him.
The arena was good as new, but no being was in sight.
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– Inside Saerah's Chambers –
Saerah stood in front of a window, looking at the view before her. She remembered what her heavens used to look like and slightly regretted ever giving up her laws. If she didn't have the Law of Emotion, she would be wetting the floor with tears.
"What do you want?" Saerah asked the cloaked being behind her, holding the unconscious Li Fen.
"You know there's a way you can get back your lost Laws of Time and Death," the cloaked being said, looking around the chamber in amazement. It was the spitting image of Saerah's heaven back in the day.
He was a male human. His name was Chronos, and he was the Apostle of Time. He seemed to know Saerah pretty well.
"Oh really? How?" Saerah asked, intrigued. At that moment, she finally gained hope of regaining her lost laws and ascending to the heavens. She knew the moment Chronos said there might be a way, there surely was a way, and it was only a matter of time before she regained the Laws of Time and Death.
"But I should probably get going since I was clearly not invited here," Chronos said, turning to leave and dragging the unconscious body across the floor.
Saerah's eyes twitched in panic. There was no way the chess master would give back her lost laws. So if there was any reality where she regained her laws, Chronos was the only one capable of making it a reality.
"Wait." She called out to him, her eyes lowered in shame. She had always needed his help ever since they were little and had saved her younger brother more times than she could count.
He stopped, took off his hood, and turned, wearing a big smile—his green eyes shining along with his green hair, looking at Saerah all shy and timid.
"You haven't changed over the millennia. You might probably stay single forever if you don't find the courage to leave your comfort zone and ditch the statue of yours. Try being more like your doppelgängers…" Chronos blabbed, turning from a serious figure to a chatterbox.
Previously, Saerah had a crush on him but was too shy to tell him, though she showed it in obvious ways. Chronos and Veythr saw this, and because of the relationship Chronos had with Veythr, he couldn't approach her. He didn't want to betray his friendship.
"I have doppelgängers?" Saerah asked in shock. All her centuries of hard work were gone in years.
"Of course, lots of doppelgängers. Ever since you gave up your Time Laws in the Second Heavenly War, your doppelgängers appeared on all timelines…" Chronos kept on blabbing while Saerah stood in shock. She couldn't comprehend the fact that she was now a demigod. All she was hearing from Chronos was just him mumbling.
"Stop," she pleaded, her emotions going on a rampage. She could no longer hold them in. Tears welled up in her eyes. That was when Chronos saw her state and pitied her.
"How do I get back my laws?" she asked, staring at the floor.
"Well, with this hunk of meat," Chronos said, raising the unconscious Li Fen and tossing him toward Saerah. "Hopefully, he can restore your mood."
"What?" Saerah asked inquisitively, stopping the unconscious body midair and carefully putting him down.