🕰️ Chapter 50
Beneath the icy floor of Sinjai Academy, deeper than the dungeons, deeper even than the Archive Vaults, a forgotten structure stirred to life for the first time in 1,000 years.
The Clocktower of Aeons.
It had no entrance. No windows. No sound escaped from it. No light ever touched it.
And yet—it ticked.
A single, metallic tick echoed across the ancient stones as gears as tall as mountains groaned back into motion. Statues of long-dead Seekers—those who once walked the world with cosmic powers—opened their empty stone eyes.
At the top of the tower, a book snapped open, revealing a name freshly inked into its page:
Aeren Valcrest – Loopbearer – Phase II: Initiation Registered.
🏛️ In the Grand Council Hall
The Council of Seekers, representing every top-tier Academy and sovereign power across the region, sat in panicked silence. The news had reached them—someone awakened a force that could bend space, time, memory, and will.
The Diamond-tier Seeker, Grandmaster Elya of Kaelithan Academy, broke the silence first.
"He's not ready."
Another voice, a deeper one belonging to General Vorthar of Zeratrix Academy, rumbled:
"That's irrelevant. The Loopbearer is a danger to all timelines. He must be brought under the Council's authority immediately—or removed."
One voice, however, remained calm—Elder Myric, the head of Obsidian Spire Academy, Rank #1 across the continent.
"You forget," he whispered, "the Loopbearer exists because someone tampered with the first seal. And that wasn't Aeren."
The room darkened at his words.
"You think… the Umbra Scepter broke the seal?""Not think," said Myric. "I know."
🧠 Meanwhile – At the Infirmary
Aeren sat silently, hands bandaged, staring at the white wall in front of him. Anshi lay asleep beside him, unconscious but stable.
He couldn't remember what happened in the forest. Not clearly.
But pieces were starting to surface. He remembered time… stopping. He remembered the monster… shaking in fear. He remembered a name: Chrono Sovereign.
And most of all…
He remembered a voice—his own voice—but older, colder, and full of pain.
"You can't protect her like this. Become what you were meant to be. Or watch her die in every timeline."
Aeren gritted his teeth.
"No… I won't let that happen."
Just then, his hand twitched—and a golden glyph appeared faintly on his palm, like a mark burned into reality. No one else saw it.
But in that moment, Aeren realized something chilling:
He could hear thoughts.He could see decisions before they were made.He could manipulate reactions.He was no longer a normal Seeker.
⚔️ Back at Sinjai Academy Grounds
An urgent announcement echoed across all dorms:
"Attention first-years. Due to recent dangers, your mid-year trial is being accelerated. The Top 10 students from the ranking competition will be chosen to explore a sealed dungeon: the Fragment of Ash."
The name sent shivers across the campus.
Anshi had just woken up. Weak but determined.
"Aeren… you have to rank in the Top 10. You have to.""But… I'm not ready—""You've never been readier."
Her hand gripped his. Her eyes… saw his potential even if he couldn't yet.
🔥 Meanwhile – Umbra Scepter Hidden Base
The cloaked figure stood before a glowing statue of an ancient Seeker, whose body was hollow and cursed. A black mass pulsed in the corner of the room.
"Send the Echobound.""But they are not controllable—""Exactly. Let's see what the Loopbearer does… under true pressure."
📚 End of Chapter 50
Next up:Chapter 51 – The Trial of Ash and Echoes