Chapter 399 Broken Time, Awakened Soul
Time shattered like glass falling on metal. Each second transformed into a shadow, and every shadow whispered of deaths that never came to pass. At the center of destruction, Rui's body burned from her own forbidden technique. Her breath came in ragged gasps, but those eyes—eyes that refused to yield—still gazed upwards.
A sense of pressure wrapped around her soul, as if the burden of the world sought to crush her like a fierce wind tossing dry leaves. Through her blurred vision, pain symbolized the rekindling of her resolve; this was the moment to hold onto hope, even as the world trembled on the brink of despair. Could she change the seemingly predetermined fate, or would she become trapped in a cycle of dark destiny?
Above, the first fragment of Chronos—a formless embodiment of will—floats, its toxic strands of time spreading in all directions, erasing colors and names from the surrounding world.
Chronos does not speak. It does not need to. Every second of its presence is a command to destroy.
In the stillness enveloping that moment, Rui seems to hear the legendary whispers of ancient warriors teaching her about the latent power within herself. They appear to give her the courage amidst the chaos of time, their voices reminding her that hope can still be yearned for, even in the shadow of emptiness.
And he continues to attack.
"Chrono Plague: Stream of Forgotten Births"
One swing of Chronos's nameless hand sent forth a wave of magic in the form of time chains that constricted reality. The earth, the air, and even memories of taste began to dissolve. Joanna screamed as she saw part of the sky transform into an echo of Jeanne's tongue—frozen, silent, much like in her final moments.
All colors faded away, taking with them the remaining hope. Rui felt his heart tremble as Jeanne's face flashed in his mind, a reminder that he was not alone in his struggle. That beautiful memory now became a fire fueling his fighting spirit; he was fighting not just for himself, but also for all that had gone, including those who had once loved him sincerely.
Rui raised her hand, despite some of her bones being fractured, and activated the fourth forbidden cultivation technique:
「裂界引魂・三重碎天步」