Chapter 94: Escape out of Time Loop
At the age of 1,364, Ian began searching for records of Lost History in the God’s Library. Most scrolls had gaps, broken letters, or pages missing. One scroll, however, repeated a strange line: "Before the first word, there was silence too loud to hold."
At the age of 1,369, Ian placed the line on the Safe Wall. It stayed in his thoughts even after the Safe Wall vanished. He didn’t understand the meaning, but he felt it was important.
At the age of 1,370, he read a page with a symbol that pulsed like it was alive. The symbol was gone when he blinked. That night, he dreamed of a crack in a mirror and a shadow with no source.
At the age of 1,375, he saw the Mirror of Nothing and noticed a tiny crack. It hadn’t been there before. He ignored it, thinking it was just time playing tricks.
At the age of 1,377, he passed a young god holding a book titled Calter. Ian felt cold when he touched it, but gave it back without a word. He forgot the moment soon after.
At the age of 1,380, he wrote a plan to break time’s loop. He split his soul into three. One piece lived in the Safe Wall, one in his core, and one he placed inside a starless realm. He believed this would anchor him.
At the age of 1,410, he made a small god rise to power in secret. That god disappeared months later. Ian could not trace him. There was no name, no soul mark, no record.
At the age of 1,500, Ian felt a strange pull in the universe but ignored it. He thought the vortex might be gone for good. He even allowed himself to think he had won.
At the age of 2,100, he burned his plan. His anchor had failed. He was still in the loop. He stopped changing things and let many events pass like before.