NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 157
The speed slows down.
And, Clock Hands becomes abnormally fast.
Moreover, it keeps changing irregularly, making it hard to adapt.
“How is it?”
“……”
This is Clock Hands’ ability.
The minute hand, his basic weapon, accelerates the time of whatever it touches.
The hour hand, obtained after releasing his Second Ability, slows down the time of whatever it touches.
This is a very unique weapon exclusive to Clock Hands, replacing the magic wand, and it also serves as a trigger for various techniques.
“So, you’ve learned to handle both at the same time…”
By the way, I’ve had many mock battles with Clock Hands in the past, so I roughly remember the sensation caused by changes in time.
That’s why I can immediately notice and respond to the changes in my own speed.
It’s not perfect, but for now, it’s fine.
“You seem familiar with dual swords. Blocking with the hour hand to slow down time, while using the minute hand to momentarily accelerate your own time and attack, right?”
“You know it well!”
In no time, Clock Hands has become a master of dual swordsmanship.
A good example for Diamond Dust… but unfortunately, she had no talent for swordsmanship, so I had her polish her spear skills instead.
…This is Time Stop.
Then, I’ll also focus all my energy into a Rampage, forcibly breaking through the Time Stop.
“Really… this ability is too much…!”
“Too much is you guys.”
Blocking Clock Hands’ attacks while simultaneously using “□□□ Blast.”
Pushing away the blocked sword and firing “□□□ Blast,” I can see the frustrated expression on his face as he can’t pursue while manipulating time.
But I have no intention of allowing such attacks.
The continuous irregular changes in time speed are making me nauseous, so it’s better to disrupt the flow by cutting it off.
“This doesn’t seem to be enough…”
“Is this the end?”
“…No? Here, look at this! The fusion of the hour and minute hands… the second hand!”
“Is that your true Third Ability?”
“Yes…!”
I thought it was a bit bland, but he was hiding this.
Then, let’s see what this Third Ability is…
“Time Stop.”
“……”
Tick, tick, tick…
Unlike the usual Time Stop ability, there’s a strange feeling.
My magic power is squirming under the influence of “Concept,” but it feels quite blocked.
It seems the influence has grown stronger after moving to the Third Ability.
…This isn’t good.
If this continues, I’ll just be beaten one-sidedly.
“If I can’t even counter this… I can’t send it to Pandora-sama.”
How should I counter this?
Hmm… I can’t think of anything.
Even now, I’m being slashed by Clock Hands here and there, but I have no clear plan.
……Ah, that was it.
“□□□…!”
“?!!”
“…Indeed, this works.”
“What kind of nonsense is that?!”
Indeed, Clock Hands.
I don’t even know exactly what this is.
But… since I managed to break your Time Stop, it seems like nonsense.
Even so… it’s incomplete, so it’s a bit unsettling.
“…You’ve become really ominous…!”
“Ominous?”
“You’ve become even blacker… more black than purple…!!”
According to Clock Hands, the more influenced I am by this new power, the blacker I become.
Certainly, “□□□ Blast” is also more focused on black.
Then… with that in mind, one more “□□□ Blast.”
“How about this?”
“What? …!”
“Too bad~ you dodged~.”
“That’s because you keep telling me.”
“That’s true~.”
Suddenly making strange sounds, he used the moment when my hidden attack’s phase overlapped.
To think he would set up attacks in the future…
Could it be that after blooming his Third Ability, he can see a certain extent of the future?
…No, it’s probably possible to send his own attacks to the future.
I’ve already had enough of sending attacks to the past.
Even so, intervening too much in the already determined past isn’t possible, so it wasn’t fatal.
“I don’t know, but I still don’t understand how you dodge… You’re moving differently from the future I saw? What did you do?”
“Just a feeling.”
“Hmm… Really, it’s astonishing! Just a feeling can’t change the future I see!”
“Well, maybe it’s influenced by the power I’m using now.”
“Ah~ Indeed! The power flowing from Rampage now is dark and ominous…!”
At the moment Clock Hands’ attack set in the future is summoned in the present, I release this ominous power I don’t fully understand.
At the same time, I evade just in case.
Of course, gaps also appear, so I don’t miss them and block the second hand’s stabs.
Sometimes the hour and minute hands keep being summoned in the air and chase me, but I can handle that without a problem.
Except for the annoying irregular changes in time speed.
Still, with detection magic, I can fully grasp what is moving at what speed, in what direction, and when, so it’s much better.
But… the biggest problem now is Clock Hands’ weapon.
That second hand… it’s more troublesome than I thought.
Quite thin, and despite its speed being freely controllable, it sometimes cuts unexpectedly.
Even when it clearly didn’t touch.
Upon checking, it seems the second hand cuts the past me.
If I was there a few seconds ago, the second hand can cut that past, and it feeds back to my current state.
Because of this, I don’t know how to block it while attacking Clock Hands.
“How does it feel to be cut one-sidedly?!”
“…Very unpleasant.”
“Right?”
Moreover, I don’t feel like Clock Hands himself is taking damage.
Even though I clearly cut him, not a drop of blood comes out, and he doesn’t react to it.
It’s clear that he’s creating this phenomenon with time-related abilities.
“Did you stop your own time, or are you reverting to the past?”
“Hmm~ Who knows? What could it be!”
“…This isn’t a quiz show, you know?”
…Well, whatever it is, it doesn’t matter.
I’m getting used to this mysterious “Concept,” and soon I’ll be able to properly wield it on my weapon.
Of course, on the Energy Blade too.
This seems to have a greater influence than my “Concept” of “Rampage,” so if it works well, this fight seems to be a matter of time.
The problem is that it’s under the premise that it works well.
But still… it doesn’t seem like I need to worry.
I feel like something inside is being adjusted on its own.
“…Do you remember what I said in the past?”
“What~?”
“Everything that rampages becomes mine.”
“…?”
By the way… I don’t usually do this, but it might be useful now.
The nature of everything that rampages becoming mine.
I’m not sure, but I think it might be possible against Clock Hands now.
To completely take control of the hour and minute hands Clock Hands is throwing… everything that touches.
The output has become strangely strong, and it feels more like erosion than simple rampage, so it’s not entirely absurd.
What’s happening to my body…
Some of the incomprehensible names too…
“…Could it be, the application of that newly learned power?!”
“For now.”
“Damn… Sis has been working too hard!!”
Honestly, I don’t fully understand the power of my current state.
But, how should I say… I have some intuitive knowledge.
It’s the influence of “Concept,” but I wish it were clearer, but reality isn’t like that.
I can only roughly grasp and use it by feeling.
So, for now, with this vaguely understood eroding power… I completely steal all these hour and minute hands.
“Rampaging to reduce influence, then eroding with that new power to completely steal… scary!”
“Is that so?”
Now, you can’t use those attacks at all.
This gives me some leeway, and I can calmly think of ways to damage Clock Hands.
“Phew! As expected, trying to fight with something unfamiliar is hopeless!”
“…What are you talking about?”
“I can’t fight with the second hand! Well, the Third Ability can be used without the second hand, so it’s not a problem!”
…Indeed, is it difficult to do various things with the second hand?
It’s hard to control, or something… that kind of talk.
“Using it separately like this is better than integrating it…!”
“So? What can you do with that?”
“…Time Acceleration, Time Negative Acceleration.”
“……”
Oh… So using them separately is easier to control and expands the usable range compared to integrating them?
Still inexperienced, Clock Hands…
This is useless in front of “Ka□□”…!
…Wait, what did I just say?
“Gasp!”
“Are you not using that anymore?”
“Who would use it knowing it gets stolen…!”
…Well, that’s true.
But “Time Acceleration” is used on himself, and “Time Negative Acceleration” is applied to the space around him?
It seems the Third Ability affects space too.
…Huh?
“…Did you think I would only use time acceleration and deceleration? Really?”
“…I underestimated you, Clock Hands.”
Suddenly, my back and neck are cut…
This is my mistake.
I didn’t expect him to stop time for a moment and attack in that state.
Moreover, without hesitation, he stopped time and attacked before I could even recognize it, then retreated…
Still, it’s not a deep wound.
But… Clock Hands has a powerful one-shot technique.
The current method is quite annoying, but I need to be more careful of that.
But if I focus only on that, I might be caught off guard, so I need to balance it.
Clock Hands isn’t someone who’s oblivious.
“Ka□□ Blast.”
“Ugh…! Really, such an absurd power!! Time Trip…!”
He adjusted time to move at the moment of impact…
Clock Hands has become much more troublesome compared to before.
“Phew, phew…”
“Seems like you’re reaching your physical limit? You’ve used quite a bit of magic power… Is magic recovery slow due to the penalty of time-based abilities?”
“I can’t… end like this…!”
“Just quietly get cut by my sword and die, why don’t you?”
“I can’t… do that…!! Time Limit…!!!”
“Time Limit”… another unknown technique has appeared.
Just from the name, I can’t even guess.
It seems like a big clock is turning, so I’ll be on guard for now.
“…What is that?”
“……”
“Say something. Why are you suddenly silent?”
“…………Countercurrent Time.”
“Tch…! You bastard…!”
Could it be that he remained silent, waiting for that clock to finish turning?!
That technique restores his condition, including magic power, to its original state…!
Originally, that “Time Reversal” required significant preparation…
I didn’t expect “Time Limit” to allow any technique to be used without conditions once the clock finishes turning!
Damn… this means I have to start over…
“…I’m serious, Rampage.”
“……”
…No choice.
Then, I’ll… deliberately let my emotions rampage…!