CHRONOS SYSTEM

Kealin threw out his fist with tremendous force, but it had hit nothing but empty shadows that seemed to mock his effort. April appeared behind him with a sinister smile that made his blood run cold.

"Too slow," she said, taunting Kealin with that same infuriating confidence she always carried.

"Unlike Rudy, I'm not exactly skilled in close combat..." April continued, her voice carrying a dangerous edge.

"So instead, I attack the mind," she finished, her purple eyes beginning to glow with otherworldly power.

Immediately, Kealin could see multiple spectral arms trying to grab him from behind, reaching out with ghostly fingers. Out of pure instinct, the teenager evaded the initial attack, but as he landed, it felt as if the ground had completely disappeared beneath his feet. He was falling into what seemed like an endless abyss, the darkness swallowing him whole. He tried to grab the walls for support, but his hands just passed through the ethereal substance as if it were made of mist.

Suddenly, multiple eyes formed around him in the void—dozens of them, each one glowing with a hint of purple energy and radiating a sinister vibe that made his soul recoil Kealin finally landed with a bone-jarring crash as he crashed into something hard. He looked around, taking note of his surroundings.

"What the..?" Kealin started to say, but quickly covered his nose as a horrible, overwhelming stench filled the air—a mixture of decay - and something far worse.

'This place... it smells like a cemetery or worse,' Kealin thought, his stomach churning. As he looked around more carefully, he regretted even thinking that particular thought.

"It is worse," April's voice echoed around him, confirming his fears

The surroundings revealed a wide, desolate space filled with dried-up skeletons impaled on wooden stakes that jutted out from the cracked earth like macabre tombstones. Some of the bones were ancient and weathered, while others looked disturbingly recent.

"Oh, you're still standing. Most people would puke upon entering this zone," April said casually acasual appeared before him, her form flickering between solid and shadow. She stared at him with predatory intent, clearly enjoying his discomfort.

"Crazy bitch," Kealin snapped, his anger overriding his fear for just a moment.

"Now, now, don't look at me like that," April replied with mock innocence. "All these people, they caused their own deaths. They were just as stubborn as you are. Refused to accept reality when it was presented to them."

"Now then, let's see how long you last," she said, her smile widening as dark energy began to swirl around her form. "The other toys were too easy to break."

'Toys... Did she just refer to humans as toys?' Right now, Kealin was beyond angry—his rage burned hotter than any flame Rudy could conjure. All he wanted to do was snap this person's neck, rip their heart out, or even kick them in the nuts.

'Wait, she doesn't have nuts,' he realized belatedly.

"Master, focus," Chronos warned urgently in his mind.

"Here I come," April declared dramatically.

Immediately, spikes shot out from the ground all aimed at Kealin.The young mage moved frantically, his enhanced reflexes the only thing keeping him alive as he feared for his life.

"Holy shit!" Kealin cursed as he dodged another spike by mere inches, but another attacked him from behind, catching him off guard.

Kealin gritted his teeth as the spike pierced through his shoulder, the pain shooting through his entire body like lightning. He tried to pull it out, but another spike pierced his arm before he could react. More spikes pierced Kealin's body in rapid succession, and the teenager couldn't take the overwhelming pain anymore.

"Ahhhhh!" Kealin screamed, his voice filled with pure despair and agony.

"It hurts... it hurts so bad.. make it stop... make it stop!" he inwardly screamed, his mind beginning to fracture under the relentless assault.

"There it is, that look, when you know you can't win, the fear," April appeared before Kealin as she traced her fingers down his bloodied chest, her touch sending chills through his body. "Oh Kealin, I'm gonna enjoy breaking you," she said, her voice filled with sinister intent that promised unspeakable torment.

"Master... Master... Master, it's not real," Chronos advised desperately, his digital voice carrying genuine concern. "Dreamweaver's powers increase based on beliefs and emotions. As long as you believe it's not real... you can defeat her."

But Kealin was lost in his own thoughts, his consciousness beginning to fade. His life flashed before his eyes—those precious moments he spent with MJ, meeting Max and Lena for the first time, all the incredible adventures he had with Alex in Neo-Eden. Was this really it? Was this the end of everything he had fought for?

"Maybe if I hadn't gone after April and Rudy, none of this would have happened. I should have listened to Alex," Kealin thought, tears streaming down his cheeks as the pain and despair overwhelmed him.

"C'mon, don't tell me you're already done. I'm just getting started," April said as she raised his chin with her fingers, searching his eyes intently for any sign of defiance. "Where's that cocky attitude you had just a minute ago? C'mon, say something," she taunted him with a wide, cruel grin.

"Maybe this is the end," Kealin whispered, closing his eyes and accepting his fate. He was ready to give up, to let the darkness consume him.

Suddenly, the scenery began to change around the. The landscape shifted and transformed into a familiar place—his home.

Sitting on the sofa of their modest home was MJ and a younger version of Kealin, both looking peaceful and carefree.

"Ow.. ow," little Kealin groaned as MJ carefully cleaned his wounds.

"Would you stay still... I can't believe you got into another fight," MJ complained, though her voice carried more worry than anger.

"I thought I saw someone that looked like her," young Kealin said softly.

"I know... I know you're still looking for your mom," MJ said as she cleared the table, returning the first aid kit to its proper place.

"Kealin," MJ called out gently.

"Hm?" he responded, looking up at her with those same blue eyes.

"I know I may not hold a place in your heart or anything... but promise me one thing," MJ said, her eyes becoming almost tearful as she looked at him with maternal love.

"What?" Kealin asked with an innocent look that reminded the present Kealin of simpler times.

"That no matter what happens, you'll never disappear from my life.. promise," MJ said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I promise," little Kealin answered while hugging MJ tightly, his small arms wrapping around her waist. This brought a radiant smile to MJ's face.

"Ok," she said as she embraced him back, holding him like he was the most precious thing in the world.

Finally, Kealin returned to his senses, the memory breaking through April's mental assault like a beacon of hope.

"That's right, I made a promise to MJ..." he realized, his resolve beginning to strengthen.

The images of MJ smiling played in his head, her warm presence cutting through the darkness 

"I finally made friends who I want to protect," Kealin declared, his voice growing stronger as he broke the spike embedded in his left arm with a sharp crack. As he did so, the images of Max and Lena appeared before him, their hands stretching out towards him in friendship and support.

"I still want to enjoy my time with Alex and find out more about my past, my powers... I can't... I can't die here," Kealin said fiercely as he broke the spike in his right arm, his determination burning brighter with each memory.

"What the.." April took a step back, clearly surprised by Kealin's newfound strength and resistance to her mental attacks.

"And most importantly, I have to find her," he continued, his voice filled with unwavering purpose.

A beautiful black-haired woman appeared in front of Kealin, her silhouette facing him. She turned slowly, revealing a soft smile that lit up her features, her blue eyes glowing with outward energy that matched his own.

"Kea, no matter how far apart we are from each other, I'll always be with you," she said in a calm, loving demeanor that filled his heart with warmth.

"That's right, I still have to find mom. I want to tell her about my adventures, my friends..." Kealin took a step forward, his resolve hardening like steel.

"And so, I can't die here," he declared, his voice carrying the weight of absolute certainty.

"Why you... stay back!" April panicked, gritting her teeth as she took another step back, her confidence beginning to fade.

Suddenly, the atmosphere around Kealin grew dense and oppressive, and his aura grew tremendously as he finally broke free from the constraints.

[Mana Zone Activated]

[Level Up Achieved]

[Congratulations! You have unlocked your Mage profession]

[Mage Profession: Astral Keeper - A mage who manipulates energy and matter]

[New Skill Acquired: Zero Point Energy - Grant's the user dominion over 10% of the energy in a certain area]

[Base Cool down: 24 hours]

[Current Level: 2]

[HP: 30%]

[MP: 50]

The air around Kealin and April began to shimmer, the scenery changing to Kealin's home.

"Payback time"

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