The Chronomancer's Odyssey

The burst of power that had surged through Arion's body still lingered, and as the last of the light from his breakthrough faded, he blinked a few times, taking in the aftermath of his explosive achievement. His heart was still racing, and the energy that flowed through him felt like it was barely contained. He opened his eyes fully and surveyed the room.

The bed had been pushed to the side, pillows scattered across the floor, and his blankets were in disarray. The window blinds hung limply, fluttering from the residual air pressure left by his release of power. His clothes, too, were tossed about like they had been caught in a whirlwind.

Arion (muttering to himself): "Well... that got out of hand."

With a sigh, Arion stood up from the bed, feeling the strength flowing through him with every step. His muscles, now filled with new vigor, felt as though they could stretch beyond any limit he had ever imagined. The power in him was a constant reminder that he was no longer the same.

He moved methodically, starting with the mess he had created. First, he tidied up the blankets and pillows, neatly folding them. The window blinds, which had been ripped from their mountings by the force of his breakthrough, were carefully adjusted back into place. His clothes—scattered everywhere—were picked up one by one, though his eyes occasionally flicked over to them as if to ensure no lingering residue of the energy was affecting them.

Arion (speaking to no one): "Time to get cleaned up. I've earned that much."

Once the room was restored to order, Arion walked into the bathroom. The soothing, modern design was a contrast to the chaotic energy that had filled his mind moments before. He turned on the water, feeling the warm steam rise around him as he undressed and stepped into the shower.

The heat of the water relaxed his tense muscles, and he allowed the sensation to ground him, calming the buzzing energy that still thrummed under his skin. As the water washed away the sweat of the past few days, he reflected on his breakthrough—how far he had come. The feeling of his mana was more controlled now, but still wildly powerful.

Arion (whispering as the water cascades over him): "Three circles... this is just the beginning."

Once he finished bathing, Arion stepped out, wrapping a towel around his waist. He stood before the mirror, his mind racing, but his body still calm from the cleansing process. It was time for a change. After drying off, he donned fresh clothes—simple but fitting for the mercenary lifestyle: a durable black shirt, reinforced pants, and sturdy boots.

Arion took one last glance at the room before he checked out of the hotel. The clerk, who greeted him with a polite smile, nodded as he handed Arion his payment.

Receptionist: "Thank you for staying with us, sir. We hope to see you again."

Arion simply nodded, offering a brief smile before stepping out into the crisp air of Elaris. The streets were still bustling with activity as he walked toward the Crimson Blade Mercenary Guild headquarters. The towering structure loomed before him, an imposing presence amidst the busy streets of the city. His steps grew more purposeful as he approached.

Entering the guild hall, he passed by familiar faces—other mercenaries who had also returned from their respective missions. The hall was busy, as always, filled with chatter, offers for jobs, and people haggling for items. But Arion had one place in mind: the training hall.

When he entered, the expansive room was quieter than usual, and several mercenaries were sparring or practicing various techniques. The sound of wooden weapons clashing filled the air. Arion could feel the heat of their efforts, but his focus remained laser-sharp.

He made his way to the center of the room and immediately began to test his newfound strength.

Arion closed his eyes for a moment, reaching inward. A subtle shift in his focus triggered a manipulation of space itself—he teleported behind one of the training dummies in an instant. The others in the room stopped their practice, watching curiously as Arion appeared effortlessly, without the usual buildup of mana.

Without warning, Arion's hand shot forward, his palm striking the dummy with a force that sent it flying across the room, crashing into the wall. A small crater formed where his hand had made contact.

Mercenary #1 (shocked): "Did you see that? He didn't even seem to move, but the dummy... It was destroyed!"

Arion didn't respond immediately. He was too focused on testing the extent of his power. He raised his hand again, his fingers snapping. The space around him seemed to warp for a moment, and in the blink of an eye, another training dummy appeared in front of him. But this time, he didn't strike it with sheer physical strength. He bent time around him, slowing the world to a crawl.

The dummy, moving at a fraction of its normal speed, seemed frozen in place. Arion casually walked around it, his footsteps barely audible. Then, with a swift motion, he let time snap back into its normal flow. The dummy exploded outward as the time distortion hit, its parts flying in every direction.

Mercenary #2 (wide-eyed): "What kind of magic is that?! It looked like he was manipulating time!"

Arion stood still, feeling the raw power that pulsed through him. He could feel the amazement and awe in the gazes of the other mercenaries. He hadn't used his space and time magic in combat in front of others before, but now it seemed like the perfect opportunity to show the extent of his power.

Arion (calmly): "Time and space... they're just tools to be mastered."

After a few more demonstrations, Arion decided it was time to move on. The dummies had been completely destroyed, and the other mercenaries were whispering amongst themselves. He could feel their eyes on him as he walked away from the wreckage, his calm demeanor masking the fire that burned within.

He left the training hall and made his way to the main building of the guild, where he decided to head to the Contribution Shop. The quiet hum of the marketplace inside the guild was a stark contrast to the intensity of the training hall. As he wandered through the aisles, his eyes scanned the shelves for anything that could aid him in his continued journey.

As Arion wandered through the Contribution Shop, his fingers brushed against various items. He skimmed the shelves, casually glancing at weapons and armor, his mind focused on something more… fundamental. He was looking for something that could augment his capabilities, something that could open the next door to his growth.

His eyes landed on a small, inconspicuous item—a Basic Quantum Energy Breathing Technique. The label listed it at 1000 contribution points, a modest price for something that could enhance his mastery over energy itself. He paused, staring at it for a long moment. Quantum energy was a step beyond conventional mana, a mysterious and powerful form of energy that he had been hoping to tap into since he had first heard of it.

Arion (muttering to himself): "This is it... finally. Quantum energy... time to see if this really works."

He didn't hesitate. Without thinking too much, Arion transferred the points and purchased the technique on a whim. The points were deducted instantly, and a small, glowing holographic display appeared in front of him. It projected a brief description of the technique and a few instructions on how to begin practicing it. It was simple, just the basics, but enough to get started.

Arion tucked the new technique into his mind, his thoughts already moving forward, eager to learn more about quantum energy.

With a small, satisfied smile, he pocketed the device and turned to leave the shop.

Arion (thinking, grinning): "This'll be interesting... time to test it out."