Kei's lungs burned as he rushed through the broken streets. The digital countdown above the city reminded him of his painful reality. 6 MINUTES, 18 SECONDS left.
His heart pounded. The thrill of unlocking his first ability: Momentary Slow was fading, replaced by an unsettling truth: he wasn't alone fighting for time. A distant scream tore the silence. Kei froze. He turned, and saw it—a man kneeling on the road, his digital timer flashing 00:00:00:03. The man bitten his own skin, screaming, "Please! Just one second, just one!"
00:00:00:02… 00:00:00:01…
Then, he vanished.
No sound. No explosion. No blood. Just… gone. Kei stumbled backward, his breath, too much. "So that's what happens when time runs out." he whispered
[ Survival Rule #1: If your time reaches zero, you cease to exist. ]
Before he could process the horror a voice spoke, interrupting him.
"Hand over your time, or I'll take it myself."
Kei spun around—a man stood behind him, his face twisted in desperation. He was holding a jagged metal pipe, his countdown flashing 00:04:57.
A time thief.
Kei barely had time to react before the man lunged.
The First Fight
Instinct took over. Kei dodged, barely avoiding the pipe's swing. But he was too slow—the second strike smashed against his ribs, sending him rolling across the pavement. Pain shot through his body. 5 MINUTES, 33 SECONDS left.
The man grinned, his own time increasing by a few seconds. Attacking others granted time.
[ Survival Rule #2: Kill or be killed. Time is power. ]
Kei's mind raced. He had to fight back. He had to evolve.
As the man charged again, something happened—Kei's vision sharpened. His muscles reacted faster than before.
The world slowed.
Not because of his ability, but because of something deeper—Survival Evolution.
Kei ducked under the swing and countered—his fist slammed into the attacker's jaw. The man went rolling, crashed into a broken street lamp.
A sharp ding! echoed in his mind.
[Survival Evolution Activated: Physical Adaptation Unlocked. ]
[ Reflexes +10%, Strength +5%. ]
Kei stood over his fallen attacker, his heart still racing. His countdown had jumped to 6 MINUTES, 49 SECONDS.
And in the corner he saw—a second Time Fragment flickered into existence.
Without hesitation, he grabbed it. A blow of energy rushed through him.
[ Time Ability Unlocked: Rewind (3 Seconds). ]
Kei exhaled sharply. Now he had two powers. Momentary Slow: (Briefly slows time for him)
Rewind: (3 Seconds) (Allows him to redo a moment).
He looked up at the endless skyscrapers of the Prison of Time. He wasn't just surviving anymore.
He was evolving.
And soon, he would escape.