Under the weight of accumulated exhaustion, Louskas collapsed to the ground.
For months, he had barely slept or rested. Every day was relentless training, sometimes going entire nights without sleep just to finish his morning tasks. But today, after pushing his body beyond its limits, he finally collapsed, unconscious from sheer fatigue.
Nyktos watched in silence. He didn't need an explanation for what had happened. Expressionless, he carried Louskas to a shaded spot away from the sun, then returned to his training and meditation.
For a Shard Master, the greatest lesson to learn was to understand themselves and the world around them, for their will would accumulate in this world, and they could only impose it if their hearts and minds were free of impurities.
Beside Nyktos, Louskas lay in a deep slumber. But his rest didn't last long. Suddenly, he jolted awake, screaming in pain, clutching the back of his neck. It felt as if a slow-burning fire was eating away at his body from the inside.
Nyktos didn't need an explanation. "The Slave Mark,"he said coldly.
The Slave Mark was a symbol carved onto a slave's body, carrying the name of the clan that owned them. Clans used it to ensure absolute obedience—if a slave rebelled or tried to escape, anyone with the blood of that clan could paralyze them with unbearable pain just by thinking about it.
It wasn't just a method of control; it was torture.
But who cared? In this world, everyone was a slave in one way or another.
Nyktos observed the scene calmly, yet deep within, his anger boiled. He wasn't concerned about Louskas' suffering—he was more interested in the fool who dared to activate the mark, disrupting his peace of mind.
Even so, that wasn't enough to alter his cold demeanor. He considered Louskas a close friend, but he was never the type to show concern with words.
To him, pain either killed you… or made you stronger.
Louskas writhed on the ground, his breathing ragged from the unbearable pain, but he never asked for help.
This was hell, but he had endured the torment of the Demon Worshippers before. He was certain this was nothing compared to that.
"Hah, you sadist, why aren't you helping me?"
He chuckled sarcastically, looking up at Nyktos despite the agony.
Nyktos studied him for a moment, then replied indifferently:
"Ask for it if you want it."
Louskas laughed despite the pain.
"Why would I? I can kill whoever did this with ease. And if you think this pain will stop me, then you don't know me at all."
Nyktos closed his eyes briefly, then opened them with a sharp grin, his voice filled with amusement.
"What if I was the one who did it?"
Louskas looked at him, his expression turning cold. Then, a calm smile spread across his face. His voice was steady, unwavering.
"Then… you'll have a bit of fun… before you die, my dear friend."
BAM!
Their fists clashed at the same moment. Nyktos grinned excitedly from above, while Louskas, despite his half-collapsed state, matched his energy with a smirk.
Neither of them used their spiritual energy. Nyktos could have, but Louskas' core was completely drained.
Even so, that didn't stop them from fighting with their own styles.
For Shard Masters, entering the first stage meant their bodies became stronger, their souls far greater than those of ordinary humans. With each advancement, their bodies and spirits were reforged, exponentially increasing their strength.
They moved at speeds beyond human capability, trading blows that were as fast as lightning and just as powerful. Their strikes came in rapid succession, scattering fallen leaves around them.
Louskas was still suffering from the lingering pain, slowing his reaction time. But he saw it as an opportunity to learn.
That didn't change the fact that Nyktos controlled the battle completely, pushing him back every time.
'A real monster.'
Louskas muttered to himself with a grin.
Suddenly, Nyktos launched a precise strike toward Louskas' neck without hesitation. He barely dodged, countering with a side attack.
But Nyktos didn't avoid it—he stepped in closer.
BAM!
A brutal punch to Louskas' chest sent him soaring into the air.
And in the next moment, the entire world froze.
No sound. No movement. Even the wind and water had stopped.
Louskas was suspended midair, unable to move, while the only thing he could hear… was footsteps approaching.
Nyktos' footsteps.
"Ah, Louskas… You need to become stronger. I really want to see how your power will evolve. Four months of training and pain, and yet you managed to endure ten blows from me without even touching you?"
This was his Shard's ability—one of the forgotten Shards—The Time Shard.
With it, he could rewind time by a few seconds, accelerate it, or even stop it entirely.
But its limitations were strict. He could only use it within a hundred-meter radius and a set number of times per day.
Even though it was incredibly powerful, it devoured his spiritual energy at an insane rate.
And it had its drawbacks…
If he rewound time by one second, his lifespan increased by a day.
If he advanced time, his lifespan decreased. He had only ever tested this in experiments—what if he used it in battle and found himself beheaded?
As for stopping time…
Each second he froze would pass for him as if he had lived an entire day without eating, drinking, or resting.
Three seconds.
That was all he had used to take Louskas down.
And yet, it felt like he had endured three days of starvation.
With a flicker of his will, he released his power.
Louskas crashed down hard, panting.
Nyktos' face was slightly pale, but he grinned and said: "Let's go and make that bastard suffer."
He extended a hand to help him up. Louskas smirked despite the pain still burning through him.