Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 285: Time

Chapter 285: Time

/1 hour prior/

Time was a simple yet complicated subject in Eventide.

It was a river, peaceful and everflowing, moving towards a determined end.

To control it, one had to understand the constraints.

There could only be forward motion, going back was also possible albeit limited but trying to change something would merely lead to a branch with the main timeline remaining unaffected.

Of course, that was by the way.

With time, the person controlling it had to be certain of what they were trying to use it for.

The difference between manipulating the time of an ordinary forest was different from manipulating the time of a divine kingdom or the domain of a powerful Mystic.

The latter had a more influential grip on time and that influence determined just how much effect it would have on time if one were to manipulate it.

It also determined if the effects of the time manipulated would be temporary or permanent.

Perhaps this was why Ana couldn’t help but gawk at the two monstrosities standing a few meters ahead, stopping her from advancing.

She’d long since switched to her human form, staring at the rock monsters that seemed intent on keeping her from reaching camp.

The ’spears’ they’d thrown to gain her attention were still embedded in the area about them.

Watching the portions of their body she’d already tried to destroy recover like nothing happened, Ana couldn’t help but question. "How is this possible?"

She prided herself on the fact that she’d honed her Power over the thousand years she’d been alive, reaching a level where only the strongest could resist her manipulation of time.

Even the Patriarchs of the Great Families would find it difficult replicating what the trolls were currently doing causing her to quickly come to a conclusion.

The trolls or rather whoever was controlling them were at a level where manipulating their time held only temporary results.

The trolls roared angrily as they picked up large trees, intent on using them against Ana.

Their actions however served to only infuriate Ana as she pushed down her confusion to glare at the duo.

Ana had never felt so insulted after all she’d just recovered her full power yet...

No, this could not continue!

Then the first troll attacked... or at least, it tried to.

It never got a chance to complete the action.

By the time it discovered its arm was gone, Ana was already standing on its head.

"Go die." She muttered as she placed her palm on its head.

It was a silent destruction.

It started from the head before its entire body faded away like it never existed in the first place.

The other troll swung its weapon, but Ana casually phased through it before sending a glare its way.

Dragon Fear!

Instantly, it stood rooted in place.

Covering the distance with a single step, she opened her palm where four temporal circles revolved around a central axis.

It shot forward like a bullet and the troll’s head was uprooted without mercy, disappearing just like its counterpart.

Snorting derisively, she turned to leave only to pause as a voice reached her.

As expected, you are the most dangerous amongst the party.

Ana frowned as she glanced back but there was no one.

Do not worry, I am not behind you. I am everywhere and nowhere... however, my consciousness is somewhere deep within. Come and find me.

"Hmmph, you must think I’m stupid," Ana remarked before turning and rushing back toward the camp.

She’d once thought herself the strongest, but not anymore.

Her best bet was regrouping with the others before challenging the owner of the voice and nothing would change her mind about that.

***

It was the white light that helped her find what she was searching for.

That and the unnatural winter bathing a portion of the forest.

It was either she’d lost her way at some point and ended up in a different location or her camp was involved in a battle.

She was right about the latter considering the destruction wrought upon the landscape and the troll currently trying to crush Victoria like a bug with another dragging what looked like a large nest of intertwined vines or at least what was left of it.

Ana couldn’t help but pause, taking a moment to figure out what to do first while at the same time realizing just how similar the trolls and even the vines were to the trees she’d destroyed yesterday when considering their imprint on the aether.

All creatures had an imprint on the aether, some more than most, and the imprint the trees had given off was one of incredible vitality with a little tinge of... she couldn’t quite pinpoint the second part.

Boom

An explosion erupted yet again, this time from Victoria’s position with the latter covered in bruises that were proving stubborn to heal.

Seeing as how Alex had the Rey’s aid, Ana rushed to assist Victoria.

***

Victoria was bloodied all over, feeling lightheaded while struggling to resist the garlic poisoning currently ravaging her insides.

Despite her desire to prevent the nest from being taken away, she realized soon enough that her opponent was no easy foe.

Gritting her teeth, she sought to get back up, to fight some more but her enemies were not about to let go of her moment of weakness.

They charged forward, intent on ripping her apart when suddenly, everything paused.

Victoria went wide-eyed before realizing who had arrived.

"Are you hurt?" Ana asked as she moved to help her.

Victoria glared at her. "Where were you?"

"..." Ana found herself unable to respond.

Was she to say that she had left because she was bored?

As a second in command, that would be unbecoming of her.

So, she did as a sensible person would and turned to leave.

"Damn it, where are you going?" Victoria questioned as she struggled to her feet before chasing after the retreating Ana who didn’t dare to answer her.

At the same time, the foes that had intended to send Victoria to an ’early’ grave mere moments ago were suddenly reduced to ashes.

Time was indeed a convenience when in the right hands.