Evolution begins with an ant colony

Chapter 365: Chrono Clash

The goddess in the cloak then spoke, her voice calm and resonant, "Since you know me, that saves me the trouble of introducing myself."

In that instant, the alleyway vanished, replaced by a battlefield stretching endlessly into the horizon. The sky above was a turbulent swirl of dark clouds and glowing lighting, casting a chilling glow over the shattered landscape. The ground was littered with the remains of ancient conflicts—broken weapons, crumbling ruins, and scorched earth.

It was a place devoid of life, where time seemed to stand still.

Ark barely had time to register the change before a massive shockwave erupted from the goddess. The force hit him like a tidal wave, sending him skidding backwards, his boots carving deep furrows into the ground as he struggled to maintain his footing. Dust and debris swirled around him as he finally came to a stop, his breath heavy and ragged.

Genesis’s voice echoed in his mind, her tone filled with urgency and dread. "†[Lord Ark, it’s her...]†"

Ark’s eyes narrowed, a spark of recognition flickering in their color-changing depths. "I know, Genesis," he replied through gritted teeth. "It’s her... the Goddess of Time, Chrono Nexus."

Chrono Nexus lowered her hood, revealing her radiant, ageless features. Her skin was flawless, her eyes a deep, cosmic blue that seemed to contain the vastness of the universe, and her golden hair glinted like in the dimlight. She gazed at Ark intensely, her voice cold and commanding. "Identify yourself and explain your purpose in this timeline."

Genesis fluttered anxiously beside Ark, her tiny body glowing with a worried expression on her face. "†[She already knows we’re here from the future. What should we do, Lord Ark?]†"

Ark’s mind raced. "I was not been briefed on this scenario. Was I supposed to meet her? Should I fight her or reveal our mission? Damm it, but doing so could have unpredictable consequences on the timeline."

.Côm

In an instant, Ark’s body suddenly bagan transforming. A pair of gleaming white horns sprouted from his skull, curling upwards. A long, golden dragon tail emerged, and his entire body was soon encased in an advanced armor of gold, white, black, and purple. The visors of his helmet flickered, shifting through a spectrum of colors, reflecting the immense mana now coursing through him.

Ark’s voice deepened, taking on a chilling edge as he spoke, stretching his arms as if looking for a challenge, "Alright, let’s do this."

Chrono Nexus narrowed her gaze as she observed his transformation. "Since you refuse to identify yourself and have chosen this path, it’s clear you prefer a more violent approach. Very well, I shall oblige. Unidentified threats must be eliminated."

Her blue eyes shone with a brilliant light, and a surge of blue mana erupted from her, crackling with an intensity that sent shivers through the air. The ground beneath her feet cracked and erupted as she prepared to launch herself forward.

"†[Lord Ark, she’s incoming at high speed!]†"

Chrono Nexus’ body blurred and suddenly disappeared, the next instant she streaked across the battlefield, a bolt of blue lightning. Ark, now armored and enhanced, twitched slightly in shock at her sheer velocity.

He instinctively leaned backward just in time, her leg slicing through the air where his head had been moments before. The force of her near-miss sent a shockwave through the ground, a trail of crackling lightning following her.

Ark’s mind raced, analyzing the situation. "Good heavens, I could have been a goner just now." He smiled then thought further, "She’s a lot faster than when she usually spares with me back home," he thought, the rush of adrenaline heightening his senses. "I need to stay one step ahead, use her momentum against her."