The Villain Professor's Second Chance

Chapter 144: The Elven Cry (6) Time Magic?

She didn't argue, her instincts kicking in as we retreated from the battlefield. The demons, sensing our retreat, let out guttural roars that echoed through the forest. Their fury was palpable, but something was different now—something beyond their rage. The air itself seemed to warp around them as they moved, like they were being propelled by some unseen force.

The figure at the edge of the battlefield hadn't followed us, hadn't moved at all, but its influence over the battle was undeniable.

The time distortions were no longer subtle ripples in the fabric of reality—they were tearing through the forest, twisting trees, and warping space. The demons, once chaotic and scattered, now moved with eerie synchronization, their bodies stretching and contracting as they lunged forward in pursuit.

It was as if the figure was pulling the strings, turning the battlefield into a stage for its own twisted performance.

Aurelia and I darted between the burning trees, the sounds of battle fading behind us as we put distance between ourselves and the chaos. My mind raced, trying to piece together what was happening. This wasn't just a simple invasion—something far more dangerous was at work here. The figure had control over time itself, and that meant we were facing a force unlike anything we'd encountered before. Read latest chapters at m_v-l'e|-NovelBin.net

"We can't keep running," Aurelia growled, her voice tight with frustration. "We need to confront that thing head-on."

I shook my head, my eyes scanning the forest for any sign of an advantage. "Not yet. We don't know what we're dealing with. Charging in without a plan is suicide."

Aurelia scowled, but she didn't argue. Her hand rested on the hilt of her sword, the blade gleaming in the dim light of the forest fires. "So, what's the plan, then? Because whatever that thing is, it's controlling the demons—and if we don't stop it soon, this whole kingdom is going to burn to the ground."

She's probably right. And if my quest is about protecting her, then her quest must be about protecting the elven kingdom.

But if she didn't complete the quest, what would happen?

Would she just start over?

And if she failed, would it mean that I failed as well?

Then does it mean that I would need to do this all over again?

I glanced over my shoulder, my eyes narrowing as I caught a glimpse of the figure still standing at the edge of the battlefield. It hadn't moved from its spot, but its presence was unmistakable. The way it manipulated the flow of time around it, bending reality to its will—it was a force beyond anything I had anticipated. And that meant I needed to be smarter.

I needed to understand what we were dealing with before I could make my move.

"We need to draw it out," I said, my voice low and measured. "It's controlling the demons from a distance, but it's not engaging directly. That means it has limits. If we can get close enough, we might be able to disrupt its control."

Aurelia's smirk returned, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Sounds like a challenge. I like it."

Ignoring her enthusiasm, I turned my attention back to my creatures. The devil hobgoblin had been frozen in place, trapped by the time magic, but the others—the undead goblin king and the chimeras—were still moving, though they had been slowed by the distortions.

I could feel their power pulsing through the connection we shared, but it was as if they were wading through quicksand, struggling to break free of the temporal currents that now flowed through the battlefield.

I needed to change tactics.

I raised my hand, summoning the dark magic that had become so familiar to me. The shadows responded eagerly, swirling around my fingers as I directed the necromantic energy toward my creatures. With a sharp command, I infused them with new strength, reinforcing their connection to me and pushing them to break free of the distortions.

The goblin king roared, its massive form surging forward as it tore through the time-bending forces that had held it back. The chimeras followed suit, their grotesque forms twisting and writhing as they fought against the invisible chains that had bound them.

But even as I empowered them, I could feel the strain on my body. The time distortions were more powerful than I had anticipated, and manipulating my creatures within this warped reality was taking its toll. My head throbbed, and I could feel the magic within me flickering, unstable. But I couldn't stop now. Not when we were this close.

Aurelia noticed the strain on my face, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she stepped closer, her voice low and steady. "You've got this, Dravis. Just keep it together."

I nodded, though I didn't trust myself to speak. The magic surged through me, and with a final push, I sent my creatures forward, directing them toward the figure at the edge of the battlefield. The undead goblin king charged ahead, its massive fists slamming into the ground as it closed the distance between us and the shadowy figure.

The chimeras flanked it, their mismatched limbs carrying them with terrifying speed as they prepared to strike.

But just as they reached the figure, the air shimmered again—and the goblin king froze mid-stride, its massive form suspended in time once more. The chimeras, too, were caught in the distortion, their bodies twisting and contorting as the time magic wrapped around them like a vice.

"Damn it!" I hissed, my fists clenching as I felt the connection to my creatures weaken.

Aurelia's hand tightened on her sword, her eyes narrowing as she watched the figure. "It's not going to let us get close."

I grit my teeth, my mind racing. The figure was too powerful, too entrenched in its control over the time distortions. We couldn't brute-force our way through this. But there had to be a way. There was always a way.

And then, it hit me.

The time distortions weren't just a barrier—they were a weapon. The figure was using time itself to manipulate the battlefield, trapping my creatures and controlling the flow of the fight. But time wasn't just a weapon. It was also a weakness.

"What if we disrupt the distortions?" I muttered, mostly to myself.

Aurelia glanced at me, raising an eyebrow. "Disrupt how?"

I didn't answer immediately. My mind was racing through possibilities, piecing together the puzzle. The figure was using time as a tool, bending it to its will—but that meant it was relying on the distortions to maintain control. If I could disrupt the flow of time, break the connection between the figure and the battlefield, then maybe—just maybe—I could turn the tide.

But to do that, I needed more power. More control.

I reached for the magic pens given to me by Gilgamesh. Each one represented a different elemental force—fire, water, devil, and psychokinesis. They had saved me before, but I had only ever used them one at a time, tapping into their individual strengths when necessary. But this time, I didn't need individual strength.

I needed to combine their power, to create something greater than the sum of its parts.

Without hesitation, I drew the pens from the pouch at my side, feeling the familiar weight of them in my hands. The air around me crackled with energy as I uncapped them, letting their magic flow freely. The ground beneath my feet trembled as the elemental forces surged to life, each one pulsing with raw power.

Aurelia's eyes widened as she stepped back, sensing the danger. "What are you doing?"

"Trust me," I said through gritted teeth, focusing on the task at hand.

The pens hovered in the air around me, their magic swirling together in a chaotic dance of fire, water, devil energy, and psychokinesis. It was unstable, unpredictable—but it was powerful. And it was exactly what I needed.

I reached out with my mind, pulling the energies together, weaving them into a single thread of magic that wrapped around the time distortions like a net. The figure at the edge of the battlefield seemed to sense what I was doing, because the distortions intensified, warping the very fabric of reality as they tried to push back against my magic.

But I wasn't going to let them win.

I focused all of my strength, pouring everything I had into the spell. The elemental forces roared to life, each one straining against the others as they fought for dominance. The air around me crackled with electricity, and I could feel the magic tearing at the edges of my mind, threatening to rip me apart if I lost focus for even a second.

But I didn't lose focus. I couldn't afford to.

With a final push, I unleashed the spell, or about to.

But shit.

I'm a second late.

I could feel all of my hair standsas the figure appeared behind us.

I should have known.

I should have been more wary.

"I bet you didn't saw this," the voice filled with malice appeared behind us.

"Your Majesty!!!"