> Try to stay calm and collected. We need a cool head if we're gonna survive this.
> Deep breath.
> Time-stop and try to draw her attention away from Luna and Dayna.
>Heart like a clock. Tick. Tick. Don't let it waver.
>"First...I'm doing this."
>
Let's rock.
>Bring it back. That power. That surge of strength you called all those days ago...
>There. Once more. Knives upon knives, a cage of gleaming steel.
>She outpowers you, that's doubtless. But that was never a problem. When it comes to power, perhaps yours could be called the 'weakest'. All it does is give you the oppurtunity to use what you have. Which, as you are a human, isn't much.
>But that won't stop you. More knives. More, more, more. Surround both you and her. Create a barrier. More, more, more, more more more more.
>"....Time Sign. Silver Acute 360, Barrier."
>You draw your knife.
>She blinks and looks around, clearly amused at the sudden turn of events. "Ho. How interesting."
>All your speed. Nothing held back.
>She blocks your sudden slash, aimed at her neck, with naught but a finger. With a raised eyebrow, she continues. "Oh? Getting started now?"
>You choose not to answer with anything more than a swift kick, which is blocked again. It's like hitting a damned brick wall.
>Ignore the fact that she rose to block before you even started moving. Ignore that she's reacting to your actions before you even make them. Ignore everything. Just distract her. Fight her. Kill her.
>If you want to draw her attention, you'll have to give everything and more. Every. Single. Thing. You realize that immediately.
>If you don't fight with that mindset, you'll die.
>Knives fly in from your makeshift barrier and do nothing. Your knife slashes, each aimed with utmost precision, do nothing.
>You're not scared. This isn't hopeless. You won't die.
>"Oh, just keep telling yourself that, clock-keeper."
>"Wha-?"
>
THUD.>Pain. Unbearable pain. 20 meters, maybe. Your knife barrier shifts in shape to compensate for the crushing blow that woman dealt you.
>Her newly revealed tail waves around lazily, like a drunken snake. She isn't taking you seriously.
>"Dear me. As expected, you clock-keepers aren't much more than humans. And your emotions and thoughts...so unguarded."
>Those words. Those...words. Dayna hesitating to tell you about the source of all your town's trouble. This...it all makes sense. Yet again.
>She hesitated to tell you...because she guessed it was her own mother that was doing this.
>Even before Dayna came here? Why would she do this? Why would she play around like that, as if she was in control of everything?
>No. That doesn't matter. She can feed on your emotions. She can feed on your thoughts. But she won't hurt your friends. Not again.
>You rise. The pain doesn't matter. Nothing does but protecting those two right now. Your knife held in front of you...you feel it throb. You feel your entire body throb in pain, with power, in fear, with conviction.
>Keep calm. Don't let anything consume you. You can't lose this fight. Your only choice is to win. There isn't any other choice. Not for you or them.
>The pulse inside you strengthens. Widens. You embrace it. It roars back in response.
>This is...this is you. The calm clock-keeper and the raging killer. Both of them are you as much as the other.
>Or so you tell yourself. In reality, this might just be a desperate ploy. You don't have any other options. Being a reckless madman will get you killed. Keeping the same power level as just now will too.
>You feel it run through you. Every iota of power you have to offer rages around inside you, finally allowed to run free.
>Knife and clock. Hand in hand. Even if those hands are stained in blood, even if those hands fade away the moment you let go...!
>"
...Buriallusion."
>As before, the words are known already. All you have to do is give voice.
>Even if you suffer, even if you cry, even if you scream out in pain...as long as
they don't in exchange...!
>No more crying. No more suffering in your sight. All you want is for people to stop crying around you. To stop their pain.
>If you can distract this force of nature for even a second longer, if you can draw her attention away so that another friend isn't lost, so that
you don't lose them, then you will. At
any cost>You will protect them for as long as you live. No...
>She stares at you, wary of the sudden power increase. "What...what is this, clock-keeper?"
>"...for as long as I need to. That's how long I'll protect them. So don't get in my way."
>The knife barrier melts away into mist. A thick, choking mist that obscures everything. The only thing in this world is you and her. An assailant and victim. This is the only option left to you.
>"
...Phantomic Killer in Night Mist."
>If Silver Acute 360 could be called 'external', this would be called 'internal'. You know without knowing. This...with this you can fight.
>Kill.
>Your speed is amplified. Strength. Focus. Everything. She staggers in surprise at your sudden boost in ability, so you take that advantage.
>Illusions of killers, illusions of yourselves, refract in from the mist and strike with you.
>Strike so fast it appears as though you're attacking three times at once. No...you are. Nothing can block three strikes at once, even a god. Even if you only land glancing blows, this is enough. Just keep doing it. Keep fighting, slashing, stabbing, everything. Anything.
>
Crack.>Ah.
>The sudden pain makes you pause for a second. A second too long. You're sent flying in the instant you stopped.
>Of course. Even if you were suddenly stronger, your body wasn't. Wasn't ready to handle the sudden overflow of power that you'd kept under wraps for so long.
>You stare at her as she approaches. The mist dissipates, leaving nothing. But she approaches you, not them. So it's alright.
>She grabs you by the hair and lifts you. All the wounds you've dealt her are gone, as her regeneration dictates. "Dear me. That was certainly interesting. Can you do it again?"
