Epics of Noche 2, DeathTech

EON CH 38

A GLINT OF YELLOW

1774, NOVEMBER 28th, MONDAY 2:35 am.

Alice was frozen in place, her gaze lock on where Mary was. Time stop and rewound. She pushed herself to the brink as she used her time travel powers. Yet, three seconds was her best. Three seconds wasn't enough.

"Save me."

Pop.

She rewound again.

"Save me."

Pop.

Alice traveled again.

"Save me."

Pop.

The violet-haired girl cursed herself. There wasn't enough time — she didn't have enough time. If only she hadn't burnt her powers out when she was younger. She regretted abusing her ability and ignoring its limits. Her arrogance paid the price.

Alice lost control over her ability to time travel. At best, she could go back in time a few seconds like a quick save on a video game. However, now she had uncontrollable glitches where she was flung into a random point on the timeline.

"Save me."

Pop.

Alice pushed and pushed, but she could only rewind events by three seconds.

"I don't care if I burn out again," Alice muttered. "Please — I'd give it all up. Let me save Mary."

Something rippled in her soul — Alice stood before the brink again. It was as if there was a wall blocking her from stronger time traveling. Her current abilities weren't enough. She shut her eyes and focused on pushing through this mental barrier.

It was the first time Alice's rifle fell from her grip. Beads of sweat dripped down her face as she concentrated. A grin widened on Falcon's face and she walked towards Alice.

"Are you zcared now? Good. I'll zhow yo-" Falcon fell to her knees in a coughing fit. "What — What'z happening? It burnz."

The bird of death brought her hands to her chest and neck. Her breaths became deeper as she inhaled in and out.

"Can't breath. Can't breath."

A portal opened below her and she fell through it. Falcon appeared through another one a few feet away.

"No — it'z not inorganic," she coughed. "What did zhe uze? What waz that poizon?"

Alice didn't respond to Falcon. She was scarcely paying attention. Mary's blood was infectious, but temporarily so. Falcon would recover — Alice had to focus on the task at hand.

The wall was starting to crumble. Alice double her efforts and fire wracked her head. Her mind was ablaze, but she didn't care. If her powers burned out completely she wouldn't care. As long as she could save Mary.

Her consciousness shattered.

It shattered like glass to a sledgehammer.

Time and space were exposed to her — All was infinite and infinity was nothingness. The moment was an eternity. The moment was a heartbeat. This fight was everything. This fight was pointless.

Time branched into endless possibilities. All were inherently meaningless. All were the most critical junction. Alice saw all. Alice saw nothing.

Time consumed her.