the beginning after the end perfect duo

Threads of Change

THIRD-PERSON POV

Tom's clones were scattered throughout the underground hideout, each fulfilling their designated roles. Toms 1 to 50 fought fiercely in the training area, unleashing every attack they could muster. From 51 to 60, the clones stood guard, ensuring the hideout remained secure. Meanwhile, Toms 61 to 100 worked diligently in the reports room, occasionally breaking for exercise in the gym or a swim in the pool.

TRAINING AREA

In the training arena, Tom 1 charged toward Tom 2 with unbridled ferocity. The second clone pivoted gracefully to the right, avoiding the strike before landing a punch on Tom 1's exposed side. The force sent him flying backward, crashing into the mana barrier that lined the walls.

Not content with merely incapacitating his opponent, Tom 2 wove gravity magic, pinning Tom 1 to the ground, forcing him to kneel. But Tom 1 wasn't defeated yet. With a flash of earth magic, he dove beneath the surface, disappearing into the soil. Tom 2 attempted to hover above the shifting terrain, but it was too late—he was swallowed whole by the earth itself.

Trapped deep below, unable to breathe or see his adversary, Tom 2 met his end. As a clone, his defeat meant dissolution, but not without purpose. His memories and experiences were instantly retrieved and stored within a glowing mana crystal at the heart of the hideout. This crystal served as both a repository for knowledge and a rebirth chamber, recreating fallen clones with enhanced abilities based on what they had learned.

Later that night, all accumulated data would be transmitted directly to the original Tom. For those clones who survived the day, they contributed their progress by imbuing the crystal with their mana. It was a system designed for growth—a relentless cycle of combat, learning, and improvement.

Each clone focused solely on mastering one type of mana, honing their skills to perfection. Fire, water, ice, wind, and more filled the air, creating a chaotic symphony of elemental power.

"You beat me this time," Tom 2 admitted grudgingly. "That's a new trick."

"I thought of it after you beat me last time," Tom 1 replied with a smirk.

"Wanna hit the gym?" Tom 2 asked casually.

The two departed, leaving behind the echoes of their sparring match. Similar scenes played out across the training grounds, where countless other clones pushed themselves to their limits.

REPORTS ROOM

Tom 63 sat hunched over a desk, penning a detailed report about Aalcryan activities in the Beast Glades. His concentration broke when Tom 64 burst into the room, excitement radiating from him.

"We found it!" Tom 64 exclaimed. "We located the tempus warps, and the golems are bringing them here. It's just a matter of time now."

"Are you sure it's safe? Were you detected?" Tom 63 asked cautiously.

"No, the golems weren't noticed. We even left behind beast footprints near the site to make it seem like the warp was destroyed by wild creatures," Tom 64 explained.

"Doesn't that look suspicious? Shouldn't it have been harder to find them?" Tom 63 pressed.

"What do you mean 'easy'? We spent years searching for these warps. Don't question how lucky we got," Tom 64 retorted, though his tone softened almost immediately. "No big deal, I understand your concern."

BEAST GLADES

At the western camp, chaos erupted. A soldier approached the captain, visibly shaken.

"Captain, a tempus warp has gone missing! There were beast footprints nearby; it must have been eaten by some rogue creature during our skirmish," the soldier reported.

"Were there no shields guarding the area?" the captain demanded.

"We were busy battling a wild beast," the soldier stammered.

"And it disappeared immediately afterward?" the captain probed further.

"Yes, sir," the soldier confirmed.

Suspicion lingered in the air, but for now, the loss of the warp was chalked up to misfortune.

TOM'S POV

The being before Tom radiated an aura of ancient power, yet its presence was marred by fragility. Its once-mighty mana core lay damaged, locked away by forces unknown. Despite the danger, Tom felt no fear—only curiosity.

"I know you're separated into clans: dragons, basilisks, theytests, and others," Tom began. "You're beings capable of merging with mana itself, far stronger than us mere mortals. And you... you're probably one of them."

The being tilted its head, intrigued. "You know a lot for a child. Aren't you afraid of me?"

"I was," Tom admitted. "But now I realize something—you can't harm me in your current state. Something has damaged your mana core. It feels restrained, locked away. And if you stay like this much longer... you'll die."

"How does a mere human child understand so much about mana? Can you truly feel the essence of an asura?" the being questioned.

"No, I'm not a normal kid," Tom confessed. "But aren't you afraid of dying?"

The being hesitated, then chuckled darkly. "Afraid? Of course I am. But is there anything I can do about it?"

"I think I might be able to help," Tom said boldly. "If you promise not to kill me afterward—and tell me what happened to you—we'll give it a try."

"A cracked core isn't something even asuras can repair," the being scoffed. "Why would a lesser succeed where we failed?"

"Because sometimes, desperation breeds innovation," Tom countered. "Let's test my theory."

If memory served, Cecilia had performed a similar feat on Nico's core. Her mastery over mana was unparalleled, but Tom had nothing to lose. He placed his hands on the being's chest, channeling his own mana into its body. To his surprise, the being revealed itself to be a phoenix—an unexpected twist. Why would such a powerful entity stray so far from the Hearth? That question could wait.

Tom's task was clear: stimulate the phoenix's stagnant mana. Its energy wasn't moving, trapped by some unseen force—a spell, perhaps. If he could encircle her mana with his own and gently prod it forward, it might restart naturally. Easier said than done, especially since her reserves dwarfed his own. Still, he persevered, repeating the process again and again until exhaustion threatened to overwhelm him.

"It worked," the phoenix breathed, awe coloring her voice.

"Glad to hear it," Tom replied, relief washing over him. "Now keep your promise."

The phoenix stepped out of her cage, transforming into her animal form. Instead of gratitude, however, she lunged forward and bit Tom sharply on the arm.

"Ouch! Why would you do that?" Tom cried, clutching his wound.

The phoenix regarded him coolly. "Consider it payback for meddling in matters beyond your understanding."

Despite the sting of betrayal, Tom couldn't suppress a smile. Perhaps this phoenix, this asura, still harbored secrets worth uncovering. And perhaps, just perhaps, she held answers to questions even greater than her own survival.

For now, though, Tom knew one thing for certain: change was afoot. Someone—or something—was altering the course of events. Whether it was another traveler from the future or an entirely new variable, only time would reveal the truth.

And Tom intended to discover it first