The Masked Virtuoso-Chapter 103: Lost in Time (Ethan Begins His Journey in the Past!)

Chapter 103: Lost in Time (Ethan Begins His Journey in the Past!)

The Riftborn Without Power

Ethan’s body felt too real. Too heavy. Too fragile.

For years—no, longer than that—he had existed beyond the concept of weakness. Pain, exhaustion, hunger—those had been distant memories. His golden-shadow flames had made him untouchable.

But now?

Now, he felt everything.

The rough texture of the dirt beneath his palms. The ache in his muscles from the impact. The dryness in his throat as he took his first shaky breath as a mortal.

For the first time in his existence—Ethan was just a man.

And he hated it.

He forced himself to stand, his limbs sluggish, too weak, too slow. It was like moving through water, his reflexes dulled. He reached deep inside himself—searching for that familiar golden power, the flames that had defined him.

Nothing.

His jaw clenched.

Okay. No big deal. He’d been in tough spots before. He had faced gods, rewritten reality, ascended beyond fate itself. Losing his power was just another setback.

Right?

But as he took a slow, deep breath—he felt something he hadn’t felt in a long, long time.

Vulnerability.

His heart pounded—not with strength, but exertion. His own breath felt... constrained, as if his lungs actually had limits.

This wasn’t just weakness.

This was reality.

"...Alright." He exhaled sharply. "I hate this."

---

The 14,085th Riftborn (The Past Guardian of the Obsidian Shard!)

Ethan wasn’t alone.

The warrior in front of him stood motionless, sharp golden eyes locked onto Ethan with an intensity that was too knowing.

He didn’t look surprised.

He looked like he expected Ethan.

That wasn’t normal.

Ethan crossed his arms. "Alright. Let’s make this easy. Name?"

The warrior didn’t flinch. "Kael."

Ethan’s expression froze.

Kael?

His mind immediately traced back through Rift history.

Thousands of Riftborn had wielded the Obsidian Shard before him—most had died, erased from time. But Kael wasn’t just any Riftborn.

He was the 14,085th wielder of the Obsidian Shard.

And he was supposed to be dead.

"...Huh," Ethan muttered. "So you’re still alive."

Kael’s expression didn’t change. "What do you mean?"

Ethan smirked. "Well, historically speaking, you’re supposed to be six feet under."

Kael’s eyes narrowed slightly, but his voice remained calm. "I have seen my fate."

Ethan’s smirk faded.

That answer was wrong.

Kael wasn’t confused. He already knew.

Ethan’s golden eyes flickered. "Let me guess. The Rift showed you?"

Kael exhaled. "Yes."

Ethan’s mind clicked. If the Rift had already shown Kael his fate, that meant he was aware of his own death.

Ethan took another step forward, golden eyes sharp. "Tell me something, Kael. You ever wonder why Riftborn like you don’t get remembered?"

Kael’s expression didn’t change. "Because we were never meant to be."

Ethan’s smirk turned cold. "Damn. They really trained you well, huh?"

Kael remained silent.

This wasn’t just a warrior from the past.

Kael was something else. Something even Ethan hadn’t accounted for.

And that meant Kael wasn’t the only secret waiting for him in this timeline.

---

A Rift That Shouldn’t Exist Yet

Kael turned toward the distant mountains.

"There is something you must see."

Ethan followed his gaze—and immediately stopped breathing.

Because in the far distance—

A massive black fracture loomed over the horizon.

A Rift.

His heart pounded. That shouldn’t be possible.

The first recorded Rift hadn’t appeared until centuries after this time period.

And yet—

There it was.

A massive, spiraling fracture in reality.

Ancient. Unstable. Alive.

Ethan clenched his fists. This was why the Creator sent him back.

Not as punishment.

Not as a trap.

But as a lesson.

The Rift wasn’t some recent creation.

It had always existed.

Ethan exhaled slowly. "That Rift shouldn’t be there."

Kael remained quiet.

Ethan turned to him. "How long has it been there?"

Kael’s voice was calm. "It has always been here."

Ethan’s mind froze.

"...What?"

Kael’s expression didn’t change. "The Rift is eternal."

Ethan’s stomach twisted. Everything he had learned about the Rift was wrong.

The Rift wasn’t discovered.

It had been hidden.

And if it had always existed...

Then whoever created it had been erasing its history for centuries.

Ethan’s fists clenched.

That meant the Creator had been lying.

And that meant—inside that Rift—was something the Creator didn’t want him to see.

Ethan’s golden eyes burned. "...So that’s why I’m here."

---

A Past That Holds the Key to the Future

Ethan’s golden eyes flickered.

Kael studied him. "You have the eyes of someone who has seen the future."

Ethan exhaled. "Yeah. And trust me, you’re not gonna like it."

Kael didn’t react. He simply turned toward the Rift.

"I must go inside," he said.

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "And you think that’s a good idea?"

Kael’s expression was unreadable. "I do not have a choice."

Ethan studied him.

Kael wasn’t just strong—he had the same calm, dangerous energy Ethan used to have before he ascended.

This guy had seen things.

And if Ethan wanted to survive in this timeline—he needed answers.

He sighed. "Alright, let’s go see what history was trying to erase."

Kael gave him a questioning look.

Ethan just smirked.

Then, together—

They walked toward the Rift.

Toward the truth.

Toward something even Ethan had never seen before.

---

A Rift That Rejects Fate

As soon as they stepped closer—

BOOM!

A sudden force exploded outward.

An invisible surge of energy slammed into both of them, sending them flying backward. Ethan barely had time to react before his body crashed into the ground, dust and debris scattering around him.

What the hell was that?!

Ethan groaned, sitting up as Kael landed a few feet away, completely unfazed.

Kael exhaled as he dusted off his armor. "That happens every time."

Ethan narrowed his eyes. "Every time?"

Kael nodded. "Every time I try to enter."

Ethan’s mind clicked.

Oh.

Oh, right.

Kael’s destiny—his fate—was to die corrupted by the Obsidian Shard.

He was never meant to enter the Rift.

And now, history itself was rejecting him.

Ethan exhaled. "Alright. I get it now."

Kael turned toward him, curious. "Get what?"

Ethan smirked, patting his shoulder. "You can try again some other time. Right now, let’s go get something to eat. I’m starving."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "Eat? You were just thrown by a Rift anomaly, and your priority is food?"

Ethan dusted himself off. "Dude. You have no idea how long it’s been since I actually needed to eat. Trust me, it’s a big deal."

Kael crossed his arms. "...Fine. But what do you want?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Ethan grinned. "Pizza."

Kael’s expression remained blank. "...What is pizza?"

Ethan’s smirk faltered.

Oh. Right. Ancient times.

He sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Not what I meant. Bread. Rice. Something. I don’t care. I’m hungry."

Kael gave him a skeptical look before turning toward the distant hills. "My village is nearby."

Ethan’s stomach growled. "Great. Let’s go."

As they began walking, Ethan glanced at Kael’s armor.

"Are you a knight or something?"

Kael didn’t even look at him. "I am a warrior."

Ethan smirked. "Ah, right. Same thing."

Kael’s golden eyes flickered toward him. "No. It is not."

Ethan chuckled. This guy was fun.

And so—

They left the Rift behind.

For now.

---

To Be Continued...