what if I'm an undead! then so what?-Chapter 62: Time monarch Abilities

The Citadel of AEGISIn the heart of Washington, D.C., the Education and Youth Empowerment Organization loomed like a monolith, its sprawling campus stretching over a kilometer of meticulously manicured grounds. To the public, it was a nonprofit beacon of hope, founded by three enigmatic visionaries whose names were whispered more than spoken. Yet, for all its grandeur—gleaming glass towers and iron gates etched with cryptic sigils—few ever crossed its threshold.

Those who did rarely returned, their silence fueling rumors that the organization was more than it seemed. Beneath its altruistic facade, the truth pulsed like a hidden heartbeat.Inside, the campus defied expectation. Beyond the imposing entrance, vast fields of emerald grass stretched toward the horizon, dotted with only a handful of stark, utilitarian buildings. The air hummed with purpose: recruits sparred in the distance, their shouts and the clatter of training blades slicing through the morning mist.

Others jogged in tight formation, sweat glistening on their brows as drill instructors barked commands. The emptiness of the fields felt deliberate, as if the organization hoarded space for secrets yet to be unveiled.Deep within the compound, shielded by reinforced walls and guarded by unseen eyes, lay the Sanctum—a restricted enclave reserved for those who had clawed their way to Rank 4 or higher. Here, over three hundred operatives gathered in a cavernous chamber, its ceiling lost in shadow, its walls lined with banners bearing the jagged emblem of AEGIS: a shield pierced by a lightning bolt.

The operatives stood in disciplined rows, their postures rigid, eyes locked forward. Three lines formed the assembly: the first, a sea of two hundred initiates, their uniforms crisp but unadorned; the second, seventy-five veterans, their badges glinting with earned honors; and the third, a mere twenty-two elites, their presence heavy with quiet authority.

At the front, elevated on a stark platform, sat the Blight Sovereign. His wheelchair gleamed under the cold fluorescent lights, its sleek design a stark contrast to the fearsome oni mask concealing his face. The mask’s crimson lines curled like veins, its hollow eyes boring into the crowd. Flanking him were five figures cloaked in black, their faces hidden behind specialized masks marked with white strokes—one, two, or three slashes, each a silent testament to their prowess.

They were the Dawn Reapers, AEGIS’s deadliest enforcers, and their presence alone stilled the air. Only five were present today, their absence as ominous as their attendance.The Blight Sovereign’s gloved hand tightened on the armrest as he cleared his throat, the sound amplified by unseen technology. His voice, low and resonant, carried the weight of unyielding conviction.

"The Alliance for Eradicating Godless and Inhuman Species—AEGIS—was forged seventeen years ago by myself and two comrades to shield humanity from the unseen. We stand as the vanguard against the supernatural tide that threatens to drown our world. The time draws near when the veil will tear, and the chaos of the hidden realms will spill into the open. Governments will falter. Armies will crumble. But we will endure."He paused, letting the words settle like ash. "You are the pinnacle of human resolve, trained to face horrors that would break lesser souls. Yet, even among us, dissent festers. Some refuse the unity we demand. To them, I say: grow stronger, or be swept away. The storm is coming, and only the unbreakable will stand."Murmurs rippled through the ranks, quickly stifled by the Dawn Reapers’ piercing gazes.

One operative, a wiry man in the first line named Torren, leaned toward his neighbor, his voice a hushed whisper. "They say the Blight Sovereign’s the strongest, but look at him—crippled in a wheelchair. Bet he lost a fight and won’t admit it."The words were barely audible, swallowed by the chamber’s ambient hum, yet the Blight Sovereign’s head snapped toward Torren. The Dawn Reapers froze mid-step, their masked faces turning as one. The air grew thick, oppressive, as if the room itself held its breath.

"Are you dissatisfied with my condition?" the Blight Sovereign asked, his voice deceptively calm, each syllable laced with menace. Torren’s face drained of color, his confidence evaporating. He’d whispered, certain no one could hear over the crowd’s rustle."N-no, sir!" Torren stammered, his knees buckling under the weight of those unseen eyes.The Blight Sovereign chuckled, a sound like gravel grinding underfoot. "If my wheelchair offends you, step forward. Survive three seconds against me, and I’ll relinquish my title. You’ll lead AEGIS. Name your prize, and it’s yours." The offer hung in the air, a velvet trap.Whispers erupted, a mix of awe and dread. Torren’s eyes darted, calculating. Three seconds. Keep his distance, dodge, and win. Greed and ambition clouded his judgment, drowning out the warning in his gut.

He stepped forward, the crowd parting like a tide. The platform loomed ahead, the Blight Sovereign’s mask an unreadable void.One of the Dawn Reapers—two strokes on his mask—snapped his fingers. The duel began.Torren lunged backward, aiming to create space, but his body seized. An invisible force crushed him to his knees, the air itself turning to lead. The Blight Sovereign raised a hand, and a beam of black energy, laced with silver veins, erupted from his palm. It struck Torren like a thunderbolt, and his world dissolved into darkness. Three seconds had been generous."Is there anyone else who doubts my authority?" the Blight Sovereign asked, his voice a blade slicing through the silence. No one moved.

The Dawn Reapers wheeled him away, their steps echoing in the now-silent chamber. One by one, the operatives dispersed, their resolve hardened or shaken.In one of the Blight Sovereign’s private office, a sterile chamber buried deep within the Sanctum, three figures convened. The room was a fortress of steel and glass, its walls adorned with monitors displaying encrypted data streams. A faint hum of machinery underscored the tension. Mr. Kuroshi, the Blight Sovereign, sat at a sleek desk, his oni mask resting on his face.

Across from him stood a scientist in a pristine lab coat, his hands trembling as he clutched a glass vial. The third figure, a Dawn Reaper with a single stroke on his mask, stood like a shadow in the corner.Kuroshi’s gaze fixed on the vial, where a black-and-silver mass pulsed with unnatural life, its surface rippling as if straining to break free. "Is the cell stabilized?" he asked, his voice low but commanding."Yes, sir," the scientist replied, his voice taut. He handed the vial to Kuroshi, who studied it with a predator’s focus. "The optimization is complete. Its potency is triple that of the Time Monarch’s original cells."Kuroshi nodded, dismissing the scientist with a curt gesture. The man scurried out, leaving only the Dawn Reaper—Reaper One, known as Onyx. Kuroshi turned to him, the vial glinting in his hand.

"Reaper One, your skill, Beelzebub, allows you to harness the power of what you consume. This cell, derived from the Time Monarch, is our key. With it, you could surpass his abilities—travel through time with precision he never dreamed of."Austin shifted, his mask hiding his unease.

"Consuming something this potent... it’s untested. Time travel’s tricky enough without unknown side effects."Kuroshi’s eyes narrowed, but his tone remained steady. "You’ll use half the cell first. Test its stability. If it works, we proceed. If not, we adapt. Time is on our side—for now."Onyx took the vial, his gloved fingers steady despite the storm in his mind.

He split the pulsating mass, swallowing half in a single motion. His body convulsed, purple energy crackling across his frame like lightning. Knowledge flooded his mind, a torrent of power and possibility.

Onyx’s POV:

I didn’t ask for this. Reincarnated into a world of monsters and masks, and what’s my reward? A curse that binds me to a man who could crush my soul with a thought. The Blight Sovereign’s mark pulses in my chest, a constant reminder that my life isn’t mine. If not for the system, I’d be blind to it.

[Name: Austin

Level: 89

Condition: Blight Sovereign’s Curse Mark (Grants the Sovereign control over your body, life, or power. Reach Level 100 to break free.)

STR: 10,000 tons

SPD: Mach 10

A.P: 100 GJ

Reaction Speed: 1.0 ms

Durability: 100 GJ 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Overall: Country Level][Temporary Power: Time Monarch’s Cell (1-hour duration)]

Time Travel (SSS): Travel 20 days into the past or 5 days into the future.

Chrono Stability (SSS): Immune to time-based erasure, rewinds, paradox, or fate manipulation.

His timeline is unbreakable—anchored by a divine chronospine.

Chrono Frameshift (SS): Controls reality like an animator manipulates film. Adjusts who gets how many "frames" per second.

Local Time Stop (S): Halts time in a targeted zone.

Frame Overload (S): Forces enemies into high-frame density—making time feel excruciatingly slow.

Even time-resistant beings suffer, as this warps internal perception.

Frame Skipping (S): Removes his own timeline frames to act between reality updates.

Moves, attacks, and casts "between moments"—appearing omnipresent.

Frozen Keyframes (S): Selects specific events (a spell forming, a blade mid-swing) and loops or freezes them.

Can trap foes in endless cause-effect loops or cancel progression.

Frame Erasure (S): Deletes frames from opponents’ timelines.

Removes dodges, attacks, or movements before they occur—editing reality.

The power surged through me, intoxicating and terrifying. The Time Monarch was a god, bending reality like clay. His skills—S-rank at minimum, with an SSS-grade trump card—made the Blight Sovereign’s strength seem almost mortal. No wonder Kuroshi respected him as an equal.

I glanced at the Sovereign, his eyes gleaming expectant. "It works," I said, voice steady despite my racing thoughts. "I can travel back twenty days. But if I take someone, I can’t act directly, and we must avoid our past selves."Kuroshi nodded, a faint smile curling his lips. "Good. Prepare. The storm is closer than you know."I swallowed my doubts. Villain or savior, the Blight Sovereign held my leash. For now, I’d play his game—until I could break free.