Cayden took out his ability card book and flip through it. Nothing in the abilities he gathered has information about the Ruler of Time. His ears strained just by listening to the half broken half mocking laugh of the Licht.

“Never see her! Yes! You can kill me! Kill me! But you can’t! You don’t know what the Ruler of Time will do to you! You don’t even know what the regression clock looks like! Ha!”

A prompt appeared in his mind.

[Challenger 7, you only have sixty seconds to complete the Seventh Extreme Level Trial.]

Sixty seconds?!

Cayden raised his sword and struck the Licht right in his eye socket. The Licht screeched in pain, his voice so blood curdling horrible, that it can make any people within the vicinity grimace.

Cayden placed the ability card book in the Licht’s chest. Xyris sword has done its part in killing the Licht instantly.

[Challenger, you only have forty seconds.]

Cayden gritted his teeth. “I know.”

This is a gamble he has 30 % chance of succeeding. The Licht is the final boss of the seventh floor. There’s no way he can transform the boss monster into one of his ability cards.

He tried that before and failed. But Xyris said there’s a chance it will succeed. Cayden close his eyes.

“I believe in you Xyris,” he murmured. His eyes are getting anxious, staring intently at the book to shine and produce another ability card book page. Yet nothing happens.

The Licht is slowly disintegrating. His bones are turning into ashes at a fast speed visible to the naked eye. Cayden clench his fist. The ability card book lay stagnant in the Licht’s chest. Until it’s resting in the black cloak the Licht wore.

Cayden breath shakily.

[Challenger, you only have ten seconds.]

Suddenly, all strength escape from Cayden’s limbs. He collapsed to the ground. His face is covered in sweat. His back is wracked with pain. He can vaguely remember Xyris firing at him unstoppably behind earlier. Blood trickled down to his pants. His clothes are sleek and his body keep oozing the warm liquid of blood.

“Xyris…..” His voice is distant and desperate. He can’t fail now. No. He must meet Xyris again. He must come to the Treasure Hall and – he pressed his fingers in the ability card book.

At a single touch, all the ashes left by the Licht gathered. It swirled in the wind and landed on the tip of his fingers. A black card appeared with the illustration of the Licht. His skull face, his scepter, his sick throne made of skulls.

[Title: Licht]

[Other names: The God of the Dead / The God of Undead / The Dead Puppet Master]

[Level: 7]

[Strength: Can raise the dead and control a legion of dead armies.]

[Weakness: Does not have attack power. The true body is considerably weak.]

[Note: Challenger 7 Cayden Campbell can only use this ability once in seven days. First use can raise one hundred dead armies but suffer the strain of the ability afterward.]

Cayden read the black card in his hands. His fingers are shaking. The Seventh Trial Boss Licht card. A prompt of an emotionless woman’s voice rang in his ears.

[Congratulations Challenger 7 Cayden Campbell! You successfully passed the Dark Tower’s Seventh Extreme Level Trial.]

[Loading points….]

[You successfully subdued the thousand armies of the Licht]

[You successfully passed the requirements clearing the Seventh Level Trial.]

…

…

[You applied for the Seventh Extreme Level Trial.]

[The Dark Tower has seen your efforts and thereby declare you have successfully cleared the Seventh Extreme Level Trial.]

[The Treasure Hall shall open.]

A bright light suddenly engulfed Cayden. It was too bright to keep his eyes open. Despite his bleeding injuries, he forced himself to stand up. What greets him is a sight where he feels like he’s floating in space.

There’s no ground, there are no walls, only an open space lit by thousands of colorful stars. Surrounding him, there are items such as world clock, glass ice throne, knight’s impenetrable armor, golden everlasting fire, enchanted match, black obsidian ice crystals, mystical fiery cloak, gleaming silver sword and a painting of the Dark Tower.

Among all things, this painting is the most eye catching. It’s a hierarchy of realms joined together by the Dark Tower. On the first floor, there are buildings and cars, on the second floor, there’s the expanse of forest, on the third floor, there are ugly monsters shrouded by the darkness.

“Are you the winner?” Someone’s voice entered Cayden’s consciousness. He clutch his pounding head and wobble. He’s clearly not in good shape. Blood trickled down to his ankles, but he held on.

“A lone survivor?” The voice asked again. Cayden did not answer and search where the voice came from.

But nothing can be seen except the vast space and the floating out of this world items.

"Congratulations on passing the Seventh Trial. What is your wish?"

This voice definitely comes from a male. It was cold, deep and bone chillingly frightening. Cayden can tell the owner sees him not as an equal but a pest.

"Who are you?" Cayden asked. He looked around.

"A mere mortal can never know my name." It was useless looking for the owner of the voice. It seems he was everywhere around Cayden.

"Speak. What is your wish?"

Cayden look thoughtful. If this voice is the Ruler of Time… can he really ask him to hand over the regression clock?

Cayden sigh a shaky breath and speak calmly.

"I want to bring back my friends."

The voice fell silent. For a moment, not one sound can be heard in the entire space. The items that look majestic and marvelous are floating in mid-air. Giving an air of dangerous artifacts.

"You want my power." The voice said with understanding.

"Yes." Cayden said. He waited for the voice's reaction. Based on what the Licht said, the Ruler of Time is not an easy opponent to deal with.

"If I ever assist you, what can you give in return?"

Cayden fell silent. His mind is working fast.

"If you help me, we can have higher chances to clear the rest of the trials after we pass the seventh. Not only that, I can redo all the trials I passed before and receive the awards in hidden trials. The more rewards I and my friends receive, the more powerful we become, the more chances we have to pass the trials - especially when we transverse to another realm - like the god's realm."

The atmosphere around the space became heavier. Cayden can feel a cold chill from insuppressible killing intent.

"Huh." The voice scoff coldly. "So you know what's the purpose of this wish?"

Cayden look up to the magical clock that start to shimmer in blue light.

"Yes." Cayden paused. "I also know the reason why you want many people familiar with each other to pass the seventh trial."

Behind Cayden, he can hear someone drumming their fingers on the surface of something flat. As if the owner of the voice is behind him drumming his fingers on his throne.

"But those empty words don't mean anything to me. Higher chances you say? Can a mere mortal like you defeat those scoundrels from above? Even if you duplicate yourself into ten, you still don't stand a chance against their immense power."

Cayden reflect on this. The Ruler of Time is right. He doesn't have any idea who these ‘beings’ are or how powerful they can be. He only know from the clues he gathered as he challenged the Dark Tower’s trials that boss monsters like the Licht are afraid of these guys.

Cayden’s silence did not stay long and he face the Ruler of Time behind him. He was right with his suspicion earlier. The Ruler of Time is sitting on his throne made of gold. Under his feet, a ticking clock chimes gently. The shimmering blue clock is familiar.

“Are you afraid of the Dark Tower?” Cayden asked boldly.

The man whose face is covered in shadows reacted slightly.

“No. It wasn’t the Dark Tower. You are afraid of the being behind the Dark Tower. Is that the reason why you leisurely grant wishes of the challengers who can pass the seventh trial?”

“You are far better off not minding the business of others mortal. Don’t forget, I can erase your mere existence with just a snap of my fingers.”

Cayden did not flinch. He gazed straight at the face he can’t see.

“I wish for the regression clock.” There’s no hesitation in Cayden’s eyes. If talking around the bush and trying to pry information from this Ruler does not work, then Cayden will let his intention be known straight on.

“Under what grounds do you have to demand one of my handicrafts?”

Cayden inwardly sigh. Back to square one then. He knows he has nothing in him that can convince the Ruler of Time to give it to him. There’s nothing he can do to prove himself worthy. Looks like he needs to use logic to get the regression clock.

“Under the fundamental rule of the Dark Tower, rewards must be given to the challengers who passed the difficult mode and impossible mode, or else the boss monster will be punished by the Dark Tower according to the Law of Universal Casualty.”

All the ticking clocks in the ‌space stop ticking. The overwhelming oppression from the Ruler of Time caused them to momentarily stop.

“You just told me your wish earlier. You can’t have two wishes.”

The Ruler of Time is referring to the ‘I want to bring back my friends’ he uttered earlier. Cayden shake his head.

“I said ‘want’ I did not say ‘wish’. That statement is my intention, not my wish. I did not think you will confuse both."

The killing intent coming from the Ruler of Time is so suffocating Cayden choke on his throat. The air around the space has thinned. A low growl escaped from the Ruler of Time’s throat.

“Are you making a fool out of me?! A mere mortal like you?! You have any idea what you are asking?! Taking possession of one of my handicrafts is strictly forbidden on the Dark Tower’s grounds. You think the Dark Tower will stand idle knowing a mortal take ownership of an item that should only belong to the Rulers like me?!”

Cayden silence out the protest coming from the Ruler of Time. He saw from the corner of his eyes one of the ticking clock with multiple hands floated towards him.

“Mortal!!!!!!” The Ruler of Time had finally stood up from his throne.

Cayden did not waste any time and transform the regression clock into one of his ability cards. The space tremored. It was only a slight shaking at first, then the intensity became stronger. Cracks appeared on the surroundings.

A series of beeps bombarded Cayden’s brain.

[Warning! Warning!]

[Illegal possession of forbidden item.]

[The Dark Tower is promptly advising you to return the regression clock to the treasure hall.]

[The Dark Tower strongly requires you to give the regression clock to the Ruler of Time.]

On the last page of Cayden’s ability card book, a spell is written to execute the regression’s clock transform power - the newly created Anchor Clock.

[Restriction: You can only use the power of Anchor Clock ONCE. Set a specified time and place as destination for the Time Travel to commence.]

At Cayden’s head, the sound of the Dark Tower’s mechanical voice repeated.

[Time travel is strictly forbidden. The Dark Tower is strongly advising Challenger 7 Cayden Campbell to return the regression clock.]

At Cayden’s confusion, another voice sounded.

[Do not try to break the normal flow of time.]

Cayden had never heard of that voice before. It was much heavier and colder than the Ruler of Time. He ignored the warning and started to enchant,

“Tick tock. Tick, tock. Hear me out and see my woes. I wish to to return to the day when the Dark Tower emerged.”

Everything in his sight started to crumble. The entire space, the majestic items. It all disappeared in a blink of an eye. A blinding light took Cayden captive. Leaving him no choice but to close his eyes and wait.

Different sensations overwhelm him. Sound of monsters growling, blades exchanging, the smell of fresh blood, the stench of rotten corpse.

Cayden did not attempt to open his eyes to see this sight. He only listen. He waited for the time travel process to end.

Not a moment longer, the familiar sound of cars honking and busy streets floated in Cayden’s ears. He finally open his eyes. The first thing he saw is the advertisement billboard of the tallest teleperformance building in the city.

It was a beauty product advertisement. Below the screen, a text was running from right to left.

“The Beauty’s Stalker will air tonight, June 27, 2016. See you there!”

Cayden twisted his lips and grinned sickly. “I’m back…” his voice cracked. Sounding unsure. He repeated, “I’m back.”

This time he pinch his cheeks.

“I’m finally back!”

Xyris sword that was with him through the Seventh Trial slowly disintegrate to dust. It was an item that did not belong to this timeline.

“Xyris….” Cayden’s eyes followed the black dust swirled in the air before it disappeared.

“I will see you soon. Wait for me.” He paused. “My Xyris.”