Damn looks like we're stuck, what should I do, it's been years since I last fought I'm rusty. I went on that last rampage against such weaklings, but time is a rougher opponent.
HEY WARLORD!
"What is it, devil? Can't you see I'm still doing my job!"
We've been pinned. I'm sorry it's been far too long since I've battled an actual fierce opponent, so I took him too lightly and know we've fallen into a loop.
"What are you talking about? URGH, I've been switching up my movements, and these men have been too."
Our loop is different. From your perspective, you've just been in a continuous battle, but for me, you keep resetting;actually, you're about to be cut down.
"Preposterous GAHH"
Thadius had been stabbed in the back, piercing his heart. Due to his lack of awareness, as he bled out, his heart slowly stopped beating until it came to a halt. Once at its halt time, it reversed, going back around 1 hour, having Thadius forget his death, but remember the battle, all of this being witnessed by Sound.
For him, sound has gone through 50 loops already and is still counting.
It's the same thing over and over, that bumbling buffoon gets killed, forgets and I wind my body up leaving towards that thing but the moment AI make impact I'm back here on this floor, looks like all I can do is wait for some miracle, funny me a devil asking for one. Either way, when I get my hands on that thing, it's gonna be a massacre.
The two were at a standstill, unable to proceed further in the battle due to time constraints, and all Sound could do was be hopeful that Heathrow and Garius's journey was working well.
"Bang, Bang"
"We're coming in!"
Coming into the guild were the followers who had found Garius and Heathrow; alongside them was Heathrow's limp, unconscious body. The men dragged him further into the guild, having his feet glide across the sleek, blood-stained floors, throwing him in with the group of bystanders.
"Hey, big guy, you see all these people here!"
The monstrosity looked to the followers and not the bystanders.
"These people are here for your needs, go on a feed when you feel like it, it's all for you."
The men then kneeled down, bowing their heads towards the time monster.
"TICK CK CK CK"
The monster turned his attention back to the followers with their heads held low, and it reached its long stick-esc arms down and picked the men up.
"WHAT?! STOP NOT US NOT US!"
It was no use, the creature had already made its decision, and holding both men, one in each arm, it shoved both heads into its mouth simultaneously, biting down.
"CRUNCH"
The sound was absolutely gut-wrenching, hearing the men scream. Time chomped down on their skulls until it went silent inside, all that could be heard was the sound of bones being eaten like a dog chewing on a bone, and its ever-moving clock continuously ticking.
"Tick"
Well, it seems you're occupied, so how bout we try this again!
Sound leaned back, getting his muscles tightened, but this time he began vibrating, causing the sound waves around him to show. Then he jumped, moving quickly right before the moment of impact, he let out a ghastly noise, one sounding of a child screaming, it disrupted the loop, allowing sound to get a clean hit, just before time snapped out of it and reset everything.
Huh, what'd you know? Your time loop isn't perfect; all it takes is the proper sound and timing, and you're as good as dead. How fun!
The monster's expression changed from a smile to a frown. Things were finally getting interesting.
-Garius's perspective-
Please, someone, help me.
The sheer amount of force and time change that Garius experienced being forcefully pushed through the gate was enough to exhaust him completely, knocking him out right after faintly letting out his cry for help.
The Bounders' hangout, otherwise known as the breaking point, was located in the richest, most wealthy part of Nycon with no doors or windows; the only way in was through a gate, and a special one.
Using a specially made crystal on the person who walks through a gate allows them to not exit back to their home or wherever the exit is usually supposed to go, but redirects the gate's exit straight into the "breakpoint". Heathrow just so happened to own one of these due to his status as guild leader and planned on enlisting the help of high-class bounders to help out. Still, he had been captured and slipped the crystal into Garius's pocket.
"How in the absolute hell did this kid get in here? Is he a new high-ranking bounder that I've never heard of, because he seems weak besides his height? I don't see much else."
Compared to everyone in the room, Garius's stature was laughable; everyone else's statures were somehow on another level, making him look like a child.
"No, you're right, Baron, I've never seen this boy or heard of a bounder with his appearance, but there's no denying that he has a crystal on him, cause how else would he get here search him."
"Alright,"
Baron reached his hands into Garius's pockets, found the crystal, and pulled it out, but also, feeling around, he could tell that something was wrong.
"Hey, I'm gonna take the kids' clothes off, someone get a spare change."
"What, Baron, he has a crush on him or something?"
The breakpoint erupted in laughter, hearing one of the bounders rip into Baron, cutting the uncomfortableness of the situation.
"No, something's wrong with him, I feel blood, I think. QUICKLY GET ME SOME BANDAGES! THIS KID'S BLEEDING OUT!"
Turns out that Garius had been stabbed in the side by one of the follower's chains, leaving a gaping hole in his right side. Baron noticed something strange as the men undressed him and covered him in bandages.
"Come here, guys, take a look at this."
All of the bounders in the area came over, kneeling down to Garius' side to look at what Baron had pointed out.
"I'm not going crazy, but is his wound healing itself?"
"You know, normally I would most definitely say you were crazy, Baron, but this time it's different. That right there is LD; we got ourselves to be followers."