Temporal Dominion

Lucian sat cross-legged in the dimly lit training chamber, his breath steady, his pulse slow. The echoes of his battle against the construct still lingered in his mind—the sensation of moving without his Chronokinesis, of relying solely on his raw skill.

It had been an eye-opening experience.

Without a solid foundation, power was meaningless.

Instructor Kael's lesson had been brutal but necessary. Lucian had always relied on his ability to react to time's flow, but now, he understood—he needed to master his body first, then integrate his power.

The training chamber was silent except for the occasional flicker of energy from the surrounding runes. The suppression field was still active, dulling his temporal perception and forcing him to function as an ordinary fighter.

Kael stood before him, his gaze sharp as ever.

"You've begun to grasp the limits of your power," he said. "Now, you will break past them."

Lucian met his gaze, determination burning in his eyes. "How?"

Kael gestured to the side, and a floating crystal hummed to life. Golden inscriptions flickered across its surface, pulsing in a steady rhythm—an artificial construct infused with time-sensitive energy.

"This is a Temporal Focus," Kael explained. "An artifact designed to synchronize with those who wield time-related abilities. You will train with it until your control is refined."

Lucian nodded, stepping forward. The moment his fingers brushed the crystal—

A surge of energy pulsed through his mind.

His vision blurred. For a brief instant, he felt the flow of time itself shifting around him.

Then—everything stabilized.

The Temporal Focus floated before him, waiting.

"Your task is simple," Kael said. "Synchronize your power with the Focus and manipulate its flow."

Lucian exhaled and concentrated.

Slowly, he reached out with his Chronokinesis.

The moment his mind connected to the crystal, he felt it—a pulse, a rhythm, a structure to time's movement.

It was different from his usual perception.

Before, his power came as instinct, as flashes of the future. But this—this was something deeper.

A direct connection to the current of time.

He focused, attempting to push against it—to slow it down.

The inscriptions on the crystal flickered—and for a moment, the pulses of energy slowed.

Lucian's breath hitched.

It worked.

Kael observed him carefully. "You've always reacted to time's flow. Now, you must learn to manipulate it."

Lucian nodded, concentrating again.

This time, he didn't just try to slow it. He tried to speed it up.

The energy pulses quickened, vibrating faster, the inscriptions glowing brighter.

Lucian's heart pounded.

He could feel the fundamental nature of time bending to his will.

This wasn't just foresight anymore.

This was control.

Kael finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. "From now on, your training will focus on two aspects: precision and endurance. Manipulating time is not just about instinct—it is about mastery."

Lucian exhaled, his mind steady.

He had taken another step forward.

But he wasn't done yet.

Because deep down, he knew—this was only the beginning of what he could achieve.

---

New Skill Acquired: Temporal Manipulation (Basic)

Flow Acceleration: Briefly speeds up an object's internal time, making it move faster.

Flow Deceleration: Temporarily slows down an object's internal time, reducing its speed.

Note: The effectiveness is limited by Lucian's current endurance and concentration.