Seraphine gazed at the unfolding events with a mixture of unease and caution. Arthur couldn''t help but wonder what had shifted her perspective on killing a god. Something had clearly changed within her.


    Vesper, now convinced by Watchman''s presence, wore a triumphant grin. It was understandable that his confidence had soared with the support of a time-manipting deity. The first act of the god was to reverse time for the half-giant, erasing his wounds and restoring his strength.


    "This is troubling," Sarohan voiced his concern, his white fur bristling. "Not only has Vesper recovered, but he has gained the favor of a god. Could it be that a god has truly descended to confront a demon?"


    "No," Arthur replied, his unease growing as he kept his eyes on Watchman. "This is the guest we have been anticipating. However, we never anticipated that he would possess such formidable power. It might be wise for you and your n to flee."


    "We waigas never turn our backs on a benefactor," Sarohan dered, drawing his sword. "ording to the Thousand Arms, those who save us be our masters, and it is our duty to aid them until our freedom is restored."


    "You owe me nothing," Arthur sighed, turning his attention back to Watchman. "But it would serve me well if you are aware of the identity of that man."


    "I have only heard legends of the Keepers of Time," Watchman responded. "These legends speak of an army tasked with reshaping the world ording to the gods'' desires. They possess the ability to rewrite history, and even a single Keeper should not be underestimated."


    "Rewriters of history," Arthur muttered, his brow furrowed. If the gods wielded such power, could anyone hope to stand against them? Even if Arthur managed to defeat this god here, would another simplye and rewind the events, erasing his victory from existence?


    "Remind me, what is your name?" Arthur inquired, his uncertainty hanging between the possibility of a forgotten introduction or a name never received.


    "I am Sarohan, leader of the waigas n from Ventlehiem," Sarohan replied with a respectful bow. "Until our debts are repaid, our lives shall be devoted to you."


    Though Arthur contemted turning Sarohan away once more, time had be a scarcemodity. The Watchman, his attention fixated upon them, chuckled to himself while observing the seconds tick away on his pocket watch. Seraphine remained motionless, her countenance an enigma to Arthur.


    "Listen carefully, my valiant soldier! To maintain fairness, I grant you a slight advantage," the Watchman proimed. "For every three seconds that pse, you shall gain three seconds of frozen time!"


    Vesper''s jubnt roar filled the air as he donned the ethereal armor, relishing the opportunity to execute divine judgment upon these sinners. "That is more than sufficient, almighty god! Let your justice be delivered through me!"


    "Tick, tock!" Watchman''s voice echoed, apanied by the weight of his pocket watch descending upon its button. Vesper charged forward, aiming to reach Seraphine, who understood the importance of maintaining distance until the three seconds hadpsed.


    As she leaped backward, Arthur bore witness to a familiar sight. The world drained of color, but this time, there was a discernible alteration. Vesper had joined Watchman in traversing this grayscale realm, while all others remained frozen in ce. The warlord raced relentlessly toward the demon, under the watchful eye of the god perched upon his head.


    "Unleash an awe-inspiring spectacle for the gods, Vesper!" Watchman bellowed; his arms outstretched. The colossal figure soared through the frozen domain, ascending towards Seraphine, suspended midair in her immobility. Arthur observed the unfolding scene, his own body rendered motionless.


    With a mighty blow, the giant''s fist struck Seraphine, yet she disyed no sign of moving. Descending to the ground, Vesper wore a perplexed expression, his expectations unmet.


    "Do not despair," Watchman reassured, applying pressure once more to his pocket watch, allowing time to resume its flow. Seraphine was flung through the air, the force of the attackunching her backward. She soared like a broken kite before colliding with a colossal tree, toppling it to the ground.


    As life surged back into the world, beads of sweat traced a path down Arthur''s face. It was not fear that dampened his brow, but the mental strain of his immobility. Trapped within his own body, he remained conscious but paralyzed. However, Seraphine''s condition proved far more dire.


    The protective crimson mist that enveloped her had failed to shield her from the assault that transpired during the frozen interval. Emerging from the dusty aftermath, her form bore the wounds of battle, blood trickling from a gash upon her head.


    "Watchman," the demon called out, seemingly unaffected by her injuries. Her scarlet eyes zed with an intensity as if infused with blood itself. Hatred coursed through her gaze as she locked her re upon the divine entity. "Do you remember who I am?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Watchman, perplexed, responded with a dismissive shake of his head, a cascade of question marks hovering above him. "Why would I remember an insignificant ant? I hold no recollection of any demon."


    "You erased my people from existence, annihted alongside your formidable army. History will forever remain oblivious to the blood demons due to your actions," Seraphine dered, her steps unsteady as she emerged from the dust cloud. "At that time, every blood demon swore an oath to exact vengeance upon the gods."


    "Ah!" Watchman eximed, a note of surprisecing his voice. "But how would I remember that which ceased to exist?" His lips curled into a thick grin, revealing his enjoyment in toying with Seraphine. Arthur sensed that Watchman held her memory close, hidden beneath his fa?ade. "It would be quite inconvenient if the other gods were to discover that a demon managed to escape eradication. You must be... eliminated."


    With those words, the fleeting three seconds drew to a close, and Watchman pressed the pocket watch once more. The world surrendered its color, and Vesper charged forward, fists raised to strike the frozen Seraphine. The colossal ethereal fists descended, mercilessly pummeling her head.


    Arthur''s heart clenched as the crushing blowsnded. Regardless of Seraphine''s formidable power, she could not withstand a direct hit of such magnitude unscathed. As Watchman pressed the watch again, Seraphine was sent hurtling to the ground, her body crushed into the depths of a giant crater.


    Boom!


    The entire world quaked, jolting Arthur from his dazed state. He realized that once the three seconds psed, he would be the next target. Swiftlyprehending the urgency, he resolved to vanquish the god before that moment arrived. Nightmare materialized in his hand, emitting an otherworldly shriek that captured Watchman''s attention. The god regarded Arthur with confusion, question marks swirling above his head.


    "That weapon...?" Watchman muttered, his gaze fixed upon Nightmare, his surprise evident. "How can a god-ying weapon manifest within a tower of such low level?"


    1 second.


    Arthur stomped upon the ground, propelling himself forward in a determined rush. He understood that evading a god of time was futile, setting his approach apart from Seraphine''s desperate evasion. Emerging beneath the towering figure, lightning crackled to life, propelling him towards Watchman.


    2 seconds.


    As Arthur materialized beside Watchman, his de found its mark with a resolute strike, aiming to sever the god''s neck. The weapon sliced through flesh and bone, causing the divine head to detach from its body.


    Two-point-nine seconds.


    Relief washed over Arthur as time continued its steady flow, escaping the grasp of temporal suspension. However, his sense of relief proved short-lived, for as his feet were about to touch the ground, the world drained of color once more, mirroring the sudden pallor of his face.


    This time, even Vesper remained frozen in the temporal stasis. Arthur''s gaze fixed upon the disembodied head suspended in mid-air, witnessing its return to its rightful ce atop Watchman''s shoulders. The severed wound rewound, as if the grisly act had never urred.


    "That was a close call!" Watchman eximed, panic etched across his features as he sped his head. "He truly caught me off guard with a godyer de! How did a humane into possession of such a weapon? We had eradicated them all! Thankfully, the me of ten thousand years ago had the foresight to rewind time the moment I lost my life. Thank you, past self!"


    Watchman''s gaze fixated upon Arthur, recing surprise with curiosity. He descended, examining the human from every angle, his attention captured by the enigmatic Nightmare held firmly within Arthur''s grasp. The god appeared too engrossed to notice that his allotted time had surpassed, causing the world to regain its vibrant hues.


    Arthur seized the opportunity, moving with fluid precision as he swung his de towards Watchman. The god, seemingly prepared this time, raised his hand, freezing time once more. Gone was the smile that had adorned his face, reced by a palpable sense of apprehension as his eyes bore into Arthur''s.


    "This man struck as soon as time returned... Is his perception so keen as to discern my movements? He remains unfazed by my revival and sudden appearance beside him... Is he... aware?" Watchman pondered, his gaze fixed through the lenses, yet Arthur remained unable to move, locked in a state of calm.


    Watchman shook his head, dismissing his own theory. "Our maniption of time is wless. This man possesses an extraordinary awareness of his surroundings. Regardless... he must be eliminated.