Infinite Regeneration In The Apocalypse-Chapter 48: [Time Warp]: Time Reversal!

Vogue’s body instantly flashed and disappeared, reappearing like magic directly behind the Deputy Leader of the Shadow-Wing Gang’s back.

He had actually activated his [Time Step] ability completely unconsciously in his rage and grief. One moment he had been across the room, the next he had teleported behind Frank’s position as if he had stepped through space itself.

But Frank was an experienced Lower Moon Stage 3 Stellar Knight who had survived countless deadly battles. His reaction speed was simply too demonic and supernatural to be caught off guard. The instant he felt Vogue’s presence materialize behind him through his enhanced combat senses, he immediately reacted without thinking. His body moved on pure instinct as he twisted and slashed his blade backward with devastating force.

"DIIIIIIIIIING!"

Brilliant sparks flew through the air along with droplets of blood and a severed hand. The gruesome pieces flew spinning into the air as Frank’s razor-sharp blade completely severed Vogue’s left arm with immense speed and power. The limb was cut so cleanly it was like slicing through butter.

At this critical point, Vogue’s crimson eyes suddenly flashed with a strange light. He seemed to have remembered something incredibly important as logic and rationality finally entered his grief-stricken, rage-filled brain. A flood of memories and knowledge crashed into his mind.

He had become the true embodiment of time itself! He was the legendary Time Dragon, born at the beginning of creation! He possessed the ancient physique that had been born alongside chaos itself at the dawn of existence! How could he have possibly forgotten in his emotional state that he could actually manipulate and warp time itself? He had this power all along!

"Time Warp!" Vogue shouted desperately, his voice echoing with power.

The moment those words left his lips, information flooded his consciousness. Ancient knowledge awakened within him.

[Ancient Nine-Headed Primordial Dragon]

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[Grade]: Divine

[Race]: Origin Dragon ⟡

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[⟡Details⟡]

True Chaos gives birth to Order.

True Order collapses back into Chaos.

Before laws existed, before gods walked, before time itself began flowing,

nine primordial elements converged in the void: Time, Light, Earth, Fire, Wind, Frost, Water, Shadow, and Void.

From that perfect convergence, the First Dragon emerged into being.

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『⟡Abilities⟡』

[Dragon Suppression]

↳ All beings below one realm above User can be completely suppressed through bloodline pressure

[Primordial Dragon Body]

↳ True Dragon Manifestation, completely immune to all ordinary weapons and regenerates at lightning speed from any injury

[Dragon Might]

↳ Overall physical and mental attributes increase by +200% per unlocked dragon head

↳ Effect stacks multiplicatively with each new head awakened

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[⟡ The Nine Dragon Heads ⟡]

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[Ⅰ • Time Dragon — Origin Sovereign]

『Concept: Temporal Dominion』

Sub-Abilities:

↳ [Time Warp]

• Rewind, pause, or accelerate time by up to 3 seconds in localized area

• Duration increases with each level gained

↳ [Time Decay]

• Inflicts 100 years worth of temporal erosion on physical contact

• Only lifeforms 3 levels above user can resist [Level up to increase effect]

↳ [Time Step]

• Reduces space and air resistance to near zero. Increases agility by 300%

• Effect increases with level advancement

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[Ⅱ • Flame Dragon — Primordial Fire]

↳ Sealed

[Ⅲ • Storm Dragon — Thunder & Wind]

↳ Sealed

[Ⅳ • Frost Dragon — Absolute Cold]

↳ Sealed

[Ⅴ • Earth Dragon — Mass & Gravity]

↳ Sealed

[Ⅵ • Void Dragon — Nothingness]

↳ Sealed

[Ⅶ • Light Dragon — Judgment & Purity]

↳ Sealed

[Ⅷ • Shadow Dragon — Oblivion]

↳ Sealed

[Ⅸ • Water Dragon — Origin Vitality]

↳ Sealed

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[⟡ Core Status ⟡]

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[Body]: Primordial Nine-Headed God Dragon

[State]: Sealed - Awaiting Full Awakening

[Heads Awakened]: 1 / 9

↳ Currently Unlocked: Time Dragon

[Evolution Trigger For Next Head]:

↳ Ancient God Blood

↳ Experience True Death

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Instantly, a massive phantom image of a golden cosmic clock appeared in the air around Vogue’s body. The ancient timepiece was enormous and glowed with divine power. The second hand of the ticking clock actually moved, and reality itself seemed to shudder.

Immediately, the entire world around them suddenly turned completely black and white. All colors within the apartment and surrounding area simply disappeared as if someone had drained all the pigment from existence. It was as though someone had pressed a cosmic pause button on reality itself.

The air that had just started to react and ripple from Vogue’s earlier Time Step ability also froze completely in place. One could clearly see several overlapping shockwaves suspended motionless in the air like rings in water after dropping a stone in a still lake. The waves were frozen mid-expansion.

Even the incredibly powerful Deputy Gang Leader of the Shadow-Wing Gang also froze completely into place like a statue. The displaced air created by his wild, powerful sword swing could be seen hanging motionless as well, captured mid-motion as his blade cut through the air barrier.

Everything and everyone within the entire house stopped moving completely from Vogue’s unique point of view. Time had stopped for everything except him.

Vogue suddenly saw several transparent phantom images of himself. Some showed him five seconds in the future, doing things he hadn’t done yet. Others showed phantom versions of himself from the past, up to five seconds ago, repeating actions he had already taken. Past, present, and future all existed simultaneously before his eyes.

It was as though time itself was patiently waiting for him to make his choice and decide what to do.

Vogue didn’t hesitate for even a single moment. He immediately focused his mind and thought with desperate intensity, ’Go backwards to the extreme! Turn back time as far as possible!’

Immediately, the massive golden cosmic clock’s second hand actually trembled and shook violently. Then, defying all natural laws, it actually started moving backwards instead of forward! The impossible was happening.

Instantly, everything within Vogue’s field of vision transformed into a massive blur of motion. His own body, completely beyond his conscious control now, started physically moving backwards against his will! It was like being pulled by invisible strings.

It was exactly as though someone had grabbed a remote control and hit the reverse button on reality itself. Vogue, Deputy Gang Leader Frank, and absolutely everything within the entire building began moving backwards swiftly through time.

Vogue’s body flashed backwards through space, returning to his previous position. He watched himself move in reverse—instead of bending down to gently place Gloria on the chair like he remembered doing, he was now lifting her up and carrying her instead. The action played in reverse.

His blank, grief-stricken face transformed backwards into confusion as he watched the blood on her lips defy gravity. Instead of dripping down, it flowed upward back into her mouth. Gloria’s dying lips moved in reverse as she un-spoke her final words. The syllables of ’I love you’ played backwards.

It was at that exact moment that the time reversal process suddenly slowed. The second hand of the golden clock slowed its backwards movement and then stopped completely after moving exactly five full seconds into the past. But Vogue immediately saw the horrible truth—the assassin’s blade was still deeply embedded inside Gloria’s chest! Going back five seconds hadn’t been enough. The attack had already happened before that point.

Vogue’s face changed completely, twisting with desperate anguish. He roared like a maniac who had lost all sanity. "N-OOO! Not yet! Go back further! I need more time!"

He gritted his teeth so hard they nearly cracked. Without hesitation, he immediately activated every single ability he possessed all at once. Black Sun flooded his body with power. Primordial Dragon Body hardened his flesh. Dragon’s Might multiplied his strength. Dragon Suppression released his bloodline pressure!

Immediately, a massive amount of raw energy exploded outward from Vogue’s body in a violent surge! The energy released was so incredibly massive and overwhelming that it actually generated enough pure power to force the ancient cosmic clock’s second hand to move backward one additional second against the natural laws of reality!

At this new point in time, the blood that had been dripping from Gloria’s lips suddenly reversed direction. Instead of flowing out, it flowed backwards into her mouth and disappeared. Her sad smile transformed back into a happy, loving one as she and Vogue exchanged warm, affectionate gazes. They were staring into each other’s eyes with pure love. This was the moment right before the attack.

At that critical moment, the reverse flow of time immediately paused and stopped. Vogue suddenly got full control of his senses and his body again. When he fully realized what was happening around him and understood exactly where he was in the timeline, his face changed dramatically with urgent understanding.

He could see it now—the attack was coming in the next instant. The blade would pierce through in less than a second.

Without wasting even a fraction of a moment, Vogue immediately twisted his entire body around with desperate speed. He violently pushed Gloria away from him with all his strength, throwing her clear of the attack trajectory.

"Squelch!"

At that exact same moment, the massive assassin’s blade stabbed forward with deadly precision. But this time, instead of piercing through Gloria’s heart and killing her, it plunged deep into Vogue’s chest instead. He had taken her place.

Vogue smiled with genuine relief and satisfaction despite the terrible pain. His entire energy reserves were completely drained and empty from forcing time itself to bend to his will.

Everything in his line of sight began to blur and fade. His vision went dark and his legs gave out beneath him and he collapsed forward into complete unconsciousness.

But Gloria was alive. That was all that mattered.