chapter 23 Delayed Genocide (part 2)

"WHAT?! The hell do you mean 'I can't do anything' that's your one purpose, to do something!! Weren't you flexing moments earlier?"

Nobe's loud Complaining could be heard across the entire arena, for a guy who's mental and physical states are slowly breaking, he screams as loud as a beast. On the receiving side of this seemingly endless ranting was Rina, who stood annoyed and embarrassed.

Earlier when Nobe canceled backflow and declared 'project delayed genocide' a go. Rina was putting on airs on how Nobe was worried about a basic attack from spatial users and how his preparation was excessive

In her defense, what was happening around mono looked similar to a basic attack where a space user essentially traps the targets body in a sealed space then breaks it, this normally inflicts metal trauma on the target since it makes them think that they have been killed but it actually just confuses all your sense into thinking that happened.

Naturally as the princess of the house of space, she thought she could handle it no problem but when she actually witnessed it firsthand, she stood frozen and laughed self-deprecatingly. Meanwhile as she was contemplating on what to do, Nobe asked her if she could do anything about it, and that's our current situation.

Nobe's complaints soon turned to mild teasing insults like, "You can't even save your childhood boyfriend, now your gonna die alone." and the like. And as expected at the mention of 'childhood boyfriend' Rina also begun insulting back with a classic, "Your gonna die alone to you fuck."

...…

Silence prevailed for a few moments as Nobe needed some time to understand, 'She's right, I'm no better than her if not worse.' His thoughts begun to grow, which then caused him to reply back and Rina to do the same and as of now Nobe and Rina were verbally insulting each other on who's gonna die alone first.

**

Meanwhile as Nobe and Rina were doing nothing to postpone the genocide but arguing, Jethro appeared in Alyona's office.

"Miss, there is a problem at the arena where the duel between Mono and Daniel is being held."

"Yeah, I know I'm watching the duel right now."

There was silence for a brief moment until Alyona looked at Jethro. Jethro's mask looked more vibrant than usual, and the green hue was more of a fog now, his eyes that could barely be seen beneath His mask were now in full view, a pair of emerald, green eyes stared a Alyona with indifference.

Jethro isn't just in charge of the first-year dormitories, he is also in charge of the security that Ignatius is under, it wouldn't be an understatement to say this guy is Ignatius's defense. Jethro is strong enough to rival a quarter of the house of fire's royal army, well, in his best condition.

Alyona knew why Jethro came here, though he never asked she just agreed to it, after all, Jethro's element is compatible with the situation, Alyona was about to go deal with it herself, but it would take a longer time compared to Jethro.

"Alright Jethro, you can deal with it but take those to the Nako containment, I can see them suffering from an anomaly if their left in an area with any mana."

Alyona sounded somewhat sad that she wouldn't deal with it herself, she wanted to fight a spatial user, but this student wasn't in the condition to fight, and she knew nothing of what was happening to him, so she decided to hold off on her desires.

Nevertheless, Jethro couldn't give two dams about her mood or feelings on the subject, after all he knew her true side firsthand, "I suggest you contact the patriarch for the house of space while I deal with the child."

Alyona looked and Jethro then turned to face the empty space that encompassed the entire wall at the back of her office, she had this made like this due to love for nature since what was behind this wall was the forest she made, see gazed at her forest and continued in a more aggressive tone, "Jethro, you have no right to tell me what to do you-" before she could continue any more she stopped herself and sighed, "He wasn't even here, I'm getting more unhinged in his presence." She turned back to where Jethro was standing and as she guessed, no one was there.

**

Nobe and Rina's situation had gotten worse to the point Rina was now chasing Nobe around threatening his life, since whatever Mono was doing had no effect on them, they forgot about him. While Nobe was running away from Rina he noticed an intrusion in the sub-timeline, Rina seemed to have noticed it as well since she stopped chasing Nobe, looking at each other, they nodded and moved closer to Mono's position.

The situation confused Nobe since the intruder was categorized as his ally and the benefit of no contact was placed on him as well, Nobe tried removing the benefit but instead he made it stronger, at this moment Nobe was scared once more. This person is either tampering with his brain or the spell itself, tampering with his brain in his current state would lead to static progression being cancelled, no matter how skill the person is so this meant this person was tampering with the spell itself.

Nobe would have understood and not be scared if he was a fire or any other elemental user but since he was a time user, his fear was justified. Tampering with a spell is possible if you have mana similar to the one the spell is using to stay active, normally this wouldn't be a problem but currently, Nobe isn't using Mana to keep this spell active and this is where his fear comes from, he's using the progression of time in the main timeline to keep it active, so who ever is tampering with his spell has done one of two things.

Since the main timeline is considered as the power source in this situation, since the spell is still active that means the main timeline hasn't been tampered with. As mentioned before the headaches are a sign that the user is becoming more in tune with the element, and Nobe's current condition is a testament to that since he Is practically using time to sustain his spell.

Now the person tampering with the spell is either, A, changing or has changed the sequence of the spell, or B, inserted a new variable basis for the spell that he/she controls. The first option means that the person tampering with the spell has changed the mechanic on the spell works, take a code for example, whatever it is changed to It will do so, so Node's original sequence is the first code, anyway since the sequence of static progression, in this case, is to negate contact and prevent the main timeline from being affected Nobe has no means of knowing what was changed in the sequence of the spell, or code, he would be able to tell if he was using mana but since he isn't he is only left to speculate and trying to find out is stupider considering he has two, no, three lives to protect, his included.

As for option B, the person tampering with the basis of the spell is basically tampering with it's source of power, in this case Nobe considered this option since he isn't using mana he is using the progression of the main timeline to fuel the spell. Now, the 'Basis' in this case is the main timeline the person who has tampered with the spell may have changed the spell's source of power to something else and of course Nobe is unable to know since he isn't using mana. if he was using mana, since it is his he would be away of any foreign mana used to affect the spell.

Nobe's thoughts became more chaotic, he thought of nearly any possibility and what this person wanted. This, naturally, took and even more toll on his already fatigued mind. As he was contemplating on what to do next, the spell got stronger.

At this sudden increase of power in his spell, Nobe smiled and then laughed, "hahahaaaaaaa…..AHAHAHAH…." his laugh became louder and louder. Rina looked at the guy like he was mad and thought with a smug smile on her face, 'I guess the thought of dying alone got to him first' her pettiness knew no bounds. Nobe's laugh continued on for a while until he shouted hysterically, "Why him as a basis?"

What he said confused Rina to no end, but he couldn't care less as of now. What he meant was that whoever tampered with the spell used option B and used changed the basis of the spell, from the main timeline's progression to Mono. Normally it would have taken longer to notice but Nobe noticed it when he tried to remove the benefit from the intruder again, and it failed once more. Mono's current state is unstable, as a space user he can shift reality, that's if he's strong enough, but his unstable state makes him do it unconsciously.

The shifting of reality is represented by the cracks and shattering of space around him. Now, if a time users spell was changed to have the basis of power and maintenance to a spatial user's unstable reality shifting state what would be the result? A huge mess.

Since a time, spell is being fueled by space in this case, Nobe has no control over happens in this sub-timeline and as the creator of the timeline, since the basis 'Protection of Nobe/creator' is no longer in effect because his element isn't fueling it, he and his allies were forcefully kicked out since when he lost control of the spell, he was deemed part of the main timeline.

As mentioned before, the source of power of the spell static progression was the progression of the main timeline, now that has been change to something regarding Mono's unstable state, how it was possible, Nobe doesn't know, but he knows it is possible, it just needs a skilled person to do so. Since the spell deemed 'contact time' null Nobe couldn't be damaged but that was when time was fueling it. Now that contact time has been reinstated Nobe can still be damaged but during the changing of the basis, Nobe and allies were kicked out as a means to avoid contact time since that was benefit was active but for a short time. So, in short, Nobe and Rina barely survived.