Prologue

In a dimly lit room, a lone figure sat hunched over a desk cluttered with papers, photographs, and digital screens. The soft hum of machinery filled the air, mingling with the quiet ticking of a clock on the wall. The room was a sanctuary of secrets, hidden away from the eyes of the world. Here, plans were made, lives were altered, and destinies were forged.

The man at the desk, known only as the Director, stared intently at a series of images flashing across a monitor. Each image depicted a young boy, no more than twelve, with a wild shock of dark hair and a look of confusion and fear. The boy's name was Daniel, but the Director knew him by another name: Chronos.

The Director's fingers drummed rhythmically on the desk, a slow, deliberate beat that matched the ticking clock. He knew the boy's potential—his ability to manipulate time was unparalleled. But more than that, the boy held the key to unlocking secrets that could reshape the world. The Director's cold eyes glinted with a dangerous ambition.

With a sigh, he leaned back in his chair and glanced at a photograph pinned to the wall. It was a picture of a woman, smiling brightly, holding a young Daniel in her arms. The sight of the woman brought a rare flicker of emotion to the Director's face. It was a momentary lapse, quickly replaced by his usual steely resolve.

He turned his attention back to the monitors, where the images had shifted to show a series of encrypted files. With a few keystrokes, the files decrypted, revealing data that had taken years to compile. Information on every known meta-human, their abilities, weaknesses, and, most importantly, their locations. At the top of the list was Chronos, highlighted in red.

The Director reached for a glass of water and took a slow sip. His mind raced with possibilities. He knew the Syndicate had its eyes on the boy, but they were careless, treating him like a mere experiment. They didn't understand the true potential that lay within Daniel—the power to bend reality, to alter the fabric of time itself. The Director's lips curled into a thin smile. He would not make the same mistake.

He stood and walked over to a large window that overlooked a sprawling city, its lights twinkling like stars in the darkness. The world outside was oblivious to the forces at play, the silent war between those who sought to control power and those who possessed it. But that would change soon enough. The Director would see to it.

As he gazed out at the city, the Director made a silent vow. He would harness Daniel's power, no matter the cost. The boy would be his greatest weapon, a tool to reshape the world in his image. And if anyone stood in his way, they would be erased from existence.

In the quiet of the room, the clock continued to tick, each second bringing them closer to an inevitable confrontation. The stage was set, the pieces were in motion, and the game was about to begin.

And so, with a final glance at the photograph on the wall, the Director turned away and disappeared into the shadows, leaving behind a room full of secrets and a world on the brink of change.

The story of Chronos was about to unfold.