Chapter 13: Familiar thief

Four years had passed since Axel's death, and the world had moved on. The town had returned to its usual rhythm, and life resumed its mundane patterns. But for Kyle, everything had changed irrevocably.

Kyle had joined the police force, a decision driven partly by his desire for justice and partly by the relentless presence of the System. It had become an invaluable tool, enhancing his abilities and giving him an edge in solving cases. Yet, the weight of the past never truly lifted, particularly Axel's sudden death, which lingered in his mind like an unsolved puzzle.

He parked his patrol car outside a club in the seedy part of town. The neon lights flickered, casting a lurid glow on the pavement. Kyle took a deep breath before stepping out, the sounds of laughter and music spilling into the night. He scanned the area, his mind briefly wandering to Zara. She worked here now, a +1* club dancer. It was a sad turn of events for someone who had once been so full of life and ambition.

Inside the club, the atmosphere was a haze of smoke, dim lights, and pulsating beats. Kyle made his way through the crowd, acknowledging a few familiar faces with nods. He approached the bar, where Zara was serving drinks. She looked tired, the spark in her eyes long extinguished.

"Hey, Zara," Kyle greeted, leaning against the bar.

She looked up, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Kyle. It's been a while."

"Yeah. Busy with work, you know." He glanced around the club. "You holding up okay?"

She shrugged. "As well as I can. How's your mom?"

Kyle sighed. "She's living with a Nigerian businessman now. He's loaded, takes good care of her. She seems happy, I guess."

"That's good to hear." Zara's smile faded. "What brings you here tonight?"

"I'm looking for someone," Kyle said, his tone growing serious. "A thief named Finn."

Zara's eyes widened slightly. "Finn? I've heard of him. He's pretty notorious around here. What's he done?"

Kyle hesitated. "It's complicated. He's someone from my past, someone who should have shown up a long time ago. I need to find him."

Zara nodded. "Be careful, Kyle. This place has its own dangers."

"Thanks, Zara. I'll be fine." He gave her a reassuring smile before continuing his search.

Kyle navigated through the club, his eyes scanning the crowd. The System's Temporal Awareness skill was on high alert, sensing fluctuations and disturbances in the environment. As he moved through the throngs of people, he spotted a figure at the far end of the room, lurking in the shadows.

Kyle's heart raced as he approached. The figure turned, and there he was—Finn. The same mischievous grin, the same air of confidence. Finn was a thief, infamous for his heists and quick getaways. But more than that, he was Kyle's old companion from the original timeline, a friend who was supposed to have appeared much earlier.

"Finn," Kyle called out, his voice steady.

Finn looked up, his eyes widening in recognition. "Kyle? Is that really you?"

"It's me," Kyle replied, stepping closer. "Where have you been?"

Finn laughed, a sound tinged with both amusement and relief. "Oh, you know, here and there. Life of a thief isn't exactly stable."

Kyle frowned. "You were supposed to show up years ago. What happened?"

Finn's expression grew serious. "I was delayed. Got caught up in some... complications. But I'm here now."

"Why now, Finn? Why show up after all this time?"

Finn sighed, glancing around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. "I heard about Axel. About his death. I've been trying to find out what really happened."

Kyle felt a pang of guilt and sorrow. "I've been trying to figure it out too. It still haunts me."

Finn nodded. "I think there's more to it than we know. I've come across some information that suggests Axel might have been involved in something bigger, something dangerous."

Kyle's interest piqued. "What kind of information?"

Finn reached into his coat and pulled out a small, encrypted device. "This. It's got files on Axel's research, his plans. I haven't been able to crack it yet, but I think it holds the answers we're looking for."

Kyle took the device, his mind racing. "Let's get out of here. We can't talk about this in the open."

Finn agreed, and they slipped out of the club, making their way to Kyle's apartment. Once inside, Kyle set up his equipment and began working on decrypting the device. The System assisted, enhancing his technical skills and providing insights.

As the device finally unlocked, a flood of data appeared on the screen. Kyle and Finn pored over the files, their eyes widening as the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place.

"Axel was experimenting with something called Temporal Fusion," Kyle said, his voice filled with realization. "He was trying to merge different timelines to create a perfect reality."

Finn's expression darkened. "That's why he was so obsessed. He believed he could fix everything by creating a new timeline, one where all his mistakes were erased."

Kyle nodded. "But something went wrong. His death must have been a result of his experiments."

Finn leaned back, rubbing his temples. "We need to find out more. There might be other files, other clues that can explain what happened."

Kyle agreed. "But for now, we need to rest. It's been a long night."

Finn smiled, a hint of the old camaraderie returning. "Just like old times, huh?"

"Yeah," Kyle replied, feeling a spark of hope. "Just like old times."

The next morning, Kyle woke up with a renewed sense of purpose. He and Finn had a lot of work ahead of them, but at least they were together again, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Over the following weeks, they delved deeper into Axel's research, uncovering a web of connections and conspiracies that spanned multiple timelines. It was a daunting task, but with the System's help and Finn's expertise, they made steady progress.

As they worked, Kyle couldn't help but reflect on how much had changed. Zara was trying to rebuild her life, and his mom had found some semblance of happiness with her new partner. Despite the tragedies and the losses, there were still moments of light, moments of hope.

One evening, as they were sifting through another batch of files, Finn looked up at Kyle. "Do you ever wonder if we're doing the right thing? If all this meddling with time is worth it?"

Kyle paused, considering the question. "I think about it all the time. But we can't ignore what we've found. Axel's death, his experiments—they've set something in motion, something we need to understand."

Finn nodded. "I guess you're right. It's just... sometimes, it feels like we're fighting an endless battle."

Kyle smiled, placing a hand on Finn's shoulder. "We're in this together. We'll figure it out. And maybe, just maybe, we can make things right."

As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, Kyle and Finn continued their investigation. The System remained a silent but steadfast companion, guiding Kyle as he navigated the complexities of time and reality.

-UPDATED STATS-

Character Name: Kyle

Level: 35

Class: Time Manipulator / Temporal Enforcer

Title: The Guardian of Time

Health (HP): 850/850

Stamina (SP): 600/600

Mana (MP): 1200/1200

Strength (STR): 60

Agility (AGI): 75

Endurance (END): 80

Intelligence (INT): 120

Wisdom (WIS): 110

Dexterity (DEX): 70

Charisma (CHA): 85

Luck (LCK): 40

Special Abilities:

Time Control (Advanced): Enhanced ability to manipulate time, now including localized time reversal and brief temporal acceleration over larger areas.

Temporal Vision (Advanced): The ability to see multiple potential future outcomes and timelines with greater clarity and accuracy.

Chrono Shield (Unlocked): A shield made from temporal energy that can absorb, reflect, and sometimes negate damage by rewinding the event that caused it.

Time Lock (Unlocked): Temporarily freezes a target in time, rendering them immobile and unable to act. Duration depends on target's strength relative to Kyle's power.

Time Rewind (Locked): A powerful, limited-use ability that rewinds time for a short period, allowing Kyle to change recent events.

Skills:

Advanced Hand-to-Hand Combat (Level 10): High proficiency in unarmed combat techniques, capable of defeating most opponents.

Swordsmanship (Level 8): Significant skill in wielding swords, with an understanding of various styles.

Time Sense (Level 7): Acute awareness of temporal shifts, anomalies, and the flow of time around him.

Research & Development (Level 9): Mastery in scientific research, particularly in temporal mechanics and related fields.

Persuasion (Level 7): Greatly increased ability to influence and negotiate with others, even under difficult circumstances.

Inventory:

Enhanced Temporal Device: An upgraded version of his father's original gadget, now capable of more precise and powerful time manipulation.

Chrono Blade: A sword forged from a rare, time-infused metal, capable of cutting through temporal barriers and energies.

Advanced Notebook: A digital journal filled with detailed notes on timelines, key events, and potential threats, with encrypted sections.

Pocket Watch: A sentimental item belonging to Kyle's father, now upgraded with a minor temporal anomaly detection feature.

Quests:

Main Quest: Protect the timeline from catastrophic disruptions while managing the consequences of previous alterations.

Side Quest: Uncover the full extent of Finn's influence and his reasons for appearing now, long after he should have.

Hidden Quest: Investigate the origins and motives of the Ten Conquerors, who may pose a significant threat to the stability of the timeline.

Reputation:

With Zara: Strained, with lingering trust issues but underlying respect.

With Finn: Distrustful and suspicious, with a mix of nostalgia and fear.

With Father (in memory): Regretful, seeking redemption for past actions.