Chapter 5 The Rift in Time

The air in the library crackled with an unsettling energy, the kind that made the hairs on the back of Elosie's neck stand on end. The shadowed figure, who had revealed himself as someone capable of manipulating time, stood before her and her family, a force of darkness and malice.

Elosie's heart raced in her chest. She had heard stories about the dangers of time manipulation—how even the slightest change could unravel everything. But standing here, facing this unknown enemy, the reality of it all felt far more terrifying than any tale she had ever heard.

Meliodas stepped forward; his usual carefree demeanour replaced by a rare, serious expression. "You don't belong here," he said, his voice a low growl. "Whatever it is you're trying to do, we won't let you destroy what we've built."

The figure's eyes glowed, an unnatural light emanating from them. "You're too late," he said, his voice cold and venomous. "I've already rewritten the timeline. It's only a matter of time before everything falls apart. You don't understand how far I've gone. You're nothing but echoes in a world I control."

Elosie clenched her fists, her thoughts a whirlwind. Rewritten the timeline? Her family had faced unimaginable dangers before, but this was different. If time itself was being manipulated, who could say what might remain when the dust settled?

"I'm not afraid of you," Elosie said, stepping forward, the words more defiant than she intended. "You might be able to change things for now, but you can't control the future. No one can."

The man's lips curled into a grin, one that didn't reach his eyes. "Foolish girl. You think your words will stop me? Time bends to my will. I am the master of it."

Eloise felt the weight of his gaze, cold and heavy, like the universe itself was watching and waiting for the inevitable shift. She glanced at her grandparents, at Meliodas, Elizabeth, Ban, and Elaine—her family, her support. In their eyes, she saw not just fear but a shared resolve.

"You might control time," Elosie said, her voice steady now, "but you can't control me."

Without another word, the air around her shimmered, and suddenly, the room felt heavier. A swirl of energy pulsed at her fingertips, just barely within her control, but enough to make her feel as though she were standing at the edge of something vast, something dangerous.

The man's smile faltered for a moment as he observed her with growing interest. "So, you've inherited some of the power. It was inevitable. But it will never be enough."

As his words hung in the air, Elosie felt it—a sharp, sudden twist of energy. The man raised his hand, and with a flick of his wrist, the world around them began to distort. Time itself seemed to warp and fold, twisting like a shattered mirror. Elosie stumbled, her vision blurring as past and future collided around her.

This was no longer just about her.

She had been born into a future with a legacy, but now that legacy was being threatened. What if the very history she had come from was the thing being erased? She couldn't let that happen. Not to her family. Not to the future.

"Elosie!" Elizabeth cried out, reaching for her.

But it was too late. The moment stretched out unnaturally long. In the chaos of shifting time, Elosie felt the pull of her heritage, the blood of her parents running through her veins, the strength of the Seven Deadly Sins coursing in her. With it, came an overwhelming surge of power—an understanding that was born not of knowledge, but of instinct.

The man tried to take control, but Elosie was ready. She reached deep into the heart of time itself, pulling it toward her. The world around them froze as she unleashed the force within her.

For a brief moment, it was as if time itself had bent to her will. The shadows retreated, and the figure staggered back, surprise and fear now evident on his face.

"I won't let you rewrite it," Elosie said, her voice resolute.

The man's expression shifted to one of pure fury. "You think you can stop me? You have no idea what you're dealing with."

Elosie's power surged again, stronger this time. She could feel the weight of her family's legacy, and the lives that had come before hers, resting on her shoulders. It was her future. Her world. Her story.

"I don't need to know everything," she said, more to herself than to him. "I just need to protect what matters."

The shadows around the figure began to distort further, unravelling as his control slipped. In that moment, the room seemed to shudder, the walls groaning under the weight of time bending in unnatural ways. Elosie's heart raced, but she held firm.

Suddenly, the man collapsed to his knees, his power diminishing rapidly as Elosie's control over time intensified. He tried to reach for her, but his hands passed through the air like smoke, fading as he was pulled into the vortex she had created.

"You can't stop time," he spat, his voice fading.

"You're right," Elosie said, her voice steady. "But I can protect it."

With that, the distortion collapsed. The man, once so sure of his power, vanished into nothingness. The energy in the room receded, and time settled back into its natural rhythm.

Elosie exhaled, the weight of the battle lifting from her shoulders. Her family gathered around her, their expressions a mix of awe and concern. Ban placed a hand on her shoulder, his grin returning.

"Well, that was certainly one way to get the job done," he said, though his voice held a tinge of respect.

"Don't ever do that again," Elaine added with a gentle but firm warning, her eyes filled with worry.

Elosie smiled softly, her exhaustion weighing heavily on her. "I won't. I promise."

Meliodas, ever the optimist, chuckled. "Well, I'd say you've passed your first test. But this won't be the last one. The future is never simple. And neither is time."

Elizabeth stepped forward and embraced her. "But you're not alone. We'll face whatever comes next, together."

As Elosie looked around at her family, she realized something—this was only the beginning. The man she had defeated might be gone, but the rift in time he had caused was far from healed. There was more to uncover. More to fight for.

The future was full of uncertainty, but for the first time, Elosie felt ready to face it.

She wasn't just a daughter from the future. She was part of a legacy that spanned generations, and with that legacy came a responsibility to protect what mattered most—family, love, and the future itself.

And she would fight for it, no matter what.