Chapter 22: Moment to come

Holding the Shard of Temporal Echoes in his hand, Emile could feel its potent energy thrumming against his palm. It felt cool to the touch, yet seemed to vibrate with a subtle, otherworldly rhythm. The air around it shimmered faintly, a constant reminder of its ability to manipulate the flow of time.

He cautiously examined the shard. It was a jagged piece of crystal, its facets shifting through a spectrum of translucent colors. It didn't seem to have any inherent instructions or activation mechanism, so Emile decided to experiment, channeling a small amount of his Void energy into it.

The shard reacted immediately, glowing with a brighter intensity. The world around Emile seemed to flicker, and he experienced a disorienting sensation, as if a few seconds had been skipped. He quickly withdrew his Void energy, the shard's glow dimming back to its previous level.

"Definitely has some kind of temporal effect," he murmured to himself. "But it seems… volatile."

He decided to try a more focused approach. Recalling the library texts that spoke of the shard granting glimpses into the future, he concentrated his mind, focusing on a specific question: What lies ahead on the path back down the Chronos Peaks?

He channeled a smaller, more controlled amount of Void energy into the shard, holding his breath. The shimmering intensified, and for a fleeting moment, the familiar rocky path outside the temple was replaced by a vision. He saw himself walking along the path, only to be ambushed by a pair of ferocious Frost Wolves, their teeth bared in attack. The vision was brief, no more than a few seconds, but it was vivid and clear.

Emile quickly released his hold on the shard, the image fading. He felt a slight mental strain, but the premonition was undeniable. He now knew what awaited him on his descent.

"Useful," he noted. "But it seems to require precise control."

He decided to test another aspect mentioned in the texts – the possibility of slightly altering past actions. He focused on a recent moment, just before his final strike against the Guardian of the Shard, when he had narrowly avoided a powerful temporal stasis attack. He channeled a minimal amount of Void energy into the shard, attempting to subtly shift his positioning during that near-miss.

The air around him rippled, and he felt a strange sensation, a fleeting echo of the past moment. It was difficult to discern if anything had truly changed, but the feeling was there, a subtle alteration in the temporal flow.

"This requires more finesse," he concluded. Direct manipulation of the past, even on a small scale, seemed to be far more complex and energy-intensive.

For now, he decided to focus on the more readily accessible ability – glimpses into the immediate future. Knowing about the Frost Wolves ahead would allow him to prepare and avoid a potentially dangerous ambush.

He carefully stored the Shard of Temporal Echoes in a secure pouch within his inventory, feeling a sense of accomplishment at having acquired such a powerful artifact. His journey to the Chronos Peaks had been challenging, but the reward was significant.

He began his descent from the Temple of Temporal Echoes, his senses now heightened not just by his Void Sense, but also by the premonition of the Frost Wolves. He moved cautiously along the rocky path, his hand resting on the hilt of his greatsword.

Just as he had seen in his vision, two large Frost Wolves, their fur the color of snow, burst from behind a cluster of jagged rocks, their eyes glowing with icy ferocity. This time, however, Emile was ready.

"[Void Step]!" he commanded mentally, teleporting to the side, avoiding their initial pounce. Before they could react, he unleashed a powerful "[Abyssal Slash]," the dark energy tearing through the lead wolf's icy fur.

Jin's Quick Reflexes would have been helpful here too, Emile thought, as he anticipated the second wolf's attack. It lunged, snapping its teeth, but Emile parried with his greatsword, the impact sending a spray of icy mist into the air. He followed up with a swift "[Void Strike]," a concentrated blast of dark energy that slammed into the wolf's chest, felling it instantly.

The encounter was over quickly, just as he had foreseen. The Shard of Temporal Echoes had already proven its worth.

[System]: You have gained 1100 experience points.

[System]: You have gained two Frost Wolf Pelts.

Emile continued his journey down the Chronos Peaks, feeling a renewed sense of confidence. He now possessed an artifact that could grant him a crucial advantage in the unpredictable battles and challenges that lay ahead. He knew this was just the first step in his preparation for the convergence. He needed to find more artifacts, hone his skills further, and perhaps even seek out other players who might be aware of the ark's true purpose. The path ahead was still uncertain, but with the Shard of Temporal Echoes at his side, Emile felt better equipped to face the gathering storm. The whispers of moments to come now danced at the edge of his awareness, a subtle reminder of the power he now wielded.