The Solaris King
Later that night, near the Solaris Royal Palace.
Victor, utilizing his 'time stop,' walked towards the palace's front entrance. He swiftly bypassed the frozen guards and entered the silent interior.
"Oracle, where is the king's room?" Victor inquired.
[Follow the Arrow Host.]
Instantly, a luminous arrow materialized before Victor. He followed its guidance, and after a brisk five-minute run through the eerily still palace, he found himself standing before the king's chambers.
He entered the room to find an elderly man and woman asleep in a king-sized bed. Spotting an ornate chair, Victor settled into it. He conjured a cup of coffee and began to sip it leisurely.
"Oracle, resume time."
Zoom! The world sprang back into motion.
Victor glanced at his pocket watch and pressed a button. Immediately, the delicate sound of xylophone music mingled with the rhythmic tick-tock of the timepiece, filling the room. Shortly after, the king and queen stirred, their eyes widening as they took in the unexpected presence of a young man.
He was dressed in regal, fantasy-style noble attire, rich with deep blues, blacks, and golds. His long coat was embroidered with arcane runes and gold-threaded clock motifs, featuring a high collar, golden hourglass-shaped buttons, and time-themed shoulder clasps. A flowing cape with glimmering, stardust-like edges completed his majestic look. He held a divine-looking golden pocket watch, seemingly reading the fabric of time itself as he calmly drank his coffee.
"Who?!" the king exclaimed, startled.
No response.
"Who ARE You?!" the king repeated, his voice rising in agitation.
Still no response.
"Young man, who are you? It's impolite to intrude into someone's bedroom while they are sleeping, wouldn't you agree? Please, introduce yourself," the queen said, her tone more composed but with a hint of curiosity.
Victor finally responded, his gaze still fixed on his pocket watch. "Your Queen has a far more agreeable manner than you, old man," he remarked to the king without looking at him.
He then turned, his silver eyes meeting the king's gaze. "If I so desired, I could have instantly drained your lifespan, leaving you a withered husk resembling someone who'd succumbed to extreme old age," Victor stated, his gaze intense. A shiver ran down the king's spine at the otherworldly quality of those eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.
"You still haven't answered me, young man. Who are you?" the queen persisted, her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Me? I am Victor Chronis, Heir of the Divine House of Chronis, the family blessed with the power of time."
[Name: Drake Von Solaris]
[Lifespan: 10 Years]
[Name: Aurora Von Solaris]
[Lifespan: 30 Years]
"What do you want, O Heir of Time?" King Drake asked, his eyes darting around the room. He couldn't comprehend what he was witnessing. The door to his room had seemingly opened on its own, revealing several guards frozen mid-motion, one even appearing to be falling through the air. If what this young man claimed was true, it would explain the bizarre tableau of his static soldiers.
"I desire your royal insignia. In return, I will permit the Solaris family to engage in temporal trade with the House of Chronis." Victor paused, a predatory glint in his silver eyes. "In simpler terms, I will sell your family lifespan."
Saliva caught in the throats of both the king and queen. They could scarcely believe their ears. Sell time? Did that mean this young man could grant them extended lifespans for a price? The notion was outlandish, yet a contract materialized in the air before them. It stipulated a price of two million gold coins in total, along with their royal insignia, for an additional one hundred years of lifespan for each of them. Trembling slightly, they both signed the ethereal document, which then vanished into thin air. Victor collected the agreed-upon sum and bestowed the promised years upon them before taking his leave as swiftly as he had arrived.
The next day, Victor awoke, still feeling the lingering traces of sleep. He checked his internal status:
[Name: Victor Chronis]
[Lifespan: 320 Years]
[System level: 2]
[Balance: 2.1 Million]
[System functions:]
[1. Time God's Eyes - View Lifespans.]
[2. Time Shop - Time God's Shop]
[3. Time Contract - Used To Buy And Sell Time.]
[4. Time Pause - Pause Time Around Yourself And Others As Needed.]
[Stats:]
[Vitality: 250]
[Qi: 400]
[Strength: 10]
[Agility: 10]
[Intelligence: 100]
[Charisma: 120] (+50)
He summoned his butler, who served him lunch and presented a report. Victor had amassed a total of seven million gold coins and seven hundred and fifty years of lifespan from various transactions, updating his status:
[Name: Victor Chronis]
[Lifespan: 1020 Years]
[System level: 2]
[Balance: 9.1 Million]
[System functions:]
[1. Time God's Eyes - View Lifespans.]
[2. Time Shop - Time God's Shop]
[3. Time Contract - Used To Buy And Sell Time.]
[4. Time Pause - Pause Time Around Yourself And Others As Needed.]
[Stats:]
[Vitality: 250]
[Mana: 400]
[Strength: 10]
[Agility: 10]
[Intelligence: 100]
[Charisma: 120] (+50)
"We need a more refined approach than breaking into people's bedrooms," Victor mused aloud.
[Certainly. Would you like some suggestions?]
"Yes, please. What do you propose?"
[You could simply establish a shop.]
[Shop Search Results]
[Mythic Tier - Time Cube Factory] (100 Years)
[Description - Can store up to 100 years in a single cube. A factory dedicated to producing these cubes. Requires only ambient mana to function.]
[Rare Tier - Time Seller Shop Blueprint] (100 Years)
[Description - Hire workers to construct this elaborate design. While costly, the building will undoubtedly attract attention.]
[Rare Tier - Soul Contract] (1 Year)
[Description - Bind your employees to your service and prevent information leaks. Offer fair contracts to attract reliable workers. Avoid exploitative agreements.]
[Mythic Tier - Time Cube Core] (100 Years)
[Description - Infuse this core with your lifespan, and it will passively generate time within the Time Cubes.]
[Mythic Tier - Time Battery Factory] (Price: 50 Years)
[Description - Time Cubes are for storage and sale. Create Time Batteries to hold and transfer time energy efficiently.]
[Rare Tier - Time Knight] (Price: 10 Years)
[Description - A puppet knight with strength comparable to tier 20 mages, capable of using time magic and wielding the "Temporal Sword Style - 10 Forms." Possesses a rudimentary, emotionless human-based AI.]
"Purchase all necessary items," Victor commanded.
[Acquired the Following Items:]
[1x - Time Cube Factory]
[1x - Time Battery Factory]
[1x - Time Cube Core]
[1x - Time Seller Shop Blueprint]
[50x - Soul Contracts]
[20x - Time Knights]
"Alex, lead me to an empty room large enough for the factories. One should suffice, as they aren't particularly large," Victor instructed his butler.
"Yes, Young Master," Alex replied, turning and gesturing for Victor to follow.
They quickly navigated the mansion and found a vacant storeroom. Alex indicated the space, and Victor mentally deployed the factories.
The Time Cube Factory materialized as a sleek cube with a single output hole and a small interactive screen. The Time Battery Factory manifested as a taller cylinder with a transparent casing revealing a subtly shifting green fluid within. With both factories now established – drawing ambient mana for power – Victor handed the stack of soul contracts to Alex.
"Alex, take these soul contracts. We won't need a large staff. One employee to manage the time cube sales and another for accounting should suffice. Also, oversee the construction of the shop. Use this blueprint and find reputable builders in the noble district to acquire land and erect our establishment there. Bring any necessary documents for my signature. I want everything completed by tomorrow."
"Yes, Young Master. It shall be done," Alex affirmed, accepting the money and contracts.
Next, Victor proceeded to the mansion's garden.
"Oracle, summon the Knights."
[As you command, Host.]
Instantly, twenty distinct knights materialized within the garden. They knelt in perfect unison before Victor and declared, "We pay respects to the Young Master!"
Rising as one, they stood in a precise line, their swords held aloft, pointing towards the heavens. With a swift, coordinated movement, they rotated their blades one hundred and eighty degrees and plunged them into the earth, their hands still gripping the hilts.
"Impressive display. From this day forward, you shall be known as the Temporal Knight Order. You are our first and only non-human knight order, and you will be our strongest. Your sole duty is to safeguard each and every member of the Chronis Family. Will you uphold this charge?" Victor announced in a clear, commanding voice.
"Your wish is our command! Your wish is our command!" the knights responded in a unified roar.
These Temporal Knights possessed formidable strength, each mastering a fifteen-star sword technique known as the Temporal Sword Art, which intertwined with the very laws of time. They also shared a unique bond with spectral steeds they could summon at will. While their potential for growth was limited, their current power was substantial. Though devoid of emotions, they possessed unwavering loyalty and a human-like capacity for thought and tactical assessment.
[....]
Later that night,
Inside a bed room, a man could be seen cross legged without a shirt and only pants. his well toned abs could make any girl drool with that sharp handsome face, chiseled features—high cheekbones, a well defined Jaw Line and a straight nose.
He Had jet-black hair with elegant streaks of shimmering gold. his silver eyes where closed, seeming to be meditating. This was victor. he had just started cultivating and was on the verge of break through.
if someone looked inside, they could see the dark vortex of mana spinning at an abronormal speed, devouring every strand of mana in the atmosphere at astonishing speed. each and every crystal in his temporal ring was glowing and then dimming, glowing and then dimming and so on.
After Some Time...
ZmmmmmmmmM! Poof!
A Burst of Aura Erupted From the young man. this is what happens when mana inside the body is let loose. quickly victor put it under control. he then started grinning and checked over his status.
[Name: Victor Chronis]
[Lifespan: 420 Years]
[System level: 2]
[Cultivation Technique: Eclipsing Eternity Codex (50 Star)]
[Current Stage: 4th Vortex Stage]
[Balance: 8.1 Million]
[System functions:]
[1. Time God's Eyes - View Lifespans.]
[2. Time Shop - Time God's Shop]
[3. Time Contract - Used To Buy And Sell Time.]
[4. Time Pause - Pause Time Around Yourself And Others As Needed.]
[Stats:]
[Vitality: 250]
[Mana: 400]
[Strength: 10]
[Agility: 10]
[Intelligence: 100]
[Charisma: 120] (+50)
[Techniques:]
[Pheonix Flame Magic Grimore (COLLECTION) (30 STAR)]
[Eclipse Fang Sword Art (1/9 Stages) (30 STAR)]
[A.N: I forgot to add techniques, cultivation etc in the system before, but now I've added it. now it will be there for all times. also 1M cash is less in his hand because he gave 1M investment for shop]