Jade's heart raced as the world around him shifted from stillness to chaos. The masked figure before him exuded an eerie calmness as the guardians, stone figures now alive with deadly intent, advanced toward him. His Time Pause ability could only last for so long, and he couldn't waste it all in one go. The chest with the Celestial Vault's key clutched tightly in his hands felt like a heavy burden, an object of immense power that would soon be the center of a deadly conflict.
The masked figure's laughter echoed through the chamber. "You think you can just waltz in here, claim the key, and leave without consequences? You've underestimated the price of such arrogance."
Jade stood his ground, quickly scanning the room. The guardians — now fully alive, their stone bodies moving with an unnatural fluidity — were closing in. Their jagged, rock-like claws scraped against the stone floor, the sound sharp and unsettling. Each one was a towering figure, its size alone enough to overwhelm him. Jade was going to need more than just his Time Pause ability to get out of this alive.
The figure's voice cut through the tension. "You've no idea what you're dealing with, boy. This is more than a simple test. The Celestial Vault is a force beyond your comprehension, and it will devour you if you are not worthy."
Jade's mind raced. He knew he couldn't afford to hesitate. Not now. Not with the weight of everything he had worked for, everything he had hoped to change, resting in his hands. He couldn't allow this stranger to stop him — not when he was so close.
"I'm not leaving without it," Jade replied, his voice low but unwavering. He could feel his old self, Yuma, rising to the surface — the memories of countless battles, of the strategies and the cold calculation. He wasn't the naive boy who had been thrown into this world anymore. He was someone else now, someone who understood the stakes.
With a deep breath, Jade activated his Time Pause ability again. The world around him froze in an instant. This time, however, he didn't waste a second. He dropped to the ground, rolling to avoid the looming guardians as they advanced. The figure was still frozen in place, his sinister grin permanently etched on his face as time held him in place.
Jade moved swiftly, using his speed to dart past the guardians, heading toward the exit. But as he neared the edge of the chamber, he heard a voice — this time, it wasn't the masked figure. It was Rael, his voice full of urgency.
"Jade! Get out of there! They're coming!"
Jade paused for a split second, his heart skipping a beat. The guardians weren't just attacking — they were converging on him from every angle, and the entrance to the temple was blocked. His eyes darted around, and he realized his only way out was through the top of the temple. But getting there would mean fighting his way through the guardians, and there was no guarantee that even Time Pause could get him out in one piece.
As Jade prepared to leap toward the nearest ledge, the frozen figure's voice came again, cutting through his thoughts.
"You're not going anywhere. You've triggered the Celestial Vault's defense mechanisms. It won't let you leave."
Jade's eyes narrowed, the implications of those words sinking in. The temple itself, this ancient place, had been designed to protect the key — and he had just triggered its full defense.
In an instant, the figure moved, breaking free from the Time Pause. He surged forward with unnatural speed, his mask glinting ominously in the dim light. "Now that you've failed, the temple will collapse. Your life will be the price for your mistake."
Jade's stomach tightened. His plan was failing.
Rael's voice shouted again, his tone frantic, "Jade, don't try to fight him! We need to get out of here!"
But it was too late. The temple began to rumble, its walls cracking as ancient mechanisms shifted beneath the stone. The guardians stopped their movements, locking into formation around Jade. The masked figure raised his hand, and Jade felt the temperature drop. In that moment, everything seemed to freeze — the air, the stone, even the very time around them.
Jade clenched his fists, his old instincts kicking in. If he couldn't escape through stealth, he would have to fight. The Time Pause could only delay his fate for so long, but the enemies around him were many, and he wasn't certain how much longer he could hold them off.
The figure smiled, as though reading Jade's thoughts. "I've seen what you can do. You're not the first to attempt the trial. But none have succeeded. What makes you think you're special?"
Jade didn't respond. He couldn't afford to. Instead, he tapped into his training, shifting his body into a defensive stance.
The masked figure's smirk grew, and without warning, he hurled a surge of dark energy toward Jade. The blast moved with terrifying speed, but Jade, with his years of experience, barely managed to dodge in time. His heart pounded in his chest as the blast collided with the stone wall behind him, sending debris flying in every direction.
Rael's voice once more echoed through the chamber, "Jade, we need to go—NOW!"
But Jade's mind was set. There was no running anymore. He had already come too far. If he didn't take a stand now, he'd never get another chance.
He inhaled sharply, his Time Pause ability flaring to life once more. The world froze, the pressure of his powers nearly overwhelming him. Jade's mind raced — he had to find a way to destroy the guardians, escape the figure, and claim the key before everything collapsed around him.
The world around him stilled, but the conflict was far from over. Time itself seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the moment when Jade would either succeed — or fall.