Eternal Undying Chronicles

The van sped through the morning roads as fast as it could.

Ping let out a sigh of relief as they finally passed the monsters.

"Phew… that was close, guys…"

Petra nodded.

"I thought we were done for…"

The others all seemed relieved, while Chris clutched the Nexus Key—a massive chunk of obsidian-like stone too large to hold properly—keeping it balanced on his lap instead.

"We're almost home free, people."

Caden gritted his teeth.

"Shut up, Ping. Don't jinx it."

Ping scoffed, gripping the steering wheel.

"That's just superstition… We're gonna make it. Relax."

"Shut up."

All of them screamed at him.

He scowled.

"What? I'm just saying—"

Petra smacked him on the head.

"Did you forget that magic and all that is real now? Who knows what could happen?"

Ping sneered. "I am a man of science. You guys are just tripping—"

He chuckled. "Nothing is going to happen—"

The van suddenly jerked as something slammed into its side.

"Ahh! What the hell was that?!"

Caden narrowed his eyes.

"The jinx, you dumb bastard."

Ping chuckled awkwardly.

"My bad, guys… my bad…"

He bit his lip, gripping the wheel tightly as he tapped his earpiece, reaching the driver of the next van in their convoy.

"Hey… old man… cover us."

"Got you, kiddo. Maya, give us some heat."

Ping let out a sigh of relief. "We got this, guys. Trust me—"

Caden glanced at Petra in the front seat.

"What the hell is attacking us?"

She glanced at the screen. "Ahhh… it's… huh… damn it… it's that creepy old man who freed us."

Caden gritted his teeth.

"The alchemist guy… I thought the princess got rid of him."

Christina waved her hand, teleporting the rubble the enemy was throwing at the van out of the way.

"Why is he even after us?"

Petra bit her lip.

"I don't know… maybe because we betrayed him?"

Caden raised his voice.

"So what?! He was gonna do it first. And we got a better deal."

Ping focused on the road, his knuckles white on the wheel.

"Ping, keep driving. No matter what happens, we can't lose the package. We deliver it to the mansion—no matter what."

Just as soon as he said that, a faint silhouette of a statue came flying toward the vans. Caden activated his power, using telekinesis to push the attack away.

"Okay, Chris, keep that thing safe. Our whole lives hinge on that thing getting to the Mansion safely… We've seen the princess's kindness and mercy—I'd hate to see what she looks like angry."

He glanced at Ping as he opened the top of the van.

"Ping, give me some cover fire."

"Aye aye, captain."

He pushed open the top and climbed onto the moving van just in time for the turret to start unleashing a hail of bullets at the enemy.

He used his telekinesis to anchor himself to the van, his eyes shifting to the next vehicle. Maya was halfway out of the van, flames dancing in her hands as she nodded at him.

"Let's cook 'em."

Just as he said that, he spotted a middle-aged man with a few strands of white in his hair, his haggard face twisted into a deranged smile. He no longer wore his usual monocle, and he looked far worse for wear—but the madness in his eyes burned brighter than ever.

"You ungrateful worms… You lowly children… I set you free from those labs where you were nothing more than government property. I gave you a taste of freedom, and this is how you repay me?"

The hail of bullets had no effect on him, shimmering harmlessly against a magic barrier.

"Damn magic…" Caden cursed under his breath. He raised his voice over the wind.

"Hey, boomer—sorry about that. Just couldn't let you force us to our deaths. Nothing personal. If anything, we're actually grateful."

The alchemist hovered beside the buildings, his shield pulsing with arcane energy.

"Don't worry, I'm not petty. Just hand over the Nexus Key, and this old man won't hold any grudges. As you can see, I have no ill intent."

Caden chuckled.

"Can you not say that right after attacking us? Kinda makes me feel like all boomers are liars."

The old alchemist transmuted parts of the surrounding buildings, tearing chunks of stone and metal free before hurling them at the vans.

Caden raised his hand, stopping the debris mid-air, blocking it from slamming into them. Behind him, Maya unleashed a torrent of flames, while the turret continued to rain bullets down on their attacker.

The alchemist scowled in frustration.

"If I still had all my tools, I would have destroyed you by now…"

His glare darkened. "You unwanted children don't know what's good for you. I'm giving you a chance—take it. Give me the Nexus Key and scram."

He raised his hands, forming a complex magic seal.

Instantly, the ground beneath them shattered and exploded.

The force sent the two vans tumbling—one was buried in rubble, crushing the espers inside in a bloody mess, while the second van flipped onto its side.

Caden barely managed to stay upright, his panicked gaze darting to the other vehicle.

"Maya… Oliver… Old man… Chrona!"

He called out to the others, his voice strained with desperation.

The old alchemist huffed, out of breath from his exertion.

"Heh… That took a lot out of me… But these children have no magic defenses. They are easily defeated… by a master of magic."

He descended from the side of the building, his lips curling into a twisted grin.

"Hehehe… Now the Nexus Key will be mine…"

Inside the wrecked van, Chrona lay impaled by a jagged piece of rubble, blood pooling around her.

She smiled through the pain. "Don't think you've won just yet, old creep… It's my turn."

With that, she activated her power.

Time began to unravel, reversing at her will.

The world bled out of color as events rewound, the destruction around them reversing like a film played backward.

This time, she wouldn't let herself die. She knew her limits, and she controlled the reversal carefully.

When she came to, she was back inside the van—just seconds before the attack had taken them out.

She tapped her earpiece.

"Caden, pick up the vans with your power."

And just as the old alchemist attacked…

They did the unexpected.

The vans lifted just in time.

"Huh… What?! How did they see that coming…?"