Meanwhile, in the divine realm, nestled between the heaven and immortal realm, a handsome gray-eyed man sat at an opulent table in a magnificent castle made of gold.
His eyes were formidable, so deep they seemed to pierce the fabric of existence, radiating timeless wisdom and power.
His attire, adorned with precious jewels, was nothing short of divine. He exuded a solemn air that mirrored his mood, yet the servants around him were not the least bit scared as they carried out their tasks.
The solemn image shattered as the man grumbled, causing the servants to sigh at the irony of their lord’s aura and behavior.
The man pointed at one of the servants.
"You, come here!"
The beautiful woman stepped forward without complaint and bowed respectfully.
"My lord, Keeper of Time, how may this servant assist you?"
The man slammed his hand on the table.
"Yes, yes, that’s it! I am the Keeper of Time—one of the strongest in the Divine Realm! Even those old powerhouses in heaven and hell would think twice before annoying me! Yet some twenty-something kid is ordering me around as if I were his servant!"
The servant didn’t speak in response to his outburst; such scenes had, in fact, become all too common lately. Ever since their lord had captured a soul from one of the weak universes, his agitation had only grown.
The Keeper of Time took several deep breaths and finally calmed down.
"Go. Do your duty."
The servant departed, leaving the furious man alone with his aggrieved thoughts.
"Ba, one Zack was enough. Why the hell is this Skyler kid giving me a headache? And why does he seem to know so much?"
He rubbed his temples with a deep frown. He would be a fool not to catch on to what Skyler was implying when speaking to Zack earlier. The annoying kid wasn’t even subtle!
He had openly admitted that he knew the story just like Zack—and even that he was aware a higher being was watching them!
Suddenly, the Keeper of Time’s eyes widened as realization struck him.
"Wait... don’t tell me Skyler’s the one who got his hands on the narrative I gathered?"
His face grew grim. The more he thought about it, the more certain he became that Skyler was the one who had discovered the novel he’d hidden in the Starlight Academy.
The Keeper of Time slammed his hand on the table once more, and this time the air around him shook violently as he cursed—his ugly face unbecoming of his status.
"Ugh, the only reason I placed the novel in the academy was because Zack’s soul was bound to it, which allowed me to bring him to Eldoria. It needed to remain near him so the bond could fade—but I failed to retrieve it afterward, and now... it has backfired!"
Ultimately, he could only blame himself for his foolishness. He had been so absorbed in following Zack and listening to him that he forgot about the small book! It was only when it was stolen that he felt its absence.
But what truly shocked him was that the thief had actually bypassed the barrier he had created around it—and could see it!
"Hah, why is this so hard."
He leaned back in his chair, then blankly gazed at the message floating before him.
("The Promise of the Divine
Made: ??? (The system connected to the host is unable to estimate the right time.)
Contract Parties:
Party A: The Keeper of Time
Party B: ??? (No longer in existence)
Obligations of Party A:
Gather the fragments of the past of the Universe #578. Prevent Max Hales from reaching the Wheel of Time again.
Penalty for failure: Death, with the soul fading completely into nothingness.
Obligations of Party B:
Assist the Keeper of Time in the War of Divine and get one of the 3,000 Thrones.
Penalty for failure: None.")
Reading the message, the Keeper of Time felt like crying. He couldn’t remember when he had signed the contract, nor did he have any idea why he would ever agree to such a disastrous, unfair deal—let alone know who the hell this damn mysterious Party B was!
He had simply woken up one day, and the message suddenly appeared before him.
If not for this contract, why the hell would he need to meddle in the lives of the weak?
He already had more than enough on his plate! There was nothing for him to gain!
"Ahhh, I want to strangle myself for signing this contract! I can’t even break it because it is bound to my soul! But when did I sign it?? Where? In another lifetime?? Damn it!"
He was wailing inwardly, lemantinig what sins he did to deserve this when a female servant rushed toward him and bowed.
"My lord, the heaven had called upon a meeting and both the strongest in the immortal and divine realm are called!"
The Keeper of Time straightened, unease flickering in his gray eyes. Those living in the heaven were far stronger than him.
"What now? Is the God of Extinction causing trouble again?"
The servant quickly shook his head.
"No, my lord. The leader of the Angels has succeeded in finding a way to revive Aether! All those fighting in the War have retreated to confirm the shocking news as well!"
The Keeper of Time’s eyes contracted in utter shock, and he toppled from his seat.
A way to revive Aether...??! Oh gosh! He immediately left, heading toward heaven.
But knowing it could take a long time for him to return, he ordered some servants to watch over Zack in his absence. They were to speak with the troublesome youth on his behalf and report if he caused any trouble.
Well, what could possibly go wrong?
It’s not like Zack would slip out of his hands just because he wasn’t being watched for a while. He’d still be the same. He just hoped that Skyler kid wouldn’t influence him!