Legend of the Embroiderer

Chapter 447 The Mystery of Chains

The mysterious figure was surrounded by chains of time that emitted a sickeningly metallic "crackling" sound. The dark red curse runes on each chain twisted and writh like living things, greedily devouring the surrounding light and forming a strange dark domain around him.

The fused entity's fingernails dug deeply into its palms, the twin power surging like a turbulent undercurrent in its meridians. The power that had just merged with the guardian was still rampaging through its meridians and had not yet fully stabilized, yet it had no choice but to face this unknown and powerful enemy.

A faint blue light seeped from the gaps in the Guardian's damaged armor, like a dying firefly. He struggled to sit up, each movement accompanied by the creaking of his bones, and whispered to the fused entity:

"Be careful, these chains can sever spacetime and even seal the power of entropy..."

Before the words were even finished, the mysterious figure's black robes fluttered without wind. He raised his hand and waved it lightly, and three chains, like venomous snakes that had caught the scent of their prey, tore through the air and attacked.

Wherever the chains passed, space was cleaved open like fragile glass by a giant axe, revealing a pitch-black void. The air was filled with a pungent, acrid smell, as if the space itself were on fire.

The fusion body dodged sideways like an agile cheetah, its hair being snapped by the gust of wind from the chains. A chain grazed its cheek, instantly slicing off a corner of the massive Time Key statue behind it. Shards of stone flew like bullets, creating a deep crater the size of a bowl in the ground.

The guardian roared and swung his sword at another chain. The moment the blade collided with the chain, countless sparks flew. The powerful impact caused blood to flow from his hands, and he staggered backward.

"Is that all you've got?" The mysterious figure let out a low sneer, the voice sounding as if it came from the deepest hell, making the fused entity's eardrums ache.

The chains around him suddenly swelled, transforming into a gigantic net that blotted out the sky. The barbs on the chains gleamed with a cold, eerie blue light as they descended upon the two of them.

The fused entity roared, channeling the power of the twins and the remaining power of the guardian into its feet. Golden and dark purple light intertwined like two giant dragons, weaving with the blue light to form a rotating spacetime shield.

Runes flowed across the surface of the shield, gleaming brightly as it attempted to defend against the chains' attack.

The moment the cursed runes on the chains came into contact with the shield, they emitted a chilling "sizzling" corrosive sound. The surface of the shield was as if it were being corroded by strong acid, and spiderweb-like cracks quickly appeared, threatening to shatter at any moment.

In the midst of the fierce battle, the fused entity's gaze suddenly caught a fleeting rune between the mysterious figure's brows, a rune that was exactly the same as the mark between the little girl's brows!

A sudden realization struck her, and she shouted, "He's connected to the little girl! The power of these chains might unlock the ultimate secret of the Key of Time!"

Upon hearing this, a resolute glint flashed in the Guardian's eyes. He abruptly channeled the last of the blue energy from his armor into his longsword, causing it to erupt with a dazzling light, like a supernova about to explode.

"I'll keep him occupied, you take the opportunity to find an opening!"

The guardian charged toward the mysterious figure like a drawn sword, the longsword drawing a brilliant blue arc in the air before slashing at the chain around the opponent's waist.

The mysterious figure sneered, and the chains instantly coiled around the figure like serpents, transforming into a sturdy shield that blocked the attack.

The powerful recoil sent the guardian flying backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground. Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, spreading a glaring red stain on the ground.

At this moment, the fusion entity seized the opportunity to circle around behind the mysterious figure, and the power of the twins condensed in its palm into a light blade that emitted a ghostly glow, which it then fiercely stabbed at the chains behind the opponent's back.

The light blades collided with the chains, unleashing a deafening roar. A powerful spatial-temporal fluctuation spread out from them, violently distorting the surrounding space as if it were about to collapse at any moment.

The mysterious figure seemed to be completely enraged. He roared to the sky, and all the chains danced wildly like an ancient beast awakening, forming a huge vortex in the air.

A deafening shriek emanated from the vortex, and countless tiny chains shot out like a torrential rain, each containing the power to destroy everything.

The fusion entity and the guardian were forced to retreat by the chains, their bodies slashed and blood splattered, staining the ground crimson.

Just as they were about to give up and their consciousness was fading, a clear and melodious bell suddenly rang out from the space-time rift, like heavenly music, and a white figure fell like a shooting star.

The newcomer held a staff inlaid with dazzling stars. The gem at the top of the staff emitted a soft and holy light, and wherever the light touched, the darkness melted away like ice and snow.

She gently waved her staff, and a crystal-clear white light shield instantly unfolded, deflecting all the chains. The chains struck the light shield, producing a crisp sound as metal snapped.

"Descendants of the Observer, inheritors of the Guardian, your time has not yet come to fall."

Her voice was ethereal and melodious, as if it had traveled through endless time and space, carrying a reassuring power.

Upon seeing the newcomer, the mysterious figure's eyes flashed with a rare hint of apprehension, and his voice carried a trace of surprise: "The Time Watcher? You're still alive!"

The woman known as the Watcher of Time chuckled softly, her hair fluttering in the wind, surrounded by a faint halo, like a goddess descended to earth.

"I, who existed since the beginning of chaos, am not so easily destroyed. It is you who stole a portion of the power of the first observer and gatekeeper, attempting to disrupt the balance of time. It is time for an end to this!"

As she spoke, her staff shone brightly, and countless rotating time compasses appeared in the sky, engraved with ancient and mysterious characters, each exuding an awe-inspiring aura.

The mysterious figure snorted coldly, and all the chains converged, transforming into a giant battle axe. Runes flashed on the axe, radiating an aura of destruction, and it slashed fiercely at the Time Watcher.

The merged entity and the guardian exchanged a glance, their eyes rekindling with hope, and they merged their powers once more.

Three-colored light surged wildly around their bodies, forming a pillar of light that pierced the sky, containing world-destroying power, and shot towards the chain battle axe of the mysterious figure.

The Time Watchers also launched their attack simultaneously, with the Time Compass shooting out countless white beams that intertwined with the pillars of light, creating a magnificent and spectacular scene in the air.

Under the impact of the three forces, the mysterious figure's chain battle axe began to disintegrate, with fragments falling like meteors. Cracks also appeared on his body, as if he would shatter at any moment.

However, just as victory seemed within reach, the mysterious figure suddenly threw his head back and laughed, a laugh filled with despair and madness:

"Since we can't win, let's fall into the abyss of time together!"

He plunged all the chains deep into his body, which began to swell violently, like a balloon about to burst.

The surrounding spacetime was wildly distorted, forming a huge black hole. The edge of the black hole emitted an eerie purple light, and the powerful suction force swallowed everything around it.

The Time Watcher's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly cast a spell, his staff radiating intense light in an attempt to stabilize spacetime.

The fusion entity and the guardians rushed towards Xiaoying with all their might, but their bodies could hardly move under the suction force, and every step forward came at a great cost.

Just as the black hole was about to fully form and devour everyone, a dazzling light suddenly burst forth from Xiaoying's body, illuminating the entire dark space.

In the light, she slowly opened her eyes, which shimmered with a strange and ancient light, as if they contained the mysteries of the universe.

She raised her hand and gently touched it, and a golden ripple spread out, resisting the power of the black hole.

The mysterious figure stared at Xiaoying in astonishment, his voice filled with disbelief:

"Impossible... How could you awaken the primal power of the First Observer..."

Before he could finish speaking, his body was swallowed by the black hole, leaving only a final, eerie whisper:

"We'll meet again... at the end of time..."

After the black hole disappeared, Xiaoying fell into a coma again, lying quietly on the ground. The Time Watcher walked to the fused entity's side, her expression grave, her eyes filled with worry:

"Her power is still unstable and could spiral out of control at any moment. And although that mysterious man has disappeared, the cursed runes he left in the river of time are triggering a new crisis. Even more terrifying, I sense that at the end of time, a pair of eyes are watching all of this..."

As her words fell, a crimson meteor suddenly streaked across the sky, trailing a long tail, and disappeared into the distant spatial rift. The meteor seemed to be a harbinger of crisis, foreshadowing an even greater storm to come...