Just as Jin's finger hovered over the button to claim his hard-earned reward, the world around him rippled strangely. A subtle but unmistakable shudder passed through the shadows of the womb,
"System," that boy called out, "What the hell is happening? Where are we going?"
The system replied, "Host, we are returning to the ceremony ground."
Jin's mind raced. "What? Why? We just completed the quest. I should be receiving my reward now!"
"Soone has activated the Reversal Mirror to turn back ti," the system answered.
That boy froze mid-motion, blinking rapidly. The Reversal Mirror. He had heard whispers of this mythical treasure — a relic so rare that many questioned its very existence. But to witness its power firsthand? To reverse ti itself? It sounded impossible.
"Isn't that breaking the laws of the world?" that boy asked quietly, the weight of the revelation sinking in.
"Yes."
"And there's punishnt for breaking those laws, right?" Jin pressed, a cold shiver running down his spine.
"Correct. Any being who disrupts the flow of ti will be judged by the heavens themselves. A thunder tribulation will descend upon them as punishnt."
That boy swallowed hard, feeling the pressure of destiny pressing on him. "That's terrifying. Do you know who's using it?"
The system answered plainly, without hesitation. "Your grandfather."
What! Why my grandfather?
Do you want to know? Why?
Yes.
Let mr tell you then,
Two Minutes Earlier
In the elders' chamber, thick with the scent of ancient incense and reverence, Thomas extended the gleaming Reversal Mirror toward Xing Tian. The air humd with tension.
Xing Tian narrowed his eyes. "Why are you giving this to ?"
"You must activate it," Thomas said gravely. "You're the only one who can."
Xing Tian's brow furrowed. "Why ? You want to take the punishnt, don't you? The mirror's owner should be the one to bear the burden, right? The punishnt will be lighter on you than on ."
Thomas sighed deeply, his face drawn and serious. "It's not about who should bear punishnt. You know the rules well enough. To reverse ti at a specific location, the user must have been present at that exact place and mont. When the Talent Stone broke, we were in the elders' chamber. You were the only one nearby."
The truth hit Xing Tian like a blow. He closed his eyes briefly, steadying his breath, then slowly extended his hand. "Fine. Hand it over. Pray I survive."
Another elder nodded solemnly. "We will never forget your sacrifice."
Xing Tian smirked, though the weariness was in his eyes. "I'm not going to die. Stop talking like this is a funeral."
He grasped the Reversal Mirror firmly. Its surface shimred with swirling light. Chanting softly in an ancient tongue, he intoned, "I hereby turn back ti by ten minutes!"
A brilliant white beam of spiritual energy burst forth from the mirror, striking the fractured Talent Stone with a searing crack. The sky above darkened abruptly, clouds roiling as thunder rumbled across the heavens.
Then, with a deafening roar, a colossal bolt of lightning shot down from the stormy sky, striking Xing Tian squarely. The ground trembled violently beneath the imnse power. Screams erupted from the crowd as lightning bolts rained down indiscriminately, many collapsing where they stood.
But Xing Tian remained unmoving. The thunder washed over him like rain, soaking him in celestial judgnt.
"That's it?" he muttered under his breath. "I've endured worse."
Gradually, the chaotic scene began to rewind. The broken shards of the Talent Stone pulled themselves back together. The fallen onlookers stirred, breathing anew as the tiline reset. People returned to their original positions from ten minutes prior, bewildered but unhard.
Back in the Womb
Jin sat stunned, the mories of that mont flashing vividly through his mind. "System," he whispered, "did I just see all that? Grandpa actually reversed ti?"
"Correct," the system confird. "And do not worry. Your reward remains valid."
"Even though everything was reset?" Jin asked, incredulous.
"Yes. The quest required you to accomplish an incredible feat during the ceremony. Breaking the Talent Stone—a treasure spoken of in legends—qualifies. Though ti reversed, everyone's awareness of the event persists."
"Wait... even the people who died?" Jin asked, eyes wide.
"Yes. The Reversal Mirror restores the tiline physically but leaves mories intact."
"That's insane," Jin breathed.
"Ti reversal is no simple feat, Host. Look outside."
Jin activated his Golden Eyes, peering beyond the veil of the womb into the ceremony grounds.
The Talent Stone stood tall and unblemished once again, glowing faintly in the dim light. The crowd around it buzzed with confusion and awe, whispers spreading like wildfire.
"What just happened?" a voice murmured.
"I... I died," another said, voice trembling. "And now I'm here again."
"Did the elders reverse ti?!" one shouted in disbelief.
"With the Reversal Mirror—it must be," soone else confird.
All eyes turned toward Xing Tian, who now sat on the ground, clearly drained of spiritual energy. His breathing was ragged, his face pale.
Monts later, the other elders arrived swiftly, concern etched into their features. Thomas stepped forward, holding a glowing elixir that shimred with potent spiritual energy.
"Drink this," Thomas urged. "It will restore your spiritual energy."
Xing Tian took the elixir carefully, his fingers trembling slightly. He then closed his eyes and entered ditation, seeking to recover from the trendous backlash of the tribulation.
Elsewhere on the Platform
From the edge of the ceremony ground, Tian Zhen and Angelina watched the turmoil slowly settle. The air was thick with tension and awe.
Su Yan, one of the elders and a longti friend of the family, spotted them and walked over with a warm smile.
"Long ti no see, child," she said, her voice soft but steady. "How have you been?"
Tian Zhen smiled in return. "I've been well, Elder Su Yan. And you?"
"Still sharp as ever," Su Yan chuckled lightly. "I heard you got married."
"Yes. This is my wife, Angelina."
Angelina blinked, scrutinizing the woman beside her. Su Yan was elegant and graceful, with a youthful glow that belied her true age. "She's your father's friend? But she looks... about our age."
Su Yan smiled slyly. "Oh? You think I'm young, do you?"
"No," Tian Zhen interjected quickly, blushing. "She's definitely much older than you."
Su Yan's eye twitched, amused. "Did you just call old?"
"Oops," Tian Zhen said, raising his hands playfully. "I said what I shouldn't have. I'll go check on Father now." He retreated quickly.
Su Yan turned back to Angelina, amusent sparkling in her eyes. "You're the one who broke the Talent Stone, aren't you?"
Angelina nodded slowly, still absorbing the shock of what had happened.
"Impressive," Su Yan said, genuinely impressed. "I didn't think anyone could actually do that."
Before Angelina could respond, a sudden flash of golden light caught their attention.
Xing Tian's body began to glow softly, a radiant spiritual aura enveloping him. Slowly, he lifted into the air, suspended by pure spiritual energy, bathed in divine radiance.
The elders watched solemnly, knowing the true cost and power of the Reversal Mirror's blessing — and its curse.
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