Emperor of Time : The Battle of The Gods

"Fen?" Ryan called Fen telepathically.

"Yes?"

"What do you eat? I mean mostly dogs... I mean carnivores eat meat..." he asked.

Fen laughed. "I eat humans."

Ryan replied." Are you kidding me? How can I feed you with humans?" A little anger hinted at Ryan's words.

Fen chuckled again, echoing with a threatening tone.

Ryan gritted his teeth, glancing around the dining room. In the dining room, there were many humans. Great. Just great.

"Can you just eat beef or chicken??"

"Maybe, hahaha."

'But what if he eats human flesh like in the myth...?' Ryan thought.

Fen's laughter grew louder and echoed in Ryan's head. He covered his ears with both hands but it didn't help.

"Ryan? Are you okay?" Dr. Maria touched his shoulder gently.

"I'm fine. It's just... my ears are ringing," Ryan lied and forced a smile.

At that moment, several other team members burst into the dining room. Their faces were horrified.

"Guys, look at the news! There was a massacre last night in Al-Qusayr!" Brandon shouted.

Dr. Matt, who was about to tease Ryan, turned his attention to the team members who asked them to watch the news.

"What massacre? Fish?" he asked half-heartedly.

"No, Dr. Matt. Al-Qusayr was destroyed. Almost all of its residents died, except for those who went to sea."

Dr. Matt, Dr. Maria, and Ryan's brows furrowed.

"Where's the news?" Dr. Matt asked Brandon.

Brandon shared the video link of the news in the team group.

When they saw the news, their faces turned pale. The condition of the city of Al-Qusayr was destroyed and only ruins remained, as if there had been a war in the city. Some of the survivors said that hundreds of giant mantises, flies, and scarab beetles were rampaging in Al-Qusayr, and after they were done, they all left the city.

Ryan also watched the video news. Especially when he saw several bodies of giant flies and mantises that were killed by the police before they lost their lives. He felt bad about the way he imagined Fenrir went rampage and killed people to eat them.

All the team members who were gathered in the dining room looked at each other anxiously. Dr. Maria covered his mouth with a frightened look. Dr. Matt was stunned and speechless.

"Hopefully there will be no more of those giant insect attacks anywhere anymore," Fatma said softly and prayed. The other team members also prayed. Ryan also prayed in his heart, anxious.

Today and tomorrow were holidays so all the team members left the dining room to do each own free time, and Ryan went back to his room.

After he closed his room door, Fen's voice suddenly sounded in Ryan's head. "Hmm. It seems that the Time Weaver has started to move."

Fen's words made Ryan startled. "Time Weaver?" Ryan asked.

"Hmm."

"What is Time Weaver?" Ryan asked again, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"They're the reason Chronos and the other gods started moving again after thousands of years. You could say, Time Weaver is on the side of the evil gods."

"I see…"

"That's why you have to finish your training quickly. Before the world is destroyed." Fen snapped.

Ryan stuttered. "B-But… training takes a long time, the world would be long destroyed before I finished."

Fen came out of Ryan's shadow. He looked at Ryan who was sitting and looked down on him like a big boss. "You forgot, the power of time can speed up your training." He said.

Ryan looked up at Fen with a confused face.

"For example, you are now going to train with the Shaolin monks for ten years in Mount Kunlun, China, when you come back here again, it will only be one day at most," Fen explained.

Ryan was stunned. Was that the Power of Time? What an incredible power.

"Sit down on the floor," Fen ordered.

Ryan moved without asking or complaining, then sat on his mattress on the floor, while Fen lay comfortably on Ryan's bed, his front legs dangling over the edge.

"Lord Anubis said you are my mentor. So, will you answer my question?" Ryan asked carefully.

"Of course. What do you want to know?" Fen replied, his tone relaxed and calm. "I'm in a good mood, so I'll answer your question."

Ryan put on a serious face. "So, you won't answer me if you don't feel like it?"

Fen chuckled, "Maybe."

Ryan sighed. What did he expect from a divine being like Fenrir?

Fen smiled and looked down at Ryan who was beneath him gracefully.

"What is a Guardians of Time? Why did Chronos choose me? What kind of battle will I be involved in? What does this have to do with the massacre of the giant insects in Al-Qusayr? What…"

"Wo-wo-wo, wait a minute. One by one, okay?" Fen chuckled.

Taking a deep breath, Ryan decided to get straight to the point. 'I should ask the most important questions first…'

"What is a Guardians of Time?" he asked.

"Okay," Fen nodded, his demeanor shifting to something more serious. "Guardians of Time protect the flow of time, making sure events happen as they should. Chosen by the gods, these keepers control the flow of time, correcting mistakes, and stopping those who abuse their temporal powers."

Ryan's brow furrowed. "Okay, but how many of us are there?"

"There are about 100,000 Guardians on this earth alone. And they're spread across many countries, like a global treasure hunt."

"A hundred thousand? People like me?" Ryan's eyes widened with a mixture of disbelief and curiosity.

"Yes. But not all of them are given full-time powers or given superior beings like me. Most of them are soldiers. Now, Ryan, you have been chosen to be the Time Emperor. And, here's the thing: the other Guardians can challenge you. They can defeat you. They can even kill you to take your place. Assuming they become strong enough before you."

Ryan buried his face in his palms. "I just want to live in peace..."

"Hahaha... unfortunately, peace is not on your agenda. That's why the Gods sent me to you. I'm here to guide you and keep you safe."

"This is crazy... By the way, Paser told me that it was Chronos who gave me my powers. But why would he, a Greek God, send the Egyptian God Anubis to me, along with you—a mythological creature from Norse mythology, Fenrir?"

"Because they can. And they enjoy hanging out with gods from different realms."

Ryan wondered in his mind, 'Do these gods have a messaging app like we have now with our smartphones?'

Fen laughed. Ryan frowned. "Good. How can I hide my thoughts from you? Everyone deserves a little privacy…"

"You can work on that later. First, you need to train. Master some skills. After that, maybe you can keep your thoughts to yourself."

Ryan nodded helplessly. He felt a mixture of misery and exhaustion. Just a few days ago, he was living a normal life. Now? Everything had turned upside down. "Then, what should I train…"

"First, you have to train to handle Divine Power. You have to gather Divine Essence in your body," Fen answered confidently.

Ryan interrupted with a hint of skepticism in his voice. "What exactly are Divine Power and Divine Essence? Is it like handling Mana? I mean… all these terms come from mythological records, but they're just myths, you know… right?"

Fen glanced at Ryan, a mix of sympathy and impatience flashing in his eyes. He understood. Modern humans thought they had transcended the old ways. They trusted logic and relied on technology. But ancient humans were in tune with the world around them, with nature.

"Ryan," Fen began, "there are two types of energy: Divine Power and Mana. Divine Power comes from the gods. It's like a cheat code to the universe—a limitless ability that makes you feel invincible. Think of it as a VIP pass to cosmic knowledge."

Ryan raised an eyebrow. "And Mana? Just a mythological party favor?"

Fen grinned. "Not really. Mana1 is your internal energy source. It fuels magic, spiritual growth, and all the cool supernatural tricks you dream up. It's your life force, tied to nature and the spiritual realm. So, yeah, it's a little more down to earth than Divine Power2."

He leaned in, his gaze sharpening. "To use Divine Power1, you need to connect with the divine realm. It involves devotion, ritual, and sacred symbols. Don't forget—this energy demands respect. Discipline. Selflessness. There are no shortcuts here."

Ryan nodded, trying to absorb Fen's words.

"Now, Mana," Fen continued, "it comes down to your inner balance, focus, and determination. Harnessing it isn't just about waving your hands and hoping for the best. You need to understand your emotions and spiritual resonance. It's like tuning a musical instrument. Get it right, and you'll make magic happen."

"Divine Essence," Fen explained in a tone that suggested he had said this a thousand times before, "is the sacred vitality within Divine Power. It fuels healing, protection, and spiritual growth. To access it, you must cultivate spiritual purity, compassion, and harmony with the divine."

Ryan raised an eyebrow. "Sounds easy enough. What's next? A wand?"

Fen chuckled softly but continued. "The Divine Core," he continued, "is the vessel within you that holds the Divine Essence. It's like a spiritual battery. You charge it through meditation, prayer, and, frankly, doing good deeds."

Ryan nodded, though the idea of ​​"doing good" felt a little vague.

"Your Mana Core," Fen said, "is where your internal energy gathers. It governs your magical abilities, elemental control, and spiritual growth. You'll need to strengthen your Mana Core if you want to master magic. This requires balance, self-awareness, and a strong connection to nature."

Ryan frowned. "That sounds like a lot of work."

Fen's expression turned serious. "You're not wrong. Listen carefully. Divine Power and Mana come with risks. Misuse of Divine Power? Disastrous consequences on your hands. Mess with Mana? You could end up with magical exhaustion or worse."

Ryan's interest was piqued. "So, you're saying I could blow myself up or just get really, really tired?"

"Exactly," Fen said, his lips curling into a smirk. "Mastering both requires balance. Balance your inner world with the divine, and harmony will follow."

Ryan scratched his head, trying to make sense of it. "So, you're saying that to handle Divine Power, I need to handle Mana first?"

Fen nodded slowly. "Normally, yes. Handling Divine Power requires a stable Mana Core and inner balance. Mastering Mana builds self-awareness, emotional control, and spiritual resonance. Just think of it as the foundation for using Divine Power."

Ryan's face changed. "I want to learn all of that..." But inside, he was screaming, 'Why is there so much to do? Can't I just wave a magic wand and call it a day?'

Fen chuckled at Ryan's thoughts. "Time to teach you how to create a Mana core. Close your eyes. Breathe in through your nose. Breathe out through your mouth."

Ryan followed the instructions, feeling a wave of calm wash over him.

"Good," Fen said. "Now imagine a purifying light cleansing your body, mind, and soul. Think of it as a spiritual shower. You know, the kind that really works."

As Ryan imagined the light, he felt lighter. His mind cleared. Warmth spread through him, like he was basking in the sun.

"Now imagine a brilliant, pulsing light at the base of your spine," Fen instructed. "Imagine this energy flowing through your body."

Ryan focused hard. "Concentrate on your heart center. Imagine the gathered light condensing into a shining core in your heart," Fen continued.

A small ball of light formed this time. It was small, like a pebble, but brilliant. "Very good. As expected of the chosen one." Fen nodded in agreement.

Ryan was stunned. Everything he had read in mythological records and novels suddenly felt real.

He kept imagining the ball in his heart. Light swirled, specks of luminous dust circling the core. It was mesmerizing, like seeing a galaxy in miniature.

"Alright, you're ready. That's all for today. Remember to practice forming your mana core whenever you get a chance." Fen sat back down, his head resting on his legs as he closed his eyes.

"Go to sleep. Tomorrow, early in the morning, you'll do your physical training."

Ryan opened his eyes. He felt refreshed as if he had just gotten out of a sauna. The fatigue that had been clinging to him for the past few days had disappeared.