Emperor of Time : The Battle of The Gods

The flight from Cairo International Airport in Egypt to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, took about seven hours. Ryan could have accepted Fenrir's offer to teleport directly to The Arena but opted to take the plane. He thought it would be the best way to avoid drawing attention to himself as a foreigner in Egypt.

'It would be strange for a foreigner in a country to suddenly disappear without a trace.'

During the flight, he engaged in a long conversation with Fenrir. The flight was packed with passengers, and he was more comfortable using telepathy.

"Fen, can you tell me some details about the Guardians of Time?" Ryan asked.

"Sure," Fen replied. "Where would you like me to start?"

"What about their hierarchy?" Ryan suggested.

"Okay. The Guardians of Time have a structured hierarchy. At the basic level, we have the rank of Initiates. They are newly recruited Guardians who are undergoing training." Fenrir explained.

"The next level is the Guardians. These members are active and serve various roles. They are the backbone of our operations."

"Finally, the last rank is the Veterans. They are experienced Guardians. They have extensive experience and have achieved significant achievements. Then the Guardians and Veterans are divided into two main categories: Regional Divisions and Special Units. In Regional Divisions, we have the Timekeepers, Shadow Walkers, and Chrono-Guardians. The Special Units have the Phoenix Squad and the Temporal Integrity Commission. Each group plays a vital role in maintaining the balance of time."

Ryan nodded as he memorized the information.

"Now, let's break down the highest hierarchy.

First, we have the Elite Circle. This is the secondary leadership level. They report to the Council of Twelve. Their main duties are to carry out the council's decisions, manage the regional divisions, and oversee tactical missions.

Next, the Council of Twelve. This is the highest governing body. It consists of twelve powerful Gods and Goddesses. Their role is important. They oversee global operations, set strategic priorities, and make important decisions. Do you understand?" Fenrir asked Ryan.

"Yes... What are the Timekeepers, Shadow Walkers, and Chrono-Guardians?" Ryan asked back.

Fenrir smiled. "Timekeepers monitor temporal anomalies. They prevent disruptions in time. Shadow Walkers conduct covert operations and gather intelligence. As for the Chrono-Guardians, they protect historical events and important figures in history."

"Hmmm..." Ryan rubbed his clean-shaven chin. "What will my role be? Will I be a member of the Council of Twelve?"

"Not really." Fenrir shook his head telepathically. "You will be the Emperor of Time. You will act directly under Chronos and lead the Council of Twelve."

Ryan fell silent and tried to absorb what Fenrir had explained earlier. He would be in charge of the Gods and Goddesses, positioned above the Council of Twelve and directly below Chronos. He had seen Paser in action as a member of the Elite Circle, it was truly astonishing.

Imagine bending time at will. The benefits would be enormous. You could avoid every misfortune. You could even change the winning lottery numbers to your own. Who wouldn't want that?

But with such power came questions. Was he worthy of such a high responsibility? Being directly under the Supreme God felt like a heavy crown. It meant he was expected to act like a god himself.

How long would he need to train for that? Years? Decades?

Fenrir, who could read his mind, chuckled.

Ryan put on a serious face, "Why are you laughing?"

"You're funny," Fen replied, still giggling. "Most people would scream joyfully at the thought of becoming a god."

Ryan frowned. "Why should I be happy? It's just a heavy burden waiting to crush me."

Fenrir couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, and don't forget! We can bend time! You can pack a hundred years of training into just a few days."

Ryan's eyes widened. "That's amazing!" A smile spread across his face.

Just imagine: no worries about aging, no ticking clock. Play games for hours, stretch time, and still live your life. Or better yet, manipulate time to win the lottery repeatedly. You could be richer than Elon Musk!

Fenrir shook his head. "Is that really what you think of the power of time?"

Ryan tried hard to contain his excitement. The passenger next to him glanced over curiously, eyebrows raised at the sight of him laughing to himself.

"No, I think it would be cool to have powers like that," Ryan said, covering his mouth with both hands to suppress his wide grin.

"If you try that, I'll have my uncle Thor zap you with lightning," Fenrir warned, grinning as if he had just told the best joke ever.

"What the...?" Ryan's face froze. He suddenly remembered that Fenrir was Loki's son, making Thor his uncle.

"Haha!" Fenrir laughed out loud.

"Right," Ryan thought and rolled his eyes.

"So, where is the Guardians' headquarters? Does Chronos reside there?" Ryan asked, changing the subject.

"The Guardians' headquarters is based at a metaphysical dimension called The Timestream. And yes, Lord Chronos is the big boss there."

"When are you taking me to The Timestream?" Ryan asked excitedly.

"In time," Fenrir replied with a smirk. "But if you jump into The Timestream now? There's no guarantee you'll survive there. You'll probably turn into cosmic dust."

Ryan frowned. "So, after I finish my training in The Arena of Elements, I can go to The Timestream? I don't have a backup plan, remember? I don't have much savings to spend on a multi-year journey."

Fenrir chuckled. "Oh, are you assuming you'll only get one training? It's not enough to become the Emperor of Time. You have to master at least three types of weapons. And firearms, you'll learn them later."

Ryan's frown deepened. This wasn't just training; this was a recipe for misery. If one training took two years, then six years of hell were ahead of him.

"And in The Arena of Elements? You'll go through five different types of training," Fenrir added and laughed.

"Damn it..." Ryan muttered under his breath and closed his eyes in despair until the plane landed at Tribhuvan International Airport.

***

The winter weather in Kathmandu was mild, hovering around 11°C. The clouds hung low, but it was not raining that day. Ryan finished the arrival process and left the airport, prepared to hail a cab.

As he walked down the corridor, a male voice called out to him, "Mr. Ryan Lane?"

Ryan turned to see a young man wearing black trousers and a crisp white shirt. He looked handsome enough with a big smile, but his short hair was messy. It seemed like no comb could tame his hair.

"Yes…? How can I help you?" Ryan replied politely.

"Ah… I'm here to pick you up," the young man said. "My name is Ayush. Would you like to go straight to the Arena, or would you like to try some of the local delicacies first?" His English was fluent.

Ryan's brow furrowed, "How did you know I was coming and know my name? Forget it. Could you join me for lunch?"

"Sure, sure!" Ayush replied eagerly.

They set off for a local restaurant in a Japanese-made Land Cruiser. The place they were headed to was famous for its momos and was one of the most expensive restaurants in Kathmandu.

The young man deftly navigated the busy Ring Road. He turned left onto Durbar Marg, where the sights and sounds of the city were booming. Ten minutes later, they arrived at the restaurant. The restaurant stood out from the surrounding buildings, built with intricate Nepali carvings.