章 36: Eruption of Rage

As the words left Zell's lips, his power exploded from his body in a violent flash. In an instant the beach, the ocean, the sky, everything was replaced by a white void. Only Zell and an incredibly surprised Steve remained.

Steve got back to his feet and scoffed at Zell. "Mortal you wish to defy me?!" Steve shouted angrily. "You must know who I am! What I can do! Allow me to show…"

Before Steve could finish his sentence a beam of the whitest light obliterated his arm turning it to dust in an instant. Before Steve could react, another beam eliminated his other arm, followed by his leg, and then another leg.

"How does it feel?" Zell asked. "How does it feel to be weak and helpless? To have your life in the hands of someone stronger than you? Does it feel good?!"

"I will destroy you!" Steve shouted out fuming with rage. "How dare you do this to me! But no matter." His arms and legs began to reappear on his body. "I can simply reverse the time of my arms and legs and bring them back. Now what should I do with such a fool as you. Oh, I know Time stop!" Steve walked over to where Zell was standing. "See I control time, all of time. Something a mortal has no power against. No matter how powerful you are, you will still fall victim to times cruel flow."

Steve admired his work and considered what would be the best punishment for Zell's defiance. "Seems like other mortals are your soft spot. He waved his hand and teleported a frozen Kaitlyn. She appeared directly in front of Zell. "Yes, I can see why you like this one." He ran his hand across her chest feeling her bosom. "She has quite the nice pair and not a bad looking face either. She could do without those ears and tail though. You know I think I will do you a favor and chop them off. Now as you know you can see and feel everything, so can she. The pain will be excruciating and will last until I let it stop."

Feelings of helplessness filled Zell's soul. What good is power if it cannot save those who you care about. [Do I really have to watch a friend die as I watched my family die?] Zell thought to himself. [No, I refuse. I refuse to let this be how Kaitlyn's life ends. I refuse to let this mad man do as he pleases to her.] The rage burning in Zell's heart swelled into a bellowing fury. [New Skill Acquired: Defiance.]

Zell began yelling in anger as he attempted to move, to defy the flow of time. [New Skill Acquired: Overdrive. Power output 110%, 120%, 150%, 200%] The universe began to fracture around Zell's arms, breaking as if it were glass. The broken universe revealed a black void behind Zell, which was quickly filled by white.

As soon as Zell was free, he lunged at Steve with all of his might, with overdrive active his level was 1.6 trillion at the time of impact. Steve was struck with such an impact that his very soul was shattered. His head became liberated from his lifeless body and turned to dust as it flew away at the speed of light.

Steve's body crumbled to ash and a golden orb appeared where he once stood.

[I cannot believe you did that!] Anna said. [That was one of the most exciting things I have ever seen! To think a mortal broke the fabric of the universe to defy time!]

[What is that orb Anna.] Zell asked.

[It is the power of time and space, you completely destroyed Steve.] Anna explained. [His power needs a new host.]

Zell reached his hand out and plunged it into the orb. It shined brightly and wrapped itself around Zell's arm, then traveled across his body before covering him completely with golden light. Zell's body underwent changes as the power entered him. He grew taller and his apparent age changed to that of a young adult. His arms gained tattoos that resembled the inner workings of a clock.

"Do I have control of time and space now?" Zell asked, looking at his arms as the light disappeared into him. "Undo Time stop!" He shouted out.

As he did, Kaitlyn fell to her knees and began to cry. "Thank you!" She cried out. "I was so afraid! I didn't know what that pervert was going to do to me!"

"It's going to be okay Kaitlyn." Zell said. "Set limited to 0.01%." As he said that his power shrank back and the white void that had erupted from him returned to his body leaving them back at the beach once more. Only this time there was no Steve, and no servants. "I guess I killed the girls when I powered up." He walked over to where they were sitting and made a motion as if he were rewinding a clock. A female servant reappeared but her body was pale and lifeless, and it fell to the ground.

[Even the god of time cannot bring back the dead.] Anna said. [You can turn the clock back on the physical and bring bodies back, but the soul is another matter entirely.]

[What other rules of time are there?] Zell asked Anna.

[You cannot occupy two timelines at once.] Anna explained. [So, you cannot go back in time to a time that you already exist.]

[I was hoping I could go back.} Zell let out a sigh.

[You cannot save your family.] Anna said. [However, you could get revenge.]

[Explain.] Zell replied.

[Different universes have different timelines.] Anna said. [Time is only relative to the universe that it is in, so if you wanted to be in another universe at the same time, you could.]

[I know what I must do.] Zell said. He turned around to Kaitlyn and placed his hand on her shoulder. "I need to go for a little bit, but I will be right back. I can use time travel so it will appear as if I am only gone for a second."

"Why can't I come with you?!" Kaitlyn demanded.

"I don't want you to see what I am going to do." Zell said with a half-smile and disappeared from Kaitlyn's sight.