the devouring sovereign

[Error! Error!]

[The host is dying!]

[Calculating a way to save the host!]

[1%...]

[34%...]

[68%...]

[99%...]

[Error! Error!]

The notification repeated, endlessly looping at 99%. Ash's mind, already on the verge of collapse, barely registered the constant alerts. His vision blurred, and his heartbeat faltered. He was dying, and the system seemed unable to stop it.

[Error! Error!]

[99%...]

[Error! Error!]

Suddenly, the relentless messages stopped, replaced by a single notification.

[ Forced access to advanced system functions ]

[A solution was found.]

[Creating a new task...]

[Task created.]

[Task: Follow the system's instructions.]

[Reward: The host will be sent back in time.]

[Punishment: Death.]

[Time limit: 60 seconds.]

Despite his fading consciousness, Ash could read the words clearly. They didn't appear before his eyes but were burned directly into his mind. He didn't have time to question it. At this point, anything —anything — was better than death.

Another panel appeared.

[Maintain physical contact with the corpse next to you and command " Devour. "]

Ash froze. The corpse next to him was his sister. His heart wrenched, torn between the hope of survival and the guilt of desecrating her body. He hesitated for a moment but his His desire for living overcame all his other feelings, and in the end he made his decision.

His voice came out as a weak whisper, trembling with hesitation and pain. "Devour."

A dark aura oozed from his hand, engulfing his sister's body. The aura was so black it seemed to consume the very light around it. Its presence was oppressive, ancient, and terrifying. Even Ash, its wielder, felt a primal fear grip his soul.

The aura retreated into his hand after a few agonizing seconds. His sister's body remained untouched, but deep down Ash felt like he had violated something sacred.

[Talent "Time Manipulation" devoured.]

[Host confirmation required to sacrifice this talent for a temporary increase in the understanding of Time Law.]

The words hit him like a thunderclap. His sister had hidden this talent all her life. But she had died protecting him not caring about the consequences of her actions, and now, even after her death he was still depending on her for his survival. Shame, grief, and desperation swirled in his chest, but he gave his confirmation.

As if his wirds triggered some hidden mechanism knowledge flooded his mind like a tidal wave. He could feel the intricate and complicated threads of time's flow, the invisible network that bound reality together. His understanding of the Time Law deepened to a level he had never thought possible.

But before he could act, another notification appeared.

[The system requires control of the host's body. Permission required.]

[Yes - No]

Ash hesitated. This was no small decision. Giving up control meant entrusting his body—and possibly his soul—to an unknown entity.

But he was dying, and the increased energy caused by the law of time could only delay the inevitable. Gritting his teeth, he mentally selected "Yes."

The world went black. His senses vanished, replaced by a crushing pressure, as if his very essence was being compressed into nothingness. Then, suddenly, the pressure disappeared, and he felt himself being carried along a massive, unstoppable current.

It was a river—no, something far greater than a river. The flow of time itself. Ash's spiritual form drifted through it, unharmed but powerless, as he lost all perception of time. Seconds stretched into years, decades, or maybe even longer.

Then, suddenly and without any warning, he felt himself falling. Pain flooded his senses as felr like his spiritual body was slammed into solid ground.

Ash's eyes snapped open, and he found himself staring into the cold, piercing gaze of a man. His blood ran cold as recognition dawned.

It was the patriarch.

Ash's mind raced. He wasn't just back in time; he was at one of the most crucial moments of his life.

Before he could speak, a voice cut through the tense silence.

"How dare you, you piece of trash! The patriarch has already given you a mission, and yet you come here begging for an exemption? And now you stand there, ignoring his question? Do you want to die?"

Ash turned to the source of the voice and saw Zach. Rage surged through him as memories of Zach's heinous acts resurfaced. His fists clenched, and he opened his mouth to retort.

"YOU SON OF A—"

Before he could finish, a hand clamped over his mouth and another gripped his shoulder as a man appeared seamlessly out of nowhere Ash recognized him easily it was his uncle, an easy going and funny but also extremly dangerous man, had appeared behind him.

"Well, it seems Ash is having some... difficulties right now," his uncle said with a tight smile. "He must be overwhelmed by how much he's missed his father. Don't speak to him like that, Zach. He didn't mean any harm, right, Ash?"

His uncle squeezed his shoulder, sending a mental message directly into his mind.

" Don't be reckless. You're standing before the patriarch and the family elders. One wrong word, and your head will roll. Apologize and think of an excuse—quickly. "

Ash forced himself to calm down. He scanned the room, taking in the faces of the patriarch, Zach, and the gathered elders. He was back in the moment when he had begged to be spared from a mission to the front lines—a moment that had altered the course of his life.

But this time, he wouldn't repeat his mistakes.

He met his uncle's gaze, nodded subtly, and turned back to the patriarch. A solid plan was already forming in his mind.

But before could say anything some angry elders and officials in the family were about to start protesting about his disrespectful actions.

But then a terrifying killing intent enveloped the room,no to be precise the people who were going to protest and then a nice but at the same time scary voice was heard

" It seems like some people don't like my nephew, the young master of this family behavior, i didn't think that a day will came where the family's subordinates would dare to criticize its young master, it looks like i have to do some cleaning here to keep the family from falling "

As he said the last words the killing intent intesfied and those who directed it to them fell on their knees unable to move or even breath

" What a terrifying display of power " Ash thought " it's good to know that my uncle will never try to harm me or else no place in the world will be safe "

But then his uncle took a step forward and put his hand on his sheathed sword, it seemed he wasn't going to leave the matter easily.

But before he could move much many elders blocked his way without saying anything but their opinion was clear they would not let him pass.

" Move "

One word was enough for almost everyone in the room to feel scared for their life, they all heard stories about Julius the sworn brother of the patriarch of the family and one of his oldest friends who has been with him from the beginning.

He was an embodiment of the one man army title , man who was Specializes in the law of destruction which made him a monster in the skin of a human.

" I'm afraid we can't do that Mr Juliuswe humbly ask you to rethink your decision " the elder in the middle who seemed like a leader said

But his words fell on deaf eyes as Julius took another step and this time the killing intent was mixed with a destructive intent which made the space around him began to shake unable to hold in front of his aura.

" This is enough "

A supressive aura followed the words as the family patriarch finally decided to act before things go south.

Hearing these words Julius finally took a step back as he sent another mental message to Ash

" This is all thr time i can buy you i hope you have figured something out. "

" Okay i will back off and leave the stage for my nephew " he said loudly attracting everyone attention to Ash including The patriarch who nodded at his son giving him the chance to speak.