The room was dim and heavy with the passage of time as we entered, our eyes struggling to adjust to the sight before us.
The god of time, whom I had imagined as a majestic and ageless entity, was instead an old man, frail and worn. The sight was jarring—his divine status contrasted starkly with his diminished form.
The gods and goddesses I had heard about were supposed to age a thousand times slower than humans, but this god, despite his power, appeared as though he had aged at an accelerated pace. The image was almost tragic.
Satoru’s confusion was evident, his gaze flickering between me and the god. “Is this really the god of time?” he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. It was clear we were both struggling to reconcile the image of the god of time with the frail figure before us.
The god of time seemed to sense our bewilderment. He sighed, a sound that carried the weight of many lifetimes.
“Yes, I am he,” he rasped. “I understand your confusion. Even though I wield time, I am not immune to its effects. Time is relentless, and though I should be its master, I have been forced to age, like any other being.”
Satoru’s eyebrows knitted together in concern. “But why? You could have stopped your own aging, couldn’t you?”
The god of time looked at us with a weary gaze. “In theory, yes. But to halt one’s time is to disrupt the natural flow of existence. It is a delicate balance. When I lost my timepiece—the very instrument that regulates time within our realms—I could no longer control the flow. Time, as it happens, has its own way of correcting itself, and my own time was not spared.”
I stepped forward, my concern growing. “You lost your timepiece? How did that happen?”
The god of time’s eyes seemed to dim further as he spoke. “The timepiece was lost during the chaos that ensued when you and Satoru ventured into the time plane. The goddess of chaos, having consumed the fruit of life, exploited the rift created by your journey. My connection to the timepiece was severed, and since then, time has been in disarray.”
Satoru looked visibly frustrated. “So, what can we do? How can we restore balance?”
The god of time’s expression turned grave. “Your journey into the time plane gives you a unique advantage. You understand its complexities and can navigate between realms in ways that others cannot. You must retrieve the timepiece and counteract the effects of the goddess of chaos’s actions.”
I could see the weight of the task ahead of us in Satoru’s eyes as well. “So, we’re not just stopping the goddess but also trying to fix the damage done to time itself?”
The god of time nodded solemnly. “Indeed. Time is of the essence. The longer the imbalance persists, the more irreversible the damage becomes.”
Satoru took a deep breath, clearly grappling with the enormity of the mission. “We’ll do what we can. We owe it to ourselves and to the balance of the realms to see this through.”
The god of time’s gratitude was palpable, though his strength seemed almost depleted. “Thank you. Your willingness to undertake this perilous task is invaluable. The future of both mortal and divine realms depends on your actions.”
As we prepared to leave, the gravity of our responsibility settled heavily on us. I glanced at Satoru, the resolve in his eyes reflecting my own.
With a mix of apprehension and determination, we set out, ready to face whatever trials lay ahead. The fate of our worlds now rested in our hands, and we were prepared to confront it, no matter the cost.
As we trailed behind the goddess through the maze-like corridors of the divine palace, Satoru and I exchanged uncertain glances.
Eventually, we stopped before a grand set of double doors, adorned with intricate ancient symbols. The goddess turned to us, her gaze sharp but filled with a quiet resolve.
"I will not let you face this danger unprepared," she said, her voice calm but firm. With a single gesture, the massive doors creaked open, revealing an astonishing sight.
Inside was a vast armory, filled with gleaming battle gear and divine weapons, each pulsing with a faint, otherworldly energy. The room seemed to hum with raw power, the kind that sent a chill down my spine.
These weapons were forged not just to counter mortal threats, but to combat divine forces—beings like the goddess of chaos."
Satoru and I stepped cautiously inside, eyes widening as we took in the array of armor and weapons, clearly crafted for beings far beyond human capacity. "These... are for us?" I asked, unable to hide the disbelief in my voice.
"Indeed," the goddess replied. "Though you won't face the goddess of chaos directly, I cannot risk sending you into this war unprotected. These battle gears will enhance your strength and shield you from divine harm."
Satoru reached out to touch one of the divine armors, his fingers barely grazing its polished surface. "It’s hard to believe," he muttered, "that we could wield something like this."
I nodded, still processing the weight of what we were about to undertake. 
The goddess stepped forward, her presence commanding, as she raised her hands. A soft, golden light began to emanate from her fingertips, enveloping Satoru and me in a radiant glow.
For a moment, I felt weightless, as if the very air around us had been charged with some ancient, celestial energy. Satoru and I exchanged bewildered glances, the sheer force of the power surging through us leaving us momentarily speechless.
"You are now granted the strength of the Titans," the goddess intoned, her voice reverberating with authority.
"Brute power, resilience beyond mortal limits, and the Eyes of the Divine. You will now be able to see evil forces, discern hidden threats, and withstand attacks that would otherwise obliterate your human form."
She paused, her gaze softening. "But remember, these gifts are temporary. Once time has been restored, these powers will fade, and you will return to your human selves."
Satoru blinked, looking down at his hands as if expecting them to glow. "This is... unbelievable," he muttered, his tone tinged with awe. "I never thought—"
"That we'd be given something like this," I finished for him, equally stunned. My body felt lighter yet grounded, as though I had been tethered to some vast, celestial strength that wasn’t entirely my own.
The goddess offered a small, knowing smile. "These powers are not a gift, but a necessity for what lies ahead. Use them wisely, and remember that they will only last until your mission is complete."
With a wave of her hand, the armory’s energy shifted, and two sets of divine armor floated toward us, glinting in the dim light. "Now, change into these and prepare yourselves."
We donned the armor with hesitant hands, the weight of it surprisingly light despite its formidable appearance. Once fully dressed, we felt transformed, not just physically but mentally. The armor fit as if it had been made for us, every piece glistening with divine craftsmanship.
"Now, return to the god of time," the goddess instructed as we adjusted to the new sensation of our powers.
"He will lend you the tools you need to enter the time plane, but be warned: the timepieces he grants you are limited in their use. Failure is not an option."
Back in the presence of the god of time, Satoru and I approached cautiously. The god, looking even more frail than before, extended his hand, revealing two small, intricate timepieces. The detail on each was exquisite—carvings of ancient runes and symbols that hummed with latent power.
"These timepieces will allow you to travel through the time plane," the god of time rasped, his voice strained. "But be warned, each device can only be used two times. After that, they will lose their power, and you will be trapped in the time plane forever. Use them wisely."
Satoru frowned, his brows met. "Only two chances?"
"Yes," the god confirmed. "The time plane is unstable, and its forces are far beyond even my control. Should you fail in your task, the plane will close itself around you, and not even the gods will be able to retrieve you."
I swallowed hard. W-We never signed for this because what the fuck?!
"We understand," I said in irony, gripping the timepiece tightly in my hand. "We won’t fail."