140. Time Eater
A space where time did not exist. Or, interpreted differently, a space where time was unified. There, the Time Eater summoned the Gauntlet from five years in the past.
Dropped into this unfamiliar space, the Gauntlet panicked for a moment. He wasn't his first time experiencing a boss room via spatial transfer, but it wasn't something you encountered every day either. Of course, this place wasn't exactly a boss room. In any case, he quickly regained his composure. Assessing the situation, he became convinced this was a boss room and scanned the Time Eater before him.
SSS-grade. The moment he confirmed that utterly unbelievable threat level...
'That clock-headed freak is SSS-grade? Am I seeing things?'
The Gauntlet instinctively stepped back. A whirlwind of thoughts churned through his mind in an instant. A being on a completely different level from any monster he'd faced so far. The pinnacle monster with unprecedented strength. An SSS-grade threat level, whose very existence had been in doubt. He even questioned if this was reality. Maybe it was an illusion?
But idle thoughts vanished quickly. The identity of the monster before him didn't matter right now. Only one thought burned fiercely in the Gauntlet's mind: the time had finally come to use his fifth unique ability opportunity, which he'd hoarded for 11 long months.
The Gauntlet resolved to use the ability without hesitation.
The Time Eater, seeing the Gauntlet he'd summoned from the past, immediately knew his judgment had been correct. For starters, compared to himself now, this past Gauntlet was pathetically weak—and it didn't seem to have the ability to weaken an opponent's power either.
'I can kill this past version easily. But I won't let him go painlessly.'
The Time Eater had no intention of sending the Gauntlet off comfortably. This was the enemy who had taken his life. He planned to make him taste maximum despair and frustration, tormenting him until he begged for death.
Should he play weak at first? Give him hope, then shatter it with despair? What agony to inflict right away? Reveling in thoughts of toying with the Gauntlet, the Time Eater indulged in the leisure only the strong could afford. He figured he could take his time enjoying this—the gap between them was insurmountable.
The Time Eater decided to start by revealing his name. It was important for the victim to hear their killer's name, and equally so for the killer to know whom they'd slain.
As the Time Eater opened his mouth to introduce himself...
[Nice to meet you. My name is Time E—]
Equivalent Duel
"Equivalent Duel."
Fwaaash—!
The Gauntlet activated his Equivalent Duel ability. The space unfolded by the Time Eater vanished, and in an instant, the Gauntlet and Time Eater were dropped into the Arena of Balance.
The Arena of Balance was a cozy room wallpapered in yellow. About the size of a mid-sized convenience store—roughly 30 pyeong. It was completely empty inside. And there was only one way out of this place.
One of them had to die.
[Wh-what is this space...?]
The Time Eater's voice trembled. He couldn't believe his domain had crumbled and been replaced by this unfamiliar space. Even more shocking was that here, he couldn't use his time manipulation—or any of his abilities at all.
"You look weird, and your voice is just as strange. Unforgettable."
As the Gauntlet thought that, the Time Eater glared at him fiercely and demanded,
[Did you... hide your ability earlier?]
"What bullshit. You talk like we've met before somewhere."
The Time Eater's gaze fixed on the Gauntlet. He felt completely different from just seconds ago. No longer a mere insect, he now seemed to emanate an aura matching his own.
Before he could sort out the bewildering situation, the Gauntlet spoke again.
"Hey, did you just introduce yourself as Time Eater?"
[......]
"Time Eater, let me explain this space and the rules first. Can't start the fight until I do."
[......]
"Why'd you suddenly clam up? Don't know the rules? Think of 'em as the combat regulations for this space."
[You... what trick did you pull?]
The Gauntlet continued undeterred.
"Also, no magic or superpowers or whatever in here. It's adjusted for a fair fight—no one gets an edge. So, only bare-handed combat. No weapons, obviously, since it's pure physical might."
[What...?]
"By the way, your abilities are sealed, but your physical stats have been boosted to compensate. You're not weakened—just can't use powers. Don't worry. Well, I've gotten as strong as you, too."
[What nonsense have you been spouting since earlier?!]
No matter what the Time Eater said, the Gauntlet pressed on with the explanation. He had to finish briefing the opponent kindly before the fight could proceed.
"Oh, right—the space name. This is the Arena of Balance. And right now, our bodies are perfectly identical, down to the tiniest detail."
Finishing the space explanation swiftly, the Gauntlet caught his breath and moved to the combat rules.
"Finally, the rules... or fight regulations. Ever heard of One Punch?"
[One Punch...?]
"Simple: we trade one hit each. Anywhere on the body. Oh, and if you don't counter within a minute after taking a hit, you lose your turn. Timer appears when the fight starts—keep it in mind."
[...That's supposed to be a fight? Are you toying with me?]
"Feels like a game?"
The Gauntlet's expression turned icy. Seeing it, the Time Eater realized this was no joke. He'd pieced it together: this was a unique space activated by a superior power. If he didn't play along with the Gauntlet's proposed fight, he'd never escape.
The Time Eater decided to humor him for now.
[Fine. I accept the fight. But first, one question. What happens if I lose this 'One Punch' thing?]
"You die."
[......]
"Not scared, right? You're SSS-grade, after all."
[Insolent fool. I feel no fear. And I won't lose.]
"So confident."
[But who strikes first? There must be a way to decide the attacker in such rules.]
"Nope. Whoever lands the first hit goes first. Only unfair part in this space."
[What?]
"Explanation over."
A timer materialized in midair.
That instant.
"First punch wins."
Crack—!
The Gauntlet's fist smashed into the Time Eater's face. The Time Eater tumbled across the floor, a faint crack appearing on his clock-like visage.
[Y-you cowardly bastard...!]
"Cowardice in a fight? The first hitter has the advantage, so of course you strike fast when ready."
[How is this fair?! You knew the rules, so you prepped your attack!]
"If you're complaining, use my ability yourself next time."
Crack—!
This time, the Time Eater's fist slammed into the Gauntlet's face. And so they began trading blows, one for one.
Gauntlet and Time Eater. Their mental states were identical now as well. Thus, victory would go to the one who struck first—or the one with greater attachment to life, who craved survival more desperately.
Even a god of time ruling supreme among higher celestials couldn't meet their past or future selves. Naturally, summoning them was impossible. Killing a being from one timeline wouldn't affect its counterpart in another.
Killing the past couldn't kill the present.
Yet.
An entity that made the impossible possible was born. His name: Time Eater. From his SS-grade days, he'd wielded a freakish ability that shattered dimensional laws—a supreme being.
The Time Eater knew this. In his complete form now, he believed he could never lose to anyone.
Inside the Arena of Balance.
The Gauntlet and Time Eater had exchanged 8,500 blows. Both were battered wrecks. The Gauntlet's body was a swollen, blood-smeared mess with no uninjured spots. The Time Eater's sturdy frame was dented and cracked, his clock face more than half shattered in ruin.
And then.
"Just... die already!"
On his turn, the Gauntlet thrust his trembling arm with all his might.
Thud—!
The Time Eater couldn't withstand the impact and collapsed.
Soon after, cracks spiderwebbed across his body. They raced over his already-fractured clock face, spreading through his entire form in seconds.
[This can't... be...]
His voice scattered into the air. Gears, clock parts, and chunks of flesh crumbled like a sandcastle, and the Time Eater's body collapsed entirely.
But even as his existence was erased, the Time Eater felt no regret—not for indulging in leisure, not for failing to eliminate the Gauntlet the moment he summoned him.
Normally, that would be cause for regret. But he thought killing his nemesis easily without toying with him was worse than losing his life once more.
Thus, the Time Eater became the Gauntlet's final sacrifice and vanished.
And on this day.
The Gauntlet obtained an SSS-grade body.