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Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Tenma, The Shadow of Time

[EXT. SCHOOL ROOFTOP]

The rooftop cracks under the pressure.

Time shudders with each of Tenma's steps, rippling outward like a living thing.

[Tenma] (low growl)

"You have power... but no control.

You're children playing with gods' weapons."

Haruto staggers upright, blood trickling from his lip.

He moves instinctively — shielding Airi with his body.

[Haruto] (growling)

"Even if that's true...

we're not running."

The Watch glows violently — a defiant heartbeat.

For a split second, time freezes —

—but Tenma walks straight through it, untouched.

[Airi] (shocked)

"He... moved inside frozen time?!"

Before Haruto can react, Tenma flickers —

—appearing beside him.

A sickening crack as Tenma slams Haruto into the rooftop floor.

[Tenma] (coldly)

"You're not the only one favored by the gods."

---

FLASHBACK — DARK REALM

Tenma kneels in black flame, shadows writhing around him.

[Dark God] (echoing)

"The Light Gods sealed their powers inside human shells.

But you, Tenma...

You were born of my essence.

A perfect weapon.

End them before they awaken."

---

BACK TO PRESENT

Haruto forces himself up, his whole body trembling.

Airi rushes to his side — her Ring blazing with an ethereal glow.

[Haruto] (wincing)

"We can't match his time control..."

[Airi] (whispering)

"Then let's stop fighting his way."

She steps forward, hand outstretched.

The Ring pulses — not with its own light, but hers.

For the first time —

Tenma falters.

[Tenma] (narrowing his eyes)

"That presence..."

The glow spreads — soft, golden, ancient.

[Airi] (softly)

"Don't you feel it, Haruto...?

Something inside us.

Something... older than the gods themselves."

Haruto grips the Watch tighter, the air humming around them.

Suddenly — FLASH —

Visions rip through their minds:

— Two celestial beings, hand in hand beneath twin stars.

— A war in the heavens. Time itself ripping apart.

— A betrayal. A fall.

They gasp — dropping to one knee — as the memories claw at the edge of consciousness.

[Tenma] (growing frantic)

"No...! They're remembering!"

Tenma surges forward, blade crackling with corrupted time energy—

closing the distance in a blink—

BANG!

A wall of brilliant blue energy bursts between them — the ancient sigil of the Time God spinning in midair.

[???]

"You move too soon, Tenma."

Elios steps from the golden mist, arms raised, holding the barrier in place.

[Elios] (steady)

"They are not ready.

And neither are you."

Tenma snarls, blade flashing.

[Tenma] (spitting rage)

"Stay out of this, relic!"

He slashes —

The barrier shatters at the point of impact, and Elios staggers to one knee.

[Elios] (strained, urgent)

"Haruto... Airi... listen—

Retreat for now.

You must awaken before the Final Eclipse."

Without hesitation, Airi seizes Haruto's hand —

—The Watch and Ring flare together —

—and they vanish in a burst of blinding gold.

[Tenma] (roaring)

"NO!!"

He slices the empty air, splitting the sky itself — but they are gone.

---

[INT. ABANDONED SHRINE — NIGHT]

Haruto and Airi collapse onto cold stone, gasping.

The golden aura flickers, fading like the last light of sunset.

A heavy silence wraps around them.

[Haruto] (whispering)

"...I saw something. In that moment."

[Airi] (nodding, breathless)

"Me too.

Memories that aren't ours...

but feel more like home than anything else."

The camera slowly tilts upward —

The moon hangs low and heavy.

And at its edge —

A shadow begins to creep across its surface.

The Eclipse... has begun.

---

TO BE CONTINUED...

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