The pair drifted through countless timelines. Time itself had gone wild, like a mother desperately trying to protect her child. The Wild West, primitive caves, the foggy alleys of the Middle Ages, the dazzling glow of the Technological Age, and the blinding light of an unknown future... All of them flashed before their eyes. But in this chaos, only Connor was truly aware—because Alex's mind was clouded by the crushing grip on his throat. All he could think about was drawing a single breath into his lungs.
Through the swirl of madness around them, Connor let out a scream."I promised your father I wouldn't hurt the child version of you in the park! I wish you'd never existed!"
Alex wanted to respond. He wanted to scream out his anger and pain, but his body, gasping for air, allowed nothing else. The world around him darkened; his thoughts teetered on the edge of an abyss. Then, just as he closed his eyes as if for the last time—everything stopped. The flow of time shattered with a deafening explosion.
Connor managed to withstand the blast using the last stabilizer in his armor. He remained standing and regained control. Yet as his eyes scanned the surroundings, he noticed nothing had changed—they were still in that ruined alley off 15th Street. An old piece of a calendar on the ground read January 21, 2022.(The date Alex met Kai.)
Alex began crawling through the dust and rubble. The only thing keeping him going was the will to survive. His mind was foggy, his thoughts scattered, but that instinct moved him. Yet just a few meters later, he suddenly stopped. His face was now at the tip of Connor's sword."It's over, Alex," Connor whispered, his voice deep and cold.
Alex felt raindrops fall on his head. His mind and body seemed to accept this silent farewell. He slowly closed his eyes, awaiting the end he now expected. Perhaps the meaninglessness of the struggle had made giving up easier. As the rain began to fall one drop at a time, Alex surrendered completely.
Kai had finally awakened. Despite the pain that enveloped his body, he scanned his surroundings, trying to assess the situation. Even the thick dust cloud couldn't hide the devastation of the battle. His eyes locked onto faint, bluish, vibrating marks on the ground—clear signs of Alex's time travel. Alex had saved his life. For the first time, Kai felt utterly determined to go after Connor. Whatever it took, he would fulfill the promise he made to Alex.
But first, he had a duty: to protect Alex. Since the day Alex lost his father, Kai had been like a shadow around him. He kept him out of danger, silently watching over him for twenty-two years. And there was one more thing… Kai never failed to visit 15th Street—the place where Alex disappeared. Each time he visited that alley, he had only one wish: that Alex would return, not to the past, but to the future. That hope kept him alive.
And finally... January 21, 2022. The explosion on 15th Street was the sign he'd been waiting for. His instincts were right—the battle had reached this time. Kai acted immediately.
Connor's sword was dangerously close to Alex's head. Alex had collapsed, barely responsive. At that moment, Connor felt unexpected pressure on his back. Kai had acted without hesitation. He had found the weak spot in Connor's armor and pressed his fingers against it. His voice was calm, but deadly."Make a move and you'll be torn apart. If you don't want your body to be unrecognizable, stay still."
Connor froze. It didn't take long for him to recognize the voice. His eyes rolled slightly as he clenched his jaw."You..."
As both men remained frozen, Alex slowly stood up. Just moments ago he had accepted death—now he had the chance to confront his executioner. Gasping for breath, he shouted:"It's over, Connor! Tell me everything!"
Connor was ready to reveal what he had hidden. He no longer cared—he wouldn't live long enough to return to the year where his family existed."In my time, time capsules were only designed for those with genetic compatibility. Only a few of us on the planet had that. I still remember the day a tall man in a mask came to my home..."He took a deep breath."I refused his job offer. I never imagined he'd kill my family because of it. He told me that if I succeeded, I'd change time and wouldn't even need to be chosen. That's how this cursed job began."
"After killing your mother, the time capsule activated. I barely managed to hook the anger anchor onto the capsule and traveled with you." Connor's voice was cold and dark."The next day, I prepared to strike again. But then… that bastard who murdered my family appeared. Everything fell apart."
He paused, as if he'd run out of breath. Then, narrowing his eyes with fury:"How could he still be alive and know who I was? We hadn't even met yet…"
His voice grew more bitter, more furious."He told me to kill Andrew, but leave the child alive. At first, I didn't see a problem. Just a kid, I thought. But then I learned that child was Alex. That changed everything. I had an idea—if Alex died while still young, all these cursed time problems would be solved. Then I could live happily with my family."
Kai interrupted from behind:"If you came with Alex in 1995, you waited five years. Why?"
Without turning, Connor replied:"That tall bastard… he knew what I was thinking. The bastard knew everything. He told me he didn't actually kill my family and promised to hide me in a secret facility if I did what he said—promised to bring me back when I could see my family again. He spoke as if he controlled time itself."
Connor's fingers twisted the lock on his helmet. It fell to the ground. His face showed no emotion—only a deep void."I spoke with Andrew in 1995. I told him everything. I asked him to give up his life in exchange for his son's. He thought about it for a few days... and he accepted. He understood me. He was a truly good man."
Alex couldn't bear to hear more. He shouted in rage:"What happened next?!"
Connor took a heavy breath, as though every word weighed him down."He wanted to spend those five years with you. I understood that, so I didn't object. His last wish was to hug his son one last time at the park they always visited together."His voice cracked, becoming barely a whisper."I... I'm sorry."
Alex staggered to his feet. The rain made his rage stand out even more. Clenching his fists, he walked toward Connor."My father always told me that to do good, we must give up our own interests!"
Connor's eyes locked on Alex's. Alex leaned in close, shouting with fury:"You watched another family get destroyed just to save your own. You're not human, Connor! People like you don't even deserve to live!"
Connor lowered his head. The silence, mingled with the rain, made the atmosphere even heavier. Alex turned to Kai and shouted through clenched teeth:"Do it, Kai!"
Kai raised his voice above the storm:"Are you sure, Alex?"
Alex's rage was clear in his eyes. His chest heaved with every breath. Connor had taken both his mother and father. This couldn't go unpunished."I said do it!"
Connor still kept his head low. It was as if the raindrops mixed with light tears running down his face. His voice was quiet, filled with a strange acceptance."You know, Alex? I'd risk everything just to see the faces of my wife and child one more time. I'm a killer. I know you'll never forgive me. But sometimes, for those you love, you have to stand against the whole world. Don't forget—you were willing to destroy the balance of time just to find your family too..."
Connor lifted his head and looked Alex in the eye. Fire seemed to consume his body."I just hope one day you'll understand me better."
With those words, the energy inside Connor spun out of control. His armor cracked, his body trembled. Raindrops evaporated, and rings of light formed around him. Within seconds, Connor's body exploded, scattering into the air. Nothing remained to identify him.Connor had been defeated by time itself...