Chapter 5:The Fox Girl, the Slave Traders, and a Hero Who Can Stop Time

The dark place around me was silent. Too silent. It felt like being stuck in a weird dream where nothing made sense.

“Time?” I called out, unsure. “Is this another test or something?”

No answer. Great.

I started walking, hoping something would happen. After a while, a glowing blue portal appeared ahead of me. It was floating in the air, like magic.

“Well, here goes nothing.”

I stepped in.

FLASH!

Suddenly, I was in a brand-new world.

The sky was bright. Strange floating islands were up in the air. Trees sparkled like crystal. I saw elves with long ears, beast-people with tails and animal ears, and humans using magic like it was no big deal. It looks like the world in anime where various races of animals like goblins, elves, centaurs and beast men people.

“Okay… did I just step into an anime?” I thought myself.

Then, Time’s voice echoed in my head like some kind of all-knowing guide.

“Welcome, Hero. This is another version of Earth one where magic rule. You have a mission here.”

“Seriously? I just got done with a mission.”

Time said, “Good news: Now You can use my powers for 6 hours.”

“Oh, wow. Thanks, I guess.” I replied with a happy smile.

 He said to me that “Your first job: Rescue a young fox girl named Lyra. She’s being hunted. Save her, and she’ll help you in the future.”

“Wait, why her?”

“She’s part of a rare species called the Ultimate Beastkin. She’s very powerful. That’s why people want to catch her.”

I sighed. “Fine. Let’s get this started.”

I asked Time how to track Lyra. He said to me that use your search magic to find her and follow that path. A glowing line appeared in the air and led me through the forest.

Soon, I saw her.

A small girl was running between the trees, panting hard. Her fur was a soft chocolate brown, and her fox ears twitched as she dodged branches. She looked about 15. Her eyes were big and golden, and her fluffy tail swayed as she ran. Her white dress was torn and dirty, and she was barefoot with cuts on her feet. 

Behind her, a group of big men with armor chased her, shouting.

“There she is! Catch her! She’s worth a fortune!”

“Not today.”

“Wrap!”

I teleported right in front of them.

“Hey there,” I said. “Didn’t your mom ever tell you not to bully little girls?”

Before they could say a word, I used my magic spell before they started to attack me and little fox girl

“Status Spell: Paralyze + Sleep!”

Golden light flashed around them, and I used the smoke ball in my gadget pouch to get out of their sight and planned to take shelter in a place we are safe from those cruel slave traders . They fell down like statues taking a nap.

Lyra stopped running, looking confused and scared.

“W-Who are you?” she asked.

“I’m Ash. Don’t worry, you’re safe now.”

Her tail twitched. “Are you lying?”

“Nope. I’m a Time Hero. Promise.”

I held out my hand. She stared at it, then slowly took it.

I teleported us to a quiet forest hideout I had found earlier. It was peaceful, with vines hiding the entrance and a small river nearby.

Lyra looked around. “This place is... really nice.”

I noticed her feet were still hurt.

From my gadget pouch, I took out a healing potion and poured it on her feet. The cuts glowed and disappeared.

She blinked. “It’s all better…”

“Yep! My reversal power heals wounds and cancels enemy magic.”

She smiled a little said “Thank you.” .Her voice was sweet and fragile it looks like she was about to cry with the hardship and suffering she had experienced from humans. I thought she would hate me as I am a human 

Then I pulled out something even better.

Instead of making her sleep on the ground, I took out a soft foldable bed from my pouch.

“Here you go—super soft, extra warm.”

Her eyes went wide. “W-Wow! This is amazing!”

I laughed and turned away to grab some food when suddenly—

THUMP!

She hit me with a stick!

I yelled at her “OW! What was that for?!”

Lyra said, “I was checking if you were secretly bad!” she said.

I rubbed my arm. and I replied, "Couldn’t you have just asked?”

She giggled, then looked shy. She said “Sorry Hero. I am scared”

We sat near the fire that night. She told me about how her village was destroyed and how she got caught while running away.

“I thought no one would help me,” she whispered.

I said to her that “You’re not alone now.”

She looked at me with big eyes. “I want to help with your mission.”

“Great,” I said, smiling. “Tomorrow, we’ll look for another magical friend to join us.”

She tilted her head. “Wait… what do you mean another friend?”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s a surprise,” I teased.

Then my Time Dock started glowing.

A message popped up from my watch 
[New Skill Unlocked: Time Freeze – Stop time. Cooldown: ???]

I stared at it.

“Whoa… now this is cool.”

Lyra felt sleepy and curled up on her soft bed.

I just stared at the fire, wondering what crazy thing would happen next.

To be continued…