Monster Taming Broadcast

A space where time does not exist.

In other words, a space of unified time.

In that place, the Time Eater summoned a gauntlet from five years ago.

The gauntlet, dropped into a strange space, was momentarily flustered.

It wasn’t the first time experiencing a boss room with spatial transfer, but it wasn’t something one could commonly encounter either.

Of course, this place wasn’t like a boss room.

Anyway, it quickly regained its composure.

After grasping the current situation, it scanned the Time Eater in front of it, convinced that this must be a boss room.

SSS-Class.

The instant it confirmed the unbelievable danger level.

‘That clock-headed creature’s danger level is SSS-Class? Am I seeing things?’

Instinctively, the gauntlet took a step back.

A whirlwind of thoughts rushed through the gauntlet’s mind.

It was a being of a different class compared to the monsters it had faced so far.

The strongest monster with unprecedented strength.

A danger level of SSS-Class, which had been doubted even to exist.

It questioned if this place was really reality.

Perhaps it was just an illusion.

But such distractions quickly faded away.

What mattered now was not the identity of that monster.

Just one thought burned intensely in the gauntlet’s mind.

Finally, the time had come to use the fifth opportunity of its unique ability that it had carefully saved for 11 months.

The gauntlet decided not to hesitate and to use its ability.

*

The Time Eater thought that it was right in its judgment the moment it laid eyes on the summoned gauntlet from the past.

First of all, comparing itself to the gauntlet, it realized that the gauntlet was infinitely weak, and it appeared that the past gauntlet lacked the power to weaken opponents.

‘I could easily kill the past version of it. But I can’t let it die easily.’

The Time Eater had no intention of sending the gauntlet off comfortably.

The gauntlet was the enemy that had stolen its life.

It planned to showcase every ounce of despair and frustration, inflicting so much pain that the gauntlet would rather beg for death.

Should it pretend to be weak for now?

Should it instill hope first and then make it taste despair?

What kind of pain to inflict first?

Thinking about how to toy with the gauntlet, the Time Eater relished the privileges enjoyed solely by the strong.

It believed there would be no problem even if it took its time to enjoy.

The gap between itself and the gauntlet was an insurmountable difference.

The Time Eater decided to reveal its name first.

Hearing the name of the one it was about to kill was important, but the opponent also needed to know who they were killed by.

Just as the Time Eater was about to introduce itself.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Time Eater…”

“Using Equivalent Confrontation.”

Fwoosh—!

The gauntlet activated its Equivalent Confrontation ability.

Then the space created by the Time Eater vanished.

The gauntlet and the Time Eater fell instantly into a space called the ‘Field of Equilibrium.’

The Field of Equilibrium was a quaint room covered in yellow wallpaper.

It was about the size of a medium convenience store, roughly 30 pyeong.

Inside, it was completely empty.

And there was only one way to escape this place.

One of them had to die—either the gauntlet or the Time Eater.

“What… what is this space…?”

The Time Eater’s voice trembled.

It couldn’t believe its own domain had been shattered.

What was even more shocking was that in this space, not only could it not use its time-manipulating powers, but it also couldn’t use a single one of its abilities.

“Your appearance is peculiar, but your voice is no less unusual.”

It seems this will be a memorable encounter.

While the gauntlet was having such thoughts, the Time Eater glared sharply at it and asked.

“Please don’t tell me… you were hiding your ability earlier?”

“What nonsense is that? It’s like we met somewhere before.”

The Time Eater’s gaze was locked onto the gauntlet.

It felt completely different from just a few seconds ago.

Unlike before, when it seemed less than a bug, now it radiated a presence seeming to match its own.

Before it could gather its confused thoughts, the gauntlet spoke again.

“You just introduced yourself as Time Eater, right?”

“…Silence.”

“Time Eater. Anyway, I’ll explain this space and the rules. We cannot start fighting until the opponent is informed.”

“…Silence.”

“Why are you suddenly clamming up? Are you not aware of the rules? Just think of it as the fighting regulations in this space.”

“You… what trickery are you using?”

The gauntlet continued its explanation.

“And in this space, you cannot use magic or psychic abilities… generally, those kinds of powers are nullified. It has been adjusted for a fair fight. No one shouldn’t have any advantage whatsoever. So, in short, only bare-knuckle fighting is allowed here. Since only physical strength can be used, obviously, weapons are off the table.”

“What…?”

“By the way, all your powers are gone, but your physical capabilities should have been enhanced equally. So, you’re not weak; just your powers have disappeared, so don’t worry. Well, I’ve become as strong as you too.”

“What kind of nonsense are you blabbering about?!”

Whatever the Time Eater said, the gauntlet continued explaining, undeterred.

It needed to finish the explanation politely before they could engage in combat.

“Oh, I should briefly state the name of this space. It’s called the Field of Equilibrium. And currently, your body and mine are at exactly the same level without a single tiny difference.”

After quickly wrapping up the explanation of the space,

the gauntlet took a moment to catch its breath before explaining the fight’s rules.

“Finally, the rule… no, the fight rule. Have you ever heard of One Punch?”

“One Punch…?”

“To put it simply, it’s a fight where we each take a hit. It doesn’t matter where you hit. Oh, and if you get hit and don’t retaliate within one minute, your chance to strike will be lost, so keep that in mind. A timer will appear once the fight starts.”

“…Is that even what you call a fight?”

“Does it look like I’m joking?”

The gauntlet’s expression had turned cold.

Seeing that expression, the Time Eater realized that this was no joke.

And it had roughly pieced together the situation.

This was a unique space activated by power beyond its own.

It recognized that if it didn’t engage in the fight the gauntlet proposed, it would never escape this place.

Reluctantly, the Time Eater decided to play along.

“Fine. I’ll accept the fight. But before we start, let me ask one thing. If I lose in this ‘One Punch’ thing, what happens?”

“If you lose, you die.”

“……”

“Are you scared? You are SSS-Class, after all.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Confident, huh?”

“But who gets to attack first? Since there must be a way to decide who strikes first under those rules.”

“There’s nothing like that. The first person to hit just attacks first. That’s the only unfair point in this space.”

“What?!”

“Explanation’s done.”

A timer appeared in mid-air.

At that moment.

“First hit wins.”

Whack—!

The gauntlet threw its fist into the Time Eater’s face.

The Time Eater rolled on the ground, and a crack appeared on its clock-like face.

“Y-you coward…!”

“There’s no such thing as cowardice in a fight. Of course, it makes sense to wait and hit quickly since the attacker has the upper hand.”

“This isn’t what you call a fair fight! You knew the rules beforehand, so you could prepare your attack!”

“If you’re unhappy about that, shouldn’t you have your ability too?”

Whack—!

This time, the Time Eater’s fist struck the gauntlet’s face.

Thus, they began to exchange blows back and forth.

The gauntlet and the Time Eater.

Both were currently at the same mental state.

In other words, in this fight, the one who would win would be the one to strike first.

Or the one who was more desperate for life, holding more attachment to it, would ultimately win.

*

*

*

Even with the power to manipulate time—

Even the Time God ruling as a superior being in the Celestial Realm—

Could never meet a version of themselves from another timeline.

Naturally, it was impossible to summon a version of themselves from a different timeline.

Moreover, even if they killed a being from a specific timeline—

It wouldn’t affect the identical being existing in another timeline.

In other words, killing the past does not kill the present.

However,

a being capable of making the impossible possible was born.

Its name was Time Eater.

From its S-Class days, it was a supreme being with a monstrous ability that broke the laws of dimensions.

The Time Eater was aware of this itself.

So, it firmly believed that with its complete form now, it could never lose to anyone.

*

*

*

Inside the Field of Equilibrium.

The gauntlet and the Time Eater exchanged 8,500 strikes.

The state of both, after going back and forth, was utterly battered.

The gauntlet, drenched in blood, had swollen in every part, leaving no healthy spot.

The Time Eater’s once-strong body was dented and cracked, and its clock face was shattered, more than half destroyed.

And then.

“Just… die already!”

As it took its turn, the gauntlet swung its trembling arm with all its might.

Boom—!

The Time Eater could not endure the impact and collapsed on the ground.

Soon after, cracks gradually appeared all over the Time Eater’s body.

A fine fissure crossed its clock face and quickly spread throughout its entire form.

“This can’t be… happening…”

Its voice scattered in the air.

Gears, clock parts, and remnants of its body crumbled and fell apart like a sandcastle.

Yet, even as the Time Eater faced its dissolution, it had no regrets.

It shouldn’t have been so relaxed.

It should have eliminated the gauntlet the moment it was summoned.

Normally, it would be standard to have such regrets.

But it figured that dying again without toying with its nemesis would be better.

Thus, the Time Eater vanished, becoming the gauntlet’s final sacrifice.

And on this day,

the gauntlet attained an SSS-Class body.

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