My Watch System

The game began, and Mike advanced his pawn, making the first move of the match. Naru then took his turn, and a series of moves unfolded quietly, until Naru spoke.

"Tell me what happened, Mike."

Mike played again and responded, "It all started when my friend, Kitsune, and I went after the monk. I wasn't able to connect with nature, and therefore couldn't use the clock. Supposedly, he could help. She knew him, though I have no idea how. We embarked on a journey that lasted three days and three nights to reach him. We entered the local magical sanctuary, a place only those with pure intentions can enter. Or, at least, that's what I thought. After that, the monk began to train me, but even then, I still couldn't succeed. Until one day, we saw the sanctuary in flames, two people attacking it. I went to fight Waru, but I was hit and passed out."

The monk then moved another piece and said, "Check."

Mike defended his king, and the game continued.

The monk spoke again, "I see. He was probably trying to send you to speak with me. That sounds just like him. Now, Mike, tell me, what are your intentions with such power?"

Mike thought for a moment and made another move. "Check."

Naru defended his king and the game pressed on.

"Originally," Mike said, "my goal was to grow stronger to complete my trial and find out what happened to my brother. But now... now there are other priorities."

Naru, intrigued, asked, "What changed, Mike?"

Mike replied, "I met Kitsune. I want to grow stronger to fight by her side, to protect her. I feel completely dependent on her. If it weren't for the luck of having met her, I'd probably be dead by now. And then there's the sanctuary. Those animals shouldn't have to suffer. It was such a peaceful place. I don't understand why they attacked it just to kill me. What did I do to deserve that?"

Naru paused the game, his eyes focused on Mike. "I see a great ambition in your heart, boy. I admire that. But I also sense uncertainty. Almost a form of cowardice in your current self. You need to be sure of your power to continue your journey."

Mike looked at Naru and replied, "I know you're right, but the path is completely unclear. I can't see any light at the end of the tunnel."

Naru, with the wisdom of his years, gazed at Mike and declared, "Checkmate," winning the game.

"Boy," he said with a knowing smile, "we know nothing of this life. Tomorrow is uncertain, and that's a good thing. One day, you'll understand how good uncertainty can be. But time won't stop for you. You'll have to keep fighting, even with all the uncertainty. Use it as fuel and feed the flame inside you that I see. Suppress your negative thoughts and focus on one thing—the nature within you—and you'll be able to use that artifact."

Still uncertain, Mike asked, "But how will I know if it'll work?"

Naru replied, "It won't. You can only find out by doing it, my dear. But now, let me tell you a little story."

Naru took a deep breath and began.

"A long time ago, there was a boy, the same age as you, with the same mindset. He feared the future and feared fighting the enemy. Due to his cowardice, someone very important was lost to him. He blamed himself for days on end, vowing vengeance, and followed a treacherous path. He trusted the wrong people and was deceived, humiliated. But there was one person who never gave up on him. Someone who always warned him about the wrong path he was following, but the stubborn boy never listened. One day, on his journey, the boy was cursed with a terrible, fatal illness. Not knowing what to do, he was about to take his own life, but his friend—actually, his brother—convinced him to stop. Even with only a few days left, he made him choose the right path, the path of good. This boy did good for many people and became known as a great man. Before he died, he redeemed himself. At the top of a hill, he passed away, but everyone mourned him, and his fate was altered. He was destined to mentor other lost souls through a magical artifact."

Mike smiled, realizing the boy in the story was Naru. "So that friend... was the monk?"

Naru nodded silently, confirming it.

Naru continued, "And you know something, Mike? That boy doesn't regret anything. He wouldn't change a thing about his story. He became who he was because of the mistakes he made. Perhaps he was lucky, but I'd say it was fate that put someone in his path to guide him."

Mike was silent, reflecting on what had been said. He then asked Naru, "But Naru, if that boy had made the right choice from the start, wouldn't he have helped more people?"

Naru looked thoughtful for a moment, then answered without hesitation, "Yes, Mike, but there was also a chance that boy would have just lived his life without helping anyone. Everything is as it is."

Mike looked at Naru, now more determined than ever. Even though he'd lost the game, he knew he wouldn't give up while he still had breath in him. "I still feel lost, Naru. But now, I know what needs to be done."

Naru smiled at the boy, placing his hand on Mike's head. "I hope so, Mike. Now, you need to return to them. Meditate, concentrate. You can always count on me. If you lose your way, I'll be here as your mentor. For now, I'll lend you this power until you can control it yourself."

Naru began to glow brighter and brighter, becoming a pure white light. Mike, awe-struck, watched as the environment around him turned completely white, and he woke up.

He looked at his wrist, and his clock was now glowing a vibrant red, emitting a powerful light—almost as though it were ready. He knew what had to be done. He pressed it, and a countdown began.

(USER DETECTED, COUNT STARTING 1,2,3)

The clock began to charge, seemingly adapting to Mike. He turned his head and saw chaos spread around him—a giant snake. But his heart stopped when he saw Kitsune on the ground, bleeding. He shouted, "KITSUNE, ARE YOU ALIVE?"

He rushed toward her, his emotions a mix of rage, desperation, fear, and inadequacy. But then, the words of Naru and the monk echoed in his mind: suppress your emotions, become one with nature.

Mike breathed deeply, focusing on what he could do to help. He quickly scooped up Kitsune in his arms and tried to retreat to safety. He noticed a portal in the distance, with many animals on the other side, and instantly understood.

"Kitsune did this to evacuate all the animals. Smart, as expected."

As he approached the portal, he could hear the animals discussing what to do next. Mike shouted, "HEY, CAN YOU HEAR ME? TAKE CARE OF HER!"

The animals acknowledged Mike and helped Kitsune to safety, tending to her wounds. Mike then returned to the battlefield and destroyed the portal.

Soon after, he saw the monk battling the snake, missing an arm, and thought to himself, That old man is tough as nails. He called out to him, "Hey, monk! Ready for round two?"

The monk looked up, a smile spreading across his face. "Try to keep up, boy."

Suddenly, his clock gave an alert:

(COUNT IS AT TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT).

Seeing that it would take a while for the clock to fully power up, Mike joined the monk in the fight against the snake.

The snake, noticing Mike's arrival, sneered. "Ah, I see. Someone else wants to die like that girl. HAHAHA."

Mike's anger flared, but he inhaled deeply, then exhaled, regaining his composure. His emotions were now under control, showing a maturity and confidence in himself that hadn't been there before.

The monk watched this and asked, "So, you spoke with him, didn't you?"

Mike nodded.

The monk sighed in relief. "I'm glad, Mike. I can see a significant improvement in you. Even your aura feels stronger, more ambitious. I'm sorry I can't help you, but I knew he could."

Mike grinned and responded, "Of course! I'll pass you soon enough. Now let's take down this snake."

Meanwhile, back at the training area, the animals were trying to make an antidote for Kitsune's poison. No one knew what the best remedy was, until a door creaked open. It was Dr. Iris, a jaguar in human form. She hadn't been at the sanctuary because she was studying plants elsewhere. She quickly examined Kitsune, seeing the mark of the snake's poison. "Get me three plants: Midori, Shiro, and Kiiro," she ordered.

The animals quickly gathered the plants, and within minutes, the antidote was ready. They injected it into Kitsune's left thigh for the quickest effect, considering the poison had already spread through her body. With great hope, they watched as Kitsune coughed and slowly woke up.

"Where am I? Where's Mike?" she asked weakly.

They explained that Mike had woken up magically and was currently in combat. Without hesitation, she tried to stand up to help him. The doctor tried to stop her, warning that she was still too weak, but Kitsune ignored her. She stood up but quickly realized that the portal was destroyed and she had no strength left to teleport. She collapsed again, though with no danger of death.