Chapter 2: Chapter 2 – The Bound Sound Epoch
The gears of the Time Layer slowed down—as if they were "setting the parameters" for something.
Ren stared at the mysterious man, but the man simply turned his back and spoke in the tone of an examiner rather than an enemy.
> "Remember… the Art of Time isn't a power that 'attacks'.
It's a power that decides whether something has permission to exist in this Time Layer."
The moment he finished, he vanished—
as if removed from this Layer ahead of schedule.
The ground split into circles.
The world twisted.
And Epoch 2 appeared before Ren's eyes.
A purple ancient forest.
Soft bell tones rang whenever the wind blew.
Ancient rune-stones floated above the ground.
And the entire atmosphere felt as if time was being tied down by someone's voice.
> "…So this is why they call it the Garden Where Time Is Bound by Sound…"
Ren stopped and began to analyze—just like any JoJo protagonist would.
> "Art of Time – Thread of Fate…
It doesn't 'destroy' enemy abilities.
It cuts off their path into this Time Layer.
…If sound is the thing binding time in this Epoch,
then I just need to find the source of that sound—and sever it."
One of the floating rune-stones suddenly glowed.
A bell rang once—Ting—
And a nearby tree aged, withered, and crumbled to dust in a few seconds.
> The sound… is forcing time to move forward unnaturally!
Ren tightened his grip.
A shining line traced through the air in a geometric pattern.
A voice echoed in his mind:
> ◈ Sub-Rule of Epoch 2 ◈
"Those who cannot distinguish the Sound of Time will be forced into the Final Phase of Time immediately."
Ren clenched his teeth.
> "So that means… I'll need to 'listen' carefully.
Which sound belongs to time, and which sound belongs to this world?"
Another bell tone rang.
This time, Ren closed his eyes—
and deep within the forest, he heard something different: the faint singing voice of a young girl.
> "…The source… is a person?"
He opened his eyes.
The Thread of Fate slashed the air in a curve.
The wind reversed.
And for a moment—all sound vanished.
During that silent instant, someone stepped out of the shadows.
A silver-haired girl holding a gear-shaped music box.
She smiled softly.
> "Welcome, wielder of the Art of Time…
Please enjoy the First Test Performance of Epoch Two."
That was the moment the opponent finally appeared—
with a smile that made Ren… and the reader…
realize that this Time Layer has no intention of letting him leave easily.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone