Temporal Field

Jack sank to the ground, his usual calm demeanor interrupted by labored breaths. The Prism Barrier's translucent surface had sustained damage, but Jack's own body had paid the price for unleashing such a formidable technique. The radiant energy he summoned from the Meteor Haki Punch was draining, and the ultimate technique, the Meteoric Oblivion, was a force that pushed his limits.

Lysander, having just witnessed the sheer might of Jack's prowess. "You alright?"

Jack simply nodded. The surrounding atmosphere was tense. The ground where Jack had struck was scarred, its surface molten and radiating residual heat. The air itself still carried the tang of burnt ozone, a testament to the ferocity of the punch.

Minutes passed, the oppressive heat slowly dissipating. Jack's breathing became more even, and the grimace of pain on his face started to recede. "That was...intense," he finally said, his voice low but steadier.

"You think?" Lysander quipped, his attempt at levity masking his concern. "You cracked the barrier, but you also seemed to crack yourself a bit in the process."

A brief smirk touched Jack's lips. "Sometimes, the price of victory is high."

After a quarter of an hour, Jack pushed himself up to his feet, his resolve unwavering. "Ready for another go?" Lysander inquired, an eyebrow raised.

Jack's eyes, the deep calm blue of the vast ocean, fixed on the Prism Barrier. "We're not done here."

With that, he pulled his arm back, channeling that familiar fiery essence into his fist. The very ground seemed to respond to his intent, glowing embers dancing around his feet. Lysander took a step back, instinctively bracing for the impending force.

Jack, with a surge of adrenaline, drove his fist forward, focusing every ounce of his Meteoric Oblivion technique into the punch. The impact was deafening. A blinding burst of light, even more brilliant than before, flared outwards, momentarily whitewashing the surroundings.

Lysander shielded his eyes, waiting for the intense brightness to dim. When he looked again, his gaze widened in astonishment. The barrier, which once seemed impervious, now had a hole in it, large enough for a person to pass through.

The sheer enormity of what Jack had achieved was not lost on Lysander. "You did it..." he breathed, genuine admiration in his voice.

Jack, not one for extensive displays of emotion, simply nodded. He glanced at the breach in the barrier, then back at Lysander. "We have an opening. Let's not waste it."

As they moved forward, Lysander couldn't help but cast another awed look at the Prism Barrier. It stood as a testament to human innovation, yet it had met its match in the indomitable spirit and raw power of a single man.

"Vegapunk may not believe in weaknesses, but today, he learned of exceptions," Lysander commented, a smirk playing on his lips.

Jack and Lysander approached the next defense mechanism, a nearly imperceptible shimmer in the air marking the boundary of the Temporal Distortion Field. Vegapunk's ingenuity was apparent in every contraption he'd devised, and this was no exception.

Lysander stretched his hand cautiously towards the field, instantly feeling the pull, like pushing his fingers through dense, sticky syrup. He withdrew, shooting Jack a look of concern. "This won't be easy," he murmured.

Jack studied the shimmering field, noting the vague, elongated reflections and the subtle distortion of light. "The time perception differential is drastic. We move at a fraction of our usual speed within the field. It's like we're ensnared in an eternal moment."

Lysander nodded. "Every step will feel like an eternity. We'll be vulnerable."

Without another word, Jack took a step, entering the Temporal Distortion Field. Almost immediately, his body's motion became excruciatingly slow. Each movement he attempted was like fighting against an invisible force. From Lysander's perspective, Jack seemed to be wading through an invisible quagmire.

However, to Jack, the sensation was eerie. He felt he was submerged in a dreamlike state, where every gesture was unbearably prolonged. He tried to push forward, feeling the immense weight of time bearing down on him, every muscle strain amplified tenfold.

Lysander hesitated for a split second, then plunged into the field alongside Jack. The sudden shift in perception was jarring. Although Jack was only a few steps ahead, reaching him felt like a marathon. The silence within the field was absolute, like being underwater, muffling even the sound of their own breath.

After what felt like hours, but was only a few minutes in reality, the two stood side by side. They exchanged glances, communicating without words.

"Any ideas?" Lysander's voice was slowed, distorted by the field's effects.

Jack looked contemplative, his calm blue eyes analyzing the surroundings. "The field's power must have a source. A generator or some sort of control mechanism."

"Find and disable it, then," Lysander surmised.

Jack nodded. It was a simple plan, but executing it under these conditions would be a challenge. "Stay close," he murmured, initiating the agonizingly slow trek in search of the mechanism.

Suddenly, Jack experienced a moment of clarity amidst the heavy, dragging sensation of the Temporal Distortion Field. He realized that although his movements were severely hampered, his mind was still sharp and quick. The slow pace of time around him meant he had more time to think, analyze, and strategize. However, this came with its own set of challenges.

His body was working overtime, trying to keep up with the accelerated pace of his thoughts. It was like a machine operating at maximum capacity for an extended period, and he could feel the strain it put on his physical form. Despite this, a faint smile played on his lips as he realized that his observation haki was starting to make sense of the field's boundaries.

The perception of time might have been distorted, but his haki was still functioning, albeit at a slower pace. Jack focused, attempting to stretch his senses beyond the immediate area. It was a grueling process, like wading through a dense fog, but he was making progress. The edges of the temporal field started to become clearer in his mind's eye, and he felt a surge of determination. He could find the source of this field, disable it, and free them from this surreal experience.

----

Read 45(15 chapters for each novel) advanced chapters in my Patreon!

patreon.com/IWriteFanfic