As dawn kissed the dome of the Spirit Vein Archives by Tokyo Bay, the Reverse Scale Squad's hovercar entered the "Time Glyph Ruins". This mist-shrouded valley at the continent's northernmost tip boasted spiral patterns on its cliffs, mirroring the dark gold glyphs of the Reverse Scale Core—like annual rings carved by time.
"Welcome to the 'Cocoon of Time'." A maiden in a green robe greeted them, vine-like glyphs braided in her hair, her wrist's Time Glyph Core glowing milky white like morning fog. "I am Qinghuan, 'Guardian of Time', entrusted with watching over the 'Time Glyphs' here."
Xiaotao's star meteorite bracelet suddenly burned hot. She leaned close to Qinghuan's Time Glyph Core, where deep blue energy condensed into ancient characters on the glyphs: "Time does not ferry, glyphs never die."
"This is..."
"A message from ancient Glyph Masters," Qinghuan's voice rang like a mountain stream. "Five hundred years ago, the last Time Glyph Master sealed the 'Time Turbulence' with their life, dispersing Glyph Cores to seven guardians before dying. Now, you've finally come."
Lanye's Glyph Core trembled violently. He could sense a strange resonance between the valley's spiritual energy and the Reverse Scale Core—a call from the depths of time, carrying the warmth and regret of ages.
"We need to see the Time Glyphs," he said.
Qinghuan's fingertips brushed the cliff, and vine-like glyphs suddenly animated, sketching a holographic star map on the rock. At its center, a milky white cocoon spun, wrapped in countless tiny light ribbons, resembling the Reverse Scale Core's spirals but veiled in mist.
"Behold the Time Glyphs," Qinghuan's voice turned solemn. "Formed from time energy at creation, they are the core from which all glyphs branch, the projection from which all life emerges—recording 'unfinished stories'."
A Jiu's shadow crows burst from her hair, circling the star map. Dark purple mist seeped from their feather tips, condensing into the same totem as the Reverse Scale Core.
"It's responding to us," Sakura said in delight, her Cherry Glyph blooming in her palm, pink petals floating toward the star map. "The Time Glyphs say... 'Welcome home'."
Lanye's Glyph Core suddenly flew out. The moment it touched the cocoon at the star map's center, the entire valley quaked. Spiderweb cracks split the ground, spilling milky spiritual energy that flooded their ankles.
"These are time's 'Purifying Tears'," Qinghuan's voice shook. "They wash away all time-tainted glyphs, including... forgotten stories."
Lanye felt something surge from the earth into his mind—memories of the ancient Glyph Master: five hundred years ago, young Qinghuan met Lanye backstage at the league, binding her Glyph Core to his Blazing Heaven Flame Glyph, vowing to protect the Time Glyphs; on a stormy night three hundred years ago, she merged with the Spirit Vein's origin to seal the Time Turbulence, only to be backlashed into a half-spirit state.
"So that's why..." Su Li's voice trembled as her Cherry Glyph resonated with the Time Glyph cocoon. "I am one of the seven guardians."
Memories flooded in: teenage Su Li planted a "Time Tree" with Lanye in the Time Ruins, burying her Glyph Core under its roots, vowing to wait for it to sprout; on a snowy night five hundred years ago, she sealed the Turbulence with her Glyph Core to save their village, only to be backlashed into a half-spirit, trapped in time's folds ever since.
"Therefore..." Lanye held Su Li's hand. "You never truly left."
Tears welled in Su Li's eyes as her Cherry Glyph bloomed brilliantly: "I was just... waiting for you."
The star map flashed wildly. Qinghuan's Time Glyph Core shrieked, projecting bloody characters: "Warning! Time Turbulence has breached the seal!"
The valley's dome cracked, pouring black mist like a waterfall. Within it appeared the Mechanical Glyph Master, whose mechanical eye no longer shone dark gold but mirrored the Time Glyphs' milky white—a sign of contamination.
"You thought Spirit Veins purified me?" The Mechanical Glyph Master's voice dripped with madness. "Time Glyph power is the Star Beast's nourishment! Now I'll use it to awaken the true master!"
His mechanical skeleton expanded, and his dark gold Glyph Core flew out, hovering at the star map's center. Lanye's Glyph Core blazed, golden flames wrapped in pink Cherry Glyphs, deep blue star meteorite light, and dark purple shadow crow patterns, pouncing like a dragon on the light sphere.
But this time, the flames rebounded upon contact. The Mechanical Glyph Master's skeleton disintegrated, yet his dark gold Glyph Core merged with the sphere, turning its pure milk white into an eerie purple-black.
"This is..."
"The Star Beast's 'Primordial Form'," Qinghuan despaired. "Time Glyph power has activated its most primal brutality."
The Mechanical Glyph Master vanished, and a translucent figure emerged from the sphere—the true Star Beast, its body a giant python woven from dark gold and milky white glyphs, each scale etched with the same spiral as Glyph Cores.
"Finally..." The Star Beast's voice rumbled like an earthquake. "Five hundred years, I can reclaim my power."
Lanye's Glyph Core trembled. He sensed the Star Beast's consciousness mixed with forgotten Glyph Masters' memories—Qinghuan's tenderness, the Mechanical Glyph Master's obsession, even Su Li's sorrow.
"You're not a Star Beast," Lanye's voice tolled like a bell. "You're tainted time."
The Star Beast hesitated. Its python body twisted, scales peeling to reveal milky white chains beneath—seals Qinghuan had etched with her life five hundred years ago.
"You..."
"Time should be a river of life," Qinghuan staggered forward, pressing her Time Glyph Core to the Star Beast's forehead. "Not a tool for consumption. It's your heart, not your power, that's tainted."
The Star Beast's python form began to disintegrate. Milky white chains broke, revealing a crouched figure within—the ancient Glyph Master sealed five hundred years ago, his face seven parts similar to Qinghuan's.
"Mother..." The Star Beast's voice turned childish.
Qinghuan's tears fell on her Time Glyph Core: "I'm sorry. To seal you, I used time power to suppress your consciousness, only to let you be consumed by resentment..."
The ancient Glyph Master raised his hand, touching Qinghuan's cheek. His fingertips glowed like Time Glyphs, melting the dark gold chains on her Time Glyph Core.
"I never imagined..." His voice held relief. "Time's power lies not in control, but in protection."
Lanye's Glyph Core blazed. He finally understood: the "Reverse Scale" power was never about confrontation, but connection—linking tainted glyphs, broken consciousness, and all lives yearning to protect.
He pressed his palm to the Star Beast's forehead. Blazing Heaven Flame Glyphs, Cherry Glyphs, star meteorite light, and shadow crow patterns lit up, weaving the Reverse Scale totem within the beast.
"In the name of the Reverse Scale," Lanye's voice pierced the roar, "By the oath of comrades,
"Awaken the true self, return to the light!"
Golden flames wrapped in pink light poured into the Star Beast like a warm current. Milky white scales peeled away, revealing snow-white glyphs beneath—the purest, untainted time power.
The Star Beast's python form dissolved into light mist. Its consciousness merged with the Reverse Scale Core, leaving one last sentence: "Thank you... for reminding me of time's original heart."
Morning light pierced the valley's mist, casting golden spots on everyone. The Time Glyph cocoon regained purity, milky white glyphs flowing like a stream to nourish the earth.
"So that's it..." Xiaotao's eyes reddened. "Time's power is love."
A Jiu's shadow crows circled the cocoon, dark purple mist condensing into characters meaning "Hope". Sakura's Cherry Glyph bloomed in her palm, petals floating to the cocoon to weave a new totem with the glyphs.
Su Li stepped beside Lanye, her Cherry Glyph touching his Blazing Heaven Flame Glyph: "The Time Glyphs say they'll remember our bond. From now on, no matter the difficulty..."
"We'll face it together," Lanye finished.
Qinghuan reinserted her Time Glyph Core, tears in her wrinkled eyes: "The Time Guardian's mission was never to fight, but to protect. Thank you for helping me rediscover that."
As the hovercar started again, its tail shattered morning light shimmered in the mist. The Reverse Scale Core burned on Lanye's wrist, sensing glyph fluctuations worldwide—like countless heartbeats resonating in the clouds.
"Where to next?" A Jiu stroked her shadow crow feathers.
"Wherever there's a need to protect," Lanye looked to the brightening skyline, where the sun pierced clouds, casting golden spots on the sea. "Because glyphs' meaning lies neither in temples nor deserts."
"Then where?" Xiaotao tilted her head.
Lanye gazed at the awakening Time Glyphs outside, their light patterns and the Reverse Scale Core's dark gold glyphs shining together like a star track to the future, slowly unfolding between heaven and earth.