by Wartome
Everyone lost three years.Branch lost six. When the world wakes to find the earth carved open by a dungeon that should not exist, memories gone and reality itself subtly misaligned, most people adapt. Branch does not. His new power leaves him unable to enjoy anything, not food, not sex, not even laughter. He lives two seconds ahead of everything, two seconds removed from everyone. The only thing he can still feel is winning. By stepping out of time into a forgotten town that no longer exists, Branch can prepare, plan, and rearm before slipping back into the exact instant he left. In a world of monsters, relics, and broken physics, it makes him terrifyingly effective. It may also be the reason he is broken. Sloane has bigger concerns. Her sister is dying from a disease called the Glitch, and the only man who claims to have a cure is a madman deep inside the dungeon. She needs power, fast. Branch needs answers. The dungeon has everything they need. But something inside is watching. Learning. Adapting. And for the first time since the world changed, Branch is about to face something he cannot see coming. What to expect: An ability: see the future, leave the moment, come back prepared Smart fights where planning matters more than raw power A protagonist who would give up his power if he could A grounded, competent female lead who pulls her weight Mystery, missing time, and something very wrong with reality Wins that feel earned, losses that hurt A slow build from survival to mastery
