Months later.
At the ruins of the final node buried beneath an ancient temple, Ryder stood before the massive glowing structure.
The shadow creature towered above him, larger than ever.
"You cannot stop time," it growled.
"I don't need to stop it," Ryder replied.
"Then what will you do?"
Ryder held up the final shard.
"I'll restore it."
Anya activated the ancient mechanism beside him.
The shards from around the world began to glow.
The broken pieces of the Chronos Shard rose into the air.
The shadow roared.
"No! If the Shard is whole again I will be sealed forever!"
Ryder looked up at it calmly.
"That's the plan."
The shards merged together in a brilliant explosion of light.
Time itself seemed to pause.
Then—
The shadow screamed as it was pulled back into the crystal.
The Chronos Shard became whole again.
Silence filled the temple.
Ryder collapsed to one knee.
Anya walked beside him.
"It's over," she said.
Ryder looked at the glowing crystal floating gently in the air.
"No," he said quietly.
"It's just beginning."
"Why?"
He smiled.
"Because someone has to guard it."
The Chronos Shard dimmed.
And the world's timeline stabilized once more.
But far away… deep within the shadows of history…
A single crack formed in the crystal.
The story of time…
Was not finished.