Time Manipulation is an extremely powerful ability that allows its user to control time.
Description
Time Manipulation grants users of the ability to freeze or slow down time at will, move around in a time-frozen environment [1], and reverse time in a localized area to some extent [2]. People under the effect of a time freeze can be aware of it or not depending on what the user decides, as demonstrated by Seraphina's intimidation of Elaine.[3] Anything under the influence of this ability also becomes grey in color. In one instance of Seraphina rewinding time, pink gears appeared around her arm. (As shown when attacking Arlo during Turf Wars)
Usage
- Time Freeze: This is the most common usage of Time Manipulation. Users can simply freeze time at will and freely move around in a time-frozen environment and can also freeze a person's time, making them unable to move. This grants the users increased relative speed and the appearance of teleporting to those affected by the time freeze.
- Time Deceleration: The second most common usage of Time Manipulation. Users can slow down time for everyone but themselves, allowing them to move faster than anyone else. This could be a weaker version of Time Freeze.
- Temporal Rewind: Users of Time Manipulation have been shown to be able to reverse time in a localized area. It is capable of restoring an object to its former condition as shown when Seraphina healed her arm by reversing time around it.[2]
- Quick Reflexes: High-tier users of Time Manipulation have improved reflexes and reaction speed compared to most people. This is a passive ability, so it is active even when the user is not powered up. [4]
Strengths and Limitations
Time Manipulation is currently one of the strongest abilities introduced in unORDINARY, and all currently confirmed users of the ability are god-tiers. The main utility of Time Manipulation comes from the fact that the user can decelerate the flow of time at will, and because users are unaffected by the time decelerating effects of their own ability, they will always be able to move faster than those affected by the ability. The high relative speed achieved by the ability can make the user's movements appear instantaneous and allows them to easily dodge any attack and counterattack without the opponent noticing. Time Manipulation users also possess a high power stat; a single blow from Seraphina can shatter Arlo's Barrier and send powered-up Gavin flying into a wall. Besides the overwhelmingly high offensive capabilities of the ability, Time Manipulation also possesses healing properties, and users can undo injuries that they have sustained by simply rewinding time on the injured area.
Tiers
At a god-tier level, there are only two known abilities that have threatened a user in a fair fight so far. The first is the Barrier ability, which injured Seraphina during the Turf War Arc (though she quickly healed her arm afterwards) and her fight against John (whose ability was already amplified and combined with Lightning and Vines.) [2] The second is a more powerful user of Time Manipulation; users are not immune to the ability's effects when another user freezes time, as shown with Seraphina's confrontation with Narisa.[5]
At an elite-tier or mid-tier level, the user is still easily able to take on multiple mid-tiers at once, but have much slower reflexes. While Seraphina and Leilah were dampened in their respective fights, neither of them seemed capable of using their rewind ability. Furthermore, Seraphina was unable to heal her wounds during her fight.
Weakness
It should be noted that none of the Time Manipulation users thus far have the defense to match their sheer power; even at mid-tier levels, Stone Skin and Charge provide more protection. A full-strength blow from a Time Manipulation user can cause enough recoil damage to shatter their own limbs. Even with the means to undo any damage sustained in battle, users must grow accustomed to pain.[6]
Notes & Trivia
- Initially, Time Manipulation served as a placeholder name for Seraphina's ability until Uru-chan confirmed that the ability's name was indeed Time Manipulation.[5]
- Time Manipulation is the third ability confirmed to be shared by multiple people (after Healing and Lightning).
- All known users of Time Manipulation are God-tiers and happen to be a part of Seraphina's family.