With their break over, Black Jade and White Embers continued their ascent, their spirits lifted by the brief moment of peace they had shared. The Tower loomed above them, its challenges growing ever more complex and dangerous, but their bond was stronger than ever. The calm of the landing faded as they approached the next floor, replaced by the familiar tension that came with stepping into the unknown.
The staircase led them to another massive door, this one adorned with intricate carvings of intertwined serpents and ancient runes. The air around the door was charged with energy, a subtle hum that resonated with their very bones. Black Jade and White Embers exchanged a glance, each knowing that whatever lay beyond would test them in ways they hadn't yet encountered.
"This one feels different," White Embers said, her voice hushed as she studied the door. "Like it's been waiting for us."
Black Jade nodded, her fingers brushing over the carvings as she reached for the handle. "The Tower knows we're getting closer. It's throwing everything it has at us."
With a deep breath, Black Jade pushed the door open, and they stepped through into the next chamber.
The room beyond was vast, its ceiling lost in shadows far above. The floor was smooth and polished, reflecting the faint light that emanated from the walls. The air was thick with the scent of old stone and something else—something darker and more foreboding. In the center of the chamber stood a large, circular platform, raised slightly above the rest of the floor.
As they approached, the platform began to glow, its surface coming to life with swirling patterns of light. The patterns formed a complex, ever-shifting design that was both mesmerizing and disorienting.
[System Notification: Welcome to the Hall of Mirrors. Objective: Defeat your reflections to unlock the path forward. Beware: Your reflections are as strong as you are, and they will use all your skills against you.]
Black Jade felt a chill run down her spine as she read the notification. "Reflections? So, we're going to be fighting… ourselves?"
White Embers frowned, her hand tightening on the hilt of her sword. "This could get tricky. We know our own strengths and weaknesses, but so do our reflections."
The platform pulsed with light, and as they stepped onto it, the air around them shimmered. The light grew brighter, blinding them for a moment, and when it dimmed, they found themselves facing exact replicas of themselves—reflections that were identical in every way, down to the smallest detail.
The reflections stood perfectly still for a moment, as if assessing their surroundings. Then, with an eerie synchronicity, they moved into battle stances, mirroring Black Jade and White Embers' own preparations.
"This is going to be a challenge," Black Jade muttered, her eyes locked on her reflection. The reflection of herself looked back with the same intensity, the Abyssal Staff in its hand glowing with the same dark energy.
White Embers nodded, her gaze fixed on her own reflection. "We have to be smarter, faster. We know each other's moves better than anyone else—let's use that."
The battle began in an instant, with the reflections moving as soon as Black Jade and White Embers did. The chamber echoed with the sound of clashing weapons and crackling magic, the air thick with tension as they fought against their mirror images.
Black Jade's reflection unleashed a barrage of dark spells, each one as precise and powerful as her own. But Black Jade knew her own strategies and countered with movements designed to disrupt her reflection's rhythm. She used the Ether Cloak to dart in and out of the shadows, striking from unexpected angles and keeping her reflection off balance.
White Embers faced a similar challenge, her reflection matching her every move with the same fiery determination. The Gauntlets of the Emberlord crackled with energy as she struck out, but her reflection was ready, blocking and countering with a force that made the ground tremble. But White Embers was resourceful, using her knowledge of her own fighting style to anticipate her reflection's next move, creating openings where none seemed to exist.
The battle raged on, each strike and spell met with an equally powerful counter. The reflections were relentless, but Black Jade and White Embers had something their reflections didn't—their bond. They fought not just as individuals, but as a team, and it was this unity that began to turn the tide.
As the battle wore on, Black Jade noticed a slight hesitation in her reflection, a momentary flicker of uncertainty that she recognized as her own doubt. It was a small crack in the otherwise perfect mirror, but it was enough. Seizing the opportunity, Black Jade unleashed a powerful spell that her reflection didn't anticipate, breaking through its defenses and weakening its form.
At the same time, White Embers found a similar opening, exploiting a moment of overconfidence in her reflection's attack. She struck with all her strength, the force of the blow shattering the reflection's shield and leaving it vulnerable.
With a final, coordinated effort, Black Jade and White Embers delivered the finishing blows to their reflections. The mirror images faltered, their forms flickering before dissolving into motes of light that drifted up into the darkness above.
[System Notification: Reflections Defeated. Path Forward Unlocked.]
The platform beneath them pulsed one last time before the light faded, leaving them standing alone in the now-quiet chamber. The tension in the air dissipated, replaced by a sense of accomplishment and relief.
"We did it," Black Jade said, her voice steady but tinged with exhaustion. "That was tougher than I expected."
White Embers nodded, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow. "Fighting ourselves… it's not just about strength. It's about knowing who we are, flaws and all."
As they caught their breath, the door at the far end of the chamber slowly opened, revealing another staircase leading upward. The path forward was clear, but they both knew that the challenges would only continue to escalate.
"Ready?" White Embers asked, her voice resolute.
Black Jade sighed, her grip on the Abyssal Staff firm. "Nope, but you'll just drag me along anyway."
"So true," White Embers admitted while laughing. They began their ascent once more, ready to face whatever Ethereal Genesis Online had in store for them next.