The four travelers found themselves standing in a vast, dimly lit arena. Above them, the sky was dark, the stars distant and cold. The air felt heavy, as though weighed down by the endless possibilities that had been denied. Across from them, four figures emerged from the shadows, stepping forward with slow, deliberate movements.
It was them their shadows. But they weren't quite the same. There was something off, something sinister, as if the versions they faced had lived through pain and darkness far greater than anything the real travelers had experienced.
Astraea's shadow self stood tall, cloaked in dark energy, her eyes glowing faintly with a power that radiated pure control. She held strands of time in her hands, manipulating them with ease, as if every thread of the universe bent to her will. This was a version of Astraea that had embraced absolute power, with no restraint.
Selene's reflection appeared colder, detached. The warmth and empathy that defined her in the real world were gone. Her lyre hung at her side, but it was twisted, its strings replaced by threads of shadow that hummed with a dissonant, eerie tune.
Ikaros' shadow self had wings wings of dark flame. His eyes burned with a wild, reckless energy, as though he had never learned the lessons of humility or restraint. This version of him had never fallen; instead, he had risen too high, consumed by his need to conquer the skies.
Orion's reflection was the most terrifying. His armor gleamed with an unnatural darkness, and his sword was longer, sharper, and heavier. This Orion had not just fought battles he had become the embodiment of war itself. His eyes glowed with the hunger of a man who had never known peace, a warrior who thrived on endless conflict.
The two groups stood across from one another, locked in a tense silence. There was no need for words. They knew what this was.
Astraea took a deep breath. "We're not just fighting them, are we? We're fighting ourselves the parts of us we left behind."
Selene nodded. "This isn't about victory. It's about facing the darkness we never let ourselves become."
Ikaros flexed his hands, the memory of his wings aching even now. "We have to win, but not just with strength. We have to be smarter. We have to be better than what we could have been."
Orion drew his sword, the sound of steel cutting through the tension. "No more waiting. It's time to finish this."
The shadow versions mirrored their movements, their weapons and powers at the ready. The battle was about to begin.