The staircase seemed endless, spiraling downward into a chasm that swallowed all light. Chen's footsteps echoed, each step sounding as though it was being swallowed by the void. Fenrir padded beside him, its sharp golden eyes cutting through the darkness, the wolf's presence a steadying anchor in this oppressive descent.
"Who designs these things?" Chen muttered, his voice breaking the silence. "They couldn't spring for an elevator or at least a shortcut?"
Fenrir let out a soft chuff, the closest thing to a laugh it could manage.
"I know, I know. Complain less, survive more," Chen added. "But seriously, if this keeps going, my calves are going to ascend before the rest of me."
The wolf shot him a sidelong glance, unimpressed by the attempt at humor.
Finally, after what felt like hours, they reached the bottom. A massive stone archway loomed before them, ancient runes carved into its surface. The air was heavy, charged with an almost electric tension, and the faint hum of something powerful resonated from beyond the arch.
Chen stepped closer, his Growth Sword buzzing faintly in his hand as if it, too, could sense the danger ahead. Fenrir's fur bristled, and the wolf let out a low growl, its ears flattening.
"Yeah, I feel it too," Chen said. "Whatever's in there isn't going to roll out the welcome mat."
The runes on the arch suddenly flared to life, glowing with an eerie red light. A deep, resonating voice boomed from the void beyond:
"WHO DARES TREAD THE PATH OF THE ABYSS?"
Chen flinched but quickly regained his composure. "The guy with no choice. You gonna open the door, or do I have to knock?"
The voice rumbled, almost as if it were laughing.
"ARROGANCE WILL NOT SAVE YOU. STEP FORWARD, AND FACE YOUR TRUE SELF."
The runes pulsed once more, and the archway dissolved into a swirling vortex of shadows.
Chen glanced at Fenrir. "Well, that's definitely ominous. You ready?"
Fenrir's eyes gleamed, its tail flicking as it trotted forward without hesitation.
"Figures," Chen muttered, following the wolf. "At least one of us is fearless."
---
The moment they stepped through the vortex, the air changed. It was colder, sharper, and filled with an oppressive weight that seemed to press down on Chen's chest. They stood in a circular arena, the ground beneath them made of dark, polished stone that reflected their images like a distorted mirror.
The arena was surrounded by an impenetrable wall of black mist, and above, the sky was a swirling maelstrom of crimson and black.
"I hate this already," Chen said, tightening his grip on his sword.
Fenrir growled, its gaze fixed on the center of the arena.
A figure began to emerge from the shadows, stepping forward with deliberate, almost theatrical movements. Chen's heart sank as he realized what—or who—he was looking at.
It was himself.
But this Chen was different. His armor was darker, his Growth Sword emanating an ominous red glow. His face was twisted into a cruel smirk, his eyes devoid of empathy.
"Well, this is awkward," Chen said, trying to mask his unease with humor. "Did I accidentally step into a funhouse?"
The doppelgänger tilted its head, mirroring Chen's movements in an unsettling way.
"No," it said, its voice a perfect mimicry of Chen's but laced with malice. "You've stepped into your worst nightmare."
Fenrir growled, stepping protectively in front of Chen, but the doppelgänger waved a hand dismissively.
"Relax, mutt. This isn't your fight."
Chen frowned. "You're not real," he said, pointing his sword at the figure. "Just another illusion, like everything else in this place."
The doppelgänger chuckled. "If that helps you sleep at night, sure. But let's be honest—who knows you better than you know yourself? I'm the part of you that you try to bury. The part that hungers for power, no matter the cost."
Chen tightened his grip on his sword. "I don't have time for this."
The doppelgänger's smirk widened. "Oh, you'll make time. Because until you deal with me, you're not going anywhere."
Without warning, the dark Chen lunged forward, its sword slicing through the air with deadly precision. Chen barely managed to block the attack, the force of the blow sending him stumbling backward.
"Damn, you hit hard," Chen muttered, regaining his footing.
"Of course I do," the doppelgänger sneered. "I'm you. But better."
The battle raged on, the two Chens clashing in a flurry of strikes and counterstrikes. Each blow felt like fighting his own shadow, his opponent anticipating his every move.
Fenrir paced at the edge of the arena, clearly torn between intervening and staying back.
Chen gritted his teeth, frustration building as the fight dragged on. Every time he thought he had the upper hand, the doppelgänger countered with a move he hadn't anticipated.
"You can't win," the dark Chen taunted, his voice dripping with scorn. "You're weak. You're indecisive. You cling to others because you're too afraid to stand alone."
Chen's eyes narrowed. "I've had enough of your voice."
With a burst of determination, he feinted left and swung his sword in a wide arc. The blade caught the doppelgänger off guard, slicing through its armor and drawing a line of black ichor.
The dark Chen staggered, clutching its wound. Its expression twisted with rage.
"You think one lucky hit changes anything?"
Chen raised his sword, his voice steady. "I'm not fighting you to win. I'm fighting you to move forward. So get out of my way."
The doppelgänger hesitated for the first time, its form flickering as if it were losing cohesion.
Fenrir barked, leaping forward and biting down on the shadow figure's leg. The dark Chen let out a furious howl, its body dissolving into a cloud of black mist.
As the mist dissipated, the arena began to crumble, the polished stone beneath them giving way to a swirling void.
Chen barely had time to grab Fenrir before they were sucked into the darkness.
---
When they awoke, they were lying in a field of soft, glowing grass. The sky above was clear, filled with shimmering stars.
Chen sat up, groaning. "I'm really starting to hate this place."
Fenrir nuzzled him, its tail wagging slightly as if to say, You did good.
Chen smiled faintly, scratching the wolf behind the ears. "Thanks, buddy. Let's hope the next trial isn't as personal."
But deep down, he knew the journey was only getting started.