The stone door groaned shut behind me, sealing me in complete silence. The chamber ahead was cold and vast, and I stood frozen at its edge. My steps echoed loudly as I walked forward, the sound swallowed quickly by the oppressive darkness above.
When my eyes adjusted, I realized the space was circular and impossibly large. The walls stretched endlessly upward into a void, while the polished black stone floor reflected the faint light of glowing runes etched into its surface. The air was heavy, charged with an energy that pressed against my skin.
The hum of the dungeon, always present, had become deafening. It resonated through my bones, reverberating with a rhythm that felt almost alive. My grip on the orb tightened as the shadows within it stirred, restless and volatile.
At the center of the chamber stood the Keeper, its shrouded form flickering with shadows and shifting runes. It watched me in silence, its piercing white eyes unblinking.
"You stand before the Second Trial," it said, its voice reverberating through the chamber like a low thunderclap. "The Trial of Reflection."
I forced myself to take a step forward. My chest was tight, my breath shallow. "What does that mean?"
The Keeper didn't answer immediately. It raised one elongated, smoke-like arm, and the glowing runes beneath my feet flared brighter. The light illuminated every corner of the arena, casting sharp shadows that seemed to shift and writhe.
"This trial will test your will," the Keeper said, its voice calm but cold. "The shadows within you are bound, but they remain untamed. To master them, you must first confront yourself. Only by defeating your reflection can you gain true control."
"Reflection?" I asked, my voice trembling.
The Keeper gestured, and the runes began to shift, spiraling outward from the center of the arena. The air grew colder, and the ground beneath me trembled as a low rumble filled the chamber.
From the far side of the arena, something began to take shape. At first, it was a blur, a distortion in the air, but as it stepped closer, my heart stopped.
It was me.
Or at least, something that looked like me.
The figure moved into the light, and I stumbled back in shock.
It was a twisted, grotesque version of myself. Its body was warped, its limbs slightly elongated, and its skin was marred by pulsating black veins that glowed faintly with the same energy as the orb. Its eyes were pure black, empty and soulless, and its mouth twisted into a cruel sneer.
The shadows within the orb in my hand began to writhe violently, their movements erratic and wild. A sharp jolt shot through my chest, and I clutched my ribs, gasping as the pain spread through me.
"What… what is this?" I asked, my voice barely audible.
The Keeper didn't move. "The shadows have taken form. This is your reflection—a manifestation of your fear, doubt, and anger. To control the shadows, you must first conquer yourself."
The reflection tilted its head, its movements unnaturally smooth and deliberate, like a predator studying its prey.
Then, without warning, it lunged.
I barely had time to react.
The reflection moved impossibly fast, closing the distance between us in a blur. I raised the orb instinctively, and the shadows erupted from its surface, forming a barrier just as the creature's claws slashed through the air.
The impact sent me skidding backward, the tendrils of shadow recoiling as the reflection pulled back. Its black eyes narrowed, and it let out a low, guttural snarl that sent a chill down my spine.
I stumbled, trying to regain my footing. My chest heaved as I stared at the creature, its distorted form hunched and tense.
It attacked again.
This time, I swung the orb, and the shadows lashed out, coiling around its arm and yanking it off balance. For a moment, I thought I had the upper hand.
But then, the creature mimicked my movements.
Tendrils of shadow erupted from its body, identical to mine, and slammed into the ground. The force threw me off my feet, and I hit the floor hard, pain shooting through my ribs.
I scrambled to stand as the reflection loomed over me, its twisted grin widening.
It wasn't just fast or strong—it was learning.
The battle was relentless.
Every move I made, the reflection mirrored. When I lashed out with the shadows, it countered with its own. When I tried to create distance, it closed the gap in an instant. It was as if it could see into my mind, predicting my every action before I made it.
Sweat poured down my face as I dodged another attack, the black veins on my arms glowing brighter with each clash. The orb in my hand grew heavier, its shadows more volatile with every passing second.
"You cannot win through strength alone," the Keeper's voice echoed through the arena. "The shadows are a reflection of your soul. Until you understand them, you will remain incomplete."
"What the hell does that mean?" I shouted, ducking as a tendril of shadow whipped past my head.
The reflection lunged again, and I barely managed to block its strike with a barrier. The impact sent a shockwave through the chamber, the glowing runes on the floor flickering erratically.
My legs trembled as exhaustion set in. My muscles burned, and my vision blurred as I stumbled backward, gasping for air.
The reflection sneered, its black eyes narrowing as it stalked closer.
"Is this all you are?" it hissed, its voice a distorted mockery of mine. "A failure? A Zero?"
The words hit harder than I wanted to admit.
Something inside me snapped.
I clenched the orb tightly, ignoring the searing pain in my chest as I stepped forward. The shadows inside me surged, their movements chaotic and violent, but this time, I didn't try to suppress them.
Instead, I let them come.
The black tendrils erupted from my body, more massive and wild than ever before. They lashed out in every direction, coiling around the reflection and dragging it to the ground.
The creature snarled, thrashing violently as its own shadows rose to meet mine. The two forces collided, filling the arena with a deafening roar as black energy crackled through the air.
But this time, I didn't hold back.
The shadows weren't just a weapon—they were a part of me.
I stepped forward, the black veins on my arms glowing brighter as I tightened my grip on the orb. The creature's struggles grew weaker, its distorted form flickering like a dying flame.
"Enough!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the chamber.
The shadows surged one final time, overwhelming the reflection entirely. Its form dissolved into smoke, the tendrils consuming it completely before retreating into the orb.
The arena fell silent.
I collapsed to my knees, my body trembling as the shadows inside me settled. The orb in my hand glowed faintly, its surface warm and steady, as if it were pleased.
"You have begun to understand," the Keeper said, its voice softer now. "Control is not about dominance. It is about balance. The shadows are a part of you, and you are a part of them."
I glared up at the Keeper, my breaths ragged. "Is this over?"
The Keeper tilted its head, the runes on its body glowing faintly. "The Trial is complete. But your journey has only begun."
The runes on the floor flared brightly, and the arena began to shift.
Ahead, a new passageway