Kaida awoke with a jolt, her heart racing as the echoes of a nightmare faded. For a moment, she thought she was back in Zenith, safe in her warm bed, with the familiar hum of her room's air purifier. But the swirling skies of the Ethereal Nexus quickly shattered that illusion.
"Good morning, Prime User," Axis's mechanical voice greeted her, startling her into a defensive stance.
"Don't do that!" Kaida snapped, her hand clutching her chest.
"You should be accustomed to my presence by now," Axis replied, tilting its glowing head.
"Well, I'm not!" she retorted. "How about a nice 'hey, Kaida, just checking in' instead of creepy whispering at dawn?"
"I was not whispering," Axis deadpanned.
Kaida groaned. "Great. My only companion is an emotionless know-it-all."
Axis floated closer. "You have a new trial today. Prepare yourself."
Kaida sighed, her frustration simmering. "Yeah, because my first trial was such a blast. Let me guess, more shadow monsters?"
"Not precisely," Axis said cryptically.
The platform beneath them shifted, gliding toward a towering structure that loomed in the distance. As they approached, Kaida noticed a series of enormous, glowing doors. Each was marked with strange runes that pulsed with an ominous light.
"Let me guess," Kaida muttered. "Behind those doors is something designed to kill me?"
Axis paused, as if considering the question. "Your odds of survival are approximately 62%."
"Comforting," Kaida said sarcastically.
Before Kaida could step through one of the doors, a familiar voice called out.
"Still alive, newbie?" Zara sauntered up, her red hair blazing like fire against the swirling sky. "I'm impressed. Most rookies don't make it past their first trial."
"Gee, thanks," Kaida said dryly.
Zara grinned. "Don't get cocky, though. The next one's always harder. What door did you pick?"
"I haven't yet," Kaida admitted, glancing nervously at the glowing runes. "Any advice?"
Zara leaned in with a smirk. "Yeah—don't die."
Kaida rolled her eyes. "Wow. That's so helpful. Thanks."
Zara laughed. "Relax, newbie. You'll be fine. Just remember: if it looks too easy, it's a trap."
Kaida picked a door at random, the runes glowing brighter as she approached. It swung open soundlessly, revealing a long, narrow corridor shrouded in mist. The air was thick with an unsettling silence, broken only by the faint sound of footsteps that seemed to echo from nowhere.
Axis floated beside her. "Your objective is simple: reach the end of the corridor."
"That's it?" Kaida asked suspiciously.
"For now," Axis replied.
Kaida stepped forward cautiously, her hand brushing against the smooth walls. The footsteps grew louder, and she froze, her heart pounding.
"Uh, Axis?" she whispered. "What's making that noise?"
"The Nexus often mirrors your fears," Axis said. "Perhaps it is your own doubt manifesting."
"Great," Kaida muttered. "A philosophical horror house."
As she moved deeper into the corridor, the footsteps grew louder, faster, and more erratic. Kaida's pulse raced as shadows flickered in the mist.
"Who's there?" she called out, her voice trembling.
The mist shifted, revealing a figure that looked exactly like her. It mimicked her movements perfectly, its eyes glowing an eerie blue.
"Well, that's not creepy at all," Kaida muttered, gripping her bracelet tightly.
The doppelgänger lunged suddenly, and Kaida barely dodged, her instincts kicking in. She activated the Energy Shield Zara had given her, deflecting a blow that sent sparks flying.
"Axis, what do I do?" she shouted.
"Outthink it," Axis replied calmly. "It is a reflection of you. Exploit its flaws."
"Flaws? I'm not flawed!" Kaida protested, dodging another attack.
"Your hubris suggests otherwise," Axis said dryly.
Kaida realized that the doppelgänger mirrored her every move. If she attacked recklessly, it would counter perfectly. But what if she tricked it?
Feigning a stumble, Kaida fell to her knees, pretending to drop her shield. The reflection mimicked her, its guard lowering for a split second. Kaida seized the opportunity, rolling forward and delivering a powerful kick to its midsection.
The doppelgänger shattered into pixels, the mist dissipating around her. Kaida collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily.
"Well done," Axis said.
"Thanks," Kaida panted. "That was...terrifying."
"You are adapting," Axis noted. "That is a positive development."
Kaida managed a weak laugh. "Great. Can I adapt to not needing therapy after this?"
Exiting the corridor, Kaida found herself on a new platform bathed in warm, golden light. The sky above was calm, the swirling vortexes temporarily stilled.
Zara was waiting, leaning against a railing. "Not bad, newbie," she said with a grin. "Maybe you're tougher than you look."
Kaida smirked. "And maybe you're not as annoying as you seem."
Zara laughed. "Careful. I might start to like you."
For the first time since entering the Nexus, Kaida felt a flicker of hope. She wasn't alone in this strange, dangerous world. And though she didn't fully trust Zara, there was something comforting about her presence.
But as Kaida gazed out at the endless expanse, she couldn't shake the feeling that the worst was yet to come.
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