The clash of steel echoed through the chamber as Kael's sword met the blade of his reflection, sparks flying from the force of the impact. The warped version of himself grinned—a malicious, hollow expression that sent a chill down his spine. Its movements mirrored his perfectly, as if it anticipated his every thought.
"Is this all you've got?" the reflection hissed, its voice distorted and layered with a sinister undertone.
Kael gritted his teeth, swinging his blade again. "I'm not losing to a shadow of myself!"
Seris and Caden were locked in their own battles against their doppelgängers. Seris's reflection moved with the same agility she was known for but carried an added ferocity, its strikes aimed not just to wound but to kill. Caden's counterpart was relentless, its shield bashing against his own with a force that made the ground tremble.
"Caden!" Seris shouted as she parried a dagger aimed for her throat. "We can't keep this up forever!"
"I'm open to suggestions!" he yelled back, slamming his shield into his opponent and forcing it to stagger.
Kael's mind raced. Each move he made, his reflection countered with ease, and every misstep left him vulnerable. This wasn't just a battle of strength; it was a battle of will. The whispers of the Void were louder now, taunting him, feeding his doubt.
Kael swung again, but his reflection caught the blade with its hand, its grin widening. "You can't win, Kael. You're too weak. You've always been too weak."
The words hit harder than the physical blows. Kael faltered, his grip on his sword loosening for just a moment. That was all the reflection needed. It lunged forward, slamming into him and pinning him to the ground.
"You think you can save anyone?" the reflection sneered, its voice dripping with contempt. "You can't even save yourself."
Kael struggled beneath its weight, his mind spiraling. Was it right? Was he fighting a losing battle? The image of the rift flashed in his mind again, the twisted vision of himself consumed by the Void's power.
"Kael!" Seris's voice cut through the chaos. She was still fighting her own reflection, but her eyes were locked on him. "Don't listen to it! You're stronger than this!"
Her words sparked something in him—a flicker of light in the darkness. Kael gritted his teeth, tightening his grip on his sword. "You're wrong," he growled.
With a surge of strength, he shoved the reflection off him and stood, his sword blazing with a faint, golden light. The whispers in his mind faltered, and for the first time, the reflection hesitated.
Kael pointed his blade at it, his voice steady. "You're not me. You're just a shadow. And shadows can't exist without the light."
The reflection snarled, lunging at him again, but this time Kael was ready. He stepped aside, his blade slicing clean through the distorted figure. It let out a guttural scream before dissolving into mist.
Seris and Caden, inspired by Kael's victory, pushed back against their own reflections. Seris's daggers found their mark, and her reflection disintegrated with a shriek. Caden's shield bash sent his opponent sprawling, and with a powerful strike, he destroyed it.
As the last of the reflections faded, the chamber grew still. The oppressive air lifted slightly, though the tension remained.
"We did it," Caden panted, lowering his shield. "But what the hell was that?"
"Another test," Kael said, his voice heavy with exhaustion. "The Void isn't done with us."
Seris wiped the sweat from her brow, her expression grim. "It's trying to break us. Divide us. But we're not giving it the satisfaction."
Kael nodded, but deep down, he couldn't shake the unease. The whispers were quieter now, but they hadn't disappeared entirely. The Void was still there, waiting, watching.