The silence hung heavy in the dense air of that dark battlefield. Lian was still trying to process everything he had just discovered.
The man before him, who introduced himself as Kael, watched him with piercing eyes, evaluating his posture, his physical state, and, most importantly, his determination.
"If you want to survive, you will need to defeat yourself."
Lian lifted his gaze, confused.
"Defeat myself?" His voice carried disbelief. "What does that even mean?"
Kael crossed his arms and gave a small smile, as if he had already anticipated this question.
"Exactly what I said. The greatest obstacle you will face here isn't the monsters, nor the darkness itself. It's you."
Lian felt a shiver run down his spine. Since arriving in that dimension, he had felt as if he were being watched. As if something... or someone... was waiting for the right moment to reveal itself.
