The shimmering door faded behind Erwin as he stepped into the unknown, his heart still heavy from his choice—Sacrifice. It had been a gamble, one driven by instinct rather than certainty, and now he stood alone, waiting for the labyrinth to reveal its judgment.
The chamber he entered was unlike anything he had seen before. A circular room stretched endlessly into shadow, its walls carved with glowing symbols that pulsed like a heartbeat. The floor beneath him shifted with every step, tiles lighting up in chaotic patterns.
Above, the sky was a swirling vortex of crimson and black, casting an eerie light over the room. The air was cold and carried a faint metallic tang, like blood.
A deep, resonant voice echoed from all directions.
"You have chosen Sacrifice. A noble decision, but one that demands proof of resolve. The Final Labyrinth will test your mind, not your strength. Success will bring you clarity. Failure will bring nothing."
Erwin clenched his fists, his heart pounding. He wasn't sure what clarity meant, but he had no intention of failing.
---
The voice continued. "Your first trial begins now. To sacrifice is to give without expecting reward. Are you prepared to lose, anomaly?"
Before Erwin's eyes, the chamber transformed into a small, broken village. Buildings stood half-collapsed, their walls scorched black by fire. The air was thick with smoke and the faint cries of unseen people.
In the center of the village stood a pedestal holding a glowing orb. Surrounding it were ghostly figures, their faces twisted in desperation and pain. Each figure extended a hand toward the orb, their voices whispering in unison.
"Help us."
Erwin hesitated, his gaze shifting between the orb and the figures.
The voice returned, colder now. "To take the orb is to gain strength, but it will seal their fate. To leave it is to sacrifice power for their survival. Choose."
Erwin's mind raced. Were these figures even real? Was this a trick, designed to manipulate him? He didn't have time to debate. He stepped back, away from the orb.
"I'm not playing your game," he said firmly. "If sacrifice means letting go, then I'll let it go."
The figures dissolved into mist, their whispers fading into silence. The village crumbled away, leaving Erwin back in the circular chamber.
The voice spoke again, its tone laced with approval. "You understand the weight of sacrifice. Proceed."
---
The chamber shifted again, and Erwin found himself standing on a narrow bridge suspended over a bottomless abyss. At the far end of the bridge stood two doors, identical in design but marked with opposing symbols: one was a bright sun, the other a dark moon.
"In this trial," the voice said, "you must trust your instincts. One door leads forward; the other leads to oblivion. There is no hint, no logic, only choice."
Erwin's brow furrowed as he approached the doors. The symbols seemed meaningless at first glance, and no pattern revealed itself upon closer inspection.
"No hints, huh?" he muttered.
He closed his eyes, forcing himself to block out the voice, the bridge, the doors—everything. He focused on his breathing, calming his racing thoughts.
When he opened his eyes, his gaze fell on the moon-marked door. There was no reason for it, no logic behind the choice. Just a feeling.
Erwin pushed the door open and stepped through.
The bridge and the doors dissolved, replaced once again by the circular chamber. The voice returned, its tone almost amused.
"Trust is the foundation of all decisions. Even when blind, it can guide you. Proceed."
Those words lingered in his head repeatedly trying piece the words together. But his reasoning wasn't clear.
---
The final transformation was the most unsettling. The chamber remained circular, but the symbols on the walls dimmed, plunging the room into near-total darkness. Only the floor beneath Erwin's feet emitted a faint, pulsing light.
"The final trial," the voice announced. "Endurance. The mind is as fragile as it is powerful. Can you hold firm, even when all seems lost?"
A deafening roar echoed through the chamber as the ground trembled violently. Massive chains burst from the walls, their ends connected to colossal weights that dangled over the void below.
Erwin's breath caught as the chains began to pull, dragging the floor tiles toward the edges of the chamber. The light beneath his feet flickered dangerously.
"Stay on the light," the voice instructed.
Erwin moved quickly, jumping from one tile to another as the floor disintegrated around him. Each step required precision and timing; one mistake would send him plunging into the abyss.
Sweat dripped down his face as the tiles became fewer and farther apart. His legs ached, his breaths came in ragged gasps, but he refused to stop.
As the final tile held beneath his weight, the room stabilized. The chains retracted, and the voice spoke again, its tone calm and measured.
"You have endured. You have trusted. You have sacrificed. The Final Labyrinth is complete."
---
The chamber returned to its original state: circular walls, glowing symbols, and a faint crimson light. Erwin sank to his knees, exhaustion washing over him. Sweat dripped from his forehead as he breathed heavily.
"You have earned the right to ask three questions," the voice said, breaking the silence. "Ask your questions with reason because you would be surprised how it may help you in the future."
Erwin's heart raced as he looked around, his mind swirling with possibilities. He could ask anything—about the system, the labyrinth, the world beyond—but the weight of the moment left him breathless.
The room remained silent, the voice patient, as Erwin gathered his thoughts.
And so, the next step in his journey awaited, shrouded in mystery and anticipation. As he continued, the confusion Inside of him begun to clear slowly and he had the feeling that he would fully understand more sooner than later.