The reflection stood motionless, its blade shimmering with a malevolent energy. Kain stared at it, unease crawling up his spine. Every detail was a perfect replica—the way it held its weapon, the faint scars on its face, even the dark veins spreading across its Etherial arm. But its eyes were different. They glowed with a cold, unfeeling light, devoid of humanity.
The shard whispered urgently. [Manifestation Identified: Etherial Doppelgänger. Warning: Power Calibration Based on Subject's Own Capabilities.]
Kain smirked grimly, raising his blade. "So, it's me versus me. Let's see who's better at being me."
The doppelgänger tilted its head, then surged forward without warning. Its movements were eerily fluid, mirroring Kain's fighting style with uncanny precision. Their blades clashed, sparks flying as Etherial energy crackled between them.
Kain pivoted, using his Etherial arm to parry a strike aimed at his torso. The doppelgänger countered instantly, twisting its blade toward his exposed flank. Kain rolled away just in time, the edge of the blade grazing his armor.
The shard pulsed, feeding him information. [Opponent Strength Matches User. Suggested Strategy: Exploit Unpredictability.]
"Unpredictable, huh?" Kain muttered, his mind racing.
He feinted left, drawing the doppelgänger's attention, then spun right, delivering a sweeping slash aimed at its legs. The clone dodged, but its response was slower this time, as if struggling to adapt to Kain's sudden shift in tactics.
The fight raged on, the chamber echoing with the clash of steel and the hum of Etherial energy. Kain's breaths came in sharp bursts, his muscles burning with effort. The doppelgänger matched him blow for blow, every attack and defense a twisted reflection of his own abilities.
But Kain wasn't just fighting an opponent—he was fighting himself. Every misstep, every moment of hesitation, the doppelgänger capitalized on, forcing Kain to confront his own weaknesses.
The shard's whispers grew more insistent. [Corruption Level Rising. Etherial Power Available for Amplification.]
Kain hesitated. He could feel the shard's energy surging within him, begging to be unleashed. But he knew the cost—every time he tapped into its power, the corruption spread further, twisting him into something he feared he couldn't control.
The doppelgänger lunged, its blade arcing toward his head. Kain's Etherial arm shot up instinctively, a dark shield forming just in time to block the strike. The force sent him skidding backward, his boots grinding against the smooth floor.
"No choice," Kain growled, clenching his fist. The shard's energy erupted, black tendrils snaking along his arm and enveloping his blade. The weapon pulsed with an ominous light, its edge now jagged and menacing.
The doppelgänger paused, its head tilting as if assessing the change. Then it mirrored him, its own blade transforming, dark veins crawling up its Etherial arm.
Kain charged, the corrupted energy amplifying his speed and strength. He slammed into the doppelgänger, their blades locking in a brutal clash. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the chamber, cracks forming in the walls and floor.
This time, Kain didn't hold back. He fought with everything he had, his attacks wild and relentless. The doppelgänger struggled to keep up, its movements faltering under the onslaught.
Kain saw his opening. He feinted high, drawing the doppelgänger's blade upward, then dropped low, driving his sword into its torso. The clone staggered, dark energy spilling from the wound like smoke.
But it wasn't over. The doppelgänger grinned, its form flickering as it dissolved into a cloud of black mist. The mist swirled around Kain, reforming behind him. The clone struck, its blade aimed at his back.
Kain spun, his Etherial arm lashing out. The dark tendrils wrapped around the doppelgänger's weapon, holding it in place. With a roar, Kain drove his blade through the clone's chest, the corrupted energy surging through it.
The doppelgänger froze, its form fracturing like glass. For a moment, its glowing eyes met Kain's, a flicker of something—recognition, perhaps—crossing its expression. Then it shattered, its remnants dissolving into the air.
Kain staggered, his chest heaving as he lowered his blade. The chamber was silent, the only sound his ragged breathing. The shard pulsed faintly, its whispers subdued.
[Trial Completed. Corruption Level: 42%. Proceed to the Gate.]
The chamber began to shift, the walls melting away to reveal a new path. Ahead, a massive staircase spiraled upward, its steps carved from glowing Etherial stone.
Kain exhaled, wiping the sweat from his brow. "One step closer," he muttered, sheathing his blade. He glanced at his Etherial arm, the dark veins now spreading further up his shoulder. The power was intoxicating, but the price was becoming harder to ignore.
He set his jaw and started up the staircase, the Codex Tower looming ever closer.