The spiral staircase seemed endless, its stone steps worn smooth by countless feet that had passed through the Tower before Jin-Seok. The faint echo of his footsteps against the walls filled the silence, a steady rhythm that kept his thoughts from wandering too far. But even the Tower's silence wasn't enough to drown out the voice lingering in the back of his mind.
"We are the sacrifice."
Those words from the vision struck him like a blade every time they resurfaced. What did they mean? Who were the beings imprisoned within the Tower, and why was their sacrifice necessary?
His grip tightened on the hilt of his sword as he reached the next floor. Unlike the labyrinthine jungle or the solemn library, the new space was shrouded in darkness, its boundaries obscured. Jin-Seok stepped forward cautiously, his instincts honed by years of hardship screaming at him to be alert.
The moment he moved, a soft, haunting whisper filled the air.
"Do you think you're different?"
Jin-Seok froze, his heart pounding. The voice was neither masculine nor feminine, its tone calm yet dripping with malice.
"You fight. You climb. You grasp at power. But in the end, you're just another pawn."
"Show yourself," Jin-Seok demanded, his voice steady despite the chill running down his spine.
The darkness shifted, forming a shape that resembled a cloaked figure. Its face was obscured, but its glowing red eyes pierced through the shadows.
"I am the Veiled Watcher," the figure said, its voice echoing unnaturally. "This is the Trial of Shadows, and your resolve will be tested."
Jin-Seok raised his sword defensively. "I've passed every trial so far. This won't be any different."
The Watcher tilted its head, as if amused. "Confidence is a fragile thing in the face of truth. Let us see if yours will shatter."
The room suddenly came alive, the darkness receding to reveal a mirrored hall. Dozens of reflections of Jin-Seok stared back at him, each one slightly distorted. Some were twisted versions of himself—gaunt, scarred, or bearing the weight of unseen horrors.
"What is this?" Jin-Seok muttered, his voice wavering for the first time.
The Watcher's voice echoed around him. "You see fragments of what could be. Versions of yourself shaped by choices you have yet to make."
Jin-Seok's eyes darted between the reflections. One showed him clad in golden armor, a crown resting on his head. Another depicted him wielding immense power but surrounded by bodies, his eyes cold and empty.
The sight of a third reflection made his blood run cold. It was him—chained and broken, his body battered and scarred. The anguish in his reflection's eyes was unmistakable, as if begging to be freed.
"Is this real?" Jin-Seok whispered, his voice barely audible.
The Watcher's laughter echoed through the hall. "Reality is subjective. But tell me, challenger—when faced with these possibilities, will you falter or forge ahead?"
[System Notification: Trial of Shadows Initiated.]
Objective: Face the truths of your potential futures and make your choice.
The mirrors began to shift, the reflections stepping out as if coming to life. Jin-Seok instinctively raised his sword, but they did not attack. Instead, they circled him, their gazes heavy with unspoken judgment.
The crowned version of himself spoke first, his voice regal yet distant. "Power and glory are within your grasp. But are you willing to sacrifice your humanity to achieve them?"
The Jin-Seok surrounded by bodies stepped forward next, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. "Strength comes at a cost. If you hesitate, others will fall. If you choose wrong, blood will be on your hands."
Finally, the chained version raised his head, his voice hoarse and filled with despair. "The Tower is not what it seems. You are not what you seem. Do you have the strength to uncover the truth, no matter the pain?"
Jin-Seok's heart pounded as the three figures stared him down, their words echoing in his mind. Each represented a path, a choice he hadn't yet made but would inevitably face.
"How do I choose?" he asked, his voice trembling.
The Watcher appeared behind him, its presence overwhelming. "The choice is not about what lies ahead but about what lies within. Face yourself, Jin-Seok. Only then will you find the path forward."
The reflections dissolved into the mirrors, leaving Jin-Seok alone once more. But the room was far from silent. The whispers returned, louder and more insistent, clawing at his mind.
"You'll fail."
"You'll lose everything."
"You're nothing without the System."
Jin-Seok dropped to one knee, clutching his head as the voices grew deafening. The weight of doubt pressed down on him, threatening to crush his resolve.
"No," he growled, forcing himself to stand. "I've come too far to stop now."
The Watcher's laughter echoed again. "Then prove it."
The hall shifted once more, and Jin-Seok found himself facing a single reflection. This one was different—neither twisted nor idealized. It was simply him, as he was now.
The reflection spoke, its voice steady and clear. "Who are you, Jin-Seok? A survivor? A fighter? Or something more?"
Jin-Seok stared at his reflection, the question reverberating through his soul. For so long, he had been driven by instinct, by the need to survive and climb higher. But what was his purpose beyond that?
"I'm…" He hesitated, the weight of the question almost too much to bear.
The Watcher's voice broke the silence. "Decide, Jin-Seok. Your answer will shape the Tower's judgment."
Jin-Seok closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. The visions, the trials, the whispers—they were all meant to break him. But he wasn't just a pawn. He wasn't just a survivor.
"I'm someone who won't give up," he said finally, his voice firm. "No matter what this Tower throws at me, I'll keep climbing. Not for power or glory—but for the truth."
The reflection smiled faintly before fading, and the hall dissolved into darkness once more.
[System Notification: Trial of Shadows Complete.]
Rewards: +3 Wisdom, +2 Mental Fortitude.
Insight Gained: The Tower tests not only strength but the essence of one's soul.
The Watcher's form reappeared, its red eyes glowing with a faint flicker of approval. "You have passed, but your journey is far from over. Remember, Jin-Seok—the Tower reveals as much as it conceals. Trust nothing, not even yourself."
Before he could respond, the Watcher vanished, and the room shifted again. A new staircase appeared before him, leading upward. Jin-Seok sheathed his sword, his resolve stronger than ever.
"No matter what, I'll find the answers," he muttered, stepping onto the staircase.
With each step, he felt the weight of the Tower's secrets pressing down on him. But he wouldn't stop. Not now. Not ever.