System: "Synchronization 0.5%."
He was falling. The void around him felt endless. Air burned against his skin, and the deafening sound of his own heartbeat echoed in his mind. Yet, an odd sensation overtook him – as if the fall was both real and an illusion. His feet touched something solid, and in that instant, he found himself on his knees.
System: "Synchronization 100%."
Darkness thick as ink surrounded him. Ahead, lights suddenly flickered to life, revealing dozens of mirrors. They stretched along an infinite corridor, forming a labyrinth with no escape.
System: "Trial Initiated: Mirror Labyrinth. Find your true reflection."
His breathing quickened. He forced himself to his feet, his knees still trembling, and gazed into the nearest mirror. The reflection didn't mimic his movements. Instead, it smiled—a sinister, unsettling smile.
"Who are you?" he whispered.
The reflection replied, "I am who you could have been."
He turned away, moving further down the line of mirrors. In each one, he saw different versions of himself. In one, he was a successful man with a family. In another, he was an orphan, scraping by in a broken world. In a third, he was a monster with greedy eyes and bloodstained hands.
But none of them felt real.
System: "5 minutes remaining until the trial ends."
His heart raced. He pressed on until he noticed one mirror standing slightly apart, its surface cracked and dim. Unlike the others, it emitted no light. The darkness within it was deeper than any other.
"My past is darkness. My present is uncertainty. My life is a struggle," he murmured, extending his hand toward the mirror.
His fingers touched the cold surface, which immediately began to fracture. The mirror quivered like liquid, then began pulling him inside.
System: "Trial completed."
---
Rewards:
+1 Endurance Point.
Skill Choices:
1. Passive Skill: Reduces physical pain by 20%.
2. Active Skill: Short-distance dash.
3. Aura of Darkness: Obscures the enemy's vision for 5 seconds.
"Choose your reward."
His eyes froze on the first option. "Pain... I can't go through that again," he thought. The choice was obvious.
System: "Skill 'Pain Reduction' acquired."
---
The mirror disappeared, and he found himself back in the void. But this time, it felt less terrifying. His focus shifted to the next trial.
System: "Preparing for the second trial."
The darkness around him began to condense, taking shape. From it emerged a figure—a tall, shadowy silhouette that felt eerily familiar. Its eyes glowed crimson, and a voice echoed directly in his mind:
"You will never leave this place alive."
He froze as the darkness thickened around him. His heart pounded harder. Clenching his fists, he braced himself for the new threat.
"This is only the beginning," he whispered, realizing that the true battle was about to start.