Aetheron followed the masked figure through the dim corridor, his thoughts still locked on what had just happened. The presence—the Entity—it had reached out. Not in full force, but enough to make itself known.
And that voice…
It wasn't just watching. It was waiting.
The masked figure finally stopped.
Aetheron glanced around. They had entered a vast chamber, its ceiling stretching far above, barely visible in the low light. The walls bore ancient markings—symbols shifting like they were alive.
It felt different here.
Heavy. Like the air itself had weight.
"This is where it begins," the masked figure said, turning to face him. "Your next step."
Aetheron exhaled sharply. "You keep talking in riddles. Just tell me what I need to do."
The masked figure let out a small chuckle. "If it were that simple, you wouldn't be here."
Then—
They vanished.
Aetheron tensed.
No sound. No warning.
One moment they were standing in front of him, the next—gone.
He shifted his stance, instincts flaring.
Then—
The walls pulsed.
The shifting symbols burned brighter, their glow spreading across the floor.
Aetheron barely had time to react before the air twisted around him—
And the world collapsed.
The Trial Begins
Aetheron landed hard on one knee, his breath leaving him in a sharp gasp.
The chamber was gone.
Instead, he stood in an open expanse, stretching endlessly in all directions. The ground beneath him was smooth, reflective, like black glass. The sky—if it could even be called that—was an abyss.
No stars. No light. Just endless darkness.
Aetheron pushed himself to his feet.
Then—
Footsteps.
Soft, deliberate.
He turned sharply—and froze.
Standing just a few meters away—was himself.
But it wasn't just a reflection.
The other Aetheron stood tall, his expression unreadable. His Dominion flared around him, but it was different. More controlled. More complete.
Aetheron narrowed his eyes. "Another illusion?"
The other Aetheron said nothing.
Then—
He moved.
Fast.
Aetheron barely had time to react before a fist came flying toward his face. He twisted, dodging by inches, but before he could counter—
BAM!
Aetheron's ribs exploded with pain as a kick slammed into his side, sending him skidding across the smooth surface.
He caught himself, coughing as he straightened.
"Alright." He wiped his mouth, eyes locking onto his opponent. "So that's how it is."
The other Aetheron tilted his head slightly.
Then—
He vanished.
Aetheron barely had time to register before a knee smashed into his back, sending him forward. He spun, swinging his arm—only for his attack to pass through nothing.
The moment he blinked, the clone was in front of him again.
Aetheron's instincts flared—Dodge!
Too late.
A fist slammed into his stomach.
Aetheron's body lurched, his breath ripped away. Before he could even recover, a second strike caught him in the jaw, sending him crashing onto his back.
This isn't normal.
Aetheron gritted his teeth, rolling back to his feet. His clone stood still, watching.
It wasn't just copying him—it was ahead of him. Every move he made, it had already countered.
Then it spoke.
"You are incomplete."
Aetheron exhaled through his nose. "I get that a lot."
The clone didn't react. "Your Dominion. Your power. It belongs to something greater than you."
Aetheron's eyes narrowed. "And?"
"And that is why you will lose."
The clone charged.
Aetheron reacted instantly. He moved—
But his opponent was faster.
Aetheron saw the fist coming—he tried to block—
CRACK.
His body blurred backward from the impact, skidding along the black glass.
Pain exploded in his shoulder.
He barely caught himself before crashing completely.
His breathing was uneven.
This wasn't just a battle.
It was a test.
Aetheron clenched his fists. His Dominion flickered around him—unstable, wild.
The clone watched.
Waiting.
Aetheron exhaled.
Then—
He smiled.
Shifting the Flow
"Alright." He rolled his shoulder, ignoring the pain. "I get it now."
The clone remained silent.
Aetheron took a slow step forward.
Then another.
The weight in the air—the pressure—it was still there. But now he could feel it. Not as an enemy.
But as part of him.
The clone moved—but this time, Aetheron was already ahead.
The moment his opponent blurred forward, Aetheron did too.
The difference?
He wasn't resisting.
His Dominion flowed.
His opponent threw a punch—Aetheron didn't dodge.
Instead—he redirected.
A twist of his palm. A shift in weight.
The force that was meant to crush him—became his own.
BOOM!
The clone staggered back as Aetheron's counterstrike landed clean.
For the first time, its expression changed.
Aetheron cracked his neck. "Not as fun when I start playing, huh?"
The clone steadied itself.
Then—
It smiled.
And for the first time—
It unleashed its full power.
The Breaking Point
Aetheron barely had time to process before the world shattered.
The air cracked.
The ground trembled.
And then—they clashed.
Fists met, shockwaves rippling through the void. Each movement was faster, sharper, pushing beyond what Aetheron had thought possible.
But this time—
He wasn't losing.
He wasn't just reacting.
He was controlling.
A step forward—his Dominion shifted.
His opponent moved—Aetheron was already there.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
The battle blurred.
And then—
Aetheron saw it.
A single opening.
Without hesitation, he took it.
CRACK!
His fist connected with the clone's chest—
And everything froze.
Aetheron exhaled, stepping back.
The clone stood still—then slowly faded into dust.
Silence.
Then—
The world returned.
Aetheron was back in the chamber.
The masked figure stood before him, arms crossed.
"Now you're ready."
Aetheron smirked, rolling his shoulders.
"Not bad."
The masked figure chuckled. "Don't get cocky. The real battle hasn't even begun."
Aetheron exhaled.
Yeah. He knew.
This was only the beginning.