Aetheron moved fast.
The statues kept coming, their hollow eyes locked onto him as if drawn by his presence. Their stone limbs swung with precision, but he was already ahead of them—a blur in the shifting shadows.
One leaped at him. Aetheron sidestepped, his Dominion extending like sharp tendrils, wrapping around the statue's leg and crushing it mid-air.
Another lunged—this one faster.
Aetheron ducked, his palm glowing with dark energy before he drove it straight through the statue's chest. The moment his attack landed, the entire construct crumbled into dust.
They were strong.
But they weren't alive.
And that was their weakness.
Aetheron didn't stop moving. His eyes were locked on the door at the far end of the hall. Every step forward was another attack, another dodge, another shattered guardian.
Then—
A sudden change.
The remaining statues stopped.
They didn't retreat. Didn't attack. Just…stood there, their hollow eyes watching him.
Aetheron narrowed his eyes. "Done already?"
Silence.
Then, without a sound—
The statues turned toward the door.
And at that moment—
It began to open.
Beyond the Door
Aetheron slowed his steps, keeping his guard up.
The massive stone doors rumbled as they pulled apart, revealing nothing but darkness inside. The statues stood on either side, unmoving.
It felt…wrong.
Like something was waiting.
Watching.
Aetheron exhaled. "Of course. It's never just a door, is it?"
Still, there was no point in hesitating. He stepped forward, crossing the threshold—
And the moment he did—
The world shifted.
Aetheron's Reflection
Aetheron blinked.
He was…somewhere else.
The vast stone hall was gone. The towering statues, the strange gatekeeper—all of it had vanished.
Instead, he stood in an empty space.
The sky above was endless black, swirling with faint streaks of violet energy. The ground beneath him was smooth, reflective—like a mirror.
And standing directly in front of him—
Was himself.
Aetheron frowned. "What is this?"
The other him—his reflection—smirked. "You tell me."
Aetheron's eyes narrowed. "Some kind of illusion?"
The reflection tilted its head. "Does it feel like one?"
Aetheron clenched his fists. He could sense it. This wasn't just a trick or a hallucination.
This was real.
Or at least…something close to it.
The Fight With Himself
Aetheron took a cautious step forward. "So, what? You're my test? Some kind of final challenge?"
His reflection smiled wider. "Not quite."
Then, without warning—
It attacked.
Aetheron barely had time to react. His other self moved like a shadow, closing the distance in an instant.
**A punch—**aimed straight for his gut.
Aetheron twisted, barely dodging. He countered with a swipe of his Dominion—but his reflection mirrored him perfectly.
Their attacks clashed, a burst of dark energy exploding between them.
Aetheron skidded back, eyes sharp. "So that's how it is."
His reflection stood calmly, tilting its head. "You can't fight what you don't understand."
Aetheron rolled his shoulders. "That so?"
His Dominion flared, shadows twisting around him like living flames.
Then—he vanished.
A blink movement, appearing behind his reflection. His fist **drove forward—**but at the last second, his reflection spun, catching his wrist.
Their eyes met.
And for the first time—
Aetheron felt something strange.
Like he was being pulled into something.
Then—
His mind shattered.
The Vision
Aetheron saw flashes.
Memories—but not his own.
A city burning.
A throne crumbling.
A figure standing in the ruins—eyes empty, power raging out of control.
And then—
A name.
One that felt too familiar.
Aetheron gasped as he was thrown back into reality. His reflection stood in front of him, still calm, still smirking.
"Now do you see?" it asked.
Aetheron clutched his head. The images, the memories—they weren't just random visions.
They were connected to him.
His past? His future? Something else entirely?
He didn't know.
But one thing was clear—
This wasn't over yet.
His reflection extended a hand. "One last step, Aetheron."
Aetheron stared at it, heart pounding.
This wasn't just a fight.
This was a choice.
And whatever he chose next—would change everything.