Kei trudged through the endless corridors of the PrisonofTime, his mind heavy with the weight of his recent battle. Thefragments oftime that had begun to resonate within him pulsed faintly, as if whispering secrets he was yet to understand.
His opponent had been unlike any before—its movements erratic, its attacks unpredictable. But more than that, something about that battle had changed him. His perception of time flickered inconsistently, making his steps feel both slow and fast at once. It was as if part of him was beginning to slip between the seconds.
As he moved forward, a low, mechanical voice echoed through the halls. "Subject#203, you are diverging from the designated path. Return to the loop immediately."
Kei clenched his fists. "Like hell I will."
The walls around him shifted, the once-familiar prison corridors twisting into a labyrinth of impossibilities. A door appeared before him, metallic and pulsating with an eerie blue light. He could feel it—beyond this door lay another challenge, another piece of the puzzle that held him captive in this place.
He reached out, and the moment his fingers touched the surface, a wave of energy shot through his arm. The fragments of time within him reacted violently, forcing visions into his mind. He saw glimpses of himself in different battles, different moments—some victorious, others horrifyingly painful. But in one of those visions, he saw something new.
A power unlike any he had wielded before. A spark of control, a glimmer of potential.
The door hissed open, revealing an arena bathed in darkness. And at its center stood a figure—a shadow of himself, yet twisted and distorted.
"You're not ready yet," the doppelgänger said, eyes glowing with a crimson light. "But soon, you'll understand what you must become."
Kei took a deep breath, stepping forward. "Then let's see if I can change that now."