Aron's eyelids fluttered open.
For a moment, there was only silence. No sound of wind howling through the barren battlefield, no stench of blood or dust in the air. Just... nothing. His violet eyes darted around, trying to make sense of his surroundings. Where the cracked, dry earth had once been, there was now a vast, endless expanse of black. There was no horizon, no sky, no ground—just pure, suffocating darkness.
His chest rose and fell sharply as he realized he was standing on nothing. His feet touched no surface, yet he did not fall. It felt as though he were suspended in the void itself.
"What the hell..." he muttered, his voice strangely muted, swallowed by the darkness.
Then he froze. His body—it wasn't his.
Aron's gaze shot downward, his heart pounding. The limbs he saw were larger, more muscular, exuding a raw, intimidating power. His hands were calloused and marked with scars that he didn't remember earning. The sight was so alien, so wrong, that for a split second, panic threatened to overtake him.
"Where is this place?" he thought, clenching his fists. "Is this another one of Malrisoz's illusions? Damn it, I can't see—"
Before he could finish the thought, a voice reverberated inside his skull, deep and resonant. 'So the time has come, huh?'
Aron's entire body went rigid. The words weren't spoken aloud. They echoed directly within his mind, vibrating through every nerve. His pulse spiked, and he instinctively dropped into a defensive stance.
"Who are you?!" Aron barked into the darkness, his tone sharp. "Show yourself! Where is this?!"
The voice returned, calm but carrying an undercurrent of immense weight. 'This place is your own mental domain. A space only you can enter... or permit someone else to. As for me...' The voice paused briefly, almost as if it were considering its words. 'I am you. Or rather, your future self.'
Aron's expression twisted into disbelief. "Future self? Are you kidding me?" A short, incredulous laugh escaped his throat. "What, you expect me to just believe that? This isn't some cheap novel or anime with 'mental domains' and time travel nonsense." He waved his arms at the void around them. "I can't even see you!"
The voice was patient, almost eerily so. 'I knew you wouldn't believe me easily. So I'll prove it to you.'
Aron's breath caught as the voice continued. 'Look at your own body closely. On your right shoulder, you'll find a mark—a blade cut. That body belongs to you now, yes... but it is also mine, from a future you have yet to reach.'
Confused but wary, Aron glanced at his right shoulder. His eyes widened. There was indeed a cut—but it was unlike any wound he'd ever seen. Instead of flesh and blood, the gash seemed filled with swirling black substance, as though the void itself had been poured into his body. Tiny specks of light glimmered within the wound, like distant stars trapped inside him.
"What... the hell is this?" Aron whispered.
Instinctively, he reached out to touch it.
'Don't', the voice snapped sharply, breaking its calm demeanor for the first time. 'You're not strong enough yet. Touching it will kill you instantly.'
Aron's hand froze midair. He lowered it slowly, scowling in frustration. "Fine," he muttered through gritted teeth. "Say I believe you for a moment—that you're my future self. Then you must know why and how I ended up in this Tower, in this cursed game. I've cleared it twice before. Why am I here again?"
The void seemed to grow colder as silence stretched between them. Finally, the voice spoke, its tone heavier than before.
'That answer is... complicated. I can tell you, but it will only be vague. The names and forces involved are far beyond your current understanding. If you try to hear or speak their true names now, your mind will shatter. You're not ready for that truth.'
Aron's jaw tightened. "Ugh... so you can't even give me a straight answer," he growled. "Fine. Then at least tell me this—how did I end up here? In this... 'mental domain,' or whatever the hell this place is supposed to be."
The voice answered immediately this time. 'That was Malrisoz's doing. Her spell—the one she used against you just now—it's called Mental Break. Normally, it traps the victim in an illusion until their will collapses.it was a weak spell, yes. But I intercepted it and used its power to pull you here, into your own domain, before she could break you.'
Aron fell silent, processing that. After a moment, he let out a low chuckle, shaking his head.
"Hah. No. You're not me," he said, his tone mocking. "I know myself better than anyone. Even if I were facing the worst possible outcome, even if everything was falling apart, I'd never come crawling back to the past. I'd face it head-on, fight it, enjoy it!" His violet eyes gleamed with defiance. "You expect me to believe some future version of me would just show up here, whispering warnings like a coward? Not a chance."
The void fell silent again. Then, slowly, the voice spoke once more. ...Perhaps words aren't enough. After you reach the 30th floor, you will understand. At that point, you can decide whether to believe me or not. Until then, I will remain here, within this domain. From now on, you can access this space at will—just focus your mind and you'll return here.
Aron narrowed his eyes. "Hmph. We'll see," he muttered.
Before he could speak further, the void seemed to ripple. His vision blurred, and a sudden wave of dizziness hit him.
"Wha—What?!" Aron shouted as his body dissolved into motes of light. The darkness consumed him whole.
Outside — 3rd Floor
Aron's body slumped forward, crashing to its knees. His eyes were vacant, his breathing shallow. Malsiroz stood a short distance away, watching with a predator's grin. Slowly, she approached, each step deliberate.
"So fragile," she whispered, crouching down. Her clawed fingers tilted Aron's chin upward. "Now, you will experience the true trial, little challenger. Hehehe..."
Her smile widened—until Aron's hand twitched.
Malsiroz's eyes narrowed. She immediately sprang backward as Aron's entire body shuddered violently. His fingers clenched into fists, and a guttural growl tore from his throat. His blank eyes snapped into sharp focus, violet flames burning within them.
"Impossible," Malrisoz hissed, backing away. "My spell shouldn't wear off this quickly!"
Aron rose slowly, the movement deliberate and terrifyingly calm. His gaze locked onto hers like a predator sighting prey.
'He said the 30th floor, huh?' Aron thought, his lips curling into a cold smile. 'Fine. I'll see for myself whether he's real or just another illusion.'
In the next instant, he moved.
His body blurred, vanishing from sight. Malsiroz barely had time to react before a crushing wave of killing intent slammed into her. She twisted aside as Aron's blade sliced through the space she'd just occupied, the sheer force of the strike tearing the ground asunder.
Their battle reignited.
Malsiroz snarled, her claws lashing out in a flurry of deadly strikes. Aron met her head-on, his twin Shen Blades flashing like twin stars. Every clash sent shockwaves ripping through the battlefield, each strike faster, fiercer than the last.
"You should have stayed down!" Malsiroz roared, her voice echoing like thunder.
Aron's grin widened, wild and unrestrained. "And miss this? Not a chance!"
He ducked beneath a swipe, pivoted on his heel, and drove a blade toward her midsection. She twisted impossibly fast, the edge grazing her gown instead of flesh. In retaliation, she spun and kicked, her foot connecting with his chest in a burst of power.
Aron grunted, sliding backward. He caught himself on one knee, exhaling sharply. "Hah... you're faster than before."
Malsiroz smirked. "And you're weaker than I thought."
Aron straightened, his violet eyes narrowing. "We'll see about that."
He surged forward, his form a blur. The ground cracked under his feet as he launched a flurry of relentless strikes. Malsiroz matched him, her movements fluid and hypnotic, like a deadly dance. Sparks flew with every collision.
The battle became a storm—steel and claws, speed and power.
As they fought, Aron's thoughts raced. She's strong... too strong. Even with my increased stats, she's holding back. I need to push beyond my limits, or this will drag on until she tears me apart.
He broke away, skidding to a halt several meters away. His chest heaved as he shouted, "System! Convert all my energy into Strength and Agility equally!"
A translucent screen blinked before him.
[Updated Stats]
STR: 285 → 335 (+50)
AGL: 284 → 334 (+50)
VIT: 203
STM: 184
INT: 144
LCK: 94
Energy: 0 (-1000)
Undisturbed stats points: 135 ]
[Warning!] Drastic increase may cause physical damage.
Aron's body convulsed violently. Pain lanced through every nerve, every muscle fiber tearing and rebuilding in an instant. His scream ripped through the battlefield.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Malsiroz hesitated, her eyes narrowing. "What is he... becoming?"
When the transformation ended, Aron stood tall, steam rising from his skin. His violet eyes burned brighter than ever. He exhaled, a dangerous smile spreading across his face.
"My turn."
Then he vanished.
Malsiroz's pupils contracted. Before she could react, a crushing blow slammed into her back, sending her careening forward. She twisted midair, only for a second strike to meet her face-to-face. Aron was everywhere at once, a whirlwind of devastating speed and strength.
"Too slow," he whispered as he appeared at her flank.
His blade pierced through her defenses, cutting deep. Malsiroz screamed, staggering backward, her green gown shredded and blood dripping from her wounds.
Desperation flickered in her glowing eyes. "I... I won't lose!"
She began chanting again, summoning a final spell—but Aron was already upon her. His Shen Blades crossed in a lethal arc.
"It's over!"
The strike landed.
Malsiroz gasped, her body trembling. Slowly, she sank to her knees, clutching her chest. Her once-proud posture crumbled as she looked up at him, a strange mix of fear and respect in her gaze.
"Y-You... have passed the trial," she whispered hoarsely. "You... don't have to fight anymore now."
With those final words, her form dissolved into motes of green light, scattering into the air. The oppressive atmosphere lifted, leaving Aron standing alone.
For a long moment, he said nothing. His chest heaved, his blades dripping with blood. Then, slowly, he looked up at the sky—or what passed for a sky in this twisted Tower.
A deep breath escaped him. "Haaah..."
His violet eyes gleamed with determination, but deep within them lingered uncertainty—
_ _ _
To be continued....