Chapter 29: Darkness Within

The entity which had a striking resemblance to myself began eroding,

when suddenly a voice roared through the silence.

"That is correct, you have been fighting yourself.

I'll let you ponder about what that means for a while. In the meantime,

let me make it clear that the timer hasn't ended just yet."

The eerie similar voice to my own spoke the truth, but it couldn't be, right?

By the time I checked the timer at the right corner of my vision it struck; [06:00]. "Only six minutes have passed?! Must have been some of the most intense minutes of my life, I tell you!"

When I looked back at the floor, things had only just begun. The entity with a striking resemblance to myself eroded into the darkness of the room

until nothing was left. Quickly after the room began to shift, the floor rumbled and shook, only slowly build something similar to a doorway. The platform I was standing on began to decay, as it fell to pieces it became clear. "There's nowhere to go, but forward!"

There was no time to hesitate about what was happening at the time,

my only thought being of my survival. The edges of the platform were crumbling.

Taking a few steps back for the approach I had to make,

made me believe I had a chance. That was when there was no time for hesitation,

for the solid floor underneath my feet began to cave in. Crumbling with rapid speed,

it was now or never! My feet pushed against the caved-in floor, making a run for my destination as I headed straight to the doorway.

At that time the platform providing clear passage had caved in,

which only made the way through almost impossible. But there was no time to think of another way, it had to be now! I ran with all my might, straining my muscles to the max,

As I made a jump for the doorway, the broken platform I used to propel myself had caved in further than expected. Was I able to make the jump? As I launched myself to the air, I believed through my very core that I would make it. But as I passed the point of no return, my attitude didn't rise anymore… Instead, the descent had started…

Had my approach failed? Was I able to jump through? All seemed grim, as the reality began to hit me. A reality which I didn't want to give in to.

"So… This… This is it? After everything I have accomplished, to succumb to an ill-calculated jump… pathetic!"

The descent had started, I began to fall into the depths of the abyss.

Was there nothing I could do? I wondered as I plummeted into the depths of my soul.

I had missed the chance to advance, the chance in a lifetime to cultivate what others couldn't. But, was this the end? I had made it halfway, didn't I? Maybe there was a small chance to still reach the doorway. But the biggest question which kept on repeating in my head; Am I able to make it? Desperately I tried to reach out to the doorway, being hallway meant there was no point in giving up, I had passed the point of no return.

That was when suddenly the voice could be heard echoing throughout the endless depths of space and time.

"Pathetic indeed… I expected more of you… Of myself… Never thought to see the day where you would give up hope in front of me, in front of myself. Do you perhaps need more discipline?" "What are you talking about? I'm plummeting to my death and this is what you have to say for yourself?! Screw this… I won't do what you tell me to!"

I an final attempt I tried turning my body around, hoping to increase dropping speed towards the doorway, If I couldn't jump through it, maybe… just maybe I was able to grab a hold of it. I wasn't about to give up on life!

The doorway grew larger as I made way to it, giving me hope of making the jump after all.

I tried reaching out as the doorway seemed an arms reach away. But when I did, reality struck. The doorway had been further away than I initially thought which made me barely miss the edge. Plummeting to my demise I knew this had to be the end…

I Geo Birchwood had failed to meet my expectations, to save my own life…

I had betrayed myself… And worst of all, I betrayed my trusts… I had done it now… Continuing to fall in the everlasting abyss of darkness it felt like there wouldn't come an end to this.

"Betrayed by your own believes… Unable to reach your destination…

This… This calls for punishment…" "What do you mean, punishment?!

Who are you to tell me that I have failed?!"

I yelled at the voice refusing to believe it was my own. Knowing it had been correct all this time, making me more miserable than ever. Was this it? What was about to happen?

"Staying true to my instincts, following them to the end.

Why did this have to happen?! ANSWER ME, DAMNIT!!"

Silence had befallen the endless space, not a sound to be heard, except for the air which blew past my ears as my fall hadn't come close to ending. Regret filled my heart.

Knowing the situation I was in my instincts should have been true to me till the end.

Why would they fail me now? I wondered unaware of the purpose of the mission, let alone the trials I had been through till now. The system spoke of the trials as a mechanism to unlock hidden potential. But, the unlocked abilities had no properties to help me out in a situation like this…

With everything vaguely introduces, there wasn't much to think off.

Other than the fact why I had gotten into this mess, but now wasn't the time to continue posting about it. I had to find a way to safely land, of ever… Was there even an end to the fall? "Aaarrgghh, everything is so vague… I hate this!! Why can't it just be clear as day?!"

"Without difficulties to overcome, how can one call these trials? You have to find the answers to the questions on your own. While overcoming one of the most difficult things in life." The voice said in a mysterious tone continuing its streak of riddles.

"First you are disappointed… Then you ignore me… And now? Now you decided to just throw another riddle towards me? What's next? Gonna bore me to death?"

I annoyingly snapped at the voice, which must have resembled myself.

If true, I would be snapping at myself, which to me was something ironically funny,

making myself laugh and accept the situation I was in.

Having finally calmed down I began to assess the situation; "Since I've started the trials there have been many obstacles to overcome, challenges which made me a better version of myself, a better man so to speak. But… Knowing how these are trials used since ancient times to cultivated those brave or worthy enough to try. Introducing those with heritage or talent to the ways of spiritual energy, the flow of time and space, or even how to manipulate these elements around them, finding and utilizing their original forms of magic.

In a way, cultivation would be a means to better oneself. Rid yourself of those who mean ill, things toxic not only to the body but also the mind. A way… To clear yourself from anything holding you back and strengthen the essence within yourself. Becoming a better being as a whole.

Thinking about this made me wonder, would I be able to accept it all?

Would I be able to better myself in the process?

As I came to a conclusion the airflow around me began to change.

While at first pressing up, now the airflow seemed like it came from all around me.

Had space become bigger? Was I reaching the end? So many things unanswered when suddenly the system reacted to what had happened earlier.

[The Player has failed to clear the previously mentioned mission; calibrating results…

Unable to reach the final destination will result in punishment… Loading achievements…Achievements have been calculated… Selecting punishment… Arriving shortly…]

I couldn't believe my eyes, as I had been falling it must have meant I had not died yet,

but this just given me proof. The system registered my actions, I was still alive!

But, what did this mean? Punishment? I'm sure I heard the voice say the same…

"No… It can't be…"

[The system has fully registered "The Player" Integrating with "The Player"…]

My suspicions had been answered, but what did it mean?

[Integration complete, registered vessel know as Geo Birchwood…

Loading Punishment… We… Have… Arrived…]

"Arrived? I don't…"

I couldn't see, until suddenly light pulsed in front of my eyes, green lights all around showed that I indeed had been falling for quite a while as I began to slow down. The lights carried me to another room. Landing softly on my own two feet the system reacted.

[Welcome to the chamber of punishment, punishment loaded, let "the player" ready itself for combat… Mission integrated… Activating Mission; Darkness Within].