Mirror of truth

The clash reverberated through the abyss, an unnatural sound like a chime struck underwater. Li's blade connected with the creature's claws, sending sparks of crimson and gold cascading into the darkness. The force of the impact jarred his arms, but he held firm, gritting his teeth against the searing pain in his muscles.

The monstrous amalgamation of shadows twisted and shrieked, its tendrils snapping toward him like whips. Li ducked and rolled, the movements instinctive and fluid. His focus narrowed to the battle before him, blocking out the whispers and the crushing weight of the abyss.

"I won't let you stop me!" he roared, channeling his qi into the sword.

The runes on the blade flared to life, their glow illuminating the void. With a sweeping arc, he unleashed a burst of energy that cleaved through the creature's tendrils. The severed shadows recoiled, writhing before disintegrating into motes of darkness.

But the creature was relentless. Its form shifted, sprouting new limbs and expanding in size. Its crimson eyes burned brighter, locking onto Li with a malevolent hunger.

"You are persistent," it hissed, its voice a guttural growl that seemed to come from everywhere at once. "But this path leads only to despair. Turn back, little sovereign, and I may grant you mercy."

Li steadied his breathing, his gaze unwavering. "You think I'm afraid of you? I've faced fear all my life. I'm still standing, and I'll keep fighting until I break free from this cursed place."

The creature lunged, its massive form hurtling toward him. Li sidestepped, turning with practiced precision. He struck out, his blade carving a trail of light through the creature's shifting body.

The abyss roared in protest, the oppressive air vibrating with its fury.

The ground beneath Li began to crack and splinter, shards of the obsidian platform falling into the endless void. He leaped to another section of the jagged pathway, barely maintaining his balance. The creature pursued him relentlessly, its tendrils snaking around the crumbling stones.

Each swing of Li's sword grew heavier, his qi reserves dwindling under the abyss's oppressive drain. But the faint glow on the horizon still called to him, a promise of hope amidst the chaos.

"I have to reach it," Li muttered, his voice firm despite the exhaustion creeping into his limbs.

The creature lunged again, faster this time. Li raised his sword to block, the impact sending him skidding backward. His shoes scraped against the fragile stones, and he barely avoided tumbling into the void.

"You are wasting your strength," the creature taunted. "Surrender, and I will spare you the pain of futility."

Li laughed bitterly. "You don't know me at all."

He channeled the last vestiges of his qi into his blade, the runes blazing with defiance. With a cry that echoed through the abyss, he launched himself at the creature, slashing and parrying in a flurry of desperate strikes.

The fight became a blur of motion and light, each clash sending ripples through the void. Li's mind and body worked in unison, every ounce of training and instinct driving him forward.

Finally, with a powerful thrust, he drove his sword into the creature's core. The runes on the blade pulsed, and a surge of energy exploded outward, enveloping the creature in blinding light.

The creature shrieked, its form unraveling into tendrils of shadow that dissipated into the void. For a moment, the abyss seemed to recoil, its oppressive presence lessening.

Li collapsed to one knee, his breaths ragged. His sword glowed faintly, its power diminished but still present.

The path before him stabilized, the jagged stones forming a more solid bridge toward the flickering light. Li pushed himself to his feet, his legs trembling but resolute.

"I'm not done yet," he said, gripping his sword tightly.

He took a step forward, then another, his pace steady despite the weight pressing down on him. The whispers in the abyss grew quieter, as if the darkness itself was wary of him now.

As he approached the light, it grew brighter, revealing the faint outline of a gate etched with intricate symbols. The runes on the gate glowed softly, their patterns shifting like living flames.

Li reached out, his fingers brushing the surface of the gate. A warmth spread through him, soothing his frayed nerves and reigniting his resolve.

"You've come far, young sovereign," a voice echoed from the gate—a voice that was neither threatening nor welcoming, but ancient and impassive.

Li straightened, his grip on his sword tightening. "Who are you?"

The runes flared, and the voice spoke again. "I am the Sentinel, keeper of the Threshold. To pass, you must prove your worth."

Li clenched his jaw. "Another test?"

The voice rumbled with quiet authority. "The kind that reveals your truth. Step forward, and face yourself."

The gate began to open, light spilling forth in a blinding cascade. Li took a deep breath and stepped through, his heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and dread.

A blinding light engulfed Li as he stepped through the gate. It was warm, soothing even, but the weight of anticipation pressed against his chest. When the brightness receded, he found himself standing in a serene, endless expanse.

The ground beneath his feet was a smooth, mirror-like surface that reflected the vast, starry sky above. The silence was profound, but it wasn't oppressive like the abyss. Instead, it felt contemplative, as though the very air encouraged self-reflection.

Li tightened his grip on his sword, its faint glow a comforting presence. "Where am I now?"

"This is the Mirror of Truth," the Sentinel's voice echoed, though its source was nowhere to be seen. "Here, your greatest adversary will emerge—not the darkness, nor Chaos, but the truth you fear to face."

Li's heart skipped a beat. He scanned the horizon, but the space around him was empty. His reflection in the mirror-like ground stared back at him, its eyes steady but searching.

"Is this some kind of trick?" Li called out.

"No trick," the Sentinel replied. "Prepare yourself."

The surface beneath him rippled like water, and his reflection began to shift. Slowly, it stood upright, separating itself from the ground. A figure identical to Li materialized before him, but its presence was unnerving.

This version of him was clad in darker robes, its eyes glowing with a sinister crimson light. The sword it carried was twisted and jagged, pulsating with dark energy.

"What is this?" Li demanded, his voice trembling despite his resolve.

The shadow-Li smirked, its expression both mocking and cold. "I'm you. The part you refuse to acknowledge. The part you buried to pretend you're something better."

Li's grip on his sword tightened. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, don't you?" The doppelgänger tilted its head, its tone dripping with contempt. "You've felt it, haven't you? That hunger. The arrogance. The belief that you're destined for greatness, the saviour of mankind."

"That's not true!" Li snapped.

"Isn't it?" The shadow laughed, a hollow, bitter sound. "You've touched the power inside you. You've felt its might. Don't deny it—you want it. You want to take it, master it and make it yours. To become unstoppable just like your ancestor, the sovereign of eternity."

Li hesitated, memories flashing through his mind. The visions of the sovereign vanquishing his enemies, a dragon above his peers. The rush of power he felt when he was fighting with Lu Heng and those other times the power had taken control of him, the temptation to let it consume him for the sake of victory, it had been intoxicating.

"I want strength, yes, but not at the cost of losing myself." Li protested with a shake of his head.

The shadow sneered. "Losing yourself? You're already lost, boy. You think your precious sect would be able to protect you or itself from the disaster coming for you? From the enemies that are already lurking at your sect gate?"

Li stepped back, his chest tightening. "I will control this power I have, I will not allow you take it from me or make me your puppet."

The shadow raised its sword, pointing it at him. "We shall see."

Before Li could respond, the doppelgänger lunged at him, its movements fluid and aggressive. Li barely managed to parry the strike, the force of the blow sending shockwaves through his arms.

The two dashed at each other, their swords ringing out in the empty expanse. The shadow fought with ruthless efficiency, every strike calculated to exploit Li's weaknesses.

"You're holding back," the shadow taunted, its voice a mix of mockery and disappointment. "Afraid of what happens if you let go? Of the power taking you over?"

Li gritted his teeth, countering with a series of swift strikes. "I don't need to give in to my powers to beat you!"

The shadow laughed, its movements growing more erratic and unpredictable. "Don't you see? You're not fighting me. You're fighting yourself. And until you accept what you are, you'll never win. Until you accept you need to control and master the power, you will die and so will those you hold dear."

The words struck a nerve. Li hesitated for a fraction of a second, and the shadow seized the opportunity, slamming him to the ground with a powerful kick.

Li gasped for air, his body aching. The shadow loomed over him, its blade poised to strike.

"This is who you are," it said, its tone almost pitying. "A scared little boy afraid to embrace his power. To become whom he was meant to be. Stop running from the truth."

Li's mind raced. The abyss, the sovereign's blood, the power he could not control, they were all pieces of him, whether he liked it or not. To deny them was to deny himself.

Slowly, he pushed himself to his knees, then to his feet. He met the shadow's gaze, his eyes steady. "You're right," he said, his voice calm.

The shadow blinked, its smirk faltering. "What?"

"I'm afraid. I've made mistakes. I've been trying to run away from the truth, from who I am." Li took a deep breath, his grip on his sword firm. "But those flaws don't define me. I do."

The shadow hesitated, its form flickering slightly.

Li stepped forward, his resolve unshaken. "You're a part of me but you don't control me. I choose who I become."

With a sudden burst of qi, his sword flared with light. He swung it in a wide arc, the energy slicing through the shadow. The doppelgänger let out a final, anguished cry before dissolving into a cascade of shimmering fragments.