The Hollow Mirror

Liam climbed.

Each step was a war.

His boots scraped against obsidian stone, the cold biting through the fabric, the path shifting beneath him, never quite solid, never quite real, a faint tremor running through the ground with every move. His muscles burned, the ache settling deep in his bones, an old wound flaring with each step, his legs trembling under the strain, sweat dripping down his back. The mist clung to him, tendrils curling around his arms, whispering against his ears—half-formed voices, broken memories slipping through his fingers, the dampness chilling his skin, raising goosebumps.

[System Alert: Cognitive Load Rising] 

[Stability Sync: 27%] 

[Reality Distortion Detected] 

*A sharp buzz flickered behind his eyes, a cold shiver prickling his neck.*

A jolt surged through his skull, the static crackling, his grip on Shadowfang tightening, the blade's hum steadying him, the vibration grounding him in something tangible, something real—or what passed for real in this twisted place, his breath ragged, his chest tight. He wiped a hand across his forehead, smearing grit, his vest damp with the mist, his hands slick with sweat.

He exhaled sharply, forcing himself forward, the path stretching ahead, endless and cruel, winding through the void, each step dragging him deeper into the unknown, the air growing heavier, the silence pressing against his ears. The vortex loomed in the distance, a swirling mass of light and shadow, its pull insistent, a hum vibrating in his chest, syncing with his pulse, the rhythm sinking into his ribs, a cold draft brushing his face.

Then—the world shifted.

The mist thinned, then parted, revealing a shattered reflection of himself standing in the path ahead, the air trembling with the reveal, a faint heat pulsing briefly before fading.

Liam froze, his breath catching, his hands trembling on Shadowfang.

The figure mimicked his stance, its grip on a distorted version of Shadowfang loose, casual, almost mocking, the blade's edge warped, its hum off-key. The edges of its form flickered, unstable, the lines of its face blurred, shifting—almost him, but not quite, its movements a fraction too smooth. Its eyes were pale voids, empty, watching, a hollow stare that made his gut twist, a cold shiver running down his spine.

Liam's breath came slow, measured, his heart thudding. "So this is where we're at now?" His voice barely carried, swallowed by the silence, but the figure heard him, its head tilting slightly.

It smiled, its lips twisting in a way that wasn't his, a chilling curve that sent a jolt through him.

And then—it moved.

A blur. A flicker.

Liam barely got his blade up in time.

Shadowfang met its twin in a clash of steel, the impact ringing through the void, a shockwave rippling outward, the mist swirling violently, the sound echoing off the spires. Liam staggered back, his arms trembling from the force, his boots skidding against the stone, a sharp pain lancing through his wrist. The other him—the Hollow Mirror—pressed forward, relentless, each strike faster, sharper, its movements perfect, no hesitation, no wasted motion, its blade humming with a sinister edge.

It fought as if it had no weight, the mist parting around it, the ground trembling under its steps.

Liam gritted his teeth, shifting his stance, his blade humming with energy, his muscles straining, his breath coming in short gasps. The next clash sent another jolt through his system—something in the strike reaching into him, trying to unmake him, a burning sensation prickling his veins, his vision blurring. **[Warning: Identity Sync Disrupting] [Threshold Reached: 31%] [Directive: Defy]** A sharp buzz surged through his skull, grounding him, his hands tightening on Shadowfang, the hum steadying his resolve.

Liam pushed back.

Their blades locked, energy crackling between them, the void trembling with the force of their battle, the mist thickening, tendrils brushing his legs. The Hollow Mirror's expression never changed, its pale eyes locked onto him, seeing something deeper, something beneath his skin, its smile twisting again, a mocking edge to its stillness. The air grew heavy, the hum from the vortex intensifying, syncing with his heartbeat, a pulse inside him.

And then—it spoke.

"Is this all you are?"

The words struck deeper than any blade, sinking into his mind, a truth he couldn't shake, his breath hitching, his hands faltering for a split second, a cold dread coiling in his gut.

The hesitation cost him.

The Hollow Mirror broke the lock, moving faster than thought. A fist slammed into Liam's chest, sending him flying back, his body crashing against the obsidian steps, pain lancing through his ribs, a sharp gasp escaping his lips. Shadowfang slipped from his grip, skidding across the stone, his fingers numb, the cold biting deeper into his palms, the mist pressing closer, whispering his name.

The Hollow Mirror approached, slow, deliberate. Unrushed. Unbothered, its distorted Shadowfang dangling loosely, its pale eyes unblinking, the air warping around it.

Liam forced himself onto his knees, coughing, the taste of iron sharp on his tongue, blood flecking his lips, his vision blurred, static crawling at the edges. The mist whispered, pressing in, the figures flickering back—faint outlines of Mara, Varik—dissolving as quickly as they appeared, the air thick with their silent judgment. His own voice echoed back at him, twisted, a mocking tone. "You walk a path not meant for you."

His pulse pounded. His fingers curled into fists, the stone cold against his knuckles. No.

His own voice again, softer now, almost… tired. "Why do you keep fighting?"

Liam clenched his jaw, his breaths hard and fast, his body trembling, the ache in his ribs flaring, his legs weak under him. But then—he laughed.

It was rough, raw, cut through with exhaustion, a sound that echoed off the spires, breaking the silence. "Because I don't break," he muttered, wiping the blood from his mouth, his voice low, defiant, a smirk tugging at his lips.

And when he looked up, something shifted.

The Hollow Mirror hesitated, its form flickering, its pale eyes narrowing, the delayed sync throwing it off, the mist swirling around it.

Liam pushed himself to his feet, rolling his shoulders, flexing his fingers, the pain a dull roar in his chest, his breath steadying. His heart still pounded, his body still ached—but the fear? Gone.

Shadowfang snapped back into his grip, the hum surging, his hands steady.

And this time—Liam attacked first.

The clash rang out, steel on steel, the void trembling, the mist recoiling, a pulse from the vortex lingering in his chest, pulling him deeper, the path ahead stretching into the unknown, the trial waiting.