The portal's pull was merciless, dragging me into a blinding void. My body felt heavy, my mind was clouded. The System's last message echoed in my head:
A memory has been erased. Price paid.
Mira's face, her voice… were slipping away like sand through my fingers. I clenched my fists, trying to hold on to her, but the more I reached, the more she faded.
When the light finally dimmed, I found myself in a new arena. The air was scorching, the ground beneath me cracked and glowing with veins of lava. Towering pillars of black stone surrounded the area, and in the distance, a crimson storm raged across the sky. The System flashed again:
Second Floor: Wrath Trial
Task: Face your rage. Defeat the Shadow of Wrath.
Reward: +75 Tını Points, Ability Upgrade
Penalty: Annihilation
Face my rage? I didn't even have time to think. The ground shook, and from the lava veins, a figure rose. It was a Blood Shadow, but unlike any I had seen before. This one was massive, its body wrapped in flames, its eyes burning like twin suns. Chains of fire bound its wrists, but they snapped with a crack as it let out a deafening roar. The System identified it:
Enemy: Shadow of Wrath
Tını Points: 300
Warning: This enemy mirrors your anger. The angrier you are, the stronger it becomes.
It mirrors my anger? I didn't need a mirror to know how angry I was. The Blood Shadows that killed my family, the System that marked me as a Sacrifice, Vyrn's mocking smirk… it all boiled inside me. But as I looked at the Shadow, a chill ran down my spine. If this thing feeds on my rage, how can I fight it?
The Shadow charged, its flaming claws tearing through the air. I dodged, but the heat scorched my torn clothes. My copied sword from Vyrn was gone; I had nothing but my fists. Instinctively, I activated Blood Fury, my eyes turning crimson as strength surged through me. I punched its claw, the impact creating a shockwave across the arena. But the creature didn't flinch. Instead, its flames flared brighter, and it roared even louder.
Warning: Anger levels rising. Shadow of Wrath growing stronger.
The System's words hit me like a slap. The more I fought with rage, the stronger it became. I gritted my teeth, trying to calm down, but how? Every scar on my body, every memory of loss—screamed at me to fight. The Shadow struck again, this time its claw slashed my side. Blood spilled onto the cracked ground.
Tını Resonance Activated
Enemy Ability Copied: Flame Claw
My hands ignited with fire, just like the Shadow's. I struck back, slashing at its chest. The flames burned through its shadowy body, but it only laughed—a deep, mocking sound that sounded too much like my own voice.
"You can't escape your rage, Kael," it growled. "You are rage."
I froze. That voice… it wasn't just the Shadow's. It was mine. My thoughts, my anger, given form. The System was making me fight myself. I staggered back, clutching my bleeding side. My vision blurred as the Shadow loomed closer. "Give in," it whispered. "Let the rage take you."
Blood Fury surged through me, urging me to strike. But I remembered Mira's voice—or what little was left of it:
"Don't become a monster."
I dropped to my knees, trying to breathe, trying to think. If I fought with rage, I'd lose. But how do you fight without it?
The Shadow didn't wait. It slammed its claws into the ground, and a wave of fire surged toward me. I rolled aside, barely escaping, but the heat was unbearable. My blood continued to spill, and with each drop, Tını Resonance grew stronger—but so did the Shadow.
Tını Points: +25
Warning: Blood loss critical. Tını Resonance unstable.
I couldn't keep this up. I needed a plan. I closed my eyes, forcing myself to focus on something—anything—other than rage. A faint memory flickered: Mira, laughing as we ran through the streets as kids. Her smile… it was the only thing the System hadn't taken. I clung to that image, letting it ground me.
The Shadow roared, sensing my shift. "You can't run from yourself!" it shouted and charged again. But this time, I didn't fight with fury. I moved with purpose, dodging its strikes with a clarity I hadn't felt before. I used the Flame Claw, but not to attack—to carve through the lava veins on the ground. Lava erupted, spraying the Shadow. It screamed as molten rock scorched through it.
Enemy Weakness Exploited
Shadow of Wrath: Tını Points reduced to 150
I kept moving, staying calm, focusing on Mira's smile. The Shadow's flames faded with every calculated strike. Finally, I drove the Flame Claw into its core, and with one last roar, it disintegrated into ash. The arena fell silent.
Task Completed
Reward: +75 Tını Points, Ability Upgrade: Flame Claw (Permanent)
Total Tını Points: 160
I collapsed, gasping for breath. The System displayed one final message:
Warning: A new price paid. Emotional connection severed.
Mira's laughter… was gone. I couldn't feel her anymore. The System had taken the last piece of her I had. Tears welled in my eyes, but before I could process the loss, the ground shook again. A new portal opened, and a voice echoed through the arena:
"Third Floor: Envy Trial awaits."
But as the portal pulled me in, I heard another sound—footsteps. I turned, and there he was: Vyrn. His armor was battered, but his mocking smirk was just as cruel.
"You're not done with me yet, Sacrifice," he said, stepping into the portal behind me.