> [Floor 12 Initiated: Duo Trial – Synchronicity of Shadows]
Notice: Soloist detected. Synchronizing with compatible Climber…
SeTa materialized on a floating islet — a chunk of stone suspended over a bottomless void, dimly lit by silver mist.
There was no sound. No sky. No stars.
Just… a reflection.
Opposite him stood a figure. Slender. Still. Dressed in a long, torn coat similar to his. His silver hair flowed in the still air, eyes sharp and unreadable.
SeTa's first instinct was combat.
> A shadow mimic? No… there was breath. Emotion. Pain.
The figure stepped forward.
"I expected someone taller," he said, voice dry.
SeTa blinked. "You expected me?"
"I didn't know who. I just knew you wouldn't be normal. The Tower's been whispering."
He stepped into the mist fully, revealing striking, pale features — angular, beautiful, with deep shadows under his eyes like someone who hadn't slept in a lifetime.
"My name's Kael."
---
> [System: Compatibility confirmed. Emotional resonance—High. Cognitive overlap—Moderate. Survival projection: 64%]
Trial Begins in 120 seconds. Objective: Synchronize will and survive the Mirror Trials. Escape is impossible.
SeTa scowled at the message.
"Why pair us?" he muttered.
Kael answered as if hearing his thoughts. "Because alone, we'd win. Together, we might break."
---
Trial Phase 1: Mirror Spawn
Cracks appeared in the void.
Figures poured out — distorted versions of them both. SeTa's clones moved with surgical grace but lacked unpredictability. Kael's moved with emotionless calculation but no fire.
The real Kael surged first, two hooked blades forming from thin air.
"You flank," he said. "I'll aggro."
SeTa didn't respond. He simply moved.
---
Ten seconds later, the floor cracked from the weight of their combined assault. SeTa cut through his own echo with shadow tendrils while Kael shattered his with compressed psychic lashes.
Yet the real threat wasn't physical.
Trial Phase 2 began as the light dimmed.
Suddenly, Kael flinched — eyes wide, locked on a vision only he could see.
> "Make it stop… make it stop—!"
A woman's voice echoed around him. Soft. Accusing.
"Why didn't you save me, Kael?"
His breath caught. "You're not real—"
But the Tower wanted pain. Needed it to test the bond.
Kael dropped to a knee.
SeTa reacted instantly. His shadow covered Kael's body like armor, muting the voice — if only briefly.
> [Void Tactic: Memory Veil – Applied to Ally]
Kael coughed, blinking. He looked at SeTa. "...You blocked it."
"You're slower than I expected," SeTa replied coolly. "Focus."
Kael stood. "I owe you."
"No. You owe yourself."
---
Trial Phase 3: Synchronicity Gate
Two pillars rose. One black. One white. Between them spun a translucent bridge — constantly shifting in shape, angle, and gravity.
> Final Objective: Cross the Gate in absolute sync. Any desynchronization will result in temporal collapse.
SeTa analyzed the bridge. Patterns. Shifts. Echoes.
But Kael wasn't watching the gate. He was watching him.
"You see a rhythm?"
"Almost. But we can't brute-force it. We'll need trust."
Kael grinned slightly. "That your specialty?"
"No. It's my liability."
Still, SeTa extended a hand.
Kael stared at it.
Then clasped it tight.
They jumped.
---
The world distorted the moment they landed on the bridge. Colors inverted. Up became left. Sound echoed backwards.
SeTa focused on Kael's steps. Kael focused on SeTa's instincts.
It wasn't a perfect match. But they moved together like two wolves in storm.
Each mistake fed the bridge's chaos — spikes of noise, memory fragments, biting guilt. They kept running. Together.
Near the end, Kael faltered — a flicker of fear from whatever ghost haunted him.
But SeTa caught his wrist. "Don't let her win."
Kael nodded once.
Then they leapt — together — across the final rift.
---
> [Duo Trial Complete. Floor 12 Cleared.]
Bonus Reward Unlocked: Shared Ability – Echo Thread
Effect: Temporary soul tether between bonded Climbers. Allows one shared skill per floor.
> Next Floor Ascension in: 00:00:10…
Kael looked at SeTa as the floor faded.
"I don't know who you are, or what you've lost."
SeTa didn't answer.
"But I think you're the first person in this Tower who understands what it means to carry ghosts."
SeTa's voice was low. "Then don't fall behind. The Tower doesn't care about ghosts. Only survivors."
The world flashed—
And they ascended.