[Flame Caverns – Inner Circle]
The heat deepened.
The group stepped into the next chamber, a spiraling dome of mirrored obsidian. As soon as their feet touched the ground, the mirrors rippled—and from them stepped twisted versions of themselves.
Akarshan faced a version of himself who abandoned Ash at the temple.
Shiv confronted one who sided with Reyansh.
Monish's double sought power over friendship.
Anuj's doppelganger had become a godkiller.
Shivam's mirror form spoke in riddles, cold and emotionless.
These were their possible selves—the versions who betrayed.
> "What is this madness?" Monish growled.
The chamber whispered: "To stand with one is to stand against yourself."
They fought—not with weapons, but with will.
The doppelgangers pressed doubts into their minds.
> "Would you die for Ash? Would he do the same for you?"
> "If he ordered the world's destruction again… would you still call him friend?"
One by one, each hero gave their answer—not with speeches, but with action.
Akarshan dropped his weapon, letting his double strike.
> "If it means trusting Ash one more time… then so be it."
The blade stopped.
So did all the mirrors.
They shattered into light.
Trial passed.
---
[Elsewhere – Chamber of Molten Eternity]
Ash floated midair, bleeding divine ichor. Reyansh knelt, panting, his arms crackling with the corruption of Vaikraas's fire.
But something was changing.
Ash's aura began to shift.
No longer divine light—but something older.
Reyansh's eyes widened.
> "What… are you becoming?"
Ash opened his eyes. Galaxies swirled in his pupils.
> "Not becoming," he whispered.
> "Remembering."
---