Chapter 271: Ch 270: Back to the Cage - Part 4
Ethan’s hand was still stretched out protectively in front of Selene, but his gaze was fixed on the smoke-covered figure.
There was no point in hiding it now. He’d seen the sa face Selene had. His own.
Or at least, a twisted version of it. And he seed to know exactly why that shadow figure had his face.
Ethan glanced at Selene, only to see her looking back at him at the sa ti with a look of understanding.
"...You saw it too."
Selene said quietly, eyes flicking to his expression.
Ethan nodded once.
"Yeah. I saw it."
"Why does it look like you?"
He lowered his hand, but his posture remained tense.
"Because this place—this dungeon—is based on my ho."
Selene blinked, confused.
"Your... what?"
"My real birthplace, Alteair. This whole dungeon is a distorted reflection of it. The city, the castle, even so of the people—they’re all based on reality. But it’s not real. The relationships, the roles... everything’s been warped. Reassigned. Like soone tried to rebuild my world from scraps without understanding what any of it really ant. It feels like a bad joke."
Ethan said.
Selene struggled to wrap her mind around it.
"And that thing? The smoke?"
Ethan glanced at the figure, then back at her.
"I think it’s the dungeon’s attempt to recreate . My role. But it couldn’t figure out what to make of . So it... fragnted it. Pulled pieces and shoved them into that thing. A failed copy, maybe."
Selene took a step back, shaking her head.
"None of that makes any sense, Ethan. Why would the dungeon recreate you? Why is any of this even happening?"
Before Ethan could answer, the smokey figure took a single step forward.
"Because your companion is afraid of you knowing the truth."
Its voice sent a chill down her spine.
"He would rather keep you in the dark. Because the truth might change the way you see him."
It said.
Ethan didn’t respond. He just stared at the figure, jaw tight.
Selene narrowed her eyes.
"Bullshit. I’m sick of riddles and cryptic half-answers. If you’re trying to scare , it won’t work."
She said flatly.
But the silence that followed only confird what she already suspected.
Neither of them—Ethan or the figure—had any intention of telling her everything.
Fine. Then she’d figure it out herself.
She always had.
The shadowy figure hovered in front of them, thick smoke curling like tendrils around its limbs, never still. Its voice echoed softly through the corridor, calm but firm.
"You may think whatever you want, Selene. It doesn’t matter. As long as you fulfill your destiny. As long as you liberate us from this fate."
He said.
Selene tensed.
"Liberate you? What are you even talking about?"
The figure didn’t answer. It only turned slightly toward Ethan, as if expecting him to explain. Ethan shifted uncomfortably but said nothing.
Then he stepped forward.
"Don’t put this on her. Don’t burden her with sothing she doesn’t even understand. That’s not fair."
He said, voice tight.
The smoke flickered, pulsing with a strange energy.
"You should know better than to say that. You faced the sa choice once, and no one spared you from it."
It replied.
Ethan flinched as if the words physically struck him.
He opened his mouth to argue, but nothing ca out. His gaze dropped for a mont, jaw clenched, no words left to defend himself.
Selene looked between them, trying to piece the fragnts together, but the tension was thick and suffocating.
Finally, Ethan exhaled sharply and looked back at the shadow.
"Fine. Then at least give us back our system. We can’t survive like this."
There was no response at first. Just a long, drawn-out silence.
Then, sothing shifted.
Selene felt a sudden warmth spread through her chest—an old, familiar feeling. A soft ding echoed in her mind.
[System Online.]
She gasped. Her interface blinked into existence in front of her eyes, stats flickering back to life.
Ethan let out a soft breath of relief.
"Good."
He muttered.
The shadow didn’t say anything more. It just began to fade, drifting backward down the hallway until it vanished completely into the dark.
______
anwhile, elsewhere in the palace...
Zara crept through a dusty hallway, flanked by Orion, Nora, and Noah. The place was quieter than expected, but eerie. Like sothing—or soone—was watching.
"Anything useful?"
Noah whispered, kicking aside a busted drawer filled with broken vials.
"Unless you count torn papers and cracked glass, no. This whole place feels abandoned."
Nora replied.
"Weird. There has to be sothing."
Zara muttered.
They moved on, clearing room after room. Occasionally, a guard stumbled upon them—only to be swiftly knocked out and stashed behind so old furniture.
"We’re wasting ti. We should split up."
Noah hissed as they regrouped in a large hallway.
"No. Not without our systems. If sothing shows up—"
Orion said quickly.
"Wait. Do you hear that?"
Zara interrupted, raising a hand.
Orion’s eyes narrowed. His senses picked up sothing. Footsteps—fast, heavy. Getting closer.
"Soone’s running toward us. Everyone, be ready."
He warned.
They barely had ti to form up when a blur of red and black shot around the corner.
"Shit! We are discovered by soone irritating."
Zara whispered, her eyes narrowing.
Orion took a step forward, preparing himself.
"She’s too fast—"
Julie was already lunging. He barely had a mont to react before her fist was aid straight at his chest. He gritted his teeth, bracing for the impact—
Then, a voice echoed in his mind.
[System Online.]
His eyes widened. He didn’t question it. His body reacted on instinct.
A shimring barrier erupted between him and Julie. Her punch slamd into the shield, sending a ripple through it, but it held.
Orion stood behind it, stunned by the force but unhurt.
Julie staggered back, eyes wide in surprise.
"What?!"
"The system’s back."
Orion muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
Julie’s surprise didn’t last long. Her lips curled into a smirk.
"Good. Makes this more fun."
She lunged again, her speed just as terrifying—but this ti, they were ready.
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