The corridor beyond the pedestal was carved not from stone or magic, but from possibility.
Each step Kael took lit glyphs that danced in and out of phase, glowing briefly before vanishing like dreams at sunrise. Silica followed in silence, her senses sharpened, though even she couldn't deny it—this place bent the very idea of direction.
The path led them to an archway shaped like an hourglass. Inside, swirling sand glimmered with fragments of different Kaels.
One fought dragons atop a crimson tower.
One wore black armor and led an army of Voidspawn.
One sat on a throne made of System cores—alone.
> [System Notification: The Gate of Unchosen Futures has been activated.]
This domain reflects paths you never took. Choose a future. Face its cost.
Silica recoiled. "What is this place?"
"A test," Kael muttered, stepping forward. "Or a warning."
He raised his hand, and the hourglass cracked.
From the split poured a storm of spectral images, all versions of Kael from realities that almost were—dozens of selves clashing, screaming, laughing. Then silence.
And a single vision stepped forward.
Kael... but older. Colder. His eyes burned with purpose, devoid of mercy.
"You should have become me," the doppelganger said.
The real Kael clenched his fists. "You chose conquest. I chose freedom."
They clashed.
The Gate shattered around them as the Kaels fought with mirrored techniques, echo for echo, fragment for fragment. Blades that had never been forged crossed, and worlds that never were bled into the present.
> [Skill Clash: Nullstrike vs. Void Vein Slash]
Balance Broken. Sync Disrupted.
Kael forced the specter back with an engraved recoil pulse—one he hadn't learned yet. He blinked.
Did he just… steal a move from himself?
> [System Update: You have unlocked 'Engrave from Echo']
You may now engrave abilities observed from alternate versions of yourself—at cost.
Health drained: -220
Stamina drained: -30%
He stumbled, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. The gate sealed behind him with a whisper of regret.
Only Silica remained, her eyes wide.
"You fought a future. And won."
Kael looked at his hands. They shimmered slightly, as if unfinished.
"No. I survived it. That's all."
---
> [System Notice: Trait Evolved — Echo of Origin → Fractured Self]
You are becoming a nexus of your own diverging fates. Be warned: stability is no longer guaranteed.
---
In the distance, another chamber pulsed with light.
Not a trial. Not a reward.
A memory.
And this time… it belonged to Kael before the Nullforge.
---
💬 Author's Note from Talent Engraver:
The next arc is going to reveal Kael's first life… and possibly, the original sin of the Architect himself.
As always, please leave a review, like, and share your theories in the comments! Your words inspire me and shape where the story goes next.
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See you in Chapter 30: Originburn.