Scene 1: Carter's Choice – Door of the Knight
[Carter – POV]
After going through the hints again, I was able to decode three of them. But the first one still bugged me:
> "A DREAM THAT HAS NO END"
I couldn't crack that line. But the rest were clearer:
"EVEN NUMBER IS THE KEY TO THE END"
"WHO GIVES A DEADLY SCAR, THAT'S THE DOOR"
"THE DEMON LIKES TO FIND BALANCE IN EVERYTHING"
Seven doors. Only one was an even number and positioned right in the center—Door 4. Three doors before it, three after. Perfect balance. And on that door?
> (49) – Knight
"Who gives a deadly scar… a knight."
I walked toward Door 4 and entered.
What greeted me was a vast, dusty castle hall—abandoned, cold, yet echoing with ancient power. A long-dead king sat on the throne ahead. Around him were skeletal soldiers, fallen in still poses.
I took a step forward.
CRACK.
One by one, they rose.
Their bones cracked. Their armor clanged. Their swords unsheathed.
And then—they charged.
At first, I dodged with ease. But the more I evaded, the stronger they became. The Scenario was adapting.
"So you want a real fight?"
I snatched a sword from the ground—and began cutting through the undead.
But they just kept coming. Endlessly. Relentlessly.
The king finally stood—his cold gaze locked onto mine.
Without a word, he lunged.
We both charged—swords drawn. We clashed mid-air. A single clean strike—
SHHHING!
His head rolled to the floor.
And like a crumbling illusion, the entire army collapsed. Their bones turned to dust. Silence returned.
I walked to the throne, examining the ancient carvings. That's when I heard a low rumble behind it.
Circling around, I discovered a hidden passage—a glowing doorway waiting for me.
Without hesitation, I stepped through.
Scene 2: Ron Awakens
[Ron – POV]
The monster—Punisher 121—charged with both axes. My speed let me evade at first, but he was learning. Predicting.
Then—he saw an opening.
His axes came down.
SLASH. SLASH. SLASH.
Dozens of strikes landed.
I was thrown across the entire maze, crashing back where it all began. My limbs ached. My breath was shallow.
"Damn… he's too strong. And smart."
Before I could rise, he appeared above me.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
He punched me over a hundred times, the sheer shockwaves from his strikes tearing through this realm—and even shaking Sami and Rad's house in the real world. (They had returned to their rooms, unaware. Time moved differently between realms.)
I couldn't move. I was fading.
Punisher 121 laughed, convinced it was over.
But then—something changed.
The debris around us began to float. The air grew hot. The entire realm trembled.
Even the realm Carter was in began to shake.
I rose slowly—my pupils glowing dark red. A terrifying power surged through me.
Punisher 121 (mocking): "Still alive? You should've stayed down."
He roared—his scream tearing the very fabric of the maze.
But I dashed straight into the roar—my fist connecting with his jaw.
Then I unleashed a flurry—punches, kicks, launching him across the entire dimension.
He crashed, face down, broken and silent.
The entire maze began to collapse from the impact.
He coughed, looking up weakly.
Punisher 121 (shocked): "Unbelievable... You held that kind of power? No wonder Dr. Thomas is after you…"
Above him, a giant red sword formed in the air—matching his immense size. I hovered above, my aura blazing red and black like a storm of chaos.
I lifted my eyebrows slightly—silent command.
The sword shot down—piercing his heart.
He screamed as his body began to vaporize.
I collapsed. A minute passed. I blinked through the pain.
He was still fading—but smiling.
Punisher 121 (softly): "That power… only activates when you lose consciousness? You're terrifying. I couldn't handle you. Just… be careful of Dr. Thomas…"
Then he was gone.
Scene 3: Reunion and New Doors
The entire Maze of Eznoid lay in ruins behind me. I continued onward.
At the very end, I found a figure—a man sitting silently in a chair, still as stone.
His eyes blinked once.
A door appeared before me.
I stepped through—back into the hallway where Carter and I had once parted ways.
Seconds later, Carter appeared too.
Carter: "That power I sensed earlier—was that you?"
Me: "I don't remember. I passed out."
We both turned—and noticed something odd.
Two new doors.
They weren't there before.
Me: "What? Were those always here?"
Carter: "No idea. They just appeared."
We exchanged a look. I smiled.
Carter: "Alright. You take the right. I'll take the left."
We shook hands again.
And stepped through our next trial.