(Ash-Veil Dungeon — Floor 3, Depth of the Violet Ring)
As the light of the Violet Eye spread across the ceiling, Aras's mind trembled like a stretched wire.The three reflections — Fearful Aras, Angry Aras, Empty Aras — were not moving independently;they breathed at the same time, lowered their heads at the same time,as if they were three faces of a single intention.
The voice of the Violet Ring echoed across the walls of his mind:
"I am trying to understand you by breaking you.Where you fracture reveals your true color."
The Grey Ring responded violently.A burning grey tremor spread across Aras's chest.
(SYSTEM)
Mind Pressure Detected.Grey Ring → Counter-Resistance Mode.Risk: Identity Fragmentation (32% → 28%).
Aras tightened his grip on the Clawblade.
"I will not break."
The three reflections began walking forward at the same time.
I. FEARFUL ARAS — "Stay back! Stay back!"
This Aras had widened eyes; weak reflexes but a fast-fleeing shadow-like movement.Each step sent a shockwave through the floor of the Violet Ring.
(SYSTEM)
Attack Type: Willpower Drain.Effect: Drains target's will; weakens muscle output.
The real Aras's knees trembled for an instant.
Fearful Aras let out a scream-like breath and lunged.
Shadow Reflex triggered instinctively —but not in cat-form this time.
Instead, a serpentine shadow-line formed beneath Aras,dragging him backward in a swift slide.
Fearful Aras fell forward into empty space — Aras seized the opening.
One step.A turn.The Clawblade's shadow extended.
SHRKK—The reflection's chest split open.
As it dissolved, it whispered:
"Your fear never disappears… it only trades places."
Fearful Aras dissolved into grey mist.
(SYSTEM)
Fear Reflection Eliminated.Willpower Stability +3%.
But two reflections remained.
II. ANGRY ARAS — "Don't come near me!"
This creature carried an emotion Aras knew all too well:the tension right before an explosion.
Muscles taut, breath unstable.In its hand was a violet imitation of the Clawblade — not sharp, but distorting.
Each breath warped Aras's perception center.
(SYSTEM)
Attack Type: Perception Distortion.Effect: Target perceives false movement patterns.
Angry Aras attacked.He was slightly faster than the real Aras.
Each strike split Aras's vision in two.
On the left — one Angry Aras.On the right — another.
Which one was real?
The Grey Ring spun.A single grey line fell across Aras's vision.
Suddenly, the illusion broke —he knew which movement was false.
Aras leapt back.
Raised his Clawblade in a cross-guard.
CLANG—Two blades collided.
Shadow Reflex reinforced the strike —neither cat nor serpent,but a jackal-like burst, short and vicious.
Aras's shadow-jackal strike destabilized the reflection.
One slash.Another turn.A final cut.
As Angry Aras shattered, it screamed:
"I won't disappear! I grow with you!"
Aras's arm trembled.
(SYSTEM)
Anger Reflection Eliminated.Perception Stability +5%.Shadow Reflex: New Form Recorded — Jackal Lunge (12% activation chance).
Only one reflection remained:
Empty Aras.
The quietest.The deadliest.
III. EMPTY ARAS — "…"
This reflection showed no emotion.No fear.No anger.
This was Aras's most dangerous aspect:
Indifference.
Its movements looked slow but hid real speed.Its body seemed punctured by shadows — slippery, silent, unreadable.
(SYSTEM)
Attack Type: Light Control Disruption.Effect: Weakens Grey Ring linkage.Warning: Grey Ring Stability -8%.
The ring on his chest crackled.Aras felt power weakening for the first time.
Empty Aras took two steps.Each step disturbed Aras's inner "light control."
As if his own shadow no longer obeyed him.
It vanished.
Aras held his breath.The attack made no sound at all.
At the final moment—
Grey Ring shut itself,not his eyes but his inner sense.
Aras perceived the world without light,and in that void the only detectable thing was…
…the silent pulse resembling Empty Aras's heartbeat.
He parried by instinct — a blind parry.
CRACK—!Blades clashed.
Aras fell to his knees.
Empty Aras closed in for the killing thrust.
And then—
From deep within the Grey Ring came a whisper:
"To exist is to fight the void."
Aras gathered the last of his strength.He raised the Clawblade crosswise, turned his torso,and drove the blade through Empty Aras's chest.
The reflection shattered.
As it faded, it whispered:
"The void… will find you again."
(SYSTEM) — Mind Collapse Prevented
All Mindfork variants eliminated.Identity Integrity: 72% → 93%.Grey Ring synchronization increased.Light Control +1Reaction +1
Aras remained on his knees, breathing heavily.Sweat soaked his face.But he was still standing.
THE VIOLET EYE — TRUE FORM
The single eye on the ceiling closed.
Then reopened —this time with three eyes.
At the end of the dark tunnel, a door materialized.
(SYSTEM)
Access Granted: Floor 3 MiniBoss.MiniBoss: Mirrorback Seer.Preparation Time: 30 seconds.Reward Types: Mind Weight / Reflection Power / Grey Ring Circuit.
Aras rested the Clawblade on his shoulder.
"All right…If it's coming, let it come."
The eyes at the tunnel's end flickered.
The next battle will be against the true intelligence of the Violet Ring.