Jax dropped into a void that wasn't sky, wasn't earth just crimson fog and floating shards of shattered space. Time here bent like heat waves, pulsing with each beat of his relic-bound heart.
[Phase Two: Initiated]
Objective: Endure the Trial of Reflection.
Warning: Emotional resistance affects survival.
He floated in silence, then snap the fog cleared.
Before him stood… himself.
But twisted.
His clone's eyes were pitch black, laced with red cracks. A smirk tugged at its lips sharp, mocking.
"Welcome to your own mess," it said. "I'm everything you've ignored. The rage. The doubt. The killer instinct you're too scared to unleash."
Jax took a step forward. "You're just a glitch."
"No," the clone said, summoning twin blood-forged blades. "I'm your true form unfiltered. Revenant mode, no off-switch."
[Blood Revenant: Mirror Sync 89%]
Jax didn't wait. He launched at it, fist crackling with his Crimson Link aura.
But the clone met him blow for blow every move matched, countered, reversed.
He grunted. "How do I beat someone who is me?"
The clone tilted its head. "By being more than you are now."
Every strike felt heavier. His arms trembled. His aura flickered.
"You're hesitating," the clone sneered. "Still trying to hold on to your humanity."
Jax roared, eyes glowing fully red. "Then maybe it's time I let go on my terms!"
The relic pulsed violently.
[System Override: Blood Limit Break – Engaged]
+25% speed
+30% aggression stat
One minute only.
His aura exploded outward like a nova.
He struck faster, harder spinning, feinting, adapting. He out-thought himself.
The final blow landed straight to the clone's core.
Shatter.
The figure dissolved into red mist.
Silence returned.
Then the voice came again, echoing from nowhere and everywhere:
"Trial Two Complete. You've bled through your fears. 38:04:56 remains."
The crimson realm cracked, and Jax was pulled back to reality collapsing on the subway floor, steam rising from his body.
Mel gasped. "Jax?! What happened?!"
He looked up, face pale, aura still glowing.
"I met... myself," he said, voice hoarse. "And I finally hit back."
Mel blinked. "You good?"
He gave a half-smile. "No. But I'm getting there."