The moment Seo Joon grasped the gauntlet, the temple reacted violently.
Chains of light erupted from the pedestal, wrapping around his wrist. The entire chamber rumbled. Symbols lit up across the walls—burning with power so old, it predated the Tower itself.
> "Candidate acknowledged." "Trial of Oath Commences."
The floor cracked open.
Seo Joon dropped, yanked down into darkness.
---
He landed hard—on what felt like stone—but the air shimmered like glass. He stood in a vast coliseum floating in the void. No crowd. No sky. Just one throne of chained stone at the far end. Sitting on it—
—was himself.
Or rather… someone wearing his face, dressed in eclipse-forged armor, with cold, hollow eyes. The presence radiated silence and pressure, as if gravity bowed before him.
> "You once bore the name Vowkeeper."
The armored version of himself stood, drawing a sword unlike any he had ever seen—a black blade wrapped in glowing runes, pulsing like a dying heartbeat.
> "Prove you are worthy to wear the Remnant… or be erased."
A silver bell chimed in the air. The duel began.
---
Seo Joon moved first.
He launched forward with explosive speed, the arena shattering beneath each step. His fist surged with raw force, aimed for the chest—
CLANG!
The armored version parried with fluid ease, twisting his blade and countering with a slash that tore a crater in the ground behind Seo Joon.
> He's faster than me—no, just more refined… like a perfected version of myself.
The echo swung again, and Seo Joon barely ducked. He rolled, leapt up, and summoned a spear of energy from his inventory—his usual weapon—but the echo sneered.
The armored Seo Joon vanished—and reappeared behind him.
"Too slow."
A kick to the ribs sent Seo Joon flying. He hit the wall and spat blood, eyes burning.
He stood.
"I don't care if you're a memory or a ghost," he said, wiping his mouth. "I don't need to be perfect. I just need to move forward."
A pulse erupted from his body. The gauntlet on his arm glowed, and chains of light burst out, reacting to his resolve.
> [Skill Activated – Chain of Memory (Stage 1)]
The chains lashed out toward the echo.
The specter parried them, but they were faster—snapping around its legs. Seo Joon used the opening, dashed forward, and with a roar drove his spear through the echo's side.
The echo smiled.
"You'll fall again."
"I won't," Seo Joon replied. "Because this time, I'm not alone."
He twisted the spear—and the echo shattered into fragments of starlight.
---
He collapsed to one knee as the gauntlet sealed itself around his forearm. A voice echoed:
> [OATHBOUND REMNANT SECURED – 1/12]
[Passive Unlocked: Chain of Memory]
[Skill Locked: Eclipse Rend – Requires 3 Remnants]
Seo Joon stood slowly.
The door of the coliseum opened—and through it, Yu-ri ran in, eyes wide. "Are you okay?! I felt the whole temple shake!"
Seo Joon looked at her, something burning behind his eyes.
"I remember something now," he said. "Not everything… just enough to know this Tower is lying to us."
---
Far above, the Watchers watched in silence.
The old one spoke again, voice heavy with knowing:
> "He fought his echo—and won."
"The bindings are unraveling."
"And soon, the Tower will remember why it feared the Eclipse."