The room was gone.
Darkness stretched endlessly in every direction, swallowing the throne, the labyrinth, and even Arin's companions.
For a brief moment, he was completely alone with her.
Evelyn stood before him, her silver hair floating like mist, her crimson eyes burning with emotions too tangled to name—love, pain, rage… betrayal.
"You abandoned me," she whispered, stepping forward.
Each step made the shadows tremble.
"You swore eternity."
A golden ring glowed faintly on her pale finger—a wedding ring.
Arin clenched his fists. His memories were still fractured, but the echoes of another life whispered at the edges of his mind.
"I didn't abandon you." His voice was steady. "I… I don't even remember."
Evelyn's smile was bitter. "Then let me help you remember… through pain."
She raised her hand—
And the darkness exploded.
---
Battle Begins – The Revenant Bride's Wrath!
The shadows twisted, forming countless phantoms of Arin himself.
Each one wielded a blade identical to his, their golden eyes glowing with a cold, merciless light.
"Face yourself, my love."
The phantoms lunged.
CLANG!
Arin barely parried the first strike, his blade clashing against his own reflection. Another phantom slashed at him from behind—he twisted, deflecting the attack, only to be forced back by a third.
Too many. Too fast.
Each phantom moved with his speed, mimicked his strength.
Evelyn watched from above, floating like a specter in the abyss. Her voice was soft, but laced with sorrow.
"You were a king, Arin."
Another phantom struck.
"A warrior. A ruler. And…"
A sword sliced into his side. Pain.
"My husband."
Blood dripped down Arin's arm.
His vision blurred, flashes of another time flooding in.
A golden throne.
A kingdom on fire.
Evelyn, reaching for him—and being torn away.
"You left me to die."
Arin gritted his teeth. "That's not me anymore."
"No," Evelyn whispered, raising her hand.
The phantoms froze.
"But it was you once. And that part of you… must die."
With a single motion—
The phantoms merged into one.
A single figure stepped forward—
And it was himself.
But not as he was now.
This was a king.
Clad in black and gold armor, wearing a bloodstained crown, his eyes cold as the abyss.
> [New Opponent Identified: Arin, The King of the Fallen]
Status: Mirror of the Past
Threat Level: Unknown
Arin exhaled.
"Fine," he muttered, lifting his sword.
"I'll kill my past with my own hands."
---
The King vs. The Reborn Warrior!
The Fallen King attacked first—faster than Arin had ever moved before.
CLASH!
Sparks flew as their swords met. The sheer force sent Arin skidding backward.
"Too slow," his past self whispered.
The King blurred—appearing behind him in an instant.
Arin barely twisted his blade in time to block—but the impact sent him crashing into the void.
Pain shot through his body. He coughed blood.
Damn it. He's stronger.
Because he's me.
The King pointed his sword at him. Mocking. Ruthless.
"You will always be weak. You lost your kingdom. You lost your bride. And now—"
Evelyn's voice was soft. "You will lose again."
Arin pushed himself up. His mind was burning, memories flashing—
But this time, he embraced them.
"Maybe I was weak back then."
His sword glowed.
"But that doesn't mean I'll lose now."
The King's eyes narrowed. "Bold words."
Arin smiled.
"Let me show you how much I've changed."
He moved.
Faster than before.
Faster than his past.
One slash.
His blade carved through his past self's armor.
The King stumbled, golden eyes widening.
"Impossible…"
Arin exhaled.
"You lost because you clung to the past."
The King opened his mouth—but his form shattered into golden dust.
Evelyn gasped. The darkness trembled.
The nightmare—was breaking.
---
[The Final Choice – Love or Vengeance?]
The void shattered.
The throne room returned.
Arin stood before Evelyn, their surroundings trembling. She clutched her chest, her crimson eyes flickering between rage and sorrow.
"Arin…"
She lifted her hand—her power fading.
Her body… fading.
If she kept fighting, she would be erased forever.
But still, she refused to back down.
Because she still loved him.
Arin exhaled. He sheathed his sword.
"I don't want to fight you anymore, Evelyn."
She flinched.
"You're the one who pulled me back into this," she whispered. "You're the one who left me behind."
"And I'm the one standing here now," Arin said gently. "So let me make a new choice."
He reached out—
And this time, she didn't pull away.
His fingers brushed her cheek. "Come with me."
Her breath caught.
"You're not just a vengeful bride, Evelyn. You're more than that. I don't know what happened in the past… but I know what I want now."
Her body trembled. "And what do you want?"
Arin smiled softly.
"You."
Evelyn's eyes widened.
For the first time—her darkness wavered.
Her lips parted—
But before she could speak—
A new presence appeared.
A dark voice echoed through the room.
"Enough."
The air cracked.
A third entity stepped forward from the abyss.
A figure in a black mask.
> [New Threat Identified: ???]
Status: ???
Threat Level: Unknown
Evelyn gasped. "No… it can't be—!"
Arin turned, his grip on his sword tightening.
Another secret had just stepped into the light.
---
[TO BE CONTINUED…]