The ashes of battle had barely settled when the ground beneath the throne ruins began to shift again.
Not violently. Not destructively.
Rhythmically.
As if the Abyss itself… was breathing.
Raen turned toward the northwest side of the ruined sanctuary, where a circular formation of monoliths had emerged—each etched with sigils that pulsed faintly in sync with his chainmark.
[System Notice:New Pathway Activated — Gate to Layer Five: The Maw of Gaze.][Warning: Entry limited to Throneblood bearers or beasts with evolved sorrow types.]
Raen narrowed his eyes. "So the Sovereigns closed it to most… except to me."
The Wyrm chimed in, hovering upside down. "Let me guess—creepy eyes, watching from every direction, judging every breath you take?"
Hollowfang growled low in agreement.
Despair Maw sniffed the wind. It smelled of rot and light. An unnatural mix.
Raen stepped toward the monoliths. The moment he crossed the boundary, the space twisted.
Layer Five: The Maw of Gaze
The world bent inward.
Raen found himself standing at the edge of an endless cliff, with a circular pit below—a crater that spiraled down, glowing with an eerie blue. Walls of flesh and stone pulsed, blinking eyes embedded along every curve, lidless and glowing like stars.
[Environmental Hazard:— Perception Distortion Active.— Staring into the eyes triggers hallucinations or soul bleed.]
[Objective: Reach the Beacon Core.Bonus: Subdue or bond the Beast of Reflection.]
Raen raised a brow. "Beast of Reflection?"
The System paused. Then answered.
[Codename: Mirrorgale.Type: Phantom Illusion Beast.Nature: Unstable.Power: Shows you what you fear… or desire most.]
Despair Maw whimpered suddenly.
Hollowfang tensed.
Even the Wyrm whispered, "Oooh, I hate those."
They descended carefully into the crater.
The blinking walls never blinked at once—but always in sequence, like an audience following a slow act.
Eventually, they reached a wide cavern at the base. Inside stood a lake. Still. Black as ink. At its center stood a single figure.
A beast—unlike any Raen had seen.
It had no face.
Just a mirror.
A polished glass oval where its head should be. Its body was long and serpentine, made of swirling mist and starlight. Silver chains floated beside it, disconnected and singing.
[Beast Identified: Mirrorgale – Rank A][Ability: Mirror Projection | Fear Echo | Desire Bite][Status: Waiting.]
Raen approached slowly.
His reflection appeared in the beast's face—wounded, tired, older.
Then… changed.
Suddenly, he saw a version of himself crowned, seated on the First Throne, his beasts kneeling—not in loyalty—but in fear.
He recoiled.
The image faded.
The beast tilted its head.
[Warning: Beast is reading your buried desire.]
Raen swallowed. "I'm not here to rule. I'm here to protect them."
The mirror shimmered again.
Now he saw Hollowfang dying.
Despair Maw weeping.
Jester Wyrm… shattered.
"No."
He stepped forward. "Enough."
His aura flared—not with fury, but conviction.
The chainmark on his hand glowed.
And the beast trembled.
Mirrorgale let out a soundless cry.
Chains of silver mist reached from its body.
Raen met them—no weapon raised.
Just his hand.
The moment they touched—his mind was pulled into a reflection:
A room of mirrors.
In each one, a version of Raen—
Cold tyrant.Broken soldier.Vengeful destroyer.
But at the center stood the real him.
Alone, bloodied, determined.
"I'm not perfect," he whispered. "But I won't run from what I've become."
The mirrors cracked.
Then shattered.
Raen gasped as he returned to his body.
The beast—Mirrorgale—bowed its mirror-face low.
Then it wrapped its tail gently around his waist.
[Beast Bond Initiated: Mirrorgale – Rank A (Phantom Type)][Ability Unlocked: Mirror Veil – Hide up to 2 life signatures from detection.][Bond Strength: 22%][Soul Alignment: Regret–Truth Hybrid.]
Raen knelt and touched the beast's side.
"You don't need to lie to anyone anymore."
A soft ripple spread from its body.
And for the first time in years—
Mirrorgale blinked.
Raen stood as his four beasts gathered.
The chainmark pulsed again.
The road to the next Sovereign territory—Layer Four—was now visible through a new portal.
And behind him, hundreds of abyssal eyes began to close.
One by one.
Watching the return of the heir they thought lost.
But the Beast King was no longer sleeping.
He was rising.