When they stepped into Floor B97, the world folded.
Lucien, Naia, and Calen found themselves standing in the ruins of what might have once been a cathedral — its arches broken, its stained-glass windows shattered, and a ceiling open to an infinite black sky. Pillars bent inward like crooked fingers. The air stank of incense and rot.
At the heart of the cathedral was an altar.
Upon it lay a single book — blank, bound in something that looked like skin and breathed like flesh.
[Welcome to Floor B97 – The Faith That Devours.]Here, belief becomes reality.Cling to what you believe, and it shall take form.Doubt it… and it shall turn against you.Faith is a double-edged god.
A strange pressure settled over them. Like something was watching. Like reality itself held its breath.
Naia stepped forward first.
The moment she looked at the book, her eyes glazed over.
She whispered, "The Light protects…"
And the book shimmered.
A figure descended from the black sky. Wings of blinding gold. Armor white as untouched snow. A radiant being — humanoid but too perfect. Too symmetrical. No eyes, just glowing hollows. No face, only divine light.
[Manifestation Detected: Archon of Light – born from Naia's Belief]
It hovered inches above the cracked altar and turned its faceless gaze toward them.
Lucien stepped back.
"Naia, what did you do?"
"I—I just wanted something good," she said, voice shaking. "Something to protect us. Something real."
The Archon floated forward.
And pointed at Calen.
"SIN."
Naia's eyes widened. "Wait, no!"
The Archon raised a hand. Holy fire bloomed.
Lucien yanked Calen back just in time. The pew beside them burst into flame.
Calen was trembling.
"Why would it attack me?" he cried. "I didn't do anything!"
"It doesn't care what you've done," Lucien muttered. "It only cares what she believes you've done."
Naia covered her mouth, horrified. "I didn't think that— I didn't mean to—"
"But you did," Lucien said. "Deep down."
The Archon hovered higher. More solid now. The stronger the belief, the more real the god became.
Lucien's mind raced.
This floor punishes faith. But what if you lie? What if belief is forced? Or false?
He turned to Calen.
"What do you believe in?"
Calen swallowed hard. "I… I believe you'll protect us."
Lucien blinked.
The air shimmered.
Something stepped out of the shadows — tall, cloaked in black, wearing a mask shaped like Lucien's face, but serene. Glowing. Holy.
[Manifestation Detected: Avatar of Redemption – born from Calen's Belief in Lucien]
Naia backed away. "Is that—?"
Lucien's jaw clenched.
"No. That's not me."
The avatar stepped forward. Calm, radiant. It spoke with a voice that echoed with false righteousness.
"Lucien Vale does not lie. He is the truth that shall cleanse the Tower."
Lucien froze.
Because that was the exact opposite of who he was.
And the Avatar turned toward him.
"You are not me."
"Back up," Lucien barked.
The Archon and the Avatar stood on opposite sides of the cathedral — two divine manifestations, one born from hope, the other from twisted belief.
Lucien was caught between gods made from lies.
"Discrepancy detected," the Avatar said, its voice like metal scraping against glass. "The original Lucien contradicts the Belief. Error. Must eliminate inconsistency."
"Oh, that's just wonderful," Lucien muttered.
Naia was kneeling now, praying desperately. "Please, let them protect us, not hurt us, please…"
Calen was frozen, watching his imagined savior march toward the real one.
Lucien grit his teeth.
They believe in fakes. And the fakes are stronger.
He closed his eyes.
Then I'll become the biggest fake of all.
Lucien walked calmly toward the center.
The Archon flared with divine fire.
The Avatar extended its hand.
Lucien raised his voice — loud enough to shake the walls.
"I believe in nothing."
Everything froze.
Even the air stopped moving.
He kept walking.
"I believe reality bends to the strongest lie."
The ground cracked.
The sky turned red.
"I believe gods are puppets — and I am the puppeteer."
The book on the altar caught flame.
[Override Detected – Belief Manipulation Rank: Mastered]One True Lie accepted as Law.
Both divine beings twitched. They looked at him — and for a moment, their perfection faltered.
The Avatar screamed.The Archon cracked.
Lucien raised his hand and whispered the final nail.
"I believe I'm the only real Lucien. All others… are echoes."
The Avatar convulsed and shattered like glass. The Archon dissolved into a storm of golden dust.
Silence.
[All Manifestations Rejected.]Faith has collapsed. Reality reset initiated…
The cathedral crumbled around them.
Lucien dropped to his knees, panting.
Naia crawled toward him, eyes wet.
"You... you destroyed them."
"They were never real," Lucien said flatly.
"They were born from our hearts."
"Then maybe your hearts need better editors."
She slapped him.
Hard.
Lucien didn't react.
Behind them, the altar was now just ash.
The book gone.
[Floor B97 Cleared.]Bonus Trait Acquired: Faithless Anchor – Immune to all belief-based illusions.Proceed to Floor B96.
Calen helped Lucien up, his expression unreadable.
"Thank you," he said quietly.
Lucien stared at the boy.
He still believes in me.
And that was more dangerous than any lie.