THE MIRRORED SLAUGHTER
A blood moon hung over the horizon like a dying eye
Kael and Nysera stood on the edge of the Fractured Plains, where the first of the Dominion's Mirror Spires had risen. The ground crackled beneath them veins of corrupted mana pulsing with life. Ahead, a massive tower of black-glass spiraled into the clouds, its surface writhing with reflections of a thousand twisted versions of Kael himself. Some sneered. Others wept. One smiled.
That one Nysera pointed It's waiting for us
Kael stared at his own corrupted reflection the clone's crimson eyes flaring with hatred. It moved in sync mirroring his smallest gestures. But when Kael took a step forward, the mirror Kael unsheathed a sword of bone and living tongues.
They've perfected the process Nysera murmured. That's not just a copy. That's you reimagined by the Dominion's madness
Kael grinned.
Then let's see if their imagination bleeds
THE ASCENT OF THE SPIRE
The doors of the Mirror Spire yawned open as if welcoming them inside. A corridor stretched into darkness, lined with humanoid corpses impaled on reflective spikes—each body twitching with life. Their mouths moved.
Go back they whispered in unison You are already dead. You just haven't stopped moving
Kael ignored them.
His boot crunched on glass.
From above, shadow creatures dropped—humanoid forms made of shattered mirror shards, fused by bone and black blood. Their screeches were metal against flesh.
Kael raised both hands and cast Blackfire Surge, a swirling inferno of soul-consuming flame. The fire didn't just burn—it unwound their existence, tearing through reality and memory.
They died screaming—but their reflections crawled out from the broken mirrors beside their corpses.
They're not bound by flesh," Nysera snarled, flinging a silver sigil that froze a reflection mid-escape. "Kill the memory, or they return
Kael nodded. With no hesitation, he drew his Oblivion Fang, a cursed dagger made from the fang of a forgotten god, and stabbed it into his own reflection in the mirror.
The surface shattered. The air screamed.
The corridor went silent
A SIDE CHARACTER RETURNS
As they climbed, Kael froze.
A figure blocked the next stairway—tall, armored, wielding twin cleavers etched with demon script. His face was hidden beneath a helm made of chained skulls.
But Kael knew him. Knew him too well.
Darnic.
Nysera glanced sideways.
Who?
He was my brother. In my first life.
Darnic didn't speak. Instead, he lifted one cleaver and pointed it at Kael. A hollow voice echoed:
You left me. Burned me. Betrayed me for power."
You died screaming, like you deserved," Kael said coldly.
Not before cursing you
Without warning, Darnic attacked.
THE MERCILESS DUEL
Blades clashed. Kael blocked the first cleaver with his soulsteel blade, but the second tore across his shoulder, spraying blood. Darnic was faster than he remembered—stronger. Fueled by something dark.
Kael's eyes flared. He grinned.
You're not my brother. You're a corpse pretending to be him
And you're the murderer pretending to be king.
The ground shook as Kael cast Void Chain, locking Darnic's legs with tendrils of cursed energy. Then Kael thrust his dagger into Darnic's stomach and whispered:
Beg
Never
Kael twisted.
The cursed energy unraveled Darnic's essence. The Dominion's magic fought back, trying to reform hi but Kael reached inside the corpse's chest and ripped out the still-beating shadow core, crushing it in his fist.
You weren't my brother. My brother died the day I was reborn
A TWISTED REVELATION
Nysera walked ahead into the next room, her steps slowing as she stared at the mural carved into the wall. Dozens of figures were etched in cruel, surreal shapes—horned, twisted, wings bleeding fire.
In the center was Kael. Crowned. Chained.
They're worshipping you," she whispered. The Dominion sees you as their catalyst.
Kael frowned.
Catalyst for what?"
A voice boomed through the tower.
The World Rewrite.
The walls split open. Out stepped a creature draped in rags of thought and memory—its body formed from screaming mouths and melted clocks. Time bent around it.
I am Chronorak, the Mirrorfather.
And I am your first rebirth.
FINAL BATTLE OF THE CHAPTER
Chronorak raised a hand and the tower inverted. Nysera vanished into glass. Kael found himself floating above an ocean of mirrors, each one showing a different life he could have lived: a farmer, a priest, a coward, a dead child.
You could've been anything Chronorak whispered. "Why did you choose vengeance?
Kael snarled.
Because the world deserved to burn.
Then let us see if it burns clean.
Chronorak's mouthless form surged forward, a maelstrom of timelines and futures. Kael screamed as a dozen versions of himself attacked him—each stronger, faster, more righteous.
But Kael was not righteous.
He was hate. He was blood.
He activated his newest skill—Demon Throne—sacrificing part of his soul to summon a massive flaming throne beneath him. Dark wings burst from his back. Every version of himself screamed as they were pulled into the gravity of his wrath.
I am not your mirror.
Kael hurled his throne at Chronorak like a meteor. The spire shook. The creature shattered into splinters of future regrets.
Nysera reappeared, coughing.
Did you… win?
No," Kael said. "I'm just getting started.
CLOSING TEASE
Outside, more Mirror Spires were rising.
The Dominion was multiplying. War was coming.
But Kael was no longer hunting for survival.
He was hunting for extinction.