The Watcher rose higher than the shattered towers drifting in the abyss, its body shifting between stone and shadow, as if reality itself couldn't decide what it was made of. Its face remained hidden beneath the broken helm, but the eyes—those blinding white flames—pierced each of them like spears.
"Fragments," it thundered, voice echoing across the Dominion. "You wear the shape of mortals, but you are nothing but echoes. I will test your claim to existence."
The mirrors surrounding the marble platform shuddered. Each surface rippled like liquid, and from them poured figures—twisted doubles of Carlos, Lys, Thalor, Rina, and Maren.
But these weren't exact copies. They were warped reflections, exaggerated by fear and regret:
- Carlos's double bore the same Blade of Ascension, but its light was black fire, a weapon of destruction instead of hope.
- Lys's twin carried her bow, but her eyes were hollow voids, each arrow a whisper of betrayal.
- Thalor's reflection was a knight made entirely of cracked stone, a hollow suit of armor that clanged with emptiness.
- Rina's mirror-self was faceless, a ghost of secrets untold.
- Maren's counterpart had eyes glowing with unstable magic, a version of her that had surrendered to madness.
The real heroes stood shoulder to shoulder, weapons ready.
"Fight shadows with light," Thalor growled, raising his shield. "Stand together, or fall apart."
Clash of Reflections
The doubles attacked first. Carlos's dark twin lunged, blade clashing against the real Blade of Ascension. The sound rang like a scream, sparks flying as light and shadow battled. Carlos staggered but held firm, gritting his teeth against the force that felt all too familiar.
Lys loosed an arrow, only for her hollow-eyed reflection to split into two shadow-forms, both drawing bows in eerie synchrony. She rolled aside as arrows hissed through the air, one grazing her cheek.
Thalor met his armored double head-on, shield against shield. The impact cracked stone beneath them. "I know what you are," he growled, shoving forward. "An empty shell. I am more than that!"
Rina darted through the chaos, daggers flashing, but her faceless twin mirrored every step. It was like fighting her own shadow, every feint anticipated, every strike countered.
Maren stood against her frenzied counterpart, magic colliding in bursts of fire and frost. But the reflection's spells were unstable, exploding chaotically. One blast threw Maren to the ground, her ears ringing.
The Watcher Intervenes
As the battle raged, the Watcher raised its colossal hand. Shards of stone tore from the platform, floating like daggers before launching toward the heroes.
Carlos dove, shoving Lys aside as a spear of marble shattered against the floor where she had stood.
"Focus on the doubles!" he shouted. "If we can beat them, we can face him!"
But the Watcher's laughter rolled across the realm. "You fight yourselves, yet deny the truth of your reflection. Until you accept what you are, you cannot defeat me."
The words dug deeper than the attacks. Carlos's twin pressed harder, each swing of the blackened blade forcing Carlos back. "You crave this," it hissed, voice his own but crueler. "Power. Purpose. You're no hero. You're just desperate to matter."
Carlos's heart hammered. The words rang true in a way that hurt. But behind him, he felt Lys's steady presence, Thalor's unyielding shield, Maren's magic sparking back to life, and Rina's sharp determination.
He roared and drove forward, striking hard. "I am not just desperation. I am choice!"
The Blade of Ascension flared with white fire, clashing against the shadow blade. The shockwave cracked the nearest mirror, sending shards flying.
Breaking the Illusion
Lys found her opening. Instead of shooting her double, she turned her bow on the mirror itself. Her arrow struck dead center, the glass shattering into fragments. Her hollow twin dissolved into smoke with a shriek.
"Destroy the mirrors!" she yelled.
Rina pivoted instantly, feinting past her faceless twin and driving both daggers into the base of another mirror. It cracked apart, and her reflection dissolved like mist.
One by one, they followed suit—breaking the mirrors, severing the reflections. With each destruction, the Watcher staggered, its white eyes flickering.
Finally, Carlos hurled his glowing blade straight into the largest mirror behind the Watcher. The explosion lit the Dominion like a second sun, shards raining into the abyss. The doubles screamed and vanished.
The heroes stood panting, bloodied but unbroken.
The Watcher's Wrath
For a moment, silence. Then the Watcher's voice deepened into a roar that shook the platform.
"You defy me. You break the Dominion's truth. Then face me, whole, and be judged!"
Its cloak of stone shattered, revealing a form of shifting void and fractured stars, a colossus made of the very abyss. Its hands stretched wide, each finger ending in jagged blades.
The Dominion itself groaned, fragments of worlds crashing together in the distance.
Carlos picked up his blade, the white light still glowing. He looked at the others. "This is it. We stand together."
Thalor raised his shield. "For the first time in this cursed place—yes."
The Watcher descended, and the platform erupted into battle once more.