Their bodies were thrown from the vortex of light, crashing hard onto a completely different surface. Ares nearly lost his balance as his feet hit the sandy ground, while Lyra let out a short scream before Orion swiftly caught her. Ryn was thrown a little farther, rolled, and stood up with a crumpled face.
"What is this place again?" Ryn grumbled, patting the sand off her leathers.
Ares looked around. The previous arena had vanished. Now they stood in a vast desert, dimly lit by the deep purple sky. There was no sun, no moon—only a cluster of stars spinning slowly, as if they were standing beneath the dome of the cosmos.
Lyra whispered, her voice filled with awe and fear. "This sky… it feels like staring into the depths of a dream."
Orion remained silent, his eyes intently gazing at the stars. There was something in his gaze, something different from usual.
Ares straightened. "If every trial is truly about facing one's shadow, then now…" He turned to Orion. "It's your turn."
All eyes automatically turned to Orion. The silver-haired youth remained motionless, only looking down for a moment before taking a deep breath. "I expected it."
A deep voice echoed from above, echoing through the starry sky.
"Every soul must be tested. Orion, it's your turn to look into your own heart."
The earth beneath them trembled. The desert sand swirled, forming a wide circle around Orion. Purple light descended, enveloping him, separating him from the others.
Lyra tried to approach. "Orion!"
But an invisible wall blocked her path. Ryn struck it with her dagger, but the sparks of light only bounced off.
"No one can enter," the deep voice asserted. "This test is for him alone."
Ares stared at Orion from behind the barrier. "You are not alone. Whatever you face, remember we are here."
Orion glanced up, his eyes still cold, but his lips curved slightly—a small smile he rarely showed. "I know."
Then, he walked to the center of the circle.
The sand shook again, and from the ground emerged another figure. Just as before with Ares, the invisible mirror cracked, and from within emerged Orion's reflection.
The reflection wore the same attire, flowing silver hair, a bow in hand. However, Orion's eyes glinted a dark purple, filled with coldness and arrogance.
The reflection stared at Orion with disdain. "I wonder... why you still stick with them? Orion, the archer of the stars, stuck with weaklings who will only slow you down."
Lyra tapped the barrier, her face tense. "He..."
"Silence," Orion interrupted, still staring at his own reflection.
The reflection smiled faintly. "Remember, you once stood at the top of the leaderboard. Everyone called you 'Orion the Untouchable.' You were alone, and you were invincible. That was the truth. You needed no one."
Orion raised his bow slowly. "That was then. And it wasn't the truth—it was just loneliness disguised as victory."
Orion's reflection chuckled. "Loneliness? No. It's strength. You've lost your way since you let yourself be tied to them. You slow down to wait for the slow ones, wasting precious arrows to protect them. That's weakness, Orion. And I can't stand to see it."
The last voice was sharp, and instantly the shadow shot up, drawing its bow. A purple arrow shot out at the speed of light.
Orion raised his own bow, and the two arrows collided in the air, exploding into a shower of stars.
The first clash shattered the silence of the desert, and a hail of arrows immediately filled the air. Orion moved swiftly, his body gliding through the flying grains of sand. His arrows glinted white, shooting one after another to deflect the shadow's rain of arrows.
Ares watched anxiously. "He's even faster than usual…"
Lyra covered her mouth, praying quietly.
Ryn, though her mouth was still grinning, her eyes were serious. "That wasn't just a duel of arrows. It was a battle of pride."
The desert dust grew thicker. Orion rolled, releasing an arrow that instantly exploded into shards of light. But the shadow was always one step faster, as if reading his thoughts.
The shadow chuckled. "See? I know when you inhale, when you hold your bow, when you hesitate. I am the side of you that never misses a shot. I am the perfect Orion!"
Another purple arrow flew, narrowly missing Orion's face. He spun around, but the tip of the arrow still grazed his cheek, leaving a thin line of blood.
Orion stood back up, breathing heavily. His eyes narrowed, staring at the shadow standing proudly.
"No…" his voice was flat, but it carried clearly throughout the arena. "You're not the perfect me. You're just the scared me."
The shadow frowned. "Scared?"
Orion raised his bow high, white light pulsing from his arrow. "Yes. Fear of loss. Fear of being alone again. That's why I never let anyone get close before."
He took a deep breath, then drew his bow. "But now… I'm not afraid anymore."
The white light grew brighter, illuminating the entire desert. Orion's shadow bellowed angrily, readying his final purple arrow.
The two figures drew their bows simultaneously.
The air stilled. The sand stilled in midair. The entire world seemed to hold its breath.
"True stars don't shine alone," Orion whispered.
He released his arrow.
Two arrows were released at the same instant. Orion's arrow blazed silvery white, streaking like a shooting star, while his shadow arrow was dark purple, spewing an aura of destruction.
The two met in the middle, the explosion deafening. White and purple light collided, forming a vortex in the air that shattered the sand and slammed into an invisible barrier. Lyra screamed, covering her face. Ryn was even pushed back, despite standing outside the circle.
Ares braced her body with the sword he had stabbed into the ground. "Orion... hold on!"
From within the vortex, Orion's figure emerged, still upright. Despite the shaking, his eyes remained focused. The white arrow he had released didn't vanish, but instead split the purple light bit by bit, forcing the shadow arrow back.
Orion's shadow roared angrily. "No! You're not me! You're just a loser who relies on others for strength!"
Orion drew his bow again, his voice calm but piercing. "You're wrong. I found my power because of them. You are the one I am... and I've left that behind."
He fired another arrow, merging with the previous light. The white flash grew more and more dominant, devouring the purple light.
Orion's shadow struggled, his body trembling, purple cracks appearing on his skin. "No... I am your true power! Without me, you are nothing!"
"Exactly, without them, I am nothing."
With those words, Orion fired his final shot.
The white arrow pierced the shadow's chest. A scream echoed, and the dark body was torn apart by the light. The cracks spread rapidly, and then his entire form shattered into black crystal shards that dissipated into the air.
Silence fell. Only Orion's heavy breathing could be heard.
Lyra screamed in relief. "Orion!" She ran over, but the barrier remained.
Seconds later, the wall of light collapsed. Orion staggered out, his face pale, his temples beading with sweat. But his eyes were calm—calmer than ever.
Ryn grinned, patting Ares on the shoulder. "I thought he would be destroyed by his dark side. He made it seem so trivial."
Ares smiled slightly and stepped closer to Orion. "Good. You did it."
Orion stared at her for a moment, then nodded curtly. "I only did what I had to." But this time, his voice wasn't as stiff as before—there was a faint warmth in it.
Lyra was on the verge of tears as she held Orion's arm. "I was really afraid you wouldn't come back."
Orion lowered his head, his voice soft. "I was afraid too… but I'm not alone anymore."
Suddenly, a white light fell from the sky. A translucent white crystal descended slowly, floating in front of Orion. The crystal vibrated gently, emitting a pure, calming energy.
"The second fragment… you have obtained it," the deep voice echoed again.
Orion raised his hand. As soon as he touched the crystal, light enveloped him. The stars in the sky seemed to spin faster, as if welcoming him.
When the light faded, Orion stood straighter. His eyes took on a new glint, like stars no longer isolated.
Ryn whistled. "Two fragments. Halfway there. At this rate, maybe we can truly escape this hell."
Ares stared at the crystal, which had now disappeared into Orion's body. "There are still two more trials. And it won't be this easy."
Lyra sighed. "But... at least we're together. That's enough for now."
Before they could rest, however, the desert began to shake. The stars in the sky spun faster, and a black vortex appeared in the distance.
The cloaked figure reappeared, standing above the vortex. His voice was deep, but now more urgent.
"Two trials have been passed. Two fragments are in your grasp. But this world's time is short. The next step will take you into true darkness."
Ares gripped his sword tightly. "True darkness...?"
The cloaked figure turned, though his face remained hidden. "Prepare. For what you will face is not just your own shadow... but the shadow of the world itself."
In an instant, the black vortex engulfed the entire desert.
The four of them fell, floating into endless darkness.