Floor Ninety-Nine was different from all the others.
Owen stepped onto a platform suspended in an endless void. Stars shined in the darkness around him, or were they distant worlds? He couldn't tell.
Standing across from him was a figure.
It was a dragon. But not just any dragon.
It looked exactly like Owen.
Same black scales. Same golden eyes. Same size, same build, same everything.
But its eyes were cold. Empty. Devoid of the warmth Owen felt when he thought of Yuki.
The voice spoke.
[This is your shadow. The version of you that could be. The you that chooses power over purpose. Domination over protection. Self over others.]
[Defeat it. Or become it.]
The shadow-Owen grinned, a cruel, vicious expression Owen had never worn on his own face.
"You're weak" it said in Owen's voice. "You cling to that human. You pretend to care about 'balance' and 'protecting the World.' But deep down, you know the truth, still clinging to your human aspect, still weak within"
It spread its wings wide.
"We're dragons. We're meant to rule. To dominate. To take what we want. Why do you deny what you are?"
Owen's claws dug into the platform. "Because that's not what I am."
"Be honest!" Shadow-Owen snarled. "stop pretending!. Embrace your true nature!."
"No."
"Then die pretending to be something you're not!"
Shadow-Owen launched forward, activating [Piercing Dive] with devastating speed.
Owen barely dodged, countering with [Dragon's Breath]. But Shadow-Owen matched him perfectly, every skill, every tactic, every movement mirrored.
They were perfectly matched.
The battle raged across the platform. [Shockwave] met [Shockwave]. [Momentum Shift] countered [Momentum Shift]. Flames clashed against flames.
Owen activated [Sovereignty of Space-Time], slowing the world.
But Shadow-Owen did the same.
They moved through distorted time together, clashing in a realm where seconds stretched into minutes.
"You can't beat me" Shadow-Owen hissed. "I'm everything you are. Every dark thought. Every selfish impulse. Every moment you wanted to give up, to take the easy path, to stop caring. You without the hesitations! You without that weak female human holding you back!"
Owen's mind raced. 'it's right. It knows everything I know. Every skill. Every tactic. How do I beat myself?'
Then it hit him.
'i don't'
Owen deactivated [Sovereignty of Space-Time] and stopped fighting.
Shadow-Owen's claws were inches from his throat when Owen spoke.
"You're right. You're part of me. Those dark thoughts. Those selfish impulses. They exist. I won't deny that."
Shadow-Owen hesitated, confused.
Owen continued. "But they don't define me. They're part of me, but they're not all of me. I choose what I become. Not my instincts. Not my fears. Not you."
He met Shadow-Owen's gaze.
"I choose to protect. I choose Yuki. I choose balance. Not because I have to. Not because of some purpose. But because I want to."
Shadow-Owen's expression twisted with rage. "That's weakness!, a weak choice!"
"Maybe" Owen said calmly. "But it's my weakness. My choice. My path."
He spread his wings.
"And I'm stronger for it."
Shadow-Owen roared and lunged.
But this time, Owen didn't match its movements. He didn't mirror its tactics.
He did something it couldn't predict.
He activated [Sovereignty of Destruction].
But unlike before, he didn't let it consume him. He used the surge of power, the berserk state, and channeled it with precision. His rational mind stayed just barely in control, riding the edge of madness.
Shadow-Owen couldn't replicate this. Because it didn't have what Owen had: a reason to stay sane. A reason to control the chaos.
Owen's claws, wreathed in destructive energy, tore through Shadow-Owen's chest.
The shadow screamed, then dissolved into smoke.
[You have passed the trial of the self. You have chosen your path. Proceed.]
Owen collapsed, gasping, his mana nearly depleted.
[Sovereignty of Destruction - Mastery: 10%]
One more floor left.