Ash floated in the air.
Everything was silent…
And yet, something inside was screaming.
This wasn't a fight.
It was a collision between two Spiral echoes.
I was Aren Kael.
And in front of me stood Cindros —
A burned-out future version of myself.
---
Tomo (low voice):
"Bro… Spiral levels are destabilizing.
If there's one more blow… this chamber could collapse."
---
Me (quietly):
"Then let it break.
Because today…
It's not just fire that's burning in the Spiral—
Truth is."
---
Cindros stood before me.
No anger in his eyes.
Just… exhaustion.
---
Cindros (softly):
> "You think you're winning, Aren.
But you're only delaying the future…
The one where you become me."
---
He raised his hand—
And carved a Spiral sigil into the air:
Ash Spiral – Memory Detonate.
---
Suddenly—
My Spiral Rod stopped glowing.
The light vanished.
Darkness surrounded me.
And then—
Just one memory.
---
Flash: Aika.
She was crying.
Eyes filled with pain.
Her voice echoed:
> "You protect everyone…
But never yourself."
---
I turned.
Gripped the Rod tightly.
The Spiral mark on my hand began to burn—
But this time, it didn't hurt.
---
Me (inwardly):
> "The Spiral doesn't just break me…
It shows me what I could become."
---
Final Form – Dual Spiral Activation
---
Cindros:
Ashfire Wrath!
The entire chamber was swallowed by flames.
Time slowed.
Ash froze in the air like suspended memories.
---
Me:
Epoch Fang – Truth Forged Flame!
A new inscription lit up across the Spiral Rod:
> "When Pain is Accepted… Flame Becomes Purpose."
A golden Spiral light burst forth—
Turning every ash particle into glowing fragments of memory.
---
Tomo (voice shaking, eyes wide):
"Bro… you're taking the weight of Spiral…
And turning it into light."
---
Final Slash
No screams.
No battle cries.
Just two souls—
Charging.
Cindros and I.
Fire meeting fire.
Truth meeting truth.
---
Spiral Collision.
A white blast.
The chamber pulsed with light.
---
Slow Motion
Cindros collapsed to the ground.
Not defeated.
Just… empty.
His Spiral Rod fell from his hand.
---
Cindros (weak, whispering):
> "I thought Spiral only took everything away…
But you…
You brought light into it…"
---
I knelt beside him.
Me:
> "You stopped me from becoming you.
But now that I have…
I'm still not the same."
---
A single tear of ash rolled from Cindros' eye.
And slowly—
His body began to dissolve.
Returning to Spiral.
Not in rage.
But in peace.
---
Final Words:
> "You may never defeat the Spiral…
But you won't lose yourself to it either."
---
[Cindros – Burned One: STATUS — DISINTEGRATED]
> Spiral flame absorbed.
Chamber stabilized.
---
Scene End
I stood alone.
Spiral Rod in hand.
Tomo beside me—finally glitch-free.
But I…
I was a little less than before.
---
Me (internally):
> "You can't defeat time.
But understanding it…
Living through it…
> That's the greatest victory."
---
To be continued…