Tower 1 — Floor Twenty, The Shrouded Forum
The door slid shut behind them without a sound.
The air inside was still.
Too still.
Gray fog coiled along the floor like living smoke.
Tall pillars rose into the high ceiling, cracked and worn as if something massive had passed through here many times.
But none of that mattered.
Because at the center of the chamber—
standing casually, arms at his sides—
was a silhouette.
Not tall.
Not monstrous.
Just a boy.
A boy their age.
But black smoke bled from his body like ink leaking from a cracked vial.
His presence carved a cold ache into the room—
an ache that dug into nerves and bone.
Ragnor swallowed.
"…who the hell is that?"
The shadow smiled.
It was small at first.
Soft.
A child's grin.
Then it widened, stretching a little too far—
his teeth a little too sharp.
"Hi."
Lyra's fingers trembled on her bowstring.
Iris stepped backward until she bumped into Aetherion.
Aetherion's eyes narrowed.
"That voice…"
Rio didn't breathe.
DRM stood still, mask angled slightly—
as if he had been waiting for this moment.
The shadow tilted his head.
"You've climbed pretty far.
Impressive."
Ragnor blinked.
"Oh. He talks."
Lyra hissed:
"Ragnor—shut up—!"
The shadow raised a hand in mock greeting.
"I've been following your progress.
You're fun to watch."
His voice was playful.
Light.
Almost friendly.
But the air around him—
the sheer pressure—
kept rising.
Aetherion's cosmic energy flickered violently.
"This presence…
it's similar to DRM's—"
Rio's voice came out soft.
"…it's familiar."
The shadow's smile sharpened.
"Heh.
Little Rio sees it."
Rio froze.
The shadow continued.
"But you're not ready yet."
Ragnor stepped forward.
"HEY—listen up creep—
If you wanted to talk, you could've just said so!
Who are you?!"
The shadow pointed at himself.
"Oh.
I go by all sorts of names."
He covered one eye with his hand and leaned forward, playful.
"But for now…
just call me—"
The system glitched violently as it attempted to display a name:
[ENTITY: ████]
Iris clutched her head.
"W-Why does the system glitch?!"
The shadow giggled softly.
"Because names are funny."
Ragnor lifted his fists.
"Alright, little nightmare—
what do you want?"
The shadow didn't answer.
He looked at each member of the group slowly.
Lyra.
Ragnor.
Iris.
Aetherion.
Then Rio.
Rio couldn't move.
Not even breathe.
The shadow's grin softened into something almost… fond.
"You're getting better."
Aetherion froze.
"…better? At what?"
The shadow turned away.
"That's a secret."
Then he looked at DRM.
And his grin changed.
It became sharper.
Realer.
Darker.
"Hello."
DRM tilted his head.
The shadow imitated the gesture perfectly—
mocking.
Echoing.
Iris whispered to Lyra:
"…h-he's mimicking DRM…"
Lyra nodded, terrified.
The shadow stepped closer.
"Still hiding behind a mask?
Still pretending?"
DRM didn't move.
Not a flinch.
Not a response.
Just silent.
The shadow's voice lowered.
"You can't keep avoiding me forever."
Ragnor moved between them fast.
"HEY—BACK OFF!"
The shadow blinked.
"Oh?
You're bold."
Ragnor grinned.
"Damn right. Somebody has to babysit these kids."
The shadow stared at him for three long seconds.
Then smiled.
And vanished—
Reappearing behind Ragnor.
A whisper at his ear.
"Then why aren't you scared?"
Ragnor stiffened—
but didn't turn.
"Because…
my fear's already been beaten outta me twelve floors ago."
The shadow giggled like a delighted child.
"I like you."
Aetherion's breath hitched.
"He teleported without any spatial disturbance…"
Lyra tightened her grip.
"He moves like… nothing I've ever seen."
Iris glanced fearfully at Rio.
Rio trembled.
The shadow finally drifted to the center of the room again.
"Anyway…"
He raised his arms cheerfully.
"I'm not here to kill you."
Ragnor sighed in relief.
"Oh good—"
The shadow smiled.
"I'm here to see how LONG you can survive."
Aetherion exhaled sharply.
"Of course."
The shadow snapped his fingers.
Fog burst upward—
coiling around each pillar—
forming shapes—
Humanoid.
Distorted.
Silent.
A small army of shadow constructs.
Lyra drew her bow.
Ragnor cracked his knuckles.
Iris activated her chrono-sphere.
Aetherion floated, cosmic energy swirling.
Rio raised his staff—
but hesitated.
The shadow's eyes softened at Rio.
"Let's see…"
he whispered, voice curious.
"…how much you remember."
Rio's breath caught.
"No…"
The shadows lunged.
And the battle began.