KEIICHI MIURA

With a sharp intake of breath, I propelled myself into the air, defying the disintegrating platform beneath my feet. It crumbled into the abyss, lost to the void. Swiftly, I landed upon another circular platform that floated before me. Its trembling vibrations hinted at its imminent collapse, urging me to make a decisive leap to the next, which appeared farther and higher.

The consequences of failure loomed below—a treacherous descent into a landscape adorned with crystalline spikes emanating a poisonous purple aura. One misstep, and I would be impaled by their venomous tips.

This perilous predicament was the culmination of my journey through numerous chambers, each carved from solid stone but painted in an abyssal black hue that radiated an enigmatic gleam.

Emerging from the hidden doorway Wallace had disclosed, I found myself standing in a chamber bifurcated by two paths—one cloaked in darkness, the other bathed in ethereal white. Instructions adorned the ceiling, reminding me that both paths represented fragments of a whole and beseeching me to choose my route with care.

The path that stretched out before me was anything but straightforward. Countless floating circular platforms dotted the expanse, some hovering higher in the air, some lower, and others in between. Their arrangements varied, with some being distant and others within reach.

Every decision I made about which platform to land on was of the utmost importance. A wrong choice could lead to my entrapment, leaving me stranded and eventually plummeting into the unknown depths.

Carefully assessing the distance and height of each platform, I calculated my course and propelled myself into the air, making a calculated leap towards my chosen destination.

"I can see it—the exit!" I whispered to myself, a surge of anticipation coursing through me as I glided through the air, aiming for the next circular platform.

My gaze fixed on the unmistakable presence of a large black door standing proudly at the end of this chamber. It stood on flat ground, solid and unyielding. This was my destination—the culmination of this arduous journey.

Relief flooded over me as I harnessed the energy of the surrounding soil, augmenting my power. With renewed vigour, I pressed forward, moving closer to the exit while the sounds of crumbling platforms echoed behind me.

Yet, as I approached the final floating platform, a sense of doubt crept in. A peculiar feeling told me that there was something I had overlooked. Mid-air, I shifted my gaze to the grand black door.

Why was it so conspicuously large? It was unlike any exit I had encountered before. A nagging suspicion stirred within me, suggesting that it might be a decoy, a diversion from another secret path.

"There’s something else here." I murmured, realising that I needed to reevaluate my surroundings. Suddenly, a bolt of realisation struck me, and I understood why the true path had eluded me.

"How could I have missed this? It was as if my sight was enchanted," I admitted, landing safely on the final platform.

To my left, at a right angle from the main black door, stood a towering pillar painted pitch-black. It was firmly affixed to the wall, and atop its flat surface rested another door, adorned in a subtle greyish-white hue. Its lofty height made it a challenge to discern, as if intentionally concealed from view.

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"The creator of this place deliberately concealed that small door, implying its significance. What should I do?" I pondered aloud, my thoughts racing. However, the platform beneath me trembled, crumbling away, leaving me with no time to hesitate.

In a split second, a realisation struck me, and I swiftly made a decision. Drawing upon the power of sol, I directed its energy to my feet, propelling myself towards the left and evading the conspicuous large door. Gliding through the air, I aimed for the towering pillar.

Reaching the door atop the pillar seemed impossible due to its height. Yet I possessed a solution. Adjusting my body mid-air, I positioned myself to align my feet with the cylindrical surface of the pillar.

As soon as my feet made contact, I initiated a technique known as "Zen glide," a skill I had acquired from Wallace during my time at Kipduff Mountain. This extraordinary ability defied the forces of gravity, allowing me to effortlessly traverse the surface of the pillar.

Swiftly and gracefully, I ascended to the top, approaching the door that awaited me. Opening it, I unveiled a small chamber within. The walls were painted a deep, enigmatic shade of pitch black. Yet something caught my attention—a myriad of white dots scattered across the walls, their movements forming a mesmerising spectacle.

Suddenly, my gaze fell upon a dark, pitch-black spider scuttling beneath me. Its ebony exterior contrasted sharply with its two luminous, white eyes.

"I can’t see anything... Wait!" A realisation dawned upon me as I noticed that the walls surrounding me were not painted but rather teemed with an army of countless spiders. Their beady white eyes gleamed eerily in the dim light.

In an instant, all the spiders detached themselves from the walls, converging upon me with astonishing speed. Within moments, I found myself encircled by a swarm of at least a thousand spiders.

"There’s no choice but to exterminate them. Fortunately, I possess the perfect power for this situation," I muttered with a grin.

Drawing upon the first phase of sol-weaving, I invoked a black mist that materialised around me, permeating the room. The mist dulled the spiders’ movements, gradually sapping their vitality. Concentrating my focus, I intensified the mist’s potency, causing the spiders to falter and succumb to their demise.

Though my power was ineffective against humans, it proved highly efficacious against these small creatures with minimal life force.

Now that the spiders had detached from the walls, the true nature of the room was revealed. The once-hidden walls, painted white, became apparent, and my attention shifted towards a grey door that lay ahead.

Upon opening the door, I found myself in a room enclosed by transparent walls, as if constructed entirely of glass. Only the white door remained opaque, impeding my view. Through the transparent walls, I could clearly see a familiar figure standing outside the room.

Wait... That’s Wallace!" I exclaimed, realising his presence. However, he seemed oblivious to my shouts, as if this room remained invisible to him. Without wasting a moment, I rushed forward to reach the door before Wallace departed. Yet, to my dismay, the door was locked, and even in my heightened state, brute force proved futile in opening it.

Calming myself, I surveyed my surroundings, contemplating the significance of the crystal orb that floated in the room’s center. Perhaps it held the key to unlocking the door. As I touched the orb, a blinding white light enveloped my vision, and an excruciating pain surged throughout my body.

A voiceless scream of agony escaped my lips as the pain intensified, threatening to consume me entirely. It was as if my cells writhed in torment. However, as abruptly as it had begun, the pain ceased, and I found myself back in the same place.

As my vision cleared, I gazed at my hand, only to discover that the crystal orb had melded into my being. Its crystalline form had transformed into a gel-like substance, attaching itself to my body and gradually diminishing in size.

With the completion of this process, the door swung open, coinciding with Wallace’s imminent departure. Just as he turned to leave, he caught sight of the astonishing phenomenon, realising it was me.

A gasp of surprise escaped his lips as he exclaimed, "Kei?"

Wasting no time, I gestured for him to halt and began walking towards him. As I moved closer, a resounding voice echoed within my mind.

[You have received the blessing: Eternal Vigour.]