Kael’s boots crunched on the ashen ground as he approached the looming tower in the distance. It rose high above the desolate landscape, its dark spires twisting unnaturally as though defying the laws of reality.

The closer he came, the more the air seemed to vibrate with an ominous hum, growing stronger with every step. The sound wasn’t just in his ears—it was in his bones, his mind, his very soul.

Kael stopped a few paces from the tower’s base, his golden aura flickering to life. His sword rested on his back, the comforting weight grounding him amidst the oppressive energy surrounding the structure.

"This is it," Kael muttered under his breath. "The heart of the hollow’s trials."

The tower’s entrance was a massive archway carved into the stone, inscribed with glowing runes that pulsed faintly. As Kael stepped closer, the runes flared to life, and a deep, resonant voice echoed from the structure itself.

"Who dares approach the Tower of Echoes?"

Kael stopped, his stance shifting slightly as he prepared for anything. "I am Kael Zephyrion. I’ve faced your shadows and refused your crystal. If this is the next trial, I’m ready."

The voice rumbled with what might have been amusement. "Many have claimed readiness, and all have fallen. Will you offer more than words, mortal?"

Kael raised his chin, his aura burning brighter. "I’ve faced death and returned stronger. I’ve walked through shadows and emerged unbroken. Test me, and you’ll see what I offer."

The tower seemed to shudder, the air around it vibrating with unseen power. Then, the runes on the archway shifted, forming a spiral pattern that pulled Kael’s gaze inward.

"Enter, then, and face what lies within. But know this: the tower reflects the truths you deny, the memories you suppress, and the fears you bury. There is no escape from yourself."

Kael hesitated for only a moment before stepping forward. The runes flared brighter, and the air around him grew heavy. As he crossed the threshold, the world shifted, and he was plunged into darkness.

Kael stood in an endless void, his breaths loud in the silence. Then, without warning, the void began to take shape. A familiar forest materialized around him, the trees tall and ancient, their leaves glowing faintly.

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"Elderwood," Kael whispered, recognizing the place instantly.

But something was off. The forest was too still, too quiet. Even the faint hum of life that usually filled the Elderwood was absent.

A rustling sound drew Kael’s attention, and he turned to see a figure emerging from the trees. It was a young woman with golden hair and piercing blue eyes, her face framed by soft, delicate features.

"Lyra?" Kael breathed, his heart lurching.

The woman smiled, but there was no warmth in it. Her eyes glowed faintly, and her movements were too smooth, too unnatural.

"You left me," Lyra said, her voice soft but accusing.

Kael froze, his mind racing. "This isn’t real. You’re not her."

"Does it matter?" she replied, stepping closer. "You left me, Kael. You couldn’t save me. You were supposed to protect me, and you failed."

Kael’s fists clenched at his sides. "I didn’t fail. I—"

"You let me die," she interrupted, her voice rising. Her form began to shift, her golden hair darkening, her eyes becoming hollow voids. "And you’ll let others die, too. Because that’s what you do, Kael. You destroy everything you touch."

Kael’s golden aura flared as he drew his sword. "You’re not real. You’re just another trick."

The figure lunged at him, her form distorting into a shadowy mass. Kael swung his blade, the golden light slicing through the darkness, but the shadow reformed instantly, wrapping around him like a suffocating shroud.

"Face it," the shadow hissed in his ear. "You can’t protect anyone. Not Lyra. Not yourself. You’re doomed to fail, again and again."

Kael gritted his teeth, his aura flaring brighter. "No," he growled. "I refuse to accept that."

With a roar, he unleashed a surge of energy, his aura exploding outward and dispersing the shadow. The void around him shattered like glass, and he found himself back in the tower, standing before a set of spiraling stairs.

The voice from before echoed through the chamber. "You reject the past, yet it clings to you still. The tower will strip you bare, Kael Zephyrion. There is no hiding from what you are."

Kael tightened his grip on his sword and began to climb the stairs, each step heavier than the last. The air grew colder, and the walls seemed to close in around him.

When he reached the next floor, the room shifted again, and he found himself in a battlefield, the ground littered with bodies.

A figure stood at the center of the carnage, its back to Kael. It turned slowly, revealing a face Kael knew all too well.

It was him.

The other Kael’s golden aura burned fiercely, his eyes cold and unyielding. "You think you can become a hero?" the reflection said, its voice dripping with disdain. "You’re nothing but a weapon. A tool for destruction."

Kael raised his sword, his aura flickering. "If you’re supposed to be me, then you already know how this ends."

The reflection smirked, its golden aura flaring brighter. "Yes. It ends with you breaking, just like always."

The two Kaels charged at each other, their blades clashing in a burst of light. The tower trembled as their battle began, the echoes of their struggle reverberating through the hollow.

Kael knew this fight wouldn’t just test his strength—it would test his very soul. And he was ready to face whatever came next.