As Lucius's lifeless body crumpled to the floor, the green webs surrounding us began to loosen. Bit by bit, they disintegrated until we could move again. I staggered forward, shaking the last sticky remnants off my arms, and glanced around.

[ Zetens 5/5 ]

"So, it's over," I thought, letting out a heavy sigh. my attention shifted to Omen, who stood silently a few feet away.

He was just looking at us, didn't speak. He just stood there, calm and motionless, like none of what had happened mattered.

I couldn't tell what to make of him. Should I thank him? He had saved us… but not out of kindness. No, Omen sacrificed his entire team. He could have helped them win, but instead, he let them die. Was it because he wanted to be free from them? Or was there something else driving him?

Nely's hand rested lightly on my back, breaking my thoughts. I followed her gaze down to my stomach, where blood had soaked through my shirt. Ah, right, Melisa's claws. I was still bleeding. I dropped to my knees, exhausted.

"Thanks," I murmured as Nely crouched beside me, her hands glowing faintly with Neba. She didn't say a word, just focused on channeling her power into me. I could feel the wound slowly closing, but the dull ache lingered.

Ezra approached me, a sly grin on his face. "Dune, you did it again. Honestly, I'm impressed. But I gotta know... how did you figure out the Ant-man's weakness? Water of all things? It's not exactly common knowledge."

I sighed, brushing off some dirt from my torn clothes. "In my memory, there was this random guy. He just said something about how ants are so strong but a single drop of water could drown them. The second Odor revealed his core was an ant, and I saw Lucius running to save him, it just clicked. Water would kill him. Simple as that."

The twins exchanged glances, nodding in approval.

"Smart," Liam said, crossing his arms. "But isn't that a little... suspicious? I mean, why would some random dude just tell you something that oddly specific?"

I shrugged. "You're not wrong, and trust me, I've thought about it too. But until I get all of my memories back, it's just another question with no answer."

"Also Dude, that weird guy is staring at us again." Ezra whispered.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

I turned to look, and sure enough, Omen stood in the distance, still and silent as always, his unreadable gaze locked onto us.

"Yeah, it creeps me out," Liam continued, "It's like he's a ghost or something. Or a statue. Just standing there."

"Ghost? What's that? Ezra asked.

… i .. i don't know? Probably an animal?"

"Hmmm… Should we invite him over, then? You know, make it less awkward?"

"Are you crazy?" Nely snapped. "Do you really want that guy in our circle? He basically eliminated his entire team, Ezra. Like, with zero hesitation. He's practically screaming 'future serial killer.'"

Nely sighed, her usual sharp demeanor softening. "That aside.. Well, whatever the case, we survived. That's all that matters for now."

She glanced between all of us, her lips curling into a small smirk. "For the next trial, we're probably going to get separated. Don't die, boys. I want to see all of you again."

Ezra and Liam immediately burst out laughing, their carefree energy infectious even in the somber moment.

"Us? And death?" Ezra scoffed, throwing an arm around Liam. "No way. We're practically unkillable."

Nely rolled her eyes.

Ezra turned to me, his mischievous grin still firmly in place. "And you, Bunny. Don't go dying on us, either. You're always one step away from it for some reason.

*Bunny? Seriously? How did he even hear that* I won't die," I promised, glancing at all of them. "I'll see you again. All of you."

Ezra and Liam stepped forward, placing their hands on Nely's shoulder and mine.

"Let's make it a promise, then," Ezra said, his voice unusually steady. "No matter what happens,... let's survive and meet again. Same team. Same idiots."

Liam grinned. "And maybe this time, Bunny will have grown into a wolf."

"Or maybe a whole another monster!" Ezra added, snickering.

I rolled my eyes. "I'll grow into someone strong enough to beat you two up."

"Oh big words" twins chuckled "that's not happening dune"

We all laughed, the weight of the trials briefly forgotten in the moment. Slowly, the world around us began to shimmer and fade.

As we started to disappear, I caught one last glimpse of Nely's grin and the twins' stupid, carefree faces. And despite the danger ahead, i felt more motivated to keep moving forward.

[ Trial 2 End ]

I opened my eyes, surrounded by complete darkness. It was cold, quiet, and unnervingly still. The void pressed down on me, but I already knew why I was here.

This was the place where the memories lived,

the fragments of my past waiting to be unlocked.

"I'm here to see a memory right? I said aloud, my voice breaking the silence. The instant the words left my mouth, a calm, almost ethereal woman's voice echoed through the darkness.

[ correct.]

The calming female voice, confirming what I already knew. I could feel my heart pounding as I prepared for what was next.

They told me before that I'd have the chance to choose the memory I wanted to see. To pull a moment from the fog of my past and experience it again. I wasn't entirely sure how it worked, but I wasn't going to waste the opportunity.

Still, a question nagged at the back of my mind, one I needed answered before anything else.

"How am I supposed to beat the next trial?" I asked.

Silence. For a moment, I thought they were ignoring me, but then voice .

[ For the next trial, you must face your greatest fear. ]

That's it? Just a single line. Not even a hint?

"That's all you're going to tell me?" I snapped. "What the hell does that even mean? I don't even know what my greatest fear is!"

But there was no response. Of course, there wasn't. These trials weren't about making things easy. They never were.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I tried to calm my racing thoughts. "Fine. Let's move on."

[ First, Tell me about the memory you wish to see. After memory ends you will see continuation of your previous memory. ]

The words lingered before me like a command. I paused for a moment, considering my options. There were so many things I wanted to know, so many pieces of myself still missing.

But there was one question I'd carried with me for as long as I could remember.

"Show me how I got the scar on my eye," I said firmly.

The moment I spoke, the darkness seemed to thicken around me. My breath caught in my chest as the void closed in, swallowing me whole.

Then my vision went completely black.