Everything felt… reversed.
The ground below wasn't solid — it was a mirror.
But I wasn't reflected in it.
Instead, I saw another me — crying.
I — Aren Kael — had entered a zone inside Spiral that bent reality backwards.
> "Reversion Mirrorfield."
---
Tomo was glitching.
My Spiral Rod had gone dull.
But the worst part… was my own breath.
Because every breath… brought back a memory —
but in reverse.
---
Tomo (cracking voice):
> "Bro… Spiral is reversing your memories.
This zone doesn't show truth… it shows what you tried to forget."
---
I took a single step forward —
and my reflection twisted.
Aika appeared.
But in her eyes… there was no Spiral flame.
Only Void chains.
Aika (coldly):
> "You never saved me, Aren."
"You left me."
---
I staggered back.
And then… another vision cracked open.
My mother's face.
But instead of warmth, she said:
> "I hate you, beta."
---
I clenched the Spiral Rod, jaw tight.
My heart pounded.
Me (to myself):
> "This isn't real…
THIS ISN'T ME!"
---
Just then — a heavy Spiral flare exploded behind me.
And from within it…
KUZE appeared.
Clad in black Spiral armor, half his face hidden behind a cracked mask.
His eyes — no pain. Only vacuum.
---
Kuze (coldly):
> "You're Aren Kael?"
"The one who left me behind in the Spiral?"
---
Me:
> "Kuze? You… you're back?"
---
Kuze:
> "No."
"I'm the version that was born from your lie."
---
He raised his Spiral Rod — and unleashed a reverse flame blast.
I blocked it — but each block cost me a memory:
> "Tomo's first laugh — burned."
"Aika's smile — reversed fade."
"Eira's touch — vanished."
---
Tomo (screaming):
> "BRO!! This isn't just a fight — it's MEMORY DELETION!!"
---
I countered — Epoch Fang: Mirror Slash!
But even that attack was reflected back.
This zone… was taking my memories away —
even as I fought for them.
---
Kuze (voice steady):
> "I was a memory too…"
"One you forgot."
"Now I'll remind you… what Spiral punishes you for."
---
Suddenly — a dark Spiral flare erupted across the cracked sky.
And from the glitching static… a voice echoed.
---
> "Those who win… are the ones who suffer most."
"Because they're the ones who remember."
ECHO_17.t activated through the distortion.
---
Echo_17.t (from static):
> "I am you…"
"But I'm the you you're afraid to become."
---
I stood still — Spiral Rod raised to my face.
Its glow pulsed.
A new line appeared — blazing bright:
> "Flame of Resolve — I burn, but I walk forward."
---
I don't run from memories.
I burn through them.
---
Final Line (Narration):
> "Spiral didn't break me…
It taught me how to remember."
---
TO BE CONTINUED…