Extra's Descent

"What do you mean you can't bring them out?"

"The Tower IDs all match, but it doesn't register anyone there."

"Huh? Then what about their vitals?"

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Bellion was currently discussing with an officer, who was responsible for operations during the absence of Alan Ross, the Guild Leader of Iron Fist.

"Why are there so many bugs? Damn it, if I knew this would happen, I would've never allowed it!"

Smack—!

Smacking the table, Bellion gritted his teeth in frustration. It wasn't that he was against the exam's proposal, but he wasn't in for it either.

The other Field Marshals voted in agreement, and Bellion couldn't do a thing.

"Can anyone contact Sir Alan?"

As soon as he finished his orders, Bellion turned towards the monitor.

"...."

He froze and glanced down at the document in his hand.

[Phase 2: Mirror Amalgamation

—The Mirror Amalgamation is a unique psychological trial within the Dimensional Tower, designed to test the participants' trust and resolve. It presents two mirror gates, each reflecting a different potential future based on the individuals' fears, desires, and uncertainties.

Each participant may see conflicting visions in the mirrors, compelling them to either align their choices or face internal discord.]

"...."

Bellion's eyes narrowed. This floor was never meant to be in the exams.

There were too many errors, and Bellion couldn't help but pinch his temple.

"Field Marshal, I've finally figured the issue….."

A voice rang out and Bellion turned towards the source. An officer, who had a panicked expression on his face.

"What is it?"

"This exam…. It's been…."

The officer bit his lip and hesitated. But as soon as he gathered the courage, he shook his head and continued.

"It's been tampered with, Field Marshal…. What we're seeing…. It isn't a simulation. The cadets are actually inside the tower in real time!"

"Explain."

He demanded.

The officer took a deep breath.

"Someone must have overridden the system. The feeds we're watching are real, directly from the tower. The cadets aren't in a simulation."

Bellion's fists clenched.

"Who could do this? And why wasn't it detected earlier?"

The officer shook his head, fear evident and his voice shaky.

"W-We don't know yet…. But the tampering was deliberate. Someone wanted them in the actual tower."

"Get me a full report. And find Alan Ross—now!"

He looked back at the monitor, a chill running down his spine. The cadets were in real danger, and he couldn't do anything but watch.

The only person who could answer his questions was Alan Ross. But unfortunately, he had joined the other rankers solve the issue in the city.

***

Drip. Drip.

"Right."

"The left."

The two had opposing answers.

"Hold on, why left?"

Brandon asked. There was clearly something wrong with Raven's answer.

Staring directly at the two mirrors, Raven's mouth parted open.

"The mirrors are clearly showing us the conclusion of each mirror, depending on what we take."

He took a deep breath, the rain thoroughly drenching his figure as he continued.

"The left shows a future in which we ascend to the higher floor, isn't it the same for you?"

He looked at Brandon. Brandon's brows furrowed in return. The same for him? That was clearly not the case.

"No, what you're seeing on the left is what the right is showing me."

Raven frowned, confusion etched on his face.

"What do you mean? The left gate shows us succeeding."

"No, Raven. The right gate shows that for me. The left leads us to a place we won't survive—monsters beyond our limit."

Raven's eyes widened, uncertainty twisting in his chest.

"But the right one shows that for me. How can it be so different?"

Drip. Drip…!

The rain poured, soaking them, pressing on their shoulders like the weight of their doubt.

The two stood in silence in the passing minutes. They couldn't choose. Clearly, the floor was messing with them.

Brandon clenched his fists.

"It's playing with us. It wants us to argue."

"But we can't both be right. How do we decide, Brandon? What if we make the wrong choice?"

"Doesn't matter."

Brandon shook his head.

"We just have to choose."

"Then let's go left."

Raven urged.

Brandon's eyes narrowed.

"No. We're going right. That's where we make it."

Raven's voice rose, frustration boiling over.

"I'm telling you, Brandon. The left is the answer. I see us succeeding there!"

Brandon stepped closer, his voice strained as he stood right in front of Raven.

"And I see us failing if we go left, Raven! Why can't you trust me just this once? You've always trusted me before."

"Doesn't mean you're always right. What if it's your vision that's wrong?"

Drip. Drip…!

The rain beat down on them, each drop amplifying their growing discord.

Brandon's voice cracked.

"We're wasting time. We have to choose, or we'll fail."

"Like I said. Let's go left."

Yet again, they couldn't come to a singular answer. Brandon was growing frustrated as he clenched his fist.

"Just trust me. If we choose wrong, I'll just kill the obstacles head."

"And the reflections show you can't even handle them."

Brandon's brows furrowed and he couldn't help but glare at Raven, who had just voiced out his doubts about him.

But Raven, unbothered by the brief killing intent Brandon had shown, glared back.

Brandon's brows raised in surprise. This version of Raven had never given him this kind of look before.

"What's that look supposed to mean?"

Brandon asked. A rather hypocritical question.

"I could say the same for you."

Then, Raven asked.

"Hey…. Do you hate me?"

"Huh?"

A question Brandon hadn't expected, and a question that was never supposed to have been asked in the first place.

"I'm not that dense. I've picked up on these things, but ignored them thinking you just liked messing with me. I mean, we're friends after all, and you kind of do the same with Rein and Claire, so I just thought it was normal."

Raven continued, as he stared at the reflections.

"But those reflections…. Unlike mine, which showed…. Alright, I'll be honest, they were my insecurities. But that's not what matters."

Raven shook his head.

"In your reflections, it always showed you…. killing me, or abandoning me. Does that make any sense?"

"...."

Brandon's expressions cracked. He didn't want to hear those words from Raven. But he couldn't deny the hidden truth in them either.

"No, that's why I told you to ignore them. It just wants us to distrust each other, can't you see what it's trying to do?"

The words flowed out of Brandon's mouth smoothly.

Words made up of lies.

"I don't think so. If that's the case, the reflection is probably lying to you. But it's not the same with me."

Raven shook his head.

"I'm just being honest here, the mirrors were reflecting my inner thoughts. If it's not the same with you, then you must be pretty special. I mean, you've always been extraordinary."

"What are you trying to say, Raven?"

"I can't trust you."