The climb continued. As they ascended toward the next floor, the atmosphere between the group was lighter, though still tinged with the weight of unspoken words. Viole was trying—he really was—but the past clung to him like a heavy cloak. Despite the newfound trust in his companions, the shadow of betrayal loomed large in his mind.
The 14th floor was quiet, too quiet. As they stepped onto the stone path, an eerie mist surrounded them, obscuring the way forward. The air felt heavy, like something was watching them from all sides.
“This place gives me the creeps,” Bubble muttered, her usual cheer subdued. “Where are the monsters? The traps? Anything?”
Yoru’s eyes scanned the area, his expression thoughtful. “It’s a psychological trial. This floor isn’t about strength or speed.”
Viole tensed at Yoru’s words. "Then what is it about?"
"Facing the darkness inside of us," Yoru said quietly. His eyes flickered toward Viole for a brief moment, and Viole knew that Yoru was thinking of his own demons—the betrayals, the trauma, the doubts.
Suddenly, the mist thickened, and the group felt an unnatural pull. The ground beneath them seemed to shift, and in a split second, they were no longer together.
Viole found himself alone in a vast, empty space. His heart raced as his eyes darted around. There was no sign of his companions, just an endless void stretching out before him. Panic gnawed at his chest. Where were they? Why had they been separated?
A voice broke through the silence, cold and mocking.
“Viole.”
His blood ran cold. He knew that voice. Slowly, he turned around to see the last person he ever wanted to face: his former companion, the one who had betrayed him. The one who had stabbed him in the back when they had nearly reached the top of the Tower. His former best friend, Arlen.
“You couldn’t protect them, could you?” Arlen sneered, his eyes glinting with malice. “Just like you couldn’t protect me.”
Viole clenched his fists, his heart pounding. “You betrayed me, Arlen. You were the one who abandoned me.”
Arlen stepped closer, his figure flickering in the mist like a ghost. “I did what I had to. You were too powerful. You would’ve taken everything for yourself. And now, look at you. Still chasing after something you’ll never reach.”
Viole’s breath came in shallow gasps, his mind reeling. This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. But the anger, the hurt—it all felt too raw, too fresh. He had buried these feelings deep, but now they were clawing their way to the surface.
“I’m not that person anymore,” Viole growled, his voice shaky but defiant. “I have people I can trust now.”
“Trust?” Arlen laughed, a hollow sound that echoed in the void. “You think they won’t betray you like I did? You think they’re any different?”
Viole’s vision blurred as memories of his companions flooded his mind. Yoru, calm and reliable. Bubble, always full of life. Alisa, fierce and unwavering. They had fought together, bled together. But deep down, that old fear still lurked—the fear that they would turn on him, just like Arlen had.
“No,” Viole whispered, shaking his head. “They’re not like you.”
Arlen’s smile widened. “Are you sure? Or are you just waiting for the moment when they stab you in the back?”
Viole’s heart twisted. The doubt, the fear—it was suffocating. Every step he had taken, every battle he had fought, it had all been weighed down by the constant worry that history would repeat itself. That he would be betrayed again.
But then, through the fog of his thoughts, he heard a voice—soft, yet steady.
“Viole…”
It was Alisa.
Viole’s eyes widened. The mist swirled around him, and he could see her figure, faint but there. She wasn’t real—this was still the trial, but her presence cut through the fog in his mind.
“We’re not going to betray you, Viole,” Alisa’s voice echoed. “You need to trust us. You need to trust yourself.”
Viole’s gaze snapped back to Arlen, who was now glaring at him with growing fury. The illusion of his former friend flickered, struggling to maintain its hold on him.
“I won’t fall for this,” Viole said, his voice growing stronger. “Not again.”
Arlen’s face twisted into a snarl, but his form began to disintegrate, the illusion collapsing under the weight of Viole’s resolve. “You’ll regret this, Viole. They’ll betray you, just like I did.”
As the last remnants of the illusion faded away, Viole stood alone in the mist, his heart racing. The fear and doubt that had been suffocating him began to lift, replaced by a fierce determination. He wasn’t the same person who had been betrayed on the 99th floor. He wasn’t alone anymore.
“Viole!”
The mist thinned, and Viole saw Yoru, Bubble, and Alisa running toward him. Relief washed over him as he realized they were all safe.
“You okay?” Yoru asked, his eyes scanning Viole’s face for any sign of distress.
Viole nodded, his jaw tight. “Yeah. I’m fine.”
Bubble grinned, though her eyes were filled with concern. “That was intense. I thought I was gonna lose it back there.”
“What did you see?” Alisa asked softly, stepping closer to Viole. There was a gentleness in her tone, one that made Viole’s chest tighten.
Viole hesitated for a moment, then met her gaze. “The past. But it’s over now.”
Yoru gave a nod of understanding, and Bubble let out a dramatic sigh. “Ugh, I saw my worst fear. Imagine me without this face! A nightmare, I tell you.”
Despite the weight of what they had just gone through, Viole couldn’t help but chuckle at Bubble’s antics. She had a way of lightening even the darkest moments.
“Let’s keep moving,” Viole said, his voice steadier than before. “The trial’s not over yet.”
As they walked, Viole found himself glancing at his companions, feeling a strange sense of peace. The fear was still there, lurking in the back of his mind, but for the first time, it didn’t control him. He had faced it, and while the scars of the past would never fully heal, they no longer dictated his every step.
With his friends by his side, Viole was ready to face whatever came next.