The sky above Marek twisted like silk in a storm.
Lightning cracked in slow motion. The world blurred into soft pinks and moody blues as the next portal opened before him—an archway of floating rose petals, each one spinning like a tiny blade.
[You have entered Dungeon No.004 – The Lovers' Lie]"Love is the truest illusion… or the deadliest truth."
Marek stepped through the gate and immediately smelled it—
Rain and roses.
The ground beneath him was soft grass, wet from a fresh drizzle. He now stood in the middle of a moonlit courtyard, surrounded by white marble columns and hanging vines. Lanterns floated above, giving off a golden glow.
It looked peaceful.
Too peaceful.
And that made it dangerous.
He checked his status window:
Name: Marek CallumTarot Cards Acquired: 3Skills:– Narrative Override Lv.1– Wildcard Instinct– Reality Ink– Name-Eater's Insight– Command SealObjective: Discover the truth behind the Lovers' LieReward: Tarot Card – The LoversWarning: Affection is a weapon here
Marek exhaled. "Let me guess... another test of choice."
He moved forward cautiously.
And then he saw them.
Two figures stood in the center of the courtyard—a man and a woman, back-to-back, each bound by golden chains around their wrists, glowing softly in the light. Their eyes were locked on each other, unblinking.
They didn't speak.
They just… waited.
Suddenly, the system pinged.
"You must choose one to save. One tells the truth. The other is a liar. But both claim to love you."
What?
Marek froze. "They… know me?"
The woman stepped forward first. Her eyes shimmered with a strange warmth. Long black hair flowed behind her like liquid shadow, and a silver pendant hung from her neck—one Marek recognized.
She smiled.
"Do you remember me now… Marek?"
His heart skipped.
That voice...
"Who are you?"
She reached out gently. "In Timeline 19, you and I… we almost ran away together. But the dungeon consumed us both before we could finish our pact."
Then the man laughed.
A deep, bitter laugh.
He had white-blonde hair, gold eyes, and wore a bloodstained cloak.
"Don't fall for that crap again," he said, smirking. "She's part of the Dungeon AI. A mimic."
He looked at Marek with burning intensity.
"I'm you. A version of you that failed. That loved her. And died because of it."
Marek staggered back a step.
The woman's voice trembled. "He's twisting your thoughts! He was the liar in Timeline 19! He betrayed you! I died for you!"
The man growled. "She's bait. Nothing more."
Suddenly, a timer appeared above their heads.
Time Remaining: 03:00Decision Required: Save one. The other vanishes forever.
Marek's mind raced.
This wasn't just emotional.
This was a trap of logic and memory.
He activated Narrative Override.
Override Options:– View a Timeline Echo (15 seconds)– Delay timer by 1 minute– Detect false emotion (NEW)
He chose "View Timeline Echo."
A flicker of memory rushed into his mind.
🌌 [Timeline 19 – Echo Playback]He saw himself—Marek—running through a collapsing temple, hand in hand with the woman. Behind them, the man stood with a dagger in hand.
"RUN!" she screamed, shoving Marek forward. The blade went through her back.
The man whispered, "Forgive me. It was the only way to reset."
The vision ended.
Marek gasped.
He turned toward the man. "You… killed her."
The man's face twisted in pain. "I had to. The system was collapsing. We had no choice."
"You had a choice," Marek said coldly. "And you chose to kill love."
He stepped toward the woman.
"I choose her."
The system blinked.
Chosen: "Lira (Timeline 19)"False Identity Removed: None. Both were real.
Truth:
The woman truly loved you.
The man was your failed self from a broken loop.
[Trial Completed – Bonus Memory Fragment Acquired]
Tarot Card Gained: The LoversSkill Unlocked: "Heartbind" – Temporarily link your fate with another. Damage is shared. Emotions are felt. Secrets are revealed.
The man's body began to fade into mist. But before he vanished, he looked at Marek with a soft smile.
"You've come further than I did."
Then he was gone.
Marek turned to the woman—Lira. She looked tired. Hollow.
But real.
"You remembered me," she whispered. "Even after all the timelines."
He nodded slowly. "I didn't… but I will now."
She smiled faintly, then stepped back into the light.
"Your path continues. You still have many hearts to break... and many to mend."
With that, she dissolved into golden light.
Marek stood alone once again.
But now, something had changed.
He didn't just feel like a reader anymore.
He was a piece of the story—with bonds, with weight, with loss.
Four cards in hand:
🃏 The Fool
🧙 The Magician
👑 The Emperor
💞 The Lovers
Each card unlocked something more than just power.
They unlocked memory. Emotion. Truth.
Above, the sky turned red.
And far in the distance, he could see the next dungeon—shaped like a hanging tower in the sky, spinning slowly in a vortex of flame and shadow.
The next trial.
The Hierophant.