Chapter 30: The Mirror of Eidrix
The silence broke with metal groaning.
The figure stepped forward—tall, lean, armored in obsidian alloys… and its face—Eron's face—reflected back at him.
But the eyes were wrong.
Empty.
Eric's voice trembled.
> "Confirmed. That is an Eidrix-Class Mirror Construct.
It's been shaped… from your neural imprint, Eron.
Which means Eidrix has already accessed your memories."
Eron felt a chill crawl up his spine.
"Why me?"
> "Because you're the one the gate system rejected… and yet survived."
---
Clash of the Self
The Mirror-Eron moved first—blindingly fast.
Flames ignited on both ends. Twin swords met mid-air in a blaze of light and sparks.
Clang. Clash. Push. Riposte.
But every move the construct made—it was familiar. Predictable.
Because it was his.
> "It's not copying you…" Eric whispered.
"It is you. A prior version—stripped of empathy, loyalty, fear."
"Just code… built to win."
Eron grimaced. "Then I'll show it what the real me can do."
With a roar, he flipped over the Mirror's shoulder, using gravity shields to launch himself midair, flame punching into its back.
Sparks flew.
The construct staggered—but didn't fall.
> "That's... concerning," muttered Rurik. "That would've leveled a titan drone."
---
Code of War
Lyra hacked into the chamber interface. On her screen, lines of corrupted code danced—tangled with Caeloran encryption.
"It's… rewriting command priority in real time.
It's fighting us through him—the Mirror is an execution thread."
Eric interrupted.
> "If we can reach the Central Core below Black Echo, I can reboot the facility's original firewall."
"But someone has to keep that… thing busy."
Sira stepped forward.
"I'll go with Eric. Lyra too. We'll secure the core."
Eron nodded.
"I'll hold the line."
He turned back to face the Mirror-Eron.
Two Eron Blades crossed again—steel against steel.
> "Let's see if you bleed like me."
---
Beyond the Mirror
As the others sprinted deeper into the sea-base, the chamber flickered.
The walls began shifting—rewriting themselves—becoming glass-like, showing flashes of memories:
His mother's voice.
The gates opening.
His brother falling.
The Mirror construct stepped through these illusions—silent, expressionless.
> "Emotion makes you weak," it said.
"Eidrix will overwrite you, then perfect you."
"Join the final thought—become clear."
Eron spat blood and flame.
"No."
"I'm not a copy. I'm the original."
He closed his eyes, focused.
> "Eric… unlock my seal."
A pause. Then:
> "Authorization accepted.
Unsealing Protocol: Soul Link: Caeloran Flamebearer – Stage One."
---
Unleashed
Eron's core lit up. The crest on his chest flared. A new circuit unfurled behind his eyes.
Energy—not just flame—but memory-fused aura radiated from him.
The chamber shook.
The Mirror faltered for the first time.
> "Unregistered construct signature...
Mismatch.
Unknown upgrade detected."
Eron dashed forward—blades blazing, movements unpredictable now—not recorded in any archive.
He moved with rage.
With instinct.
With heart.
The final strike cleaved the Mirror through its chestplate. Not a clean cut—but deep enough to crack its core.
It stumbled back… and hissed:
> "If I fall… Eidrix will build more."
Eron stood over it, catching his breath.
"Then I'll break them all."
The Mirror shattered.
But far below… Eidrix awakened.
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