Neither of them moved.
Not at first.
Because this wasn't like the others.
Not a test.
Not a trap.
Not even an enemy.
This—
Was a confrontation.
With something far worse.
Himself.
"…So how does this work?" Kael asked.
His voice was calm.
Steady.
"…Do we just fight until one of us wins?"
The other Kael didn't answer immediately.
He simply watched.
Measured.
"…That's one way."
A pause.
"…But not the right one."
Kael smirked slightly.
"…Of course it isn't."
Silence stretched.
Heavy.
Then—
"…You still think this is about strength," the other Kael said.
"…It isn't."
"…You've said that already."
"…And you still don't understand."
Kael exhaled slowly.
"…Then explain it in a way that isn't cryptic."
A pause.
Then—
"…Fine."
The other Kael stepped forward.
Not aggressively.
Not threatening.
Just… closer.
"…If we fight like this…"
A pause.
"…You might win."
Kael raised a brow.
"…Might?"
"…Yes."
"…That's not very confident."
"…Because it doesn't matter."
Silence.
"…Even if you win…"
The other Kael's voice lowered.
"…You'll still become me."
That—
Was the problem.
Kael's expression hardened slightly.
"…So no matter what I do…"
"…I end up like you."
"…Yes."
"…Then what's the point of this?"
A pause.
"…To see if you can prove that wrong."
Kael went quiet.
Not because he didn't have an answer—
But because he did.
And he didn't like it.
"…You said I always choose myself."
"…Yes."
"…Then this is the moment, right?"
The other Kael didn't respond.
But he didn't need to.
Kael understood.
This wasn't about fighting.
This wasn't about skill.
This was about a decision.
One he hadn't faced yet.
"…So what's the situation?"
Kael asked.
"…What am I choosing between?"
The void shifted.
Subtly.
And then—
It changed.
The darkness broke apart.
Fragments of something else forming.
A scene.
A memory.
Or something like it.
Kael's eyes widened slightly.
"…No…"
He recognized it instantly.
The cellar.
The chains.
The place where it all began.
"…This again…"
"…This is where you fail."
Kael's gaze darkened.
"…I already know what happens."
"…Do you?"
A pause.
"…Then watch carefully."
The scene moved.
Not like a memory.
Like it was happening again.
The Hero.
The ritual.
The betrayal.
And—
Her.
Lina.
Alive.
Struggling.
Looking at him.
"…Kael…!"
His breath caught.
Even knowing this wasn't real—
It felt real.
Too real.
"…This is the moment," the other Kael said.
"…The one that defines everything after."
Kael's fists clenched.
"…I couldn't save her."
"…No."
"…I was too weak."
"…Yes."
Silence.
Then—
"…But this time…"
The other Kael's voice shifted slightly.
"…You can."
Kael froze.
"…What?"
"…You're stronger now."
A pause.
"…Faster."
"…Smarter."
"…Different."
The scene shifted slightly.
Slowed.
Like it was waiting.
"…You can stop it."
"…You can save her."
Kael's heart pounded.
"…And then what?"
Silence.
"…You live."
"…With her."
"…You leave."
"…You survive."
The words hung in the air.
Heavy.
Tempting.
"…And the rest?" Kael asked quietly.
A pause.
"…Doesn't matter."
That—
Was the answer.
The same one.
The same choice.
Kael looked at Lina.
Her eyes.
Her voice.
Her pain.
Everything—
Pulling him forward.
"…Kael… please…!"
His body moved.
Just a step.
Just a little closer.
Then—
He stopped.
"…Yeah…"
He said quietly.
"…That's the choice."
Silence.
The other Kael watched him.
"…And you're going to make it."
Kael exhaled slowly.
"…No."
Everything froze.
"…What?"
Kael looked at the scene again.
At Lina.
At the moment that broke him.
Then—
He turned away.
"…Not like that."
The scene trembled.
"…You're lying."
"…No."
Kael's voice was steady.
"…I'm just not falling for it again."
"…This is what you want."
"…Yeah."
A pause.
"…But it's not what I choose."
The other Kael's expression shifted—
For the first time.
Not calm.
Not certain.
Confused.
"…Then what do you choose?"
Kael looked forward.
Past the scene.
Past the illusion.
"…Something harder."
The world trembled.
The scene cracked.
Breaking apart.
"…You can't save both."
"…Watch me."
The void shattered.
Returning.
The two of them—
Standing face to face again.
Silence.
Heavy.
Real.
"…That's new," the other Kael said quietly.
"…Yeah."
"…You didn't choose her."
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"…I didn't abandon her either."
"…That's not how this works."
"…Then I'll make it work."
A pause.
Long.
Then—
The other Kael stepped back.
"…You've changed."
"…I know."
"…Not enough."
"…We'll see."
Silence.
Then—
"…You passed."
Kael blinked.
"…That was a test?"
"…Yes."
"…You could've just said that."
"…No."
A faint pause.
"…You wouldn't have understood."
Kael sighed.
"…Fair."
The other Kael looked at him—
One last time.
"…The next choice…"
A pause.
"…Won't be this simple."
"…It never is."
"…No."
Then—
He began to fade.
"…And next time…"
His voice echoed.
"…I won't be here to guide you."
"…Good."
Kael smirked faintly.
"…I don't need you."
A faint pause.
Then—
"…We'll see."
And he was gone.
Silence returned.
Kael stood there.
Alone.
"…That was annoying."
"…Yes."
She stepped beside him.
"…But necessary."
Kael exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah."
Because now—
He understood.
The real enemy wasn't the world.
It wasn't the observers.
It wasn't even the future.
It was—
The version of himself that would choose the easy path.
And now—
He had proven—
That he could choose differently.
For now.