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Chapter 53 - Chapter 53 – Sword, Spell, and Shadow

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Tower Floor 83 – Hidden Arena of Echoes

The signal was silent, but they moved at once.

Selene's blade shone like starlight, weaving graceful arcs of divine energy. Rika charged forward with brute power, her fists igniting the very air around her. Iris floated above them, casting chains of black flame that curved through time and space.

And in the center stood Rael—calm, silent, watching.

This wasn't a fight for dominance.

It was a revelation of truth.

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Selene vs. Iris

Steel clashed with sorcery.

Selene darted between flame arcs, her movements fluid like a celestial dance. Iris floated backwards, her eyes glowing with predictive magic.

> [Passive Skill Activated: Witch's Foresight – 0.8 second future view]

Selene's sword suddenly twisted mid-air—reversed grip, a feint!

Iris's spell misfired.

Steel kissed her cheek, drawing the faintest drop of blood.

"I've trained too long for you to read me," Selene whispered.

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Rika vs. Selene

But the moment Selene turned, Rika was already there.

A spinning kick. A burst of red Qi.

Selene blocked, but the impact sent her flying.

"You're the calm one," Rika said, breathing heavily. "But you forget—love doesn't need control. It needs fire."

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Iris vs. Rika

Chains erupted from the ground, but Rika shattered them with a roar.

Iris appeared behind her, hand glowing dark.

> [Skill Activated: Heartbrand Seal]

But Rika smirked. She let the spell hit her directly.

Iris's eyes widened. "Why didn't you dodge—?!"

"Because I wanted to feel it," Rika growled. "Your magic… it's soft. Gentle. Like his."

For a moment, the arena stilled.

They weren't enemies.

They were… broken pieces of the same heart.

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Above Them All – Rael

He staggered suddenly.

His vision blurred. The three fighting girls froze.

> [Warning: Soul Fragmentation Critical]

[Clone Stability – 14%]

[Emergency Awakening Imminent]

Rael fell to his knees, clutching his head.

And then…

A fourth presence stepped into the arena.

Not from the doors.

Not from the sky.

But from within him.

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??? – The Shadow

The being wore Rael's face, but older. Wiser. Eyes darker than abyss.

He smiled.

"Yo," he said casually. "Didn't think I'd wake up in such a melodramatic mess."

The girls froze.

Rael looked up, eyes wide. "You…"

The shadow walked toward him, each step echoing with power.

"I'm not a clone. I'm not a future you. I'm not even a god."

He knelt and touched Rael's forehead.

"I'm the first you. The soul that entered this Tower before all the reincarnations. And I'm here to reclaim my body."

> [WARNING: Soul Merge Initiated]

[New Class Unlocked: Apex Soulwalker]

[Progress: 3%]

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