The sky darkened as Renji approached the massive structure twisting into the void—the Spiral Cathedral. From a distance, it looked like a spiraled seashell carved from starlight and bone, constantly shifting, as though built from memories that refused to stay still.
This was it. The Core of the Mirror Spiral.
Where the time loops were born.
Where the Spiral's will manifested.
And where he would finally uncover its true purpose.
---
Inside the Cathedral
The entrance pulled apart like an eyelid, revealing a circular chamber filled with gears made from frozen moments—transparent reels of time grinding against each other.
Each gear showed glimpses of people trapped in infinite loops:
A child always falling.
A girl reliving her final breath.
Kuro, kneeling forever at the altar of silence.
In the center stood a throne made of watches and mirrors.
And seated on it: a Reflection of Renji.
But this one wore the Spiral's mark as a crown.
---
The Spiral-King
This version of Renji had eyes of pure white, hair silvered by time. He didn't blink.
He looked calm—almost divine.
"I am what you become," he said. "When you stop trying to escape. When you accept all time as your prison and throne."
Renji gripped his blade, but the Spiral-King didn't move.
"I ended the loops… by becoming their master. You still fight. You still hope. That's why you suffer."
Renji shook his head. "That's why I still have something to protect."
---
The Engine of Truth
Behind the throne, a vast machine turned—a living truth engine forged from memory shards.
It spun constantly, rewriting events across timelines. The source of every time loop. Every spiral curse. Every broken fate.
And Renji could feel it: it was unstable.
"You feed it," Spiral-King said. "Every choice you regret, every truth you bury, strengthens it. This engine isn't your enemy—it's you."
---
Decision Point
The Spiral Blade glowed—its four golden lines humming louder now.
Renji had a choice:
Destroy the engine and risk unraveling all timelines—including his.
Or… seize control like Spiral-King had, becoming the loop's guardian forever.
He raised the blade.
And then remembered something Emiko had once told him: "You don't fix pain by controlling it. You let it pass through you—and choose again."
---
Shattering the Throne
Instead of the engine, Renji struck the throne.
It shattered.
The Spiral-King let out a soundless cry and faded—dust scattered into broken time.
The Cathedral groaned. Gears began to jam. The Spiral Eye above shuddered.
And Renji walked toward the engine, not to rule it…
…but to face the final truth hidden inside.
One only he could survive.
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End of Chapter 57
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To Be Continue