Underground Vault – Time Unknown
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The sound of footsteps echoed through the silence, accompanied only by a dim blue light. Aren moved forward cautiously, a metal rod in his hand. Behind him, Aika followed, alert. Tomo blinked faintly on Aren's shoulder.
Aren: "Is this path actually leading somewhere, or are we just walking into a trap?"
Aika: "If you're scared, you can always turn back."
Aren: "The only person I'm scared of... is you."
Tomo let out a soft beep.
Tomo: "We've entered a high-energy spiral field. Time displacement signals are... unstable."
Aika: "Spiral field? Did you say… spiral?"
Aren: "Yeah... I saw that exact symbol on the wall earlier. Just like the one on the Time Core…"
They stepped into a massive underground vault. In the center stood an ancient stone wall, a glowing spiral symbol etched into it, surrounded by faded, cryptic inscriptions. As Aren moved closer and raised his hand, he felt a sudden burning sensation.
Aren: "Ahh… what the—? My hand… it's burning…"
The spiral mark on his hand — the same one that appeared when he touched the Time Core — began to glow a bright orange.
Aika: "That mark… it wasn't always there, was it?"
Aren: "I thought it was just a scar… but this…"
Suddenly, the entire surface of the wall trembled. A stream of light burst out, activating a long-lost hologram — an ancient figure in flowing robes appeared, with glowing text behind him:
"The Order of Spiral."
Hologram (ancient voice):
"If you're seeing this… the Spiral has awakened.
It is no longer a mere concept — it is a will.
And the one who bears its mark... will either become its messenger,
or its prey."
Aren: "I have no interest in being anyone's messenger…"
Aika (tense): "My parents… they were once connected to a cult. The Spiral Cult. I think they mentioned people with marks like yours…"
Tomo: "Warning: Spiral presence increasing. Mental interference detected."
Aren clenched his hand. The mark pulsed — like a heartbeat.
Aren: "Is all this happening because of me...? Did I accidentally trigger something?"
Aika (gently): "Everyone makes mistakes.
You came here looking for a way home…
but now you've stumbled upon this world's deepest secret."
Aren (bitterly): "I just wanted to go home… and now I'm the chosen one of some Spiral God? Perfect."
Suddenly, a haunting voice echoed through the vault — like a humming wrapped in pain.
??? (Voice):
"You are only the beginning, Aren.
Piece by piece, you'll lose everything —
your memories, your bonds… your very existence.
You'll forget… just as I did…"
Aren (shocked): "That voice… Is that… Spiral?"
Tomo: "Confirmed. Vocal pattern non-human.
Identity: UNKNOWN ENTITY — SPIRAL."
The glowing symbols on the wall began to dim, one by one. The mark on Aren's hand cooled, but left behind a single, burning sentence etched into the stone:
> "He who touches time shall be erased from it."
Aika: "Aren… you're not safe anymore."
Aren (lowrineg his gaze): "...Was I ever?"
Scene fades to black.
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Chapter End.