Chapitre 19: The Tower’s First Floor
The door slams shut behind them, sealing them inside the tower. The air is cool and still, the faint echo of their footsteps the only sound as they move cautiously up the winding staircase. The darkness presses in on all sides, and Ryo's heart races as they ascend.
After what feels like an eternity, they reach the first floor. The staircase opens into a vast, circular chamber, the walls lined with strange, glowing runes. The floor is covered in a series of intricate patterns, each one connected to the next in a complex web of symbols and lines.
In the center of the room stands a single pedestal, and on it rests a small, shimmering crystal. The air around it shimmers with a faint, magical light, and Ryo can feel the energy radiating from it, filling the room with a strange, humming vibration.
"What is this place?" Hana whispers, her eyes wide as she takes in the chamber.
Ryo shakes his head, his mind racing. "I don't know. But it's definitely some kind of puzzle."
They step forward cautiously, their eyes scanning the patterns on the floor. Ryo can feel the power of the crystal calling to him, a strange, almost hypnotic pull. He forces himself to focus, to push past the allure of the magic and think.
"There's something about these patterns," he murmurs, his eyes tracing the lines and symbols. "It's like… a map. Or a code."
Hana nods, kneeling down to examine the symbols more closely. "It's like they're connected somehow. But what do they mean?"
Ryo frowns, his mind racing. He can see the connections between the symbols, the way the lines intersect and weave together, but the meaning eludes him. It's like a language he can't quite understand, a riddle that teases at the edge of his comprehension.
Then, it clicks.
"The crystal," Ryo says suddenly, his eyes widening. "It's the key."
Hana looks up at him, her brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Ryo points to the crystal, his mind racing. "The patterns on the floor — they're connected to the crystal. If we can figure out the right sequence, we can unlock whatever
The Tower's First Floor is hidden here."
Hana nods, her eyes narrowing in concentration as she studies the patterns. "But there are so many symbols. How do we know which ones to choose?"
Ryo takes a deep breath, focusing on the glowing runes that seem to pulse in sync with the crystal. Each symbol is unique, but as he traces the lines with his eyes, he notices that some of them glow brighter than the others, their light flickering in a subtle rhythm.
"It's like a heartbeat," Ryo says softly, his eyes locked on the crystal. "The symbols that glow brightest—those are the ones we need to activate. It's like the crystal is guiding us."
Hana's gaze follows Ryo's, her eyes widening as she notices the pattern too. "You're right. But how do we activate them?"
Ryo steps forward cautiously, feeling the pull of the crystal's energy as he approaches. He raises his hand over one of the glowing symbols on the floor and hesitates. The air around the symbol feels warmer, tingling with an almost electric sensation.
"Careful," Hana warns, her voice tense.
Ryo nods, then slowly lowers his hand to touch the symbol. The moment his fingers make contact, a surge of energy rushes through him, a flash of light connecting the symbol on the floor to the crystal on the pedestal. The symbol glows even brighter, and Ryo feels a pulse of power echo through the room.
"It's working!" Hana exclaims, her face lighting up with hope. "We just need to activate the rest."
Ryo moves carefully, touching each of the brightest symbols in turn. With each touch, the lines on the floor light up, connecting the symbols in a complex web of energy. Hana follows his lead, activating the symbols on the opposite side of the room.
As they activate the final symbol, the entire chamber lights up, the runes glowing with a brilliant, golden light. The crystal on the pedestal vibrates, and a soft hum fills the air, growing louder and more intense until it feels like the entire room is vibrating.
Then, with a blinding flash, the crystal shatters, its energy exploding outward in a wave of light. Ryo and Hana shield their eyes, the force of the blast knocking them back.
When the light fades, they lower their arms, blinking in the sudden silence. The crystal is gone, and in its place, a new staircase has appeared, spiraling upward through the ceiling.
"We did it," Hana says, her voice filled with wonder. "We solved the puzzle."
Ryo exhales slowly, his body trembling from the surge of adrenaline and relief. "Yeah. But this is only the first floor. We need to keep moving."
Hana nods, and together they make their way to the newly revealed staircase. Ryo's mind is still buzzing with the thrill of solving the puzzle, but he knows the challenges ahead will only get harder. Each floor of the tower will test them in different ways, pushing them to their limits.
They ascend the staircase, the air growing colder as they climb. The walls around them are carved with strange, swirling patterns, the stone glowing faintly in the dim light. Ryo can feel the weight of the tower pressing down on them, a sense of foreboding that grows with every step.
When they reach the next floor, they find themselves in a narrow hallway lined with dark, heavy doors. The air is thick with tension, the silence oppressive.
"What now?" Hana whispers, her voice echoing softly in the stillness.
Ryo's eyes narrow as he studies the doors. Each one is marked with a different symbol, similar to the runes they saw on the previous floor but more complex, more intricate. He can feel a faint, pulsing energy behind each door, like a heartbeat.
"I think we have to choose a door," Ryo says slowly. "But we need to be careful. I have a feeling each one leads to a different trial."
Hana nods, her eyes scanning the symbols. "Which one do we choose?"
Ryo's gaze falls on a door near the center of the hallway, its symbol glowing faintly with a soft, blue light. The symbol is simpler than the others, less menacing somehow. It calls to him, its energy familiar, almost comforting.
"This one," Ryo says, stepping toward the door. "I don't know why, but I think it's the right choice."
Hana hesitates, then nods, trusting his instincts. Together, they push open the heavy door and step inside.
The room beyond is vast and empty, the floor covered in a thin layer of mist that swirls around their feet. The walls are lined with mirrors, their surfaces reflecting endless copies of Ryo and Hana back at them. The air is cold, the silence eerie.
"What is this place?" Hana whispers, her voice trembling slightly.
Ryo shakes his head, his eyes scanning the room. "I don't know. But it feels… wrong."
As they step further into the room, the mist begins to rise, thickening around them, obscuring their vision. Ryo's heart pounds in his chest, a sense of unease settling over him. The mirrors seem to shift, their reflections warping, distorting.
"Hana, stay close," Ryo says, his voice tight with tension.
But when he turns, Hana is gone.
"Hana?" Ryo's voice echoes through the room, panic rising in his chest. "Hana!"
There's no answer. The mist swirls around him, the mirrors reflecting only himself now, his face pale and strained. He takes a step forward, his eyes darting between the shifting reflections, his heart racing.
"Hana!" he shouts again, his voice breaking.
The mirrors ripple, and suddenly, the reflections shift. Ryo stares, his blood turning to ice as he sees a familiar face staring back at him from every mirror.
It's his own face, but twisted, distorted. The reflection smiles at him, a cruel, mocking smile, its eyes filled with malice.
"Lost, are we?" the reflection says, its voice a twisted echo of Ryo's own.
Ryo steps back, his heart pounding. "What is this?"
The reflection laughs, the sound chilling. "This is your trial, Scraper. The trial of the self. You think you know who you are? You think you're strong enough to face what lies within?"
Ryo clenches his fists, his body trembling. "Where's Hana?"
The reflection's smile widens. "She's facing her own trial, just as you are. But don't worry. You have more than enough to keep you busy here."
Ryo's mind races. He can feel the darkness closing in around him, the weight of his own doubts and fears pressing down. He's faced monsters, fought for his life, but this… this is something else. Something deeper.
"What do you want from me?" Ryo asks, his voice strained.
The reflection's eyes gleam with a cruel light. "I want you to face the truth. The truth about who you are. The truth about what you've done."
The mirrors around him shimmer, and suddenly, images begin to appear — scenes from his past, each one reflecting a different memory, a different moment of his life. He sees himself as a child, standing by the river, his brother's face pale and lifeless in the water. He sees himself alone in his room, the walls closing in, the loneliness suffocating.
"You think you're a hero, don't you?" the reflection taunts, its voice filled with venom. "You think you can save yourself, save her. But you're nothing. Just a scared, broken boy, running from the truth."
Ryo's body shakes with anger, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turn white. "Shut up!"
The reflection's laughter fills the room, the sound echoing in the mirrors, in his mind. "Face it, Ryo. You're weak. You've always been weak. And you always will be."
Ryo's vision blurs with rage and pain, his heart pounding in his ears. The images in the mirrors swirl around him, taunting him, mocking him. His brother's face, Hana's voice calling out to him, the weight of all his failures pressing down on him.
"Stop it!" he screams, his voice breaking.
But the images don't stop. The reflection's smile widens, its eyes gleaming with triumph.
"You can't escape this, Ryo," it whispers. "You can't escape yourself."
Ryo stumbles back, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His mind is spinning, the darkness closing in. He feels like he's drowning, like he's being pulled under, his own fears and doubts consuming him.
He falls to his knees, his hands clutching his head, the images swirling around him, tearing at him.
Then, through the chaos, he hears a voice — a soft, familiar voice, cutting through the darkness.
"Ryo."
He looks up, his vision blurry, his heart aching. The reflection sneers, but Ryo ignores it, focusing on the voice, clinging to it like a lifeline.
"Ryo, listen to me."
It's Hana's voice. Clear and strong, cutting through the haze of fear and pain. Ryo forces himself to breathe, to focus on her voice, on the memory of her face.
"Don't listen to it, Ryo," the voice says. "It's trying to break you. You're stronger than this. You've come so far. You can't give up now."
Ryo takes a shaky breath, his body trembling. The reflection's smile falters, its eyes narrowing.
"You're not alone, Ryo"Hana voice
says, her tone filled with warmth and determination. "I'm here with you. We're in this together."
Ryo clenches his fists, her words anchoring him, pulling him back from the edge. He looks up at the reflection, his gaze steady now, the fear and confusion giving way to something stronger — resolve.
"You're wrong," Ryo says, his voice firm, steady. "I'm not weak. I'm not alone."
The reflection's sneer falters. "You're lying to yourself, Ryo. You've always been alone. You'll always be alone."
Ryo shakes his head, his eyes never leaving the twisted version of himself in the mirror. "No. I have Hana. I have people who believe in me. I'm not going to let you or anyone else take that away."
The reflection's eyes flash with anger, the malice in its gaze intensifying. "You think you're strong enough to face me? To face yourself? Prove it, then."
The mirrors shimmer, and suddenly, the reflection steps out from the glass, solidifying into a physical form. It's Ryo's exact double, but darker, twisted, his eyes gleaming with a cruel light.
"Let's see what you're really made of," the reflection sneers, drawing a dark, shadowy blade from thin air.
Ryo takes a deep breath, his heart pounding. This is his trial — not just against the reflection, but against everything it represents. His fears, his doubts, his past. If he can defeat this shadow, he can overcome anything.
He charges forward, the branch in his hand feeling woefully inadequate against the shadowy blade, but he pushes the doubt away. The reflection meets him head-on, their weapons clashing with a sound that reverberates through the room.
The force of the impact sends a shockwave through Ryo's arms, but he grits his teeth and holds his ground. The reflection is fast, its movements fluid and deadly, but Ryo is determined. He parries the next strike, his body moving on instinct, his mind focused on each step, each swing.
The reflection sneers, its attacks relentless. "You're pathetic, Ryo. You think you can beat me? You can't even save yourself."
Ryo blocks another blow, his arms shaking with the effort. He's tired, his body aching, but he refuses to back down. "You're wrong," he grunts, pushing back against the force of the blade. "I'm stronger than you think."
The reflection's eyes narrow, and it lunges forward, its blade a blur of dark energy. Ryo dodges, but the blade grazes his arm, the pain sharp and immediate. He hisses, stumbling back, his mind racing.
"You can't win," the reflection taunts, its voice dripping with malice. "You're weak. You've always been weak."
Ryo clenches his jaw, ignoring the pain. He thinks of Hana, of her voice guiding him, pulling him back from the darkness. He thinks of everything they've been through, every fight, every trial. He's not the same person he was when he entered the Crap Field. He's stronger now, more determined.
With a roar, he lunges forward, swinging the branch with all his strength. The reflection moves to block, but Ryo feints, twisting at the last second and slamming the branch into the side of its head.
The reflection staggers, its form flickering, destabilizing. Ryo doesn't hesitate. He presses the attack, each strike more powerful, more precise. He can feel the strength inside him, the resolve that's grown through every trial, every hardship.
"You're wrong about me," Ryo says, his voice steady, powerful. "I'm not weak. I'm not alone. I've come too far to let you or anyone else stop me."
The reflection snarls, its form wavering, the shadowy blade losing its solidity. "No! I am you! You can't defeat me!"
But Ryo is relentless. He swings the branch again, this time aiming for the heart of the reflection. The branch connects, and the reflection lets out a scream, its body dissolving into a swirl of dark energy.
The mirrors around them shatter, the glass fragments dissolving into light. The mist clears, the room brightening, and Ryo finds himself standing alone, his heart racing, his body trembling with exhaustion.
The reflection's voice echoes faintly in the silence, a whisper of bitterness and pain. "This isn't over, Ryo. You can't escape yourself."
But Ryo doesn't listen. He takes a deep breath, the weight of the trial lifting from his shoulders. He's done it. He's faced his darkest fears, his deepest doubts, and he's come out stronger.
"Hana," he murmurs, looking around the now-empty room. "I hope you're okay."
As if in answer, a door appears in the far wall, a soft light spilling from beyond it. Ryo's heart leaps. He rushes forward, his body aching but his spirit soaring.
He steps through the door and finds himself in another chamber, smaller and simpler. And there, standing in the center of the room, is Hana.
She turns as he enters, her face lighting up with relief and joy. "Ryo!"
Ryo's heart feels like it might burst as he crosses the room in a few quick strides, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Hana, you're okay."
Hana nods, her arms wrapping around him. "I was so worried. My trial… it was horrible, Ryo. I had to face things I thought I'd buried a long time ago."
Ryo pulls back slightly, looking into her eyes. "But you made it through. You're here. We're here."
Hana nods, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "Yeah. We're here."
They stand there for a moment, holding each other, the weight of their trials hanging between them. They've both faced their deepest fears, their darkest selves, and they've come out stronger for it.
Ryo takes a deep breath, his grip on Hana tightening. "We can do this, Hana. We've made it this far. We'll make it to the top."
Hana nods, her face set with determination. "Together."
They turn toward the next staircase, the path winding upward, leading them deeper into the tower. The air around them feels different now — lighter, clearer. The weight of their pasts has lifted, leaving only the strength they've gained behind.
They begin to climb, their steps steady and sure. They don't know what lies ahead, but they're ready. Together, they'll face whatever comes next.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone