NABC Chapter 203: Confronting the Split Soul
Chapter 203: Confronting the Split Soul
The faint light of life gradually dissipated before Isaac and Mira, replaced by a vortex-like dark rift. The rift flowed with the familiar energy of the rules, but it was twisted and broken, like a mirror reflecting the most hidden parts of their hearts.
"The second trial has begun," the voice of the Wheel of Time rang out once more, ethereal yet majestic. "You will enter the depths of your soul and confront the side you have never accepted. Only by facing the division can the soul be whole again."
The rift began to spin wildly, and the powerful suction pulled Isaac into it. Mira tried to follow, but was blocked by an invisible barrier, and she could only watch helplessly as Isaac's figure disappeared into the rift.
Isaac opened his eyes to find himself in a completely unfamiliar space. There was neither sky nor earth, only countless shattered mirrors floating around him, each reflecting a different form of him—the strong, the weak, the hero, the traitor. These forms intertwined, forming a distorted sea of souls.
Suddenly, a cold and deep voice rang in his ear: "You've finally arrived, Isaac."
Isaac turned and saw a familiar yet unfamiliar face—it was himself, but his eyes held a cold arrogance and an unbridled conceit. He wore a deep red robe and held a longsword similar to the Blade of Rules, yet exuding a dark aura.
"Who are you?" Isaac gripped the Blade of Rules, his gaze piercing.
“I am you,” Isaac in the black robe smiled slightly, his expression full of sarcasm. “I am the other side of you that you dare not admit—ambition, anger, resentment, and an extreme desire for freedom. You think you can balance everything with the rules, but deep down, you only want to conquer.”
The black-robed Isaac slowly walked towards Isaac, each step seeming to pound on his heart, bringing an indescribable sense of oppression.
"You think your choices are aboveboard?" Isaac in black sneered. "No, you're just wearing the cloak of justice to disguise your desires. You create rules only to make everyone follow your will. Freedom? It's nothing more than a pawn in your game!"
Isaac frowned, his voice low and firm: "You're wrong. I've never thought about controlling anyone. What I seek is for every life to have its own choices."
"But what about your choice?" Isaac in the black robes retorted coldly. "For the sake of so-called balance, how many people have you sacrificed? For the expansion of the rules, how much freedom have you given up? If you truly have conviction, why not lay down the blade of the rules and face this universe with true freedom?"
These words pierced Isaac's heart like a sharp sword. Images of those who had sacrificed themselves for him flashed through his mind—former followers, departed allies, and even his enemies. He gripped the blade of rules tightly, yet a flicker of wavering crossed his eyes.
Just then, the surrounding mirrors suddenly began to vibrate and crack, spewing out countless distorted images. Among these images were moments when Isaac lost control in battle, his despairing expression in the face of defeat, and his struggles when suppressed by the Lord of the Abyss. These images transformed into a black whirlwind, enveloping Isaac within it.
“This is you,” Isaac, clad in black, said coldly, raising his black longsword, “an incomplete soul, knowing only how to chase after empty beliefs, yet daring not to admit your true desires. Now, let me end this foolish trial for you!”
He swung his sword, its energy carrying destructive power as it hurtled towards Isaac. Isaac hastily raised the Blade of Rules to defend, and the two forces collided fiercely in mid-air, creating a massive wave in the Sea of Souls.
Isaac and the black-robed Isaac engaged in an unprecedented duel in the abyss of the soul. Each clash of blades stirred up fragments of memories from the depths of their souls, which transformed into streaks of light that swirled around them.
"You cannot defeat me!" Isaac in black robes laughed, his attacks like a storm. "Because you are me! To deny me is to deny yourself!"
Isaac gritted his teeth. Although his Blade of Rules remained steadfast, his resolve was constantly wavering. Each attack from the black-robed Isaac felt like tearing open his hidden wounds, forcing him to confront his weaknesses and fears.
Just as he was about to be repelled, Mira's voice suddenly rang in his ears: "Isaac, don't forget your beliefs! Rules and freedom are never opposites; they are part of your soul, and you need to embrace them!"
The voice was like a ray of light, igniting a flame within Isaac. He took a deep breath, and the light of the Blade of Rules gradually grew even brighter.
“You’re right,” Isaac stared at the black-robed Isaac, his eyes filled with determination. “You are a part of my soul, a part of myself that I didn’t want to acknowledge in the past. But now, I accept you.”
Isaac in the black robe paused, his mockery turning to shock: "What...what are you doing?"
Isaac did not answer, but slowly lowered the Blade of Rules. He reached out and grasped the blade of Isaac's sword, and the darkness of the blade began to fade rapidly, transforming into a soft light that merged into Isaac's body.
“We are one, and a divided soul only brings pain,” Isaac said in a low voice. “From now on, I will no longer run away, and I will face the universe with a whole soul.”
As these words were spoken, the sea of souls gradually calmed, and the surrounding mirrors dissolved into starlight. Isaac's figure in the black robes also gradually became transparent, and a relieved smile appeared on his face.
When Isaac opened his eyes, he found himself back at the edge of the Fate Network, with Mira standing before him, her eyes full of concern.
“You’ve succeeded,” Mira said softly. “Your soul is finally whole.”
Isaac nodded, his gaze resolute: "The second trial is over, but the real challenge is yet to come. Creating new life will be our most important step."
As Isaac steadied himself and his gaze pierced the edge of the network of fate, a beam of light descended from the sky, enveloping him and Mira. Within the beam flowed countless phantoms of life—flourishing planets and desolate wastelands—as if telling a story of the diversity and fragility of life.
The voice of the Wheel of Time resounded once more: "Isaac, the Third Trial has begun. In this void, you will face a choice—to create new life, or to reduce everything to nothingness. Every decision you make will profoundly impact the future of the universe."
As soon as they finished speaking, Isaac and Mira were lifted into the air by an invisible force, and the scene before them suddenly changed! They found themselves in an endless desert, the ground beneath their feet cracked like a spider web, the sky filled with dark red clouds, and the whole world was deathly silent.
Mira looked around and whispered, "Is this the Trial Grounds? A lifeless wasteland..."