Return of Tower's Phantom-Chapter 42 – The Tower Remembers

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Location: Tower Floor 83 – Hidden Sanctuary

The air shifted.

When Rael emerged from the Mirror Trial, Selene rushed forward. "You're—Rael! You're back!"

He stumbled, clutching his side. His body bore fresh wounds, but his eyes—those deep, fractured eyes—told her everything.

"You passed it," she whispered.

Rael nodded, but said nothing. His hand trembled.

Selene frowned. "Rael... what happened in there?"

Before he could answer, the temperature plummeted. The ground cracked.

> [Warning: Intrusion Detected.] [Unregistered Entity Crossing Dimensions...]

A figure stepped out of the fracture behind him.

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It was Rael.

But not him.

Not completely.

This version was cloaked in shifting shadows. His armor bore the mark of Veyon's crest. His face twisted in an eerie calm.

"I am the Regret, born from the path not chosen," the clone said softly. "And I... remember everything."

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System Notice: Trial Fragment Manifested – Phantom Clone 'Regret'

> Skillset: Equal to Subject at time of Floor 99 Betrayal. Objective: Assimilate original body and fulfill prophecy.

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Selene drew her blade. "You've got to be kidding me—!"

The clone raised a hand. "I don't want to fight... I need to exist."

Rael gritted his teeth. "Then come take me."

Steel clashed.

Selene joined the fight, but the Phantom was relentless—matching Rael blow for blow, every slash echoing with the weight of broken promises.

> [Skill Activated: Mirage Cleave]

Rael slashed through a fake memory, disrupting the clone's form—but not enough.

Selene cried out as she was knocked back.

Rael stepped in front of her.

"If you're me... then you know how this ends."

Regret smirked. "Exactly. We both die."

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But Rael had something the clone didn't.

He glanced at Selene, bruised but still standing.

He smiled.

"I've got someone who won't let me fall."

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> [Duo Sync Initiated] [Selene – Bond Level: Deepening] [Fusion Skill Unlocked: Lunar Sunburst]

Their auras intertwined—light and shadow twisting together.

They struck as one.

The clone screamed as its form unraveled, swallowed by the truth Rael had forged.

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Silence returned.

Selene leaned against him, breathless. "That... was new."

Rael chuckled softly. "Yeah. Let's hope there aren't more me's waiting to kill me."

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System Message: Floor 83 Cleared

> [Unlocked Access to Floor 84] [New Side Quest Available: "Echoes of the Betrayer"] [Bond Progress with Selene: +5%]

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