It had the same height, the same build, and the same posture.
Even the subtle way his shoulder settled was accurately similar to how Aster's shoulders were.
Then its eyes opened, and they were the same color as his.
The same calmness and the same focus.
The golem moved its fingers once, slowly as if testing out its sensations, but Aster understood instantly that this wasn't an illusion.
It wasn't a reflection but a construct.
A perfect one at that.
But at the center of its chest, there was a faint but visible crystalline core that pulsed with steady light.
Also, across dozens of identical chambers, the same realization struck and shock rippled through the fifth trial as contestants stared at copies of themselves with disbelief etched across their faces.
Some stepped back instinctively, while some laughed once before stopping.
Others reached out to the lifelike golems only to recoil when their mirrored golden did the same.
