"Trial? Wait hold on! You didn't mention—!"
Cyril tried to retort, but the copy of himself is already lunging at him at an immense speed.
Cyril managed to sidestep at the last second — nearly dodging the assault.
"Tch.. are you just going to watch?" he turned to the fox.
"Am I supposed to fight it without a weapon?" He asked.
However, the black fox just purred and licked its paw.
Cyril turned his gaze back at the clone, it was running towards him again, ready to tackle him to the ground.
Left with no choice, Cyril decided to confront it head-on, assuming a defensive stance.
The clone swung its fist towards Cyril, landing squarely on his forearm — sending a jolt of pain all over his arms.
Cyril jumped backward, putting a distance between himself and the clone. He shook his arms to mitigate the pain.
"That hurts more than necessary.."
But the clone didn't stop, it lunged at Cyril again, aiming a kick to his side.
Cyril managed to block the kick with his arm, but he was thrown to the side by the impact. He had never met someone with such strength in his life.
Before he could stand up, the clone picked him up from the ground by the collar, suspending him from the ground as he tried to kick and struggle from the clone's ironclad grip.
"Pathetic." The clone said.
"Didn't you say you would do anything for Safia? Are you really this weak? You're nothing compared to me. I am the perfect version of you, and you are just a pathetic excuse for a brother." It said harshly.
The clone then threw Cyril to the ground, knocking the wind out of him.
"You should have stayed dead."
Cyril stares at the endless white sky before him, is this all he has? Is this really where the story must end?
Ultimately, it is the person who announces their own final call.
Images of Safia echoed in his mind; moments spent with her were more precious than his own life.
He gritted his teeth as he pushed himself back to his feet. His vision blurred, and his mind was dazed, but he knew that if he gave up now, he would lose his only chance to redeem himself for his sin.
"Say as you like.. but I.. will not falter!" He exclaimed, launching himself at the clone like an untamed beast.
He swung his fists with a wild abandon, pushing the clone back as it tried to dodge and block the raining punches.
Cyril threw a powerful swing towards the clone, aiming for its face. The clone tried to dodge, but Cyril's fist grazed its cheek, opening an ethereal wound on its face.
"Damn you!" The clone groaned in pain as dust-like particles spilled out of the wound like a sand clock.
"In death, I shall awaken justice that has been lost. I shall, be the judge of the evildoers!"
Cyril raised his hand high in the air as it glowed brightly with an otherworldly aura — preparing to end this trial once and for all.
"This shall be your grave sinner!" The clone copied his stance as it was also prepared to throw a charged punch.
They both swung their fist towards each other at the same time.
When their fist connected, a loud sound of supersonic waves was formed from the impact of the collision, shattering the fabric of the Eternal Land like shards of glass.
The black fox shielded itself with its tail — bearing witness to this eventful trial of combat prowess.
After a moment, everything was dead silent. And the only sound heard was the occasional static from the shattered fabric of the eternal dimension.
"Begone, pawn of illusion. Your purpose ends here." Cyril spoke, breaking the deafening silence.
The clone's eyes widened at his words, but it knew that the story must go on. With a contented sigh, it bowed slightly in front of Cyril, affirming his defeat as his body slowly dissolved into shining particles.
As the last light particle disappears into the ground beneath them, a new shoot sprouts from the earth — it blooms into an enormous tree, turning the Eternal Land into a wide green field filled with grass and life.
Cyril watched with awe like a newborn, he had never seen anything this magnificent in his life.
"You've done it, young soul. You have awakened the human spirit to live. The Tree of Life has been reborn." The fox approached Cyril.
"What must I do now?" Cyril asked.
The black fox jumped on his shoulder, purring lightly into his ear.
"Do not rush the divine, child." It warns.
"Now walk towards the tree, and pull out the Blade of Azrael." The fox commanded, gazing towards the great tree.
Cyril nodded and walked up to the tree with a renewed determination
The leaves fall gently from the tree and land on the ground. While the black fox on his shoulder was trying to catch the leaves with its paws like an innocent baby.
Cyril instinctively scratches the fox behind its ears, as it purrs against the gentle touch.
When he reached the tree, he saw a sword embedded in the roots. A dark and unsettling aura was radiating from it, a major contrast to the tree's peaceful nature.
"Touch the ember of life, conquer fear." The fox whispered into his ear.
With a deep breath, Cyril walked up towards the sword, attempting to pull it out from the roots.
However, upon contact, the holy burned his hand and he quickly pulled away. It is as if the sword itself were recently tempered by a blacksmith.
But he didn't give up, the pain did not stop him. And he will not let a mere metal stop him from saving his dear friend, his loved sister, and most of all, his only family he has left.
He gripped the handle again, enduring the pain that was burning his hand.
Slowly, the sword budged from the tree shaking with a mighty force.
He pulled harder, until finally the sword was freed from the tree root.
Cyril looked at the sword in his hand as it slowly healed up, and then he looked up at the tree. The leaves shine with a brilliant light — consuming his entire body in its majesty.
And in that moment, justice was reborn...
—Penning a new chapter...