Only I Can See The End-Chapter 1: It Starts With A Dream

[Prologue]

I had a dream.

It whisked me away to a wondrous sight: a massive castle sitting proudly atop a snowy mountain, surrounded by a frozen landscape of rolling hills and ridges. The entire scene was wrapped in a serene blend of pure white and calm blue.

However, a fierce snowstorm blurred the details, making it hard to see. Yet, an unexplainable force drew me towards the castle, perched majestically at the peak. The wind whispered ancient secrets as if urging me forward.

As I entered the palace, I stepped into a breathtaking space—the throne room. It radiated an aura of immaculate beauty as if it were plucked from a heavenly haven and carefully placed here for a chosen few to witness.

Crystal statues adorned every corner of this sacred chamber, catching and bending the light in magical ways, each facet of the crystals reflecting stories untold. The central focus was a surreal throne, carved intricately from ice and commanding respect with its grandeur. Chandeliers of ice hung from the ceiling, their delicate, frozen tendrils casting intricate reflections on the gleaming floor below.

Elaborate ice carvings, each telling tales of valor and legend, decorated the walls in stunning detail, adding a sense of majestic opulence to the room.

Yet, amidst this enchanting display, the clash of weapons shattered my thoughts.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!

Blades collided, the clash echoing through the air, threatening to burst my eardrums. Sparks flew as the combatants engaged in a fierce battle, the very air around them crackling with the intensity of their confrontation. One figure stood dressed in pure white, a vision of magnificence akin to a celestial being.

Adorned in gleaming light armor that caught and reflected the scattered sparks, a fur-like cape billowing behind them, they were crowned with an aura of shining majesty that seemed to radiate from within. They embodied purity, their every movement resonating with grace and purpose. In their presence, the very essence of nobility and righteousness seemed to come alive, manifesting in the physical form of a valiant defender. They were the ruler of the castle—an absolute being, chosen to guard this realm of beauty and wonder.

But within this stunning sight, a dark adversary stood in stark contrast. Cloaked in darkness that seemed to swallow the very light around him, he exuded a malevolent presence that sent shivers down the spine. Covered in a vile black mist that clung to him like sinister armor, he was a living embodiment of the shadows themselves. His very presence tainted the room, marring its perfect atmosphere. He was an unwelcome intrusion, sullying the paradise.

Who the hell did he think he was?

I stood frozen, watching the clash between the evil figure and the glorious knight, fervently hoping for the virtuous hero's victory.

The dark blade met the white knight's sword with a collision that sent dazzling sparks scattering like fireflies in the night. The impact resonated in every fiber of my body. Their weapons clashed repeatedly, creating collisions and charging the atmosphere with anticipation. Their intensity grew, each strike pulsating with energy, filling the room with tension. Deep within me, I yearned for the dark intruder's defeat, craving justice.

And finally, after moments that felt like an eternity...

~SQUELCH!~

The hero's blade struck true, its edge cutting through the malevolent darkness that had enshrouded the figure. A mist of brilliant white emerged from the wound, engulfing him.

From his chest, white particles appeared, dispelling the darkness. He began freezing, turning into a statue like those scattered across the landscape.

"Failed again," He murmured. His cloak, once a shroud of shadow, vanished into nothingness, revealing the true form beneath. His frame was thin, almost emaciated, his body showing the signs of prolonged suffering. Sunken eyes spoke of sleepless nights, parched lips of days without food.

Strangely, I felt a hint of empathy. Did he deserve this fate? Why disturb the peace of the white knight?

"I promised them," he muttered, as though he had heard my question. His lips parted as the remnants of his cape disappeared, revealing his partly frozen face.

"... The 98th Floor," he said as his face fully appeared.

It was me!

Confusion gripped me. Why was I the one dying? Wasn't he the villain? Wasn't the white knight the hero?

"Not done... not yet," my dark self stuttered, his voice trembling. It was likely due to his completely frozen lungs.

"Next time, I'll win..."

His face turned white, then his entire body. Everything went blank, icy cold. Even though I should have been dead, I heard a whisper—a gentle, warm voice that sounded exactly like mine. 𝐛𝗲𝗱𝐧𝗼𝐯𝗲𝗹．𝐧𝐞𝘁

"... Win or die trying!"

Then I woke up.

*****

A few days later, the dream was almost forgotten, brushed aside as just another unsettling vision that regularly plagued me. Nightmares had been my unwelcome companions for years.

Since I was ten, and now at twenty, they were a nightly ritual, uninvited yet persistent.

However, there was something about this dream that set it apart. It clung to me, refusing to disappear with time. Amidst the countless others, it held its ground. What made it different was that after that dream, a change took hold.

The usual nightmares, like clockwork, vanished. A sense of joy and relief washed over me. It felt great, finally getting a chance to sleep peacefully.

Little did I know that this happiness would be short-lived.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

<Paradise Will Now Be Initialized>

{The realm of the gods, Paradise, will be revealed to the chosen humans. Overcome the 99 Floors and reach the Final Realm.}

<Tutorial Will Begin Once The Announcement Has Been Concluded.>

{Your mission is to survive the Tutorial so you can be qualified to enter Paradise. Time Left until the end of the Tutorial: 168 hrs: 00 mins: 00 secs}

<Announcement is ending… The Tutorial will now commence.>

Because, you see…

[GOOD LUCK!]

... The true nightmare was just about to unfold.

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[A/N]

Thanks for reading this first chapter. If you liked it, please support me.

Cheers!