Darkness surged across the chamber.
Future Sam disappeared.
Sam's instincts screamed.
Shadow Step!
His body melted into the shadows.
A heartbeat later—
BOOM!
The place where he had been standing exploded.
Stone fragments rained across the arena.
Sam emerged several meters away.
His eyes widened.
"He predicted Shadow Step..."
Future Sam lowered his sword.
"I should."
"I created it."
The words struck Sam harder than any attack.
Before he could respond—
Future Sam vanished again.
Sam gritted his teeth.
"Fire Missiles!"
Six blazing spheres erupted from his hand, spreading across the chamber.
Instead of chasing their target...
The missiles froze in midair.
Sam stared in disbelief.
"What...?"
Future Sam calmly walked between the suspended flames.
With a wave of his hand...
The fire faded into harmless sparks.
"Your mana is strong."
"But your control..."
"...is still crude."
The pressure in the chamber intensified.
Sam charged.
"Attack Chain!"
His sword became a blur.
One strike.
Two.
Five.
Ten.
Every attack flowed perfectly into the next.
Future Sam blocked them all with a single hand on his sword.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
The final strike landed.
Future Sam didn't move an inch.
He looked into Sam's eyes.
"You rely too much on speed."
He twisted his wrist.
CLANG!
Sam's sword was knocked from his hand.
It spun through the air before embedding itself in the stone floor.
Future Sam stepped back.
He didn't press the advantage.
Instead...
He waited.
Sam looked at his empty hand.
Then at the sword several meters away.
Future Sam spoke calmly.
"A Commander who loses his weapon..."
"...does not lose the battle."
Sam took a deep breath.
A smile slowly spread across his face.
"You're trying to teach me."
Future Sam didn't answer.
His silence was answer enough.
Sam rushed toward his sword.
Future Sam was already there.
His blade flashed.
Sam ducked underneath it, rolled across the stone, and grabbed his weapon.
The instant his fingers touched the hilt—
Shadow Wolf!
Darkness burst from Sam's shadow.
A massive wolf formed from black mist lunged toward Future Sam.
The wolf's jaws snapped shut.
Future Sam simply raised one hand.
The shadow beast froze.
Its crimson eyes met his blue soul flames.
For a brief moment...
Neither moved.
Then...
The Shadow Wolf lowered its head.
It stepped backward.
And quietly returned to Sam's shadow.
Sam stood frozen.
"...Why didn't it attack?"
Future Sam looked at the shadow beneath Sam's feet.
"It recognized its master."
Sam's heart skipped a beat.
Before he could ask another question...
A golden voice echoed throughout the chamber.
Time Limit Reached.
The chamber fell silent.
Future Sam lowered his sword.
The overwhelming pressure disappeared.
He looked at Sam one final time.
"You are weak."
Sam sighed.
"I noticed."
"But..."
Future Sam continued.
"You have not reached your limit."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"And that's why..."
"...there is still a future where you become me."
His body began dissolving into black mist.
As he faded, he spoke one last sentence.
"Do not chase my power."
"Surpass it."
The chamber trembled.
The future version of Sam vanished completely.
A golden screen appeared before him.
---
Third Trial Complete
Evaluation: Passed
Potential Confirmed.
---
Inside his mind...
Rex finally spoke.
His voice was unusually quiet.
Congratulations, Commander.
The Royal Mausoleum has acknowledged your future.
Ahead of Sam...
A pair of ancient doors slowly opened.
Brilliant blue light poured through the entrance.
Beyond them...
The final chamber awaited.