🌑 Episode 50
The Final Trial Begins
The maze was completely silent.
Only the sound of footsteps echoed through the endless steel corridors.
Ryan looked around carefully.
"This place is changing…"
Before anyone could react—
BOOM!
Massive metal walls slammed down from the ceiling.
The group was split apart.
"Ariba!" Ryan shouted.
But his voice faded into the distance.
Ariba found herself alone.
The lights above flickered.
Then a calm voice echoed through the maze.
"Welcome to the Final Trial, Subject A-17."
It was the Founder's voice.
"You have survived every experiment… every lie… every betrayal."
"But this trial is different."
"It is not about strength."
"It is about truth."
A door slowly opened in front of Ariba.
She stepped inside.
The room looked exactly like her childhood bedroom.
The same bed.
The same bookshelf.
The same stuffed rabbit she had seen in the old photograph.
Her hands trembled.
"This… can't be real."
A little girl suddenly appeared in the corner of the room.
She looked exactly like young Ariba.
The child smiled sadly.
"Do you remember me?"
Ariba whispered,
"…Who are you?"
The girl replied,
"I'm the part of you that never escaped."
Before Ariba could answer—
The room disappeared.
She was back in the maze.
At the same moment—
Ryan was trapped inside another chamber.
On the wall was a screen showing Ariba surrounded by danger.
A message appeared.
"Save her… or save the truth."
Ryan clenched his fists.
"There has to be another way."
Meanwhile—
Victor entered a room filled with old military files.
One file carried his own name.
His eyes widened.
"They've been watching me too…"
Lena found herself in a control room.
Thousands of computer screens lit up.
One command blinked repeatedly:
ACTIVATE PHOENIX NETWORK
"If you press this," the Founder's voice said, "you can control every Phoenix system in the country."
Lena slowly backed away.
"I'll never help you."
The voice laughed softly.
"We'll see."
Back in the center of the maze—
Ariba reached a giant steel gate.
It slowly opened.
Beyond it stood the Founder.
For the first time…
Face to face.
He looked calm.
Elegant.
His eyes revealed neither anger nor fear.
Only certainty.
"So…"
"You finally made it."
Ariba stood tall.
"This ends today."
The Founder smiled faintly.
"No."
He looked directly into her eyes.
"This…"
"…is where your real story begins."
Behind him, a massive screen lit up.
One final classified file appeared.
PROJECT PHOENIX: CREATOR
Ariba's heartbeat stopped.
"The… Creator?"
The Founder nodded.
"Yes."
"There is one person above me."
Silence filled the room.
Ryan, Victor, and Lena stared at the screens in shock from their separate chambers.
The Founder took one slow step forward.
"If you truly want to destroy Phoenix…"
"…you must first find the one who created me."
The lights suddenly went black.
A deep alarm echoed throughout Black Tower.
⚠️ UNKNOWN ACCESS DETECTED
For the first time—
The Founder looked surprised.
Someone else had entered the Tower.
Someone even he hadn't expected.
A shadow appeared at the end of the corridor.
Its face hidden.
Its identity unknown.
The shadow spoke only three words—
"I'm too late."
To Be Continued…
💬 Comment & Earn Coins! 🪙
Who do you think entered Black Tower?
A) Ariba's father is alive
B) The Creator of Phoenix
C) A mysterious ally
D) A new enemy
👇 **Comment A, B, C, or D below, and don't forget to send your Power Stones! 💎