The forest thinned as they walked. Each step forward felt lighter, as if the land itself had been cleansed. Behind them, the Whispering Grove faded into the mist, now quiet and still.

  Arjun walked at the head of the group, his mind still echoing with the voice of his future self. Soulbind—a new ability, one he barely understood—rested like a coiled serpent within his chest. It pulsed occasionally, as if waiting to be used.

  Ayra caught up to him. “You look like you’ve aged ten years.”

  Arjun glanced at her with a faint smile. “Maybe I did.”

  Raaka grunted from behind. “If this next throne trial involves talking to my past mistakes, I’m out.”

  “You’d be talking to a war camp,” Ayra quipped.

  The trail led them to a high ridge. From the top, they saw it—a massive structure, half-buried in the valley below. Shaped like an enormous circular temple with twelve stone gates, it radiated golden energy that curled like mist into the sky.

  Elaran's eyes widened. “The Vault of Karma.”

  Arjun whispered, “It’s real…”

  The Vault shimmered like it didn’t fully exist in this realm. Symbols older than time spiraled across its surface—Karmic Glyphs—etched into reality itself.

  > [Third Trial Location Discovered: Vault of Karma]

  [Danger Level: High]

  [Requirements: Soul Purity Check | Combat Readiness | Divine Affinity]

  Raaka read the system message aloud and spat. “Combat readiness? Good. I was getting bored.”

  Elaran looked nervous. “The Vault isn’t just a test of strength—it is a crucible of fate. It judges what you could have been, what you should have been, and what you will become.”

  Ayra folded her arms. “And what happens if it doesn’t like the answer?”

  “Then,” Elaran said grimly, “the Vault devours your karma and rewrites your destiny.”

  ---

  The entrance loomed like a mouth.

  As they stepped in, the air grew heavy. Time blurred. Colors faded. A dull chime rang through the vast chamber.

  > [Trial of the Third Throne: Initiated]

  Twelve statues lined the circular chamber. Each was different—some armored, others cloaked in robes or animal skins. All of them had the same face:

  Arjun’s.

  Raaka narrowed his eyes. “These are... you?”

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  Arjun stared at them. “Versions of me.”

  A voice boomed from the air, neither male nor female—a Karmic Guardian.

  > “You stand before the Vault of Karma. Here, we measure the threads of your being. Past, present, future—who you are, who you were meant to be, and who you may yet become.”

  One of the statues stepped forward—clad in gold armor, eyes burning with holy fire.

  > “I am Arjun the Saint. You could have walked the path of peace. Healer. Savior. You would have been worshipped.”

  The second statue moved—dark, robed, with a blade made of void.

  > “I am Arjun the Tyrant. You could have ruled with fear. Conqueror. Destroyer. You would have been remembered.”

  One by one, each statue stepped forward, announcing itself:

  Arjun the Betrayer

  Arjun the Martyr

  Arjun the Seeker

  Arjun the Hollow

  Each one echoed a possibility Arjun had never lived—but might have.

  Then the final statue emerged—unlike the others.

  It was broken. Cracked. One eye missing. But it smiled.

  > “I am Arjun the Survivor. Weak, forgotten, but enduring.”

  Arjun faced them all. “Why show me this?”

  The Karmic Guardian spoke again.

  > “You must choose. Accept the fate that resonates most. To ascend, one must define their path.”

  Ayra stepped forward. “What happens if he doesn’t choose?”

  > “Then the Vault will choose for him.”

  Silence.

  Raaka tensed, placing a hand on his axe. “I don’t like this.”

  Arjun stepped into the center of the ring. The statues moved closer.

  Suddenly, one of them—the Tyrant—attacked.

  The blade of void lashed forward. Arjun barely dodged.

  > [Combat Initiated – Projection Battle: Self vs. Self]

  The Saint and the Martyr joined the Tyrant, their weapons glowing.

  Arjun gritted his teeth. “You want me to fight... myself?!”

  The Guardian’s voice rang out.

  > “Only by defeating your false paths can you forge a true one.”

  The first blow came hard. The Saint cast golden chains of guilt, trying to bind Arjun’s arms.

  He activated Soulbind.

  Golden threads shot from his body, connecting with Arjun the Survivor.

  A flood of emotions hit him—pain, failure, quiet strength. And then—skills.

  > [Soulbind Successful – Survivor’s Grit Acquired]

  [Skill: Endure the Storm – Reduces all mental damage and grants immunity to illusions for 30 seconds.]

  Chains shattered.

  Arjun dashed forward, eyes blazing. The Tyrant’s blade clashed with his sword, black energy against karmic fire.

  Behind him, Raaka and Ayra battled statues that had come alive—echoes of Arjun’s abandoned possibilities.

  Ayra danced through them like a shadow.

  Raaka fought with raw fury.

  But Arjun knew—this wasn’t their fight. This was his.

  He reached for another echo—The Seeker. Soulbind triggered again.

  > [Skill Acquired: Memory Pulse – Temporarily access knowledge from all past karmic imprints.]

  Images flooded Arjun’s mind—battle techniques, healing chants, lost languages. It was overwhelming—but useful.

  With newfound clarity, he unleashed a flurry of attacks.

  One by one, the echoes fell.

  Only the Survivor remained—still smiling.

  Arjun lowered his weapon. “You’re not here to fight me, are you?”

  The Survivor nodded. “No. I’m here to remind you that no throne is won without scars. You are not chosen by destiny. You earn it.”

  > [Final Trial Completed – Karmic Alignment Verified]

  The Vault trembled.

  The ground split open.

  And from the center rose the Third Throne—shaped like an eye, surrounded by twelve spokes of light.

  Arjun stepped forward.

  His hands trembled as he touched it.

  > [Third Throne Claimed – Throne of Will]

  [Karmic Throne Sync: 63%]

  [New Ability Unlocked: Will of the Thousand | Temporarily summon one karmic echo to fight beside you.]

  The chamber calmed.

  Ayra placed a hand on his shoulder. “You chose well.”

  Elaran stepped forward, reverent. “Three thrones claimed. That hasn’t happened in centuries.”

  Raaka chuckled. “Still not a king, though.”

  Arjun smiled.

  “No. But I’m closer than I’ve ever been.”

  As they left the Vault, the ground behind them closed. The statues vanished. But the echoes remained—in Arjun’s heart.

  Outside, the sky had darkened.

  And on the wind came a whisper:

  > “Now that the thrones rise… the gods shall awaken.”