Return of Tower's Phantom-Chapter 36 – The Forbidden Archive

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Location: Tower Floor 68 – Vanished Sanctuary

A hidden stairway revealed itself only after the Seraph's retreat—an ethereal path of black glass floating above the void. Every step Rael took shimmered with memory, as though the past itself clung to him.

Selene followed close behind, her hand never leaving her weapon. "This wasn't on any map."

Rael nodded. "Because it's not supposed to exist."

At the top of the path was a door.

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Not of stone.

Not of magic.

But of memory.

Carved with the symbols of his former team... and stained in blood only he could see.

> [Memory Signature Confirmed: Echo #1] [Welcome, Rael.]

The door opened with a soft sigh.

Inside was a library suspended in twilight. The books floated, whispering secrets. Scrolls written in the language of gods spun in slow orbits. And in the center, surrounded by flame-like crystal pillars, stood a single console—metallic and alive.

Rael approached it.

> [Archive of the Forgotten Registered.] [Playback Mode Engaged: 7 Memories Remain.]

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Playback #1 – The Night of the Pact

A projection unfolded.

Rael stood with his original team, including Lyra, Selene, and the traitor... Veyon.

"We can't beat the tower this way," Rael's younger self said. "Not without sacrifice."

Lyra had hesitated.

But Veyon had smiled. "Then we offer one."

The pact had been made.

Rael... was the offering.

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Back in the present

Selene's hand clenched. "I always knew Veyon had a hidden motive."

Rael said nothing.

He watched the next memory unfold.

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Playback #2 – Lyra's Confession

It was late.

Lyra had knelt at Rael's sleeping form, tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "They forced me. But I'll fix it. I promise. Even if I have to become the villain."

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Rael's fingers trembled.

Selene turned to him. "She wasn't the enemy."

"I know," Rael whispered. "She was the only one who tried to save me."

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> [Memory Access Locked: Key Fragment Required.]

A shimmer of code blocked the next archive. But something else activated.

> [System Notice: True Name Recognized – Arkael] [Soul Pathway Reconnection Complete.] [Echo Merge Progress: 51%]

Rael's body glowed faintly.

And with it... the library began to break.

> [Warning: Tower System Breach Detected.] [Purge Unit En Route.]

A timer appeared above them—counting down from five minutes.

Selene cursed. "They're coming. We need to go."

Rael took one final glance at the remaining memories.

"I'll be back," he whispered. "And next time... I'll remember everything."

They vanished into shadow just as the Archive exploded behind them.

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