NOVEL WEB Chapter 39: Spiral Collapse
Shrine of the Spiral
July 16th, 12:30 PM
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12:30 PM – Spiral Breach
The Spiral trembled.
Veins of white light tore across the subspace sky. Reality folded in on itself like peeling metal. The system could no longer contain them.
Kael stood bloodied but unbowed, facing the Faceless Remnant—his final Echo.
It had no features, just a spiral of pulsing white light where its face should be. Each step it took echoed like metal ringing in a canyon.
> "You have exhausted the simulation," it whispered.
"You are no longer viable."
Kael didn't flinch. Echobound shimmered beside him, summoned, silent, blade-ready.
> "Then let's overwrite each other."
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12:32 PM – Final Duel Begins
The Faceless Remnant launched forward with Divine Echo already active—flickers of energy spiking from its limbs.
Kael activated Routine Serge.
Everything blurred.
Blades clashed.
Air shattered from impact.
Ghost Veil flared—Kael dodged an invisible echo-strike an instant before it cut his throat.
Echobound countered in sync, copying Kael's last motion.
Two Kaels. One real. One forged.
> "You hesitate."
"He calculates."
The Spiral itself spoke now—like the arena was judging the fight.
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12:35 PM – The Echo Trap
The Faceless Remnant twisted reality mid-strike—its own Divine Echo stacking infinitely. It blurred forward, then backward, then forward again—
Kael's blade snapped.
Echobound moved to protect him—but the Remnant stabbed through it, scattering Kael's mimic like smoke.
"He is not real."
Kael dropped to a knee.
Blood spilled down his lip.
But he was smiling.
> "Neither are you."
He triggered Divine Echo.
Then Injury Heal.
Then again.
And again.
Unlimited. Unchained. Relentless.
He rose. Fast.
> "You're just a recording. I'm the one still making choices."
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12:38 PM – The Spiral Core Cracks
Kael drove his blade—half-broken—straight into the Remnant's chest.
The Spiral screamed.
Not the Remnant. The system.
A red spiral flared open behind Kael. Black wind poured from it like smoke underwater.
The Faceless Remnant stared at him.
> "You win."
"But not alone."
"Look below."
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12:40 PM – The Mimic Stirs
Beneath the spiral platform, deep in the black void—
It opened its eyes.
The Primordial Mimic.
It had no limbs.
No body.
Just bones wrapped in red tendrils and coiled memories.
Kael had seen it once—just days ago—through a crack in the shrine.
Now it rose.
Towering.
Older than the outbreak.
Older than the Spiral itself.
It roared.
And the Spiral floor shattered.
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12:42 PM – Collapse Begins
The entire team was pulled into the collapse:
Elle, burned and bruised, turned midair and screamed as her rifle and spear broke in half.
Dain spun uncontrollably, wind slamming around him.
Armin reached for the others, but fell through shadows too fast to catch them.
Kael stared down at the Mimic rising below.
It didn't lunge.
It didn't roar again.
It waited.
Kael felt the Spiral core in his chest pulse.
> "Fight me," the voice said.
"Or bind me."
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12:44 PM – Kael's Choice
He fell faster now.
Falling into its shadow.
His fingers tightened on the broken blade.
> "I don't run from myself."
"And I don't let monsters walk free."
The Spiral warped around him.
Fight or bond.
Survive or ascend.
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To Be Continued…