Ascension 100

The students barely had time to catch their breath before the ground beneath them shifted again. The metallic floor rippled like liquid, separating into individual platforms. Each student stood isolated, suspended in the endless void.

A new message appeared on the screen:

"Level 2: The Maze of Reflections."

The calm, cold voice returned:

"Rules: Navigate through the maze and find the exit within the time limit. Beware the reflections—they reveal the truths you refuse to see. Time limit: 20 minutes. Elimination for failure."

Before anyone could ask what that meant, the platforms dissolved, and the students were dropped into darkness.

---

Layla landed hard on a smooth surface, the impact knocking the wind out of her. She groaned, pushing herself to her feet, and looked around. She was surrounded by towering walls made of mirrors, each reflecting infinite versions of herself. The reflections shifted unnaturally, their movements slightly delayed, as though they were studying her.

"Great," she muttered, her voice echoing eerily. "A mirror maze. Could this get any creepier?"

The voice answered her unspoken question:

"Remember: Only the truth will guide you forward."

Layla shivered. "Noted."

A faint glow appeared on the ground, forming an arrow that pointed toward one of the mirrored corridors. She hesitated, then followed it. The maze was eerily silent, save for the sound of her footsteps. Every few steps, she glanced at the reflections, half-expecting them to move on their own.

The silence was oppressive, broken only by the soft tap-tap of Layla's shoes against the floor. Each turn seemed identical, with mirrored walls stretching endlessly. The reflections multiplied infinitely, creating a disorienting kaleidoscope effect. She was already feeling the strain of her nerves fraying.

Her reflection whispered.

She froze, her breath caught in her throat. Turning slowly, she stared at the mirror behind her. Her reflection stood motionless, wearing the same clothes, the same expression. Yet her lips moved, soundlessly repeating words Layla couldn't understand.

Her heart raced. "I'm imagining things," she muttered, forcing herself to turn away. "It's just a trick of the maze."

The glowing arrow appeared again, this time on the wall ahead. But instead of pointing straight, it flickered before splitting in two. One arrow pointed left, the other right. Layla's pulse quickened as she considered her options.

"Which way?" she whispered, as if the maze would answer her.

The mirrors answered.

From the left corridor, her reflection in the mirrored wall suddenly turned to face her. Layla stumbled back as it smirked and raised a hand, gesturing her forward with a crooked finger.

"Only the truth will guide you forward," the maze's voice echoed in her memory.

"I don't trust you," she said aloud to the reflection. It raised an eyebrow, amused, before fading into the darkness of the mirror.

Layla hesitated, her instincts screaming at her not to follow the sinister reflection. She chose the right path instead, hoping her gamble would pay off.

---

The air grew colder as she walked, and the mirrors began to change. No longer were they simple reflections of herself. They showed distorted images—versions of her in moments she barely recognized. In one, she was crying alone on the floor of her bedroom. In another, she sat silently at a family dinner table, her lips pressed tightly together as her parents argued.

"Stop it," she muttered, quickening her pace. But the images continued. The mirrors didn't just reflect her—they revealed pieces of her past she'd worked hard to bury.

One particular reflection made her stop. In the glass, she saw herself sitting with her best friend, Mia, on a school bench. It was an ordinary moment, the two of them laughing over some joke she couldn't remember. But as Layla stared, the image shifted. Mia's expression darkened, and she turned to face the real Layla through the mirror.

"You left me," Mia's voice echoed from the reflection.

"No," Layla whispered, stepping back. "This isn't real."

"You abandoned me when I needed you most," the reflection accused. "You didn't even answer my texts after the accident."

Layla clenched her fists, her throat tightening. "I couldn't... I didn't know what to say."

"That's your excuse? Or are you just afraid of guilt?"

Tears pricked her eyes as she turned and ran, refusing to listen to the reflection's voice. The truth was, she had no excuse. She'd failed Mia, and she knew it. But now wasn't the time to dwell on it. She had to get out of the maze.

---

She wasn't sure how much time had passed when the next obstacle appeared. A thick fog rolled in, obscuring the glowing arrows that had guided her so far. The mirrors seemed to close in, their edges sharpening. Layla moved cautiously, her hands outstretched to avoid bumping into the walls.

The fog parted slightly, revealing a single mirror directly in her path. It was larger than the others, its surface smooth and flawless. Something about it felt... off.

As she approached, her reflection didn't mimic her movements. Instead, it stayed perfectly still, staring at her with unblinking eyes.

"What do you want now?" Layla demanded, her voice shaking.

The reflection smiled faintly. "Do you even know what you want, Layla? Or are you just running?"

"I'm trying to escape," she snapped.

"Are you?" the reflection asked. "Or are you running from yourself?"

Layla didn't answer. She stepped closer to the mirror, her fists clenched. The reflection tilted its head, its gaze piercing.

"You can't keep hiding from the truth," it said. "Until you face it, you'll never find the exit."

"I'm not hiding!" she shouted.

The reflection raised a hand, and the mirror rippled like water. Images swirled across its surface—her parents arguing, Mia's tear-streaked face, the disappointment of teachers, the sneers of classmates. Every moment she'd ever wanted to forget played out in vivid detail.

Layla fell to her knees, overwhelmed. The maze wasn't just testing her; it was breaking her.

---

The sound of ticking filled the air. Layla's head snapped up as she realized the timer was running out. She had no idea how long she'd been in the maze, but she couldn't waste any more time.

"You want me to face the truth?" she said to the reflection. "Fine. I've made mistakes. I've hurt people. But that doesn't mean I'm giving up."

The reflection smiled. "Good. Then prove it."

The mirror dissolved, revealing a new path. Layla pushed herself to her feet, determination hardening her resolve. She followed the path, her steps quicker now, her mind clearer. The maze wasn't going to defeat her.

---

As she navigated further, the mirrors began to change again. This time, they showed her possibilities—glimpses of futures she could have if she faced her fears and took control of her life. She saw herself standing confidently at a podium, giving a speech. She saw herself reconnecting with Mia, apologizing for her absence. She saw herself laughing freely, unburdened by the weight of guilt.

For the first time, hope sparked within her. The maze wasn't just a trap—it was a test. And she was determined to pass.

---

Finally, she reached the center of the maze. A large, ornate mirror stood before her, its surface swirling like liquid silver. Words appeared on its surface:

"To escape, you must forgive yourself."

Layla hesitated. Forgive herself? The maze had shown her all the ways she'd failed, all the truths she'd avoided. Could she really let go of the guilt?

She took a deep breath and stepped closer. "I'm sorry," she whispered, not to the mirror, but to herself. "I've made mistakes, but I'm ready to be better."

The mirror glowed brightly, its surface rippling outward. A doorway appeared, and Layla stepped through, her heart pounding.

---

She emerged in a brightly lit room, her fellow students waiting for her. Some looked shaken, others relieved. The maze had tested all of them, and they'd survived. But Layla knew the real challenge wasn't over. The truths she'd faced in the maze were just the beginning.

The voice echoed one final time: "Congratulations. Level 2 complete."

Hana appeared moments later, her face streaked with tears. Layla ran to her and pulled her into a tight hug.

"You made it," Layla whispered.

Hana nodded, though her hands still trembled. "Barely."

The translucent screen appeared again, displaying cold, unfeeling words:

"Level 2 complete. 56 players remain."

Layla's stomach sank. They had lost more than twenty students in this round. She glanced at the others, their faces pale and haunted.

The screen flickered:

"Prepare for Level 3."

"To be continue"