Jin's voice shook. "What is this…?"
"They're… us?" lee hyun whispered.
"No," Steve said slowly. "They just look like us."
The clones stood still, staring at them weapons in hand.
No one knew what would happen next.
Jin backed away, dodging a clone's blade by inches.
His voice cracked. "Now we're done. There's no way out of this!"
Lee Hyun blocked a strike aimed at hwan and shouted, "Think, Steve! Think of something!"
"I'm trying!" Steve yelled, backing up near the wall. His eyes darted between the clones and the crystal.
"Fight yourself, or lose yourself.
Only the true one may walk forward."
Steve clenched his fists, then suddenly… closed his eyes.
Everyone else was fighting to stay alive blades clashing, grunts filling the chamber but Steve was still.
Then his eyes snapped open.
Without saying a word, he ran straight toward the crystal.
"Steve!" Jin shouted. "What are you doing?!"
But Steve didn't stop.
Every single clone now in full killing mode turned their heads sharply and dashed toward steve, weapons raised.
They all stood between Steve and the crystal, blocking his path like guards of some hidden truth.
The clones are acting like they knew what steve is up to.
Steve skidded to a stop, smirking.
"This is gonna be fun," he said under his breath, cracking his neck and rolling his shoulders as if warming up for a game. "Let's see what you've got."
Then he charged straight at them.
Blades slashed.
Clones lunged.
But Steve weaved between them ducking under a sword, flipping past another barely escaping with every move.
Jin stared in disbelief. "Is he dodging them all?!"
Lee Hyun narrowed his eyes. "No. He's not just dodging… he's heading straight for something."
Jin watched, wide-eyed, as Steve dodged the clone with swift, precise movements.
"The way he's moving... he's trained for this. A lot," Jin muttered under his breath, almost in disbelief.
He dodged, hitting the ground hard then, without wasting a second, he switched off the torch.
Then Steve's feet slammed against the stone floor as he pushed forward, every muscle burning, every breath sharp.
The clones were faster now relentless blades slashing within inches of his face.
But he didn't stop.
He could see it the crystal glowing faintly ahead, as if calling him.
Just a few more steps.
Just a little closer.
Then, in a single terrifying moment, all the clones leapt toward him, their swords raised high, fury burning in their lifeless eyes.
"Steve!" Jin screamed.
But Steve didn't flinch. He reached out heart pounding and touched the crystal.
For a moment, the entire room fell silent.
Then in a sudden flash of light the clones vanished.
Mid-air.
Their swords, their faces, their glassy eyes gone like smoke in the wind.
The chamber fell into a heavy silence. Only Steve's panting could be heard as he stood in front of the crystal, hand still resting on it, eyes wide with disbelief.
Jin's mouth hung open. "They're… gone."
Lee Hyun lowered his sword slowly. "He did it."
Steve turned around, smiling weakly. "Told you this would be fun."