ARCHIVE OF THE CORRIDORS

Adam’s mind raced, replaying every moment he had shared with Nael: the conversations they had, the challenges they faced together, and the times when they felt like one united force. They had believed they were fighting for the truth, but now that truth lay shattered before him, like a broken mirror reflecting two different faces of men who were once one in soul and mind.

Everything had seemed so clear back then, but now it felt like a grand illusion. Nael wasn’t just moving through the shadows to survive; he was reshaping the world according to his own vision. Adam felt a strange chill run through his veins despite the sweat dripping down his forehead. Everything was crumbling around him, as if the ground beneath his feet was splitting apart.

---

The Confrontation Under the Light

The room was narrow, its walls worn and clinging to the scent of old dampness mixed with the acrid smell of burnt metal. The single lamp hanging from the ceiling swayed slightly, casting fractured shadows across Nael’s face, making his expression even more enigmatic. The air felt heavy on Adam’s chest, as if the entire room was closing in on him.

Adam pulled his gun from the folds of his clothes, raising it slightly toward Nael, but his grip was weak, his fingers trembling, as if his hands refused to bear the weight. This wasn’t how he had imagined it. How had he reached this moment? How had he ended up facing a life-or-death choice with a man who was once half his soul?

Adam, his voice quiet but shaking: “I thought we shared the same dream, but you were dreaming alone, Nael. Were you deceiving me all this time? Was I just a tool to you?”

Nael, with a pale smile, his eyes glinting with mystery: “You weren’t a tool, Adam. You were part of something greater. But you refused to see the bigger picture.”

Adam, his breath uneven, his heartbeat deafening: “The bigger picture? You’re talking about chaos, destruction, breaking everything to rebuild it according to your vision! But what about the lives that will be crushed under your feet? What about those who trusted you? What about me?!”

Nael didn’t answer immediately. He looked at Adam for a long moment, as if weighing his words before speaking. Finally, he said in a low but unwavering voice: “I needed you, Adam. You were the only one who might have understood me. But I realized you could never cross this line with me.”

Adam felt a sharp sting in his chest, as if Nael’s words were a blade piercing his soul. He raised the gun higher, but his hands were shaking. This wasn’t just about killing a man. It was about killing a part of himself, the part that had believed Nael was more than just a shadow chasing a broken dream.

Adam, his eyes filled with sorrow and anger: “We’re out of time, Nael. I can’t be part of this, and I can’t let you go any further.”

Nael smiled, a deep, sorrowful smile. It was in that moment he realized he was utterly alone.

“You were always my last choice, Adam. But I understand. The world doesn’t accept people like us.”

Adam, his tone firm but laced with pain: “I never wanted to kill you, and I never imagined I’d be in this position. But if the choice is between you and saving the world, I’ll stop you.”

Nael didn’t retreat. His eyes were filled with defiance, but he added quietly: “And I always knew you’d do that in the end. I know you better than you know yourself.”

The decision had been made. There was no turning back. In that moment, words choked in their throats, leaving only silence to fill the void between them.

Adam, his finger hovering over the trigger, hesitated. Then, he threw the gun aside. It wasn’t the strength he possessed that determined who was right. It was rationality, honesty with oneself, and clarity of purpose that made him refuse to kill.

Adam, his voice steady: “I won’t be part of this, but I won’t kill you. I won’t let you plunge the world into this darkness.”

Nael, with a half-smile, enigmatic as ever: “I always knew you wouldn’t be able to do it in the end. I know you better than you know yourself.”

Adam, turning his back to leave, added in a final moment, as he walked away: “The choice was always mine, Nael. We were never playing the same game.”

---

After the Confrontation – In the Dark

It was late, and the air was cold in the deserted streets. Adam walked with heavy steps, a sense of betrayal trailing him as his footsteps echoed in every corner of his mind.

The pain in his chest was deeper than he had anticipated. Confronting Nael wasn’t just a fleeting moment; it felt like tearing out a piece of his soul. That decisive moment might have been the beginning of an end he couldn’t yet comprehend. But he couldn’t escape one haunting thought:

Was this truly the end of Nael?

He stopped suddenly, sighing deeply, as if trying to cleanse his soul of all the doubts that had accumulated. He didn’t know where he was going, but he knew one thing for certain: there was no turning back.

Was he supposed to keep searching for the truth? Or had his pursuit of justice pushed him past the point of no return?

---

The Unexpected Turn

Meanwhile, far from sight, another figure lurked in the shadows. Someone who hadn’t yet surfaced but was a key player in the larger plan.

This person knew Nael intimately, more than Adam could ever imagine. He wasn’t just a spectator or a follower; he was a central figure in this game.

Standing in the shadows, his features obscured, his eyes watched the scene from afar.

“You succeeded in pushing him away, Nael, but the game isn’t over yet.”

He wasn’t just aiming to destroy Nael but to dismantle everything Nael sought to rebuild. Adam was about to face a threat far greater than he had imagined, one that wasn’t just about a mysterious past but a future being reshaped.

---

Beyond the Truth

New surprises lay ahead: Who was behind the curtain? And what would happen when Adam realized that every step he had taken was part of a plan far greater than he had ever imagined?

In the next chapter: Deep secrets about the overlooked characters may be revealed, along with the intentions of the mysterious figure working behind the scenes.