[Would you like to step into the Light?]

[YES/NO]

Van touched the yes option.

A warm glow engulfed Van and everything else around him. When the light faded he stood in complete darkness. It was so dark that the floor could hardly be told apart from the walls. If there even were walls. The space seemingly went on forever. 

Looking up, there was something other than darkness. A weak twinkle of a star, shining like a prism.

"Welcome to the Innermost Light." 

A soft and well spoken female voice hummed inside his head.

He could tell without searching that this was part of his Variant. While everything felt so strange, it also felt familiar. Like he was home.

"Collect the Lux and illuminate a path to power."

Van listened to the voice and held open his hands. The tiny twinkling star floated softly into his palms.

"There are currently 4 paths available."

Thin beams of white light shot in the directions of north, east, west and south. Van stood perfectly in the middle.

He stared deeply into each direction and was given a brief description of where the path led by the voice.

To the north, "Absorb Light. Glow like a roaring flame and charge your body with empowering light.

To the east, "Reflect Light. Brighten like the hardest stone and guard yourself with protective light."

To the west, "Refract Light. Glimmer like the calmest waters and shroud yourself in mysterious light."

To the south, "Emit Light. Shine like the morning star and call forth destructive light."

The notice said this place was an ability tree.

"Show me where all the paths end." He commanded.

"That is beyond your power. And I cannot do what is beyond your own capabilities." The voice reasoned.

"Please, show me as far as I can see right now."

Van felt himself lift into the air. The darkness around him shifted and pulled away. The once bright beams that illuminated the 4 pathways had become a small cross floating in his face. At the ends were diamond shaped icons. Within them were named abilities, but they were too dark to make out. All except one. 

[ Charge (lvl1) Channel light into hands and strike with elemental damage. Spend additional EP to increase damage. Active. Cost: 20 EP ]

Unlock: 1 Lux

Requirements: Force (¾) or above, Melee (¾) or above.

Would you like to learn this ability?

[YES/NO]

Van pressed yes.

"There is no more Lux available. You may return to reality or remain in the Innermost Light to meditate and absorb your accumulated ectoplasm."

[STAY/LEAVE]

Van's finger floated over the Leave option.

Wait. What?

"You currently have 47,232 units of ectoplasm to convert into 290 EP. Conversion will take 24H10M1S."

["Would you like to begin conversion?"]

[YES/NO]

Finally! A way to increase my EP!

Van had painful flashbacks of his struggles of limited use of the scan skill. 

He smashed in yes at least 10 times.

[NOTICE]

[You are unable to move during conversion.]

"Once you begin conversion, you will be in catatonic state, unable to move like a statue. Even if you take damage you will not awaken until conversion is complete."

The voice was stern as she issued a final warning.

["Would you like to begin conversion?"]

[YES/NO]

This time he pondered for a moment. As of now he had no idea how long he would be in holding. Violet had enough power for a few more days. Worse case scenario, he would scare a few people in his human statue state. But he couldn't imagine any danger while locked up alone in a cell.

Van tapped yes.

At first nothing happened, but a sudden burst of light sent him flying back to the crossroads of the light paths. The darkness wavered, slowly flowing and swirling around.

This continued for 2 hours. Van was insanely bored. It was times like these where we wished he still had a smartphone or portable gaming system.

Although it probably couldn't compare to becoming an actual game character.

Van sat in the center of the vortex and watched the darkness whirl endlessly. Looking into the black waves, he could faintly make out shapes.

After hours of staring into vortex glimpses of the foes he defeated and the trails he endured flashed by. It was like watching a black and white movie of his life.

[NOTICE]

[You have received damage.]

Van jumped to his feet.

What! What's going on out there?

[NOTICE]

[You are unable to move during conversion.]

Damn it! I'm stuck like this.

[NOTICE]

[You have received damage.]

How much damage!? Status!

[STATUS

HP 341/520

SP 610/650

EP 10/160

How much longer will this take?

"You have 12H4M53S remaining."

Just halfway, and a little over half of my HP left. I just have to hope that I survive long enough.

[NOTICE]

[You have received damage.]

Damn!

All attempts to remain calm failed. Van was now in full panic mode as he paced around the inside of the vortex.

Hey, is there any way to speed this up? Can I use a skill or SP? 

"Innermost Light is the result of using the hidden meditation ability within the system ability. This ability must be leveled up individually like all abilities, similar to how skills have 4 proficiency levels, in order to improve."

Right, and I've been using the meditation ability for 12 hours now, hasn't it improved yet?

"Only skills can be improved by usage. Variant abilities are improved from applying Lux . A combination of unique experiences, overcoming trials, and mastering skills allow you to earn Lux."

Van was growing impatient.

"At meditation level 1, the current conversion rate is 5 minutes to 1 EP."

And there's no way to improve it?

"Well, there is one way."

Please! Spit it out!

"By now you have noticed that the vortex contains the ectoplasm that you have absorbed and stored. This ectoplasm has taken a form from remnants of its original sources and is being broken down and converted. If you can speed up the breakdown process, it will increase the conversion rate."

How do I do that?

"Defeat the shade that has taken form within the vortex. But be warned. Any damage you take here may be psychological but will drain your HP."

So if I do nothing I will die, and if I fight I might die.

Van took a ready stance. The black whirlwind increased its rotation speed and began to darken in a single spot. Next, all the darkness combined, leaving him inside a colorless wind tunnel with no way to escape.

The darkness fell with a heavy plop and began to mold like clay. Rising from the floor a head and arm took shape.

In moments a sleek black form had taken a fighting stance opposite of Van.

It's hair was like smoke flowing from its head. It's skin was a starless sky. The shapes of clothing appeared in a slate gray tone. Something about it's face was familiar. Van knew that it was made from all the foes he had beaten before, but there was something more deeply familiar than that in its face.

"It's like looking in a mirror, ain't it?." the shadow figure grunted. It's voice was like the echo of many voices overlapping.

Van reeled in pain as a fist dug into his stomach. In a smoky haze, the shade had closed the gap between them. Van dropped to his knees, ill prepared for the battle he asked for.

"Your me, and I'm you plus all the enemies you've defeated so far. I am the doubt in your mind and the fear in your heart. I am your Shadow."

Shadow stood over Van triumphantly.

"You don't stand a chance."