The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 202: Ch : A familiar sight- Part 1

Selene knew she wouldn’t be able to talk to Nora directly, so she decided to send her a message instead.

[Be careful. Also, take protection against mind-control magic.]

She sent the message and hoped Nora would take her words seriously. Something about this situation didn’t feel right.

Turning back to her group, she asked.

"Is everyone ready?"

The group members nodded.

They were all prepared to enter the B-class dungeon. But even as they stood there, waiting, Selene felt uneasy. Her instincts screamed at her that something was wrong.

Without thinking, she reached out and grabbed Ethan’s sleeve. He looked down at her hand and smirked, clearly pleased.

"Don’t worry. I was born ready. We all will be just fine once we enter."

He said confidently.

Selene sighed and let go.

’I know that Ethan is confident and it’s a good thing. But I still feel a little bit uneasy about this. I hope this feeling turns out to be nothing.’

She wasn’t sure if she was just being paranoid, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of impending danger.

Then, together with the 99 other awakeners, she stepped forward into the dungeon.

The first B-class trial and dungeon awaited them and only Selene had any idea what would happen once they entered.

______

The moment Selene opened her eyes, she realized something was off.

She wasn’t standing in the dungeon.

Instead, she was seated at a massive dining table, one she hadn’t seen in years. It was the same one her family used to gather around.

Her breath caught in her throat.

’I knew this would happen, but it still feels weird to be in the illusion. I feel like I would suffocate if I tried anything funny.’

She looked around carefully.

At first glance, everything seemed normal—too normal.

The chairs, the tableware, even the warm candlelight all looked the same as they had in the past. But something was wrong.

There were no small imperfections, no tiny details that made a place real. The wood of the table had no scratches. The plates had no stains. The food was too perfect.

This wasn’t real.

Selene’s heart pounded as she finally understood—this was an illusion.

She sat still, her fingers gripping the edge of the chair. Across from her, shadowy figures sat down at the table. Their outlines flickered like candle flames.

Her parents.

A chill ran down her spine.

Even though they were nothing more than shadows, Selene felt paralyzed. The presence of these figures made her chest feel tight, made it hard to breathe.

Her father’s shadow turned toward her.

"When will you stop being a disappointment?"

He asked, his voice low and sharp.

Selene flinched.

The words cut deep, but something inside her snapped.

Before she even realized it, her body moved on its own. Her hand grabbed a knife from the table, and she threw it at the shadow in front of her.

The blade struck its target.

For a moment, the shadow fizzled, distorting as if it were made of smoke.

But within seconds, it reformed, completely unscathed.

Selene gritted her teeth.

A beep sounded in her mind.

[Warning: You are becoming too emotionally invested.]

Selene’s eyes widened. It was the system’s voice.

This was new.

The system had never interfered in her emotions before. It had never warned her like this.

But this time, it had stepped in.

She took a slow breath. She didn’t know why, but she was thankful. The system’s words had given her enough clarity to see through this illusion completely.

She activated her Insight ability.

Instantly, the illusion shifted.

The shadowy figures became more distorted, their forms wavering like a glitching image. The entire room around her started losing its false sense of reality.

None of this was real.

She exhaled in relief.

The shadows of her parents continued speaking, their voices blending into a chorus of disapproval.

"You were never meant to be here."

"You are weak."

"You should have just disappeared."

Selene closed her eyes for a brief moment.

Then, when she opened them again, she was ready.

She wouldn’t fall for this.

She wouldn’t let a mere illusion trap her.

Selene tightened her fists.

"Enough!"

She muttered.

The illusion did not listen.

The shadows only leaned closer, their whispers growing louder.

The dining room seemed to stretch, twisting like a nightmare. The walls darkened, and a heavy pressure settled over her shoulders.

But Selene was no longer afraid.

She raised her hand, feeling the familiar warmth of her energy surging through her veins. If this place was trying to break her, she would break it first.

Gathering her power, she took a deep breath and unleashed a burst of energy.

A sharp wind cut through the illusion like a blade.

The room cracked.

The shadowy figures flickered violently, their forms breaking apart. frёewebnoѵēl.com

The dining table shattered into nothingness.

The shadow reached for Selene again. Its dark hand stretched toward her, and for a moment, she almost flinched.

But she forced herself to stay calm. She had a way to fight back.

She remembered that she could link her Amplify skill to someone else and borrow their power. Without hesitation, she chose Nora.

Heat surged through her body as she activated a weakened version of Nora’s fire. A warm glow flickered around her, and the sudden burst of warmth made the shadow retreat.

Selene could feel its hesitation. The dark figure—her father’s shadow—seemed surprised. Its empty, hollow eyes locked onto her, as if trying to understand how she had broken free.

But Selene did not stop.

She pushed more power outward, sending waves of heat and light into the darkness. The flames crackled softly, but their presence was enough. The shadow hissed, recoiling further and further.

And then—it shattered.

The illusion broke apart like fragile glass. The oppressive darkness vanished, leaving behind an eerie silence.

Selene let out a slow breath. Her heart was still pounding, but she felt stronger. This time, she had won.

She stood alone in the room...for now.