Kai didn't turn fast enough.
He felt it before he saw it.
A presence behind him. Cold. Heavy. Wrong.
Then—
Impact.
The Devourer's hand slammed into his back, sending him crashing forward across the broken pavement. His body skidded, scraping against debris before coming to a stop.
Pain exploded through him.
"…gh—!"
He forced himself to move, pushing up with shaking arms.
Too slow.
The Devourer was already there.
It grabbed him again—this time by the throat.
"…weak…" it whispered.
"…but full…"
Kai choked, clawing at its wrist.
"…let—go—!"
It didn't budge.
Its strength wasn't human.
Not even close.
"…your Echo…" it continued softly.
"…it's overflowing…"
Kai's vision blurred.
Darkness crept in at the edges.
For a moment—
He saw her.
Lina.
Standing in front of him.
Reaching out.
"Kai…"
His breath hitched.
"…Lina…?"
The Devourer's grip tightened.
"…yes…"
"…that memory…"
"…give it to me…"
Kai struggled harder.
His body shaking.
His lungs burning.
He couldn't breathe.
Couldn't think.
Everything started to fade.
Then—
A flash of blue.
Riven appeared beside them, his hand already glowing faintly.
He struck the Devourer's arm.
A pulse of energy burst outward, forcing the creature back and releasing Kai instantly.
Kai dropped hard to the ground, coughing violently as air rushed back into his lungs.
"…cough—!"
"Get up," Riven said.
Kai pushed himself up, barely steady on his feet.
"…I can't keep up…"
"…then die," Riven replied coldly.
Kai clenched his fists.
Anger flared.
"…I'm not dying here…"
The Devourer stepped forward again.
Slowly.
Smiling.
"…good…"
"…struggle more…"
"…it makes the Echo richer…"
Kai's heart pounded.
That feeling returned.
The pressure.
The pull.
The memory.
"…focus…" he whispered to himself.
The Devourer lunged.
Kai watched.
Really watched.
The movement.
The angle.
The timing.
Something clicked.
He moved.
The attack missed.
Barely.
But it missed.
"…again…" Kai muttered.
The creature paused.
"…you're learning…"
Its smile widened.
"…I like that…"
It attacked again.
Faster.
Kai moved again.
Not clean.
Not perfect.
But enough.
Each movement felt guided.
Like he had already lived this moment.
Like he remembered it.
"…this is it…" he whispered.
Riven watched silently.
"…so that's your Echo…"
The Devourer growled.
"…then I'll break it…"
It rushed forward
Faster than before.
Kai's body hesitated.
Just for a moment.
And that was enough.
The creature's hand shot forward
Straight toward his chest