The attack landed.
Kai felt it instantly.
Not on his body—
But deeper.
Like something inside him had been struck directly.
"…what…?"
The Devourer's hand pressed firmly against his chest.
"…found it…"
Kai froze.
His body refused to respond.
His mind went blank.
"…your Echo…"
"…it's right here…"
A heavy pressure spread through him.
Not sharp.
Not sudden.
But overwhelming.
Like being crushed from the inside.
"…stop…"
His voice barely came out.
Then—
It began.
Memories.
Flooding.
Breaking through all at once.
Lina's laughter.
Her voice calling his name.
The countless times she died.
The countless times he failed.
Again.
And again.
And again.
"Kai…"
"…STOP!"
The pressure exploded outward.
Kai was thrown back violently, crashing into the ground and rolling across broken concrete.
He gasped, clutching his chest.
"…what was that…?"
Riven's voice came from nearby.
"…it touched your core…"
Kai struggled to breathe.
"…my… what…?"
"…your Echo."
The Devourer stepped forward slowly.
"…delicious…"
"…so much pain…"
Kai forced himself up.
His legs shook, but he stood.
"…why does it hurt like that…?"
Riven didn't hesitate this time.
"…because that's what your power is made of."
A pause.
"…pain."
"…memory."
"…loss."
Kai's chest tightened.
"…that's not a power…"
"…it is now."
The Devourer lunged again.
Kai reacted.
Barely.
He dodged.
But not cleanly.
"…good," Riven muttered.
"…but not enough."
The creature attacked again.
And again.
And again.
Each strike faster than the last.
Each movement more aggressive.
Kai struggled to keep up.
Every dodge pushed him further.
Closer to his limit.
"…I can't keep this up…"
"…then don't," Riven said.
Kai froze for a split second.
"…what?"
"…stop reacting…"
A pause.
"…start controlling it."
The words hit harder than anything else.
Control it?
How?
The Devourer charged again.
Kai closed his eyes for just a moment.
"…feel it…"
The pressure returned.
The memories.
The pain.
The weight of everything he had been through.
This time—
He didn't fight it.
He didn't try to push it away.
He let it in.
All of it.
His eyes snapped open.
Everything changed.
The world sharpened.
The Devourer slowed—
Not completely.
But enough.
"…I see it…"
The attack came.
Kai stepped aside.
Clean.
Precise.
Perfect.
For the first time—
He didn't struggle.
The Devourer stopped.
Its head tilted.
"…interesting…"
Kai took a steady breath.
"…I'm not running anymore…"
The creature smiled wider.
"…good…"
"…then break properly…"
It rushed forward again—
Faster than ever—