Kai couldn't keep up.
Even with the Echo guiding him—
It wasn't enough.
The Devourer was faster.
Stronger.
Relentless.
Another hit landed.
Kai was thrown across the street, his body crashing hard against the broken pavement. The impact knocked the air out of him, leaving him gasping.
"…I can't… win…"
His arms trembled as he tried to push himself up.
They barely responded.
The Devourer didn't rush this time.
It walked.
Slowly.
Calmly.
Like it already knew how this would end.
"…you're close…" it whispered.
"…I can feel it…"
Kai's breath shook.
"…feel what…?"
The creature stopped in front of him.
Its hollow eyes stared straight through him.
"…your Echo…"
"…it's breaking…"
Kai froze.
"…what happens… if it breaks…?"
Silence.
For a moment—
Even the creature didn't answer.
Then Riven's voice came from behind.
"…you lose yourself."
Kai's chest tightened.
"…what…?"
The Devourer crouched slightly, bringing itself closer to him.
"…we were all like you once…"
Kai's eyes widened.
"…what do you mean…?"
"…we awakened…"
"…just like you…"
Its voice twisted unnaturally.
"…but we couldn't hold on…"
The floating fragments around it pulsed faintly.
"…so we consumed…"
Kai shook his head slowly.
"…no…"
"…until there was nothing left…"
The creature raised its hand.
"…and now…"
It reached toward him.
"…you're next…"
Kai tried to move.
His body refused.
Too tired.
Too broken.
Too late.
The Devourer's hand pressed against his chest.
"…your Echo…"
"…give it to me…"
Pain exploded through him.
Not physical.
Something deeper.
Something tearing through everything he was.
"…AAAH—!"
Memories surged violently.
Lina's smile.
Her voice.
Her death.
Over and over.
Again and again.
Each one sharper than the last.
Each one breaking him further.
"…stop… please—!"
But it didn't stop.
It got worse.
Fragments of memory began to crack.
Like glass under pressure.
"…I can't… hold it…"
His voice trembled.
His mind blurred.
His thoughts scattered.
"…good…" the Devourer whispered.
"…that's it…"
"…break…"
Kai's hands clenched against the ground.
"…no…"
The pressure increased.
"…I won't… lose it…"
But his voice was weaker now.
Unstable.
"…you already are…"
The creature leaned closer.
"…just let go…"
Everything inside him started to fall apart.
The memories.
The emotions.
The pain.
All of it collapsing at once.
For a moment—
There was nothing.
No sound.
No movement.
No thought.
Just—
Silence.
And then—
Something snapped.