Something snapped.
Not slowly.
Not gently.
Violently.
"…ENOUGH!"
The air exploded.
A shockwave burst outward from Kai's body, tearing through the street. The ground cracked beneath him, debris lifting into the air as if gravity itself had lost its hold.
The Devourer was thrown back instantly, its body slamming hard into the remains of a collapsed building.
For a moment—
Everything went still.
Kai stood at the center of it all.
Breathing heavily.
But something was wrong.
His body felt lighter.
Unstable.
Like he was barely holding himself together.
"…I won't… lose it…"
His voice sounded off.
Layered.
Like more than one version of him was speaking at once.
The air around him bent.
Distorted.
Rippling like heat waves.
Riven stepped back slightly, his eyes narrowing.
"…he forced the break…"
Kai slowly raised his head.
His eyes glowed faintly.
Not bright.
Not controlled.
But dangerous.
The Devourer pushed itself up from the rubble.
For the first time—
It hesitated.
"…beautiful…" it whispered.
"…this is what I wanted…"
Kai didn't respond.
He just stared.
Cold.
Empty.
The creature rushed forward again.
Fast.
Faster than before.
But this time—
Kai didn't move.
He raised his hand slowly.
The world responded.
Not stopping.
Not freezing.
But bending.
The Devourer's movement slowed unnaturally, like it was being dragged through something invisible.
"…what is this…?!"
Its voice cracked for the first time.
Kai stepped forward.
Calm.
Unshaken.
"…you wanted my Echo…"
His voice echoed strangely.
"…so take it."
He grabbed the creature's arm.
The moment their skin touched—
Everything erupted.
Energy surged violently between them, distorting the air and cracking the ground beneath their feet.
The Devourer screamed.
A real scream.
Its body began to fracture, cracks spreading across its form like broken glass.
"…too much…!"
"…it's too much…!"
Kai's grip tightened.
"…you said you wanted it…"
The energy intensified.
The fragments of light around the creature shattered, scattering wildly.
"…then don't run."
The Devourer struggled.
Panicked.
For the first time—
It felt fear.
"…stop—!"
But Kai didn't stop.
Because he couldn't.
The power wasn't stable.
It wasn't controlled.
It was overflowing.
Breaking everything around him.
Riven's expression darkened.
"…this is bad…"
The ground beneath Kai's feet split further, cracks spreading outward like a web.
The air screamed.
Distortion thickened.
"…if he keeps going…"
Riven took a step forward.
"…he won't come back."
Kai's vision flickered.
For a moment—
He saw nothing.
Then—
Lina.
Standing in front of him again.
Smiling.
"…Kai…"
His grip loosened slightly.
"…Lina…?"
The Devourer took advantage.
It tore itself free, jumping back, its body barely holding together.
"…you're… breaking…" it whispered.
"…not just your Echo…"
"…you…"
Kai didn't respond.
His eyes flickered again.
The glow dimmed slightly.
The distortion weakened.
Riven moved instantly.
He struck Kai across the side of the head.
Hard.
The impact snapped him out of it.
Kai collapsed to one knee, gasping.
"…what… just happened…?"
The world settled.
The distortion faded.
The pressure disappeared.
Silence returned.
The Devourer stood at a distance.
Damaged.
Cracked.
But alive.
"…you're not ready…" it said quietly.
"…not yet…"
It stepped back.
Slowly.
Its body dissolving into fragments of light.
"…I'll come back for you…"
And then—
It was gone.
Just like that.
Kai stayed on his knees, breathing heavily.
His hands trembled.
"…I almost…"
Riven stood beside him.
"…lost yourself," he finished.
Kai looked down.
"…what was that…?"
Riven didn't hesitate.
"…that was an Echo Break."
Kai's chest tightened.
"…and if it happens again…?"
Riven's gaze darkened.
"…next time…"
A pause.
"…you won't come back."
Silence.
The wind moved through the broken street.
Cold.
Empty.
Kai slowly clenched his fists.
Not fear this time.
Something else.
Something darker.
"…then I'll learn to control it…"
Riven watched him carefully.
"…you'll have to."
A distant rumble echoed across the city.
Faint.
But real.
More were coming.
And this time—
Kai wouldn't be the same.