The training room didn't look like what Kai expected.
No weapons.
No machines.
Just an empty, wide space surrounded by reinforced walls, faint lines of energy running through them like veins.
"…this is it?" Kai asked.
Riven stepped inside first.
"…this is where you either improve…"
A pause.
"…or break properly."
Kai sighed.
"…you really like saying that."
"…because it keeps happening."
Kai stepped in.
The moment he did—
He felt it.
A shift.
The air grew heavier.
Like the room itself was reacting to him.
"…what is this…?" he asked.
"…suppression field," Riven replied.
"…it stabilizes Echo output."
Kai frowned.
"…so it weakens me?"
"…it controls you," Riven corrected.
Kai rolled his shoulders slightly.
"…same thing."
Riven didn't respond.
Instead—
"…show me your Echo."
Kai hesitated.
"…you mean just… use it?"
"…yes."
Kai exhaled slowly.
"…fine…"
He closed his eyes.
Focused.
The memory surfaced instantly.
Lina's voice.
Her smile.
Her death.
His chest tightened.
"…I don't like this…"
"…good," Riven said.
"…that means it's working."
Kai clenched his fists.
The pressure built.
Slowly.
Then—
The air around him bent.
Light distorted slightly.
"…there…" Kai whispered.
Riven watched carefully.
"…don't let it spike."
Kai nodded.
But it was harder than it sounded.
The moment he let the memory deepen—
The pressure surged.
The distortion increased.
"…too much—!"
The room reacted instantly.
The glowing lines on the walls brightened.
The pressure forced his Echo down.
Kai staggered.
"…gh—!"
"…again," Riven said.
Kai looked up.
"…seriously?"
"…again."
Kai gritted his teeth.
"…fine…"
He tried again.
Slower this time.
More controlled.
Not diving into the pain—
Just touching it.
The Echo responded.
Softer.
Stable.
"…better," Riven said.
Kai breathed out slowly.
"…so I just… balance it?"
"…you learn to exist with it," Riven replied.
A pause.
"…not fight it."
Kai frowned.
"…that sounds complicated."
"…it is."
Silence filled the room again.
Kai looked down at his hands.
"…what if I lose control again?"
Riven didn't hesitate.
"…then I stop you."
Kai looked up.
"…like before?"
"…harder."
Kai let out a small breath.
"…good to know."
Riven turned slightly.
"…we're not done."
Kai blinked.
"…there's more?"
"…you've only learned not to die immediately."
Kai groaned.
"…great…"
Riven stepped back.
"…now fight."
Kai froze.
"…what?"
Riven's eyes glowed faintly.
"…use your Echo."
"…and survive."
The pressure in the room shifted.
Sharper.
More intense.
Kai's heart started racing.
"…you're serious…"
"…always."
Riven moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
Kai barely reacted—