The explosion didn't stop.
It spread.
The training floor collapsed under the pressure of colliding forces as the Echo of Abyssal Sovereign Xal'thur released its power fully.
Reality bent.
Walls twisted.
The air itself screamed.
At the center of it all stood Kael Varyn, unmoving.
Beside him—Zarek Voidborn.
Behind them—the rest of the team.
The Echo stepped forward.
Slow.
Unhurried.
Certain.
"…Let's begin," it said.
Then it vanished.
Ragnar reacted first.
His instincts screamed.
"MOVE!"
Space collapsed where he had been standing a split second earlier.
The floor crumpled inward like crushed metal.
"…What the hell is this?!" Ragnar Kain growled.
Zarek stepped forward, eyes sharp.
"…It's manipulating space itself."
He raised his hand.
Void energy surged violently around him.
"…Then we erase it."
Null Domain — Partial Activation
The world flickered.
For a fraction of a second—
Everything paused.
Zarek moved within that pause.
A slash of pure void cut through the Echo—
And its arm vanished.
Gone.
Erased.
Everyone froze.
It worked.
For a moment.
The Echo looked down at the missing limb.
Silent.
Then—
"…Interesting."
Dark energy gathered.
Its arm reformed instantly.
Zarek's expression hardened.
"…Yeah… that's a problem."
The Echo pointed at him.
Space folded violently—
BOOM!
Zarek was slammed into the ground with crushing force, the impact cracking the entire floor.
He coughed blood.
"…Tch—!"
Kael moved.
In an instant, he was in front of the Echo.
His fist drove forward.
BOOOOOOM!
The impact shattered the structure around them.
The Echo was pushed back—
Sliding across the fractured ground.
But it didn't fall.
It smiled.
"…Better."
Kael said nothing.
His aura surged.
Crimson energy spilling outward.
"…Everyone fall back," he said quietly.
"No."
The response came immediately.
Darius Stone stepped forward, his body hardening into stone-like armor.
"…We fight together."
Lyra raised her hand.
Ice spread rapidly across the battlefield.
"…He's not wrong."
From the shadows, Eren Shade spoke.
"…It's adapting. We overwhelm it."
Selene's eyes narrowed.
"…There's a pattern."
Kael glanced back briefly.
Then nodded.
"…Fine."
If this thing wanted a test—
It would get one.
Darius charged first.
A roar tore from his throat as he slammed into the Echo with overwhelming force.
BOOM!
The Echo staggered slightly.
Lyra followed instantly.
Dozens of ice spears formed in mid-air—
SHATTER!
They rained down, piercing through the Echo's body and freezing parts of it in place.
Eren appeared behind it.
Silent.
Invisible.
A blade of shadow pierced through its core.
For a moment—
It stopped.
Selene moved.
Her fingers flicked forward—
Releasing a thin, nearly invisible mist.
"…Now," she said.
The toxin spread across the Echo's form.
Specialized.
Targeted.
The Echo's regeneration slowed.
"…What is this…?" it muttered.
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"…That's our opening."
He moved.
Faster than before.
Stronger.
Precise.
Each strike landed with devastating force.
BOOM!
CRACK!
THUD!
The Echo was driven backward.
Its form destabilizing.
For the first time—
It struggled.
"…You adapted," it said.
Kael didn't stop.
"…You're predictable."
The Echo's smile returned.
"…No."
Its aura exploded outward.
"…I was learning."
Everything changed.
The toxin burned away instantly.
The ice shattered.
The shadow blade dissolved.
Darius was thrown back violently.
Lyra collapsed under the pressure.
Eren was forced out of hiding—
Bleeding.
Zarek pushed himself up.
"…It just scaled again…"
The Echo vanished.
And reappeared—
Behind Selene.
Too fast.
Too sudden.
Kael's eyes widened.
"…MOVE!"
But it was too late.
The Echo's hand pierced through Selene's side.
CRACK.
Time froze.
Blood dripped slowly to the ground.
Selene's body trembled—
Then went still.
"…Weak," the Echo said.
Kael's aura exploded.
"…GET AWAY FROM HER!"
He appeared instantly—
And delivered a devastating strike.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The Echo was launched through multiple walls, disappearing into the depths of the structure.
Kael caught Selene before she fell.
"…Stay with me."
She coughed weakly, blood staining her lips.
"…Toxin… slowed it…"
Kael clenched his jaw.
"…Don't talk."
Zarek appeared beside him.
"…She's critical."
Kael's aura began to shift.
Not just power—
Intent.
Pure killing intent.
"…I'm ending this."
The rubble shifted.
The Echo stood again.
Damaged.
But smiling.
"…Yes…"
"…Now show me your true self."
Kael stood slowly.
His aura surged violently.
The ground beneath him shattered.
"…You wanted to test me?"
His eyes glowed intensely.
"…Then don't die too quickly."
The Echo laughed.
"…Good."
And then—
They vanished.
The battle exploded beyond the ruins of the headquarters—
Shaking all of Astra Prime.
High above—
The crack in the sky pulsed.
Growing.
Because something beyond—
Was watching.