The forest no longer felt like something meant for the living.
The air had changed again.
Thicker.
Heavier.
But not just with pressure—
With presence.
Kael walked in silence.
Each step measured.
Controlled.
Beside him, the girl moved just as calmly.
Effortless.
As if this place… meant nothing to her.
"…You've been here before," Kael said suddenly.
She didn't look at him.
"…What makes you think that?"
"…You're not reacting to anything."
A pause.
"…And you know where you're going."
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then—
"…You're more observant now."
Kael didn't respond.
"…Yes," she admitted.
"…I've been here before."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…What is this place?"
She slowed her steps.
Just slightly.
"…A graveyard."
Kael frowned.
"…For what?"
She stopped.
Then turned.
Her crimson eyes met his.
"…For those who tried to become something more."
A chill ran down his spine.
"…Like me."
She didn't answer.
But she didn't need to.
Kael exhaled slowly.
"…So everyone who comes here…"
"…Doesn't leave," she finished.
Silence.
Kael's lips curled faintly.
"…Good."
She raised a brow.
"…You're not even going to pretend to be concerned?"
"…Should I?"
"…Most people would."
Kael looked ahead.
"…Most people don't come back from the future."
That shut the conversation down.
They continued walking.
The deeper they went—
The more the environment changed.
The trees began to thin.
The ground flattened.
Until—
They reached it.
An open field.
Wide.
Silent.
Too clean.
Kael stopped.
"…This place…"
There were no monsters.
No sounds.
Nothing.
"…It's empty."
"…No," she said quietly.
"…It's waiting."
Kael's grip tightened slightly.
"…For what?"
She looked at him.
"…For you."
The moment the words left her mouth—
The ground trembled.
Kael's eyes snapped downward.
Cracks spread across the earth.
Then—
Light.
Faint.
But growing.
"…Here we go…"
From beneath the ground—
Something began to rise.
Not like before.
Not chaotic.
Controlled.
A figure.
Humanoid.
Its body formed from pure energy.
Smooth.
Perfect.
No distortion.
No instability.
"…What is that…"
The girl's voice dropped slightly.
"…An Echo."
"…Of what?"
Her gaze didn't leave the figure.
"…Of you."
Silence.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"…Don't joke."
"…I'm not."
The figure stepped forward.
And then—
It opened its eyes.
Identical.
Same shape.
Same presence.
Same… core.
Kael's breath slowed.
"…You're serious."
"…It's a reflection," she said.
"…A manifestation of your current state."
The Echo tilted its head slightly.
Then—
It spoke.
"…Incomplete."
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"…You talk."
"…So do you."
Its voice was calm.
Flat.
"…You're weak."
Kael smiled faintly.
"…I've heard that before."
The Echo stepped forward.
"…You've gained power."
Another step.
"…But you've lost something."
Kael's smile faded slightly.
"…Say what you want to say."
The Echo stopped.
"…You don't remember her."
Everything froze.
"…What?"
Kael's heart skipped.
"…Who?"
The Echo's gaze didn't change.
"…Exactly."
A sharp pain hit his head.
Fragments.
Broken.
Incomplete.
A voice.
A face.
A feeling.
Gone.
"…No…"
Kael staggered slightly.
"…That's…"
Wrong.
Something was wrong.
"…I remember everything…"
"…Do you?"
The Echo raised its hand.
A faint glow appeared.
And then—
An image.
A girl.
Smiling.
Warm.
Familiar.
But—
Kael couldn't see her face.
"…Who is that…"
His voice trembled.
"…You tell me."
The Echo stepped closer.
"…You traded her away."
"…No."
"…You're doing it again."
"…Stop."
"…You're forgetting her."
"…STOP!"
Kael's aura surged.
Violent.
Unstable.
"…You don't get to say that."
The Echo's expression didn't change.
"…Then remember."
Kael froze.
Silence.
He tried.
Forced his mind to search.
For her name.
Her face.
Anything.
But—
Nothing came.
Only emptiness.
"…I…"
His hands trembled.
"…I can't…"
The Echo watched him quietly.
"…That's the cost."
"…That's what you've chosen."
Kael's breathing became uneven.
"…No…"
"…You wanted power."
"…STOP—!"
Kael moved.
In an instant.
His sword cut through the air—
Aimed straight at the Echo.
But—
Clang!
The Echo blocked it.
With ease.
"…You're angry."
"…I'll kill you."
"…You can't even remember what you're fighting for."
Kael's eyes burned.
"…I remember enough."
"…Do you?"
The Echo pushed him back.
Effortlessly.
"…You're losing yourself."
"…I said—SHUT UP!"
Kael charged again.
Faster.
Stronger.
But the Echo matched him.
Perfectly.
Every move.
Every strike.
Like fighting a mirror.
"…This is pointless…"
Kael gritted his teeth.
"…Then I'll break the mirror."
He activated it.
[Devour Activated]
Energy surged.
The Echo paused.
"…You'd even consume yourself."
"…If that's what it takes."
The connection formed.
But this time—
Something was different.
The resistance—
Was stronger.
Far stronger.
"…Because I'm you."
Pain exploded.
Kael's body trembled.
But he didn't stop.
"…Then I'll take it all."
The Echo's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Then come."
The battlefield shook.
Two identical forces—
Clashing.
Consuming.
Destroying.
And in the distance—
The girl watched.
Silent.
"…Now you see it…"
Her voice barely a whisper.
"…The price of becoming strong."
The clash intensified.
And Kael—
Was right in the middle of it.
Fighting not just for power—
But for what little of himself remained.
[To Be Continued…]