Kai stood in the ring. The stone man was on the ground. The crowd cheered loud.
A blue screen appeared.
**[New Echo Found!]**
**Name: Stone Fist**
**Skills: Hard skin, strong punches, earth power**
**Personality: Tough and quiet**
**Will you take it? (Y/N)**
Kai chose Y fast.
Power rushed into his body. His skin felt harder. His punches became heavier. He felt like he could break rocks.
**[Echo Taken!]**
**Active Echoes: 5/10**
**New Skill: Stone Skin – Your body is now tougher.**
**Side Effect: You may talk less and act very tough.**
Kai smiled. But when he opened his mouth, his voice came out deep and slow. "Good fight… rock head."
The crowd laughed.
Mira jumped into the ring. "Five Echoes! You are super fast! I want cards from all of them!"
Lira walked closer. Her face looked serious. "Kai, stop. Five is enough for now. Your eyes are changing. You do not sound like you."
Kai tried to answer normal. But all five voices spoke at once.
Reginald (rich): "My dear lady, I am perfectly fine. One must collect what is due."
Jax (fighter): "Shut up! More fighting!"
Shadow: "Hehehe… let's hide and take more quietly."
Razor (mean): "Weak girl. Stop talking."
Stone Fist: "...Strong."
Kai held his head. "Ah! Too loud inside!"
He sounded like five people talking together. The crowd went quiet. Some people stepped back.
Brock, the big man with tattoos, laughed. "Kid, you are funny. But crazy. Want to fight one more? The winner gets a special prize — a real Veil shard."
Kai's body wanted to say yes. All his Echoes agreed for different reasons.
He nodded slowly. "Yes… I will fight."
Mira cheered. "Go Kai! Collect number six!"
Lira grabbed his arm. "This is dangerous. Your power is eating you. I can see the fate threads breaking."
But Kai felt strong. He did not listen.
The next opponent came in. He was tall and had fire around his hands. His name was Blaze.
"New kid with many voices," Blaze said with a smile. "I will burn all your Echoes."
The fight started.
Blaze threw fire balls fast.
Kai used shadow step to dodge. He moved like smoke. Then he punched with stone skin. His fist hit Blaze's shoulder. The fire man flew back.
But Blaze got up and burned hotter. "Not bad!"
Kai's voices mixed again. "You call that fire? Pathetic!" (Reginald + Razor)
Then, "Hit him harder!" (Jax)
He ran in and used knife sense to cut the air with his hand like a blade. Fire and stone hit together. Smoke filled the ring.
The crowd shouted loud.
Kai felt tired but happy. He was learning to mix his powers. Shadow step + stone punch + quick cut made a strong combo.
Blaze sent a big fire wave.
Kai used dark sight to see through the fire. He stepped close and punched Blaze in the chest with all his strength.
Blaze fell down. He did not get up.
The crowd went wild.
Brock raised Kai's hand. "Winner again! The funny voice kid!"
Kai breathed hard. A blue screen appeared.
**[New Echo Found!]**
**Name: Blaze Fire**
**Skills: Fire control, heat resistance**
**Personality: Hot temper**
**Will you take it? (Y/N)**
Kai's hand moved by itself. He chose Y.
Fire power filled him. His eyes glowed a little red.
**[Echo Taken!]**
**Active Echoes: 6/10**
**New Skill: Fire punch – Your hits can now burn.**
**Side Effect: You get angry faster.**
Kai laughed loud. But his laugh sounded crazy — rich, fighter, sneaky, mean, tough, and now angry all at once.
"More!" he shouted. "I want more Echoes!"
Mira clapped. "Yes! Six already!"
Lira looked sad. "Kai… you are changing too fast. Come with me. We need to talk."
But Kai felt the fire inside. He wanted to fight again. He wanted to steal again.
Brock smiled big. "You are good for business, kid. Many people want to fight you now."
Kai looked at the crowd. Many fighters watched him with greedy eyes.
His radar pinged again and again. So many hurt people. So many Echoes ready.
He grinned with six voices in his head.
"This place is perfect."
But deep down, a small part of the old Kai whispered: *Stop. You are losing yourself.*
He pushed that voice away.
For now, he only wanted to get stronger.