Kai walked through the forest like a king.
His dark armor shone with purple light. Shadows followed him like loyal dogs.
Every few minutes, another shadow beast returned with something new.
A dying wild dog.
A wounded hunter hiding in bushes.
A small piece of Veil crystal on the ground.
Kai touched them all without stopping.
**[New Echo Absorbed!]**
**Name: Wild Hunter**
**Skills: Beast tracking, claw strike**
**[Echo Fragment Absorbed!]**
**Skill: Pain resistance**
**[Veil Fragment Absorbed]**
**Bonus: +10% shadow strength**
**Active Echoes: 19/10 (Extreme Overflow)**
Power kept rushing into him. His claws grew longer. His steps became quieter and faster.
The king voice spoke proudly. "More. Bring me more."
Inside, the real Kai was almost gone. His voice was very weak now.
"Stop… please… I don't want this…"
But the king laughed. "You have no choice anymore."
Mira and Lira were still running ahead.
Mira was breathing hard. She kept making new cards from the smoke of destroyed shadow beasts.
"Shadow Chain Card!"
"Claw Strike Card!"
She threw them behind her. The cards exploded and slowed down some of the pursuing beasts.
Lira's silver threads were getting thinner. She was tired.
"We are almost at the camp. Just a little more!"
But the shadow beasts were getting closer.
One beast jumped out in front of them.
Mira touched its body before it fully disappeared and quickly made a new card.
"Beast Roar Card!"
She threw it. A loud roar exploded and pushed the beast back.
"Keep collecting, Mira!" Lira said. "It might help us."
Back with Kai, two more shadow beasts returned at the same time.
One had a dying forest spirit.
The other had pieces from a killed Echo Hunter captain.
Kai touched both.
**[New Echo Absorbed!]**
**Name: Forest Spirit**
**Skills: Nature sense, plant control**
**[Echo Fragment Absorbed!]**
**Skill: Captain's Command (better control over minions)**
**Active Echoes: 21/10 (Massive Overflow)**
Kai's body glowed. Small black vines grew on his armor for a second, then disappeared. He could now feel every plant and animal around him.
The king smiled. "We are becoming a true ruler."
The real Kai tried one last time. His voice broke through weakly.
"Lira… Mira… I'm sorry… too many Echoes… I'm disappearing…"
The king pushed him down again. "Quiet, boy. Your time is over."
Mira heard the weak voice and stopped for a second.
"Kai! Fight it! We are almost there!"
Lira pulled her again. "Don't stop! He is holding on for us!"
More shadow beasts came back to Kai.
He touched them quickly.
**[Echo Absorbed!]**
**Name: Vine Binder**
**Skills: Vine trap, slow enemy**
**[Echo Fragment Absorbed!]**
**Skill: Minion Boost**
**Active Echoes: 23/10**
Kai felt another big surge. He could now create vines from shadows to trap people.
He was collecting so fast that new skills appeared every few minutes.
The king spoke with growing excitement. "Soon we will be strong enough to face the other gods."
Mira made another card from a destroyed beast.
"Vine Trap Card!"
She threw it. Black vines exploded from the ground and trapped two shadow beasts.
Lira used her last strength to send a big wave of silver threads. They cut through three more beasts.
But they were both very tired.
The camp was still far.
Kai — the Shadow King — was getting closer with every new Echo he collected.
Another shadow beast returned.
Kai touched it.
**[New Echo Absorbed!]**
**Name: Dark Caller**
**Skills: Summon more shadows**
**Active Echoes: 24/10**
Now even more shadow beasts appeared around him.
The king laughed loudly. "Perfect."
Inside, the real Kai was almost silent.
Only a tiny whisper remained.
"…help…"
Mira looked back one last time.
She saw Kai's glowing purple eyes and the growing army of shadows behind him.
"Kai… please come back," she whispered.
Lira pulled her forward. "We have to reach the camp. It is our only hope."
The forest seemed darker.
The purple cracks in the sky glowed brighter.
A huge Veil Quake was coming very soon.
And Kai was collecting Echoes faster than ever.