The rooftop crackled with tension. Blue and amber light collided in sharp arcs, illuminating the city below like lightning over a neon storm.
Soren's eyes glowed brighter, amber streaks slashing through the darkness. "You rely too much on raw force," they said, voice smooth, confident. "Control comes from precision, not power."
I gritted my teeth. The shadow floated beside me. "Listen carefully, Aren. You have raw energy, but you must shape it. Think of Echo like water. It can crash, flow, or hide. Force alone will break you."
I clenched my fists, feeling the surge of Echo within. Fear, adrenaline, determination—all fused together into a blue storm.
"Alright," I muttered, focusing. "Control it… shape it… anticipate it."
Soren struck again, a jagged beam of amber Echo slicing toward me. Instead of meeting it with a blast, I imagined the energy flowing around it like a river splitting around a rock.
The amber beam bent slightly, then dissipated harmlessly against the rooftop.
Soren blinked. "Interesting… clever."
I exhaled, feeling the first real sense of control. The shadow's voice whispered approvingly. "Good. Now push further. Don't just defend. Learn to shape the Echo into tools, not weapons."
I concentrated. With a flick of my wrist, I shaped a thin ribbon of blue Echo. It wrapped around the rooftop edge like a whip, then shot toward Soren—not to strike, but to probe, to anticipate their movements.
Soren jumped back, surprised. "Huh. You're learning faster than I expected."
I felt a thrill. Not fear. Not panic. Excitement.
Mira cheered softly. "Go, Aren!"
Soren smirked under their hood. "Alright then… let's raise the stakes."
Amber Echo surged in multiple streams, forming jagged shards flying toward me. I shaped my Echo into a spinning shield, twisting it to deflect each shard with precision. The rooftop shook as the two forces collided. Sparks flew, illuminating the city like a miniature storm.
"Remember," the shadow urged, "Echo responds to intent. Your focus shapes reality. Fear and hesitation weaken your control."
I focused even harder, pushing the fear down and letting determination guide me. The shield solidified, expanding, and I released a controlled burst that pushed Soren back a few steps.
Soren landed gracefully, impressed. "Not bad, Aren Hale. Not bad at all."
I lowered my hands, chest heaving, sweat dripping. "That's… it?"
Soren shook their head. "No. That's just the start. You've learned to manipulate Echo under pressure. But power, strategy, and timing… those are your next lessons. And the next Collector won't give you a warning."
The shadow floated closer. "You've taken the first real step. But understand this: mastery requires risk. Every release of Echo has consequences—physical, mental, and… sometimes spiritual."
I looked at Mira, then back at Soren. The fight had ended, but the lessons were far from over.
Mira's hand found mine. "You did amazing. I've never seen you like this."
I nodded. A strange mixture of pride and anticipation surged within me.
This rooftop was just the beginning. The city below hid countless Remnants, rogue Echo-Readers, and Collectors waiting for a misstep.
And I was ready to face them all.
Because I wasn't just learning to survive.
I was learning to fight, to control, and to become something the Collectors would fear.
The battle was over—for now.
But the war had only just begun.