The space cracked open again
But this time it didn't lead to the sky or another realm
It folded inward
Into Azel's own echo
The Sovereign Core spun with violent rhythm
Azel stepped into the fracture
The others stayed back
This was personal
As he entered the echo field everything around him warped into memory
Fields of war
Temples burning
Snow falling on shattered thrones
The divine sword floated at the center waiting
Not a weapon
A soul wearing weapon form
Azel stood face to face with the past
The sword's voice came from every corner of the echo
Do you remember what you said before you cut me down
Azel walked slowly through the field
I said you weren't ready
The air shattered like glass
A storm of glowing runes surged toward him
Each rune was a memory of their battles together
Training
Laughing
Bleeding side by side
He deflected each one
Not with his sword
With his will
The divine sword screamed
You stole everything from me
Your name your power your destiny
I was supposed to be the one
Azel reached the center
His aura sharp now
Quiet fury
You were
But you let the system write your future
I broke mine
The sword spun faster
Then it split
Becoming dozens of blades
Each one representing a fragment of that soul's desire
Power
Validation
Revenge
Azel raised his sword
Not to attack
To absorb
Each strike he blocked added to his blade
The Sovereign Core synced deeper
Until his sword wasn't a weapon anymore
It was a message
He slashed once
And the entire echo froze
The field cracked
A storm of divine memory bled into the real world
Outside Echo and the others watched as the chamber trembled
The fight inside wasn't physical
It was legacy versus obsession
Inside Azel whispered one final truth
You weren't supposed to follow me
You were supposed to surpass me
The divine sword paused midstrike
Its form wavered
Then fractured
Pieces fell like feathers of glass
The soul inside whispered
I wanted to be you
Azel caught the final piece
And sealed it inside his own echo
Not to destroy
To remember
The echo field collapsed
He stepped out
Blade glowing brighter than ever
Not heavier
Calmer
The others looked at him
But Azel didn't speak
He simply nodded once
And the Sovereign Core glowed in silent approval