Kai stood in the small fighting ring under the ground. The crowd cheered loud. Lights were bright on the ring but dark everywhere else.
The big man with tattoos pointed at the other side. "Your opponent is Razor. He just awakened too. Winner takes the loser's Echo rights."
A thin man with sharp knives walked in. He smiled mean. "New kid? I will cut you fast."
Kai felt his three Echoes mix inside him. Reginald wanted to talk fancy. Jax wanted to punch. The shadow side wanted to hide and surprise.
He grinned. "Bring it, low-life."
The words came out half fancy, half fighter. The crowd laughed.
Razor attacked first. He threw two knives fast.
Kai used shadow step. He moved quick into a dark spot and appeared behind Razor. "Too slow!"
He punched hard with Jax's power. Razor flew back but rolled and stood up.
"Not bad," Razor said. He cut his own hand and his knives glowed red.
Lira watched from the side. Her silver threads were ready if needed.
Mira jumped up and down. "Go Kai! Steal his Echo! It looks sharp!"
Kai felt excited. Fighting felt good. He dashed forward again.
Razor swung a glowing knife. It cut Kai's arm a little. Blood came out, but Kai did not stop.
"Pain is nothing!" Kai roared like Jax. Then his voice changed. "How dare you damage my fine clothes!"
The crowd laughed louder.
Kai got angry at himself. He used dark sight to see Razor's moves better. He dodged the next attack and grabbed Razor's arm.
"Time to end this," Kai said.
He punched Razor in the stomach three times fast. Razor dropped his knives and fell to his knees.
The big man raised his hand. "Winner! New guy!"
The crowd cheered.
Kai breathed hard. A blue screen appeared.
**[Fight Win Bonus]**
**New Echo detected from Razor.**
**Name: Razor Edge**
**Skills: Knife mastery, quick cuts, blood boost (stronger when hurt)**
**Personality: Mean and fast**
**Will you take it? (Y/N)**
Kai chose Y right away.
Warm power filled him. His cuts healed fast. He felt sharper with knives even though he had none.
**[Echo Taken!]**
**Active Echoes: 4/10**
**New Skill: Knife sense – You know how to use blades better.**
**Side Effect: You may act mean and want to cut things.**
Kai stood tall. But then he laughed in a mean voice. "Pathetic fool. That was too easy."
He shook his head fast. "Sorry. New Echo. It is talking."
Mira ran into the ring. "Four Echoes! You are so quick! Can I have one card? Please?"
Lira walked over. She looked at Kai's arm. It was already healing. "Your power is growing fast. Too fast. The more you take, the more you change."
Kai tried to smile normal. "I know. But it feels good. I am stronger now."
The big man came over. "Good fight, kid. Name's Brock. You want more? Next fight is against a stronger guy. Winner gets money and first pick of Echo rights."
Kai looked around. Many people were watching him now. His radar showed more hurt fighters in other rings. More Echoes.
His fighter side said yes. His rich side wanted the money. His shadow side wanted to sneak and take more without fighting.
He nodded. "I will fight again."
Mira cheered. "Yes! Collect more!"
Lira sighed but stayed quiet. She seemed worried.
The next opponent walked in. He was bigger and had stone skin. His fists looked heavy.
"Ready, funny voice guy?" the stone man said.
Kai cracked his knuckles. "Let's go."
Inside his head, four voices argued:
Reginald: "Make it quick and elegant."
Jax: "Smash him!"
Shadow: "Hide and strike from behind."
Razor: "Cut him down!"
Kai laughed. "This is getting noisy in here."
The stone man charged.
Kai used shadow step to dodge and punched hard. His hand hurt from the stone skin, but he did not stop.
The fight was harder this time. The crowd shouted louder.
Kai felt alive. Stronger. But he also felt a little less like himself.
After a few minutes, he found the weak spot and knocked the stone man out.
Another win.
Another Echo waiting.
Kai smiled as the blue screen appeared again.
He was getting stronger fast.
But how long until the voices inside took over?