Jayden's heart pounded as Nyxorath stepped forward, shadows swirling like a storm around him. The city's neon lights flickered, distorted by the dark power radiating from his corrupted future self.
"Jayden," Nyxorath's voice was a venomous whisper, "you don't understand what you're up against. I am what you will become if you falter."
The Echobound System interface materialized clearly in Jayden's vision, a glowing HUD overlaid on the chaos. He felt the familiar pulse of his core energy meter, flickering dangerously low.
---
System Status:
Health: 60%
Energy: 40%
Cooldowns: Echo Shift (5s), Shadow Dominion (Ready), Chrono Disruption (Locked)
---
Jayden's mind raced. He needed to buy time — and unlock more of his power.
"Activate Shadow Dominion."
His hands shot forward, and from the cracks of the asphalt, shadow tendrils erupted, lashing toward Nyxorath like living darkness. The tendrils moved fluidly, responding to Jayden's will through the system's precise feedback loop.
---
System Prompt: Shadow Dominion – Control interface activated.
Use joystick (thumb) or voice command to manipulate tendrils.
---
Jayden flicked his thumb, weaving the tendrils to form a cage. Nyxorath smiled, effortlessly slicing through them with blades of pure shadow energy.
"Is that all?" Nyxorath mocked.
Jayden cursed under his breath — the tendrils were strong but clearly insufficient.
---
"Echo Shift — upgrade ready." The system notified him.
Jayden recalled the upgrade from last chapter.
"Use Echo Shift."
The world blurred as Jayden phased through the attack and reappeared behind Nyxorath, ready to strike.
---
System Status Update:
Echo Shift Level: 2
Cooldown: 8 seconds (reduced)
Effect Duration: 3 seconds
---
Nyxorath turned, his eyes blazing with contempt.
"You're fast, but you lack control. Let me teach you."
Suddenly, Nyxorath unleashed a wave of shadow energy that warped time itself — the environment around Jayden seemed to slow and stutter.
---
System Alert: Temporal distortion detected. Chrono Disruption: Unavailable.
---
Jayden gritted his teeth, struggling to keep pace.
"System, analyze enemy ability."
---
System Response:
Enemy ability identified: Chrono Shadow Wave
Effect: Temporal slow-field (5-second duration)
Countermeasures: Use Chrono Disruption to break, currently locked.
---
Jayden's eyes darted frantically over the system interface.
---
"System, suggest countermeasures."
---
System Suggestions:
Use Shadow Doppelgänger to confuse enemy
Increase Echo Shift cooldown recovery via Focus Mode
Attempt emergency Chrono Disruption unlock (high energy cost)
---
Jayden's chest tightened — the Chrono Disruption was still locked. But the system was suggesting an emergency unlock — something risky.
He decided.
"Unlock Chrono Disruption — emergency mode."
---
System Warning:
Emergency unlock will drain 60% energy and risk system overload. Confirm? (Y/N)
---
Jayden hesitated — then pressed Y.
---
A surge of power flooded his body. Time itself seemed to bend as he activated Chrono Disruption, freezing the temporal slow-field in an instant.
---
System Update:
Chrono Disruption activated — Time stasis (3 seconds)
Energy remaining: 15%
Cooldown: 20 seconds
---
With the enemy frozen in time, Jayden lunged forward, launching a devastating series of shadow strikes — each move synced perfectly with the system's feedback and control.
The battle was a blur of light and darkness, Jayden's body moving like a weapon, guided by the Echobound System's detailed real-time interface.
---
As the three-second stasis ended, Nyxorath's eyes blazed with fury.
"You're strong, but not enough. You carry too much doubt."
Jayden, breathing hard, clenched his fists.
"I may be uncertain... but I'm not you."
---
The fight paused momentarily, tension crackling in the air. Jayden's system flickered with new data — he was adapting, learning.
---
System Notification:
Echoes learned: Shadow Dominion mastery increased.
New ability unlocked: Shadow Doppelgänger (basic).
Hint: Use duplicates to confuse enemies and buy time.
---
Jayden swallowed the exhaustion, ready for the next wave.