> [Location A: Emberveil Nexus – Engineering Spire, Echo Net Core Node]
[Location B: Soul-Thread Chamber (Subforge – Monolith Sync)]
Time Until Phase V Trials: 31 Hours
Participants: Su Lian, Lin Suyin, Jiang Han, Nexus Engineers, Flame System Echo: Long Chen
---
Echo Net – Combat Protocol
In the Engineering Spire, glowing flame threads spiraled upward like golden vines.
Su Lian sat cross-legged inside the core circle, sweat dripping down her brow, as glyph after glyph floated into place.
Across from her, Lin Suyin stared into a dataplate covered in paradox alerts.
> "You're trying to allow an unranked initiate to pull power from a rank-5 flame well with zero delay."
> "Not pull," Su Lian corrected. "Borrow. And it will return on cooldown."
Suyin gave her a look. "If this works, every single law of flame threading just became... optional."
Su Lian nodded.
> "That's the idea."
---
System Update – Echo Net: Combat Functionality [Beta]
> New Feature: Echo Spike – Instant +2 Flame Rank Boost to Nearest Ally for 8 Seconds
Cooldown: 3 Minutes | Cost: Echo Net Capacity × Shared Core Stability
Warning: Echo Overload May Trigger Thread Snapback | Side Effects Vary
Beta Test Eligible – Jiang Han (Priority Flameholder)
---
Meanwhile – Jiang Han Descends
In the Monolith's lowest chamber, Jiang Han stood alone. The walls shimmered with old glyphs, none familiar.
A pedestal lit as he approached. No fire.
Only memory.
> [Activating Flame Trial Record: "Legacy of Long Chen"]
Echo Type: Simulated Combat – Thread Locked to Subject Parameters
Then the voice came.
Not from the walls.
But from deep inside Jiang's flame.
> "So you're the one who came after," Long Chen said.
> "Let's see if you've got more than just chaos."
---
Trial: Flame vs Flame
A figure formed—a young Long Chen, not at his peak, but already terrifying.
He stepped into stance, sword trailing light.
> "This isn't about winning," Long Chen said. "It's about enduring the pressure of purpose."
> "So show me."
The battle exploded.
Jiang struck first, but his attacks passed through shadow images—Long Chen's flame echoes, illusions with real heat.
He activated Formless Flame, dodging three strikes—only to catch a fourth that bypassed space entirely.
> "Your power's good," Long Chen said. "But where's your reason?"
Jiang stumbled.
Then remembered Tian Xue's voice.
> "We don't leave our fire behind."
He stood straighter. Echofang glowed brighter.
> "Then let me show you my reason."
---
The Final Strike
They clashed in a burst of memory sparks.
Jiang's formless strike cut through intent, not structure—just as Long Chen once did. It wasn't enough to win…
…but it made the echo smile.
> "Good."
> "Then go do what I couldn't."
> "Burn the law itself down."
The echo faded.
And Jiang collapsed to one knee—drained, trembling… grinning.
Back in the core hall, Su Lian looked up as Jiang entered—dust-streaked, limping.
> "How'd it go?" she asked.
He tossed her a glyph token glowing with old flame.
> "I met a legend."
> "Now it's our turn to become one."