The Universal Mindscape was silent—too silent. The air shimmered faintly, its stillness interrupted only by the occasional subtle hum of energy shifting beneath Alex's feet. He could feel the residual energy from Vergil's lessons still coursing through him, lingering like static on the tips of his fingers. It felt... wrong. Like something within him was too alive—like his body was on the verge of pushing past its limits.
Vergil stood before him, arms crossed, eyes cold as ever. "You were too reckless," he said, voice like gravel. "That state—the Echo Drive—it's not something you should access so freely. You're playing with fire, and you haven't learned to control the flames yet."
Alex's chest was still heaving from the last set of moves. He wiped the sweat from his brow and met Vergil's gaze. "I felt it, though. The power. It was like I could see everything. Like I could feel every move before it happened."
Vergil's lips curled slightly, though it was more of a warning than a smile. "That power comes with a cost. You're touching something far more dangerous than you realize."
Alex frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Every time you access it," Vergil said, his voice low, almost a whisper, "you risk fracturing your own sense of self. The more you rely on it, the more it starts to consume you. That state—the Echo Drive—it amplifies everything. Fear. Anger. Pain. And eventually… it becomes hard to distinguish where your soul ends and the fusion's will begins."
Alex felt a chill run down his spine. He'd already begun to feel something stir in him, something that didn't quite feel like him. The thoughts in his head sometimes felt foreign, a mix of primal urges and unrefined instincts that weren't his own.
"I get it," Alex said quietly, "but what choice do I have? If I can't control this power, how am I supposed to survive in this world?"
Vergil didn't immediately answer. He merely stared at Alex with that cold, almost detached look, like a man who had long ago come to terms with what power really cost. Then he spoke, his voice heavy. "You may survive, but there's a difference between surviving and living. A warrior who sacrifices his soul for strength may defeat his enemies, but he'll have no peace when the battle is over."
Before Alex could respond, a new voice interrupted.
"You're growing stronger," Master Oogway said, materializing from thin air as always, his presence serene, almost peaceful. "But strength, like all things, must be tempered with wisdom."
Alex looked between Oogway and Vergil, then down at his hands, feeling the slight tremble in them. "I don't know if I can control it… but I don't know how long I can keep relying on just basic training, either."
Oogway's soft chuckle cut through the tension. "Ah, young one. You confuse strength with power. Power comes from within, from the heart, not from the body. You have yet to find that within yourself."
Vergil shook his head. "Heart has no place in battle. You must rid yourself of weakness. Use what you are given—take it."
"Not everything is about taking," Oogway said, raising his staff. "Some things must be given. And some things, young Alex, must be earned."
Alex stared at them both, feeling his chest tighten. He understood their words, but something in him burned with an urge he couldn't ignore. Was that the power of Cataclysm Echo, whispering to him?
"Enough talking," he muttered. "Let's do something. I need to know if I can handle this."
Vergil didn't need to be told twice. He unsheathed Yamato and held it low, his posture straight, as if preparing for a fight that didn't need to be spoken about.
"Very well," Vergil said, his voice cold and calm. "But remember—this is your test. If you cannot master yourself, you will fail."
Without warning, Vergil vanished.
BAM!
Alex barely had time to react before Vergil was already in his face, blade flashing toward his ribs. Alex instinctively threw up an arm to block, but Vergil's speed was too much. The sword sliced through the air, cutting a clean line across his forearm, barely grazing his skin.
Alex hissed in pain and twisted his body, sidestepping the next strike, but Vergil was already gone again—moving like a blur. He wasn't giving Alex a chance to breathe, let alone think.
"Focus," Oogway's voice echoed calmly. "Become the calm in the storm. Focus on the flow."
Alex clenched his fists. His heart hammered in his chest. He was outclassed in every way, but something inside him snapped. He wasn't about to just lie down and die in this mindscape.
Vergil reappeared, sword raised for another strike.
This is it.
A sharp breath. Alex's mind cleared.
He felt it. The flow of energy, the weight of the air. The movement of his body, the space he had to work with.
He twisted his hips and pushed off with his back foot, sliding underneath Vergil's swing. In one smooth motion, Alex's palm struck out, catching Vergil's wrist in midair. He redirected the blow, just like Aang taught him, using the momentum to throw Vergil off balance.
It wasn't much, but it was enough.
Vergil faltered.
That's it.
For a moment, the two locked eyes, the air between them crackling with energy. Then Vergil smiled.
"Good. Better. But still not enough."
Before Alex could even think about responding, Vergil was gone again, reappearing behind him, this time with a deadly slash aimed for his back. But Alex wasn't caught off guard. He dropped into a roll, barely evading the strike, and countered with a fast kick that pushed Vergil back.
Vergil grinned again. "Better, but not enough to win."
Then the system chimed, cutting through the battle like an alarm.
Synapse Spark Triggered:Fusion: Determination + Adaptive Reflexes + Combat Anticipation
Result: Basic Combat Awareness Level 2 Achieved.
Passive Ability: Enhanced Reaction Time – 30% faster reaction speed in combat situations.
Alex's heart skipped a beat. The world seemed to slow down just enough for him to breathe.
Finally.
Vergil's blade came at him again, but this time, Alex saw it before it even left the sheath. He dodged, countered, and struck back with a flurry of precise jabs and low kicks.
Vergil barely had time to block.
This time, Alex felt the satisfaction of a hit landing true, and the satisfaction of more control.
Vergil staggered back. "That… was unexpected."
Alex stood tall, breathing hard, but with a grin on his face. "Was that good enough?"
Vergil gave a small nod, sheathing his sword. "Not bad. You're learning faster than expected. But remember, this is only the beginning. The real battle… will be against yourself."
Alex's grin faltered. He knew Vergil was right.
Power wasn't just about how strong you were.
It was about why you fought.
"Don't lose yourself," Oogway's voice echoed in his mind.
And with that, Alex took another deep breath, knowing he was about to face far more than just the battles of this mindscape. But for now, he'd take his victories where he could.