The giant crystal inside the tower pulsed with warm blue light then flashed purple for a long second.
A new voice echoed through the room. It was calm, ancient, and cold, completely different from Nyxar's smooth tone.
"Two gods now fight for one vessel, How delicious."
Lira froze. Her silver threads trembled in the air.
"Who are you?"
The voice laughed softly.
"I am Veyra, the Whisperer. I have watched this boy steal pieces of souls. Now two of us want him. Nyxar wants a king. I want a whisperer — someone who can spread my influence quietly across the breaking world."
Mira stepped closer to the crystal, holding her last few cards tight.
"Leave Kai alone! He is our friend, not your toy!"
Outside the tower, the Shadow King stopped walking.
His purple eyes narrowed. He tilted his head as if listening to the new voice.
The real Kai felt it too but another powerful presence pushing into his already crowded mind.
Inside his head, chaos exploded.
Nyxar roared angrily. **"Veyra! This vessel is mine!"**
Veyra replied with a silky laugh. "We shall see who claims him first."
The Shadow King's body shook. His dark armor flickered between deep black and a lighter, misty gray.
For a moment, the real Kai broke through again.
His normal voice came out, full of pain and exhaustion.
"Lira, Mira, there are two of them now ,Nyxar and Veyra re fighting inside me and it hurts so much!"
He dropped to one knee right outside the tower door.
Mira wanted to run to him, but Lira held her back.
"Stay here! If we go out now, both gods will use him to hurt us."
Elder Voss shouted from the sealing circle in the middle of the camp.
"Bring him into the circle! The ritual is almost ready! We can weaken both gods if we act fast!"
But the Shadow King stood up again.
His voice changed 'it was now a mix of Nyxar's royal tone and Veyra's whispery softness.
"You think your little stones can stop two gods? Pathetic."
He raised his hand and touched a dying breaker who had fallen near the tower.
**[New Echo Absorbed!]**
**Name: Crystal Warden**
**Skills: Absorb crystal energy, strengthen self**
**Active Echoes: 31/10**
Power surged through him. The cracks in his armor healed instantly. The shadow crown grew larger and now had misty gray edges.
The king (or kings) smiled and echoed "More. Feed me more."
Another shadow beast brought a wounded elder.
Kai touched him without hesitation.
**[New Echo Absorbed!]**
**Name: Ritual Keeper**
**Skills: Disrupt sealing magic**
**Active Echoes: 32/10**
The sealing circle in the center of the camp flickered and weakened.
Elder Voss groaned. "He is countering the ritual from outside!"
Lira made a hard decision.
"Mira, stay here and protect the crystal. I will try to pull Kai into the circle."
She ran out of the tower toward the Shadow King.
"Kai!" she shouted. "Fight them both! You are stronger than any god! Remember the first day , you woke up in the morgue and stole the rich guy Echo. You sounded so funny asking for wine while monsters attacked! That sarcastic gamer who hated heroes is still inside you!"
Her words hit hard.
The Shadow King's body shook violently.
Nyxar and Veyra fought each other inside him.
For nearly ten seconds, the real Kai took control.
His eyes returned to normal. His voice was raw and tired.
"Lira thank you, I'm so sorry for everything, I love you and tell Mira I'm sorry for scaring her".
He took one shaky step toward the sealing circle.
Then both gods pushed back together, the purple and misty gray light returned stronger.
The Shadow King laughed with two voices at once.
"Nice try, fate girl. But he belongs to us now."
He slammed his hand on the ground , the shadows and misty gray energy exploded outward.
Lira was thrown back toward the tower.
Mira ran out and caught her.
"Lira! Are you okay?"
Lira coughed. "He is still fighting but the two gods are working together against him now."
The Shadow King walked slowly toward the sealing circle.
Every step, he collected more.
A fallen breaker, a broken rune stone and dying shadow beast.
**[New Echo Absorbed!]**
**Name: Double God Vessel** (special)
**Skills: Balance two god influences**
**Active Echoes: 33/10**
His armor changed again and it was half deep black, half misty gray. The crown now had both purple and silver lights.
He looked more powerful and terrifying than ever.
Elder Voss shouted with his last strength, "Everyone into the circle! We will complete the ritual even if it costs us everything!"
The loyal breakers dragged the unconscious Torin and other wounded people into the glowing circle.
Mira helped Lira stand.
"What do we do? Kai is too strong now!"
Lira looked at the Shadow King with tears in her eyes.
"We believe in him. The real Kai is still there. He has to be."
The Shadow King stopped right at the edge of the sealing circle.
He looked down at the blue runes, then at Lira and Mira.
For one final moment, the real Kai broke through completely.
His normal voice rang out clear and strong.
"Lira !Mira ! if I don't make it ,thank you for everything. You made dying and coming back worth it. Now finish the ritual. Even if it hurts me. Save the world from what I've become."
Then the gods took over again.
The Shadow King raised both hands.
Black and gray energy gathered above the circle, ready to destroy everything.
Elder Voss shouted, "Now!"
The sealing circle exploded with bright blue light.
The ritual began.
Pain hit Kai like never before.
He gave a scream that was his real voice mixed with two angry gods.
The camp shook violently, the biggest Veil Quake yet was starting right above them.