The corrupted aura pressed down on the gym like a storm. Matthew's Shinrei writhed, spiraling out of his body in jagged bursts of black and crimson. The mark on his arm pulsed like a beating heart, each throb spreading tendrils of corruption further across his veins.

Andromeda Ban straightened his back, his noble posture unshaken even as his instincts screamed at him to run. His boots clicked against the cracked tiles as he stepped forward, white gloves flexing.

The faint glow of his Echo sigil shimmered on his collar silver strokes in the shape of a blazing crest.

At his side, his bonded Echo Beast growled low.

Junjun, the lean dark-furred hound, bared sharp fangs that gleamed faintly in the gloom. His single crimson eye glimmered like a spark waiting for ignition.

Andromeda's voice rang out, sharp and commanding.

"Matthew! Snap out of it! That thing is eating you alive—!"

But the boy before him was slipping away.

Matthew's head jerked up, pupils thin as a predator's, his teeth clenched. His Shinrei flared not like fire, not like storm but like a corrupted howl of anguish.

"I… won't… be weak anymore…!"

With a roar, he slammed his palm against the floor. The gym tiles shattered as black Shinrei burst upward in jagged spikes, shooting toward Andromeda like spears.

"Junjun—now!"

The hound leapt forward, Echo Shinrei flaring crimson around his form. His body blurred, weaving between the spikes, jaws clamping down on one and shattering it with a resounding crack.

Andromeda swept his right arm outward, voice firm.

"Echo Art: Radiant Fang!"

A silver arc of Shinrei shot from his glove (his glove is an artifact), slamming into the incoming corruption. The gym lit up for a split second with blinding brilliance as shadow met light, fragments of both scattering like glass.

Matthew snarled. His voice warped, layered with whispers not his own.

"More… MORE! Give me more power!!"

His Shinrei surged again. Black tendrils lashed outward, twisting into clawed hands that tried to snare Andromeda and Junjun alike.

Andromeda grit his teeth, his chest tight with anger.

"Matthew, you fool—don't you hear yourself?!"

But there was no reply.

Only the howling of corruption.

Andromeda's eyes hardened. He raised both arms, his Echo sigil blazing brighter. Junjun leapt back to his side, growling, crimson eye glowing in sync with his master.

Together, they moved as one.

"Echo Art: Dual Resonance!"

Andromeda's Shinrei flowed into Junjun, and the hound's fangs glimmered white-hot. The pair lunged forward in perfect harmony.

Junjun bit down on one of the shadow claws, his teeth burning with Andromeda's radiant energy, while Andromeda drove his gloved fist forward, smashing directly against Matthew's chest.

A burst of silver light erupted on impact, tearing through the black aura — for a moment, the corruption recoiled.

But then—

Matthew screamed. His body arched unnaturally as the Void-imbued seal pulsed again, stronger this time, fighting back the purification. His corrupted Shinrei exploded outward in a shockwave that hurled Andromeda and Junjun back against the wall.

The impact rattled Andromeda's bones, but he forced himself upright, blood trickling from his lip. Junjun staggered, fur bristling, but stood protectively before him, growling low.

Andromeda's gloves crackled faintly, glowing with residual Shinrei. His noble posture remained but his eyes revealed fury.

"Damn you, Matthew… if you keep pushing further, I'll have no choice but to put you down!"

Matthew stood in the center of the broken gym, chest heaving, eyes glowing red with hollow madness.

The First Stage of Void Possession had fully taken hold.

Andromeda Ban tightened his gloves. Junjun snarled at his side.

The true fight had only begun.

The ruined gym reeked of scorched Shinrei. Broken tiles floated in midair, suspended by the warped gravity of Matthew's corruption. His body twitched as if struggling against invisible chains, the seal's black engravings crawling further up his arm.

Causing Andromeda to vomit blood…

Andromeda wiped the blood from his lip with the back of his white glove. His eyes narrowed, his posture noble but battle-ready.

"Tsk… to think you're this strong already… even without your Echo Spirit."

His voice cut sharp, his gaze steady.

Then he stopped, realization dawning.

"Wait… you can't use it, can you? Of course. Because you're becoming a Voidborn."

Matthew's head jerked up. His lips peeled back in a snarl, corrupted Shinrei writhing like snakes around his arms.

"Voidborn…?"

The voices inside him hissed and echoed, overlapping with his own.

"If that means I finally surpass everyone — then so be it!"

The air split.

Matthew slammed his hand forward. From the black seal, a monstrous claw of condensed Shinrei burst forth, tearing across the gym like a tidal wave of shadows.

Andromeda's gloves gleamed. His stance was precise, crisp, noble-trained. He thrust both palms outward.

"Echo Art: Wind Barrier!"

A silver barrier bloomed, hexagonal and glowing. The claw slammed against it with a thunderous crack. Shards of corrupted energy splattered, sizzling holes into the gym floor.

The barrier held but only barely. Cracks spidered across its surface.

Junjun darted forward, his crimson eye flashing.

The hound's fangs glowed white as he bit into the shadow claw, severing it mid-swipe. The remnants dissolved into black mist.

Andromeda clenched his fist.

"Junjun — Formation B!"

The beast barked sharply. His form blurred, splitting into afterimages as Shinrei cloaked his body. One Junjun dashed left, another right, while the real one lunged head-on.

Matthew roared. Black Shinrei erupted from his back, forming writhing tentacles that lashed outward in every direction. They struck the afterimages, dispersing them instantly. The real Junjun dodged narrowly, skidding across the floor.

"I see you—!" Matthew lunged, fist glowing with Void flame.

Andromeda intercepted, gloves shining.

"Echo art: Triple!"

Three arcs of silver light cut through the darkness, colliding with Matthew's fist. The impact shook the gym, throwing sparks of white and black in every direction.

Both staggered back, breathing hard.

Andromeda's sharp eyes narrowed.

"You're losing yourself, Matthew. Every strike, every breath — it's not you anymore. It's that… thing inside you."

Matthew grinned wide, blood trailing from his lip. His eyes glowed crimson, hollow.

"Then maybe I was never enough on my own… maybe this is me."

His body convulsed then stabilized. The corruption surged again, stronger, more defined. His Shinrei reshaped into jagged armor along his right arm, pulsing with Void energy. His movements grew sharper, inhumanly fast.

Andromeda's pulse quickened. He forced his breathing steady.

"He's… stabilizing with the corruption?!"

The clash resumed.

Matthew's clawed strike ripped through the gym floor, shockwaves throwing dust into the air.

Andromeda countered with a precise kick, his noble martial training channeling Shinrei through his boot, the impact sent Matthew flying back, but the Void armor absorbed most of the damage.

Junjun leapt from the shadows, fangs glowing, snapping down on Matthew's shoulder only for the corruption to lash outward and hurl him into the wall.

"Junjun!" Andromeda's voice cracked.

Matthew staggered up, laughing hollowly, blood dripping but eyes burning with unholy light.

"You can't protect anyone, Andromeda.

Andromeda clenched his fists so hard the gloves creaked. His Echo sigil blazed brighter, responding to his rage.

"Then I'll prove it right here… discipline against madness. You want power, Matthew? I'll show you its cost!"

His Shinrei flared pure silver, resonating with Junjun, who dragged himself up, growling with renewed fire.

To be continue