MTLNOVEL Chapter 138: Echo
[You have obtained an Echo]
The words appeared in my vision, making me freeze mid-stride. Inside the fallen Soldier Treant's remains, among the still-smoking ashes and twisted corrupted wood, a green orb pulsed with an otherworldly light.
"Is that really...?" I whispered, my voice catching in my throat. The exhaustion from the battle seemed to fade as adrenaline surged through my system again. Noir landed on my shoulder, its shadowy form leaning forward with equal curiosity, feathers ruffling in what might have been concern or interest.
My hands trembled slightly as I reached for the orb, the status window materialized before me.
[Echo Obtained: Corrupted Soldier Treant Echo]
[Rank: Inept-Fallen]
[Type: Combat Echo]
[Abilities:
- Corruption Manipulation: Controls and spreads corruption essence with devastating effect
- Bio-mass Control: Manipulates and absorbs surrounding plant life for regeneration
- Territorial Dominance: Establishes and maintains control over an area through corruption fields ]
My hands trembled as I took in the information.
"Haha…haha"
And I started laughing without even knowing.
There was a simple reason for that.
Echoes were that rare. So rare that this is the first time that I am seeing one, even after entering the Favored Ones academy.
Some even said they were myths, stories made up by hunters to make their tales more interesting, but the presence of the Echo field in the status showed us that it wasn't.
Many people don't even get to see one in their entire lives.
But here one was, floating before me like a piece of captured starlight. The orb felt warm in my hands, its surface smooth like polished glass but somehow alive. Inside, green energy swirled and danced, occasionally forming patterns that reminded me of the Soldier Treant's vine-like appendages. Each pulse of light seemed to resonate with the lingering corruption in the air.
As to what echoes were….well, Echoes were just familiars. That's right - Providence some times…no, in a very rare times, rewarded the followers with the echoes.
The exact principle behind how and what it is is unknown.
But what's certain is that they were incredibly helpful to followers who walk through the dangerous lands of Paradise.
An echo is just a perfect replica of a monster that is somehow bought back to life by the providence and made Obidient to the Followers.
But of course, they weren't exactly living beings and they couldn't think or act on their own.
Anyway, even considering that, having your own Inept-Fallen rank subordinate who liestens to your every order is just amazing!
Noir made a sound somewhere between a caw and a growl, its red eyes fixed on the orb with what looked suspiciously like jealousy. I couldn't blame it - Echoes were powerful things, even if they lacked the spark that made Dominions special.
A second status window appeared, more detailed than the first:
[Echo Status:
Original Form: Soldier Corrupted Treant
Combat Type: Siege/Area Control
Size: Variable (20-40 feet)
Special Traits:
- Deploys corruption fields that weaken and poison enemies
- Controls and animates nearby plant life with deadly precision
- Regenerates using absorbed biomass from surroundings
- Maintains all physical capabilities of original form
- Can manifest multiple vine-appendages with human-like grasping ability
Limitations:
- Cannot evolve or learn from combat experiences
- Follows only basic commands without tactical consideration
- No independent decision making or strategic planning
- Duration strictly limited by essence supply
- Cannot adapt to unexpected situations
Command Types: Attack, Defend, Patrol, Guard, Pursue, Retreat
Essence is consumed to maintain a echo.
]
"Don't worry," I said, noticing Noir's continued stare at the orb. I reached up to scratch under its beak, feeling the familiar cool touch of its shadowy feathers. "You're still my number one partner. This thing might be powerful, but it's just a tool. It'll never have what makes you special."
And it was true. While this Echo was technically more powerful than Noir in raw strength, being an Inept-Fallen rank, it would never have my partner's cleverness or adaptability. It would never learn to anticipate my needs before I voiced them, never come up with creative solutions to unexpected problems. The Echo was just what its name suggested - a reflection, a perfect copy frozen in time.
I carefully wrapped the orb in a layer of my essence before storing it in a secure inner pocket. The essence requirement was steep - half of my essence was consumed just to summon it, and then a constant drain to maintain it. Using this thing would have to be a last resort, a trump card for when we had no other options.
"We should find somewhere safe," I told Noir, feeling the fatigue from our recent battle starting to creep back in. "Need to test this thing out, see what it can really do. But first, we need to rest."
Noir took flight immediately, its phantom flock spreading out in all directions to scout the area. Through our shared vision, I could see that the lesser Treants were still keeping their distance, seemingly lost without their parent's influence. It gave us a perfect opportunity to find shelter and recover.
As we moved through the dim forest, avoiding the patches of corruption that still lingered from our battle, I couldn't help but think about the fundamental difference between Echoes and Dominions. It wasn't just about personality or growth potential - it was about the very nature of power itself.
Echoes were like photographs, perfect captures of a single moment of strength, but forever static. They were tools, weapons to be used and discarded as needed. Powerful, yes, but ultimately empty. They would execute commands perfectly, fight exactly as their original forms did, but they would never surprise you, never grow, never become more than what they were in that first moment of creation.
Dominions, on the other hand, were living things. They could grow alongside their masters, develop in unexpected ways, forge real bonds. Noir was proof of that. When I first created it, the bird had been simple - just a shadow that could scout. But over time, it had developed new abilities, learned to think tactically, become something more than just a summon. It had become a true partner.
Looking at Noir now, watching it methodically scan our surroundings with its phantom flock, I could see why it might feel threatened by the Echo. But it didn't need to be. Raw power wasn't everything - sometimes, having a partner who could think and grow alongside you was worth more than any number of perfect but mindless copies.
Still, in this sanctum, where danger lurked behind every tree and in every shadow, having an Inept-Fallen ranked being at my command could make the difference between life and death. Even if it was just a tool, it was a powerful one.
"Let's find somewhere secure," I said, already scanning the forest for suitable shelter. "Once we've rested, we can test out our new toy. See just what this shadow of the past can do."
Noir cawed in agreement, though I could hear the competitive edge in its voice. I smiled, reaching up to stroke its feathers again. Trust my partner to turn even this into a challenge - determined to prove it was better than some soulless copy, no matter how powerful.
And honestly? That attitude, that drive to grow and improve, was exactly why Noir would always be more valuable than any Echo. Power was important, but it wasn't everything. But for now, we had a new weapon in our arsenal. And something told me we'd need every advantage we could get before our journey through this sanctum was over.
Now we just had to figure out how to use it without draining my essence dry.
****
Inside the stronghold's medical wing, the air was heavy with the scent of healing herbs and essence-infused medicines. The seniors of the Favored Ones Academy stood in a tight circle, their faces grim as they watched healers tend to their injured juniors.
"Two dead," Derek said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Chen and Thomas. And we still can't find Lyssandra or Levi."
Vyse slammed her fist against the wall, her essence-enhanced bangles flickering with her anger. "Shadow Walkers. In our territory. How did they even get past the outer wards?"
"That's not the real question," Kris interjected, her usually perfect posture now showing signs of fatigue.
"Why target students? The Shadow Walkers' Guild doesn't take contracts against children unless..."
"Unless the target was specific," Jin finished, still looking pale from maintaining the barriers during the attack. His hands hadn't stopped shaking. "They were after someone."
Sara, who had been quiet until now, looked up from treating a junior's corruption wound. "You all saw it too, didn't you? The pattern of their attacks?"
"Levi," Derek nodded. "Every major strike was designed to isolate him. But why? He's just a first-year student."
"Is he?" Kris asked softly. "Did any of you notice how he moved when he ran? Those weren't something the first year should be capable of."
"And his reaction time," Jin added. "He spotted attack patterns even I missed. Called out warnings before my essence-sensing barriers could detect the threats."
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