**
---
Sora stepped through the shimmering portal, feeling as though he was being pulled into the very fabric of existence itself. The world around him seemed to twist and stretch, bending the laws of reality until everything dissolved into a blinding flash of light. He shielded his eyes instinctively, but the brilliance overwhelmed him. Then, just as suddenly as it had started, the light faded, and he found himself standing in a place unlike any he had seen before.
The surroundings were strange yet familiar, as if they existed in the space between dimensions. Endless, starry skies stretched above him, yet the stars flickered like distant lanterns on a dark sea. Below, the ground was soft, almost like living tissue, glowing faintly with each step he took. The air was thick with energy—alive, humming with something ancient and powerful.
The pulse within him had quieted, its rhythmic beat now a gentle hum deep in his chest. It no longer felt like a call—it was more like a presence, something connected to him in a way he couldn't quite explain. He was not alone here. He could feel it.
---
As Sora moved forward, the ground beneath him shifted. A soft echo reverberated through the air. He stopped, listening carefully, his heart racing. The echo seemed to carry a voice—a whisper, faint and distant, as if calling his name. He looked around, but there was no one in sight. Still, the pulse inside him thrummed, responding to the call.
"Who's there?" Sora called, his voice feeling small in the vastness of this place.
The whisper returned, stronger this time. "Sora... you have come."
He spun around, his senses on edge. In front of him, a figure appeared, stepping out of the shimmering mist. The figure was humanoid but translucent, its form made of light and energy, its features shifting as if caught between dimensions. Its eyes, glowing with an inner fire, locked onto his.
"I am the Echo of Eternity," the figure said, its voice resonating in Sora's mind, not just his ears. "I have waited for you. The pulse has guided you here."
Sora's pulse surged at the mention of the pulse, a wave of recognition sweeping over him. "The pulse... you know of it?"
The Echo nodded, its form rippling. "I am its guardian. I was once part of the first wave of life, the first to feel the pulse. We are the ones who shaped the rhythm of the universe, the ones who laid the foundations of existence. And now, you are part of that rhythm, Sora. You have awakened."
Sora was silent, trying to comprehend the weight of what the Echo had just said. He had always felt that his connection to the pulse was more than just coincidence, but hearing it confirmed by this being, whatever it was, made it feel even more profound. This wasn't just some cosmic force—it was *alive,* it had a purpose, and he was tied to it in ways he couldn't yet understand.
"What does it want from me?" Sora asked, the words heavy with both fear and curiosity.
The Echo's glowing eyes softened, almost as if in sympathy. "The pulse is the heartbeat of the universe. It connects all things, from the smallest atom to the farthest star. But it is weakening. The balance is faltering, and if nothing is done, all will be lost."
Sora's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean? What's happening to the pulse?"
"It is being drained," the Echo replied. "There are forces in the universe, ancient and powerful, that seek to siphon the pulse's energy for themselves. They wish to control it, to bend the flow of time and reality to their will. You, Sora, are the key to stopping them. You must restore the balance."
Sora shook his head, the enormity of what the Echo was saying crashing over him. "How am I supposed to do that? I'm just... a traveler. I didn't ask for this."
The Echo smiled, though it was more of an expression of understanding than comfort. "You did not choose the pulse, but the pulse has chosen you. You are not alone in this. You carry the knowledge and the power of those who came before you. Trust in it, trust in yourself."
Before Sora could respond, the ground beneath him trembled. A wave of dark energy rippled through the air, distorting the light around him. The Echo's form flickered, momentarily dissolving into the mist before reforming, its expression grim.
"They are here," the Echo said, its voice steady but laced with urgency. "The forces that seek to control the pulse have found you."
Sora's pulse surged once again, but this time, it was not in harmony with the universe. It was frantic, erratic, as though something was reaching out to him. He didn't have time to think, to question. He had to act.
Suddenly, the mist around him parted, and a dark figure emerged, its presence oppressive. It was like a shadow made of void, a silhouette that seemed to drain the light around it. The figure was massive, its form shifting and constantly changing, like a manifestation of darkness itself.
"You cannot stop us, Sora," a voice boomed from the figure, deep and resonant, yet somehow distant, as if it came from every corner of the universe. "The pulse belongs to us now."
Sora stepped forward, his heart pounding in his chest. "I don't think so," he said, his voice steady despite the fear that gripped him. "I will protect it. I will protect the pulse."
The dark figure laughed, its voice reverberating through the air. "You are a fool. The pulse will be ours, and you... you will be forgotten."
Before Sora could react, the figure lunged, and the ground beneath him cracked. The mist swirled violently, and Sora was thrown back by the force of the dark energy that filled the air. He struggled to stay on his feet, but the weight of the darkness was overwhelming.
The Echo of Eternity moved between them, its form glowing with intense light. "You cannot win, dark one," it said, its voice resolute. "The pulse will not be bent to your will."
The dark figure snarled, its tendrils of darkness reaching out to strike the Echo, but the figure's form was quick and fluid, dodging with ease. "This battle is not over," it growled, before retreating into the mist, disappearing as quickly as it had arrived.
Sora stood frozen, his mind racing. He had just encountered one of the beings that sought the pulse, and it was far more powerful than anything he had faced before. He could feel the danger, but he also felt something else—an understanding, a certainty that this was only the beginning.
The Echo turned to him, its glowing eyes filled with resolve. "The forces that pursue the pulse are relentless, Sora. You must be ready."
"I will be," Sora replied, his voice steady, despite the uncertainty gnawing at him. "I'll stop them. I won't let them take it."
The Echo nodded. "Then the true journey begins."
---
**
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