"Next match—Leon the Tempestwalker… versus Rank 35: Mar'Zhal the Sixfold Echo."
The crowd hushed.
From the shadows emerged Mar'Zhal—an Obsidian Ant unlike any Leon had seen. His form shimmered with afterimages, his steps layering upon themselves. He didn't just move—he reverberated. Each twitch of his carapace emitted delayed echoes, six mirrored projections dancing in tandem with him. This was the champion whose Shell Reverb had fractured time into battle echoes—an opponent who fought in six moments at once.
"Begin!"
Mar'Zhal charged—and all six of him moved.
Leon struck first, driving Shell Pulse forward, but his punch passed through a ghost. The second echo caught him in the ribs—then the third slammed him from behind. Pain flared.
He's not faster, Leon realized, he's ahead.
