Gacha Summoner: Pulled into Another World

Chapter 7: Echoes of Power

**Chapter 7: Echoes of Power**

The next chamber was unlike any Yuuji had seen so far. Its vastness stretched beyond what seemed possible, as if it existed outside the bounds of the dungeon itself. Columns of ancient stone reached up to a sky that shimmered with shifting colors—blues, purples, and golds—like the northern lights. A soft wind stirred, carrying with it a distant hum of energy, as though the very air was alive with magic.

Yuuji felt the weight of the Blade of Eterna at his side, its presence both comforting and daunting. He still wasn’t used to carrying it, but its warmth gave him strength. His companions walked beside him in silence, each of them scanning the surroundings, alert for the next trial.

“What is this place?” Yuuji whispered, more to himself than anyone else. It was hard to believe this room was part of the same labyrinth. There was something ethereal about it, as though it had been crafted by ancient hands for a purpose far greater than the trials they’d faced so far.

“It feels… different,” the mage said, her voice barely audible. “There’s a power here, older than anything I’ve ever sensed. Be careful, Master.”

As they ventured further into the chamber, Yuuji spotted something in the distance: a figure, cloaked in shadows, standing motionless at the center of a raised platform. The figure didn’t move, but Yuuji could feel its gaze locked on him, even from so far away.

The knight stepped forward, his sword drawn. “We are not alone. That presence—it’s watching us.”

Yuuji nodded, his grip tightening on the Blade of Eterna. “Let’s approach cautiously. No sudden moves until we know what we’re dealing with.”

As they neared the platform, the figure became clearer. It was tall and draped in a long, flowing cloak, its face hidden beneath a hood. But what struck Yuuji most was the aura of power radiating from it. This was no ordinary enemy.

When they were close enough, the figure finally spoke, its voice echoing with a strange, ancient tone. “You who wield the Blade of Eterna… you have come far, but your journey has only just begun.”

Yuuji stepped forward, trying to keep his voice steady. “Who are you? What is this place?”

The figure lifted its head slightly, though its face remained hidden in shadow. “I am an Echo of the past, a remnant of the ancient order that once protected this world. And this…” The figure gestured to the chamber around them. “This is the Hall of Echoes, a place where power and memory intertwine.”

Yuuji exchanged a glance with his companions. “Hall of Echoes? Why am I here? What do you want from me?”

The Echo’s voice deepened, as though drawing from some long-forgotten well of knowledge. “The Blade of Eterna is not just a weapon. It is a conduit for the will of those who have come before you. Heroes, warriors, mages… all who have wielded it left behind a piece of their essence, their strength, their wisdom. Here, in this hall, their power still lingers. But that power is not given freely.”

Yuuji felt a chill run down his spine. He had known there was something special about the sword, but this was different. The idea that the blade carried the memories and wills of countless heroes—that it was alive in a way—was overwhelming.

The Echo continued, “You must prove yourself worthy to inherit their strength. Only then will the Blade of Eterna reveal its true potential to you.”

Before Yuuji could respond, the platform beneath the Echo began to glow, and the shadows surrounding it swirled like a storm. In an instant, the air became heavy with magic, and figures—ghostly, shimmering forms—began to emerge from the shadows. Each one bore a striking resemblance to the ancient heroes depicted in the murals from the previous chamber.

“These are the spirits of those who came before,” the Echo said. “They will test your resolve. Only by defeating them will you earn their blessing.”

Yuuji’s heart pounded in his chest as the ghostly figures solidified, their eyes glowing with ancient power. They drew weapons—swords, spears, staves—and moved into formation, their expressions cold and unyielding.

“They’re not going to go easy on us, are they?” Yuuji muttered, feeling the pressure of their collective presence.

The knight stepped forward, his sword blazing. “We’ll face them together, Master. Just as we have faced every trial so far.”

The archer nocked an arrow, and the mage prepared her spells, their resolve as strong as ever. Yuuji nodded, his fear giving way to determination. *We’ve come this far. We can do this.*

The first spirit, a towering warrior wielding a massive greatsword, charged forward with a roar. His speed was astonishing, and Yuuji barely had time to react before the knight met the spirit head-on. Their blades clashed with a thunderous force, sparks flying as steel met ethereal energy.

At the same time, two more spirits, one with a spear and the other with twin blades, rushed toward Yuuji and the others. The archer loosed a flurry of arrows, each one striking true, but the spirits were relentless, barely slowed by the barrage.

Yuuji raised the Blade of Eterna, feeling its warmth surge through him as he stepped forward to meet the twin-bladed spirit. Their weapons clashed, and Yuuji could feel the weight of the spirit’s strength. It wasn’t just a fight—it was a test of will, of resolve.

“Don’t back down!” Yuuji shouted, blocking another strike from the spirit. “We have to push through!”

The mage unleashed a wave of fire, driving the spear-wielding spirit back, but it quickly recovered, spinning its weapon with deadly precision. The battle was fierce, and Yuuji knew they couldn’t afford to falter.

As the fight raged on, Yuuji began to notice something. With each strike, each clash of blades, the Blade of Eterna seemed to respond. It pulsed in his hands, almost as if guiding him, channeling the strength of the ancient heroes through him. He felt faster, stronger—his movements more precise, his reactions sharper.

Suddenly, it clicked. The Blade of Eterna wasn’t just a weapon. It was a connection, a bridge between him and the heroes who had wielded it before. And they were helping him, lending him their strength in the heat of battle.

“We’re not fighting alone,” Yuuji realized, his heart racing. “The blade… it’s with us!”

With renewed determination, Yuuji pressed the attack. He dodged the twin blades and struck with precision, landing a powerful blow that sent the spirit reeling. The knight, archer, and mage followed suit, their attacks more coordinated, more powerful.

Slowly but surely, they began to turn the tide. The greatsword-wielding spirit fell to the knight’s fiery blade, and the archer’s arrows found their mark, piercing the spirit’s ethereal form. The mage’s magic flared brightly, engulfing the spear-wielding spirit in flames until it dissipated into mist.

As the last spirit fell, the chamber grew quiet once more. The Echo watched in silence, its form still shrouded in shadows.

“You have proven yourself worthy,” the Echo said, its voice softer now. “The Blade of Eterna has accepted you. With each battle, your connection to its past will grow stronger. But beware—its power comes with a price. The burden of the past is heavy, and not all who wield the blade can bear it.”

Yuuji took a deep breath, his hand still wrapped around the sword’s hilt. The weight of the Echo’s words hung in the air, but for now, he felt stronger, more confident. He had passed the test.

The Echo’s form began to fade, its final words echoing through the chamber. “Continue your journey, Summoner. The true trial still awaits.”

With that, the Hall of Echoes began to shimmer, and the path ahead revealed itself once more.

Yuuji looked to his companions, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and determination. “We keep moving,” he said, gripping the Blade of Eterna tightly. “We’re ready for whatever comes next.”

Together, they stepped forward, into the unknown, the weight of the past now a part of their future.