The duel against the Echo continued in the ethereal Alvari training chamber. Drake, now Level 20, pressed his advantages relentlessly. His slightly superior Skill Completion Rates, locked in through grueling practice in the previous trial stages, made a palpable difference against an opponent whose every action was capped at a consistent, if uninspired, 80%.
The core of the battle revolved around the [Basic Attack Combo R/L].
His Right Hand, striking with a Perfect 100% SCR and benefiting from the [Flawless Strike] title's +10% effectiveness, landed for a solid 30 damage. His Left Hand, following at its hard-won 82% SCR, would hit for 11 damage, which was still notably better than the Echo's 80% SCR Left Hand initial hit after the first combo damage bonus. More importantly, his 82% Left Hand SCR allowed his combo chain to extend slightly longer than the Echo's 80% cap – lletting the crucial +5% damage per hit bonus stack higher before resetting. Every full exchange of basic combos saw Drake pulling further ahead on damage.
The health bar of the Echo steadily depleted. Drake, utilizing his longer combos, more potent [Twin Fang Strikes], and better spatial control with [Blade Dance], dictated the flow of the fight. He parried the Echo's final desperate flurry, its energy blades skittering off his trial blades, then stepped in with a final, perfectly executed [Basic Attack Combo R/L]. His right hand struck true (100% SCR), his left followed (82% SCR), and he ended the sequence with a decisive [Twin Fang Strike] (83% SCR) that connected squarely with the Echo's core.
The Echo of Drake flickered violently, its form destabilizing, then shattered into a million motes of fading silver-blue light, leaving only silence in the vast chamber.
Drake stood panting, [Trial Blades] held ready, the accumulated tension slowly ebbing away. He had done it. He had not just met the minimum 80% threshold; he had measurably surpassed it.
A profound stillness settled, then Elder Jian's voice, carrying a rare note of distinct approval, echoed. "You have not merely learned the forms, initiate. You have begun to embody their potential. Your execution exceeds the baseline. The Trial of Resonance is complete."
A cascade of system notifications erupted in Drake's interface:
<< Trial of Resonance Complete! All technique mastery thresholds achieved! >>
<< Hidden Class Unlocked: [Twin Soul Bladesworn]! >>
<< All previous skills ([Basic Slash], [Defend], [Ground Stomp]) have been permanently replaced or integrated into the [Twin Soul Bladesworn] skill set. Your new Class Skill Tree is now available via your Character Interface. >>
<< Achievement Unlocked: [Echo Perfected]! Description: You have surpassed the shadow of your own potential. >>
<< Title Acquired: [Master of Duality]! Effect: Slightly increases effectiveness of all dual-wielding skills. Minor increase to off-hand attack speed. >>
<< Quest Reward: Significant Global Reputation Increased! >>
<< Quest Reward: Acquired Gold x 250! >>
And then, the most significant reward of all:
<< Acquired Unique Passive Skill: [Relentless Assault]! is active again >>
<< Acquired Innate Class Passive: [Dual Intent]! Effect: Your affinity for wielding two matched blades is awakened. Significantly enhances off-hand coordination and damage contribution (passively increasing off-hand strike quality over time towards main-hand levels with practice). >>
<< Acquired Innate Class Passive: [Echoing Steel]! Effect: Successfully executing a [Parry] (80%+ SCR) grants a brief (3 second) window of +10% Critical Strike Chance on the next [Twin Fang Strike]>>
The [Trial Blades] in his hands dissolved into light.
Exhausted but triumphant, Drake looked towards Elder Jian. The ordeal that began with choosing "Unbeatable" difficulty for the tutorial boss, the weeks of grinding, the despair, the unexpected guidance, and the rigorous trials – it had all led to this moment.