Beyond the city, atop a jagged cliff that pierced the clouds, a swirling tear in reality pulsed with unsteady light. The Divine Rift—a bridge between time, space, and all known dimensions—opened before Kiyoto and Mitsui. Its edges shimmered like molten crystal, tendrils of raw energy twisting and writhing into the infinite sky.
"This… is it?" Mitsui whispered, awe and fear mingling in her voice. The air around the Rift crackled with raw power, making her Soulflux flare uncontrollably.
Kiyoto stepped closer, eyes scanning every ripple in the fabric of reality. "The Rift shows truths that are hidden elsewhere," he explained. "I've accessed it before… but never fully. Today, you'll see the depth of what exists beyond our realm."
With a single step, Kiyoto extended his hand, the Infinity Crown pulsing in resonance. Threads of probability bent around him as he reached into the Rift. For a moment, reality itself seemed to pause—the winds froze mid-breath, clouds halted their drift, and even Mitsui's heartbeat echoed in slow motion.
From the Rift, a familiar voice called, not through sound but through thought: Kiyoto… balance is fragile. A hidden force seeks to corrupt Soulflux and Voidstream. Trust in your Crown, and in your instincts.
"Father…" Kiyoto murmured, recognizing the voice of Rhaizen Mushu, the Fallen Deity King. Though sealed beyond the Rift, his presence resonated with infinite authority. "I understand. I will uphold balance, no matter the cost."
Mitsui, standing beside him, felt the pulse of Kiyoto's aura wash over her. Threads of her own Soulflux synchronized briefly with his. She caught glimpses of countless possibilities—visions of battles yet to come, allies and enemies intertwined across shifting realities. Her head spun with the influx of energy, but she did not falter.
Suddenly, the Rift shimmered violently. Figures—shadowy and indistinct—emerged from its depths, their presence bending the light. "So… you can see us now," a distorted voice whispered. "The heir dares approach the Divine Rift. How amusing."
Kiyoto's crimson-gold eyes narrowed. "Show yourself. You won't hide behind shadows from me."
A ripple passed over the Rift, revealing only fragments of figures—Kael Mushu's silhouette among them, his dark aura unmistakable, and other entities cloaked in Voidstream energy, eyes glowing with unknown intent.
Mitsui instinctively stepped closer to Kiyoto. "Kiyoto… who are they?"
"They're beyond ordinary comprehension," he said grimly. "But they will test us. Everything we've prepared until now… it's just the beginning."
The Rift pulsed again, its energy intensifying, brushing against Mitsui's consciousness. Her own power surged, awakening more of her latent Soulflux. She gasped as her aura began to shimmer, threads of probability now more tangible in her perception.
Kiyoto placed a hand on her shoulder, steadying her. "Feel it, Mitsui. This is why we train. The Rift doesn't lie. It shows the paths of potential—both victory and failure. Learn to read them. Learn to bend them."
Mitsui nodded, determination blazing in her eyes. "I… I will. I won't let anyone threaten the balance—not you, not anyone."
For a brief moment, father and son connected across dimensions, and Mitsui glimpsed the magnitude of Kiyoto's inheritance—the responsibility of the Infinity Crown, the weight of cosmic balance, and the looming threat of forces beyond mortal and celestial comprehension.
> The Divine Rift had revealed secrets, warned of dangers, and awakened Mitsui's potential. The real trials were waiting beyond the horizon, and Kiyoto knew that every step forward would shape the fate of all realms.
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