Chapter 7— "THE FRACTURE OF THE THREE REALMS"
ACT I — THE AFTERMATH OF VOIDWINTER
The chapter begins with a series of world-shaking consequences:
1. The Northern Empire collapses
The Voidwinter erases entire regions.
Millions vanish.
Survivors flee south.
The Emperor is dead.
2. Neighboring countries panic
Rumors spread:
"A boy with ancient marks fought a God."
"The sky opened."
"The Pale King has returned."
Everyone knows it's connected to Ushinai.
3. Ushinai is unconscious
He has been out for two full weeks since the Pale King retreated.
During these weeks:
• His marks flicker and change unpredictably
• His heartbeat sends waves through mana currents
• His dreams are full of white snow and whispers
• He mutters fragments of multiple voices
• Doctors, mages, priests — all terrified — can't identify what's happening
Aria stays at his bedside the whole time.
Garo silently trains outside the room, guarding him.
Sylpha researches the Pale King day and night.
Tempest communicates with the storm spirits to gather information.
The world is holding its breath.
ACT II — USHINAI AWAKENS… WRONG
When Ushinai finally wakes, the moment is subtle.
Eyes open.
Breath sharpens.
But something is… off.
Aria hugs him in relief, but then—
She pulls back.
His eyes glitch between three different colors:
• His original brown
• The molten silver of his Self-Forged Aspect
• The pale white of the Fragment
Ushinai brushes it off.
"I'm… fine.
Where are we?"
But his voice echoes slightly.
Not demonic. Not divine.
More like two overlapping voices trying to sync.
He tries standing.
He stumbles.
His identity is still unstable.
ACT III — THE THREE REALMS SUMMON HIM
A meeting takes place — the most important diplomatic gathering in 1,000 years.
Representatives of the Three Realms arrive:
1. The Mortal Realm
Kings, queens, mages, generals
Everyone seeking answers and protection
2. The Spirit Realm
The Twelve Sacred Beast Clans send envoys
Tiger, Phoenix, Serpent, Wolf, Leviathan, Crane, and more
They declare:
"The Pale King's shadow has returned."
3. The Celestial Realm
A Herald of the Gods descends in pure golden light.
It speaks with a voice like thunder:
"We summon the boy named Ushinai.
He carries a forbidden fragment.
The Celestials demand inspection."
The entire hall freezes.
Everyone looks at Ushinai.
Everyone.
He is suddenly the center of fear, hope, and politics.
ACT IV — THE WORLD PUTS USHINAI ON TRIAL
Ushinai is taken to the Tri-Eclipse Chamber, a neutral holy ground.
There, leaders of the Three Realms question him:
• Did you awaken the Pale King?
• Did you inherit his essence?
• Are you his reincarnation?
• Are you a weapon?
• Are you a mistake?
• Are you the world's salvation—
or the coming catastrophe?
Ushinai tries to answer honestly:
"I fought him.
I rejected him.
I rewrote myself to oppose him."
But the Celestial Herald slams its staff:
"Lies.
The Fragment remains.
We sense it."
The Spirit Envoys whisper:
"He is unstable."
"He might lose control."
The Mortal Kings argue:
"He saved lives!"
"He caused Voidwinter!"
"He is the only one who fought the Pale King!"
"He might bring the next disaster!"
The arguments turn into shouting.
Ushinai stands in silence.
He remembers his greatest fear:
**Being seen not as a person…
but a danger.**
His heartbeat echoes in the chamber like a war drum.
ACT V — THE UNMASKING
The Celestial Herald steps forward.
"Ushinai.
Kneel."
He doesn't.
The Herald forces him to.
A beam of light crashes onto Ushinai, exposing:
• The Fragment swirling inside his soul
• The instability between his identities
• The re-forged mark twisting with cosmic pressure
• A flicker of Pale King energy
Gasps fill the chamber.
Fear spreads instantly.
The Herald declares:
"He is a vessel.
We must purify him.
Now."
Aria steps forward:
"If you touch him—
I'll cut your halo in half."
The Spirits draw weapons.
The Mortals shout in panic.
The Celestials prepare spells.
The room is one second from multi-realm war.
ACT VI — USHINAI LOSES CONTROL
The pressure, the fear, the divine scrutiny—
it's too much.
His Fragment stirs.
His Self-Forged Aspect tries to contain it—
but he's not fully mastered it.
His heartbeat becomes a tremor.
His aura flickers between three forms.
His marks glow violently.
A crack runs across the chamber floor—
BOOM.
A shockwave explodes from Ushinai.
The Herald is thrown back.
The walls bend like liquid.
Spirit beasts roar in panic.
Mortals flee.
Ushinai's vision distorts into white.
And then—
The Pale King's voice whispers inside him:
"You stand alone.
Let me help."
Ushinai screams:
"SHUT UP!"
ACT VII — THE PERSON WHO SAVES HIM
A hand grabs his.
Soft.
Firm.
Familiar.
Aria.
Her voice cuts through the distortion:
"Ushinai.
Look at me.
Not at the gods.
Not at the spirits.
Not at the kings.
Not at the fragment.
LOOK AT ME."
His breathing slows.
The trembling stops.
The marks dim.
Aria whispers:
"You're not alone.
We decide who you are.
Not them.
Not him."
Ushinai collapses into her arms.
ACT VIII — THE DECLARATION OF THE THREE REALMS
When order is restored, the realms vote:
The Mortals
"We stand with Ushinai."
The Spirit Clans
"We will guard him.
For he guards the world."
The Celestials
"We reject this decision.
He is a violation of the Cosmic Law.
We withdraw—
and prepare judgment."
The Celestial Herald vanishes in a burst of golden lightning.
The Celestial Realm becomes hostile.
ACT IX — THE GREAT FRACTURE
This moment officially splits the world into three factions regarding Ushinai:
1. Alliance of Humanity
Kings, kingdoms, warriors
→ They trust him.
2. Spirit Clans
Sacred beasts, guardian tribes
→ They stand beside him.
3. The Celestial Court
Gods, angels, divine arbitrators
→ They declare him unfit to exist.
And high above them all…
The Pale King watches and smiles.
This is exactly what he wanted:
"Let the world fracture.
And let him stand in the center of the storm."
**ACT X — ENDING SCENE:
THE PROPHECY OF THE LAST SNOWFALL**
In the final scene, Ushinai experiences a vision:
A battlefield of white ash.
A broken spear.
Aria's shattered sword.
Garo's dented shield.
Sylpha's torn cloak.
Tempest's fading light.
He is alone, standing before a colossal throne made of frozen souls.
The Pale King sits on it.
He speaks:
"Twenty-five arcs, Ushinai.
That is how long your story lasts."
Ushinai wakes up, trembling.
He looks at his hand.
A tiny snowflake of void melts into his skin.
Fade out.