Days passed.
Despite the heavy warning signs and Kiyomi's vision, the threat didn't come.
Not yet.
But something had changed in the air. Shinzai no longer felt like the safe haven it once was. Even the sun seemed dimmer—filtered through an invisible tension blanketing the city.
At Nova Tower, Kael stood on the observation deck with his arms crossed. Beside him, Kaito sipped tea, silent as they watched the training grounds far below.
Renzo darted through obstacles with his Voidstep, now enhanced with subtle flickers of energy he had recently unlocked. Jinsei, quick and precise, matched him in timing, while Maiya spun midair, releasing concentrated bursts of Willforce—growing more like her father every day.
"They're improving fast," Kaito muttered. "But I can feel it too. That stillness. The silence before something breaks."
Kael nodded. "It's not fear—it's preparation. Even nature knows."
Back at the training grounds, Azephon stood with his arms behind his back, watching the trio.
"Again!" he barked. "Faster. You're not fighting to win. You're fighting to survive."
Renzo wiped sweat from his brow. "It's been five hours!"
"Good," Azephon said flatly. "You'll fight for days when it comes. If you're lucky."
Maiya panted, glancing at Jinsei. "Do you think it's already watching us?"
Jinsei's face was serious. "If it came through Kiyomi's dream, it probably saw all of us."
Just then, Liora appeared beside the training platform with Kiyomi clinging to her arm. The girl's eyes—still faintly glowing from the residual dream energy—watched the trio with curiosity.
Kael came down from the tower and approached them. "How's she been?"
Liora exhaled. "Quieter than usual. But… she draws. Look."
She handed Kael a sketch Kiyomi made.
It was a jagged, dark shape—towering over the Earth with what looked like broken wings and multiple glowing eyes. In the corner was a small stick figure with glowing hands—Kiyomi herself.
"She's dreaming pieces of it," Kael said grimly. "Even when she's awake."
Azephon glanced at the picture and frowned. "It's not coming. Not yet."
Kael turned to him. "Then what's it waiting for?"
Azephon didn't blink. "Chaos. It wants us to divide first."
Kael clenched his fist. "Then we'll give it unity instead."
As the sun dipped behind the mountains and Shinzai lit up under the night sky, the city remained whole—for now.
But every breath they took was one closer to the moment it would arrive.