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Echoes Through the Ether
Far away, atop an ancient peak where the spiritual winds never ceased, Ren knelt, eyes shut, hand pressed to the earth. A sudden surge rippled through him—violent, untamed, familiar.
His eyes snapped open. "The void just shifted again... but this isn't like before."
He stood, cloak billowing. "Yuki... what have you gotten yourself into now?"
Beside a nearby shrine, Himari stood still, her hands clutched together, aura faintly glowing. Her gaze turned to the east, her expression darkening.
"It's Haru," she whispered. "He's found Yuki."
From a distant rooftop in the city, Aiko nearly dropped the incense in her hand as the world momentarily twisted around her. Her breath caught. The aura—two of them—were clashing like storm and fire.
"That idiot," she muttered. "You better not get hurt…"
Back in the mountains, a lone figure leaned against a tree.
Nogitsune.
He smirked, watching the sky ripple. "Took you long enough, Haru... Let's see how much my brother can handle."
---
Back to the Fight: The Kitsune Awakens
Yuki's breath came hard and fast. Haru hadn't broken a sweat. The clash had pushed Yuki's reflexes, instincts, and aura to the limit.
Haru stepped forward, slow and confident. "You're holding back."
"I'm not—"
"You're afraid of what's inside you."
The words hit harder than the blows. Yuki's hands trembled. "I don't want to lose control again."
"You think fear will save you?" Haru's eyes narrowed. "You're not just fighting me. You're fighting yourself."
Yuki roared, his aura exploding outward—this time less void, more light, silver-white arcs dancing through the air. For the first time, the void and his innate spirit began to balance, harmonizing instead of clashing.
Haru grinned. "There you go."
He moved faster now—truly testing him.
This wasn't just training.
This was awakening.
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"If you're enjoying the ride, don't forget to leave a power stone or a comment—it really helps this grow!"