---
The storm above boiled.
Essence lightning spiraled upward, not down but crackling toward an unseen point in the sky. From the whirl of silver clouds, three distinct forms began to emerge, etched in arcs of raw energy:
To the left, the Void Mandible crown, a colossal chitin jaw suspended in emptiness, vibrating with silence so intense it seemed to swallow the thunder itself. Its sharp edges glimmered like obsidian blades, and Kai could feel it gnawing at his thoughts, his sense of self.
To the right, the Titan Plate crown, massive iron segments rotating around a molten core, grinding like a broken world trying to put itself back together. Its presence pressed against Kai's ribs, urging him to endure, to carry the burden of everything, every death in the valley beneath him.
And in the center, the Crimson Crown, weaving lines of ruby light into fractal patterns, threads branching outward like veins. Each one pulsed with memory, emotion, bond. It was beautiful. Terrible. Alive.
