🌙 Somewhere Else
Kiyomi ran through white grass.
The moon above her was split in two.
Behind her, the screams still echoed — from people she couldn't save.
From monsters she couldn't stop.
From herself.
She looked down at her hands. They were glowing.
Burning.
Her wings burst out. Spectral. Majestic. Terrifying.
And in front of her, floating above the ruins of her old world—
Was the Sky Eater.
Its mouth opened wide enough to swallow mountains.
And it whispered her name.
> "Kiyomiiiiiii..."
She jolted awake.
Sweat soaked her sheets. Her breathing ragged.
She looked at the ceiling of her tiny apartment and muttered:
"Don't come back…"
🍜 Back at the Ramen Shop
"Start talkin', old man," Ren said, holding a bag of ice to his ribs. "What the hell was that thing last night?"
Uncle Jin finished stirring a pot, then sat.
His tone was calm. Dead ser
ious.
☯ The Truth About the Rift
"Long ago, there were two worlds," Jin began. "The Mortal Plane — where we live — and the Higher Realm, home of gods, spirits, and Skyborn."
"Most humans can't connect to that realm. But some, like you, are born as bridges."
Ren blinked. "Bridges?"
"You carry the Sky Mark. It links you to something very old. Very powerful."
Jin looked him square in the eye.
"And very dangerous."
"There's a place between those realms. A crack. We call it the Rift. That's where nightmares like last night's monster come from."
"They're not Spectrals. They're Aberrants — raw chaos given form. If they ever pour out fully, reality starts to… break."
Ren's voice dropped. "And I'm somehow connected to it?"
"You're not just connected to it, kid." Jin stood, walked to a drawer, and pulled out a faded scroll. On it: a symbol glowing faintly blue. The same one on Ren's hand.
"You're its lock."
Ren stared at the symbol. "So if I die—"
"—it opens," Kiyomi said, stepping through the door. She looked pale.
Jin nodded. "Exactly."
🛐 Meanwhile… At the Shrine
Deep in the fog-covered shrine, The Watcher stood before an altar of bones.
Two robed figures knelt behind him.
He opened a vial. Poured black ash into the wind.
Whispers filled the air.
> "Skyborn essence detected… Opening breach…"
> [Summoning: Proto-Sky Eater (Seed)]
[Power Limiters Engaged (Realm Locked)]
Stage 1: Incursion Test
A rift appeared in midair — a tear of spiraling darkness with tendrils writhing from within.
From it, a shape began to form.
Humanoid.
But massive.
Pale skin like cracked stone.
No eyes.
A mouth stitched shut — but humming with energy.
The first Sky Eater Seed had entered the mortal plane.
🏠 Ramen Shop Again
Ren stood. "Okay. So let me get this straight…"
"I'm a mystical reality padlock. That monster was just the tutorial boss. Kiyomi's got flame wings. Kazuki is secretly sentient war poultry. And now you want me to train harder because more of those things are coming?"
"Yes," Jin said, sipping tea.
Ren rubbed his temples. "Can I at least have, like, one normal day?"
"Nope," Kiyomi said, cracking her neck. "Next lesson's tonight. Park rooftop. Don't be late."
"Why a rooftop?"
"Better skyline. More dramatic."
"...You're insane."
"I was raised in a death cult. Comes wit
h the territory."
📉 System Notification
> [Legacy Protocol Activated]
Skybound Threat Level Rising.
Aberrant Activity Detected in 3 Quadrants.
Power Acceleration Recommended.
> 🔓 New Skill Available:
"Pulse Step" – Short-distance burst movement. Cooldown:
7 seconds.
Ren sighed and looked up at the ceiling.
"Okay. Universe? Bring it. But I swear… if another monster shows up with mouth knees, I'm out."
From the corner, Kazuki flapped once.
He app
roved.
🔥 Chapter 9 Teaser:
> Night training begins — rooftop fights, power upgrades, and emotional tension. Meanwhile, the first Sky Eater Seed begins moving through the city… and someone Ren knows might already be infected.