That evening, Izumi climbed to the rooftop of the academy. The sky was painted with streaks of crimson and violet as the sun set. The shard pulsed violently, reacting to something distant yet familiar.
Jack and Aria joined him. "What is it this time?" Jack asked, squinting at the horizon.
Izumi closed his eyes, extending his senses outward. Threads of mana stretched beyond the academy, brushing against something ancient—intense and omnipresent. It was as if reality itself quivered at its presence.
> "The divine realm stirs… the Ten Great Gods are aware," the shard whispered.
Aria's eyes widened slightly. "I've felt it too. The currents of divine energy are converging. Whoever or whatever is moving… it is not mortal."
Suddenly, a ripple appeared in the sky—a tear in the fabric of reality. From it emerged a figure shrouded in radiant light, not malevolent, yet impossibly powerful. Its presence made the air vibrate, and Izumi's heart raced—not with fear, but with recognition.
The figure spoke, voice echoing like the chime of crystal. "Izumi… the boy who has survived lifetimes. The shard awakens within you, and your path diverges from the flow of destiny."
Izumi stepped forward. "I know my path. I will awaken fully. And I will not falter, no matter what challenges await."
The figure's gaze seemed to pierce into his soul. "Know this: the Ten Great Gods will test you. Some directly, some indirectly. Each loop, each memory, each shard fragment you awaken will bring you closer… and yet, closer to the brink of despair."
The figure dissipated, leaving the rooftop silent except for the hum of the shard.
Jack rubbed his eyes. "Uh… did that just… talk to you? Alone? In your head?"
Izumi's jaw tightened. "It is not alone, Jack. Everything I've lived, everything I will face—it all prepares me. And it has begun."
Aria placed a hand on his shoulder. "Be careful, Izumi. Even the smallest misstep could awaken forces beyond comprehension. But… you are ready for what comes next."
The shard pulsed, as if affirming her words.
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