A faint, otherworldly glow pulsed through the night sky, drifting over the jagged cliffs of the mountains. At the edge, where wind tore at their robes, the four ancestors of Eien Ryoku stood, poised to summon AN Roku, the pillar of all their power.
Tenkei let out a slow breath, his white hair catching the silver light of the moon.
"Are you all ready?" he asked, voice calm but firm.
"We are," the others replied in unison, their eyes reflecting a mixture of anticipation and reverence.
The ritual began. Red flowers were arranged in a perfect circle, a chunk of gold placed at the center like a beacon. One by one, their voices joined in chant, repeating the sacred words until the air itself seemed to vibrate:
"AN Roku…"
A mist of swirling colors enveloped them, seeping into their skin and bone. Energy unlike anything they had ever known coursed through them, awakening their senses, their very souls.
Then, as if from nowhere, AN Roku appeared — a towering, luminous figure whose presence seemed to bend the night itself.
"AN Roku, we are here to seek validation for our deeds," Reishin said, bowing respectfully. Her voice trembled slightly, caught between awe and determination.
AN Roku did not speak. The figure's eyes glimmered as it slowly lifted its hands. The world shifted. In an instant, all four ancestors were no longer in their homes — yet they felt stronger, as though some ancient force had settled within them.
Their thoughts were in perfect harmony. Meet at the mountain cliff. The place where AN Roku appeared.
They arrived, hearts pounding with expectation — yet one was missing. Kage no Michi.
"Maybe he's late… or perhaps he did not understand the importance," Tenkei murmured.
Seigan's eyes narrowed. A subtle chill ran down his spine.
"No… Kage is here. Somehow… I can feel him. AN Roku must have granted us the ancient Eien Ryoku," he said, voice low and tense.
They waited, anticipation thick in the air, until movement in the forest caught their attention. Shadows shifted unnaturally, and then they saw him — Kage no Michi, darting away into the trees.
The realization struck them like a lightning bolt. He had chosen his path. The wrong path.