Twilight had settled over Elystria Prime, casting long shadows across the narrow streets. The city was quieter than usual, as though it sensed the tension in the air.
Mitsui Tachaina followed closely behind Kiyoto, her senses alert. Her recent training had heightened her awareness, and the threads of probability she had glimpsed earlier now lingered in her mind, subtle and warning.
"They're here," Kiyoto murmured, his crimson-gold eyes scanning the alleyways. "The Abyss Order doesn't make casual visits."
Almost instantly, cloaked figures emerged from the shadows, moving with predatory precision. Weapons forged from corrupted Voidstream glimmered in the dim light, their edges cutting through the air with unnatural sharpness.
Mitsui tensed. "How… how many are there?"
"Enough to test us," Kiyoto replied with a faint smirk. He raised his hand, and reality itself seemed to warp slightly as glowing swords materialized midair. Probability bent to his will; every attack that could hit him would instead miss or fizzle harmlessly.
The cloaked warriors struck as one, a wave of shadowy energy surging toward them. Mitsui, heart pounding, closed her eyes and let her Soulflux flow. Threads of probability whispered possible outcomes to her, guiding her movements instinctively.
She rolled to the side, sending a flurry of shadowy illusions toward the attackers. The warriors swung at the illusions, missing entirely, their attacks dissolving into nothingness.
Kiyoto stepped forward, his Pulse Mode Ascendant flaring. The Infinity Crown pulsed, bending space and time in localized bursts. With a swift motion, he sliced through the first wave of attackers, each swing of his Divine Katana: Silent Dawn cutting not just matter but probability itself.
"Keep moving, Mitsui!" he commanded, deflecting a strike aimed at her. "Use your illusions and probability threads. Don't just dodge—control their perception!"
Mitsui nodded, her confidence growing. She leapt forward, weaving her Soulflux into a pattern that forced the enemies' attacks to collide with each other. Sparks of corrupted energy flew, some dissolving into harmless fragments of light.
Despite their skill, the Abyss Order warriors began to falter. One of them, wounded and cornered, gasped, "The… Shadow Heir… watches… the Crown… will be his…"
Kiyoto's eyes narrowed. "Kael is moving. And this was just the beginning."
When the last of the warriors fell, the street fell silent once more. Mitsui's hands were trembling, her chest heaving with exhaustion, but her eyes burned with determination.
"You did well," Kiyoto said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "This was your first real fight, and you held your own. But remember… the Shadow Heir is only the beginning. There are greater threats out there—those who have observed us and are already planning their next move."
Mitsui clenched her fists, golden threads of Soulflux flickering faintly in her aura. "I'll be ready, Kiyoto. Next time, I won't just defend—I'll fight."
Kiyoto smiled faintly, the corners of his mouth curling with both pride and amusement. "That's the spirit. Let's see how far you can go. The real battle for balance has only just begun."
> The streets of Elystria Prime had witnessed the clash. The Abyss Order had tested the heir and his ally—but the war for the Infinity Crown was only beginning. Shadows were moving, and the first skirmish had set the stage for the storm to come.
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