The central chamber of the Aegis Covenant was shrouded in an even heavier atmosphere than before.
The ancient symbol raised at the center of the round table emitted a faint glow, as if it too remembered the pressure that had just passed. Everyone present knew this was no ordinary incident.
The leader spoke without preamble.
"Raijin is no longer a potential threat."
A senior member immediately lowered his head.
"His presence placed pressure on the entire world. Even the Lord reacted."
Another member added,
"If he matures further, balance will not survive."
After a brief silence, the leader's voice turned cold.
"An order is issued."
Everyone in the room held their breath.
"Raijin will be located."
"And if he resists…"
"He will be eliminated."
Sweat appeared on the brows of many veterans.
They knew this decision was not a light one.
But no one objected.
For the first time, the Aegis Covenant had declared a single individual as prey.
---
Inside the fortress, Sora's condition was worsening.
A strange pressure weighed on his chest, as if an invisible hand were gripping his soul. The moment Raijin's name crossed his mind, his heart began to race.
"Why…"
His voice trembled.
"I killed him myself…"
His Nexus Seed was becoming unstable.
The fear was no longer only of the Lord.
The real fear was that if Raijin truly returned…
he would not be able to face him again.
---
At the same time, deep within a dense forest—
Raijin sat atop a massive stone, eyes closed, breathing controlled.
Earth's energy rose beneath him.
The air was unnaturally still.
Suddenly—
Shnnng—
A blade tore through the air toward him.
Raijin's eyes snapped open.
He leapt back instantly. The ground where he had been sitting split apart.
Figures in black and white garments emerged from all directions.
Their eyes held no emotion.
"Raijin,"
one of them said,
"by order of the Aegis Covenant, you are to be eliminated."
Raijin did not smile.
Something inside him broke.
Strikes rained down on his body.
One. Two. Three.
The pain was sharp, but heavier still was the pressure crushing his soul.
"Every time…"
he clenched his teeth.
"I'm always too late…"
At that moment—
Something awakened within his chest.
A tremor.
An echo.
His Nexus Seed, silent until now, suddenly erupted.
The earth shook.
The Aegis Covenant members stumbled.
Their faces turned pale.
Raijin's eyes were no longer the same.
There was no fear in them.
"Now…"
his voice had grown heavy.
"I won't run anymore."
Waves of energy rose around him.
The forest, the wind, the ground—
for the first time, all recognized his name.
And in that very moment, far away—
Those seated in the Aegis Covenant chamber felt that pressure again.
This time…
sharper.
Sweat streamed down their foreheads.
The leader spoke quietly.
"We're too late."
---
The destruction spread through the forest had not yet settled.
Broken trees, torn earth, and lingering vibrations of Etherea made it clear that something had happened here that could not be concealed. Raijin stood alone, while the scattered members of the Aegis Covenant had retreated.
But within him…
something else was moving.
Suddenly—
The world stopped.
The forest, the wind, all sound vanished.
Raijin found himself standing in a void, where four distinct paths of light stretched out in the four directions.
A deep, steady voice resonated—
"You stand at the convergence of the Four Realms."
Raijin clenched his teeth.
"Who… are you?"
"I am the Witness of the Mortal Realm,"
the voice replied.
"The one who gave this world its stable foundation."
The four paths of light glowed one by one.
"The first— the Mortal Realm."
The second path ignited.
"The second— the Elemental Realm.
Fire, water, wind, earth."
The third path was calm, yet heavy.
"The third— the Spiritual Realm.
Where gods and spirits reside."
The fourth path was shrouded in darkness.
No words were spoken for it.
Raijin spoke softly.
"Then my—"
The voice answered.
"I can grant you the blessing of the Mortal Realm.
It will be a loan, not a choice."
A steady light descended into Raijin.
At that instant—
Something within him awakened completely.
The true Raijin.
The original owner of this body.
His consciousness opened, but he hid himself deep within.
For the future.
For necessity.
The current Raijin felt only a faint sensation—
as if someone were standing behind him, watching.
But the feeling vanished instantly.
The world returned.
Raijin collapsed to his knees, breathing heavily, yet his body…
was stronger than ever before.
The surviving members of the Aegis Covenant watched from afar.
They did not advance.
Raijin lifted his head.
"Four realms…"
he murmured.
"So this is the path."
He disappeared into the forest.
---
Inside the fortress—
Sora's hands were trembling.
He had felt it too.
A pressure, a shock—as if the world itself had shifted.
The Lord stood before him.
Sora lowered his head, but this time along with fear…
there was resolve.
"I need power,"
Sora said.
"I won't remain weak anymore."
The Lord raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
There was interest in his voice.
Sora clenched his fists.
"So I can defeat him."
"So I never have to bow before anyone again."
A moment of silence.
Then the Lord smiled.
"Interesting,"
he said.
"You're broken… but not completely."
Sora's Nexus Seed trembled faintly.
"If you truly desire power,"
the Lord said,
"you will have to pay a price."
Sora raised his head.
"I'm ready."
---
Far away—
The heavy pressure once again filled the Aegis Covenant chamber.
The leader spoke quietly.
"Movement has begun across the Four Realms."
Sweat covered many faces.
In many minds, the same fear took root.
"If the true Raijin awakens…"
The sentence was left unfinished.
Because some questions have answers
made only of destruction.
Thank you For Reading This Chapter.
Author: Mohammed. Zaid Saifi