The World Shudders
The first tremor came at dawn.
Birds scattered from the trees. The Arabian Sea's waves crashed unnaturally high against the shore. Survivors in Borivali clutched their heads, screaming as if struck by unseen hands.
And then, silence.
But every aura wielder felt it.
A ripple — deep, suffocating, ancient.
A heartbeat that did not belong to Earth.
---
Across the World
Reports poured in within hours.
In Cairo, the sands of the desert twisted into spirals, forming patterns older than language.
In New York, skyscraper windows cracked simultaneously, as if struck by invisible force.
In Moscow, the frozen rivers boiled briefly before refreezing into jagged shapes.
In Seoul, children woke screaming the same words: "The chains are breaking."
And in Paris, the seal map in the Council chamber lit up with violent pulses — three crimson points blazing in rhythm.
The seals were weakening.
---
The Council's Divide
The chamber erupted into chaos.
"We must strike before they awaken!" shouted a Russian elder.
"With what? Half our wielders are dead!" countered a German representative.
"Then we train Scarlet!" yelled a Brazilian voice. "If Ishita can wield it, she may be our only hope."
Arashi's fist slammed against the table, silencing them. His eyes burned, but his voice trembled with restraint.
"If we fight divided, we will lose. If we hesitate, we will also lose. We must choose — and choose now."
But no choice came. Only silence, and the weight of fear.
---
In India
Far from Paris, Ishita sat in meditation, trying to steady her Scarlet aura. But the moment the tremor struck, her flames erupted uncontrollably, lashing out in violent arcs.
Rehan leapt to her side, shielding her with golden aura. "Ishita!"
Her eyes snapped open, glowing crimson. She clutched her chest, gasping.
"They're… calling me. The demons. I can feel them waking."
Rehan's breath caught. He looked into her eyes — not with fear, but with grim resolve.
"Then we'll be ready. No matter what it takes."
---
The Shadow of Awakening
That night, Li Wei stood alone atop a ruined building, his Soul aura flickering faintly.
He stared toward the horizon, where the seals pulsed like distant thunder. His voice was low, meant for no one but himself.
"One fell… and three remain. The storm is only beginning."
The wind howled through the ruins. Somewhere, deep beneath the earth, three slumbering titans stirred.
And far beyond, the Lord Ghost Demon's laughter echoed faintly through the abyss.