The world felt wrong.Like the air itself was holding its breath, waiting.
Kisar stood outside the dojo as storm clouds twisted overhead. The earth rumbled beneath her feet — not thunder, not rain. Something heavier."Kim," she muttered, eyes narrowing toward the horizon, "what did you do?"
The Battle That Shouldn't Have Happened
Miles away, the field was painted red and gold.Kim stood in the center, his blade dripping with energy that cracked the sky. Admira lay in the dirt, half his armor shattered, chest heaving.
"You're insane," Admira spat, coughing blood. "Do you even realize what you've done?"Kim didn't answer — his eyes were wide, but not with rage. With something emptier.
Admira's sword trembled as he lifted it again. "You've killed enough. Step down."
Kim smirked. "Enough? There's no enough when the world keeps pushing you to the edge."He stepped forward. "You called me monster, remember? Let me show you why."
The ground split beneath him. Flames burst outward, curling in spirals as if the world itself feared his soul.Kim's old name—Itsunari—rippled through the air like a curse, whispered by the energy erupting from his body.
Admira froze. "That name… No—it can't be you."
Kim's expression darkened. "Then you finally remember."
He raised his hand. The flames flared — not fire, but soul energy, raw and violent. Admira barely managed to block, and even then the impact sent him crashing into the mountainside.
For a moment, there was only wind. Then the roar.An explosion so bright it burned the sky white.
When the smoke cleared, half the valley was gone.
The Chain Reaction
News of the duel spread faster than light.By dusk, every guild, faction, and awakened sect had heard the same story:"Kimbachi of the Dead Souls struck down the Jujutsu Captain."
Whispers became panic. Panic became calls for vengeance.By nightfall, war banners rose.
Kisar slammed her hand against the table in disbelief as the reports poured in. "He's started it. The one thing we swore we'd avoid."
Tix, still bandaged, lowered his head. "Then… it's war?"
"Yes." Kisar's eyes burned with quiet fury. "And none of us are ready."
Return from the Void
The doors burst open — Nyx and Null entered, faces grim, rain soaking through their cloaks."We felt it," Nyx said. "Kim's power. It reached the Void."
Kisar turned to them. "Then you know what's coming.""Yeah." Null's eyes flicked to Nyx. "He's unstable. You saw what happened last time."
Nyx nodded. "Then I'll stop him."
"You'll try," Kisar corrected. "But remember — he's not the only threat anymore. Vox is still moving, and whoever's feeding him Void energy… they want this war."
Nyx's hands clenched. "Then we give them one."
Kisar frowned. "Be careful what you wish for, kid. Wars don't end clean."
The First Flame of War
By dawn, the banners of the Jujutsu Alliance clashed with the sigils of the Dead Soul Order.The sky was blood-red. The ground trembled as armies gathered — humans, soulborn, and awakened alike.
Nyx watched from a ridge, wind tearing at his coat.Below, Kim stood at the front of his army, silent.
For just a moment, Nyx saw the friend he'd known — not the monster the world feared.Then Kim raised his hand, and the world ignited.
Flames tore through the battlefield as the first war of the Awakened began.
Epilogue: The Voice Beyond the Flames
In the ruins of an unseen world, Vox knelt before his master once more."The war has begun," he said, his voice steady."Good," the figure in the dark replied. "The Void stirs when mortals bleed. Let it feast."
The voice chuckled softly."Soon, the true awakening will begin."