Chapter 21 – The Rift's Heir
The world was silent.
Yin Jin drifted in a void of gold and black flame — each ember swirling like a distant star. His heartbeat echoed softly in the emptiness.
Then, a voice — ancient, deep, and filled with power — rolled through the silence.
> "Heir of the Nebula Flame… the line of my blood yet endures."
A massive figure stepped out of the void — his form made of starlight and shadow, draped in flowing robes that carried constellations within their folds. Behind him burned five great lights, each representing one of the Founders of the Nebula Realm.
Yin Jin's eyes widened.
> "You… who are you?"
> "I am the First Flame of Nebula — Shen Luo, one of the Five Founders. The blood you carry is mine. For eons, I watched as the Nebula Realm fell to greed and silence. But now… my heir stands before me."
The air vibrated with divine pressure, yet Yin Jin stood firm, black-gold fire flaring from his skin.
> "If you're my ancestor, then why call to me now?"
> "Because the Rift awakens again. The balance between Realms is breaking. Only one who carries both void and flame can restore what was lost."
The light from Shen Luo's eyes pierced him, igniting the black-gold fire deeper within Yin Jin's veins.
> "You will inherit my will — the Nebula Fire Body — but beware, heir. Power without restraint burns its bearer first."
Before Yin Jin could respond, the void shattered around him.
---
Back in the Rift World
A storm raged. Lightning tore through the skies, frost spread across shattered ruins, and the Rift Beast — now enraged — unleashed a roar that cracked the air.
Baifang was at the center of it all, his spear glowing brighter than ever before.
> "C'mon, you ugly thing!" he yelled, lightning coiling around his arms. His aura flared — his blue-white lightning turning violet, mixed with silver sparks.
Chaein gasped.
> "Baifang… your lightning— it's changing!"
> "Feels like the Rift itself is feeding it," he said through gritted teeth. "Guess it's not all bad."
But then, the beast turned toward Chaein. Its eyes locked onto her, glowing red.
The frost around her shattered as two radiant tails of icy light unfurled behind her. Her illusion dropped — revealing her true form.
A Two-Tailed Frost Vixen, rare and feared — of the Twin Moon Clan, known for their control over emotion and moonlight.
Baifang blinked.
> "You're… a fox demon?"
Chaein's eyes glowed with twin moons.
> "Half-blood. My mother hid it so I wouldn't be hunted."
Frost spread from her step, meeting Baifang's lightning in the middle — the combined power freezing and electrocuting the Rift Beast into crystal dust.
---
The battlefield quieted.
Then, the Rift's sky split open. Yin Jin fell from above, eyes blazing with new fire — a black-gold nebula swirling in his pupils.
Baifang caught him.
> "You alive, brother?"
Yin Jin stood slowly, his aura overwhelming. The flames around him danced like galaxies.
> "I met… him."
> "Who?" Chaein asked.
> "My ancestor. Shen Luo of the Five Founders."
A faint echo rippled through the air — the Rift itself seemed to bow in silence.
Yin Jin looked at his hands. "The Nebula Flame… it's awakened."
---
As they turned to leave, shadows flickered in the distance — the academy's hidden watchers.
One whispered into a crystal talisman:
> "The heir of Shen Luo has awakened. Inform the Headmaster."
But none of them noticed — far abov
e, beyond the Rift's sky — a colossal eye opened, watching Yin Jin with interest.
> "So the blood of Nebula burns once more…"