The sky darkened, and the wind howled through the trees, signaling an approaching storm. Branches swayed violently, their creaks echoing like whispers of warning.
Kaito—now a nine-year-old Rank 1 Thread Weaver—stood beneath the churning clouds, his eyes gleaming with quiet thrill. His Thread Resonance Index had finally awakened. Power pulsed through him, sharp and intoxicating.
He steadied his breath, feeling the invisible vibrations around him. Threads shimmered faintly in the air, connecting all living things. His own Karma Thread pulsed in response, black and crimson, alive with potential.
But Kaito's excitement was tempered by caution. The Karma Thread is a double-edged sword, he reminded himself. Every action creates balance—fortune for others, misfortune for me. I must tread carefully.
As he explored deeper into the forest, a memory surfaced—this was the place where a girl named Mei Fei would be devoured by a Poison Wolf. In his previous life, he hadn't intervened. This time, he would. Saving her would not only earn him favor with the Fei Clan but also pave his way to adoption and enrollment in Min Academy—a perfect disguise for his true plans.
Mei Fei, daughter of the prestigious Fei Clan, had lost her way after leaving the Ling Clan. Her pride and stubbornness had led her astray into the Poison Wolf territory.
Kaito's eyes narrowed as he spotted her—running, terrified, as a pack of Poison Wolves closed in. Without hesitation, he dashed forward, his TRI flaring to life. Threads of light and shadow burst from his fingertips, weaving barriers in intricate patterns.
The wolves lunged, claws flashing. Kaito blocked one strike—+1 karma point. He reinforced the barrier—+2 karma points. His TRI now glowed faintly with the number +3.
Mei cowered behind him as the last wolf fell. Blood soaked Kaito's sleeves; his arms and legs stung from claw wounds. Still, he stood firm.
"This is the curse of Karma Thread," Kaito thought grimly. "Every weave, every act of will adds to my burden. Even restraint feeds it. And when karma overflows… it devours everything."
He remembered the end of his previous life—how his fortune had turned to ruin when his karma points reached their limit. Everything he had loved had vanished beneath the weight of his own power.
"Thank you for saving me," Mei said, trembling. "What's your name?"
"Kaito," he replied simply. "No family name."
"I'm Mei Fei, of the Fei Clan." Her tone carried pride, but she couldn't hide her curiosity about the stoic boy who had saved her. To her, he seemed cold—almost mechanical.
Kaito said nothing, leading her through the forest paths back to his home.
When they arrived, Luo Wei and Feng Huang gasped at the sight of blood. They hurried to tend the children's wounds. Mei explained what had happened, and when she mentioned her clan name, the couple grew nervous and respectful.
"We're sorry for our humble home, Miss Fei," Luo Wei said, offering food and tea.
Moments later, Mei's parents arrived, their expressions a mix of anger and relief. They scolded Mei for running away and rejecting her engagement to the Ling heir, but when they saw Kaito, their tone softened.
"Who are you, young man?" Mei's father asked. "How did you manage to save our daughter?"
Kaito bowed slightly, his face unreadable. "I was just passing by," he lied smoothly. "I saw Miss Fei in danger and acted on instinct."
The Fei parents exchanged glances, impressed by his composure. His calmness, his unshaken voice—they sensed something extraordinary about him.
Kaito's TRI glowed faintly at his side: Rank 1, +3 karma points.
He lowered his eyes, his thoughts cold and precise. If I'm not careful, he told himself, this karma will swallow me again.