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The sky above was deep violet, speckled with stars that shimmered behind crawling clouds. The moon—a pale silver orb—hung fat and full, casting its light across the forest with gentle clarity.
"I need to get stronger," he whispered. "Not just physically. Not just my aura. My soul. If I can strengthen my soul… maybe I can reach them. Even across continents."
The breeze stirred again. He sat in silence, letting the thought root itself deeper.
"Everything changed so fast," he murmured. "One day I was just surviving… Now I'm building an empire."
Kai didn't know if it would last. He didn't know if Akayoroi would say yes. He didn't know if Luna was okay. Or if Miryam had grown larger. Or if the mountain was even still safe.
But what he did know… was that he couldn't stop now. Not here. Not when he'd already taken the first steps to building a legacy.
