For the first time in years… the world was quiet.
No cracks in the sky.No divine pressure.No war.
Just peace.
Kashikari Hyuga stood at the edge of a cliff, looking down at the valley.
Below him was the village.
His village.
His clan… rebuilt.
Not as a survivor anymore.
But as a leader.
"Still thinking too much?"
Nyari's voice came from behind.
Kashikari didn't turn.
— Just remembering.
Nyari stepped beside him, calm and steady.
— You always do that when things get quiet.
— Quiet feels unfamiliar.
Nyari smiled.
— Then get used to it.— This is what we fought for.
She leaned slightly against him.
For a moment…
Everything felt complete.
Too complete.
Inside his mind, Jinwi spoke.
"…Status stable."
— You've been quiet.
"Unnecessary activity has decreased."
A pause.
"…Something is missing."
Kashikari frowned.
— Missing?
"…Unable to define."
Nyari suddenly looked up.
— Did you feel that?
Kashikari followed her gaze.
Nothing.
Just sky.
— Probably nothing.
Nyari hesitated.
— …Yeah.
But her grip tightened.
Later, the village felt alive.
Laughter. Voices. Movement.
Selvan was arguing loudly with someone.Dorum watched from the side.
— You built something good, kid.
Kashikari shrugged.
— Not alone.
Dorum smirked, glancing at Nyari.
— Yeah. We can tell.
Everything felt right.
And that was the problem.
That night—
Kashikari woke up.
No sound.
No reason.
Just… awake.
His chest felt tight.
— Jinwi.
"…Yes."
— Did something happen?
Silence.
"…No."
— Then why—
"…Unknown."
He stepped outside.
The air felt cold.
Too cold.
The stars looked distant.
Wrong.
Then—
The sky flickered.
For a split second.
Kashikari's eyes sharpened.
— I saw that.
"…Confirmed."
Jinwi's voice wasn't calm this time.
It was uncertain.
Kashikari stared at the sky.
— That's not a god.
"…No."
— Then what?
A long pause.
"…This world…"
"…feels constructed."
Kashikari didn't move.
— Explain.
"…I cannot."
The wind stopped.
Completely.
Then—
A thin line appeared in the sky.
Not light.
Not darkness.
Something else.
— So it's starting…
Jinwi answered:
"…It never stopped."
Far away—
Nyari suddenly opened her eyes.
— Kai…?
Something felt wrong.
Not outside.
Inside.
Back on the cliff—
Kashikari whispered:
— Whatever this is…
— I'll end it.
Jinwi replied:
"…This time…"
"…it may not be something you can fight."
The line in the sky remained.
It didn't disappear.
It stayed.