—
The six masked judges of the Balance Council hovered in eerie silence above Meiji Plaza. Their robes fluttered without wind. Their presence bent the air itself, as if gravity bowed in recognition.
Citizens gathered at a distance, phones recording, voices hushed.
Ayame tightened her stance. Kazuki powered up his gauntlets. But Hoshiro? He simply stood still, masked and unshaken.
One of the figures finally spoke—its voice layered with tones both male and female, ancient and young.
"You are Hoshiro Kenzaki. Child of paradox. Slayer of Amaterasu. Disturber of Balance."
"I like 'hero of Tokyo' better," he replied coolly.
A second judge stepped forward. "You fractured the cycle. Interfered with celestial order. The gods you fought were not your enemies. They were *functions*—rules of existence."
Kazuki frowned. "So what, you want him to apologize for *saving* us?"
"No," said the first. "We want him to *correct* what he's broken."
Ayame's eyes narrowed. "Which is?"
The six turned in unison, pointing skyward.
A black fissure had begun to tear open—like a scar across reality. Within it, something pulsed. Something alive.
"A rift created by divine interference," one judge intoned. "If left unchecked… it will consume your dimension." Hoshiro cracked his knuckles. "Then let me fix it."
"No," the lead judge said. "You *are* the fissure."
—
Suddenly, the sky split again—this time from a streak of crimson lightning.
Someone else had arrived.
A new player.
And they weren't on anyone's side.
—