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Jiro Tensai walked through the main gates of the academy, a massive structure of silver and obsidian that glimmered faintly under the fractured sky. Floating terraces jutted from the main towers, connected by crystalline bridges that reflected streams of light in every direction. Mechanical birds, powered by a mix of Essentia and Etherion, patrolled the sky above, their wings casting iridescent shadows across the courtyards.
"This place… is unreal," Jiro muttered, stepping onto the polished platform that hummed faintly under his feet.
Instructor Selene Kuroya, her silver hair flowing like liquid light, approached, followed by Darius Hane. "Neo-Tokara is nothing compared to the scale of the academy," Selene said. "Here, you will witness the world after the Cosmic Rupture. Our duty is to stabilize disturbances across the continents — we begin with Asia, now fragmented into districts. You are not just a student; you are a potential stabilizer."
Jiro's eyes widened as Selene gestured toward a massive holo-map. Mountain ranges stretched unnaturally high, some floating midair, rivers twisting in impossible spirals, and forests pulsating faintly with blue and green threads of energy. "The rupture changed everything. Animals, humans… even the land itself reacts to the fluxion of Essentia and Etherion. This is the new world. Beauty and danger entwined."
Darius added, his tone serious. "You must understand — not everyone seeks to restore balance. Some organizations answer to the forces that caused the rupture. They work in secret, exploiting the fluxion to grow stronger. Governments have changed. Democracy is largely gone. Power rules now, and sects form the backbone of control, much like in old Asia. Your duty is not simple survival — it is to navigate this fractured world and maintain the balance."
Jiro's fingers brushed the Ryūshin-ken chip implanted in his brain. The warmth in his veins pulsed faintly, his dormant core reacting to the energy of the academy. He wasn't ready for training yet — Selene and Darius made that clear — but he could already feel the threads of life weaving through the environment, testing him, waiting for him to awaken.
"Before training begins," Selene continued, "you will observe. Learn the environment, the rules, the dangers. Understand the Fluxion and the balance of power. Only then can you hope to synchronize your body, soul, and energy. The First Pulse is not something we teach — it awakens in those who endure and adapt."
Jiro nodded silently. The vast hallways, floating gardens, and crystalline training dojos seemed overwhelming, but beneath it all, he felt the familiar hum of Essentia within him. A spark, fragile yet persistent.
This was only the beginning.
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