"Hello?"

"Katsuragi? Um.. we have a problem." Carmira answered in a worried tone.

"Huh?"

After an hour, Katsuragi arrived at Nexus Haven. And saw Carmira waiting for him.

"Katsuragi. We've got a problem."

Carmira stood in the doorway, arms crossed and expression flat. Her voice lacked its usual sarcasm. That alone told him it was serious.

"Define 'problem,'" Katsuragi replied, slipping his gloves back on.

"Nexus Haven. Xiang Hua's summoned you. Trial. Something about five dead Awakeners."

His eyes narrowed. "...That was two months ago."

"She knows."

He said nothing for a moment. The sky above seemed darker despite the sun. Without wasting any time, he immediately entered Nexus Haven without thinking twice.

Crystal pillars spiraled toward the heavens. Lines of golden sigils danced across the marbled floor. In the center of the vast atrium stood the High Council, formed of representatives from the various guilds and Elder factions. At the heart of them all—Xiang Hua, the Pathkeeper of Creation.

Elegant, serene, and with a presence that could silence storms. She stood in white and silver, her long sleeves trailing the ground like mist.

"Shin Katsuragi," she said. "You are summoned to stand trial for the murder of five licensed Awakeners, executed without sanction in northern Shanzhou."

"Ah," Katsuragi said, smirking. "So we’ve skipped pleasantries. Great. Saves time."

Gasps murmured through the council.

"State your defense," Xiang Hua said, her tone unreadable.

"No need for defense," said a man from the crowd. Tall, smug, and wearing the crimson badge of a Surveillance Division. "I saw it. With my own eyes."

Katsuragi turned slowly.

"Oh? You saw it, huh? When was this?"

"Two months ago. Northern ridge. I saw you cut them down. Without mercy."

Katsuragi raised a brow. "Two months ago... and you're just reporting it now?"

The man froze. Several council members exchanged glances.

"You must’ve had something really important delaying you, huh? Two months of... paperwork? Vacation? Forgetfulness?"

"I was collecting details," the man blurted, suddenly unsure.

"Uh-huh. And you're the only one who saw this?"

"Yes. I was patrolling. Alone."

Katsuragi tilted his head. "...So no visual proof? No audio log? Not even a spirit imprint?"

The man shifted uncomfortably.

"So basically," Katsuragi continued, stepping forward, "you walked into a trial with the claim that you’re the sole witness, waited two months to report it, and didn’t even bother bringing any proof?"

The man scowled. "I—"

"Or did you think a pointed finger would be enough to put me in chains?"

The tension in the room twisted. A few council members murmured. One coughed awkwardly.

"Five licensed Awakeners are dead," Xiang Hua said. "That cannot be ignored."

"True. You know what else shouldn’t be ignored?" Katsuragi said, voice rising. "The fact that they tried to kill me, but ended up being killed by the Abyss first. How lucky am I?"

"Do you have proof of that?" she asked.

"No. Because they’re dead, and I don't give a damn f*ck about it."

A long silence.

"Then we’re back to accusations versus silence," Xiang Hua said coldly.

Hearing that made Katsuragi a little upset.

"Sigh, I'm wasting my time coming here. If I end up like this."

Katsuragi chuckled.

"You really want me in a cell that badly, Hua? The Pathkeeper of Creation, sitting in judgment while half of Shanzhou's underground is run by rogue Awakeners you can’t even touch."

"Those cases are under investigation—"

"Oh yes, your famous 'investigations.' You sit on that Pathkeeper title like it’s divine right, but tell me—how many criminal Awakeners are still walking around freely? How many of your own haven’t reported in months?"

Her fists tightened at her sides.

"You want me in jail," he said, stepping closer, eyes glinting with dry humor, "because I did your job."

She didn’t answer.

But Katsuragi wasn’t done.

"Lucia trained you, didn’t she?"

Xiang Hua's expression faltered, just a flicker, but he caught it.

"She taught you to be more than a diplomat behind a desk. She taught you how to fight. How to protect. And yet here you are, hiding in this ivory tower, while others bleed in the dirt."

The air in the hall chilled.

"How many S-Rank Abyss Fields have you cleared lately?" he asked, voice sharp now. "How many low-level Awakeners have you helped when things went south? You wear that Pathkeeper title like armor, but you’re not even on the battlefield."

Murmurs broke out among the council. Xiang Hua's lips tightened.

Katsuragi leaned in, his voice a quiet blade.

"You don’t want justice. You want control. And it scares you that I don’t bend the knee."

He turned briefly toward the council. "And while we’re at it, where’s your precious Elder of Creation, Tian Yi? Still sitting in her floating gardens writing poetry while the world burns? Always talking about balance, harmony, and enlightenment but never once setting foot in a battlefield."

He laughed bitterly. "You all talk like deities and act like politicians. If Tian Yi is your shining example of wisdom, then maybe that says more about your failures than mine."

Xiang Hua’s eyes widened.

The crowd went completely silent. Meanwhile, Katsuragi yawned.

Then, Katsuragi laughed. Low and sharp.

"I’ll wait for the verdict," he said, walking past her. "But try not to trip on your halo while you're deciding."

Xiang Hua’s eyes narrowed. "Guards. Detain him."

Several armored enforcers moved forward.

Katsuragi sighed dramatically. "Really?"

In a blur, he spun, dodged the first two, and knocked the third aside with a swift elbow. Energy rippled from his fingers as a small concussive pulse pushed back the rest.

Gasps echoed again. One of the guards groaned on the floor.

"Sorry," Katsuragi said mockingly, "I have documents to sign and tea to brew. Urgent stuff."

Just before he could fully escape the Nexus Haven, a golden ripple shimmered across the chamber. A calm, glowing presence filled the air as a new figure stepped through a veil of light.

Tian Yi.

Her serene presence silenced even Katsuragi. Dressed in flowing robes of pale violet and white, she looked more celestial than real.

She raised her hand gently. "Let him go."

The guards paused.

"That’s an order," she added.

Katsuragi otherwise, already expected it.

Xiang Hua stood frozen. Her breath hitched. Then she stormed forward.

"Lady Tian Yi, why? He insulted you. He mocked everything you’ve built. He—"

Tian Yi looked at her with calm, unwavering eyes. "And yet he spoke the truth."

Xiang Hua’s lips trembled.

"There will come a time when you must understand, Hua," Tian Yi said gently, "that control is not strength. And silence is not wisdom, I also make mistakes."

Katsuragi gave a dry chuckle. "Didn’t think you’d save me."

"I didn’t," Tian Yi replied. "I’m just choosing not to waste potential."

With that, she turned and vanished in a shimmer of light.

Xiang Hua remained standing in the center of the room, her world subtly shaken.

Meanwhile, in the southern part of Shanzhou city. A person dressed in dark clothes dyed blue was also hiding, whistling, and looking like it was waiting for someone. It turns out that the person is Tetsuya Ren. 

"Phew, it's hard to face these Shanzhou patrollers. At least they gave me some exercise."

He looked back at where several patrollers had passed out from being attacked by him. Then, he heard footsteps coming towards him.

"Heh, it's too late. I'm tired of waiting for you. Yara."

Yara stopped in front of Tetsuya and put both hands in her pockets.

"Aw, why that serious face, Yara? Where did your sadistic personality go?"

Yara's gaze this time was quite serious, Tetsuya then said to her while leaning against the wall.

"Have you been like this since you met your enemy?"

"Lucia and I are friends, Tetsuya. And if you want to live, don't put the portal fragment near where she is."

Tetsuya then placed the fragments of the portal in several places around them.

"There you go, in three days, this portal will open and the Abyss will begin to attack."

"Tetsuya, there's one more thing."

Tetsuya looked at Yara, clearly interested.

"Oh? What's that?"

Yara pulled the collar of Tetsuya's shirt and pointed at Katsuragi who looked relaxed from afar.

"That man. Shin Katsuragi, be careful with him. I can feel... his strength getting stronger with just the few steps he takes."

Meanwhile, Katsuragi felt he was being watched. He looked towards where Yara and Tetsuya were. But there was no one there. His eyes... Glows purple.

"See? His eyes are glowing."

Tetsuya was a little confused and looked from where they were hiding.

"Hm, Pathkeeper of Shadow and Elder of Shadow also have the same color as Shin Katsuragi from their glowing eyes."

Yara then added more.

"No, Elder of Shadow and Pathkeeper have a lighter purple color. Meanwhile, Shin Katsuragi has a darker one."

"Wait. You mean.."

"Yeah, Shin Katsuragi is an 'Authority' user."