The sky above Heaven cracked with thunder.

Spirit hovered at the center of the chamber, surrounded by glowing runes and ancient angelic inscriptions.

For thirteen years he had repeated the same ritual…

For thirteen years it failed.

Tonight, something changed.

A pulse of black–and–white energy flashed through the runes.

Spirit’s eyes widened.

Spirit:

“…That power… it can’t be…”

He staggered forward, gripping the crystal slab as the readings spiked off the charts — higher than any demon surge, higher than any angel resonance.

It wasn’t just a signal.

It was a heartbeat.

A heartbeat he had been searching for since the day Natmaki disappeared.

Spirit:

“Natmaki… you’re alive.”

His wings snapped open — a rare, uncontrolled reaction.

Even the other angels surrounding the chamber stepped back in shock.

Angel Guard:

“Sir, what do we do?”

Spirit didn’t hesitate.

Spirit:

“Send Ken. And Maso. Now.”

---

KEN’S SIDE — THE CALL

Ken sat on a cloud edge, legs dangling, flipping his coin.

He grinned as it landed.

Heads. Of course.

Suddenly, a blinding streak of white light shot past him, forming Spirit’s urgent silhouette.

Spirit:

“Ken. Maso. Move. We found him.”

Ken blinked.

Ken:

“…You mean Spirit’s kid? Natmaki?”

Spirit didn’t answer — he just handed Ken a glowing sigil map.

It pulsed violently, pointing downward… toward Earth.

Spirit:

“Bring him back home.”

Ken felt the weight of the words. Spirit never used that tone unless it was beyond serious.

Maso landed beside him, calm but tense.

Maso:

“So it’s finally time.”

Ken flicked the coin again.

Tails.

Ken scowled.

Ken:

“Huh… that’s not good.”

---

DEMON REALM — ZEROQ’S MOVE

Deep in the Demon Realm, ZeroQ’s eyes shot open.

A monstrous surge of mixed energy spilled into her senses — unstable, beautiful, dangerous.

ZeroQ:

“…So the half-breed is waking up.”

She rose from her throne of jagged stone, her cloak swirling around her like living shadow.

Val approached.

Val:

“Should we intercept?”

ZeroQ smirked.

ZeroQ:

“Of course. If Spirit finds him first, the entire war tilts.”

“If Ken finds him first… it gets even worse.”

Madrok stepped out of the darkness, cracking his knuckles.

Madrok:

“Then let’s go hunting.”

ZeroQ raised two fingers.

Dark lightning erupted.

The hunt began.

---

EARTH — THE QUIET BEFORE THE BREAK

A young boy sat alone on a rooftop, staring into the night.

The wind brushed past him.

His eyes flickered two different shades.

His chest tightened.

Something inside him stirred — violently.

But he didn’t understand it.

Not yet.

Natmaki (whisper):

“…Why does it hurt?”

The rooftop cracked beneath him.

A weak black–and–white spark slipped out of his aura…