The biting morning wind howled through the towering black stone spires of Karokai Valley.
In the center of the vast, circular basin, Sagiri sat cross-legged upon a flat slab of ancient bedrock, his dark cloak resting beside him on the frozen gravel.
Across his bare chest, shoulders, neck, and jawline, the ink-black markings were glowing with intense, radiant heat.
The dark runes squirmed like living serpents, pulsing with five distinct, vibrant colors that resonated with the primordial stone beneath him.
Deep within his bloodstream, the Five Relics were no longer merely tearing at his veins; they were humming with an ancient, irresistible song.
The Golden Spear, the Beast Horn, the Living Stone Hammer, the Silver Mask, and Nokai were calling for their primordial cradle.
This forgotten northeast valley of primordial bedrock possessed the same deep geological resonance as the ancient foundations of the world.
