**Chapter 23: The Heart of the Rift**
The sky above Tensei bled red.
Thunder rumbled across the rift-scarred skyline as Aiki stood at the center of the devastation. His eyes glowed gold, but now — faint veins of crimson streaked through them. The air around him shimmered violently, like the world itself was trembling in fear.
Enji, Sen, and Kael backed away slowly. They had seen Aiki fight before… but never like this.
"His aura…" Enji whispered. "It's—different."
Kael's expression hardened. "That's Ki. The pure essence of a Rifter's soul — a force that burns reality itself. It only appears when a Rifter's heart surpasses their limits."
Red flames began to ripple off Aiki's body — slow at first, then flaring into a storm. The energy hissed against the ground, burning symbols into the cracked asphalt. The Spirit Edge glowed fiercely in his hand, feeding off the surge.
Across from him, the rogue Rifter — eyes wild, face twisted — took a step back. "What are you…?" he spat, raising his hands to summon more of his corrupted energy. "That power—!"
Aiki's voice was calm, but his tone carried thunder. "You took Sakura from us. You corrupted what little peace this world had left. I won't forgive that."
The enemy roared and fired a torrent of energy — golden-red and unstable. The blast shook the earth.
Aiki didn't move.
The beam struck him full-on — but instead of pushing him back, the energy bent around his aura. The red flames surged brighter, twisting the attack into glowing embers that scattered harmlessly into the wind.
Enji's jaw dropped. "He just—absorbed it."
Kael nodded slowly. "That's the passive state of Ki. The Rift responds to emotion… rage, sorrow, determination. It's the soul's final defense — and its deadliest weapon."
The rogue Rifter screamed in fury and charged. Their blades met — a clash so powerful it split the air, sending shockwaves down the ruined street. Sparks of crimson and gold filled the night like falling stars.
Aiki's aura flared brighter with every strike. His movements became faster, sharper — almost divine. Each swing of the Spirit Edge left trails of red light that hummed with impossible power.
"I told you…" Aiki's voice echoed, layered with something ancient. "You won't survive this."
With one final strike, he unleashed a torrent of Ki energy — a spiral of red light that tore through the air like a hurricane of fire. The enemy's barrier shattered instantly. The impact sent the rogue Rifter crashing through a dozen walls before the explosion consumed him completely.
Silence followed — broken only by the faint crackle of energy fading into the night.
Aiki lowered his sword, breathing heavily. The red aura still burned faintly around him, but his expression was calm — almost serene.
Sen approached cautiously. "You… okay, man?"
Aiki looked down, his voice quiet but steady. "No. But I will be."
He glanced toward the faint light where Sakura had fallen — and for just a moment, his aura flickered softer, warmer.
Kael stepped forward. "That's Ki, the true heart of a Rifter. You've awakened something that even the Ash Realm fears."
Aiki's gaze lifted toward the fractured sky. "Good," he said, gripping the Spirit Edge tighter. "Because I'm not done yet."
The red aura pulsed once more — like a heartbeat — before fading into the mist.
And far above, beyond the rift's glow, unseen figures watched. Their voices whispered through the ether:
**"The true Rifter has awakened… the Rift War begins."**