Threads Across Realms
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### **I. The Monk's Revelation**
Gorampa sat cross-legged in the clearing, steam curling from his teacup as Mei Ling refilled it. Chen Zhen studied the monk's weathered face, the way his eyes held millennia of unspoken histories.
*"The seals were never meant to last,"* Gorampa said, tracing the rim of his cup. *"The ancients knew Earth's energy would fade. But they never foresaw… her."*
*"The Eclipse Queen?"* Chen leaned forward, the Catalyst pulsing at his brow.
*"A title she stole,"* Gorampa spat. *"Centuries ago, she was a scholar—*Lín Yǔ*, the first to breach the Sacred Abyss. But the Void corrupted her. Now, she hungers to devour realms, starting with yours."*
Mei Ling's hands trembled. *"You think she'll target Earth?"*
*"She already has."* Gorampa's gaze darkened. *"Your plane crash—her disciples orchestrated it. They seek to weaken Earth's defenses by severing its strongest threads."*
Chen's fists clenched. *"My family—"*
*"Are safe. For now."* Gorampa withdrew a jade pendant from his robes—a family photo etched in stardust. Li Na's smile glowed beside their children. *"But the Queen's gaze turns toward them. You must become the shield they cannot see."*
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### **II. Echoes of Home**
That night, Chen dreamt of Li Na.
*She stood in their backyard, the Tokyo skyline shimmering under a blood-red moon. "Zhen," she whispered, her voice fraying like static. "The shadows… they watch us."*
*Behind her, their son clutched a toy glaive, its plastic blade crackling with accidental qi. A Eclipse drone shimmered into existence above them—*
Chen awoke gasping, drenched in sweat. The Catalyst hummed, projecting a hologram of Earth—a web of Void rifts spidering across the Pacific.
*"Your bond lets you glimpse their world,"* Shanggu Feng murmured. *"But tread carefully. The Queen exploits such connections."*
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### **III. The Survivors' Gambit**
Gorampa's revelation about other survivors festered in Chen's mind. Under the monk's guidance, they scoured the Sacred Abyss for traces of the crash.
*"Here,"* Gorampa halted at a gnarled tree etched with familiar symbols—*Delta Air Lines Flight 237*.
Beneath the roots, they found a makeshift camp: scorched luggage, a smartphone looping a toddler's laughter, and a journal.
*"Day 17,"* Chen read aloud, throat tight. *"The man in the black armor says he'll take us home. But his eyes… they're not human."*
*"Jerry,"* Lou Tian hissed. *"The Arbiters recruited survivors as scouts. Pawns in their game."*
A rustle sounded. Gorampa spun, qi flaring—but it was only a scrap of fabric snagged on thorns. *Shanggu Clan silk.*
*"Julong's doing,"* Gorampa realized. *"He's hiding survivors. Why?"*
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### **IV. The Earthbound Pact**
At dawn, Gorampa prepared to return to Earth.
*"I'll fortify your home with talismans,"* he promised Chen. *"But you must send a message. Something only Li Na would understand."*
Chen pressed a Moonbloom petal into the monk's palm. *"Tell her… the stars we named are still watching."*
As Gorampa vanished through the portal, Mei Ling approached. *"You're staying."*
*"For now,"* Chen said, watching the horizon. *"But I'll need your help to protect both families."*
She nodded, her Nexus glow steadying. *"Echo or not, I'll fight."*
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### **V. The Gathering Storm**
In the weeks that followed, Chen's training intensified. Under Gorampa's sporadic guidance (via Void-tethered messages), he honed his Thunderfire into a scalpel instead of a bomb.
*"Harmony,"* the other protagonist's hologram chided during sparring. *"Your wife's patience, your children's laughter—channel that, not rage."*
Meanwhile, the Eclipse Queen's scouts multiplied. Zhang You's Nullification Formation hummed at the clearing's edge, syphoning traces of Chen's qi.
*"He's crafting a weapon,"* Julong warned during a rare visit. *"One that could unravel the Nexus."*
Chen's glaive flared. *"Let him try."*
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### **VI. Li Na's Awakening**
On Earth, Li Na stood in Chen's study, his old judo gi clutched to her chest. The pendant Gorampa delivered glowed, searing her palm with celestial runes.
*"Mom!"* Their daughter pointed at the window. Outside, shadows writhed, forming the Eclipse Queen's sigil.
Li Na's eyes hardened. She slipped on Chen's gi, its fabric humming with residual qi. *"Stay close. Daddy's teaching us a new game."*
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