**[Scene: Abyss-Border Outpost, Rayford City]**

  The howls of unseen creatures echoed through the perpetual twilight as guards tightened their grips on rusted spears.

  [Captain Veylan] *"Another night, another wave. Why have the other empires stopped their invasions?"*

  [Sergeant Korin] *"Look to the forest, captain. The Abyss-born are reason enough. Even conquerors fear what lurks there."*

  A monstrous shriek split the air as something massive moved beyond the treeline. The guards exchanged glancestonight would be long.

  ---

  **Interlude: The Nature of Power**

  **[Scene: Pelion Empire's Grand Chrono Academy]**

  A young initiate trembled before the glowing Awakener Crystal.

  [Archmage Sylas] *"Focus, boy! Chrono doesn't care for your fear."*

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  [Initiate] *"B-but forming even one heart-ring kills half who try!"*

  [Sylas] *"And that's why we're the strongest. Pain is the price of power."*

  The crystal flared crimson as the boy screamedhis first ring igniting around his heart.

  ---

  **Chronicle of the Chosen**

  **[Scene: Countagon's Ruined Library]**

  A hooded figure traced ancient murals depicting warriors with glowing veins.

  [Kael] *"So this is how they once wielded Chrono... like blood through their very bodies."*

  [Giorno the Dwarf] *"A dead art, lad. Modern mages would laugh at such primitive methods."*

  [Kael] *"Yet these 'primitive' warriors held back the Abyss for centuries."*

  ---

  **The Hierarchy of Strength**

  **[Scene: Celestial Phoenix Kingdom's Training Grounds]**

  Two cultivators clashed, their Chrono rings pulsing.

  [Senior Disciple] *"Your auxiliary skills are worthless in battle!"*

  [Junior Disciple] *"Watch."*

  With a gesture, space twisted teleporting the senior into a nearby lake. From the shadows, an observer whispered:

  [Mysterious Voice] *"Only an **Exclusive Holder** could blend types so flawlessly..."*

  ---

  ### **World Map: A Continent in Peril**

  **[Scene: War Council of Allied Nations]**

  The map shimmered with elemental markers as generals argued.

  [Pyralis General] *"Let Countagon fall! Their Chrono-veins are extinct anyway."*

  [Lumina Ambassador] *"And when the Abyss takes their land? We're next."*

  [Pelion Archmage] *"Enough. Our Awakener Crystals will"*

  The room shook as a distant explosion lit the western sky Rayford City's warning beacons had ignited.

  ---

  **Abyss Incursion**

  **[Scene: Veilroot Tree Border]**

  A soldier stared into the unnatural darkness beneath the giant tree's roots.

  [Abyss Scout] *"Report to the capital... the whispers are getting louder. The Drowned King is"*

  A tendril of shadow snapped his neck mid-sentence. From the depths, glowing eyes multiplied.