Hours passed.
Hours that, in the outside world, felt like an eternity.
The ten candidates remained motionless before the primordial streams of power.
The countless spectators, elders, rulers, and ancient beings watching the ceremony remained silent.
For the first time since the beginning of the tournament, no one discussed victories or defeats.
No one spoke about techniques or strategies.
Because they all understood one thing.
The beings that entered those realms were not merely fighting for a title.
They were facing the origins of their very existence.
Then—
the first movement appeared.
One by one, the candidates opened their eyes.
They returned.
But they were not the same.
The difference was not something simple like an increase in energy.
It was something deeper.
Their very presence had changed.
Vladimir's flames no longer felt like a power that consumed recklessly. There was a strange calm hidden inside his destruction, as if every spark understood the purpose behind its existence.
Sarah's aura became terrifyingly silent. The concept of destruction surrounding her no longer carried the feeling of ending something by force, but of returning it to the natural cycle between nothing and existence.
Javier stood with his sword at his side, but his entire being had become sharper. The boundary between him and the world around him seemed clearer, as if his very existence had become a blade that separated truth from falsehood.
Maria's eyes contained an indescribable depth. The countless laws within her body no longer struggled to coexist. They moved in a harmony that resembled a living universe.
Merito became even more frightening. His nullification no longer felt like the rejection of reality.
It felt like reality itself accepted his authority to deny what should not exist.
And William...
William was the most difficult to describe.
His presence did not become heavier.
It did not become more oppressive.
On the contrary.
It became more natural.
As if the countless relationships connecting all existence unconsciously recognized him.
As if he had become a part of the hidden structure supporting the universe itself.
But not everyone had succeeded.
The expressions of Tiago, Daniel, Kashmir, and Mark were complex.
They had gained understanding.
They had touched the origin of their powers.
But they had failed to satisfy their bodies completely.
The recognition had not been granted.
A moment of silence filled the cosmic arena.
Many thought it was over.
That only the successful candidates would inherit their physiques.
Then—
the universe shook.
Ten immense presences descended.
No.
Not ten.
Countless.
The manifestations of the primordial physiques appeared.
They were not creatures.
They had no fixed shape.
Some appeared as concepts.
Some appeared as worlds.
Some appeared as endless energies that even the strongest beings could not fully comprehend.
The spectators lowered their heads instinctively.
They were standing before powers that had existed since the birth of the universe.
A voice echoed throughout all realities.
"A candidate's failure does not mean a physique has no successor."
Everyone froze.
The ancient physiques had made their own decision.
The Eternal Life-Stealing Physique appeared before Karen.
The woman who had fought until the very end despite not reaching the final ten.
Her eyes widened.
A stream of ancient energy entered her body.
The physique had acknowledged her.
Across the countless worlds, other rejected candidates also received their opportunity.
The physiques that had remained without worthy representatives searched for those whose understanding, potential, and nature matched their essence.
But at the same time—
other candidates screamed.
The Undied body trembled.
The power within its previous owner, Robert, was forcibly extracted.
His immortality disappeared.
The Blood Crimson body also abandoned its former candidate.
The blood that had once obeyed his will returned to a normal state.
The ancient bodies did not care about previous ownership.
They only recognized those who were worthy.
This was the absolute judgment of the origins.
The strong were not chosen because they possessed power.
They possessed power because they were chosen.
And as everyone was overwhelmed by the magnificent scene—
William's expression suddenly changed.
His heart contracted violently.
A terrible pain spread through every connection inside his body.
His face became pale.
His knees weakened.
Before anyone could react—
"William!"
A familiar voice echoed.
He fell forward.
A massive amount of black blood poured from his mouth.
The blood was thick.
Corrupted.
As if it contained something that should not exist.
The entire arena became silent.
Even the primordial physiques seemed to pause.
A ripple of unease spread through the strongest beings present.
Then a figure appeared beside him instantly.
Andrew.
For the first time in many years, the ancient man showed clear worry.
He knelt beside his disciple and placed his hand on William's shoulder.
The old man's eyes examined him carefully.
"What happened?"
There was no answer.
Only William's trembling body.