Darkness…
Not the absence of light—
But something deeper.
Something infinite.
Godwin's body drifted inside this endless void.
No ground. No sky. No system interface.
Just… nothing.
"…So this is what remains…"
His voice echoed into the void.
But this time—
Something answered.
"…You have crossed the boundary."
Godwin's eyes snapped open.
"…Who's there?"
Silence.
Then—
A presence emerged.
Not in front of him…
But all around him.
"I have been watching you."
Godwin didn't move.
"…Show yourself."
The darkness rippled.
And slowly—
A figure formed.
Not fully visible.
Not fully defined.
But powerful beyond anything he had felt before.
"…You are different."
The voice spoke calmly.
"…You are not like the others."
Godwin narrowed his eyes.
"…Others?"
The figure responded:
"…All who reached your level before you…"
"…failed."
A pause.
Then—
"…You are the first to destroy the Abyss."
Godwin crossed his arms.
"…Then why am I here?"
The figure tilted slightly.
"…Because you are no longer just a participant."
"…You are now part of the system itself."
Godwin's expression changed.
"…Explain."
The figure raised its hand.
And suddenly—
A massive screen appeared in the void.
But this was different.
This wasn't like before.
This system…
Was alive.
Welcome, Candidate 001
Status: Awakened
Reality Link: Active
Godwin's eyes widened slightly.
"…Candidate?"
The figure nodded.
"…The system you knew…"
"…was only a fragment."
"…A testing phase."
Godwin stayed silent.
"…And now?"
The figure's tone deepened.
"…Now…"
"…you will face the True Trials."
The void began to shift again.
Images appeared.
Different worlds.
Different battles.
Different versions of reality.
"…Each world…"
"…is a test."
"…Each enemy…"
"…is a reflection."
Godwin clenched his fist.
"…And if I win?"
A long pause.
Then—
"…Then you will become something beyond human."
Godwin looked at his hand.
"…And if I fail?"
The figure answered calmly:
"…Then you will disappear."
Silence.
No fear in Godwin's eyes.
Only focus.
"…Good."
The figure seemed to smile faintly.
"…You are ready."
The space around him started to collapse again.
"…First trial begins."
Godwin took a step forward.
"…Bring it."
And in that moment—
The darkness shattered.
Godwin suddenly appeared in a completely different world.
But this place…
Was not peaceful.
The sky was red.
The ground cracked.
And in the distance—
Monsters.
Not normal monsters.
Larger.
Stronger.
Terrifying.
Godwin stood still.
"…So this is the first trial…"
A notification appeared.
Trial: Survival
Objective: Eliminate all threats
Failure: Death
Godwin smiled slightly.
"…Simple."
He took a step forward.
"…Let's begin."