The red sky deepened.
No longer just crimson—
But something closer to black.
A world being consumed from within.
Godwin stood on the shattered battlefield, his breathing steady.
The remains of the fallen creature slowly turned into particles of light… then vanished.
"…So this is just the beginning."
His voice was calm.
But his eyes—
Were sharper than ever.
Status Update:
Trial Phase 1 Completed
Energy Accumulation: 12%
Next Phase Initiating…
The system's message flickered.
But something was different.
It wasn't just displaying information.
It felt… aware.
Alive.
Godwin narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…You're changing too."
No response.
Instead—
The ground began to tremble again.
But this time—
It wasn't an enemy.
It was something else.
The air itself started to distort.
Like reality was bending.
"…Huh?"
Godwin tilted his head.
"…What now?"
Suddenly—
A voice echoed.
But not from the system.
Not from the world.
It came from above.
"…Interesting…"
Godwin looked up instantly.
His expression changed slightly.
"…So you're finally showing yourself."
Above him—
The sky cracked.
Like glass breaking.
And from that crack—
A figure emerged.
Slowly.
Calmly.
Not like a fighter.
Not like a monster.
But like… something above both.
The figure's body was partially visible.
Wrapped in flowing energy.
Its face remained unclear.
But its presence—
Was overwhelming.
Godwin didn't move.
"…You're the one watching."
The figure spoke calmly.
"…Yes."
Its voice echoed directly inside his mind.
"…I have been observing you since your arrival."
Godwin's eyes narrowed.
"…And?"
A pause.
Then—
"…You are not progressing normally."
Godwin crossed his arms.
"…What's that supposed to mean?"
The figure tilted slightly.
"…You are evolving too fast."
"…Faster than any candidate before you."
Godwin smirked slightly.
"…Good. That means I'm doing something right."
The figure didn't respond immediately.
Instead—
It analyzed him.
Then spoke again.
"…No."
"…It means you are becoming unstable."
The air shifted.
Pressure increased.
Godwin's expression turned serious.
"…Unstable?"
The figure continued:
"…Your growth rate exceeds the system's limits."
"…If this continues…"
"…you will either transcend the system…"
"…or destroy it entirely."
A brief silence.
Godwin looked at his hand.
Dark energy slowly forming.
"…So what are you here for?"
The figure answered without hesitation.
"…To decide."
"…Whether you are allowed to continue."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
The world itself felt like it was holding its breath.
Godwin slowly raised his head.
"…Allowed?"
A faint smile formed on his face.
"…You think I need permission?"
The figure remained silent.
Then—
"…You misunderstand."
"…This is not a request."
The pressure exploded.
The sky cracked further.
The ground beneath Godwin trembled violently.
But—
He didn't step back.
Not even once.
Instead—
His aura began to rise.
Slowly.
But steadily.
Dark energy.
Fire.
Lightning.
Light.
Earth.
All five elements—
Surrounded him.
But something new was there too.
Something deeper.
Something unknown.
The observer noticed it.
"…So you have begun to touch it…"
Godwin raised an eyebrow.
"…Touch what?"
The figure replied calmly:
"…The source."
"…The origin of all magic."
Godwin didn't answer.
But his expression told everything.
Curiosity.
Interest.
Power.
The observer raised its hand slightly.
"…Then show me."
The sky above darkened.
And suddenly—
A massive force descended.
Not an attack.
But a presence.
A domain.
Reality twisted.
The battlefield changed.
Godwin found himself standing on a completely different plane.
No sky.
No ground.
Just floating fragments of existence.
And in front of him—
The observer fully revealed itself.
Now visible.
Now real.
Its form was immense.
Beyond human scale.
Its eyes—glowing.
Its presence—
Dominating everything.
"…This is your test."
Godwin looked at it.
"…Good."
Without hesitation—
He raised his sword.
Dark aura surged.
All elements gathered.
The observer spoke one final line:
"…Survive this…"
"…and you will be recognized."
Godwin smiled.
"…I don't plan to just survive."
A pause.
Then—
"…I plan to win."
BOOM—!!!
The battle began.
Godwin moved first.
Instant acceleration.
He appeared in front of the observer in an instant—
And struck.
CLASH!
The collision shook the entire plane.
But—
The observer didn't move.
Not even a single step.
"…Too weak."
Godwin narrowed his eyes.
"…Just getting started."
The fight intensified.
Godwin used everything.
Speed.
Precision.
Magic.
Strategy.
But the observer—
Countered effortlessly.
Every attack was predicted.
Every move was read.
Every strategy was countered before it began.
Godwin clicked his tongue.
"…Annoying."
The observer spoke calmly:
"…You rely too much on strength."
Godwin smirked.
"…And you rely too much on control."
A pause.
Then—
Godwin's aura changed.
Subtle.
But dangerous.
"…Let's fix that."
For the first time—
Godwin stopped attacking.
He closed his eyes.
The observer watched silently.
"…What are you doing?"
Godwin didn't respond.
Instead—
He focused inward.
Not on power.
But on something deeper.
The system.
The energy.
The origin.
"…I see it now…"
A faint glow formed around him.
Not violent.
Not chaotic.
But stable.
Perfectly controlled.
The observer's eyes widened slightly.
"…Impossible…"
Godwin opened his eyes.
Now glowing with a different kind of energy.
"…You were right."
"…I've been growing too fast."
A small smile.
"…But now I understand how to control it."
The energy around him condensed.
Compressed.
Perfectly balanced.
"…Let's continue."
The battlefield shook again.
But this time—
Godwin was different.
Stronger.
Sharper.
And now—
In control.
The true battle had just begun.
To be continued…